Link Love February: Cookie Monster, Mr. Darcy, and the Florida Everglades

February 28, 20191 Comment

Does anyone else feel like February came and went in the blink of an eye? This month has been an especially busy one for me, with a weekend vacation to Tampa and St. Pete, a day of park-hopping at Disney, a Breakfast at Tiffany’s themed dinner, the Orlando Apollos launch game, and a trip to Wonderworks, along with a two-week bout of laryngitis. My happiness project is still going strong, and I’m excited to share my recap of Month 2 on tomorrow’s blog. 🙂

What links are you loving this month? Check out my latest favorite reads below and share your own in the comments!

As a fan of Clyde Butcher’s Florida landscape photography, I loved reading his insights on why everyone should care about the Everglades.
Cookie Monster did a Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything). Cuteness ensued.
Looking to up your Instagram game? Check out Kate’s guide to some of the amazing photo-friendly murals throughout Orlando!
Orlando is getting a dog park with a bar? Count me in!
The Yayoi Kusama LOVE IS CALLING exhibit may be gone from the Tampa Art Museum, but you can still check out the pictures from my recap and learn about some of the other great exhibits!
If you’re planning a trip to the Tampa/St. Pete area, you’ll want to check out my guide to the Imagine Museum – a hidden gem and must-see in the area!
Does anyone in your life need these Nicolas Cage sequin pillows?
Some farms in England are planting stripes of wildflowers across farm fields to cut down on pesticides. What a beautiful solution!
Meet the historically accurate Mr. Darcy, based on what historians think the character would have realistically looked like.
Galentine’s Day is over, but if you’re planning a bridal shower, birthday party, or other fun group event, be sure to check out my top five local activity suggestions!
As someone who frequents the Sanford Riverwalk, I would love one of these floating bungalows.
Looking to make your life happier and healthier? Check out my suggested wellness podcasts, along with my top five book suggestions.

What links are you loving lately? Sound off in the comments!

Link Love January: Rom Com Dialogue & Millennial Burnout

January 16, 2019Leave a comment

Now that we’re halfway through January, how are everyone’s New Year’s Resolutions holding up? Normally by now, I’d be back to my usual deviant habits, but so far my 2019 Happiness Project is going strong! My focus for the month has been to boost my physical health, and I’ve been doing that in a few different ways: embarking on a round of Whole30 (it’s getting easier!), tackling those nagging tasks to clear up “brain clutter” (we’ll talk about that in a future post), and even by simply acting more energetic when I may not feel that way. I’ve been more successful in some areas than others, but I’m happy to share that I am starting to feel a lot healthier than I have in a long time.

Of course, in the midst of all of these changes, I’ve been doing a lot of reading! Check out my latest link love below and be sure to drop your own favorites (along with a resolution you’re working toward!) in the comments section below.

Photo Credit: NatureCoaster.com

Millennial burnout is a real thing, and I’ve never felt more validated than I did by this article. It’s a longer one, but well worth the read.
According to Smithsonian Magazine, tea drinking was once considered irresponsible and reckless for women. Guess my mom and I are the two most irresponsible and reckless people I know!
In case you’re planning a trip to Miami, check out my recent guide to the beautiful Art Deco Walking Tours.
One man built a miniature village for a family of mice living in his garden. Cuteness ensues.
As a writer who loves Nora Ephron (may she rest in peace), I absolutely loved this New York Times article on the art of rom com dialogue.
What’s on your Central Florida bucket list for 2019? Ten local bloggers shared their favorite local hidden gems on a recent collaboration, so be sure to check it out!
Guys — are you stuck on a Valentine’s gift? Check out these fun accessories from Civion and use the code VALERIE25 for 25% off your order!
Looking for ways to travel more sustainably? Asia from Dreams to Plans has you covered!
If you’re looking to add more wine to your life, check out Courtney’s recent guest post on the Island Grove Wine Company at Formosa Gardens in Kissimmee.
According to Inc.com (and me, independently of this article), open-office plans are officially the dumbest management fad of all time.

Link Love September: Salvador Dalí, Trader Joe’s, and Environmental Consciousness

October 1, 2018October 1, 20187 Comments

Happy October! To me, there’s always something poetic about the first of the month taking place on a Monday. It feels more than ever like the time to begin anew, and I’m excited to see where the month takes us. September was a great month — I spent time with family, celebrated my birthday, checked a few items off my 28 at 28 bucket list, took a mini vacation, made an on-field appearance at a UCF football game, practiced yoga with baby goats, and much more — so here’s hoping the adventures continue in October.

What have you been reading lately? Check out some of my favorite links from September and share your own favorites in the comments section.

Many of us want to be more environmentally conscious, but we aren’t sure where to start. On her blog, Jamie shares four documentaries (all available on Netflix) that will give us food for thought and help us all live greener lives.
As everyone in my life keeps reminding me I’m getting closer my thirties, I’ve been reading up on these 25 essential life skills you should master by age 30. I’m getting pretty good at most of these, but am severely lacking on #3, #10, and #19. 🙂
The month of October kicks off a new round of Whole30 for me, so I will definitely be testing out some of these easy Whole30 one-pan meals.
With so much misleading marketing out there, it can be hard to pick out the right skincare and cosmetic products. Christopher Cupcakes demystifies 10 common skincare terms in this extremely helpful post.
How do you deal with stress? Mind Body Green outlines the perfect stress-busting techniques for highly sensitive people who need help to unwind.
Pop over to Musings of a Wanderer for five ways to live a more positive life. I especially love #4!
I rarely hike here in Central Florida, so I loved learning more about the Shingle Creek trail at Orlando Unplugged. It even made its way onto my 28 at 28 list!
I’m obsessed with my new ring, The Feline, from Civion. You can get this piece and other adorable accessories for 25% off with my promo code VALERIE25!
Last weekend, I took a last-minute trip to St. Pete for some much needed R&R. Check out my blog recap and travel guide here.
As a Trader Joe’s fan, I will definitely be shopping some of these fall products soon!

What links are you loving this month? Sound off in the comments below!

Link Love Wednesday: Farewell, April!

April 30, 2014April 30, 20142 Comments

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I can’t believe how quickly the month of April has passed us by. In the past 30 days, I have conquered another clean eating program (details to follow in an upcoming blog!), coordinated a few big projects, and even fallen in love with my city’s arena football team! What a fantastic month, and as we gear up for the next, I can only hope that May is as exciting and wonderful as April has been.

Let’s end the month on a high note with some fabulous Link Love!

In honor of the 10th anniversary of Mean Girls (man, don’t you feel old right now?), Jezebel composed a ranking of every character in the movie. Enjoy!
Here’s one tiny detail that shows up quite a bit in Disney and Pixar movies. Have you noticed it before?
Attention, writers! Blog and Retire provides five online tools to improve your writing.
I loved this list of 25 things you need to stop wasting time on. Which ones are you guilty of?
As much as I hated the How I Met Your Mother finale, this scene that was edited out may have made it a little better.
We all have our bad days, but these tips will help you start over when you’ve already woken up on the wrong side of the bed.
I enjoyed the movie Frozen, even if I thought it was a little overrated. This “honest trailer” of the film had me laughing out loud!
Salon posted an interesting read about the inconsistencies in what women think men find attractive versus what men actually find attractive.

What great links have you come across this week?

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Link Love Wednesday: Farewell, April!