Relationships

Inexpensive Date Night Ideas (At Home Or Out!)

Hello Lovelies!

As Con and I prep for the new year (and prep to become parents!!), one big goal for us has been prioritizing our quality time. So for 2023 something we hope to maintain even when baby girl is here is our weekly date night!

We already do not like spending much on date nights and since we first got to know each other through quarantine, we now feel like experts on dinner and a movie at home! Previously Con and I have shared some of our favorite dates during quarantine specifically, and below we are highlighting some new ideas as well as ways to make time for each other with a little one!

Thrift or Shop Second Hand Together

Go to a garage or estate sale together! Or maybe a curated vintage shop! You do not have to buy anything, but it creates a fun outing to see what interesting and unique pieces are out there!

Visit a Gallery

Another “go and see” opportunity! Visit a local museum or art show and wander around! You can also make this a fun opportunity to get to know someone by having set questions to ask regarding each other’s favorite piece – or one idea is to each pick out what work of art most reminds you of them!

Catch a Local Open-Mic Night

Another local venture! Check out local talent with snacks and drinks before or after dinner out!

Do an Online Class Together

Anything from yoga and fitness to parenting prep, meditation and more! This is one option to do something new together without needing a babysitter!

Build a Fort

Make it a fun movie night with nostalgic cozy vibes, and don’t forget the popcorn!

Picnic

One of our favorite ideas! Walk to your local park with blankets, cushions, snacks, and maybe even take-out and just chill outside for a bit! Bonus: if brining baby use the stroller to stash everything!

Visit a Bookstore

Bookstore dates are one of my favs because you can add a scavenger hunt to it! Maybe you are actually looking for your next read, but along the way find creative ways to get to know each other by looking for works/passages/etc that fit various things on the scavenger hunt you write beforehand!

At Home Spa Night

Do some face masks together while you cuddle on the couch!

Be Tourists in your own Town!

This one is more open-ended but see what there is to explore near you that you haven’t! Maybe there is a unique walking tour in your area!

And those are a few ways Con and I plan on spending time together (beyond new recipes and shows at home) as we prep for our next chapter! What are some of your favorite date ideas that didn’t make the list?

Xx,

The Detox Series Part 3: Only Positive Influences In 2021

Kind words are like honey, sweet to the soul. Proverbs 16:24

Hello Lovelies!

I have been slow to share more of the detox series since my closet clean out, as these next areas take significantly more time. There are still two more parts to this series, but for now I would like to share with you how I chose to leave behind negative social influences in this new year.

What am I getting at exactly? It’s simply the people with whom you surround yourself and choosing those people wisely. From friends to family to strangers on the internet, you have full control over who you let in.

In 2020 I experienced some of my biggest lows socially. I had people in my life who (I realized) were not meant to be there forever. The reason why I am writing about all of this is because it took me such a long time to not only let go of these relationships but also to accept that it’s all ok. So here is what I did to set healthy boundaries because ultimately what matters is your space and how you manage it.

First I will say this: the relationships I am referring to were a mix of intimate, professional, and distant therefore I intend to keep my advice general as it does apply to all scenarios. These situations were all toxic and I do not call them that because the people were toxic (they were not at all) but because the relationships added negative energy to my life and impacted my struggles with anxiety and other issues. Now for some concrete advice:

Detox Your Social Media

If you really don’t like an account but feel guilted into following or whatever, let go. Personally I used to feel connected to too many people I didn’t really know that well, but I never unfollowed because I would feel so stressed over how they would react. This year I realized that in the grand scheme of things this sort of worry really does not matter. If there are things you do not want on your news feed, literally remove it. If you worry about what people think like I do, maybe try muting things that upset you. Trust me, you feel so much freedom when your news feed is actually for you.

Set Boundaries

This sounds super vague, but if someone I love upsets me (and I mean in a big concerning way), I change my personal boundaries. This can apply to a situation you confront or do not confront, but ultimately you get to decide how you interact with this person and how often you see them. For me, limited interaction helps me when I care about someone but need space from the relationship. You can then use that space to cultivate other relationships or the relationship you have with yourself, and just grow!

It is never a bad thing to want space and you are not a bad person for setting boundaries. Needing to work on yourself is not a reflection on the other person and has everything to do with your energy and your growth.

There Is No Need To Ghost

Unless we are talking about Joe Goldberg, then great idea! If there is someone who you do not want in your life if is ok to explain why, especially if they ask. Ghosting someone is rude and only causes unnecessary damage.

Stand Up For Yourself

I feel like this one applies more to familial or work relationships, but it is still very important. If you have a problem with someone I recommend handling the situation directly and kindly. Explain how you feel and structure your point so you are easily understood. Do not be afraid to stand up for yourself because that fear may only hurt you. This circles back to the idea of letting someone know you need space from them. It may feel weird, but as long as you are vocal about what you need and keep conversations kind and respectful, you can accomplish a lot more than you think!

Pray

Whether you have faith or not, taking time to meditate on your relationships is a really good thing. This reflection will help you find peace and understanding if you are going through a tough time. And with this kind of calm thinking you can find the best course of action for you.

Do Not Get Petty

I feel like I have already said this but just because a relationship is toxic doesn’t mean either party is toxic. Therefore if you do need to reevaluate a relationship in your life, you do not need to be unkind in making space for yourself.

Look For The Good

Here’s the good part and this is where I am in 2021 (keep in mind I spent a solid 6 weeks detoxing socially): find good influences FOR YOU. Now that you have made space from things that do not bring you joy, you can seek new things to help you grow into a better person! Sounds cheesy or whatever but follow people who encourage you, find groups of people who act how you want to act, and put out positivity while you wait for all the good things coming your way!

I know this sounds simple but look for the good things and people you want and go after them!

xx,

I Fricken Bought Myself A Ring

Hello Lovelies!!

I feel like I’ve said this a few times, but this blog post is going to be a little different.

So last year as I started to get more serious in my career and figuring out my future plans, I set a reward for myself that once I reached a certain number in my earnings that I would invest in what I called “my first big blogger purchase”

At first I remember thinking I wanted a designer bag as an investment piece like many other bloggers, but now I have different ethical convictions regarding certain brands and markets (more on that later) and set my sights on an unusual purchase for a 22-year-old.

One day I was at a fun event and saw this adorable, subtle, over-priced eternity band. I new I was not going to purchase it any time soon, but it gave me a good idea.

Why wait for love or commitment from another person before wearing a diamond ring? Why should it symbolize marriage when it can symbolize so many other important things?

I mentioned that I call this my first big blogger purchase, but the ring itself I call my “I don’t need a man” ring. For me this symbolizes dedication and hard work, but more importantly it symbolizes the fact that I am worthy of so much no matter my relationship status.

If love is something I am seeking in the end, I can still be perfectly content focusing on myself. This object signifies my worth as a boss babe and reminds me that my life and the season I am in is not a season of lack. This is not a time of feeling incomplete and this is not a time of waiting. This is rather a time of recognizing ones worth and celebrating personal growth.

I encourage you to create big goals like this for yourself and do something nice as a form of self love rather than waiting for someone else to love you first.

xx,

Dating With Intention

Hello Lovelies!!

I am not going to introduce this article with a cheesy “getting pretty vulnerable here” statement, because I have been vulnerable and that is something I want to shamelessly continue to do. In being so open I hope to inspire, to teach you all something important for your own lives. So introductions aside, let’s get into this.

Early this year I became single for the first time in a very long time, and re-learning to meet and date new people was such a different experience. It is all a little difficult to describe, it was new, sometimes exciting, and sometimes frustrating, but it was just different. Through this journey I learned so much about myself and what I want for my future. Through all the craziness of dating, the biggest lesson I learned for myself is the importance of dating with intention.

Sounds a little weird, right?? I remember hearing the phrase from some mentors of mine, as a method to finding a lifelong partner who shares in your values, but for me this is much more than a series of steps or rules for people looking for the one. You might think I am overthinking all this, but really this concept boils down to knowing what you want and pursuing exactly that.

My personal definition of dating with intention is figuring out what you need in a partner before you meet someone, and deciding to be clear about what you are looking for in a relationship, whatever that may be. Know what your intentions are and do not be afraid to make them known.

If you are someone who is not looking to get serious, let your potential partners know. If you are someone who wants to date for marriage, do not waste your time messing around with people who want to “play it cool” or “chill.” Dating with intention can be whatever you want it to be, just know what you want and do not be afraid to make that clear.

For me, I make my intentions clear as early as possible. Sometimes that can be as early as the first date, and in the world of online dating, the same information can be shared in your bio.

Again, I know this may seem brief and simple, but I feel like a lot of people get “caught up” in whatever and forget what they truly want and need. So figure out whatever that is and go for it!

xx,

The Joy Of Being Single Presented By Pop Culture

“He is not the sun. You are.” – Christina Yang

Happy Valentine’s Day Lovelies!!

So I was recently inspired to write this as part of my personal journey towards self-love after noticing so many similar themes in television and music. What are these themes exactly? Well honestly I have just recently noticed SO MANY boss babes out there exemplifying confidence and self love, and it is just amazing!

With this article I want to encourage you all to love yourself first and be confident no matter what is going on around you. To do that I will share such examples from some well known figures in pop culture specifically.

Another thing to note is I chose these examples because some of these life lessons are overdue in areas like television and music. What do I mean by this? You will see!

Ariana Grande

Duh. So if you watched all the behind the scenes footage like I did you would see the interview they did with Jennifer Coolidge. In this interview, she mentioned how in her day, girls were not presented with the messages of “Thank You, Next” and a breakup was something that would significantly devalue a woman.

“Thank You, Next,” however, teaches us that breakups are ok, and that being single is a wonderful season of learning to love yourself and finding joy outside of a relationship.

Ellen Pompeo

This goes out to Ellen Pompeo, who essentially told her ABC producers that Meredith Grey did not need to rebound from the late Dr. McDreamy. Initially, with Patrick Dempsey’s departure from the show, the writers were quick to find a new love interest for Dr. Grey. Thanks to Ellen Pompeo, however, we get to see Meredith as a b.a. single mom/surgeon who does not need a man for SEVERAL seasons of the show rather than a re-used guy meets girl love story.

Rebel Wilson

I am just going to say *spoiler alert* here for anyone who hasn’t seen Isn’t It Romantic, though I am not exactly revealing details about the movie (which is great, by the way – go see it!).

So, personally, I was blown away by the messages in this feature, particularly the primary message of self love. Sure, romance is cute, but a real fairytale is the one where you learn to love yourself FIRST, ALWAYS, and FOREVER.

These are just a few examples of some amazing role models, and of course there are so many more that come to mind, but for now, I hope you all have a wonderful holiday filled with SELF LOVE!

xx,

50 Random (And Fun) Date Ideas

Hello Lovelies!

I have been wanting to write this blog post for SO LONG! I do not know about y’all, but I spend so much time on Pinterest searching for the perfect date idea, and I end up reading these crazy long and crazy specific lists of dates that may seem nice but are not that realistic. Personally, I am perfectly content spending every date night eating home-cooked spaghetti and getting into a new show, but still (just in case I have someone to do these with me), I have compiled a list of my top date ideas, organized categorically, and including a collection of budget-friendly (if not free) options! Enjoy!

Any Day Date Ideas

1. Go to a farmer’s market together. Try to snag as many free samples and pick up some romantic, local flowers!

2. Complete a DIY craft together.

3. Go bowling together or with friends.

4. Visit a drive-in movie theater.

5. Go to an art studio and paint something for each other.

6. Find your local kitten café and play with the cutest creatures while you sip some coffee!

7. Go to an escape room.

Seasonal Date Ideas

8. Make your own scary movie night!

9. Go on a hay ride.

10. Visit a haunted house and play Ghostbusters.

11. Go to a pumpkin patch then carve your pumpkins together!

12. Make a bonfire and host some friends.

13. Attend a local harvest festival.

Holiday Date Ideas

14. Go costume shopping for Halloween.

15. Host a Friendsgiving party.

16. Have a pie baking night.

17. Go ice skating together.

18. Attend a hockey game.

19. See a local performance of The Nutcracker.

20. Drive around the neighborhood and look at all the holiday lights.

21. Go window shopping.

22. Get in a snowball fight or go sledding.

Budget Date Ideas

23. Take each other thrift shopping and wear each other’s picks to an event.

24. Go on an adventure and try to get lost on purpose!

25. Visit a local art gallery.

26. Go to a museum and complete a fun scavenger hunt together.

27. Volunteer together.

28. Go people-watching at a busy place, maybe even make a game out of it!

29. Get dressed up and pretend to be shopping for an expensive home together just to get into an interesting house tour.

30. Visit a bookstore and share your favorite works with each other, or try to find something the other person might like!

31. Go anywhere and just draw.

32. Have a photoshoot! Walk around town and pretend you’re a blogger or something (lol).

33. Attend a local open mic night or student performance together. Bonus points if you prepare a piece to share!

34. Go to the gym together.

Rainy Day Date Ideas

35. Movie night at home – make this one extra fun with blanket forts and homemade popcorn!

36. Find new music together and create a couples playlist.

37. Learn to play a new card game, or make your own!

38. Have a spa day – get some bath bombs, add some face masks, and learn to give great massages!

39. Make a time capsule – place some of your favorite memories in a jar and read them when you are older or anytime you need something to brighten your day 🙂

40. Create a house cleaning challenge. Each person picks a task and whoever is more efficient wins a prize.

41. Have a cooking competition at home: compete to see who can make the best dish with what you have in the fridge.

42. Play Scrabble, but instead make up your own words and corresponding definitions!

43. Plan out your dream vacation together!

44. Make a scrapbook of your relationship.

45. Have an ‘unplugged’ day. Spend the day together like you normally would but turn off your phones!

Outdoor Date Ideas

46. Have a fun picnic together and make it extra fancy with wine and cheese.

47. Learn a new skill together like biking or rock climbing

48. Go to the beach. Make it relaxing with a stroll or some sunbathing, and make it more exciting by renting beach cruisers or having a sand castle competition!

49. Take your laptop outside and find a cozy spot to sit and watch something (preferably in a hammock).

50. Stargaze.

Thank you all for reading!! I hope this article gave you all some inspiration in your relationships! If you are new here, don’t forget to subscribe to my blog below and follow my instagram here!

xx,

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Why You Should Never Settle

Hello Lovelies!!

This topic has been on my mind a lot lately especially as I think about the future and my plans after graduation. I have thought about what I want for my life and oftentimes I think, what if my plans do not work out? What if I have to find something else or what if I have to wait? I realize that all these fearful thoughts revolve around settling, and here is why, no matter the circumstances, you should NEVER settle for anything.

Settling is a phenomenon that can occur in any area of life, personally and professionally. Ironically, it always brings about some very unsettling feelings. You know that feeling? It’s like walking into a shop looking for that cute top you had your eye on for a while, and unfortunately that cute top is out of stock, so you look for something similar just to avoid walking away empty handed. But then, this horrible feeling sets in that tells you that whatever you just bought is not enough. It wasn’t your goal, but you took it anyway in order to avoid making a difficult decision.

I have since learned that it is ok if not completely necessary to make that difficult decision.

Now, the opposite of settling isn’t necessarily making the difficult decision of walking away from anything but the absolute best. Rather, it is knowing your worth and how incredibly valuable you are, and choosing a life that fits you accordingly. There are many areas of life where you can choose to not settle, but I will stick to two areas: Relationships and Professional Life.

In both romantic and non-romantic relationships, people often settle primarily because it is better than the alternative: isolation. But in settling, you tell yourself that you are not worth having better, kinder people around you, and over time you accept more BS from the other person. Look for that person who not only accepts you where you are, but also encourages you to move forward and do your best.

Professional Life

I’ve always heard stories of people spending years and years in a job they never liked simply because it pays the bills. This may sound extremely simple, but if you have a dream and a passion for yourself and your work, go live it. Sure, there may be difficult steps to get there, but if you know who you are and what you want, what’s stopping you from pursuing your dreams?

When I find myself in these situations; when I have a dream or a passion and I am not living up to my fullest potential, I make lists. I plan and I create vision boards and it is honestly the most freeing experience to lay out all my ideas in one place in order to periodically check if I am on track to meet my goals. Typically, I make new goals lists and vision boards each semester, and I keep them on the fridge or in my planner so that everyday I am reminded that to continue working for something greater.

When I first started the blog 6 months ago, I did not imagine it would become so successful so quickly! At the time I made a list for myself. This list included short term and long term goals for the blog like content, production, collaborations, etc. This process has taken a lot of work but through it all I never sold myself short and that makes me even more proud to be where I am now.

I encourage you all to do more than simply dream. Envision your goals, record them either with a list or a vision board, and watch how that daily reminder will push you to achieve more than you can imagine!

xx,