What I Love Wednesday: September 16th

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.

Turtle Trunk Crochet Youtube Channel:

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.

Pennyweights Claddagh Ring:

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.

Can We Not Feel Guilty About Self-Caring?

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. 

Midnight Sun Book Review

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.

August 2020 Reading Wrap Up

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

6. Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo: 4 out of 5 stars

What I Love Wednesday: September 8

Happy Wednesday, everyone! I still can not believe that we are in September. Now that Labor Day has come and gone, I am in full fledged fall mode. That said, I can not wait to share my favorites this week with you all!

Disney Fairy Tale Weddings:

I have been obsessed with watching this show. I love how sweet this show is, and hearing the stories of the couples. And, the weddings are beautiful. I never cry during a show, but this show has had me bawling. If you’re looking for something happy, then you should definitely check it out.

Kendra Scott Maggie Huggie Hoops:

I have had the rose gold set of these for a while but have never used them. I recently wore a rose gold necklace, and decided to wear them. And I absolutely loved them so much that I had to snag both the silver and the gold ones as well. They are so lightweight and comfortable, and I can wear them in both my first hole and my second hole. I really recommend them if you love smaller earrings then these are the one for you.

Madewell Jeans:

I found the most comfortable pair of jeans ever at Nordstrom Rack this past weekend and I’ve been obsessed ever since. They are Madewell button jeans. What I mean by that is that where there is a normally a button, there is a zipper. At first, I was skeptical, but the price was really good so I decided to try them on. And they were so comfy so naturally I bought them. I wore them yesterday and they honestly made me feel confident the entire day because they both looked and felt good.

And, let’s talk about the price. Normally, Madewell jeans are about $130. I paid $25. So naturally, I was excited about scoring an awesome deal as well as a great pair of jeans. I couldn’t find them on Nordstrom rack, so here’s a similar pair.

Bath and Body Works Calm Lotion:

I am obsessed with this lotion. I recently began using this one when I finished my other one, and I’ve been obsessed. It smells very citrusy and whenever I use it, I am happy. I have not noticed much of a change in terms of it calming me, but I really love using this. Sadly, after checking the website, it is discontinued, so I’ll have to try a different one when this runs out.

Eating My Way Around CT: 8 Places to Eat in Hamden CT

I am born and raised in Hamden. One thing that I love about my hometown is the food. There are certain places that have become my go-tos over the years. This happens when you live in the same place for over 26 years. That said, here are my favorite places to eat in Hamden:

Diners:

The diners are the best part of Hamden in my humble opinion. And, we have a lot of them. We have Three Brothers Diner, which delivers. We have Acropolis Diner, home of my favorite dish ever – the chicken souvlaki. And, we also have Townhouse Restaurant and Brownstone. All of these places have amazing wraps, burgers, and breakfast places. And, we can’t forget their fries as well. Oh, how I love diner fries. 

Glenwood Drive-In/Kelly’s Cone Connection:

This is a Hamden classics. Glenwood has burgers, hot dogs, fries, onion rings, and a few other things such as chicken sandwiches, and chicken fingers. Honestly, their burgers are absolutely delicious. Furthermore, one thing that is awesome is that they offer frings. Yes, frings. Frings are a combination of onion rings and French fries. I love this because if you can’t decide which one to get, you can have both. 

One of the coolest things about this restaurant is the fact that an ice cream place is actually attached to it – Kelly’s Cone Connection. I mean burgers and ice cream? Nothing says summer like that. That said, Kelly’s has a huge selection of ice cream, frozen yogurt, sorbet, and recently, dairy free ice cream. They also have cookies and brownies as well. 

If you do choose to get Glenwood, you definitely should treat yourself with a trip to Kelly’s as well. 

Bangkok Boulevard:

This is hands down my favorite Thai place, and my go-to whenever I am in the mood for Thai food. They have the best pad thai. I also have had a few other things on the menu, such as spring rolls that I enjoy. However, every time, I get pad Thai. 

While their food is delicious, their service is excellent. I do use their app, which is great for ordering ahead. Furthermore, your food is ready on time, which is also great. If you’re looking for a great place to get takeout, look no further. This is the place to go. 

Moon Rocks Gourmet Cookies: 

This is one of my favorite local places for me to get cookies. These cookies literally melt in your mouth when you bite into them. They have the standard classic flavors of cookies – you know chocolate chip, and very vanilla. However, they have a lot of great unique flavors: ugly salted caramel, s’mores, and orange creamsicle. 

In addition to having cookies with sugar, they also offer gluten free cookies as well. 

But, they offer so much more than cookies. They offer cookies immersed with brownies and cupcakes. And, those are delicious as well. 

Overall, I definitely think that if you’re looking for a good place to get cookies and don’t want to deal with the parking at Insomia, definitely check these guys out. 

Corner Deli:

If you’re looking for a new local lunch spot, look no further. These sandwiches, wraps and salads are amazing. They have the typical sandwiches, wraps, and salads – cold-cuts, chicken ceaser, and turkey. However, they have so much more. They have specials such as the cali-chick (grilled chicken with roasted red peppers, avocado, mozzarella, with pesto mayo on ciabatta), and the California chicken club (chicken cutlet, bacon, lettuce, tomato, Colby jack cheese, avocado and mayo), which is my go-to without the cheese. This is my favorite place to get sandwiches hands down. And, if you do go there, you will pretty much not go home hungry. 

Sapori D’Italia:

Since Hamden is just one town away from New Haven, I couldn’t resist sharing a place that sells killer pizza. Sabori is a little takeout place located on Circular Avenue. They have a lot of options for pizza – including veggie pizza, and Sicilian. You can get your pizza by the slice, or order an entire pizza. 

In addition to selling pizza, you also can have subs, desserts, dinner specials, and even purchase their own sauce. All of it is delicious. 

Eli’s On Whitney:

Yes, there is another Italian place that is worth noting. This one is Eli’s on Whitney. They have the same type of menu as Sapori – pizza, subs, and Italian specialties. Additionally, they have amazing appetizers – including my favorite Buffalo Chicken Eggrolls. This is a great place for lunch, and dinner. In addition, there is also ready made meals, which is great for nights that you don’t want to cook.  

Whitney Donut: 

My favorite place to get coffee – other than Starbucks – is Whitney Doughnut. They have a great selection of coffee, bagels, muffins, and true to their name, doughnuts. In addition, they also have sandwiches and salads for lunch as well. They also have a great selection of baked goods – especially their cupcakes.

I have a long list of favorites. I love their cupcakes, their apple cider doughnuts, their flavored coffee selection, and of course, their bagels. However, I am going to be honest here — there is nothing that you can get from Whitney Doughnut that is not delicious. 

Women Who Work: Tiffany from Saving Talents

Blogger Tiffany Thomas, who writes over at Saving Talents. Photocredit: Tiffany Thomas

One of the awesome things about the blogging community is that people look to support each other. Today, I chatted with Tiffany Thomas from Saving Talents. Tiffany Thomas is a chocoholic former math teacher and homeschooling mom with Crohn’s Disease.  She and her husband Phillip (who is an engineer) work together on the blog Saving Talents.  They enjoy spending time with their family, geeking out over sci-fi together, and saving money.

Be sure to check out our conversation with Tiffany about blogging, parenthood and so much more!

How did you get started blogging?

It’s a funny story, actually.  I used to coupon a lot, and after my second child was born I spent a lot of time at home sitting on my bed holding him (he only slept if held).  I could only binge-watch Netflix for so long, so I began to come up with really elaborate coupon shopping trips.  I wanted to share them with other friends who couponed, and a blog was the easiest setup.  To my surprise, it actually became quite popular and turned into a full-time thing.

However, after a couple of years I found myself wanting to write more than coupon deals (which were becoming a bit monotonous).  So I sold my coupon blog and started Saving Talents.

How long have you been doing it? 

I began my coupon blog four four years ago and sold it about 18 months ago.  Saving Talents is about two years old.

What is your inspiration for your posts? 

My everyday life!  I choose the recipes from homemade cookbooks passed down in my family.  When I look for an idea for a holiday, like a Christmas craft for my kids to do, I’ll put my findings up on the blog.  Or if something inspires me from my scripture study, I will turn it into a blog post so that it can be shared with others.


What are some of the challenges you face blogging? 

Kids!  Haha, my kids are 7, 4, and 3 months.  So the last few months I have had to cut back a lot of what I used to do.  We also homeschool and just started 2ndgrade for my oldest, which has a lot more work than 1st grade did.  Finding a balance is a challenge on a daily basis.

You talk a lot about frugal living. What is the biggest tip you have for 20 somethings like myself?  

Learn to tell the difference between wants and needs.  Many of us who are reading blogs live in first-world countries.  I constantly see comparisons between current events and difficulties of the past.  In all honesty, many of the rising generations have no idea what true needs really are.

I’ve been in a missionary in some very impoverished places in the world, and I wish that every first-world citizen could spend 6 months as a teenager in one of those places to learn the real difference between wants and needs.  I think we’d be much more frugal in how we spend our money.  We’d realize we could live with a whole lot less than we think we can, and we’d hesitate before spending what we currently do on “needs.”

How do you balance being a mom and blogging? 

Who says I do?!  Haha, I’m only partly joking.  Some days I spend a lot less time blogging than I planned, and other days I’m afraid I lose track of how much TV the kids have watched (all educational, at least) because I get caught up in writing.

I find, however, that when I put my kids and their needs first, the rest fills itself in.  I plan out my day with the kids’ stuff as the priority.  Then I fill in the empty time slots with projects related to blogging.

What advice do you have for bloggers that just are starting out? 

Don’t be discouraged.  Blogging is really hard work and it takes a lot of time.  Results are slow; sometimes it’s almost impossible to feel like you’re making any growth.  Do research into what works.  There are a lot of free tutorials out there that have a lot of valuable information – take advantage of those resources.

Be sure to follow Tiffany as well on Instagram, Twitter, and like her blog’s Facebook Page.

What I Love Wednesday: Wednesday September 2, 2020

Can you believe that it is already September? September means that it’s time to bring on all of the fall things, from the pumpkin cold brew, to the pumpkin bread that I can’t wait to make. Who is ready to snuggle up in comfy sweaters and something warm? I know I am.

That said, let’s talk about my favorites for the week.

Pumpkin Cold Brew:

We are going to dive right in and talk about the fall beverages. I have actually never had a cold brew before. That changed last week. I decided that it was time to try the infamous pumpkin cold brew. And, wow. It was amazing. I typically have the pumpkin spiced latte, but I can tell that this is going to be one of my favorite drinks throughout the fall.

Eat Local With the Franchis:

I have found this blog last week, and I’ve been obsessively reading it since. Eat Local With the Franchis is a Connecticut Couple that reviews local food places. I have been loving their blogs because it talks about so many great places that I love, and it made me want to try a new place that I ended up enjoying. If you live in Connecticut, I highly recommend checking out their reviews, because it gives a local perspective and shares their favorites as well.

JoJo’s Good to Know Deluxe Version:

Yes. I got the vinyl for this. I have no regrets. Last Friday, JoJo released the deluxe version of her new album. And, it is amazing. It has some new tracks, as well as collaborations with both Demi Lovato and Tinashe. And, can we talk about Demi’s vocals on Lonely Hearts? I have always wanted Demi Lovato and JoJo to collaborate, and I am so happy that this happened because they are both my favorite artists. That said, if you haven’t checked this album out, I highly suggest you do.

Apple Watch Band:

Kathryn June made me do it. A few weeks ago, she showed this Apple Watch band in a favorites video. I loved it, and since it was $13, I got it. When it arrived, I put it right on and it became my new favorite band. The quality is just as good as the one that Apple sells, if not better. I then ordered a cream colored one, as well as a black one. Both bands have yet to arrive yet, but I love this band because it fits my wrists well, and is great for stacking with bracelets.

Gabby Whiten:

I found a new YouTuber that I love. Her name is Gabby Whiten. Gabby is a NYU student who is studying for her PhD and also has a blog as well. I love her content because she shows so many aspects of New York, and what it’s like to be a PhD student as well. I definitely recommend her content if you’re looking for someone new to watch.

Shopping My Way Around CT: Pennyweights Jewelry

We all know that I love jewelry. This is no secret. I am a huge fan of affordable quality jewelry, which is something that is hard to come by.

Enter Pennywieghts.

I discovered this place through someone’s Instagram, and purchased a few items through their Etsy shop. Some of their earrings go for as little as $5. Yes you heard me. $5. Many of their earrings don’t reach the ten dollar mark. I purchased a few pairs of studs, and other than having one get caught on my mask, I loved them.

Since they are less than an hour from me, I did decide to check them out and did some damage. Many of the pieces were less than $25.

They have a wide selection in every budget — costume jewelry, vermeil, sterling silver, and of course fine jewelry. Since I purely wear Sterling Silver and gold vermeil, I was purchasing that. Many of their stud earrings were less than $15, and they have a variety from pearls, balls, and cute little ones such as moons and stars. These are great for those who have more than one hole in their ear like I do.

In addition to that, they have a huge selection of rings. Gemstones, bands, and vermeil. I recently purchased a rolling ring, and it was less than $25. I wore it the next day, and it was so comfortable on my finger as well.

They also have a lot of chains, and pendants. They have a whole little charm section in their store, which helps you create a necklace that is unique and personal to you. Very cool. They also have the very trendy paper clip necklace, which I snagged and am so excited to layer.

Last but not least, let’s talk about the staff. The person who had helped me was amazing. She gave me a lot of great tips and suggestions for items that would work for me. She also deferred me from buying some items just because she thought that it wouldn’t work for my lifestyle. Personally, I love that because it feels like I am shopping with one of my friends.

Overall, if you are looking to treat yourself, I highly recommend checking Pennyweights. And if you’re not near CT or can’t make the trip, I recommend you check out their Etsy shop as well.

What’s In My Bag: Daytrip Edition

A few weeks ago, I took a day trip since thanks to the pandemic, there wasn’t anywhere else go to. I went to Washington, Connecticut, the town that inspired Stars Hollow. That said, I wanted to share some of the items that I took with me for the day.

For the day, I bought my Dooney and Bourke Zip Zip Satchel in Black. I liked this purse because it was a shoulder bag, but also managed to fit everything that I need, including a water bottle.

That said, here’s what I bought: