A Bucatini Shortage

Life during COVID times is weird. My mom keeps telling me I need to write about what it’s like to live in a Pandemic in my journal, and I keep telling her that it would be boring to both write and read later because I don’t do anything. I wake up, I eat breakfast, I walk my dog, sometimes I work out, I eat lunch, I scroll on the internet, eat dinner, watch TV, and then go to bed. And repeat. There’s not much to it. Sure, I could talk about the nuances of time and how the toilet paper shortage warped my perception of reality, but, to be honest, it’s all already been said. And not in a negative way, I just think that, collectively, we’re going through this time and we won’t know how it changed us or changed our outlook on things until it’s over. If it ever ends.

It’ll end.

In the meantime, so I can keep myself from getting too philosophical, I’ve decided to share a few links I’ve discovered recently. I feel like it’s always been too easy to stumble down an internet black hole, but, lately, it’s even easier.

I recently read this article on the Bucatini shortage in America. It’s poetically written and well worth reading in its entirety. Pasts, like toilet paper, was and is a hot commodity in these COVID times. My grandfather and I stocked up on it back in our hoarding days back in March. The first March of COVID.

If you haven’t already seen Malcolm & Marie on Netflix you need to watch it. Zendaya can do no wrong in my eyes. This film is beautiful. It’s mysterious. It’s sad. It’s enlightening. It’s in black & white. It made me feel like I was eavesdropping on an actual couple. Every single scene could be a photograph in a museum. It was filmed during quarantine with around 20 people in 14 days. Amazing, truly. Also, the soundtrack. Pure gold.

I keep seeing this Shacket around Instagram. It’s from Amazon and under $30. I’ve been on a no shopping diet recently, but honestly, might have to bite the bullet for this one. It’s perfect. Style it with a white ribbed tank, straight leg light wash denim, and gold hoops. Easy. Cute. Trendy. Love it.

Ok the no shopping diet doesn’t mean that I haven’t been looking. The last thing I need is another pair of sweatpants. But hello, these are perfect. Imagine the light blue with literally any color top; black, white, tan, BLUE. Blue? Yes. I’ve been extremely into monochromatic outfits lately. They look so put together and effortless at the same time. Into it. Very.

I entered the Golden Coil design challenge, and I’m so eager to see if I’m picked as one of the top designs to be voted on. The winner gets a cash prize along with 5 printed planners with their design. I’ll do a giveaway if I win so one of you can have it!

That’s all for now! 

Thanks for reading,
Chloe

Byte Me

I’ve always been obsessed with packaging. Obsessed. I don’t know if everyone is like this, I highly doubt it, but the way I see products is by their packaging. If my dad asked me to purchase pulp-free orange juice I knew exactly which color that specific orange juice packaging was. If someone asked me the name of the brand I wouldn’t know, but I would know exactly what color and shape the logo were.

In fact, I have this weird thing with colors. My mom loves to tell this story, so I’ll tell it here so it’s forever in the universe.

When we moved to Louisville, KY we wanted to paint the walls of our living room to very closely match the color of the curtains. We had these specific curtains in our last house so I was very familiar with them. When we got to the paint store to match the paint to them, my mom realized she left the curtains at home. I was able to go to the tan section of the paint colors (you know how they’re all lined up together on the wall?) and grab the exact shade of tan. She called me a color prodigy from that day forward.

I don’t think I’m a prodigy by any means; I do, however, think I view color and color theory a lot differently than your average gal. This means I’m definitely in the right field as a graphic designer…

All that being said, I want to introduce you to a brand that I recently discovered by way of Instagram. I was instantly attracted Byte Bars because of their packaging so reached out to see if they would be interested in partnering together. They said “yes”! Not only is the packaging to die for, but the bars themselves are gluten-free, vegan, and the perfect mini-sized for a snack on the go. My favorite flavor is far and away the choco-chip bar, but they are all seriously so great. Can’t go wrong, plus HELLO!! the packaging is cute enough to carry as an accessory.

If you’re in the market for a plant-based snack on the go, I highly recommend these Byte Bars! If you’ve tried them or try them, please let me know how you love them!

xo
Chloe

Investing

While I’ve always loved seeing what influencers and YouTube-rs received for the holidays, I’ve never really felt super comfortable sharing what I received for either my birthday or Hanukkah. I think it makes me nervous because I never want to come across as if I were bragging or showing off, and to be completely honest and transparent, the best part about the holidays isn’t ever the gifts I receive, but instead, the people I spend it with. Also, the food during this time of year never disappoints ;)

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However, this year, one of the best gifts I received from my parents was a little bit of money to invest in the stock markets. I started investing using Robinhood during the initial days of quarantine because I wanted something to learn and focus my time on. I honestly wish I had started when I was in my early days of high school or college, even if it were just a few inexpensive stocks here and there so I could learn how the markets really work, flow, and change.

As I was learning, I tried to find resources that were good for beginners and used words that I could actually understand and follow. It can be EXTREMELY intimidating at first, but once you realize that no one really knows anything it helps you out. I started by investing in inexpensive stocks that I could afford but still knew the names of. For example, I bought one share of Snapchat when it was around $18 and now it’s worth $48. In hindsight, I wish I bought more shares, but also, I’m glad I didn’t because I had no idea what anything meant at that point and it’s fun to watch single shares grow so exponentially.

It’s been such a fun experience, and Robinhood makes it VERY simple to buy and sell stocks. This is not a sponsored post at all, but if you’re interested in trying it out yourself, click here for a link to signup for Robinhood and receive a free initial stock. My brother invited me and I got a free Ford stock that I still have and has grown ever so slightly, and when you sign up with this referral code you have a 1 in 350 chance of getting Microsoft ($215.37), Walmart ($145.26), or Visa ($215.09) .. and you don’t need any money in your account to get your free stock.

I would just advise that if you do start investing, start small and start slow. There is such a big learning curve that it’s important that you only bite off a little piece at a time. I read some advice (I can’t remember where) that said something like “invest what you’re willing to lose.” As in, don’t invest your entire life savings, invest as if it’s the spare change at the bottom of your purse. This will allow you to learn without risk, at least in the beginning.

A few resources that helped and continue to help are:

• Robinhood Newsletter “Snacks”

• Marketing Brew Newsletter

• This list of podcasts for beginners

• The Financial Diet website

Let me know if you do end up learning or if you already invest and how you learn!

Thanks for reading!

xo
chloe

Thanksgiving Recipe Roundup

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and it’s making me think about how fast these past few months have flown by. I mean, March seems like it was ten years ago, but July?? I swear it was just July fourth, like, yesterday. Since Thanksgiving is sneaking up on us faster than you can say “green bean casserole” I’ve decided to help you out in compiling a list of recipes that are bound to be a hit. I’m sure you have your ride or die recipes that your family makes every year, for us, it’s the stuffing and sweet potato casserole, but maybe this year you want to try something new out for those Friendsgiving festivities or smaller scale Thanksgiving dinners you’re having this year — I, for one, am going to miss my great aunt’s cranberry sauce. So good.

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You can thank me later, or just say you’re thankful for this blog when you’re going around the table saying what you’re thankful for. Word of mouth advertising is what I’m going for here. Kidding…. kind of.

I’ve categorized the links based on the type of dish it is, but if you need me to point you in the direction of something specific, don’t hesitate to leave a comment! I’m no chef or recipe master so they’re all links to outside sources. Sharing the love! Some recipes might be classic Thanksgiving dishes and some might be a little different spin on Thanksgiving foods. Thanksgiving is all about appeasing the masses and staying away from politics, right? Right! Also, please note, I tried to list everything that seemed do-able for me. And I’m not a chef. I burn all pans and most foods, but these items all looked like something even I could manage. That being said, I’ve only shared sides and desserts. Turkey is something I just know I would never be able to manage alone.

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SIDES

• Wild Mushroom Risotto

• Kale Salad with Apples and Pumpkin Seeds

• Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes

• Roasted Brussel Sprouts and Squash

• Cranberry + Brie Bites

• Classic Deviled Eggs

• Mashed Potatoes

• Mac & Cheese

• Another Mac & Cheese (easy)

• Green Bean Casserole

• Brown Butter Stuffing

• Sweet Potato Bake

• Corn Bread Biscuits

• Sweet Potato Casserole (could be dessert)

• Cranberry Sauce

• Roasted Baby Carrots

• Vegan Biscuits

• Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes

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DESSERTS

• Classic Fudgy Brownies

• Pecan Pie Brownies

• Cinamon Swirl Bread (definitely on the more difficult side in my opinion)

• Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

• Pumpkin Bread

• Pumpkin Pie

• Cranberry Orange Buns

• Chess Pie

• No-Bake Brownie Bites

• Vegan Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

• Cookie Dough Bites (vegan optional)

• Apple Cider Bundt Cake

• Cinamon Roll Bread

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DRINKS

• Apple Cider Sangria

• Cucumber Cooler

• 5-ingredient Sangria

• Thanksgiving Margarita

• Caramel Apple Cider Mimosa

• Pumpkin Pie Martini

• Blood Orange Champagne Punch

Whew! That should at least cover a few of your bases. I’m not sure what I’ll be cooking this year, but I’m sure I’ll use this post as a toolkit if I need a few recipes handy. If you’re more in charge of the table scape and place settings than the actual cooking (aka me) I’ve linked a few cute items that I’m inspired by below.

That’s all for now! Stay tuned for Thanksgiving outfit ideas coming soon!
Thanks for reading!
xo
Chloe

book review: daisy jones & the six

Here we are with another book review. It’s a good one. A really, really good one. But before I get started, I want to share a fun story. During my second semester of senior year in college I interned at an advertising agency in Denver. There were six interns in the program and we formed our own little “mini agency” of sorts. We had our roles, I was the copywriter, but there was also an account manager, an art director, analytics director, new business/pr, and a UX/UI gal. We made a solid team. On the first day of the internship, we were assigned desks and I happened to be placed next to the analytics intern who also went to the same college. We had never met, but we instantly hit it off. Throughout the day, we ended up sharing our schedules for the semester and realized that we had the same Monday night class: event planning. The first day of our internship fell on the first Monday of classes so we had class together later that night.

We both had other friends in the class so we didn’t sit next to each other, but during the class the teacher assigned random groups of 2-3 people that we’d be partnered with for the entire semester. If you’re thinking that we were partnered together, then hey! you’re right! Good guess! Ever since that first Monday of meeting each other, we spent a majority of our days together, we were instant friends, and we always joke (slash seriously say) that we were meant to be friends. Something in the universe knew that we needed each other in our lives. So, Natalie, if you’re reading this, I’m thankful for you ;)

By now, if you’re not Natalie, you’re probably wondering why I’m sharing this story. Well, you’re in luck because I’m about to tell you. Natalie and I decided that since we’re living in different states now (sad, very sad) we should start our own little mini book club made up of only us. We decided that we’d read a book a month and then have FT fates to discuss them. I was in charge of picking the first book which was A LOT of pressure, but, after an hour and a half in the book store, it turned out to be ok and we both finished the book within a week and a half. A good read. A great read, really.

I picked Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid because I had a very long conversation with a woman in the airport about it a few weeks back. She convinced me that it was a good one, and I trusted her, luckily.
It’s a book about a band from the late 70s. It’s all about sex, drugs, and rock and roll. But, despite that, it’s not cliche. It’s written in the style of an interview which I didn’t realize until I started reading it (obviously) but I fell in love with this style. It’s almost like reading the juiciest Rolling Stone article out there.

While this book is fictional, I constantly had to remind myself that these people and this story isn’t real. It’s that realistic which is kind of disappointing because I want to hear the songs that they describe. I don’t want to give too many details away but if you liked Once Upon A Time in Hollywood and if you like music and if you like the 70s vibe, you’ll dig this book. It’s dramatic, but not overly so if that makes sense. Also, the ending was pretty cute which makes a difference in my humble opinion. If the ending sucks I just leave the book with a sour taste in my mouth, and I hate it.

My favorite quote in the book goes like this, “And that terrified the hell out of me. I didn’t want to push him in. I would never push him in but…. it scared me that the only thing between this moment of calm and the biggest tragedy of my life was me choosing not to do it. This really tripped me out that everyone’s life was that precarious. That there wasn’t some all-knowing mechanism in place that stopped things that shouldn’t happen from happening. That’s something had always scared me. And that’s how it felt being around Daisy Jones.”

My Rating: 4.5/5 stars
.5 off of a 5 because while I' loved it a lot, it’s not THE BEST BOOK I’ve ever read. They can’t all be 5’s, unfortunately.

Natalie’s Rating: 5/5 stars
I’d rate it a 5/5 bc it gives an inside perspective to what rock n roll bands were made of back n the day. And it’s also a love story between two people that you don’t want to be together but you also want them to be together.

If you’ve read the book, let me know your thoughts in the comments or DM me on Instagram! Let’s chat about it.

Thanks for reading!
chloe

Where the Crawdads Sing

When I was in elementary school, my mom had a rule for my brother and me that truly shaped my life, my interests, how I consume media. 

For every thirty minutes of TV time, we had to spend an hour outside. A ratio, when I was younger, that I absolutely despised. Of course I loved being outside. But I grew up in the deep south of Alabama. Which means mosquitos, devilish heat, and constantly dripping in sweat. It was fine, but spending more than an hour outside on certain days was brutal. 

So how did I stay entertained if I couldn’t watch TV like a “normal” kid? 

Remember, this is back before the days of YouTube and only right when Webkinz and Club Penguin were taking over youth culture. 

So essentially, there was nothing to do except read a good ‘ole book. And when I say I read, I mean I read a lot. Every day, every night before bed. I was the student in class that looked forward to the time in the school day where we had designated reading time. The trips to the library were like if I was Charlie visiting Wonka’s chocolate factory. 

I stopped reading when I got to college because by the time I finished my assigned readings of textbooks and unrelated articles assigned to keep us busy, I didn’t want to read for enjoyment. Not to mention, I was living with my best friends so there was never downtime to just chill and read. 

But now that I’m done with college, I’ve been reading like I was a kid again. I recently read a book that I can’t stop telling people about. It’s one of those “can’t put ‘em down, bury your nose, read until your eyes get too heavy” kind of books. Simply put, it was the best book I’ve read in a really long time. 

The essence of the story is simple, a girl against the world, quite literally. I feel like I can’t describe it in too much detail without ruining the ending, but I promise you’ll love it. The topics include those of loneliness, love, family, mystery, confusion regarding the purpose and meaning of life. 

So, in short, read it. It’s called Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. A work of art.