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Tech Tuesday: Magic Mouse 2

I’m pretty much working from home all of the time these days, and that means that I’m using my computer more than ever before. That said, I noticed that whenever I did complete the work I needed to do, my laptop mouse wasn’t working for me. I felt cramped, and it was really hard for me to maneuver.

I decided to get a wireless mouse from Walmart for $10. However, no matter what I did, the mouse did not work with my MacBook Air. I have the latest generation, so I have to use a special cord to connect my USB cables to the computer as well. Needless to say, I wasn’t about to break my cords just so I can connect a cheap mouse.

So, I decided to roam around the Apple Website looking for a mouse that will, in fact, work with my computer. I found the Apple made one, which is known as the Magic Mouse 2. I did my research and learned that while this would be expensive, it would also work with both my computer and my iPad. And, last me for years, which is something that I try to do when I purchase any kind of technology.

Luckily since Best Buy offers curbside pickup, I was able to get it the next day. And, I love it.

In the box, you get the mouse, a lightning cable, and the instructions. While I have yet to use it with my iPad, I love it with my computer. It was really easy to set up, and connects automatically.

What is also great about this mouse, is that the battery lasts forever. I’ve used it nonstop for two weeks straight, and it’s still charged. I heard that when you do charge it, it does charge pretty quickly.

Of course, I bought this to use to work on my computer during this time, but I do plan to use it a lot when this is over as well. I also do want to try to pair it with my iPad as well, which might be a great way to blog from there whenever I don’t have my computer handy.

I know that we are in a time when we need to save money. However, I do think that if you have a Mac and want to have a wireless mouse, than this is a great investment for you. It does pair so seamlessly, and it’s something that I’ve heard lasts for years. If you do decide to purchase it, be sure to get a mousepad. I found that using this on the kitchen table without one did not work as well. You can find so many for less than $10 on Amazon (and they look amazing).

I’m Participating In Another Readathon

Last month, I participated in the Peruse Readathon, where I was able to get two books — one of them on my TBR for a while — off of my TBR list. After finishing it, I was so excited to do another one, seeing as I completed two books.

A few weeks ago, YouTubers Ariel Bissett and Raeleen Lemay announced their Stay At Home Reading Rush. Usually, the duo hosts a week-long reading rush in the summer. The event, according to the website encourages participants to stay home and have bookish fun as a community.

Now, the event has some challenges. These challenges are:

Screen Shot 2020-04-13 at 9.39.48 AM — Source: Reading Rush Website

I am going to be honest here — I am not going to follow most of them, just because I have a ton of books on my TBR and I want to try to make a dent during this time.

And just like the last time I participated in a Readathon, I know that I am not going to be reading the entire time. Other than work Thursday and Friday, this weekend is my boyfriend’s mom and my boyfriend’s birthday, so I am sure we are doing something to celebrate. Furthermore, I also get a lot of headaches when I do read nonstop, so I’d like to give my eyes a bit of break.

I also plan during this readathon to use the power of audiobooks borrowed from Libby to use when I do other things I enjoy, such as crocheting, playing Animal Crossing, walking Lucy, and other adulting things.

That said, here are the books I hope to complete during this challenge. If they do complete the challenge, I will be sure to mark it below.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Yes, No Maybe So by Becky Albertali and Aisha Saeed– Read a Book that Will Make You Smile
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Falling by Jane Green (if I have time)

I have no idea whether or not I’ll be able to get through all of these in the rush. However, I like that I have options to choose from, which is good.

Note: If you’re interested in participating in the Stay at Home Reading Rush, be sure to click here for further information.

What I Love Wednesday: April 8, 2020

The alternative title of this post should be called “things that have been keeping me sane during quarantine.” Needless to say, here are some things that I have been loving this week:

Libby: I have been using Libby as a way to download audiobooks for the past few weeks. What is really nice about the app is that you have access to a lot of audiobooks — for free. I had Audible in the past, and found that I wasn’t using it that much so I cancelled the subscription. However, since the pandemic began, I have been listening to audiobooks while doing other things such as cleaning out my closet, crocheting, playing Animal Crossing and walking my dog. What is nice is that since it’s connected to my library card already, there is no fee with it, and I don’t have to worry about not using it when this is all over as well.
Peloton App: I heard about this fitness app while watching iJustine’s channel. Since the first 90 days are free, I figured this is something that is worth trying out to shake up my fitness routine. And, I absolutely love it. You do not need any of their equipment, which is nice because they are expensive. I have a workout bike already, so I just grab some weights and take the classes. But, it is so much more than cycling. You have HIT workouts, ab challenges, yoga, stretching, and so much more. I like it because it gives me a larger variety, and they are constantly adding new classes to the mix. This is amazing, because I am not doing the same workout everyday, which gets boring for me. I know that the gyms are closed right now, so this is a great option.

Little Words Project: I absolutely love these bracelets. These have been my go-to bracelets for a couple of weeks now. I love them because of their positive message, and the fact that they don’t get in the way when I type with them on. Whenever I wear these bracelets, I feel empowered and it serves as a reminder that self care and love is important. And, what’s really cool about them is that you can actually make your own word/bracelets. In addition to their website, I also have purchased quite a few of mine through Nordstrom.

What are you loving this week? Let me know in the comments below.

Productivity and Quarantine: Why You Shouldn’t Expect to Get Everything Done During This Crazy Time

When I first heard that I was going to be stationed at home due to quarantine, my first thoughts were how much I was able to get done during this time (in between working of course). This would be the time that I would get to finally read all of the books that I’ve been wanting to read for a while now. This would be the time I would crochet all of the projects, and organize every inch of my house.

Needless to say, a month later and not much of that has happened. Well, let’s be fair here. I have begun some of those tasks — just to not to the degree that I would have liked. I have gotten rid of a lot of stuff, and I have completed a lot of crocheting.

That said, I began to beat myself up for not getting everything that I need to completed. After a while though, it dawned on me. We are in the middle of a pandemic. The death toll is rising daily, grocery stores have empty shelves for thousands of items, and we don’t know when it will be all over.

And, for people who are suffering from anxiety such as myself, it’s causing a lot of it.

Of course, I am not saying that if you are one of the many people working from home as we speak to slack off on the work that you need to complete for your job. I am not saying that at all.

I am saying that I think it’s important to recognize that we might not want to use this time to be super productive in the time in between working your full time job.

That said, if you want to watch shows on Netflix instead of cleaning out your junk drawer, let that be okay. If you want to mediate instead of doing a HIT workout, that is okay too. I think it’s more important now than ever before to recognize that we don’t always need to be productive on the go machines. We can watch TV. We can cuddle with our pets.

So, if you’re beating yourself up for not getting too far into your projects, don’t. Use this time to remind yourself three things:

It’s okay to feel anxious and slow down to help care for it.
You don’t have to do all of the things. You can rest. You can play Animal Crossing. You can catch up and watch all of the shows. And, it will be just fine.
Don’t beat yourself for everything that you didn’t do. Celebrate what you did do, and feel accomplished, because it’s still progress.

Shopping My Way Around CT: 6 Ways To Support Small Businesses

It’s no doubt that this pandemic has had a major impact on our economy since many businesses had to close their doors last month. That said, it’s essential for us to support small businesses in a way we can — economically or by word of mouth. Here is how we can do so:

Get Takeout:

Just because restuarant doors are shut doesn’t mean that we have to cook every night. Give yourself a break every once in a while by getting takeout. Many places are open for carryout or delivery. You can also use apps such as Uber Eats, and Grubhub to get them delivered right to your door.

2. Buy Books at Local Bookstores:

A lot of us have a lot of time on our hands thanks to social distancing. That said, it might inspire many to read a lot more.

Many of the bookstores in my area offer a chance to purchase your books online for curbside pickup or to be delivered to your front door. And, they need your support more than ever before, as their sales are down. RJ Julia, a local bookstore in my area is offering online purchases as well as the ability to buy online. This will help them stay afloat during this crazy time. And, it will probably ship sooner than Amazon Prime will.

3. See if they offer online shopping:

Many of the local businesses I follow offer the ability to purchase via Instagram or through their website. I love this for many reasons — especially since birthdays and Easter is still happening during the pandemic — and I could still get my gifts, as well as other things I may want. Plus, as mentioned earlier, they will probably arrive a lot sooner than Prime.

4. Get Coffee Locally:

My local Starbucks is currently closed because it does not have a drive through. That said, try some of your local coffee shops for carryout coffee if you can’t go without your coffee or latte. Maybe you’ll find a new favorite as well.

5. Buy Giftcards:

Finally, you can also buy gift cards to use when the stories eventually reopen. I like this idea because it not only gives you something to look forward to, but it also gives them some sort of profit as well during this crazy time.

6. Use Local Grocery Stores:

There are so many local grocery stores around. If they are still open, try going there to get your essentials. One, they might have a higher chance of having it, and two, you’re helping them keep their doors open.

Before ending this blog, I do want to stress that if you’re not in the best financial place because of this crisis, I am not telling you that you need to spend extra money that you don’t have. I am suggesting these to those who want to give back in some small way to keep the economy moving,

March Reading Wrap Up/April TBR

I can’t believe that we are officially in April. March was a long month for all of us, so I am glad to see that springtime — and the warm weather that it brings — is here. I’m not sure what this month will bring, but I am so excited to announce during the month of March, I have successfully completed 13 books thanks to social distancing. And, one of those books was one from the Mashed Potato pile, which is really exciting for me. That said, here are all of the books I read this past month:

A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer: 5 out of 5 stars
A Heart So Fierce and Broken by Brigid Kemmerer: 3 out of 5 stars
Heartstopper vol. 3 by Alice Osman: 5 out of 5 stars
Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid: 5 out of 5 stars
Laura Dean Keeps on Breaking Up With Me by Mariko Tamaki: 5 out of 5 stars
In Five Years by Rebecca Serle: 5 out of 5 stars
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah: 5 out of 5 stars
Tweet Cute by Emma Lord: 5 out of 5 stars
Break Your Glass Slippers by Amanda Lovelace: 5 out of 5 stars
Listen to Your Heart by Kasie West: 5 out of 5 stars
The Wicked King by Holly Black: 3 out of 5 stars
Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel: 5 out of 5 stars
Finding Perfect by Colleen Hoover: 5 out of 5 stars

Now that we’ve wrapped up March, let’s talk about April. One of my goals during this social distancing is to make a huge dent in my TBR pile. That being said, I still want to read books that have recently come out as well. So, my reading goal for the month is to read a book that has been sitting on my TBR for a while, and then follow it up with one of the newer releases that I got recently. I think that this way, I’ll get a lot of reading done, and still lessen my TBR altogether. Will I succeed? We shall see.

What I Love Wednesday: April 1

Happy April Fool’s Day! Like me, I have been in quarantine for a while now. Many of the days of the week have blurred into one day. That said, I still want to share my favorites of the week:

Miracle Oil: My hands have been so dry due to hand washing. I bought this little bottle of Miracle Oil from Amazon, and trust me, it performs miracles. I have a lot of cuts on my hands, and this heals them instantly. It also does wonders for dry skin as well. Some other uses for this also include: cuts from shaving, and acne. And for the $10 price, I am able to get a lot of it. I got this in January, and it’s still at the top mark.

Hershel Crossbody Backpack: Nordstrom had a huge sale when they announced that they were closing their doors for the COVID-19. I was able to score this for 25 percent off. I wanted this bag to take with me on hikes, because it’s small and I don’t have to worry about the leather getting damaged. I’ve used it a few times, and let me tell you this: it’s small. It fits my wallet, my phone, keys, hand sanitizer, and and chapstick. I also like that it has a backpack feel, but isn’t a backpack. That said, I do love this back and look forward to many hikes with it.
High School Musical — The Series: I am plowing through all of the TV shows I’ve been wanting to watch due to social distancing. I have been wanting to watch something simple and cute. Enter in this show. This show is about the high school where High School Musical was shot. The new drama teacher is obsessed with the musical, and so she creates a production for it. There is a lot of drama, a love triangle, and I am here for it. This show is very similar to Glee, which is probably why I like it. That said, it’s on Disney Plus, and it’s something that is definitely worth the binge.
Popsugar Lounge Pants: Like many of us, I am pretty much living in loungewear, sweatpants and leggings. I actually only have three pairs of sweatpants from college, so I wanted to get a few more since I’ve been social distancing. I loved the blush color pants, and when I got them, I instantly wanted to put them on. So, I wore them the next day, and am so comfortable. I then ordered the other color in my size, and I’m so excited to wear those as well.

Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel: I have been so excited for this release that I actually preordered it on my Nook. I started it on Sunday and finished it yesterday, and I couldn’t put the book down. It is based on the Gypsy Rose case, which is about a mother who pretends that her daughter is sick to gain attention. In real life, Gypsy Rose did murder her mother. The book is much different. However, I loved the book. I could not put the book down, and every chapter made me want more. I highly recommend this if you’re looking for something awesome to read, because I know you will not be able to put it down at all.

Tech Tuesday: Nook Glowlight Plus Unboxing and Review

As many of you know, I go back and forth between using an e-reader and reading an actual book. When I do use an e-reader, I do prefer the Barnes and Noble Nook over the Kindle for a number of reasons.

That said, I’ve had the Nook Glowlight Plus for a few months and had one big issue with the device — the fact that my battery wouldn’t last longer than a week. And if you go on the website, these tend to last for weeks without a charge. I did take my Glowlight with me to San Diego last year, and even with reading for several hours — some with the Glowlight on — I did not need to charge it during the entire trip.

So, I decided to call Barnes and Noble because I wanted to try to make sure that the problem got rectified prior to my warranty going up. After already telling them that I already tried the solutions suggested, they were kind enough to grant me a new one if I sent the other one.

I was really surprised that it came the next day — especially with all that’s going on. During that time, I used an old Nook HD. I am not a fan of those kind of e-readers because since I read so much, it ruins my eyes, but I wanted to use it since I have it in my collection (I honestly don’t know how to sell my e-readers).

When you get the Nook Glowlight Plus, it comes in a standard box. It shows the e-reader in a white background. When you open the box, you see the e-reader with the standard sticker that says “press the power button to get started.” Once you move the e-reader, you get the instructions and the USB cable used to charge the device.

Screen of the Nook when you first turn it on.

Once you get the device turned on, set up is pretty easy. You connect it to WiFi, and once you get connected, you need to update the device. Once that is all set, you enter your credentials, and leave it to charge for a few hours.

Review:

I’ve had the device for a few months, so I can honestly say that this one is my favorite Nook yet. I’m going to be honest here. I am a huge Barnes and Noble fan. I love Nooks over Kindles for many reasons. The first is that the Nooks have buttons, which is a feature that I really love, because I don’t like to have the smudges on my screen for fingerprints. Furthermore, I also love the fact that it’s so much easier to navigate over the Kindle. This might be the fact that I’ve had the Nook for many years.

That said, I think this Nook is awesome. I love the screen — in both size and in resolution quality. It feels so much better in my hand than the ones that are the smaller sizes. It has pretty much the same features that the other one has, which makes this the perfect device for me.

I do have one issue with the device — the battery life. The newer one has a much better battery life than the one that I had before. But, not by much. I got the device on Friday, and I’m already on 60 percent. That said, hear me out. I have been using the heck out of these devices. I’ve read pretty much for three or four hours a day on the device. So, I think that could be why.

Overall I do love this e-reader and highly recommend that if you’re in the market to get a new one, check this one out — especially if you’re stuck at home and trying to get to your TBR. One of the benefits of having an e-reader is being able to get all of the books you want instantly — something that is super important during a time when the bookstore is closed.

Do you have an e-reader? If so, what is your favorite device?

Resources To Work Out at Home

One of the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak is the fact that the gym is closed. Needless to say, many are trying to work out at home.

Honestly, I’ve been working out at home for pretty much my entire life. I find it not only much easier (especially considering the fact that I wake up at 5:30 a.m. to work out), but I find that it’s cheaper. Here are some ways that I do workout from home:

Amazon Prime: Amazon Prime has so much more than The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. It also has a ton of great workout videos — from kickboxing to yoga. I find that this is an added bonus to having Prime, because I use this a lot.
Jillian Micheals: Completing a Jillian Micheals shred workout is something that is on my bucket list. This is a great option for someone who is trying to get in shape because it gives you a complete workout. You can get the DVD on Amazon, or you can download the video to your devices. Disclaimer: you will need weights to complete this, so make sure that you have some on hand.
Running/Walking Outside: Since we are spending quite a bit of time inside, it is more important than ever before to ensure to get outside and enjoy fresh air. So, on nice days, try to make sure that you get outside to enjoy the sunshine. One thing that I am trying to do is to try new places to hike in my state that are on my bucket list. Also as a bonus, it also has a calming effect on the body as well.
Get a Mini Stairstepper: Money is going to be super tight these days, so I am not saying getting expensive equipment. That said, there are so many great workout options on Amazon that are less than $100. I have this mini stair stepper, and I absolutely love it. I use it while I am watching TV and it gives me a great leg workout. Furthermore, I also enjoy using this with arm weights to burn a few extra calories. I also love this, because it’s easy to store as well.
Apps: There are quite a few apps — both paid and free — that are devoted to fitness. My favorite is FitOn, because it’s free, but you have Peloton, and so many others. I would definitely check those out on your phone’s App Store.
YouTube: This last option is probably one of the cheaper ones. YouTube is such a great resource for anything, because you can get so much information for free. This includes workouts. This is a great option to check out as well, because you get a workout class for free essentially.

Hopefully these options will be helpful for getting a workout in during this difficult time. While this doesn’t apply to me, one final tip is to check with your gym to see if they are offering classes virtually as well. That is definitely a way to also keep them in business as well.

How are you getting a workout in without the gym? Let me know in the comments below.

I Participated In My First Readathon: Here’s How It Went

Many of you know that I am a huge fan of the YouTube Channel Peruse Project. Last week, Regan announced that she was doing a readathon. Of course, I was going to participate in that.

The TBR: The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah and Tweet Cute by Emma Lord.

Friday:

I started on Friday. I was already reading the Great Alone, so I continued doing that. At that point, things were beginning to happen in that book so it was easy to get engaged in the book. I read for a bit in the morning, and then I did some work for work. After that, I did go ahead and get some groceries which was an ordeal.

Once I finished, I did go ahead and alternated by reading and crocheting the entire night.

Saturday:

Reading during the morning has been a habit of mine for many years, so I got up and continued to read The Great Alone. I also had to go to the bank, which I did once I finished breakfast.

When I came home from the bank, I went ahead and finished the Great Alone. As a side note, I really loved the book and if you’re looking for an amazing read to escape from the craziness of what’s going on now, I highly recommend it. I knew then that I deserved a break, so I decided to put the book down for the time being.

That said, it was really nice out, so my boyfriend and I went to the beach and did a mile long walk. We also stopped at Walmart to get Animal Crossing, and got takeout.

Once we got back from our adventures, I did begin Tweet Cute on the way home. And for the rest of the night, I pretty much alternated from reading and playing Animal Crossing.

Sunday:

Not much to report here. Sunday was a mixture of cleaning (Sunday is usually my cleaning day), laundry, crocheting, and reading. I did finish Tweet Cute on Sunday night, and it was the perfect uplifting easy read. I decided at that point, I wasn’t going to start another book, so I went ahead and ended it there.

Overall, the readathon was a great way to make a dent in my reading list. The Great Alone was on my mashed potato reading list, so I am really happy that I was able to get through it as well. I also loved both books, and am now currently researching more of Kristin Hannah’s backlog.

Have you participated in a readathon? If so, what was it like?