I saw this idea on a blogger’s post, and I knew that I wanted to try it. A few days ago, I had asked in my Instagram’s stories (if you don’t already follow me on Instagram, seriously follow me! There is amazing content on there) for people to ask me anything. I got four questions, and wanted to compile them in a blog post to share.
What Is The Hardest Part of Doing and Maintaining A Blog?
Definitely maintaining a normal blog schedule. I work full time and sometimes I get overwhelmed with balancing stuff and so it’s harder for me to maintain consistency.
How do you decide what topics to write about?
I honestly just write about things that are important or that I love. For example, if it’s a place that I love to eat or shop at, I want to share it, or if it’s something I feel that’s important to share, I will.
Any good recent book recommendations?
If you love dogs, Fixing Freddie, but if you’re in the mood for something spooky, definitely House of Salt and Sorrow.
What would your dream holiday be?
Either Italy or LA.
Thank you to all who submitted questions! This was fun — hopefully I can get another one written soon.
Today marks three years since my boyfriend and I have become “official.” To me, three years ago honestly feels like a lifetime ago with everything that had happened in my life in the last three years, but it’s still amazing to think that we’ve made it this far.
Three years ago, my life was completely different. I had my mom and my beloved dog and I worked part-time at a local radio station. Back then, I knew next to nothing about real life relationships. You see, when your parents are divorced and you’re raised by a single mom, you go into any dating situation a little guarded.
My boyfriend and I met in June 2017. We both used to work events at our local radio station, and were actually paired up together to do one. We got stuck in traffic and ended up talking for a bit. It turned out that we had a lot in common from the music we listened to, and even went to the same college.
It’s safe to say to that it wasn’t love at first sight – I actually thought that he was a little weird and wasn’t sure what I felt about him. After the event, he added me on Facebook and after a week of liking every social media post that I had, I decided to message him. The rest was history.
We became official on October 10, 2017, after four months of talking and one month of dates. During that time, he had bought me cookies at work, and has been there for me during a low moment in my professional life.
Over the past three years, it’s safe to say that we’ve experienced our ups and downs – from fights to the unexpected death of both my mother and dog Maggie, who passed away the day of our first anniversary. Our ups? Well, if it weren’t for Eric, I probably wouldn’t have adopted Lucy, and now she’s our spoiled little girl.
I also think that in the past three years our relationship has morphed. In 2017, I was more into romance than I am now. You know, the romance that is defined by Nicholas Sparks and Christina Lauren. Now, I think that our relationship has turned more into partners. Eric has been always there for me, through good times and in bad. Nine times out of ten, he is the first person that I call whenever I need someone to talk to. We also communicate to each other how the other is feeling. Furthermore, we encourage each other to grow – personally and professionally. For instance, if I want to take a class to expand my knitting skills, Eric would encourage me to take it.
In the past three years, I not only gained a partner in life, but a best friend. It’s safe to say that we’ve come across many unexpected roads, but somehow we’ve managed to pick ourselves up and move forward.
I don’t know what’s next for us, to be honest. However, all I know is that I think we’re strong enough to handle all that is coming our way.
Happy fall everyone! Living in New England, fall is a pretty big deal around here. And, in my opinion, fall is the most beautiful time of year. I love the foliage, and I try to take walks whenever I can just to soak in its beauty as much as I can.
That said, there are a few things that I try to do every year during the fall season. That said, here are some things that I try to do every fall:
Go To An Orchard:
I live in Connecticut, so there are no shortage of these. I love going to an orchard at least once a year. While I typically don’t pick much since I live by myself, it is still a great time. It’s a great way to get outside, take pictures, and even go to their farm store for apple cider donuts. While there are so many in Connecticut that I have yet to try, my go-to place is Lyman Orchard in Middlefield. It’s beautiful there, and the Apple Cider Donuts are delicious.
Drink Pumpkin Spiced Lattes:
Pumpkin Spiced Lattes (AKA PSLS) are my go-to drink year-round. Therefore, I am so happy when it’s that time of year when they are on the Starbucks menu. This year, since I have a Nespresso, I’ve been enjoying making them from home for nearly a fraction of the price.
Go on a Fall Walk:
For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been trying to get outside more and more for a walk. For me, it’s been really relaxing, and I enjoy taking pictures of the foliage.
Watch It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown (and Other Holiday Classics):
Is it really Halloween if you don’t watch It’s The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown? I thought so. I love watching this movie whenever this comes on. Additionally, I also love watching other classic movies such as The Nightmare Before Christmas and Hocus Pocus. I’m not a big fan of scary movies, so these definitely put me in the Halloween spirit.
Decorate:
I love decorating for fall. I don’t have much, other than some pumpkins, throw pillows, and some signs. However, they definitely put me in the fall spirit and in a better mood whenever I decorate my home with some fall decorations.
What are some things that you have to do every fall? Let me know in the comments below.
Happy Thursday everyone! Today, I am so excited to share with you guys my latest book haul.
Now, before I continue I want to say that many of these books were purchased pre-loved and at 75 percent off. I am trying to buy less books in general, however, have done a book purge so I decided to swap them out for these. In total, I picked up 12 new books — including a few freebies.
This past weekend, I hit up two bookstores — Books and Company in Hamden and Penny’s Bookshelf in Milford. I also picked up a few books from Target that I’ve been wanting a physical copies of. As many of you know, I have an reader that I swear by, but I do crave the feel of a regular book every once in a while.
So, without further a due, here are the books I got:
Books and Company in Hamden CT:
I had found a box full of the Babysitter Club books in my basement and decided to bring to a local Hamden bookstore. I think that there were about 70 books in that box so naturally that equals a lot of credit. Due to COVID, the books need to sit for a few days, however, you can use the credit now and have it deducted later on.
I picked up four books at Books and Company. Three of them are Jane Green books (Jemina J, Bookends, and Babyville) and If Only I Could Tell You by Hannah Beckerman. I only paid $14 and am super excited to read them.
Penny’s Bookshelf in Milford CT:
I went to the dentist for the first time in years on Monday, so I bought in some old books that I was ready to part with that I just wasn’t excited about reading. I ended up getting over $20 of credit, which was exciting.
Like Books and Company, I picked up 4 books as well: Hannah’s War by Jan Eliasberg, the last two books of the All Souls trilogy by Deborah Harkness, and One of Us Is Next by Karen McManus. I have been wanting it to read more historical fiction. Furthermore, I also have been wanting to marathon these series, and so I am glad that I have them.
Target:
I am so excited that the new Nicholas Sparks novel came out. He is one of my favorite authors and one of the few that I have to have physical copies of. I am super excited to read The Return, and can’t wait to have a good cry (as many of his books tend to do so).
I also have been wanting to read more thrillers lately — probably because of the spooky season. I have read All of the Missing Girls by Meghan Miranda, but I want to read more by her. I then picked up the Girl from Widow Hills as well. Since I had a 15 percent off coupon, I decided why not?
Freebies:
Finally, my boyfriend’s mom was getting rid of two books — Fixing Freddie and The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. I have already read Fixing Freddie and absolutely loved it. If you love beagles, I highly recommend it.
That said, I have quite the stack of new books to read. I look forward to sharing them with you in the upcoming months in reading wrap ups.
Happy Wednesday everyone! It is going to be a short week for me, as I had Monday off for doctor’s appointments and I will have Friday off for a vacation day. I’m stoked.
That said, I’ve been busy with adulting stuff and keeping up with Blogtober. I’m honestly getting overwhelmed with it all, but am doing the best I can to keep up.
Okay, enough talking. Here’s my favorites for this week:
I bought this a few weeks ago when I hurt my back and I am so glad that I did. I am obsessed with this purchase and am so glad I got it. I got mine from the Coach outlet and it fits my Louis Vuitton Key Cles and my phone. My keys clip on and I’m good to go. The price was amazing and I use it every day whether its in my work bag or on the weekend.
Fixing Freddie: A True Story About A Boy, A Single Mom, and a Very Bad Beagle That Saved Them All by Paula Munier:
My boyfriend’s mom was cleaning out her books and I found this title. I downloaded it onto my Nook and now took her physical copy, and have loved it.
The book is about a single mom and her son. When they move into their home, they adopt a beagle puppy named Freddie. However, the beagle is full of mischief in true beagle fashion.
The story is a quick read, but if you love beagles like me, I highly recommend it.
Apple Cider Tea:
In the fall, I always want something that is warm and comforting. I am a huge fan of the pumpkin spiced latte, but I want to try to drink less caffeine. That said, I have enjoyed this tea, because it’s giving me all of the flavors of fall, but is much better for me.
I’ve been trying to lose weight for a little while now. I am doing it now from a place of wanting to be skinny, but rather wanting to be healthy.
That said, habits take a while to form. So, I’ve been making some small changes, which I hope to become a more permanent one versus larger changes that may be harder for me to manage. I am the type of person who needs to do it gradually, so these all have helped make a difference in my health.
No more Doordash:
DoorDash has been so helpful for me during quarantine. If I wanted Shake Shake or Five Guys, all I had to do was order it using the app. However, eating a burger and fries more than a few times a week is not healthy for you whatsoever. So, I’ve decided to stop using DoorDash for the most part. Every now and then I’ll still get it – usually as a Friday night treat or if my friend is coming over we’ll get that. Otherwise, I’m sticking to just cooking.
Using Mostly Fresh, Not Frozen:
It’s safe to say that I am not the world’s best cook. One thing that I used to love is making frozen sweet potato or regular fries. However, it’s not the healthiest. That said, I have began using fresh sweet potatoes and regular potatoes to make fries. Not only do they taste better, but they are so much healthier than the frozen.
Grilled Chicken versus Fried:
I love Chic-Fil-A. It has become my saving grace during quarantine because my local Target happens to be located right near it. That said, I would be getting Chic-Fil-A a lot. Usually, it would be the classic deluxe sandwich. If you don’t know what that is, that’s basically just fried chicken with waffle fries. Yeah, it’s not the most healthy choice I could be making.
Since I eat there a lot, I decided instead of giving up some of my favorite places but modify my order. For example, instead of the fried chicken, I would get a grilled chicken sandwich with medium fries versus the large. I also wouldn’t get a lemonade and stick to water. This still isn’t the healthiest, but hey. Small steps baby.
Work Out For 30 Minutes A Day – No Questions Asked:
I did both the 30 Day Shred and the 30 Day Beginner Shred by Jillian Micheals. However, on the last day of the 30 Day Regular one, I threw my back out. This really helped me begin to think about how I approached working out.
Since then, I’ve been thinking about how I approach working out. So, I’ve been either doing a stairstepper or my workout bike for 30 minutes a day. Not only do I get to start my day with it, I usually listen to my audiobook or music as well, which is something that I also enjoy. Once my back heals, I do plan to do a combination of strength/HIIT and Cardio. I did download the Jillian Micheals app and the Jazzercise app and switch to go between the two.
Prior to this, I really wasn’t working out. I’m just going to be honest – I was only working out for 20 minutes or less. Those workouts weren’t cutting it for me, so I think that this is a much healthier step to take.
Being Mindful of My Treats:
I love dessert. I have a sweet tooth so it is one thing that really brings me joy. However, sometimes I would overdo it. Lately, I’ve been trying to be mindful just how much dessert I have in a night, whether that may mean just one cookie versus a cookie and a piece of chocolate. Those little steps have been helping!
Whole Grain versus White Bread:
This is something that I’ve been doing for years, but I am trying to make sure that I stick to whole grains versus white bread. I also happen to enjoy the taste of the bread as well, and it’s really healthy as well.
In September, I really got into the fall spirit. I put up my fall décor up Labor Day Weekend, and have consumed Pumpkin Spice lattes by the gallon.
That fall spirit had also transferred into my reading. This month was a good reading month. I have read 10 books throughout the month.
One of those books was actually a reread for me, which was Throne of Glass. I am rereading the series to hopefully finish the series this time. I am listening to the first four books on Audible, and have been really enjoying them. I finished Throne of Glass a few weeks ago, and have really enjoyed it. I originally read it in 2015 for a class, and loved it. I then read Crown of Midnight, but found myself not enjoying it as much. Five years later, I’ve really enjoyed and have had more appreciation for the series. Currently, I am reading Crown of Midnight, which I am loving so much more on audiobook.
That said, here are the books that I read this month:
The Sunshine Sisters by Jane Green: Five out of Five Stars
Before We Were Strangers by Renee Carlino: Five out of Five Stars
Majesty by Katharine McGee: Five out of Five Stars
The Selection by Keira Cass: Five out of Five Stars
The Elite by Keira Cass: Five out of Five Stars
The One by Keira Cass: Five out of Five Stars
House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin Craig: Five out of Five Stars
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas: Five out of Five Stars
The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert: Four out of Five Stars
The Night Country by Melissa Albert: Four out of Five Stars
What did you read this month? Let me know in the comments below.
Now that we’re in October it means fall – especially if you live in New England. For some odd reason, this year I am loving all things fall. In addition to pumpkin spice lattes, I also love the cozy fall clothes and accessories. In today’s post, I am sharing some of my fall essentials:
Cozy sweaters:
I love sweaters. They are my go-tos from October to about March. My mom was a big sweater person as well, and every year, she would gift me a sweater for Christmas. To me, it’s more important to have neutral colors, but I do enjoy a few colors including burgundy and a dark pink.
Furthermore, cardigans have become my go-to, especially of late. I’ve been obsessed with the Barefoot Dreams cardigan that I snagged during the Nordstrom sale, and I’ve been loving it. It’s safe to stay that I am obsessed. Another cardigan I have been loving is one from Madewell that I snagged on clearance.
Boots:
In fall and in winter, boots have been my go-to for pretty much years. I wore them a lot when I was in college and I would pair them with jeans. Now that I am in the work place, I either pair them with leggings or nicer pants. One look that I really love is a pair of dark chocolate boots and a pair of jeans. They make an amazing combination.
Sadly, I have not had to purchase boots in quite a few years, since mine have lasted for a while. However, my favorite go-to brands are LC Lauren Conrad from Kohl’s and Clarks.
Chunky Earrings:
I’ve embraced the hoop earring trend this year. Chunky gold hoops have bee n my go-to pretty much all of 2020. I really like the hollow ones, since they are so lightweight that you barely know that they are on. Some of my favorites are the XS Statement Hoop from SV Decker, and the DMQ X Katrina Tell Me About it Stud Earrings from QVC.
Leggings:
Leggings are just a staple no matter where you’re going. I either wear mine with sweatshirts on the weekends, or with sweaters and boots during the week.
Scarves:
I am such a huge fan of scarves. I love making them, and I love wearing them. Personally, I am a huge fan of the chunky yarn scarves because they can keep you warm. Most of mine are handmade, so I unfortunately can’t link them below. However, I am in the process of opening up an Etsy Shop, so one day that will be possible.
What are some fall fashion essentials for you? Let me know in the comments below.
Welcome back to the third day of Blogtober. Today, we’re going to talk about how to survive Blogtober and Blogmas. For those of you who don’t know, Blogtober is when you blog everyday for the month of October, and Blogmas is when you blog everyday from December 1-25. These same tips can also be used to some extent for Vlogmas as well, which is the Youtuber version of Blogmas as well.
Now, as you can imagine, writing a post everyday without fail is a challenge and it can be overwhelming. That said, I’ve given you a list of tips to help survive this hectic time. So, without further a due, here are some tips on how to survive Blogtober/Blogmas.
Write ahead: Try to get a head start on posts as much as possible. Let’s just be honest. It’s going to be overwhelming trying to schedule this amount of posts, and chances are, every other responsibility in life. That said, try to start early and write a post or two each week. In the case of my blog, I try to get as much non-time sensitive content out as possible. One good thing about that is that if inspiration does end up striking, I can move the post to a different day without fear that I am skipping a day.
Plan it Out: Your planner is going to be your best friend for this. Make sure you write down on which days which post will go live. That way, you’ll know what went live, and how to promote on social media.
Don’t Be Too Hard On Yourself: Life happens. Sometimes, you’re going to miss a day. And, that’s okay. I think that it’s important to not be hard on yourself if that happens, because while writing a post everyday for 31 days is a commitment, sometimes things do come up where you can’t just write a post.
Connect With Other Bloggers: I am a part of many different blogging Facebook groups, and having that community is crucial, because it helps me discuss all of the issues that I have been having and even helps keep me motivated. Both of those, trust me, is a win.
Social Media: I know this is blogging 101, but make sure to promote these posts with the #Blogtober hashtags. When I did Blogmas last year, it helped me discover some amazing new bloggers. Therefore, I recommend you do the same with your posts, and you might connect and grow your audience.
Are you doing Blogtober this year? If so, let me know in the comments below!
TGIF everyone! I don’t know about you, but I want to fill my weekends with self care. I want to remind you all that self care is not selfish. Since I have weekends off, I always try to make some time for myself — whether it’s relaxing on my couch with Netflix, or doing something that I enjoy. So, without further adue, here is what I do to practice selfcare on the weekends.
Crocheting is something I enjoy doing on the weekends.
Make time to do things that I enjoy: Whether it’s sitting on my couch knitting while watching Netflix, hanging out with my friends, or going to my favorite bookstore, I always try to make time to do something fun that I will get excited about. It not only gives me something to look forward to, it helps me feel as though I have control over my schedule.
Do nothing: I can’t spend my entire weekend just sitting on the couch, because I typically have chores to do. However, I usually make sure I spend one night just watching something, whether that may be vlogs, movies or TV shows. Whenever I do, I always feel relaxed.
Pamper myself: I try to do some kind of mask on the weekends, whether it’s for my hair or for my skin. This always makes me feel good about myself, which is always a great way to begin the week on a high note.
Treat myself: Weekends are for treating yourself — whether it’s having a day where you don’t cook, buying a new pair of earrings, or just getting ice cream. Whatever the case may be, treating myself is sometimes needed for self care.
Say no: It’s the weekend. Sometimes, I don’t want to have a series of social engagements. And, that’s okay. It’s okay to say no to events or social gatherings if you had a long week just to recover. Your friends will understand. Trust me.
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