Page 59

January Reading Wrap Up/February TBR

Usually it feels like January is the month that seems to go on and on. However, it seems as if this month flew by.

January was one of my slower reading months. I read 7 books, but I feel like I have entered a huge reading slump since Goodreads had said that I am already falling behind by two books.

That said, I am proud to get to one of my Mashed Potato Books, which was such a good read. So, here are the seven books I read this month:

Untamed by Glennon Doyle, Five out of Five Stars: I loved this book. I started reading the audiobook, but finished reading the physical. This was one of the most inspirational reads that I could have entered the new year reading. It talks all about being free and learning to avoid being unhappy, as well as living a life that is true to you. I did purchase Love Warrior, but haven’t read it yet.

This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens, Four out of Five Stars: This book was amazing to kick off the new year with as well. It is about Minnie Cooper, who was born on January 1, and suffers through string of bad luck on her birthday. Quinn Hamilton on the other hand, is extremely lucky. And, he shares the same birthday as Minnie. Both of their mothers gave birth to them at the same hospital at the same time, and the two have crossed paths and never met. That is, until now. This book was a really cute read. I love it that it reminded me of Nora Ephron movies where the love interests would never get together until the very end. I liked it, but I was not head over heels over it.

The Vanishing Half by Bri Bennett, Five out of Five Stars: Stella and Desiree Vignes ran away from Mallard in the 1960s. One sister came back, while another found a life of luxury while trading her identity of African American to white. While the sisters may lead separate lives, their daughters eventually end up crossing paths. I really loved this book, and I highly recommend reading it if you haven’t yet. This book gives you so much insight on how race was perceived, and is just an amazing story.

Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson, Five out of Five Stars: Enchanted has a dream of being a famous singer. After auditioning for a talent show, she meets Korey Fields. Months later, Korey is found dead and Enchanted wakes up with blood on her hands. This was definitely one of my favorite reads of the month, because the writing was amazing. The content of the story is definitely one that is triggering, and I don’t want to forget that. It talks about grooming, rape, and abuse.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, Five out of Five Stars: I am not going to write a review for this since I have a post about it. I already wrote my opinions down in that post, but I still highly recommend it.

November 9 by Colleen Hoover, Five out of Five Stars: Fallon and Ben met by chance at a restaurant on November 9. Despite their instant attraction, the two decide to wait to begin a relationship. However, they do decide to meet every November 9th for the next five years. This book was amazing, and I think that I will always be a fan of Hoover’s writing. That said, I loved the romance, and it was a story that tugged at my heartstrings from beginning to end.

Confess by Colleen Hoover, Five out of Five Stars: Yes, another Colleen Hoover novel. This one is about Auden, who has lost so much before turning 21. She just moves to Texas, where she encounters Owen a painter with a mysterious past. The two fall in love, despite many forces that are keeping them apart. Okay, so Colleen Hoover can write. This novel was one of those novels that have kept me engaged from the moment I picked it up to the second it finished. This was not my favorite one by Colleen Hoover, but I definitely enjoyed reading that one.

Now that I talked about January’s reads, let’s move on to February. I hope to read a lot of romance during this month, and I have a ton to choose from on my shelves. I also hope to read Four Winds by Kristin Hannah, since that was my Book of the Month choice.

What I Love Wednesday: February 3

Happy snowy Wednesday everyone! This week has been a mixture of snow and recovering from a stomach bug. I’ve been spending much of this past few days sleeping it off, as well as eating all of the soup.

Dagne Dover Cameron Purse: Stay tuned for the complete review of this purse, but I have been really loving this purse. I have the xs in bandage, and the small in gray. I have been using the gray for work, while I have been using the smaller one for errands. Both purses are amazing! They have a ton of compartments, which make it really easy to organize, and they are great little crossbody bags.

Spotify Playlist: I found this playlist that consisted of all of the alternative songs that I was obsessed with in the mid to late 2000s and it’s been on repeat ever since. It’s called xliVE.LauGh.l0vEx, and has songs from Good Charlotte, All Time Low, and Boys Like Girls — just to name a few. If you were in middle/high school in the late 2000s, you will definitely love this playlist.

Mario Kart 8: I have been feeling sick lately, so I decided that it was time for me to finally purchase this game. And I’ve been obsessed with this game ever since. I have not played any other version so I can’t compare, but so far, I have been really enjoying it.

The Bling Empire: Something else that I’ve been doing while being sick is watching a lot of TV shows. Other than 90 Day Fiancé, I have been watching the Bling Empire on Netflix. The Bling Empire is best described as a reality TV version of Crazy Rich Asians. There is so much drama going on and it’s really easy to binge.

Wireless Keyboard: Last but not least, I recently bought a new keyboard for my iPad. I did have the folio case, but I found myself really not enjoying using it because it was so bulky. This keyboard is sleek and I can use it anywhere with my iPad stand. I also find the keys really easy to type on as well as responsive when typing.

Go Red For Women Day is February 5, 2021: Why You Should Wear Red For this Cause

Almost two years ago to the day, I woke up to my mom being unresponsive, and learned that she had passed away overnight from a heart attack. Her death was sudden, and crippling to my family and I. Yes, she suffered from high blood pressure, but she was always healthy and the person who had taken care of me since day one.

The sad thing is my mom was not alone.

Heart disease is the number one killer of women, according to the Go Red for Women page on the American Heart Association website. It causes one in three deaths each year, killing one woman per minute. That thought is scary I know.

February is National Women’s Health Month, which promotes awareness in Women’s Heart Health. The common misconception is that men suffer from heart attacks more than women, but that is simply not the case.

What is even more frightening is that symptoms of heart attacks are different from men to women. If I had known my mom’s symptoms were in fact related to a heart attack, maybe she would have been one less death.

According to the Go Red For Women site, those symptoms include:

Indigestion
A case of the flu
Feeling as though you strained a muscle in the chest.

Now, there are many factors that can cause a heart attack in women. According to the website, they include age, high blood pressure, obesity, family history, high cholesterol, and whether or not the person smokes.

While I have a personal tie to this cause, I know that my mom is not the only person to suffer from the effects of a heart attack. My mom is the reason why I choose to wear red every February, and continue to be healthy by eating right, and exercising. My mom is also the reason why I continue to promote the cause of heart health and support women’s heart health.

That said, I hope that this post inspires you to not only wear red, but also promote healthy choices year round. It may be walking or exercising more. It may mean eating better. Or, it may mean putting your mental health first, as we know that I am a huge advocate for mental health awareness. Whatever that may mean, let’s try to make healthier choices this month and every month.

Women Who Work: Jess Costa

For Jess Costa, her career as a filmmaker started with music videos in her preteen days. Fast forward ten years later, Jess graduated from NYU, and is now working on her first feature film, Sleep Talking (it sounds so amazing so definitely check it out when it’s released).

I was introduced to Jess from my friend Danielle, and I am so grateful for the chance to interview her for my blog. I am not as familiar with the technical end of film making, so it was so interesting to get a chance to talk with her and learn about something that is outside of my expertise.

That said, here’s my Q and A with Jess:

1. What made you decide to become a filmmaker?

I became a filmmaker because of the play of it; I started off having film days with my friend, Elana, when we were 11, making music videos to All American Rejects, and posting them to YouTube. From then on I was set, I was a filmmaker. It’s obviously taken different roles in my life. It’s still fun and now it’s really cathartic. I tend to use film to work out whatever I’m learning in life at that moment.

2. What is your filmography?

I have pieces I made in high school, but I start counting my filmography with my NYU senior thesis, Once Upon a November, because with that project I admit to myself I was a writer then and took full ownership of my work! I write and direct fantastical/magic realism pieces with a heart center. They tend to revolve around the moment we realize the world isn’t what we always thought it was (and sometimes how we move on from that, which has been in more of my recent work, like 99¢ Dreams). I’ve made many shorts (like Once Upon a November, Dreamers (about the DACA program), 99¢ Dreams, and more) and now I’m creating my first feature (a full-length 90 minute movie!)!

3. Do you have any directors that you look up to?

Ava Duvernay for her strength and heartfelt characters, Pheobe Waller-Bridge for her vulnerability and her ability to say exactly what we’re feeling – and with humor, and Tim Burton for his magical realism and world-building.

4. Tell me about your latest film, Sleep Talking.

Sleep Talking is a fantastical thriller feature film about a 12-year-old girl Maya who needs to learn she can’t fix everything. When her mother’s need to resurrect their family’s past takes over their lives, Maya starts scheming to solve the mystery, but instead, discovers the terror infiltrating her family when her sister starts to sleep talk. There’s a “true” crime element, there’s a magical moth lore and lots of sisterly love. It focuses on the older sister who grows up too quickly to protect her younger sister from the cruelties of the world, which is what my sister did for me so this movie is dedicated to her.

Since YA novels are my jam, I realized the flow of the script on the page reads very similarly to a YA novel (this girl can leave the YA target range, but the genre never leaves the girl haha).

5. When will it be released?
We will be finished with the film in December and then in 2022, we are going to taking it on the road with a Drive-In Tour of America and, if the state of the world warrants, a special seated cemetery screener with ghost stories and a breakdown of the moth mythos.

6. How has COVID-19 affected the film?
For all of the bad COVID brought, my silver lining is that with the shut down in March, I was able to take an online class and finally finish the first draft of Sleep Talking within a month. Since then I’ve had the space to work remotely and refine the script to really make it what it is today. I finished the script at the beginning of the year and now I get to put on my director hat and my producer/business partner, Danielle Benedict, can breakdown the logistics of the script. We’re at this fun step where we’re getting everything together to film in July so it’s the work that demands we stay at home and buckle down.

7. Where can people view the film once it’s released?

After the tour, we are going to partner with online distribution so everyone can watch from the comfort of their couch!

8. How do you get ideas for a film?
Sometimes it’s a writing exercise; for 99¢ Dreams, I saw a neon sign reading exactly that, “99¢ Dreams” and I started to picture what that store would look like. For Sleep Talking, it started from a friend sleep talking and I made a passive joke saying, “what is he possessed.” Then this idea flooded of a nightmarish sheet being pulled out of someone’s mouth and wrapping another person in a cocoon – which became the jumping-off point for this script. From there, I started seeing the characters and remembered I used to sleep talk when I was younger so, since that’s what I connect sleep talking with, I made it from the point of view of children, and then it’s just lego blocks piling on top of each other to make the first draft!

9. Finally, what is some advice that you have for someone who wants to be in the film business?

Start off by making a project, whether you’re creating every bit, whether you’re working on someone else’s set – just jump in. I’ve seen folx who spend most of their time dreaming it up, but they don’t take action on it, waiting for “that break” or that perfect moment. By being on set and making a short from beginning to end you learn what parts you love, hate, that you do out of survival – and then find amazing people you admire that love doing the parts you hate and there’s a beautiful partnership to make a fun movie. Keep at it, it takes some time, but, for me, I couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else so I don’t see the point in stopping.

Interested in checking out Jess’ work? Be sure to check out her website, her Instagram, and her YouTube channel!

What I Love Wednesday: Wednesday January 27, 2021

Happy Wednesday everyone! This Wednesday is a snowy one for me, and I couldn’t be happier.

This week’s favorites are a bit random, as I have less to share than usual. That said, I still have a few awesome picks for you this week to share.

UV Nail Lamp: I love having painted nails. However, I am the worst at keeping them still and waiting for them to dry. So, for many years, I never had painted nails. Last week, I discovered this and I bought it instantly. I did my nails, and they were dry in less than ten minutes. And my nails look great. I am loving this, because it gives me a chance to have pretty nails, but it also does them quickly.

Essie Gala-Vanting Nail Polish Set: With the UV Lamp, I also purchased a new nail polish color — this beautiful Essie red color. I have had this on since Friday and so far, my nails have been really holding up. I also love txhat for about $15, I get the nail polish and the top coat. Definitely a great deal, and this color is perfect for Valentine’s Day.

SV Decker Sleek Heart Necklace: I saw this piece on their Valentine’s Day drop and I became instantly obsessed with it. I bought the silver, and I have already worn it a few times. I love how simple this is, yet it’s different than any other heart pieces that I own. I also can layer it with a few other pieces as well, which I am really excited for.

Eating My Way In CT: Katz Deli In Woodbridge CT

Katz Deli is famous in New York City. However, what many don’t know is that there is one in Woodbridge, CT as well. It may have no affiliation with the one in New York City, but still worth the trip. This location is convenient for travelers who want to grab lunch or dinner, as it is located just off Exit 59 on the Wilbur Cross Parkway (aka Route 15).

The deli has been a staple for Westville/Woodbridge dining for many years, and still remains standing after an electrical fire in June 2020. As a side note, Katz became a staple for me while in college, and is still remains to be one of my favorite places to get sandwiches.

So, what can you get there?

Their menu has so many different items to choose, including: breakfast foods, sandwiches, soups, salads, burgers, and more. You can truly get any meal at this place. And, of course, you can get the classic Jewish deli staples — Reuben sandwiches, potato pancakes, and of course, black and white cookies. The menu also offers “Rachels,” which is a sandwich with your choice of meat, Swiss cheese, Russian Dressing, Homemade Cole Slaw on Rye Bread.

And, while Katz is a great takeout place, you still can sit down and enjoy your meal. Recently, my boyfriend and I went there for a lunch during our day off. I had a grilled chicken wrap with avocado, and he had the Reuben. One thing that is worth noting is that they have a ton of wraps and sandwiches to choose from, and it’s so easy to customize them to your liking. We both also got fries, which I highly recommend, because they are one of my favorite places to get French Fries.

And, it was amazing. The wrap was so delicious, and you can tell that the ingredients were fresh. The sandwiches came out pretty quickly, which is something that I enjoy in a restaurant as well. With the fries, you can definitely fill up pretty quickly, and not be hungry for the rest of the day.

Overall, I highly recommend checking out Katz deli if you’re in the New Haven area, or even if you’re passing through. It’s a deli that has something for everyone, and you can definitely find something for everyone on your list.

Have you been to Katz deli in Woodbridge? Let me know in the comments below.

Book Review: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

It is safe to say that one of the most hyped books of 2020 on Bookstagram and Booktube was the Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab. It was my October Book of the Month, and has been sitting on my shelf for a few months.

That is, until now.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue tells the story of Adeline, “Addie” LaRue. Addie lives in eighteenth century France, and wants to explore the world. At the start of the novel, she is in her early 20s, and by those standards, she is considered to be an old maid. On her wedding day, she runs out of the chapel to meet up with this man with curly black hair, and green eyes. Adeline has been dreaming of this man, and has been praying to them to avoid getting married.

She then makes a deal with this gentleman — her soul with the ability to live forever. However, there is a catch. As soon as she meets someone, they will forget her. Addie accepts.

The story is told in two different time frames — Addie’s life in the past and in New York City in 2014. She eventually meets Henry, who is the first person in 300 years to remember her. The two fall in love, until they realize that he has made a deal of that nature.

This book was really hyped, and with good reason. This story is definitely one of the most unique novels that I have read to date. Schwab’s writing was beautiful, and I loved reading the story about Addie’s relationship with both Henry and “Luc.”

Some may argue that this novel is a love story with the devil, but I personally do not agree. I think that Addie was lusting after Luc, however, I believe that Addie was truly in love with Henry. Addie’s relationship with Luc was more of the captor/captee type, while Addie fell in love with Henry.

I also loved the main character Addie. Addie was a true feminist, but she was born in the wrong time. She wanted to see the world, versus getting married with children, which is something that wasn’t allowed in that time period. I believe that was a realistic desire for women who lived in that time period. I also thought it was interesting that Addie had tip-toed on the line between right and wrong. Addie obviously couldn’t have a job because her boss would forget her on her second day, which resulted in her stealing food and clothing in the efforts to be fed and clothed. And, in a way it worked, because people forgot about her the second she left their site.

Furthermore, I can not imagine what it is like to be Addie. She can not leave her mark on the world, and everyone that she encounters will forget her. How can someone live with that knowledge and survive the mundane day to day tasks? I am sure that she leads a lonely life.

One final point that I would like to bring up is the different time lines. I’ve read on some reviews online that it is confusing. I disagree. I think that they are essential to the story, because each flashback sheds some light on what’s happening in the present. I personally enjoyed it, and I thought it added a great element to the book.

So, have you read the Invisible Life of Addie LaRue? Let me know in the comments below.

What I Love Wednesday: January 20, 2021

Happy Wednesday, everyone! It is a short week for me, but it’s definitely one that is going to be productive.

This week, I have a few favorites to share, and unlike weeks past, they aren’t TV shows. I am excited to share them all with you. So, here are this weeks’ favorites:

Yeti: I got a Yeti for Christmas this year and I have been obsessed with it. I’ve had Hydroflasks, but I have been gravitating towards this one. Since it’s smaller, it is easier for me to drink it, and I end up drinking a few of these per day. I also love that this fits in a car cup holder as well, which is a challenge with those other bottles.

Rachel Cruze Podcast: I have been obsessed with listening to Rachel Cruze’s podcast, because it talks about money, but in a way that isn’t strict or restricting. Instead, it talks about how you spend more money in a mindful way, which I really like.

Cricut Joy/Easy Press:

I have joined the Cricut train, and I am obsessed. I have made a tote bag, mug, book sleeve, and water bottle. While I have so many things that I need to learn about it, I am amazed on how easy it is and can’t wait to make more projects.

Ember Mug:

As a slow tea drinker, I am always having cold tea. This mug is something that is the answer to my prayers, because it is temperature controlled by your phone and keeps your drinks warm for up to 3 hours. I am so happy that I was able to get this thanks to a Best Buy gift card that I got by trading in my old Apple Watch, because I love it!

January Amazon Favorites

Happy January everyone! I’ve been refraining from purchasing items from Amazon lately to try to save up more money, but I have picked up a few items lately. Many of these are kitchen supplies, but that’s okay.

Needless to say, here are my Amazon favorites this month:

Phone Stand: I use this every day and I absolutely love it. I’ve used this as a tripod to take selfies with my boyfriend, a stand on my desk for my phone, and to hold my iPad while I am following along to a workout video. This holds both my iPhone 11 Pro and my iPad 6, and I highly recommend it for anyone who is looking for a phone stand for work, home, etc.

Mini Steamer: This was hands down the best $5 I’ve ever spent, because it has made steaming vegetables so much easier. It is easy to heat up in the microwave, and you don’t burn your hands on your containers. Definitely a win.

Fruit Basket: Yes, I am talking about a fruit basket. But, I really like this basket because it gives me a chance to keep my fruit that is not refrigerated in a place that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

JBL Speaker: I mentioned this last month, but I am still loving this and have been using this almost everyday. This has become my everyday shower speaker and I listen to podcasts while I shower, and I absolutely love it. For the small size, it packs a big punch, and I am sure that I will be taking this with me to the beach in the summer as well as with me when I travel.

What I Love Wednesday: January 13, 2020

Happy Wednesday everyone! We are halfway through the week, and I couldn’t be more excited. This upcoming weekend is a three day weekend for me, and I am excited to get some r and r and complete a home project that has been on my mind for a while. More updates to come on that.

That said, here are my favorites for this week:

Gentler Podcast: I discovered this podcast while I was listening to I Love You So Much by Kenzie Elizabeth, and I really have been enjoying it. The podcast talks about a gentler approach to life and self care, and I’ve been enjoying it. I have only listened to a few episodes, but it has provided me so much insight about life. Her podcast is perfect for anyone who wants a gentler approach to finances, which I really love because sometimes Dave Ramsey can be a little too intense for me. I highly recommend this podcast, because it serves as a reminder to just be gentler on yourself.

Grown by Tiffany Jackson: I have heard amazing things about this book, so I decided to pick up this book this weekend. Once I started it, I could not put the book down. The story is about Enchanted, who has a dream of becoming a famous singer. Enchanted meets Korey Fields, who is a famous singer who is almost ten years older than her. The two begin a relationship, which takes a twisted turn. Then, Korey Fields is found dead, and Enchanted wakes up with blood on her hands. The book is amazing, but don’t be fooled. This definitely has topics such as rape, grooming, and abuse. But, this book definitely opens your eyes to those topics, which I really liked about it.

The Graham Stephan Show: Okay, so I found a new obsession on YouTube that I have been binging. That is the Graham Stephan Show, which basically is Graham reacting to Yotubers talking about spending. It definitely helps you begin to think about the money that you have coming in, and how you spend your money.

Lita Crossbody Purse: I love this purse. It looks like the Prada Reissue, but at a much lower price. I currently have two and I’m obsessed. I got the khaki online when they were on sale over the holiday season, and I loved it. When I went to return a shirt that didn’t fit, I found the black one and picked that up too. And I am so glad that I did. The purse is small, so you can only fit your on the go essentials. What is also cool about this purse is that you can wear it as a crossbody, or you can wear it as a shoulder bag. That versatility is what sells me.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab: It seems like every book tuber and bookstagrammer has been talking about this book. This was my Book of the Month pick for the month of October, and I am so happy that I choose this one. It is living up the hype. It is about Addie LaRue, who makes a deal with the devil to live forever with a catch of not being able to make her mark on the world. This means that she can’t write anything down without it disappearing, and if someone sees her, they are quick to forget her. I am only 20 percent in this book, but so far, I am enjoying this. (Also if you want to test out Book of the Month, click this referral link so we both can score free books — it’s $14.99 a month and allows you to get a brand new release (in hardcover), which is such a deal).