All Posts By

Alli Santmyer

Healthy Living

5 Fun Things To Do This Summer

June 1, 2020

Disclosure: Daniel’s Lawn and Tree, LLC. is sponsoring this blog post. However, all opinions stated here are my own.

Hi everyone, welcome back to the Allison in Wonderland blog! Although summer doesn’t officially begin for a few weeks, it certainly feels like summertime outside so I thought it would be fun to share some ideas for new things you can do over the next few months. Because of the coronavirus, this summer will certainly look a lot different than it usually does so keep reading for some social distancing-friendly activities!

STAY CONNECTED TO YOUR COMMUNITY Just because we won’t be going to as many backyard barbecues this summer doesn’t mean we can’t still have a little fun with each other! Where I live, places like local outdoor farmers markets are starting to open back up and it’s been so nice to interact with other members of the community (and also enjoy a little sunshine while we’re at it!). Going there or even just saying hi and smiling at others while walking or running on a nature trail goes a long way! As more and more businesses begin to open, I can’t wait to go out and support as many as I can. Small coffee shops and stores are going to need our help!

GIVE BOATING A TRY This idea’s a little different, huh? Lately, I’ve been seeing so many Instagram photos and stories of people sailing and boating and I want in! It’s such a fun day-long activity and you’re naturally socially distant from the other boats so it’s perfect if you’re wanting to enjoy the water but still keep a little distance from others. If you’re interested in doing this and live near a lake or ocean, look into rental options around where you live! It might be easier to rent a boat for a day than you think!

SPICE UP YOUR BALCONY OR PATIO With all this time spent at home, I’ve definitely been doing some re-decorating and re-imagining of my space. And now that the weather has finally gotten warmer, I’ve moved on to focusing on my outdoor space! Living in an apartment makes it a little harder to work with but my balcony definitely has enough space to bring in a few small plants and some patio furniture. If you live in or very close to Delaware, a local company that has great reviews is Daniel’s Lawn and Tree, LLC. In addition to plants, they also provide tree care in New Castle County so if your backyard needs some help in the landscaping department, they’re the ones for the job. Stay tuned for my new, cute, plant-filled balcony!

Image by Daniel’s Lawn and Tree, LLC.

FIND A DRIVE-IN MOVIE THEATER How fun does this sound? I know these types of movie theaters are very hard to find these days but if you have one around you and have always wanted to go, now’s the time! I know I’ve been dying to go to one for years. Check what movies they’re playing this weekend, throw some pillows and blankets in the back of your car, load up on yummy snacks, and you’re all set. This would also make for a super cute summer or fall date idea!

FOCUS ON SOMETHING FUN THAT’S TO COME Although I try not to live my life just waiting for the next big event, the last few months have been unlike any others. I think we can all agree this is such a crazy time! Something that’s been helping me get through this time is looking forward to my wedding. I’m getting married in October so I’ve been very focused on wedding planning and getting ready for the big day and it’s been so nice to think about something other than the fact that we’ve been stuck inside for what feels like forever. If you have something exciting coming up over the next few months, lean into it and focus some of your energy there! It will be here before you know it!

That’s all for today’s post on things you can do this summer! Even though this summer won’t be quite the same as it usually is, I’m still so excited for warmer days and enjoying the sunshine. If you end up trying any of these activities, let me know! I’d love to hear how it goes. My next post will be one from my wedding series and it’ll be up in just a few days so don’t miss it. Have a great week!

Healthy Living

Surviving the Coronavirus Quarantine

May 13, 2020

Disclosure: Bates Moving & Storage is sponsoring this blog post. However, all opinions stated here are my own.

Hi everyone and thank you for tuning in to today’s post on the Allison in Wonderland blog! We’ve all been going through a lot lately, both mentally and physically, with the coronavirus and unfortunately, some important things in life don’t stop just because we’re in the middle of an insane global pandemic (ugh!). Bills still need to be paid and your mental health doesn’t become any less important so I’m here today to provide some tips on how to continue moving forward in all this craziness!

When you need to workout: At the start of all this, the gyms and parks in my area were one of the first things to shut down so it’s been about two months now of trying to figure out how to stay active, strong, and motivated from home! MadFit and Sarah’s Day have been my two favorites to follow along with on YouTube. They both have great, low-impact workouts ranging in intensity and I’ve been loving them! They keep the workouts fun and they’re super easy to follow. And most of them are only 15 to 20 minutes so they don’t take long to complete at all but they still give you a really good workout!

When you lost some or all of your income: Poshmark is no replacement for a part-time or full-time job but every little bit counts when you’re in this type of situation. We all have clothes lying around that we don’t wear anymore (or maybe forgot we even had!) so now’s the perfect time to sell them! Poshmark is a super easy to use app and you can make hundreds of dollars in a pretty short amount of time, depending on what you sell. You can also sell jewelry, accessories, and smaller household items, too. Giving up just a few of your items could make you enough money to pay a few of your monthly utility bills!

When you’re moving: I know a few people who’ve had their apartment or house leases end during this pandemic so they’ve had to move across the city or even to a different state in the midst of everything. One moving company I know of that can make things a little easier for your move is Bates Moving & Storage. These Wicomico County movers are local to the Eastern Shore of Maryland and have a lot of great reviews! When you’re moving, the last thing you want to worry about is the logistics of getting your things from place to place so they’ve got you covered.

When you’re missing your friends and family: The social isolation has been one of the toughest parts of the coronavirus quarantine for a lot of people. We went from seeing whoever we wanted whenever we wanted to not being able to see anyone in a very short amount of time and it sucks! Especially with special family holidays like Easter and Mother’s Day passing while we’re stuck at home, it’s gotten harder and harder as the days go on. A couple things I’ve been using to stay connected with my people are Zoom and Houseparty. Zoom is a multi-person (up to 100 people) video chat so my fiancé and I have been doing Zoom calls with our extended families every weekend! Houseparty is also super fun and entertaining. Like Zoom, it’s an app that allows you to video chat but it also allows you to play games with each other… it’s such a godsend in a time like this!

When you’re scared to leave your house: Going outside right now can be pretty scary. If the thought of going to the grocery store for your usual shopping trip is stressful, try to space it out as much as possible. This can be tricky if you’re a female but one feminine product that’s really come in handy for me lately is reusable pads. The brand I’ve been using is HighOh but I’m sure there are other great ones! Talking about them might be a little TMI but they’ve really helped me spread out my essential trips to the grocery store and drug store even more than I already was. They’re just reusable pads that you can wash in your washing machine and then they’re clean as new, that’s it! Good for the environment, good for your wallet, and good for quarantine. In times like these where I’m trying to not go outside and save as much money as I can, these are the best!

That’s all for today’s post on things that’ve been helping me during quarantine! I hope it was helpful to you in some way and remember, these are unprecedented times for everyone so don’t beat yourself up if you’re having a rough go of it. We’ll be out of this very soon! And my next blog post is coming in just a couple weeks and it’s wedding-related so I hope you’re as excited as I am to continue with that series. Talk to you then!

How To Wedding

How To: Find the Right Wedding Photographer

May 1, 2020

Hello hello, welcome back to Allison in Wonderland! We’re already so many posts into my wedding series – I can’t believe it. So far, I’ve talked about my favorite venues in the MD/DE/PA/VA area and finding my dress… and today, we’re diving into how to find your photographer! I know in my last post, I said today’s topic would be about how to determine the right size wedding for you but with everything going on with the coronavirus, I’d like to give some love and exposure to talented, local photographers first! I’d say finding the right venue was my fiancé and I’s top priority but choosing the right photographer was definitely up there. After all, these are photos you’ll have forever so you want to make sure you get it right! Throughout this post, I’ll be sharing all the wedding photographers we considered before choosing the (amazing) one we’re going with. They’re all either local to the MD/DE/PA/VA area or are willing to travel to wherever your wedding is! I’ve also linked all of their websites so you can easily click through to see their work and pricing. Let’s get started…

Finding the right photographer for our wedding was really important to me – almost more important than the venue. I love photography and have such a specific look that I’m going for so this was the first thing we tackled after getting engaged, aside from finding the venue. The first thing I did was consider the photographers I’d already shot with in the past or knew personally. Did they make me feel confident and comfortable during the shoot? Did they capture the vibe I wanted? Was I obsessed with how the photos turned out? After thinking that through and finding a long list of other photographers who I’d come across on Instagram (hint hint: search #delawareweddingphotographer or something similar for your state to find options), I dove into their photos. Is their work unique or do they only have the traditional wedding shots that everyone has? What do past couples have to say about working with them on their wedding day? Are they in my price range? All these things were major factors as I whittled down my list. The 10 photographers below checked all my boxes – they’re photography superstars and I hope I get to shoot with all of them soon.

KEMP COLLECTIVE: Kemp Collective is a wedding and elopement photography duo who is actually a couple themselves… how fun! Their photos always have a beautiful authenticity to them and they definitely have the editing style that I LOVE so we were quick to add them to our list. Click here to check out their website!

BROOKE MICHELLE: Brooke is incredible! I’ve actually shot with her a couple other times for blog things so I knew she had to be on my list to check out for wedding photos. She’s so fun to work with and incredibly uplifting, which is a great thing to have on your special day. Her photos are very light and bright and beautiful and perfect to capture your wedding memories. Click here to visit her website!

SPARROW AND LACE: Oh my goodness… can you say BEAUTIFUL!? I really can’t imagine a more beautiful aesthetic than hers (click here to see). I always look forward to seeing new Sparrow and Lace photos on my feed and I love love love the moments she captures! I imagine a wedding day captured by her would be perfect.

SOUTH OF INDIGO: South of Indigo is an elopement and small wedding photographer so her life is basically traveling around, living in her car for most of the year, and capturing incredible images! When she’s not living in her car, she’s based in California but willing to travel anywhere for love… now that’s what we like to hear! Click here to check out her work… hint hint, it’s amazing.

MOLLY JANE: Molly is another photographer that I’ve shot with a few times before… she’s so fabulous! She really makes you feel comfortable right off the bat and is so supportive of whatever vibe you’re wanting. Her direction while shooting is amazing and her editing couldn’t get any better – the photos come out so crisp. And she has a little baby on the way! You’ll definitely want to check her out for your wedding day. Click here to see!

SINCERELY THE KITCHENS: The Kitchen’s are a husband and wife duo that does photography AND videography so if you’re wanting both, these two might be for you! Their work is incredible and you can really tell how passionate they are about what they do. Another fun thing about these two is they have a photo booth camper that you can rent out and it’s so cute! Click here for their website.

KATE ANN PHOTOGRAPHY: Kate is a photographer my fiancé and I actually shot with right before the coronavirus quarantine began for an engagement shoot and she was amazing! Such a sweet gal and the photos turned out amazing (the featured photo at the top of this post was taken by her!). Her positivity and direction really helped us throughout the shoot and I’m dying to shoot with her again! Click here to check out her cute website.

NATE BITTINGER PHOTOGRAPHY: Nate Bittinger is another one who does both photography and videography and his videos are fantastic! His work has a really surreal look to it and it’s stunning. A lot of his photos, at least recently, are in the mountains so if you’re doing a mountaintop elopement, he would be perfect! Click here to check out his site.

BECA HALE: Beca is based in North Carolina but available to travel wherever she’s needed! Her work has a really fun and cool vibe and she seems so great to work with. All of her photos show someone smiling and it just makes you feel good! Click here for more info on Beca!

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DEANNA MICHELE: Deanna is a destination wedding photographer so if you’re traveling for your wedding, so will she! Her Instagram bio says she’d likes to chat with her clients over margaritas and tacos and what could be better than that? Most of her photos have a little bit of a darker, moody vibe and I’m really into it for a Fall or Winter wedding! Click here for her website.

Those are all the wedding photographers we considered… aren’t they all wonderful!? Hopefully this was helpful to you if you’re planning a wedding in the MD/DE/PA/VA area or just looking for some pretty photos! I’m sure they’d all love to do an engagement session with you if you want to give them a try before booking for your wedding. Any guesses which photographer we chose for our wedding day???

Finding our photographer was one of the most exciting parts about planning our wedding because the photos mean so much to me so I’m so glad I can pass on my “research” to all of you! If you have any questions or comments, be sure to leave them in the comments section below – I love to hear from you. The next post in my wedding series will be all about how to know what size wedding is right for you… don’t miss it!

Wedding

Choosing “The One”: Wedding Dress Shopping!

April 8, 2020

Ahhh I am so excited to be writing about this today! All of my wedding series posts have been so fun to write but this one is extra special for obvious reasons… Let’s get started!

I’m not someone who had every detail of my wedding planned before we got engaged but I’m also not someone who’d never thought about it before – I guess I was somewhere in the middle. So, I sort of knew what I was going for in the dress department but I was very open to trying a bunch of different styles. In a pretty spur of the moment deal, we first went to a local wedding dress shop to “just look.” I’ll chalk it up to the fact that I definitely was not expecting to get engaged on the day that I did so my mom and I were so excited that we decided to go looking the very next day. Luckily, the dress shop had some open appointments for walk-ins that morning so I was able to actually try on a few right then and there. Right off the bat, I found a dress that I thought could be the one and another close runner up. Both of them were very different from each other… one was exactly what I always thought I’d get married in and the other was so “me.” But I wanted some other opinions so I put the names of both of the dresses on file with the shop and scheduled an appointment for the next weekend where my Mommom could also come and share her thoughts.

Of course, if my Mommom was going to come, we had to make it a more full and fun day so I also scheduled an appointment at my DREAM dress shop. We started out our day at the first place, trying on the two dresses I’d liked before. As it turns out, I found a totally different dress that I liked even better than the first two and it quickly became what I thought could definitely be “the dress.” I was so sure it was my dress that I almost cancelled my appointment at the other shop but we decided we should just go because it wouldn’t hurt. We grabbed a bite to eat and headed to my next appointment. I don’t want to reveal where I got my dress until after the wedding but it was the most beautiful shop with the most incredible dresses! I tried on a few and they all beat the dresses from the first place so, basically, it’s a good thing we didn’t cancel this appointment. My favorite one from this shop just felt different. It was so me but also fits our venue and style of wedding perfectly and I just LOVED it! But since I’d been ready to buy a few dresses at that point, we decided to wait a week, come back, try it on again, and then see if I still wanted to order. As it turns out, when we came back the next weekend, I was even more in love with it than the first time I tried it on so we ordered and the rest is history!

The dress has already arrived (!!!), I just have to get it altered – I’m so excited! If I had to give one piece of advice for wedding dress shopping, I’d say look for a dress that you feel like your best self in. There was a dress that, in the moment, I probably liked better than the one I ended up ordering – I was very taken by it, it was beautiful! But the longer I wore it, the more it just didn’t feel right, didn’t feel like me. I didn’t feel like my best self in it and on your wedding day, you should feel like you – the best you. As we get closer to the wedding, we’re getting more and more excited and now we’re officially 7 months away from our day… so crazy. And now I can picture our day even better because I know what I’ll be wearing… woohoo! If you have any ideas about what my wedding dress looks like, leave them in the comments – I’d love to hear what you think!

The next blog post in my wedding series is going to be all about figuring out the size of your wedding… how many guests is right for you? Be sure to check back in a few weeks for that – I’ll see you then!

Beauty

Styled Photoshoot: Flowery Daydream

March 20, 2020

Hey gals, I hope you’ve had a happy and safe week quarantining yourselves! It certainly has been a crazy one. A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to be a part of a GORGEOUS styled photoshoot. If you’re not familiar with styled shoots, they’re photoshoots that are put together as a passion project or a creative outlet for everyone involved. For this shoot, our team was made up of a photographer, florist, hair stylist, a makeup artist + me! Keep scrolling to see how the photos turned out…

I stayed in the same ivory Anthropologie dress the whole time – isn’t it so beautiful!? – but we did two different hair and makeup looks. For the second look, we even glued butterflies to me and it was the absolute coolest!

It took FIVE HOURS for the florist to set this up and it was totally worth it, it’s so incredible! The vendors for this shoot couldn’t have been more talented. The photographer was @withloveandembers, the florist was @splintsanddaisies, hair was @amandaleighrush from @anthologylancaster, and makeup was @emilylynhurst.

That’s it for today’s post – I hope you enjoyed getting a little sneak peek into my creative world! My next blog post will be back to wedding content as I’ll be sharing allllll the venues we looked into before we booked ours. Stay tuned!

Wedding

Planning Our Bohemian Wedding: The Hunt for the Perfect Venue

March 6, 2020

Hi cuties! This week’s wedding topic is the VENUE… arguably the hardest part (in my opinion). This is where my wedding planning stress first started because we were looking for something very specific…

We knew we wanted to get married indoors because spending the next year being worried about the possibility of rain and wind was a no-go so we excitedly began our search for a location inside. We also wanted to try to have our ceremony and reception at the same place so we didn’t have to worry about transportation between the two spots. That, in addition to trying to find local, bohemian venues that had weekend availability for Fall 2020, proved to be a tough search!

One tip I have for finding the perfect venue is finalizing your guest list before really diving into your search. I’ll be doing a separate blog post on how to tackle the guest list but knowing the approximate size of your wedding is a must before booking your venue.

Here are my favorite venues I found in my search! All are accessible from the Maryland/Delaware/Pennsylvania area and all fit the bohemian, romantic look we were going for so if you’re looking for the same, keep reading!

TERRAIN (Devon, PA and Glen Mills, PA): Terrain is the very first venue I looked into after getting engaged. I’m obsessed with the aesthetic of all the companies under the URBN brand (Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, BHLDN, Free People) and Terrain is a part of that! They have a couple different locations in Pennsylvania so I looked at the Devon location and the Glen Mills location. The Glen Mills location was more suited for the smaller size our wedding will be but both were absolutely beautiful! I will share that for smaller weddings (they call them micro-weddings), you will most likely have to get married during a weekday (Monday-Thursday) if you want to go with this venue.

MAAS BUILDING (Philadelphia, PA): This one was a surprise find! I wasn’t initially considering venues in the city just because of trying to keep the commute as easy as possible for guests but this one caught my eye. It looks like a normal city building with street parking on the outside but when you go in, it transforms into a beautiful enchanted garden! It has a weather-proof canopy so even though the ceremony spot is outside, it’s still covered in case of rain, and has a cute newlywed suite included!

HORTULUS FARM (Wrightstown, PA): If you’re a greenhouse lover, this is totally the place for you! They have plants, plants, and more plants and it’s an absolute greenery dream. A location like this is awesome if florals are what you’re going for in terms of decorations because they’re already there! They only do a few weddings a year though so if you have your eye on this place, you should book fast!

HISTORIC SHADY LANE (Manchester, PA): Historic Shady Lane is amazing! It’s set on 34 acres of land so they have tons of different ceremony location options. Outside, inside, whatever you want – they have it! Their indoor location is actually an old greenhouse and it’s MAGICAL. They have separate spots on the property where the bride and groom can get ready and the photo opportunities are endless. Once we found this place, it quickly rose to the top of our list!

EXCELSIOR (Lancaster, PA): Excelsior was definitely one of my favorites. Indoor with lots of character – tall ceilings, walls with old chipped paint, grand staircases – I fell in love! They have a very vintage, romantic feel and it really fit was I was going after. Like I’ll say for some of the others, this location has great natural light and I think that really makes a difference!

VAUGHN HOUSE GREENHOUSE (Forest, VA): This is the first venue I found in Virginia and I was DYING over it. It’s a beautiful, brand new greenhouse set smack dab in the middle of nature and it’s absolutely perfect for elopements or small weddings (or even to rent out for a photo shoot!) – it’s a very intimate setting. The ceremony location can only fit about 20 guests or so but if that’s the size of your wedding, this is the perfect spot for you!

READING ART WORKS (Reading, PA): This one is a gem! It has a hint of industrial, a hint of bohemian, a hint of rustic – everything! It’s really able to take the shape of whatever your vibe is. And it has lots of natural light, which is something that I was looking for. The location is pretty good, too, if you have guests coming from Maryland or Delaware!

PARQUE (Newtown Square, PA): This one is sooo elegant! Parque is a stone mansion and the grounds are incredible. They have a few different outdoor options for the ceremony because they have extensive gardens and a reflecting pond but with this one, you would probably have to get a big tent just in case it rains, if you’re paranoid like me!

GOLDSTONE INN (Middleburg, VA): Okay, guys – this setting is so unique! The ceremony location is outdoors but I was willing to look past it because it was so cool. The backdrop is a huge ivy wall and it couldn’t be more perfect. Such a beautiful spot for an event!

THE FAIRMONT PARK HORTICULTURE CENTER (Philadelphia, PA): This is another city venue and I have to say, it’s pretty epic. Imagine a huge, tall greenhouse with a minimal vibe but lots of greenery… that’s this place! Lots of open space to accommodate weddings of varying sizes and very, very pretty for photos.

SUPPLY (Manheim, PA): Supply is really a blank canvas. It’s an industrial building with lots of open, white rooms which is awesome if you want the option of designing your event from scratch. You can really curate every detail of your day because you would be adding the character in with your decorations and all that. Very cool and minimal!

Did you see any you liked? I sure did! Going through this wedding series, I won’t be sharing which one we ended up choosing until after we get married. Afterwards, I’ll do a big post sharing all the details about our special day but until then, it’ll be a secret! Which venue do you think we ended up booking?

Wedding

We’re Getting Married!

February 7, 2020

Woohooooooo! What an exciting title, right!? Let’s say it again… we’re getting married! Connor and I got engaged just before New Years and we’re so excited. We’ve been together for five years and we’re so pumped to finally do this thing!

We’re jumping into the wedding planning process very quickly because we’re gonna get married within a year so (surprisingly) that’s not a lot of time to plan. And something that I’m really excited to do this year is chronicle the planning process for you guys! My plan is to treat this as if you and I are planning our weddings at the same time and bouncing ideas off of each other so I’ll be sharing all the venues I considered, all the photographers I looked into, etc… basically creating a how-to guide to planning an intimate bohemian wedding in the Maryland/Delaware/Pennsylvania area! So my question for you is what do you want to see? Even only being one month into it, I can already tell people aren’t kidding when they say it’s stressful so I want to pass on everything I learn to all of you. Venues, photographers, florists, caterers – there’s so much to consider and coordinate so let me know what you want to see, what you don’t want to see, and any advice you have for me if you’ve already gone through this!

I’m going to post one wedding-related blog post per month, each month being a different wedding topic. Next month will be alllllll about the hunt for the perfect wedding venue so get excited. See you then!

Things I'm Loving Right Now

Best Netflix Shows to Binge

December 28, 2019

Hey all, happy holidays! If you’re anything like me, you’re spending this time between Christmas and New Years indulging in some much needed rest and relaxation. For me, rest and relaxation means a little Netflix time. Keep reading to see what shows I’ve been loving!

You: Season 1 of this show was something I binged in a weekend earlier in the year and Season 2 just came out on the 26th. It’s a millennial thriller with a bit of a romantic comedy feel except in the absolute creepiest way. The acting is so good that it definitely leaves you feeling like the show is real life. And it features Penn Badgley from Gossip Girl!

The Crown: I’m obsessed! This is the show for anyone who is interested in Queen Elizabeth and the rest of the royal family. It’s pretty historically accurate and is super easy to follow. In the season that just came out, they switched actors because the show covers different decades of history and I think they did it flawlessly.

Dirty John: This one is for my true crime lovers! Dirty John is based on a true story and was originally a podcast (definitely worth a listen!) and then they turned it into a Netflix show with Connie Britton as the lead. Such a scary story, especially because it was real life!

Schitt’s Creek: Probably my favorite show on Netflix right now. If you’re going to pick one show from this list, make it this one! Short episodes, super engaging storyline, and soooo funny. It’s about a wealthy family who lost all their money and now live in a very small, tight-knit town. It took me a bit to catch on to this one but it only gets better and better!

Gilmore Girls: No explanation needed for this one. This is the perfect feel-good show for every season, every mood, and everyone. Gilmore Girls is set in the cutest New England town and features the best mother-daughter dramatic duo around. So real and raw!

Broadchurch: This one was heartbreakingly fantastic. I would recommend this for anyone who liked Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books as a kid. It’s not true crime (thank goodness!) but it has that feel. The twists and turns the show takes has you questioning who to trust and what to think all the time. 10 out of 10!

Instant Hotel: I wish they would have endless seasons of this show! Anyone who is an HGTV fan will love this one. Instant Hotel is based in Australia (hello accents!) and features couples who put their homes up for rent – kind of like Airbnb. The couples stay at each rental and rate them, eventually ending up with a winner. My love of interior design and reality TV is showing with this one!

Dead to Me: This one caught me by surprise. I was looking for something to watch and stumbled upon this and was hooked! I don’t want to give too much away but essentially it’s about two women – a young widow and a free-spirit – whose stories intertwine in a way that one of them tries to keep secret. The main characters (Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini!) are so likable and I can’t wait for the next season! Crossing my fingers it’s coming in early 2020.

Imposters: This one is about a con artist who uses love to rob people of everything – sounds dark, right? I would actually categorize it as a comedy because a few of her former targets team up to find her and they actually end up becoming a really great crew. They’ve had two seasons and I’m begging for more!

That’s the end of my shortlist! I definitely have a few more that I recommend but these are my favorites of the moment. What have you been watching recently? Let me know in the comments. Have a great New Year!

Relationships

December Date Night Ideas

December 8, 2019

Hey hey cuties – long time, no talk! The last few months have been such a whirlwind for me. I started my own pop-up clothing shop, Thrive Collective (click here), which meant traveling around to different fairs and festivals almost every weekend throughout the Fall and my work life has been veryyy busy. If you don’t know, I’m an Assistant Account Executive at a marketing agency and I recently did a “Day In My Life” on my Instagram highlights (click here) if you want to see what it’s like to have my job! But I’m so excited to be posting on here again and to share some cute date night ideas for the holiday season… let’s get into it!

Christmas Tree Farm: Christmas tree farms are the best! You have a couple options… you can find a garden center type of place that’s selling pre-cut trees or you can go to an actual Christmas tree farm where you pick a tree and cut it down yourself. A fun thing about having a date at a Christmas tree farm is that they typically have hot chocolate and other treats that you can buy and really make a whole day out of it!

Ice Skating: A winter ice skating date is such a classic! My boyfriend and I are both terrible at ice skating so we’ve never done this but if at least one person in the couple is okay-ish at ice skating, this would be so cute and active!

Netflix & Baking: This one is soooo easy. Recently, my boyfriend and I have watched The Knight Before Christmas, A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding, The Holiday Calendar, Christmas in the Smokies, and Christmas with a View on Netflix and they were all so cute (and a little bit cringe-worthy) – just like a Hallmark Christmas movie! Also, if you’ve subscribed to Disney+, this would be the perfect time to binge your old favorites! While you’re watching, pop some cookies in the oven and you’ll have such a fun, low-key night.

Gift Shopping & Christmas Lights: Another idea is doing some holiday shopping. You both have gifts to buy so why not do it together? A perk of this date idea is if you see something that’s on your wish list, you can make a few subtle hints with him right there. 🙂 Then, when you’re going home, take the long way to see all the Christmas lights that people put up!

I hope some of those ideas sound fun to you! It’s such a cute season to be going on dates, whether it’s with someone new or someone you’ve been with for a while. If you have any other posts you’d like to see during the holiday season, leave a comment down below. Have a great week!

Fashion

I’m a Business Owner!

August 16, 2019

Hey hey hey gals… guess what! As you can tell from the title, I started my own business – and it’s a clothing shop. I’m so, so excited! I’ve always wanted to own my own business so a few months ago, I decided to just go for it.

For a few fast facts about my clothing shop… 1. It’s a pop-up shop so I’ll be traveling around the Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania area to fairs and festivals, displaying my merchandise. 2. The name is Thrive Collective and you can follow us on Instagram here. 3. All the clothing I’m selling is made in the USA and is between $10 and $35. Heck yeah!

The first place I’ll be displaying at is the Middletown, DE Peach Festival this Saturday (August 17th). Come visit us – I can’t wait to see you all looking beautiful in the clothing! We take cash and card and all sales are final. Keep scrolling for some of my favorite pieces that are currently in stock!

Thrive Collective Pink Button-Down Tie Top
Thrive Collective Pink Button-Down Tie Top

The first piece I’ve been wearing non-stop is this light pink button-down top. I love, love, love this one – it might be my favorite of all! It has a cute tie in the front which makes it a bit cropped and the material is such good quality. This is a shirt you can wear anywhere – it’s so versatile! I’ve been loving to pair it with high waisted jeans as pictured above.

Thrive Collective Leopard Maxi Dress
Thrive Collective Leopard Maxi Dress

The next piece I want to share is this leopard maxi dress. It has thin, spaghetti strap sleeves and is perfect for the summer/early Fall! It pairs perfectly with a jean jacket and sandals for a easy and effortless look. I have to say, it was so hot while we were shooting in this greenhouse and the dress did a great job of keeping me cool!

Thrive Collective Knit Tank and Flowy Pants
Thrive Collective Knit Tank and Flowy Pants

The next two items are some of the most gorgeous, warm-toned colors ever! The knit tank is such a unique piece but can easily transition from the beach to the workplace. The neutral color goes so well with everything! I’m also absolutely obsessed with these burnt orange pants. They’re so cute and flattering on a lot of different body types and I can’t wait to pair them with a cozy sweater when it gets a bit cooler!

Thrive Collective Light Purple Maxi Dress
Thrive Collective Light Purple Maxi Dress

The last item I’ll share today is this light purple maxi dress. It is seriously the most comfortable dress I’ve ever owned! The straps tie so they’re adjustable and I’ve been wearing it all the time. Somehow it’s a dress you’ll want to wear on the beach, while you’re cleaning the house, and to work. It’s so good!

Those are all the pieces I’m going to share today but I’m thinking of doing these kind of posts periodically to keep you up to date on what I’m carrying in the store. I’ll also be posting on my Instagram and the Thrive Collective Instagram when we get new pieces in stock. Follow me in both places! Thank you for reading and have a great week!