Tag: entertainment

Categories
Fabulous living

Seven Years of Blogging

Hello all!

Happy Wednesday! I hope you are having a great week, we made it halfway to the weekend!

I am celebrating my blog anniversary this month.

I started to create this little corner on the internet seven years ago as I was finishing up my first year of college. I had just gone through one of the biggest years of growth and change. I moved out of my home, met all new people and went through all the growing pains of being a freshman in college. I started this blog as a creative hobby and outlet and it has grown so much since I wrote my first post. 

One of my first posts

I shared looks of the days, packing tips, my fitness journey, things to organize, and personal topics like eating alone.

Becoming a runner

Now, I share more about my weekly favorites, recipes, and adventures.

Trips to NYC for a day adventure

Over the last seven years, I have gone through college, started my first job, made new friends, lost friends, gone on trips, moved back home, found new hobbies and met my boyfriend.

Time with friends

I’ve shared a lot about myself through my blog, from homesickness, to landing my dream job, and staying true to myself.

So many fashion posts

I’ve also been able to share my favorite things; from beauty products, to fashion trends, travel, books and entertainment. 

A few books from my collection at home.

Every year, I like to look back and see what posts stood out to me the most. This year, the biggest moments come in the form of 24 hour day trips, starting new hobbies in the form of running, playing piano and growing a garden, and being more sure of myself. 

The fruits of my labor

Your 20s can be a challenging time of figuring out your career, being an adult, staying in touch with friends, being involved with family, navigating a relationship and discovering yourself. I really feel like I have found who I am and how I want to live my life over the past year. 

I always say I will blog until it doesn’t bring me joy, but every day I still get excited about writing what I’m feeling and sharing my life with you all. I keep a running list of topics to write about, or favorite things to share, or even stories that I hope can help others who may feel how I feel.

I always learn so much from other bloggers and women and they inspire me every day and make my day a bit brighter. 

I hope I can do that for at least one person. Whether this is the first post of mine you are reading or you have read over 500 of them, thank you for being here and reading what’s on my mind and heart. I so appreciate every read, follow, and comment. 

Thank you for being on this journey with me and I can’t wait to see what the next year holds. Cheers to seven years!!!!

Categories
Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #91

Hello All! Happy Friday!

I hope you had a great week. I can’t believe we are at the end of April. It has been a busy month full of work projects, spring fun, family time and dates with friends. This week’s Friday Favorites is a fun roundup of new things I have purchased or been given over the past week or so and I can’t wait to share them with you today as I link up with  Erika and Andrea for another roundup of Friday Favorites.

Library Books in Calendar– This was a recent life hack that I wanted to share. I’m a library book girl through and through. I typically make a weekly stop to the library to either pick up or drop off a book. In the past, I would write in my planner or phone when a library book was due, but I was getting confused when I had multiple books checked out and it was hard to keep their due dates in order. Now, when I add a library book due date to my planner, I write the book title, so I know when each book is due. It may seem like a silly life hack, but it’s been super helpful especially with multiple books out and to make sure I avoid late fees.

Net Positive Podcast- I mentioned a few weeks ago that my brother and I went to see one of our favorite comedians, John Crist perform. We really loved the show and I have started to listen to his podcast now too. Net Positive can be found on most platforms and episodes last between an hour to an hour and a half. He mostly talks about life; current events and he adds his own humor to the show. Episodes drop once a week and although I haven’t been listening every week, whenever I am on a long drive or am looking for something funny or light-hearted to listen to, this is my go-to. Definitely worth the listen.

Car Cup Holders– I got these car cup holders for Easter and they have been the cutest pick-me-up. They fit right into the cup holders in your car in the front seat. They help protect your cup holders and keep things clean. I love cute monograms and these are the cutest accessories for the car. I got them off Etsy and they have been making me smile whenever I get in my car. 

New Hand Lotion– Speaking of new things, I was due for a new hand lotion and have been loving this new scent from Bath and Body Works. Chasing Fireflies is a vanilla scented lotion that’s not too strong. I also like how it’s not too thick when you apply it. I like the mini lotions to test out the scents before I commit to the full body lotion. Definitely a scent worth choosing for spring.

Dear Edward– I finished this book at the start of the month and couldn’t stop thinking about it. It’s all about a young boy who is the only survivor of a plane crash. He loses his entire family and is forced to start over with his aunt and uncle. The book goes back and forth between the plane crash and the present day as Edward grows up. Once I finished the book, I watched the series on Apple TV. Although there were some differences between the two, I really enjoyed seeing how the show was adapted from the book. It was so cool to see the characters I thought about come to life.

That’s a glimpse into life as we say goodbye to April and Hello to May! Tell me, what are you looking forward to next month?

Categories
Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #90

Hello All!

Happy Friday! I hope you had a great week and are ready for the weekend! I know I am. This was a fairly normal and routine week, which I will happily take. I am looking forward to some time outdoors this weekend as the temperatures continue to increase, plus in my opinion, there’s nothing better than some sunshine for the soul.

Signs of spring!

As we gear up for the weekend, I’m sharing some of my favorite things from the week as I link up with  Erika and Andrea for Friday Favorites. This week is a mix of life hacks, entertainment, home decor and snacks! Let’s dive right in!

Everything Bagel Crackers- This is the last favorite from my Trader Joe’s haul. After getting some classic staples, like the everything bagel seasoning, and something sweet with the orange jelly sticks, I wanted to look for something salty and I found these Everything bagel crackers. They have been a favorite of mine since I got them. I love the crispness of the cracker with the flavoring of the seasoning. These are perfect to add to your next appetizer night with cheese and fruits, or they would be great for dips and spread or just eating them by themselves for a quick treat. I will be enjoying these for as along as I can.

New Bridget Jones Movie– Did you hear the news?! A new Bridget Jones movie is set to come out in 2025. I loved the original movies and the sequels were added bonuses. Supposedly Renee Zellweger and Hugh Grant will be back for the fourth movie. I can’t wait to see what it will all entail and who else could be making an appearance. Rom Coms are coming back in full force and I am here for it! Here’s an article with more information about it. 

New Candle- The timing couldn’t have been better that just spring was approaching I was in need of a new candle for my room. I got this sweet, floral smelling candle from Yankee candle as a gift, and it immediately has me dreaming of fresh cut flowers. The scent isn’t too overpowering, but it feels the room with a spring-like scent, and it does linger after I blow it out. I love the three-wicks and find that they tend to last longer.  I don’t typically get candles from Yankee Candle due to the cost, but it’s always nice to be given something to indulge in and savor. I can’t wait for flowers to bloom to start adding fresh cut flowers to my desk. 

Weekly Goals– This is a new practice I just started this year, and it has worked really well for me. I have started setting weekly goals. These are NOT habits that I want to incorporate into my everyday routine, rather, a weekly item I want to prioritize. I started writing them at the top of my planner as a reminder and I have been loving this system. A few of my weekly goals have included: get to bed earlier (if it’s a busier week), finish a library book, spend more time outside, order gift for friend etc. These aren’t big tasks or to-do’s, rather they are little reminders that I want to place an emphasis on each week. In the words of The Lazy Genius, I’m naming what matters. If you have a busy or hectic week coming up, I recommend trying this practice as a way to cut down on stress and anxiety.

Irish Wish- If you are looking for a light-hearted and Hallmark-esque movie on Netflix, consider the Irish Wish. It’s all about a young woman who goes to Ireland for her crush’s wedding and makes a wish to fall in love with her crush. Her wish comes true but as she’s dating him, she realizes he may not be as perfect as he seems. It’s a cute movie to have on in the background while you are doing other things, but it is by no means an Oscar-worthy movie. I did love the setting and the casting was pretty good. Not a bad movie, just not my favorite.

That’s a quick round up of what I’m loving this week. I had a shorter work week which is always nice for a break. Now, it’s back to reality. I hope you had a great week and are ready for the weekend! Happy Spring!

Categories
Fabulous living

Screen Time Feature: YAY or NAY?

Hi All!

Happy Tuesday!

I hope your weeks are off to a great start. February is flying by, it’s crazy to think we are more than half way to the end of the month. I hope you all had a relaxing weekend and were able to celebrate Valentine’s day with your loved ones. 

Today, I wanted to share my thoughts and get your thoughts on the new update on iPhones with the screen time feature. Essentially, your iphone monitors how long you spend on your phone from social media, to productivity, entertainment and more. 

The screen time feature is found under your settings

You can check your screen report by going under settings and then half way down you will see screen time. From there it shows you how long you have been on it for the day, how many times you pick up your phone per hour, and how many notifications you receive per day. For more of an overview you can see how long you have been on it for the week. Every week, your phone will give you a screen time report of how much time you spent on your phone for the week compared to past weeks. 

It shows you how much time you spent on your phone per day (Note: I wrote this post in the afternoon so it’s not a full day, but you get the idea)

If your amount of time on your phone alarms you, you can schedule time away from your phone or app limits, so you can control how much time you spend on your phone. 

This breaks down screen time hour by hour and you can see your notifications and how much time you spend on each app

When I first heard about screen time, I was intrigued. The first day I checked my screen time at the end of the day, I spent over five hours on my phone, I couldn’t believe I wasted so much time on my phone when I could be doing other things. Now, granted some of the time was listening to music, talking on the phone, replying to emails and social media but I wasn’t scrolling through Instagram for 5 hours straight. HAHA. Now, thanks to screen time I can monitor how much time I’m on my phone through the day and I can see when I need to put it down and away. After using screen time for a few months, I average being on my phone for about 3.5 hours a day, I wish it was lower but I’m glad it’s gone down since I’ve been aware of screen time. I have liked using the screen time app to be aware of how much time I’m spending on my phone. This is not an advertisement nor a sponsored post, I just wanted to share my thoughts on screen time and get your input from about it too!

Look at the full week-this week it was higher due to a number of interviews I was doing over the phone

What are your thoughts on screen time? Have you tried it? Did you love it? Hate it? Let me know in the comments below! 

See you Thursday for a new look of the day!

Categories
Fun Ways to Organize

What’s on My Phone?

Hi Guys!

Happy Tuesday! I hope you all had restful weekends! My weekend was pretty busy between homework, work, and the semester full underway, it was hectic to say the least. I am looking forward to this coming weekend as it will be filled with activities, family, and some R&R!

On today’s agenda, I wanted to share how I organize my phone and some of my favorite apps on my phone that make my life easier and more efficient. Now, as 20 year old, I do use social media a lot on my phone both for my blog and for my own personal use. However, I am just going to focus on apps, that make my life easier and more organized. This post is not sponsored or an advertisement, I’m just sharing what apps work best in my life and how I keep my phone organized.

What’s on my iPhone?

On the first screen, I keep most of my apps in their original place. I don’t like to move my apps around too much because I like to keep it simple and not complicated. My phone, safari, mail, music, messages, and notes are all near each other so I can access them easily.

First screen

On my second screen are the more speciality apps.

Second Screen

My first row are my apps for social media which include Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, and the E News app where I get all the scoop from Hollywood. I use these every day even multiple times a day.

The second row are apps that I use that are clustered based on use. (minus pinterest- another form of social media but I ran out of room on the first row). My first cluster is for school. Outlook is great for collecting my school emails, GroupMe is so helpful for group messages, Schoology keeps all my assignments in one place, Cam Scanner is great for copying notes, and Remind is a great Reminder app.

School Apps

My second cluster is for work which include Linkedin, Facebook, and Messenger all used for work purposes not fun.

Work Apps

The last cluster is all the other apps that I don’t use all the time including Contacts, Stocks, Files, Compass, any other apps that I don’t use all the time.

Extra Apps

The third row includes my personal apps which include my online banking app, my Fitbit that tracks everything on my Fitbit, my Countdown app for important days, and Sprinkle of Jesus, a great app full of inspiration.

My last row includes three clusters.

The first for entertainment; which include Amazon Music and Video, Netflix, Pandora, and Podcasts, they are tucked away so I’m not distracted.

Entertainment Apps

My second cluster  has my favorite shopping and food apps which include Apple Wallet, Amazon Prime, and Panera Bread and Chipotle, my favorite eateries.

Food and Shopping Apps

Lastly, photos and videos which includes Layout, VSCO, Followers, and Repost all important for blogging.

Photos and Video Apps

Now onto my favorite apps.

–       Notes

Everyone with a smart phone has some kind of notes app and it is so helpful. I use my notes every day. I keep To-Do lists, Reminders, Movies that I want to watch, and Books I want to read, Passwords, and anything else I need to be accessible at all times. I use my notes all the time and it is so helpful to have it be synced with laptop and ipad to I have all my notes with me on any device. Notes keeps me on top of anything that gets thrown my way through the day.

–       GroupMe

This is one of my most used apps. It is an app just for group messages. It is so helpful to keep all my group messages in one area and not mixed in with all my other personal messages. For my job at school, we use GroupMe to communicate fast and efficiently. GroupMe is also super helpful when it comes to group projects, work meetings, or just friends making plans.  This app is free and can be found in the app store. Overall, GroupMe has made my life at school much more organized

–       Sprinkle of Jesus

Not an organizational tool but this app sends you positive reminders and mantras throughout the day. Whenever, I need a pick me up, Sprinkle of Jesus is always there. Some of the quotes hit close to home. They also have great content too. This is free and found in the app store.

Whew, that’s a look into my phone and what apps Im totally hooked on. Also, I keep my background fairly simple so I’m not distracted with a busy background. What apps are you hooked on and what tips do you have when it comes to organizing your phone?