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Why I Vow To Be “That Girl” This Summer

The terms “hot girl summer” and “that girl” have been flying around like crazy in the influencer world lately. One of my favorite podcasts, Gals on the Go, devoted an entire episode of the podcast just to discuss the terms and their meaning.

When you hear the phrase “hot girl summer,” I automatically assume the song by Megan The Stallion and Nicki Minaj. However, it means more than just going out and partying every night. According to Dictionary.com, it simply means to be confident and living your best life.

The podcast episode, however, expands that term to be so much more than that. Podcast hosts Brooke Miccio and Danielle Carolan defined it as being the girl who is put together, and takes care of herself. This person is someone who takes care of herself and puts herself first, whether it may making sure that she has time for self care, working out, and things that she enjoys.

While listening to that episode, I decided thatI wanted to work on being that person. Or, girl rather.

In the past few months, I have been down the path of the same routine. Part of that routine is neglecting to take care of myself, whether it’s because of lack of time, energy or the guilt of doing so. Furthermore, I often forget the importance of breaking out of that routine and the importance of just being social with friends.

This summer, that is going to change. So far, I’ve been taking the steps to take care of myself both mentally and physically. I have been doing yoga at night, journaling, making sure that I do a workout that I love regular, scheduling time for binge watching television shows and reading books, and even going out on week nights. It’s about saying no, just because I am unable to do something and not feel guilty about it. It’s about getting enough sleep, and drinking water.

I know that by filling my own cup, I will be able to show up for those around me. I am not neglecting my own responsibilities, instead I am giving myself the chance to hit pause and refresh. By doing this, I am not selfish. I am someone who is trying to take care of herself to become the best version of herself. Not everyone is going to like me saying no to helping them. And, that’s ok.

So, this summer I will become that girl. And, I am proud of it.

June 2021 Reading Wrap Up

This past month, I finally was able to get out of a reading slump and managed to read 9 books. One of them was downright horrible, while the others were pretty good across the board. As I head into the summer months, I hope to get through a lot more books, especially as I have more time off this year than in years past.

That said, here are all of the books that I read in June 2021. Since there are so many books, I will not summarize them in the interest of length:

The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren, Five out of Five Stars

2. Fly Away by Kristin Hannah, Five out of Five Stars

3. Get Out of Your Head by Jennie Allen, Three out of Five Stars

4. Better Together by Christine Riccio, Four out of Five Stars

5. The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey, Five out of Five Stars

6. Crave by Tracey Wolff, One out of Five Stars

7. Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Five out of Five Stars

8. Autoboygraphy by Christina Lauren, Five out of Five Stars

9. The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta, Five out of Five Stars

My 2021 Summer Essentials

Summer is my favorite time of year. I love the warmer weather, the more relaxed lifestyle, and the longer days. Summer always motivates me to move more, and do more activities, whether they be socially or just reading more books. However, every summer, I always have a list of go-to items. Here are my 2021 Summer Essentials:

Kindle/Nook: I love my ereader. What I love about using a Kindle over a regular book is that it makes traveling so much easier. I took it with me on a day trip recently and I am so glad I took it. It fit perfectly in my crossbody purse, and I was able to read on the car ride up and back, as well as on the train that we took. What I also love about taking a Kindle versus a standard book is that it has the glowlight so you can read it in any light. The Kindle is also great to take when going to the beach as well because all you can do is stick it in your bag. Finally, what I also love about Kindles is that you can load a ton of books onto that one device. Therefore, you can finish a book and start another which is the best as well.

Tote Bags: Tote bags are essential for many different reasons: you can store your items when you’re going shopping, and take it to the beach. And, those are only a few ways that tote bags can be used. I make mine using my Cricut, but you can get them everywhere.

Sunglasses: Protect your eyes people. Sunglasses are essential for beach days, walking around in sunny weather, pool days, and more. Therefore, protect your eyes from the sun’s rays.

Sunscreen: Of course, sunscreen is essential during summer days. When I was younger, I would never get sunburned, but things changed as I got older. I try to put on sunscreen whenever I am going to the beach and whenever I am outside for long periods of time. I think it’s important to always have sunscreen on hand, because it’s important to protect your skin.

Slider Sandals: I love the Adidas ones, but I think it’s important to have a pair of go-to slider sandals for beach trips and pool days so that way you can get them sandy and wet without worry. You also can get flip-flops for the same purpose, but I prefer sliders.

What are your summer essentials? Let me know in the comments below.

Friday Faves: July 2, 2021

Nutribullet Blender: I needed to get on a healthier diet for a few reasons. That said, I needed to up my fruit intake. I am not a fruit person, so I decided to opt for smoothies. It is really hard to find dairy free ones, so I decided to just buy a blender and make them at home. I have been using this for just over a week, and I have been loving it. So far, I’ve only had a strawberry banana one, but I’ve been enjoying it a lot!

The Bromance Bookclub by Lyssa Kay Adams: I have been trying to make more time for reading, so I picked up this book in the attempts to get back into reading. And I am obsessed with this book. It is about Gavin, who is a Major League Baseball player, who is having marital problems. His buddies admit him into their book club, where they read romance novels to learn how to be better with their relationships. It is such a cute story, and I am enjoying it. I am 66 percent of the way done, and I am sure that I will be picking up the others in the series soon.

Disney Minnie Mouse Bracelet with various charms.

Disney Pandora Bracelet: I decided to take all of my Disney charms and put them on my Minnie Mouse bracelet. Best decision I have ever made. The bracelet has charms from Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, and all of my other favorites. It honestly brings me so much joy whenever I look down at it!

Minnie and Mickey Ring Next to my Disney Charm Bracelet

Mickey and Minnie Ring: As many of you know, Pandora had a huge last chance sale. While these rings were not on sale on the site, they were at my local jewelry store. It is a two part ring — with a Mickey and Minnie puzzle part that connects together. I have been wearing it nonstop since I picked it up last week.

Sundresses: Why They Are My Summer Staple and 3 Ways I Wear Them

In the summertime, dresses have been my closet staple. Why? Well, in CT it gets hot and humid. Therefore, a simple sundress or dress has been my go-to for all events – from work to casual. I also love dresses because they are really comfortable and they are lightweight.

So, here’s a few ways I wear a sundress. Please note that many I have had for years, so I gave the brands to see if they offer updated pieces:

The Office:

Dress: APT 9, Shoes: Birkenstock, Necklace: Pandora

The office is my number one place that I wear dresses all day. My summer uniform is as follows: a sundress and a pair of sandals. I just add some accessories, such as matching jewelry or my jean jacket, and I am good to go.

Going Out to Dinner:

Dress: Old Navy, Jacket: LC Lauren Conrad, Bag: Tory Burch, Necklace: Kendra Scott, Ring: Pandora

Another way that I wear sundresses is a simple outfit for going out for dinner. To avoid getting chilly, I pair my dress with a denim jacket as well as some fun accessories.

The Beach:

Honestly, I even wear sundresses to the beach. This is the simplest option – all I do is pair a dress and flip-flops under my bathing suit. Easy peazy.

Friday Faves: June 25, 2021

TGIF! I don’t know about you all, but I am ready for the weekend. And this one will be a busy one, as I have a lot of events, and birthdays to celebrate. To kick off the weekend, here are this week’s favorites:

Victoria Emerson Ceramic Apple Watch Band: As many of you know, I have been wearing an Apple Watch for years. I put my watch through the ringer and never take it off. Now that things are opening up again, (and I need to dress fancier), I have been on the hunt for a dressier option. Enter this amazing band. It kind of reminds me of the Fossil ceramic watches in the early 2010s. I originally ordered rose quartz, but I ended up placing a second order for tortoise and a cloudy pink which looks more like white. It is definitely going to be a go-to because I can wear it with any outfit — with the exception of working out.

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid: Taylor Jenkins Reid can literally do no wrong. Malibu Rising is her latest release and it was amazing. It takes place in the 80s, and tells the story of the Riva family, who hosts an annual party every year. The party ends up in flames — literally. The novel had a lot of delicious twists and turns and I was here for it.

Drybar Double Shot Round Dryer Brush: Nordstrom had this on sale and I decided to give it a try. What it is one of those hair dryer brushes that also give you a blowout. I used to have the CONAIR one, but have noticed that one felt like it was burning my hair. To say the least, I wanted a newer model. I got this one after checking out reviews and I have been loving it. I wait until my hair is mostly dry, and then use it. In five minutes, my hair is ready to go and I use less heat which is amazing. This is a pricier option, so I recommend that you wait for a sale.

Q and A with Little Luminescence’s Lydia

As many of you know, I was a brand ambassador from the former Etsy shop Made by Aniela. Even though the owner Lydia is no longer releasing boho jewelry essentials, she is still making wonderful creations. In fact, she is getting ready to launch a new site, Little Luminescence, which drops tomorrow (June 25). And, it’s not the only thing that gets a makeover. Lydia’s Instagram is a lifestyle page as well.

I got the chance to interview Lydia all about her new brand. So, be sure to keep reading about her new chapter!

How has this been different than the launch of Made by Aniela?

I am MUCH more prepared this time. I was so scared to no longer work a 9-5 and wanted to start somewhere to get the ball rolling. When in reality I should have waited until I had a better idea as to what I’d like to create, my target market and my over all goal. Though, Etsy and Made by Aniela was a great start. It allowed me to feel more comfortable with creating, listing items, shipping, and over all being my own boss. It showed me what it really takes to make all of this happen. Prepping for this launch has been much more challenging and a lot more fun. I feel proud of myself for navigating the page and really making it my own.

How did you get into designing sun catchers?

I had a lot of beads laying around from all sorts of crafts and like I mentioned, Etsy was good for testing the waters, so, I just started thinking of fun yet relaxing things I could create and sun catchers stuck. I always loved them growing up and it’s a great way to express my creativity while bringing a little light and some smiles into someone’s life.

What are some challenges for the rebrand?

Really having to buckle down and figure out my goal. I had an idea allalong I just didn’t know how to go about it. Being excited about progress and not announcing my every move because things change and shit happens. (I’m still working on that) Having to spend another chunk of money to rebrand. Figuring out what is really worth putting money into and what isn’t, especially when it comes to shipping supplies and things like that.

Where did you get inspiration for the new name?

I started really thinking about what and why. What did I want to sell (for the launch and down the line) I knew I wanted to expand from sun catchers so I didn’t want the name to be too specific. I knew why.. to share my passion, creativity and art with the world. To share my stories and make true, meaningful connections. I started thinking about life, light, positivity. Words that correlate with all of those feelings. I’m a big advocate for “it’s the little things” and Little Luminescence clicked one day like an “ah-ha!” moment. That’s when I really started to get excited about things, it felt right.

What is in the future for Little Luminescence?

All sorts of good stuff ☺️✨

What are your goals with this new launch?

I want people to be so excited for my one of a kind pieces that they’re setting timers, posting screen shots, telling their friends. My dream is to sell out within a day, hours even, not weeks. I hope people are just as excited for my art as I am to share it.

What are the price points for the sun catchers?

Anywhere from $10 to $25/30 depending on materials used and time spent.

Will you be returning to making jewelry as well?

I would love to add in some one of a kind pieces! Not any time soon though, as I am taking the time to find better materials for longer lasting wear and little to no tarnishing ✨

Eating My Way Around CT: Neil’s Donuts in Wallingford

Wallingford’s Neil’s Donuts has the slogan “the best donuts around,” so as a donut lover, I naturally had to give them a try.

They are located in both Wallingford and Middletown, and have been open since 2001. And, their menu items include more than just donuts. They include: donuts, baked goods and pastries, a wide variety of coffee flavors, and sandwiches. They also have delicious honey rolls, which are always a go-to for me.

I went to their Wallingford location on a Sunday and it was packed. I was certain that we would be there for at least a half of an hour. However, that is not the case. The staff has it down to a science. My boyfriend and I were in and out in less than ten minutes, donuts in hand.

Now, let’s talk about the donuts. We got an assortment of donuts, but you honestly can not go wrong with any of them. Some of the donuts that we picked up include: peanut butter, sugar, glazed, Boston Creme, and chocolate sprinkles.

What I love about Neil’s is that you get the best of the both worlds. You get classic donut flavors, but you also get some newer trendy flavors such as Key Lime, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, birthday cake, and Samoia. You can view the full list of donuts here. And, all of the donuts are priced equally.

However, one tip I would highly suggest is go early — especially if you’re going on a weekend. When doing the research for this post, I noticed a ton of flavors and other treats that they did not have when I went. That is definitely the only complaint that I have.

So, did they live up to the hype of being the best donuts around? Yes, I believe that they are definitely worth the hype.

Wandering Around CT: Elizabeth Park in Hartford CT

It seems like everything is in bloom in the month of June (do you see what I did there?). Recently, my friend and I made the trip to the Elizabeth Park in Hartford, Connecticut to check out their rose gardens.

Elizabeth Park is a park that is located in Hartford/West Hartford. The park, according to the website, has over 100 acres. There are gardens, walking paths, and other recreational areas. Elizabeth Park is also on the historic register, and was named after Elizabeth A. Pond. It has several buildings, a cafe (Pond House Cafe), and a gift shop.

My friend and I went to the Helen S Kaman Rose Garden, and it was gorgeous. We went this past weekend, which was Rose Weekend. There were a lot of events, but my friend and I just chose to walk around and snap some pictures.

In addition to the rose garden, my friend and I also chose to check out the pond as well, and made a few loops around the park. It was a peaceful and relaxing way to spend the afternoon.

Overall, I highly recommend checking out Elizabeth Park not only for the flowers, but just for a place to go for a long walk or run. What I love about it as well is that it is free, and is a great place to spend time with family and friends.

Visiting New Haven’s Hidden Gems: The Food Trucks

New Haven may be home for the pizza, but it is also home to one other thing: the food truck. Visit New Haven coins it as “around the world in 5.4 miles,” and I could not agree more. You can get anything from a hot dog to a taco to pad Thai.

The Elm City has four sites where trucks have staked their claim: Ingalls Rink, Downtown, Long Wharf, and the Cedar District (Yale School of Medicine/Yale New Haven Hospital). And, did you know that food truck food is considered to be a New Haven Staple? Visit New Haven states that the spots near the Yale School of Medicine and Yale New Haven Hospital have been around since the 1980s. To view a complete list of the food trucks, check out Street Food New Haven’s website, which is your guide with complete lists of the trucks that are parked. Even though I have lived in the area for my entire life, I have yet to experience the foods from all of these carts.

That said, I have experienced a small bite for years. One of my go-tos when I was working in Science Park was the Pad Thai from the Thai Food Cart at Ingalls Rink. For $6, I got a huge serving of Pad Thai with chicken and vegetables. Not bad.

Recently, my boyfriend and I decided to indulge in going to the Long Wharf ones after a doctor’s appointment in the New Haven area. We got pollo tacos and asade tacos from Birria, Milanese’s De Pollo from La Patrona, and Pinchos de Pollo (chicken kabobs) from Winn Pincho. The price was less than $20 for all of that, and each and every bite was delicious.

Pinchos de Pollo (chicken kabobs) from Winn Pincho

What I love about the food trucks are the options, because you can go with a group of friends and everyone can get what they want without much conflict because they have everything that you could ever crave. Furthermore, I love how inexpensive they are. While I am long past my college budget, I still love that I can get great food with large portions for a low price. Furthermore, service is quick — perfect for someone on the go and needs to get back to the office.

Now that summer is here, I hope to experience more of what the New Haven food trucks have to offer (and maybe grab some of the Pad Thai that I have been craving). If you’re interested in learning more about the New Haven food trucks, be sure to check out their website.