Sweet Magnolias: I started the Netflix series last Friday, and binge watched half of the series in one day. It’s a drama about a group of lifelong friends, who went through ups and downs in life, and decided to open a spa. Add in some romance, and small town gossip, and you’ll love it.
Amigurumi: This was something that has been on my bucket list for as long as I started crocheting. So, this weekend I started to do so. I have been using the book Crochet Cute Critters, and I’m loving it. I’m making an elephant and I’m proud of myself for starting a new challenging project. So far, I’ve made the body, and might need to redo the head, but I am definitely enjoying the change of pace for my projects.
Little Words Project: I’ve mentioned that I am a huge fan before, but lately I have been gravitating towards these bracelets again as reminders for self love and encouragements. They just had a huge sale this past weekend, so I may have stocked up a lot. That said, I still have been wearing some of my favorites, which are warrior, badass, and self love.
I did recently order a bunch, including: Cancer (my mom and I both are cancers), Manifest, Be Gentle, Just Relax, Namaste, Reset, Love Yourself, and Manifest. Each of those bracelets serve as a reminder for me to relax and it’s okay to reset your batteries sometimes. I highly recommend these bracelets to anyone who is going through something major.
I think we all know that I love reading. I have a lot of books, and I read an average of 2-3 books per week.
With that being said, reading can be an expensive habit. However, it doesn’t need to be. There are so many different resources that I have found that you can use to get major discounts on your books. Today, I am sharing them with you so you can learn my methods of madness and save some money — without sacrificing the quality or quantity of books that you read:
Use the library: The library is a great resource for a number of reasons. With your library card, you can access an unlimited number of books for free. And, if your local library does not have the book you want, you can request it through interlibrary loan and have it shipped to your local library. However, in the current pandemic, the libraries are still closed. But, many apps such as Libby and Overdrive offer e-books and audiobooks for you to check out. I love using Libby versus Audible because I can access audiobooks without the $15 a month price tag.
Become a Book of the Month Member: I love Book of the Month and I have been a member for almost two years. It’s $14.99 a month, and for that price, you can get one hardcover book. Normally those cost at least $20 — even if you get it from Target. What is also really cool is their add-on feature. For the price of $10, you can add up to two more books to your box — so if you can’t decide which book you want, or want another book from another month, you can do so as well. Finally, what I also love about Book of the Month is that there is so much variety. You can discover so many books that are not even released yet, and you can venture out of your comfort zone.
Ebooks: I have a Kindle and a Nook (accidentally). Ebooks as a whole are a lot less expensive. Typically, they are about 40 percent off of the regular list price, and if you subscribe to sites like BookBub, you can get emails daily of ebook deals. I have a large ebook library, but that’s because I paid less than $3 for some of the books in my collection. The initial price of one can be super expensive, but it definitely saves you both money and space in the long run.
Local Used Bookstores: I love going to my local bookstore for books, because you can find so many goodies for less. I love going there to find a backlist title, since many of the books they offer are a little older. Furthermore, most of the books are at least 50 percent off, and if you trade in your books, you can actually get a few extra dollars off as well. Another great resource is the library booksales/stores as well, as funds tend to go to your local library, and the books are cheaper than $5.
Book Outlet: Last but not least, Book Outlet is something that every book lover should check out. I love their selection of recent reads, which is something that I often struggle with other sites. And, they often have coupon codes as well, which only adds to the savings.
I hate to be the one to break it to you. We might be in a recession. That said, now is the time to think of some ways that we can cut back and save money. One of the ways that we can do so is to shop smarter. This doesn’t mean that you need to stop shopping or buying things. It means trying to put more thought in the items that you purchase.
So, how do you do that? Here are some tips to get started:
Buy quality not quantity: How many of you have tried the cheaper option — only for it to be of lesser quality of the item that you really want. Then, you end up buying the item that you were actually wanting in the first place. Instead of trying to substitute the item and take the cheap way out, just buy the item that you really want and the quality will be there. Also when you buy items of lesser quality, chances are, you’ll be replacing them more as well. Therefore, buy items that are of better quality. Some of the items that I tend to be more for the quality include: purses, jewelry, shoes, and electronics.
Know what works for you: Do you not wear a lot of a certain thing? For example, if you know that in your everyday life, you don’t wear a lot of graphic t shirts because of your work, then try not to buy that many because truth is, you’ll only be wearing them a few times a week. Therefore, you don’t need that many. The same goes for things that are formal wear, etc. If it’s something that you don’t normally wear, don’t buy much of that item.
Don’t buy trendy: I try to stick to classics most of the time. The reason why is because after a season or two, it will be off trend and not look right. The classic items on the other hand? Well, those stay in your closet for years. So try to stick to those classics. And, if there is a trend that you love, try to get it on sale.
Picture when you’re going to wear it: Whenever you buy clothes or shoes, try to think of ways that you’ll be wearing them prior to purchasing. For instance, if you’re looking at a shirt, think of three ways you would wear it. This helps you picture whether or not it will go with the rest of the clothing, and give you examples of when you are going to wear it. Then, you’ll actually wear it.
Did you know that May is National Mental Health Awareness month? This year, the emphasis of mental health is more important than ever before. We are in a pandemic. We are in waters that no one knows how to swim in. We are adjusting to a new normal. Many of us are on furlough or unsure what the economic impacts will be because of the virus.
This is why we need to focus on our mental health. It is more important than ever before.
There are so many different ways someone’s mental health can be impacted negatively with this pandemic. There are so many things that are just getting cancelled — graduations, concerts, vacations, and so much more. Many people have lost — or have gotten furloughed from their jobs. We are in times of isolation, which as many of you know definitely does not help one’s mental health whatsoever. Furthermore, many people are quarantined with abusive partners or parents.
I am going to be completely honest here — this pandemic has taken an impact on our mental health. For those of you who don’t know, my mother died at home. Being home has without a doubt has amped up the grieving process on my end.
This is why we need to be kinder to ourselves —- especially in this difficult time. This is also why we need to practice self care.
But, how do you practice self care during a pandemic?
Well, first off, I think that it’s so important for anyone to recognize that they just need to get through it anyway they can. This quarantine is not a productivity contest. If you want to read all of the books, you can. If you want to just watch TV, you can do that too. Just as long if you are working from home,that you get your work done.
That said, there is something else that I think everyone needs to do — be kind to you. This means setting boundaries. For example, just because we are bored at home, doesn’t mean that we have to always be on the FaceTime chat. Sure, it’s nice to catch up with friends and family. But, at the same time, I do believe that if you just want to sit and relax every once in a while in isolation, it is perfectly okay to stay out of it.
Being kinder to yourself also extends on one other thing — on my end at least. This is not a productivity contest. Throughout the past few months, everyone’s pretty much living day by day. I am pretty much a creature of habit, so as you can imagine, it is overwhelming to me.
Finally, the last thing we can do to practice good mental health is just to allow feelings. I feel as though we are asked to suppress emotions — and that is not healthy.Therefore, I think it is really healthy to do that. Remind yourself that your feelings are valid. Let yourself cry and feel. It. Is. Okay.
I am no means an expert, but I do believe that we need to focus on our mental health more than ever before. Therefore, let’s practice good mental health habits every day of every month.
Happy Wednesday everyone. I am super excited to reach the middle of the week, because I’m one step closer to a three day weekend. My plans are consisting of pretty much sit in a kiddie pool all day and read with my Kindle. I also might want to take advantage of online sales, if they are offering a good deal on something that I am looking for.
That said, here is what I am loving this week:
Hello Fresh:
I subscribed to Hello Fresh a few weeks ago, and I am loving it. I am fairly new at cooking, so I am really loving the fact that I don’t have to rely on Whole Foods, my minimal cooking abilities, and delivery. Now, I can cook healthy food with ease, which is something that I am loving because it saves me a ton of money on food. Well, if you look at it from the standpoint that I would get delivery a lot versus the $60 for 6 meals.
Kindle:
I bought a Kindle Paperwhite last year, because at the time, it was the only e-reader that was waterproof. I recently went back to it, and let me tell you, it’s something that I am absolutely loving. I love that the battery is only down 26 percent after a week’s worth of use, versus having my Nook Glowlight Plus die many times a week. I probably will continue going back and forth between the two devices, especially since I have a ton of unread books on my Nook, but I am definitely enjoying my Kindle to the point where that may be my permanent one. Now, if Amazon can release a waterproof Kindle in white, that would be great.
My 2000’s Playlist:
Lately, I have been loving my throwback playlists. I know, the songs are over a decade old, but they are still really good. Some of my favorites are Paramore, early Demi Lovato, Miley Cyrus, and of course, all of the emo bands that I used to blast during my goth phase.
2020 is the year when there are so many exciting new releases from my favorite authors. Some are long awaited, while others are not. That said, here are the books that I am super stoked for. And, I’m sure that you’ll be seeing them all on my Bookstagram.
That Lies That Bind by Emily Giffin
I am a huge Emily Giffin fan. She is by far one of my favorite authors. I read every one of her books – many within the first week or month of their release. And, that’s a rarity to be honest.
The book is about 28-year old Cecily who moves to New York with the dream of being a reporter in 2001. She questions whether or not she should go back to her home – and to her college boyfriend. She then meets this guy, and they forge a connection. However, he then disappears in the 9/11 attacks.
I am super excited about this release, because like I said, Emily Giffin is one of my favorite authors. And, naturally, I will be actually buying that book versus getting the ebook since it’s my favorite author.
2. Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyer
Okay, so I was obsessed with Twilight when I was in Middle School. Naturally, when I heard that Stephanie Meyer was writing the books from Edward’s point of view and actually releasing it, I was so there. As many of you might know, she was working on it, but then it got leaked. Therefore, I am so excited to actually get to read the book.
3. Love and Olives by Jenna Evans Welch
I love this series. With every book, you are experiencing a different country. With Love and Gelato, you are on the journey with Lena to Italy. In Love and Luck, you travel with Lena’s best friend, Addie to Ireland. Love and Olives takes us to Greece, and seems to be a spin on Mammia Mia. It got pushed back because of the pandemic to November, but I am still excited to read it.
4. Heart and Bones by Colleen Hoover
You know that I couldn’t resist posting a Colleen Hoover book. Colleen Hoover is one of those authors that once I start reading, I can not put them down. I don’t know much about the synopsis, however, I know it’s going to be one that I love, because I always love her books.
5. The Wife Stalker by Liv Constantine
This book is actually getting released tomorrow, and I am so excited. I actually won this book in a Goodreads giveaway so that’s really exciting. That said, I didn’t end up reading it, but I am still excited to read it, because Liv Constantine is one of my favorite thriller authors, so I am sure this one will not disappoint.
6. Chasing Lucky by Jenn Bennett
Another book that was pushed back due to the pandemic. This was actually originally supposed to be released on May 5th, but was pushed back. The novel is about Josie Saint-Martin who is a budding photographer and moves place to place with her single mother. She ends up moving back to return to their historic New England town to run the family bookstore, where she knows isn’t going to be a permanent fix. Josie also runs into her childhood friend Lucky, who makes it clear that he wants nothing to do with her — which is why she is baffled that he takes the blame for her when things go south at a pool party.
I am really excited to read this release, and even more excited that I have a little more time to catch up with Bennett’s backlog. I’ve read Alex Approximately and The Anatomical Shape of a Heart and liked them. Currently, I’m reading Starry Eyes, so I hope to get to Serious Moonlight before this release.
7. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
Last but not least, I am so excited for the Hunger Games prequel that is being released tomorrow. It looks like it talks about President Snow, and I am really excited to read it.
I think that I am obsessed with jewelry. I love jewelry for many reasons. I have a lot of it that was passed down, so I love that I have a bit of family history that I get to have. Furthermore, I love that certain pieces make me feel a certain way. I have hoops that make me like I can conquer the world when I wear them. I also have a lot of inspirational jewelry that help encourage me, and some of them just promote good vibes. That said, here are some trends of jewelry that I have been loving:
For pretty much my entire life, I have been a silver gal. Recently, I have been into more gold pieces. I’m not sure where the origin of that comes from. Maybe it’s from watching a lot of YouTube. Maybe it’s because a lot of my favorite places have some pieces that come in gold-clad. That said, I really am loving the gold trend.
I love bangles. I am a huge fan of stacking them — especially mixing metals. I have a few that I love to pair, and they work well when I’m working at home on my laptop because they don’t clink up against it. Some of my favorite brands include Kate Spade, Mantraband, and of course, SV Decker.
What I also have been loving is the Mantraband rings. I have a few in different metals, and one of my favorite things to do is actually stack them. What I also enjoy about them is that they have different sayings. My favorite combination is the rose gold Always in my Heart, and the silver Grateful. Both of those mantras mean a lot to me. Always in My Heart reminds me that my mom isn’t that far away, and Grateful reminds me to be grateful for your blessings.
This is a new thing for me. I was always the small stud girl — pearls and ball earrings were my jam. However, lately I was looking to change up my earrings. It all started with a pair of huggie style that I got from SV Decker. What I liked about those is the fact that they are really light. I actually really hate having heavy earrings so that works wonders. Since then, I’ve accumulated quite a few new pairs, mostly from SV Decker and Madewell. What I like about those brands are that they are lightweight. I absolutely can not stand heavy earrings, so they are a nice change from my regularly scheduled pearls.
Happy Wednesday everyone! In one week, the lockdown in my state will be lifted. Well, somewhat. On May 20th, hair salons and all retail will be opening up. Furthermore, restaurants will now be serving food outside. However, I think that it’s never going to be the same as it was pre-pandemic. The economic impacts are going to be crazy, so it’s more important now than ever before to set some serious savings goals.
That said, here are my favorites this week:
Apple Pencil:
I love how I said that it is important to save money. However, I did purchase an Apple Pencil this past week. And, I love it. I use it for note taking, for coloring, and word searches. I have an app that I can take notes on, and I can use it as a planner, bullet journal, and take notes. I like it because it eliminates the bulk of a notepad, and the costs of having to rebuy them when they are filled. Therefore, if you have an iPad, I do recommend you getting an Apple Pencil to use to fill out all of those voids. And in the end, you’ll save money, because you won’t be buying notebooks.
Alyssa Lenore Vlogs
I don’t know how I found her YouTube channel. I am going to be honest. All I know is that I am so glad that I discovered her channel. I like Alyssa Lenore’s channel, because she talks about luxury purses, fashion, and savings tips. Because of her, I created a savings goal to save up for the things that I want, versus using my credit card. I also just enjoy her channel because of her travel vlogs, and her reviews.
Gold Jewelry
For years, I was a silver gal. However, lately I have been loving gold jewelry. I think that they are classic pieces that just never go out of style. Yes, I still wear my silver pieces. But, I have been using my mom’s gold pieces – and of course getting a few new pieces. Some of my favorites include: Madewell’s Slider Bangle, SV Decker Ballsy Bracelet,SV Decker’s XS Statement Hoop Earrings, SV Decker’s Monica Hoop Earrings, and SV Decker’s Star Bangle. I also have been bringing out a favorite piece – a gold Italian horn that I bought when my mother died. I don’t know if it’s a trend for me, but I am enjoying getting some use out of pieces that I normally haven’t been wearing.
Madewell Clothing
It’s said in the same. These clothes are Madewell. I purchased a few of their basic tees, a long sleeve shirt, and their jewelry. What I love about Madewell is their quality. Their t-shirts actually are the best material that I have ever seen in a shirt and can go from work to casual things. I am all about quality in clothing over the quantity, and I can tell these are going to last.
I also love their jewelry because they are affordable, and their earrings have sterling silver posts versus nickel. Furthermore, I also have three of their bags that are on the way, because they were the bags that I have been scouring everywhere for.
S’mores Treats
I’ve been making these Rice Krispie style treats for the past few weeks. They are really easy and only require four ingredients – chocolate bars, Golden Grahams, marshmallows and butter. And takes less than an hour to make. Easy and delicious. I won’t disclose the recipe because I got it from a friend, but you can find it online.
TikTok
Yes, I joined the trend. I have a TikTok and basically use it to post videos of Lucy. I also have been enjoying watching them to entertain myself. I can watch them and instantly begin laughing. Definitely follow me at nattbarletta if you have a TikTok and like dogs.
I have had a Nook since 2012. I had received it as a gift from my dad for Christmas one year. I liked it because it was so small and I could fit all of the books that I wanted to read. The only problem was I didn’t have a job at the time, so I really could not order books as much.
That same Nook sat in my house for a few years until 2018. My mom had a Kindle Fire 7 (I think) that she never used so I borrowed it. I liked the Kindle format, but I will be honest. I loved Nook. I wanted a Nook. I used a gift card to buy myself a Nook Tablet 7.
A few months later, I began to get headaches and eye strain. At that time, I would use my Nook for hours on end. At the time, I lived at my grandma’s so, I used it to read a lot. So, I went to the Barnes and Noble in my area to purchase the Nook Glowlight 3. It was basically like my older one, but had a glowlight. I was happy and I was able to move on.
Then, I went to San Diego that summer, and kept on noticing how much I would read at the pool. My boyfriend also had a pool, so I would bring a book and dip my feet in there. It was then I learned that at the time Barnes and Noble did not have a Nook that was waterproof.
I then decided to get a Kindle because I was having too many near death experiences with it. So, I bought the Kindle Paperwhite, which the never one was waterproof. The only downside was that the Kindle was not white, which was something that I wanted.
And, I liked it. The biggest problem that I was having honestly was that I was not used to the Kindle interface and that it didn’t have any page turn buttons. However, I loved it. The resolution was so much clearer than my Nook Glowlight.
Then, I saw that Barnes and Noble introduced the Nook Glowlight Plus. At first, I thought why would someone want a Nook that was bigger? Isn’t the point of it to be small? I then learned that it was waterproof.
A Nook that was waterproof? Sold.
I got it to celebrate that I landed my first real job. I really loved the size of it, because it fit beautifully in the hand. I also loved that the screen was so much better than the one that was on my Glowlight.
The only problem was that the battery life sucked. At first, I thought that it was because there was a defect with mine so I got a new one sent to me because the older one was still under warranty. It didn’t end up working and still had that problem, despite all the ways I tried to reduce it.
Seeing as I had both devices, I wanted to compare the Nooks versus the Kindle Paperwhite. During the pandemic, my ereader has been my savior, so I created this guide comparing them:
Now, both devices have pretty simple interfaces. In fact that they are very similar. However, I do find the Nook one to be easier to use. I have been going back and forth between the two devices as well because they both have different features that I enjoy.
That said, if I had to pick one, I think I would go with the Kindle. The battery life on it is amazing, and the resolution on the screen is honestly amazing for a device that size. I have been using it for a few days with the WiFi turned off and it only went down 6 percent. Yup.
It’s literally as if I am reading something that is comparable to the actual book. The only downside is that there is no page turn buttons on the device, which is frustrating.
Will I turn to Kindle and leave my Nook behind? Stay tuned.
That said, there is one conclusion I would like to make clear. At the end of the day, since they all are about the same, it really comes down to which book industry leader do you want to support. Do you want to support Barnes and Noble? Or do you want to support Amazon?
That decision, is entirely up to you.
Kindle Paperwhite:
Pros: Great Screen, Amazing Battery Life, Simple Interface, and a great library selection.
Cons: No page turn buttons
Price: Normally $119.99
Nook Glowlight 3/Nook Glowlight Plus:
Pros: Great screen quality (especially the Nook Glowlight Plus), Page Turn Buttons, Comfort in Hand
Cons: Terrible Battery Life
Price: $130 for Glowlight, $199.99 for Glowlight Plus
This is going to be the second Mother’s Day without my mom. Last Mother’s Day was a hard day for me, because it was the first time that it truly hit me that my mother was gone. This year, Mother’s Day is just going to be different because of the pandemic.
I don’t think that anyone truly understands what it is like to experience Mother’s Day when your mother is deceased unless you do so yourself. For me, it starts when you see advertisements to get Mom the perfect gift. It then dawns on me that I don’t have a Mom to buy a gift for. Sure, I have my grandmother, my boyfriend’s mom, and my stepmom to get gifts for. But, it’s not the same as getting your own mother. It continues until the actual day, when I realize that my mom is not here to go to brunch or to get dinner. Instead, I visit her grave at the cemetery, and drop off flowers.
Before I continue, let me say this: my mom was a single mother. She was one of the best mothers I could have asked for, and we were very close. I’d like to think that she’s cheering me on in heaven with our dog, Maggie and happy to see my growth and progress through life.
And, it hurts that she’s not here.
Last Mother’s Day, my boyfriend, his mom, and I did a Mother’s Day and then had dinner with my grandmother. Due to the pandemic, things are a lot different. I do think that this one will be a lot more challenging for me to deal with, because since there won’t be much to distract me with, I’ll be focusing on my mom no longer being with us.
Honestly, whenever you lose a parent, your holidays are nowhere near the same – from Christmas to a holiday that celebrates that parent. It stirs up emotions, because it reminds you that they are gone forever.
That said, I think that is perfectly okay. I think that many of us often forget that it is okay to feel the strains of grief – even though it may have been a bit of time since the person had died. Grief doesn’t go away overnight. In fact, sometimes it never goes away.
Furthermore, I also try to put things into perspective. I am not the only one out there who lost her mom. And, Mother’s Day is something that is not hard for just me. It’s hard on my grandma, who had to bury her daughter. Even though it doesn’t erase the pain, nor do I understand what others are going through, it does help me to know that I am not alone.
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