Blog Archives

10/21/2022

5 EASY HALLOWEEN COSTUMES USING CLOSET STAPLE PIECES

Read Now

Finding a Halloween costume can be tough, so why not make it easier by using staples you can find in your closet. Keep reading for a few ideas.

WEDNESDAY ADDAMS

This look is really simply. All you really need is a black dress and white-collared shirt to wear under it.

Accessorize with black shoes, ghostly makeup and her signature braids and you've got an easy look with stuff you've already got in your closet.

ELLE WOODS

If you own anything pink, you can kill an Elle Woods look! Throw on some girly pink clothes. Bonus points if you have a little dog or can carry a little stuffed dog!

This look is super cute and easy to replicate!

FAIRY

All you need for this look is a pretty dress, maybe a pastel color, as well as some flower accessories.

You can add wings and a wand for an extra effect, if you'd like.

DEVIL

All you really need is a red dress and black accessories to make this outfit work.

It would help if you have a headband with horns, which is a pretty cheap add on from the dollar store or somewhere like Walmart.

GENERATIONAL LOOK

Pick a generation and stick with it. Go all out on the traditional looks from that decade and you're good to go.

80s and 70s would be fun to do. These are very different from one another, and very visual, so this would be a great idea.

Let's get social:

0 Comments

10/16/2022

8 FALL DATE IDEAS

0 Comments

Read Now

Cozy season is here, and the best way to celebrate is to cuddle up to your honey and celebrate the fall season with special date ideas. No matter if you're a boyfriend or husband struggling to come up with new ideas for your fall-loving girlfriend, wife or partner, or if you just want some unique ideas of things to do even on your own or with family, I've got you covered.

1. A DRIVE OR WALK IN FALL FOLIAGE

One thing I'm excited to do with Jonathan is take a drive or walk through fully turned fall foliage.

Luckily, we have a ton of trees in North Carolina where we live, and I'm thinking of planning a day trip with him or he and some family to drive up toward Asheville to see some beautiful fall scenery. I'm really excited to enjoy the crisp, fall air and scenery.

2. FALL CRAFT DATE

Jonathan and I both enjoy crafts, though he is a lot more artistic than I am, I'm probably more crafty than he is. Carve a pumpkin, or make some fall decor for your home together. It's so much fun, and you can spend the time talking or listening to podcasts or music you both love. It's a great idea for those who love to spend time talking to their significant other.

3. HALLOWEEN MOVIE MARATHON

While Jonathan doesn't like scary movies, he will happily watch movies like Hocus Pocus, Halloweentown, Harry Potter and other cute Halloween movies with me. What better way to get into the spirit of Halloween than having a movie marathon of your favorite Halloween or horror movies with a lap full of Halloween candy to snack on?

4. SHOPPING SPREE/WINDOW SHOPPING

One of my favorite things to do together is go to places like Home Goods, Michael's, Hobby Lobby and other stores to look at Halloween and fall decor. Jonathan always makes me laugh because he thinks it is funny how excited I get over the little things.

I do the same with him around Christmas time, since that is his favorite holiday. It's a lot of fun and helps you get into the spirit of Halloween and fall!

5. HAY RIDE, PUMPKIN PATCH OR CORN MAZE

There's something about heading to a local farm for hay rides and a stroll through a pumpkin patch in the fall. I am really hoping I can get to one this October, though this month has been really busy on the weekend with work stuff. But, I have great memories with Jonathan doing hay rides and picking out a pumpkin to carve. It's also great because you can support your local farmers/farms.

6. SEE A SHOW OR WATCH A GAME

Jonathan and I are band geeks, so we love to watch marching band competitions and performances when we can, but you can go to a concert, or watch a football game during football season. Due to the nature of my job, I'm always on the sideline, so I soak in a lot of football. Jonathan came with me to work last time to watch the game, and we were able to spend a bit of time with one another by the end of the game.

7. SELF CARE DAY

One thing we do a lot together as the weather gets cooler is spending more time on self care. As I've mentioned, this time of year is really busy for me at work, so I love to spend my off days catching up on rest or doing little things to help with self care.

We often lay together in bed and watch TikToks, do Buzzfeed quizzes and watch try not to laugh videos on YouTube.

We also love to light some seasonal candles and watch TV together, or even play a game. I myself am a fan of face masks, doing my nails and taking a long shower to feel refreshed and ready for the next day!

8. BAKING/COOKING DATE

Jonathan and I have cooked or baked together a number of times. Now is the time to start, as I feel the fall and Halloween seasons are the kick off to baking season leading into Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Choose a recipe and make it together. I am personally a fan of making desserts together, like pies and dump cakes. Either way, you'll have fun and work together to make something delicious.

LET'S GET SOCIAL:

0 Comments

10/11/2022

MY HALLOWEEN MUG COLLECTION

0 Comments

Read Now

Everyone has that one thing that they can't resist buying. For some people, that's shoes or bags, maybe even hats. But for me, it's definitely cups and mugs.

Today, I want to show off a few of my Halloween cups and mugs and let you know where I got them (if I know) so you can snag them for yourself.

HALLOWEEN QUEEN - HOME GOODS

I'm not usually a fan of Rae Dunn anything, but the entire Halloween collection at Home Goods really sucked me in.

They had so many different ones sayings and colors in different styles, but I decided to go for this mug with a sliding lid. I've enjoyed some great Apple Cider in this so far. It's metal, so it stays well-insulated. Definitely would recommend!

SUGAR SKULL MUG - HOME GOODS

Most of my friends and family know that I absolutely love sugar skulls and Dia de Lost Muertos. I know that this holiday and Halloween are not the same, but I love that it is close in proximity and that the day celebrates the loved ones who have passed.

The brightly colored decor alongside these sugar skulls have always interested me. I collect sugar skulls out of appreciation for the holiday. I knew when I saw this mug that I had to add it to my fall collection!

BLACK CATS - THE CHRISTMAS TREE SHOP

As you can see, this mug is well-loved. I have had it for several years now. It is one of my larger mugs, and I knew I needed it when I saw it.

I've always loved black cats. I think they're so pretty. In fact, when I adopted our Tortie cat, Rum Tum, I was actually hoping to find a black cat. But, Rum Tum was just too cute and sweet to pass up!

The only weird thing about this mug is that the bottom bevels upward, so it's a bit difficult for sugar to dissolve with a simple stir! But otherwise, I really love it.

HOCUS POCUS MUG - HOME GOODS

Another thing I'm obsessed with is Hocus Pocus. I absolutely loved the second one, by the way! So, when I saw this mug at Home Goods, it had to come home with me. It is a metal mug, so keeps drinks warm. I love that this looks like a novelty souvenir mug; like I visited the museum and bought it as a take away.

The other side has official Disney logos and says "Hocus Pocus," so it's really neat!

SALLY MUG - THRIFT STORE

This was actually a surprise gift from Jonathan. We like to go to discount stores. One day, while I was in a store nearby, Jonathan went into a local thrift store to look around. He walked out with some shorts for himself and found this Sally mug for me.

It's really cool, but I haven't actually had a drink out of it yet. I'm looking forward to having some coco or apple cider in it soon, as soon as the weather cools down that is!

FLORAL SKULL WINE GLASSES - A GIFT, SO NOT SURE!

My boss got me a gift chock full of skulls and sugar skulls, including these stemless wine glasses. I love that they are colorful, and they would be great to use to enjoy any colder beverage. I'm excited to use these this month and really throughout the year.

LET'S GET SOCIAL

0 Comments

10/9/2022

THE BEST PLACES TO SHOP FOR HALLOWEEN DECOR

0 Comments

Read Now

As I'm sure all of you know by now, I'm a Halloween junkie. I love to check out the Halloween decor section anywhere I go, so I know a lot of the great places to shop for affordable Halloween decor that will fit your vibe for this season. Let's get into it.

WALMART AND TARGET

I'm a pretty big fan of the Halloween sections at big-box stores like Walmart and Target. Walmart is usually a lot more affordable, but a little more basic.

I actually loved a lot of the decor, though, that they had for Halloween. The great think about Walmart is they have different styles of decor. They have this cuter style with more sweet-looking figures, but they also had stuff for Dia de los Muertos as well as more creepy figures.

I do really like the section at Target, but it is a bit pricier. I invested in a skull baking sheet so that I could experiment with making little cakes for the season. The pan is pretty good quality for the price.

But, as mentioned, Target has more interesting decor. Things like small neon signs, interactive decor, and more that you don't really see at places like Walmart.

MICHAEL'S CRAFT STORE

No matter the season, you can't go wrong with a trip to Michael's for decor. I absolutely loved what they had this year for decor, because a lot of it focused on skeletons and skulls, which I love.

There was actually this one candle that looked like an X-ray that I was considering buying, but the wax didn't have a scent. I'm a sucker for a good candle, but it has to smell like something!

My mom got me this skeleton bust, and it actually lights up and is super cool, but I didn't think a photo would really capture it, so I took the picture with that feature off. They had everything from fun garlands, to creepy busts like this. The upside to Michael's is that you can also do some shopping for DIY crafts you can do with your family or with the girls for a girls night!

HOME GOODS

This has to be one of my favorite places to go in the fall season now. I swear, Jonathan had to pull me away from the Halloween section multiple times so we could check out and get on with our day.

They had some fabulous decor, but they also have, well, home goods that are in the spirit of the season. I walked away with a number of Halloween mugs (I promise to share my collection in a blog post this season), including my coveted "Halloween Queen" mug.

I have never been a Rae Dunn kind of gal, but the selection they had for Halloween might have changed my mind! They also had some candles with Rae Dunn writing, which was so cute. I resisted the urge to buy the whole store, but it was difficult. Lots of things to choose from at pretty reasonable prices.

THE CHRISTMAS TREE SHOP

Don't get your Halloween pantyhose in a twist! Although this is named "The Christmas Tree Shop," they carry seasonal decor and home goods year round. There isn't one near me now, but there was one right up the road when we lived in Fayetteville.

I think the biggest draw for the Christmas Tree Shop is that everything is so cheap, but good enough to hold up for the holidays. I've purchased a number of things from them for all seasons, and I loved them all. Check it out if you have one near you.

HOBBY LOBBY

I know there is some controversy around Hobby Lobby due to some of the employment practices. However, for those of us on a budget who craft a lot in our spare time, there is very rarely another place to go where you can get what you need at an affordable price.

The good thing about Hobby Lobby is that there is almost always a coupon code on RetailMeNot (an app I use for coupons on the go - completely free) that can get you a percent off your purchase. If you've ever even stepped foot in Hobby Lobby, you know it is much like Michael's, but bigger and with more selection. Like Michael's, you can also shop for DIY decor and projects to do this season!

Let's get social:

0 Comments

10/1/2022

A Year Closer to 30 - Celebrating my 29th Birthday

0 Comments

Read Now

Each year, I kick off my Spooktober content with a birthday post. Usually it is about things I've learned over the years. But, I thought I'd switch it up a bit and talk about my feelings toward being a year closer to 30 and what I hope to accomplish before then.

As far as my feelings, I feel a little behind. I got married pretty young, but a lot of my peers already have children. Every OBGYN I've talked to has refused to help me on a journey to conceiving due to my size. I've been told to get various weight loss surgeries (many of which statistically don't work out long term) because my body size could pose a threat to my health.
â€‹
I've always wanted a child. As I approach 30, I am made increasingly aware that it is more difficult for women to conceive a child the older they get. That's not lost on me.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Gabbie (@gemusiclover)

â€‹But career wise, I am happy where I am. I have a bachelor's degree and hold an assistant director position at my job. I'm in a better place financially and mentally than I was a year ago. I decided not to stay in the rough situation I was in and looked for a better opportunity. I'm so glad God led me to where I am.

I've been able to be a part of a million amazing things, like the Millennial Advisory Commission and the 40 Under 40 Class of 2021. These have been so monumental in my development as a leader and as a person.

Now to talk a bit about the things I hope to accomplish in my next 365 days on earth.

Firstly, I want to get refocused on content. I feel like I say that all the time, but I really want to commit. I have had a great break and now feel like I'm in a better place to put content at the forefront of my priorities.

Next, I at least want to start research into having a child. I know tons of bigger women who have had children with no problem, but I know everyone is different. â€‹

I also want to get back to a book I was starting to write about managing the different generations in the workplace. It's so important to recognize that all generations are different, and each has its own priorities. It will help me work toward achieving my goal of writing a book before I turn 40.

Another important goal I have is to just take care of myself in all facets of my life, especially mentally. I want to make sure I'm taking the time to educate myself and put into place some modifications to help me better navigate the world as a person with depression and anxiety.

I'm so thankful I haven't had too many anxiety attacks, and my medication has been really helping with depression symptoms.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Gabbie (@gemusiclover)

However, I know that educating myself on handling situations as a neurodivergent person will ultimately help me.

I think that is all. Thirty isn't quite here yet, but I think trying to accomplish these things will help me achieve the goals I'd like to achieve by next year.

I hope you'll stay tuned for Spooktober throughout the month. I'll be sharing content from my Blog or my YouTube channel each day this month. Hope to see you back here, and please feel free to comment.

0 Comments

lifestyle

5 EASY HALLOWEEN COSTUMES USING CLOSET STAPLE PIECES

WEDNESDAY ADDAMS

ELLE WOODS

FAIRY

DEVIL

GENERATIONAL LOOK

Let's get social:

8 FALL DATE IDEAS

1. A DRIVE OR WALK IN FALL FOLIAGE

2. FALL CRAFT DATE

3. HALLOWEEN MOVIE MARATHON

4. SHOPPING SPREE/WINDOW SHOPPING

5. HAY RIDE, PUMPKIN PATCH OR CORN MAZE

6. SEE A SHOW OR WATCH A GAME

7. SELF CARE DAY

8. BAKING/COOKING DATE

LET'S GET SOCIAL:

MY HALLOWEEN MUG COLLECTION

HALLOWEEN QUEEN - HOME GOODS

SUGAR SKULL MUG - HOME GOODS

BLACK CATS - THE CHRISTMAS TREE SHOP

HOCUS POCUS MUG - HOME GOODS

SALLY MUG - THRIFT STORE

FLORAL SKULL WINE GLASSES - A GIFT, SO NOT SURE!

LET'S GET SOCIAL

THE BEST PLACES TO SHOP FOR HALLOWEEN DECOR

WALMART AND TARGET

MICHAEL'S CRAFT STORE

HOME GOODS

THE CHRISTMAS TREE SHOP

HOBBY LOBBY

Let's get social:

A Year Closer to 30 - Celebrating my 29th Birthday

Archives

Categories

​lifestyle

5 EASY HALLOWEEN COSTUMES USING CLOSET STAPLE PIECES

WEDNESDAY ADDAMS

ELLE WOODS

FAIRY

DEVIL

GENERATIONAL LOOK

Let's get social:

8 FALL DATE IDEAS

1. A DRIVE OR WALK IN FALL FOLIAGE

2. FALL CRAFT DATE

3. HALLOWEEN MOVIE MARATHON

4. SHOPPING SPREE/WINDOW SHOPPING

5. HAY RIDE, PUMPKIN PATCH OR CORN MAZE

6. SEE A SHOW OR WATCH A GAME

7. SELF CARE DAY

8. BAKING/COOKING DATE

LET'S GET SOCIAL:

MY HALLOWEEN MUG COLLECTION

HALLOWEEN QUEEN - HOME GOODS

SUGAR SKULL MUG - HOME GOODS

BLACK CATS - THE CHRISTMAS TREE SHOP

HOCUS POCUS MUG - HOME GOODS

SALLY MUG - THRIFT STORE

FLORAL SKULL WINE GLASSES - A GIFT, SO NOT SURE!

LET'S GET SOCIAL

THE BEST PLACES TO SHOP FOR HALLOWEEN DECOR

WALMART AND TARGET

MICHAEL'S CRAFT STORE

HOME GOODS

THE CHRISTMAS TREE SHOP

HOBBY LOBBY

Let's get social:

A Year Closer to 30 - Celebrating my 29th Birthday

Archives

Categories

lifestyle