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What I Love Wednesday: May 13

Happy Wednesday everyone! In one week, the lockdown in my state will be lifted. Well, somewhat. On May 20^th, 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.

Tech Tuesday: Nook versus Kindle

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

What Mother’s Day Is Like For Someone Who Lost Her Mom

Colored Sprinkles Blog Graphic

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.

What I Love Wednesday: May 6, 2020

Happy hump day everyone! It looks like better days are coming – we are reaching the end of the quarantine and things are beginning to open up once again.

This week, I have quite a few favorites that I am so excited to share with you. So, without further a due, here are some of the things that I am loving this week:

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid: I am absolutely loving this book. I started this book Monday morning, and I have been reading it every chance that I had. The book is about Emira Thomas who gets racial profiled at an upper crest grocery store. But, the story expands to so much more than that. The book also is told in the point of view of her boss, Alix who is a lifestyle blogger and is working on her first book. I am loving this book so far, and I am probably doing a terrible job describing it, but I highly recommend it.

Parks and Recreation Special: Okay, I could not mention this. I am a huge Parks and Recreation fan. Therefore, I was so excited that they made a special recorded in their homes. The episode was really funny, and it really talked about the Pandemic in a way that’s relatable and entertaining. If you haven’t watched this, I highly recommend that you do.

S.V. Decker Star Bangles: It’s no secret that I am a huge fan of S.V. Decker jewelry. I actually purchased the first silver star bangle during her summer sale back in the summer. Since then, it’s been one of my most worn bracelets. Recently, I decided to purchase a second one with a multiple of stars. And, I’ve been really loving layering these whenever I do go into the office. They look great, and better yet, they don’t clang on the computer. Since I had the first one, I can honestly say that they do last a while too. There are minor scratches, naturally, but overall they are really great bangles.

Impress Nails: Brooke Miccio talked about these a lot in her videos. That said, I decided to give them a try. The verdict? Overall, they are pretty easy to put on. And, they stayed on. The only reason why I did end up taking them off after a day was because I think that I put them on wrong, and it began to hurt. I do want to try them on, and make sure I put them on correctly.

S.V. Decker Rose Gold Chillers: Okay, I have another piece of S.V. Decker jewelry to talk about. Many of you know that I recently got into wearing hoop earrings more and more. I saw these on her site, and got them as a Mother’s Day gift for my grandmother. When they came in, I really liked them. So, I decided to get them for myself. Since getting them, I absolutely loved them. They are really lightweight – to the point where I even forget that they are even in my ears. I also love them because they are perfect for letting my ears breathe for a little while, which is great. They are currently sold out, but you can check out her website for other earrings like these.

Good to Know by JoJo: Of course, I had to mention that JoJo has a new album that has been on repeat since it came out on Friday. The album is art, plain and simple. It showcases JoJo’s vocal talent, and growth since 2016’s Mad Love. Some of my favorite songs include: So Bad, Pedialyte, and Comeback.

8 Books to Give Mom For Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is next week, and like Easter, it’s going to look a bit different. One of the best gifts that you can give Mom is a book for two reasons: one: it provides entertainment to your mom, and it helps support the book industry, which is one of the many that is suffering right now.

That said, of course, this list would only apply if the mom in your life likes to read. If she doesn’t, then maybe this list isn’t for you. Of course, this list can be used as gifts for anyone — or even if you’re looking for a read for yourself.

Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin: This was my favorite book that I read in 2012. The book is about best friends Darcy and Rachel, who have been best friends for over 20 years. Darcy is the center of attention, while Rachel is someone who is smart and quiet. On the night of Darcy’s 30th birthday, Rachel and Darcy’s fiancé, Dex sleep together. Now, you would think that the this would be the end. Nope. This leads Rachel to question if she should put love or friendship first.

Funny story — I actually found this book in the clearance bin for $3 at TJ Maxx. And, I absolutely fell in love with Emily Giffin after reading that book. Since then, I have read every one of her books. If mom likes this — or if you like that — I highly recommend the sequel Something Blue, which tells us the story of Darcy after the events unfolded in the first book.

2. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens: Okay, everyone and their mother seems to be talking about this book. When I first began reading this book, I was questioning why. It started out really slow.

The novel is about Kya, aka the Swamp Girl. She was uneducated and she basically lived isolated near the swamp. The novel tells her life story — as both of her parents abandoned her at some point. At the same time, Chase Andrews, a popular and beloved towns person is found dead. As the story unfolds, you learn about the mystery of who killed Chase, as well as learn Kya’s life story.

3. Talking as Fast As I Can by Lauren Graham: Gilmore Girls was a show that my mother and I absolutely loved to watch together. In fact, we can quote all of the episodes together. This is her memoir, and talks about her life during Gilmore Girls, Parenthood and other projects. It is a really quick read, and I really enjoyed it — especially since I am a huge Gilmore Girls fan.

4. Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reid: I am actually currently reading this book now, and I really am enjoying it. The book talks about an incident at a grocery store where 25-year old Emira is questioned while babysitting. I am only on page 60 of the novel, and I already am enjoying it.

6. Separation Anxiety by Laura Zigman: I read this book last month and absolutely loved it. It is about Judy who is kind of stuck in her life. Judy’s marriage is falling apart, she’s obsessed with a lifestyle influencer, and her 13-year old son is beginning to separate away from her. The book is comical and relatable and something that I think anyone can relate to.

7. Girl, Wash Your Face and Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis: I loved this books. This is perfect for the moms who just need motivation for whatever reason. When I read these books, I was honestly was so inspired that I was constantly reaching for my journal to reflect. This book made me think ‘yes I can,’ and helped me to see my self-worth and motivate me towards anything.

8. You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero: I loved this book. I actually read this book when I was going through a breakup in 2016. I’ve read a lot of self help books since, but this one is favorite because she talks in a way that is motivating and entertaining.

April Reading Wrap Up + May Reading Goals

Wow. It’s May already. I can’t believe that it’s already the springtime. I am hoping that May brings out a brighter month.

That said, this month I read 11 books: three audiobooks, and eight physical ones. I blame a lot of this due to social distancing, and I discovered that I really loved Jane Green’s book. I am just finishing up her third book in a row.

This month, I have a few different reading goals. The first is to read my first book club book, My Dark Vanessa. I also want to finish The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black to finish the Folk of the Air series. Finally, I want to try to read a few nonfiction self help novels.

Anyways, here are the books I read this month:

1. In Pieces by Sally Field — Five out of Five Stars

2. Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare — Five out of Five Stars

3. American Royals by Katharine McGee — Five out of Five Stars

4. Separation Anxiety by Laura Zigman — Five out of Five Stars

5. Most Likely by Sarah Watson — Five out of Five Stars

6. Sadie by Courtney Summers — Five out of Five Stars

7. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens — Five out of Five Stars

8. Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertali and Aisha Saeed — Five out of Five Stars

9. Falling by Jane Green — Five out of Five Stars

10. Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus — Five out of Five Stars

11. Mr. Maybe by Jane Green — Three out of Five Stars

Are We There Yet? Pressure and Relationships

I am 25 years old and I have been blogging about relationships for ten years. So if you do the math, I have been blogging about relationships since I was in the high school hallways. Now, many of those who were in those hallways with me are either engaged, married, or have kids. Or, some combo of the three.

For me, that is mind blowing. I don’t know why, but it’s still bizarre to me that people my age are getting married. But then again, I am in my mid-twenties.

I have begun to think about the pressure that sometimes exists about getting married. That pressure can come from anyone — from family, from friends, and of course, social media. But, what those who give us that pressure are blind to see what is right for us.

For example, I just read Mr. Maybe by Jane Green. Libby, the main character, feels pressured to get married from her mother — which ended up causing her to almost marry the wrong man. Throughout the novel, Libby often refers to her age as being a source to try to land a man.

But, when we feel that pressure, sometimes we end up making choices that are not right for us.

Now, I am turning 26 in a few months. My boyfriend is 27. We’ve been dating for almost three years. Some may say that we are on the path to getting married. Others may ask why we aren’t there yet.

The true answer?

It’s no one’s damn business.

Truthfully though, we both know that we are not ready to make that commitment. And, that’s okay. It doesn’t mean that we don’t love each other. It doesn’t mean that we don’t want to now. Or even next month. It means that we are on our own path.

Which I believe is perfectly okay.

Now, there are so many aspects of how pressure can be applied in life. For instance, Sex and the City broadcasts that societal pressure of women needing to find a man. This in turn causes women to feel like rejects just because they don’t have a husband or a boyfriend.

And, these are successful woman.

At the end of the day, I have seen many girls put their relationship on a timeline — something that creates pressure. I have seen so many others put so much energy into finding a relationship — myself included — when the energy should have been centered into getting to know the person.

I believe that everyone has their own story, their own path, and their own timeline. To me, everything happens for a reason. This is why there is not a need to put any pressure on it. I know that this is a laid back approach to life, but at the end of the day, that’s all we can truly do.

What I Love Wednesday: April 29th

Can you believe that it is the end of April? I am so ready for May it’s not even funny. I am hoping that this month marks the end of the quarantine, but we shall see.

Anyways, here are my favorites for this week:

Nespresso Vertuo:

I have been wanting a Nespresso for a while now. I love lattes. However, I got the milk brother from Keurig instead, seeing as I already had a Keurig coffee maker. After a month, it was no longer working. I mean, it wouldn’t froth, and it really didn’t taste that great. Since Starbucks is pretty much closed, and I really can’t get into the ones that have drive throughs, I decided that it was time for me to invest in this. I purchased a package from QVC, so I got a package with 62 pods, the frother and the machine for $180.

And let me tell you that was the best thing I have ever purchased. The coffee tasted amazing. It was as good, or even better than the Starbucks that I craved — and probably cheaper. And, here’s the crazy thing — it is a lot simpler than it looks. I thought that this was going to be a crazy complicated machine, and it’s not. And, that makes me so happy.

Definitely the best investment ever — especially if it breaks my Starbucks habit.

Jane Green Books:

I bought a few Jane Green books a while back at my local bookstore. I had heard about her on Instagram, and wanted to give them a try. They have been sitting on my shelf for six months. However, I was determined to finally read them during the quarantine, since I am a fan of Emily Giffin and Sophie Kinsella.

I picked up one of her later books, Falling, and well, I fell for it. I flew through that one, and fell in love with the characters, the plot and the writing. It is about our main character Emma, who is a retired banker who rents a cottage in Westport Connecticut to figure out what’s next for her. She meets her landlord Dominic, and she fights an attraction to him, only to lose. The two fall head first in love — that is until tragedy strikes.

Jane Green is deemed one of the queens of chic lit and I can see it now. I am currently reading Mr. Maybe, and I am flying through that novel as well. Once, I finish that, I downloaded The Friends We Keep and am going to read Tempting Fate or Straight Talking (it was on sale a while back) after that. Seriously, though. It’s been a while since I’ve loved an author this much, so I am enjoying that I get to add a new favorite. If you’re looking for a light read, definitely check out these amazing books.

Lonely Hearts by JoJo: New JoJo music is always worth mentioning — I cant wait until Good to Know comes out in two days! That said, this is a great song and I highly recommend you listen to it.

Items That I’ve Crocheted So Far

I have been crocheting for a little over a year now. Crocheting is something that has been relaxing for me. I love it, because it is extremely therapeutic.

Since I began to crochet, I’ve completed quite a few projects and have made a lot of gifts.

Here’s what I’ve made for myself since I started crocheting:

Purple and Blue Afghan:

This blanket took me forever to make. In fact, it took me a little over a year. This is technically the first item that I started, but not the first that I’ve finished (I made a friend a baby blanket while doing this). This was a single crochet, and consists of five different colors.

Scarves:

I love infinity scarves. These scarves were so quick and easy to make, and they are so warm. Making scarves are such a quick and easy gift for anyone, and make great Christmas gifts.

Hat:

This is the first hat I made while crocheting in the round. It also amazed me how easy that this was to make — in fact, it took me less than an hour to do. I have yet to wear this, but I am so excited to wear it in the winter. I’m also sure that this will be a go to Christmas gift for me this year as well.

Thick Throw Blanket:

This blanket took me a little over a week to make. It is made out of Bernalt Blanket Yarn, which is so soft. Because it’s a chunky (size 6) yarn, it accumulated quickly. Once I got halfway through this, I decided to order a wine color to make a throw for my recliner downstairs. This is definitely a great beginner project, because it’s simple and quick.

Pillow:

I decided to take the pattern from the hat and crochet this throw pillow for my bed. It was pretty easy to do, and looks great on my bed. I do plan on making another one for my recliner as well.

Nook Cover:

I found this pattern on YouTube for a Kindle cover, so I decided to make one for my Nook. This was very simple to make, and took no time. I like this one because it adds some extra padding to the Nook, which gets dropped quite a bit.

In addition to the stuff listed here, I’ve made a few scarves, and coffee cozies as gifts. Currently, I am working on a pink and gray blanket (see above), and a little yellow throw blanket.

I Participated In Another Readathon. Here’s How It Went

Last weekend, I participated in the Stay At Home Readathon. This is actually my second one that I’ve participated in ever, and this one didn’t go as well as the first.

You can check out my TBR, but it’s oblivious that I was too ambitious. I knew right off of the bat that I wouldn’t be able to read four books in four days. But, I ended up reading one full book during this time, and finished up the current book and audiobook that I was reading. And, since the book that I read was something that has been on my TBR for years, I am still pretty proud of myself.

Thursday:

I started off my morning as if I do every morning — with a cup of coffee and a book. I was still finishing up Most Likely by Sarah Watson, and I had to get Sadie done before my audiobook was due back. I was able to get some of the physical book done, and listened to my audiobook throughout the day. That night, I was able to finish my book, and all was well.

Friday:

I then picked up Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. I was actually disappointed at first with the book. For me, I thought that the beginning was so slow and I honestly was questioning why this was so popular.

I didn’t read that much that day, and I ended up spending most of my night crocheting while watching the Wedding Year. Reading is something that I don’t want to ever force on myself, so I don’t want to ever feel as though I am forcing myself to do it.

Saturday:

Saturday was a pretty productive reading day. I ended up finishing Where the Crawdads Sing, and I am so glad that I stuck with it. From page 100 on, I wanted to know what was happening more than anything else. I felt pretty accomplished with this, and hoped to get some reading done on my next book.

Sunday:

I didn’t get much reading done again on Sunday. I did read about 40 pages of Yes No Maybe So, and loved it. However, since Sunday is my errand/laundry day, I wasn’t expecting to get a lot done.

Overall, I think that I did make some progress on my reading goals. I loved my progress and I was happy that I did get a mashed potato book read.