Happy Blogtober everyone! I am super excited that I am going to be doing Blogtober this year, so expect amazing posts for the next 30 days. I am so excited to share all of the spooky and fall content, so be prepared for that.
Today’s post will talk about all of my spooky reads that I am going to read this month. October puts me in the mood to read all of the thrillers and all of the books about witches. It’s been a while since I’ve read a good thriller. So, I decided to tackle some of the ones that have been lingering on my TBR this month. Whether that happens, we’ll see. But, here’s a list of the books I hope to read this month:
The Guest List by Lucy Foley
Happy and You Know It by Laura Hankin
One of Us Is Lying by Karen McManus
Reputation by Sara Shepard
Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkiness
The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda
The Perfect Stranger by Megan Miranda
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
What are you going to read this month? Let me know in the comments below.
Happy Wednesday! This is officially the last Wednesday before Blogtober, and it’s safe to say that I am both stressed out and excited. I have many of my posts pre-written, so all I have to do is promote it.
Anyways, in other news, I have a lot of new favorites to share with you today. So, without further adue, let’s just get right into it.
Sabrina the Teenage Witch:
I was obsessed with this show when I was a kid, and I was looking for something fall themed to watch. I thought that was a great time to begin a rewatch of the show, and I’ve been obsessed. It has so much nostalgia for me, whether it’s from watching this when I got home from school or at Nick at Nite.
If you haven’t ever heard of Sabrina, it’s a show about a teenager named Sabrina who finds out on her 16th birthday that she is a witch. The show follows her as she navigates witch training and high school drama. It is honestly so entertaining.
Fantasy YA/Spooky Reads:
I’ve been obsessively reading fantasy novels this past week or so. Last week, I told you all about House of Salt and Sorrow by Erin Craig, which is the perfect read for this time of year. Since then, I picked up the Hazelwood by Melissa Albert, which has been on my TBR shelf since last year, and its sequel, The Night Country. After that, I plan to read A Discovery of Witches, which is a book I am really looking forward to since I heard that it’s basically Twilight for adults.
Diamonique:
If you’re not familiar with this brand, QVC has a special kind of cubic zirconia called Diamonique. My mom watched and shopped from QVC regularly, and has gifted me some throughout the years. Recently, when looking for earrings for my second hole, I found some of my older pieces that my mom had gifted me or pieces I have brought and forgot about and decided that I want to wear them again. Some of my favorites include: the initial necklace, the stud earrings and the bezel set Sterling Silver necklace. Note: some of the items here are not the exact ones, but I linked it to something similar.
Jazzercise On Demand:
I have found a new workout that I have been enjoying. That is Jazzercise. Since hurting my back, I have been aiming to do something that has been lighter. The app costs $19.99 a month, and offers unlimited video classes. I like it because I can do it whenever I am able to work out.
Furthermore, I also love these classes because they are just so fun. I may return to Jillian Micheals, but I am enjoying it for now.
Moriah Robinson Vlogs:
I found a new vlogger/blogger that I am obsessed with. I have been enjoying her content for a few weeks now, because she showcases affordable fashion. Fun fact: many of the items that she gets are from Amazon, which is something that I love because her picks are affordable and are great picks. I also love how authentic she is in her videos as well.
That is what I have been loving this week. What are you favorites this week?
Last year, I did Blogmas, which is when you blog daily from December 1-25. I enjoyed doing it so much, as it was a great way to connect with many new bloggers, and grow my blog a little bit more.
However, Blogmas is only one of the blogging challenges that exist. One of the other ones is Blogtober.
Now, what is Blogtober?
Blogtober is when bloggers basically blog one post a day for every day throughout the month of October. As I mentioned with Blogmas, it’s a great chance to connect with other bloggers, by using various hashtags.
What can you expect to see from me?
31 days of content. That’s pretty much it. I have some posts planned (okay maybe not as much as I would like), but I am basically am having what I normally post with some spooky or fall-themed items thrown in there as well. I am so stoked to spend the next 31 days blogging and sharing some great posts with you all.
The founder and owner of Shop, Luv Mimi, Mikala Copeland
I love shopping, but sometimes it’s hard to find high fashion items at a price tag that works for my budget. Enter Shop, Luv Mimi, which is an online boutique that has all things cozy, and cute things for whenever you’re going out. I have a crew sweatshirt from her, and it now my new favorite sweatshirt.
Today’s post features the owner of Shop, Luv Mimi, Mikala. This is actually the second time I’ve gotten a chance to chat with her (the first post she was featured in a story about her collaboration with Stef Decker from SV Decker), and this time, we learn all about her store, and her beginnings.
Tell me a little about yourself.
My name is Mikala and I’m 24 years old. I’m originally from Trumbull, CT but moved to Downtown Milford recently with my boyfriend, Bryan. I love this area! I’m a graduate student finishing up my Masters in Clinical Counseling at Fairfield University.
How did Luv Mimi get started?
I started Luv, Mimi in April during quarantine because my internship at a child therapy agency had stopped (due to the pandemic) and I wasn’t sure when it would come back. I was struggling to make meaning out of my days because everything was basically on pause. I knew that one day I wanted to open a boutique in person but I wasn’t sure where I would end up in the future. Combined with that and my search for some sort of purpose, I decided to open an online boutique!
Since then, my internship and classes have started again. So I’m pretty busy with full time graduate school, full time internship working with clients, part-time babysitting, and running Mimi, but I’ve been loving it. I love having events and connecting with customers. My best friend from elementary school went to school for fashion marketing and has been helping me run the instagram/facebook page which has been so helpful since I 1) have no time and 2) have no background in fashion/marketing/business.
Tell me about the two side walk sales that you’ve done. How have they helped grow Luv Mimi?
The two events that Luv, Mimi has had so far were so much fun and I absolutely love doing them especially with Stef! Her and I have gotten closer because of our event together so it’s just fun to have an event with a friend. She has built an amazing customer base and that has helped Mimi grow as well since we offer different kinds, but similar styles of things. It’s so much fun to trade clothing for jewelry too ;).
Do you anticipate doing any more for the time being?
We are actually in the process of planning a Fall event with all new arrivals, since last time was an end of summer sale. More info on that will be going out soon but we’re planning on October 2nd evening for a fun GNO type thing, and then October 3rd day-time for those that would rather come during the day. There will be tons of cozy new arrivals, Stef has some new jewelry coming in too, and of course snacks & drinks.
What are your fall fashion staples for you?
Fall fashion staples for me have evolved this year since I work from home. I’m loving cozy sets, joggers, and the seamless tanks are my favorite! Those have sold out but will hopefully be back by the event!! Another thing that I’m obsessing over are cropped sweaters. I think they are so cute to either dress up or dress down. Our Moth Crop sweater is seriously the softest material ever so I love to pair that with the Utility Jogger if I’m out running errands, or with these new soft joggers that haven’t been unveiled on the site yet (soon! hehe) for an effortlessly comfy look.
What is the next steps for Luv Mimi?
Next steps for Mimi are to keep building our customer base and continue to connect with others. Down the road, I would absolutely love to have my own space. Perhaps a boutique combined with private practice… Retail therapy! Kidding… kind of. But I definitely would love to watch the brand grow because I’ve met some amazing people thus far!
One question many girls have is the sizing. How does Luv Mimi run in terms of sizing?
Since all brands sizing run differently, so it’s hard to say. But, I always try everything on myself to see how it fits/runs and I always will put it in the item description on the website and instagram. I’ve noticed all the fall arrivals that have come in so far do run true to size. Anyone can always send a DM or email and ask for opinions on sizing as well! I get questions a lot and usually (always) get the sizing right. It’s like a weird talent I have I suppose?!
What is one item that you recommend for someone who is new to the brand?
It’s so hard to pick one item that I would recommend for someone’s first purchase because I love so many. For the fall/winter, the almond top is my favorite because it’s so stretchy and a beautiful color. It’s super flattering and it comes in S-XL which is unfortunately rare for most boutique brands. A fan favorite has been the Charcoal Denim Jacket, there’s actually only 1 small left! It sold out super fast. Same with the fuzzy leopard sweater that only has one large left, the rest sold out in 2 days!
What is one piece of advice that you have for someone who wants to start an online boutique?
I’m not sure I’m an expert on giving advice for someone who wants to open their own online boutique because I’m definitely still figuring out this whole small business thing. But, I will say that research your niche. Make a mood board on pinterest as for what you want your boutiques vibe to be. Don’t forget to go through the legal parts and figure out what you need in order to sell things. And most importantly, don’t give up when it gets hard or feels hopeless! Good things take time 🙂
Want to check out Shop, Luv Mimi? You can go to her website, or follow the shop on Instagram. (Trust me, you’ll find something cute on either!)
Happy Wednesday! Well now it is officially fall, and it truly feels as though 2020 is flying by. As the temperatures cool down, I’ve been cozying up with some of my comfy sweaters. That said, this week I have quite a bit of new favorites to share. So, without further adue, here are my favorites this week:
Many of you know that I have been crocheting for over a year now and have made quite a few projects. Due to the pandemic, I haven’t been able to take classes to enhance my skills. During an Instagram rabbit hole search, I decided to check them out. I ended up purchasing five different patterns, including the Basic Infinity Scarf, and the New Moon cozy – which are the ones that I’ve made. What I love about these patterns is that not only are they fun to make is that they are easy to follow. So many of my patterns aren’t the most beginner-friendly, which makes them frustrating to follow. That said, these are so much different than the previous ones –in the best way possible.
House of Salt and Sorrow by Erin Craig:
I keep on talking about books with good reason. I picked this one up to the recommendation of Hailey from Bookland and now cannot put it down. I finished this book yesterday and I was obsessed. The book is about Annaleigh Thaumas and her cursed family. Her family is cursed because her mother and four sisters have passed away in mysterious ways. Annaleigh is convinced that there is something behind her sisters’ deaths and despite discovering a mysterious magical world, is looking for answers. Like I said, I am obsessed with this book. It is one of those books that I discovered on a whim and I am so glad that I did. If you are looking for something spooky this year – or something that you can’t put down – then I highly recommend this one.
WigitSmith:
I recently downloaded ios14, and discovered the app Wigit thanks to Kathryn June’s YouTube channel. Basically, WigitSmith is a way to download little wigits onto your home screen. It is free, but you can upgrade it as well. Some of the wigits are pretty cool, including the moon phases, the time when the sun rises and sets, and a larger version of a calendar. If you want a more aesthetically pleasing home screen, I highly you checking out this app. Furthermore, I am really enjoying the features of iOS 14. I love having an organized phone and have since organized my apps into folders. Doing so has made it so much easier to locate my apps that I use all of the time.
Goldmine by Gabby Barrett:
It’s been a while since I found an album that I’ve enjoyed from start to finish. Recently, I heard I Hope on the radio, and loved it. That said, I decided to check out some of her other stuff. Since then, I’ve loved this album. It’s a mix of country and pop, and has a mixture of songs that you can rock out or slow dance to. My favorite songs, other than I hope, include Jesus and My Mama and Hall of Fame.
Every fall for the past couple years, I’ve found my way at Lyman Orchards. It is about a 30 minutes drive from my home, and it is so worth it.
The reason why this is both a eating and a shopping post is because I feel like this crosses both boxes. You can pick apples, get pumpkins, and play golf.
However, their farm store is phenomenal. Why? I’ll give you two words: apple cider donuts. They are some of the best donuts that I’ve ever had, whether you go with the classic option or the cinnamon sugar donut. And, usually they have them freshly made and warm.
In addition to donuts, they also have pies, cider already picked apples, and a bakery that has everything you can imagine — including non-pumpkin or apple related things such as cupcakes, brownies and cookies. They also have some ready made sandwiches and apple cider slushees as well.
That said, you can also pick up anything fall themed here and it will be fresh and delicious.
In addition to food, you can also purchase pumpkins as well. We didn’t have a chance to go, but it’s available.
I went there this past weekend, and picked up some fall goodies with one of my good friends. What is really cool about Lyman is that there is space for you to enjoy your food with a gorgeous view.
Fall looks a little different this year, and Lyman Orchards is taking the necessary steps for soctal distancing. The store only lets 50 percent of its capacity, so expect some lines. That said, I think this is a great place to go to for a sense of normalcy. Living in New England, apples are a huge part of the fall season. Whether you are looking for a fun way to meet up with a friend, a date night or a family outing, i think this is a great way to spend the time. And, if you do choose to go, pick up the apple cider donut holes.
Happy Wednesday everyone! My fall decor is up and I am officially embracing all things fall — from decor to pumpkin drinks as I mentioned a few weeks ago. However, on a not so positive note, I am recovering from a back spasm injury.
That said, I still have a few favorites that I am so excited to share with you guys.
Many of you know that I love crocheting. I just finished a blanket, and have been dying to do some smaller projects. I stumbled across her Instagram, and then her website as well. On there, I found a free pattern tutorial for crochet pumpkins.
I tried it over the weekend, and I absolutely loved making them. I’ve made a few more since, and I currently am waiting for yarn to come in from Etsy since I started making one with discontinued yarn that I ran out of to finish. Oops. I love this project because it is cute, quick, and easy — and expands my crochet skills from blankets, and scarves.
I am currently looking to make more of her projects online including her heart shaped coaster, because I need more of them and they look like a great way to reduce some of my yarn stockpile as well.
The Selection:
Okay I am probably really late to this series since it was pretty popular back in my early college days. For whatever reason, I never read it and it’s been on my Goodreads TBR for over three years. I finally decided to pick up the book last week, and I absolutely loved it so much that I had to download the next.
For those of you who don’t know, The Selection is basically a fantasy series with a dystopian twist. Think the Hunger Games with a twist of the Bachelor. America Singer lives in Illea, which is a caste system. She is currently a five, which is somewhat poverished, but not the bottom of the barrel. America is in love with a Six, which is forbidden. However, her mother wants her to enter the Selection, which selects 35 women to be the Prince’s bride. America is reluctant — fitting since she is in love with someone else. However, she is surprised to find that she may actually fall in love with the Prince.
This series is addicting, and while it was probably a little fluffy, I honestly am obsessed and can’t wait to continue.
Fun fact — I collect claddagh rings. Claddagh rings for those of you who don’t know, are Irish rings that mean love, loyalty and friendship. I love this meaning and have been collecting the for over ten years. Claddagh rings also symbolize your relationship status. The one where the crown is facing forward means that your heart is taken by someone. Since I am in a relationship, that is how I wear it. Furthermore, if you are single, you would have worn the crown towards you.
What drew me to this one is that it is larger than the many I have. I have many in different stones, but I love how this one is plain silver to go with all of my clothes. I wear mine on my index finger, so it layers wonderfully with my ring that I always wear from Tiffany as well.
It is quite too common for me to get a text from family or friends asking to hang out during the weekend. Usually, it’s in the middle of a busy week – whether from work or other commitments – and a weekend filled with Netflix while working on a crocheting project is pretty much the only thing that is getting me through it. However, time and time again, I feel guilty about just wanting to chill. So, I either say yes, and go even though I am exhausted. Other times, I am honest with them by saying that no, I’m exhausted.
Sometimes, people are understanding about it. Other times, not so much.
Now, I understand that having a social life is really important. I also get that sometimes, you have times where you’re doing a ton of social engagements because it’s a certain time of year (i.e. the holidays), someone is in town that isn’t normally, or even just it’s someone’s birthday.
That said, I also think that before we can do things for others, we do need to have it start at home. Yes, that means self-care.
I personally think that the importance of self-care needs to be more normalized. I’ve had conversations with friends about the fact that they feel awful rejecting a social engagement because they need some time to themselves, whatever that may be. Newsflash – no one should get upset with you for saying no to a social plan because you just need a night. I mean, if you hurt your leg, would you be expected to be going out to drinks instead of icing it or getting an X-Ray to make sure that it’s taken care of?
I don’t think so.
Furthermore, I would much rather be upfront with someone if I am feeling overwhelmed and need a night, versus making plans and cancel them last minute. I think that shows a lot more respect for the person and their time.
However, that said, I do think that the person on the other end of the conversation needs to show respect as well. For example, if a friend says that they are unable to make plans because they need a night to just slow down and practice whatever self-care they need, then that needs to be respected – not met with “well, can you do it another night?” or “well, I really want/need to do this and it’s been a while since I saw you so . . .”
I am going to be honest here. I am the type of person who needs a few minutes to recollect myself. I guess that is the Cancer in me. That said, I sometimes get overwhelmed whenever my social calendar gets too full.
While I recognize that I am the type of person who gets overwhelmed when my calendar way too easily, I am also the type of person who can feel guilty for disappointing someone as well.
However, I want to make this clear. It’s not as if I don’t want to socialize with someone. It’s just that I need a night to myself.
What I’ve been doing to help create a healthy balance is to try to have one or two social engagements per week. That way, I can pencil time in for myself, but also try to make sure that I see my friends and family. I think that it’s really important to implement both sides of the coin – that way, you are being fair to both sides.
And, even though that I am creating this balance, I want to be clear. I still feel guilty about it, because I feel like I am letting the people in my life down. However, I have learned that lets me know. As much as I care about spending time with my loved ones, it is also important to me to ensure that I am taken care of – whatever that means.
Overall, I want to conclude with this statement that has been my rock for the past year: self care is not selfish. It is okay to take the time you need to take care of you. And, it is okay to say no to a night out because you need a night of self-care.
Now, if you can get rid of the guilt that comes with this, that would be great.
The new Twilight novel came out a few weeks ago. Are we in 2008 or 2020? Talk about a throwback.
Anyway, the new novel, Midnight Sun, is basically Twilight told through Edward’s point of view. Now for a little history on the subject. Midnight Sun was started in 2008, but the first twelve chapters were leaked online. It then became shelved for Stephanie Meyer. That is until now.
Now, there is not new plot points for the story. But, there is a ton of backstory and additional information on the Cullen family and get more character development than in the original series. For instance, you learn a lot more about Rosalie, and her anger towards Edward while he was pursuing a relationship with Bella. In the original one, you just think that she is stand-offish. In reality, she just is really vain and hates what’s happening.
A good portion of the novel was basically Edward feeling guilty and coming to terms with what he was. Edward felt a lot of remorse about being a vampire, and feels as though he was the worst thing for Bella. He especially felt responsible when James was going after Bella. You see this a lot in the original series, but seeing it from his point of view really helped shape the story, especially in the sequel New Moon.
Something that I really liked was how Alice saw herself being friends with Bella, well before she was friends with Bella. As many of you who have read the series know, Alice’s gift was that she was physic. She actually predicted that she would be friends with Bella, and that Edward would fall in love with her. And, I thought that was so amazing.
Overall, I definitely think that I would have enjoyed this book more if I had read in my Twilight phase back in 2008. That said, I still enjoyed it because it was nostalgia of my tween/teen years.
Now, if you’re thinking about reading this book, should you?
Absolutely.
If you were a Twilight fan back in your teen years, then you would enjoy it. It definitely, as I said earlier, adds more to the story.
Now, before you get excited that there might be some new Twilight books, please know that Stephanie Meyer had said that this is the end of the road for Edward and Bella in a number of articles online. Sad, I know. But, I’m still stoked that this is finally out into the world, and really enjoyed reading it.
Did you read Midnight Sun? Let me know in the comments below.
Happy fall, y’all! I still can not believe that it is September already. It truly seemed that this year went by way too quickly.
That said, I did want to take a moment to reflect on all of the books that I read this month. I’ve read six books in August. Here are the books that I read:
1. Going The Distance (The Kissing Booth 2) by Beth Reekles: 5 out of 5 Stars
2. Beach Read by Emily Henry: 4 out of 5 stars
3. Time of Our Lives by Emily Wibberly and Austin Siegemund: 4 out of 5 stars
4. Commencement by J Courtney Sullivan: 2 out of 5 stars
5. Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer: 4 out of 5 stars
thenutmegmillennial.com 