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Blogtober Day 15: Popular Books That I Have Not Read (But May Want To)

As many of you know, I am an avid reader. I try to read at least one book a week, and mostly succeed. Like most bookworms, I do have a large TBR (to be read) list. On my Goodreads, this is over 500 books. Yup. I want to read a lot. That said, I wanted to share some of the bestselling books on that list that I have not read yet – but surely want to.

Now, please note that “popular” to me is defined as books that I see constantly on my Bookstagram feed, Booktube, and in the bookstore or book section at Target.

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr: I have had this on my bookshelf for almost three years, and it’s something that has always been on my mind to read but never got to. However, I have heard that this book is one that I must read. I’ve been getting more and more into historical fiction, and I think that I want to pick this book up next.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline: I heard of this book, but never really wanted to pick it up until recently. I don’t know much about this book other than it is a dystopian that is set in a videogame. It sounds interesting, so I do want to give it a try.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon: I’ve had this book on my Kindle for years, and yet I still haven’t read it yet. I also recently got a physical copy of the book for my birthday, which is a sure sign that I should move this up on my TBR. This novel is the first one in the Outlander series. It is about nurse Clare, who is on her second honeymoon in 1945 with her husband. Suddenly, she finds herself in 1743 and falling in love with another man. Clare suddenly finds herself between two different time periods – and two different men.

Okay, after reading the synopsis on Goodreads, I am very interested in picking this book up soon.

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas: This is a Beauty and the Beast retelling, and I am all here for that. I’ve been wanting to read this since I was in college, and I bought the series during COVID. I am hoping to get to one more fantasy series this year, and this one may be it since it has been on my TBR long enough.

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness: I recently added this one to my TBR, and it seems that since then, it’s been popping up everywhere. I do anticipate picking this book up sometime during the month of October though, since it has a lot of spooky touches that I have been craving. I’ve heard that it’s more of an adult version of Twilight, which I am really excited to learn more about since I was obsessing over Midnight Sun when it came out a few months ago.

What are some “popular” books on your TBR? Let me know in the comments below.

Blogtober Day 14: What I Love Wednesday 10/14

Happy Wednesday everyone! It is a good week for me because not only is it a short week for me, I also scored an amazing Prime Day deal on an item I’ve been eyeing for months. You’ll probably learn more about it as the month goes on in a post!

That said, I am so excited to share my favorites of the week. Most of them are pretty much clothing or accessories.

Madewell Large Transport Tote Camera Bag: I got this purse over a month ago when Madewell had their 25 percent off sale and I’ve been using it on my nonwork days ever since. What I love about it is that while it is a smaller crossbody, it still holds so much. In fact, it holds my Nook Glowlight Plus. It is the perfect bag for taking on the go, and I love the brown color as well. I use the regular brown strap with it, but I love the extra one to change up my look!

Pandora Rings: I went to the Woodbury Outlets and picked up some Pandora rings that are perfect for stacking. Unfortunately, many of them are discontinued so I can’t link them to the site, but you can find similar styles on their websites.

SV Decker Huggie Hoop Earrings: I finally could change the earrings in my second hole, and was disappointed to find that my huggies were a bit too large for it. I bought them and I am so happy I did. I love wearing the double hoop look or even a smaller hoop in my second hole and a larger pair in my first. If you have multiple piercings, I highly recommend you check these out.

Dr Scholl’s Madison Women’s Sneakers: These are so comfortable and I am the world’s pickiest when it comes to shoes. And, these are the most comfortable. I’ve been using these on heavier walking days, and have not had an issue.

I have the griege color and it goes with everything in my closet which I also love about them.

Blogtober Day 13: 5 Best Purchases of My 20s

It’s safe to say that as we grow, we do spend money and later regret it. That is part of the learning process when it comes to managing money. However, there’s a lot of things that absolutely you have zero regrets doing. And, it’s important to recognize the positive things in life instead of dwelling on the negative.

So, here’s some of the best purchases I made in my 20s:

1. Car: I no longer own this car due to circumstances, but the best purchase that I made was buying a new car. My first car was a 2001 Honda Civic. When I started to drive a longer distance for work, more things have started to go wrong with it. Since it wasn’t an AWD car, I wasn’t able to travel in snow. I ended up purchasing a 2017 Chevy Trax in August 2017 and had zero regrets. Sure, it sucked having to make a car payment, but the amount of security I felt honestly was worth it.

Now I no longer own that car because when my mom died, I ended up using her car. However, buying a car honestly was the best purchase I could have made because it’s not worth having a car you don’t trust. Especially when you drive a lot.

2. Brita Filter: Getting a Brita Filter honestly was the best thing I could have done because it saves me so much money, because I never buy bottled water unless it’s an emergency. Since then, my grocery bill has gone down dramatically. It’s $17.99 initially, and then $17.99 for a set of three filters, which you change every three months.

I recommend this to anyone who is living out on their own because it not only helps you save some money on the grocery bill, it helps me drink more water since I don’t have to worry about running out. Since it’s a health purchase and a money saver, I highly recommend it.

3. Nespresso: I drink a lot of coffee and lattes. During quarantine, I honestly missed my Starbucks run. So, I took the plunge and purchased it. And, I have zero regrets.

Since then, I have used this pretty much every day. What I like about this is that it saves me $100 a month and it is a lot healthier than a latte from Starbucks. I recommend it to those who love Starbucks and drink a lot of coffee.

4. My Apple Watch: I have purchased my Apple Watch the week after my mom died and I have zero regrets. Prior to having it, I actually went through a ton of FitBits and they would die at least a year or so in. I’ve worn my watch since March 2019 everyday and it’s still going strong.

What I love about my watch is that it does so much. It tracks my steps. It does an ECG, which was helpful with dealing with the anxiety of heart health. Furthermore, I also love it that it answers my calls and I can text on it. I also use it for GPS, changing the song on my phone, and so much more. I also use it as motivation to move every hour, and it’s helped me so much with my fitness goals.

5. My Nook Glowlight Plus: Last but not least, my favorite purchase from this year was my Nook Glowlight Plus. This is my third Nook and this is by far my favorite because I love the size of the screen and the quality of it. I do have a Kindle, but I just love my Nook so much more. I think it’s because I had a Nook since the beginning. I also love it that it has buttons, which the Kindle does not have those. What I love about an e-reader is that you can take your entire library everywhere you go, and it makes it easier for you to take books anywhere that you go. This helps you fit in reading time whenever you have a moment to read.

So what are your favorite purchases of your 20s? Or in general? Let me know in the comments below.

Blogtober Day 12: Monday Mantras You Need To Hear

Happy Monday! I don’t know about you, but sometimes I need a reminder or a mantra to help me power through.

So, we’re going to kick off the week with a little positivity with a list of mantras you need to hear to get your week on a high note.

1. I am enough. Because you are.

2. I am worthy of love. Whether you are in a relationship or single, you deserve to feel loved and be loved.

3. I deserve nice things. You work hard for your money. I personally believe that after putting a percentage of your money in savings, and paying your bills, you do deserve to treat yourself. And, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

4. It’s okay to slow down. If 2020 taught me anything, it’s that it’s okay to slow down. I truly reject hustle culture, because it teaches us to ignore the things around us that truly matter. Family. Friends. Making memories. Self Care. We often forget that, and I think that it’s okay to slow down and take the time to enjoy things.

5. I accept myself. I think that 2020 has thrown us for a loop. During quarantine, I have gained some weight. For a while, I have been way too hard on myself about it. However, I realized something. My body is healthy and strong. Therefore, I accept it for what it is. Or, try to. I may not be a size zero, and that’s perfectly fine. At the end of the day, I’m trying to get healthier, and that’s all that matters.

Blogtober 11: Blogger Q and A

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.

Blogtober Day 10: Three Year Anniversary

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.

Blogtober Day 9: 5 Things I Must Do In The Fall

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.

Blogtober Day 8: Book Haul

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.

Blogtober 7: What I Love Wednesday 10/7

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:

Coach Double Zip Wristlet:

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.

Blogtober Day 6: Healthy Changes I’ve Made To Become Healthier

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.