Happy Friday, y’all! Â We are hunkered down and waiting for Hurricane Florence today. Â I am really worried about eastern North Carolina since some places still haven’t fully recovered from Hurricane Matthew 2 years ago. Â However, I am so excited about our upcoming trip to New York City! Â I feel like I have a lot to do prior to our flight, but I am so, so thrilled to get back. Â I haven’t been since I was 21, so it’s been 10 years! Â I’d love to hear some of the things you’d recommend us doing while we’re there. But today, I am sharing my September 2018 edition of coffee talk.
Y’all, I love this article about teachers who are also influencers. Â While this started as a creative outlet for me, I am happy that I am able to help support my family through this space.
Speaking of influencing, have you checked out my Blogging FAQ series?  I’ve posted Part 1 and Part 2, but one of the important pieces I want to point out is the small business aspect.  I love supporting local businesses, but I am a small business, too.  It takes a lot of time (and money) to curate content, pay a photographer, edit photos, and spend the time writing the story line.  Nothing is more frustrating  to creatives than when folks say “Gosh, maybe I should start a blog so I can do that (insert whatever it may be).”  It’s not that easy.  This is a second full time job for me, on top of my grad school.  I make a point to say all of this because many pitches I get are from small businesses who tell me that they cannot pay me because they are a small, family-run business.  My response these days is “So am I” which is often forgotten.
I am obsessed with these earrings for fall! Â I find that these are really unique styles and I get a lot of wear out of them. Â I particularly love the design on these with the mixed metal and the attention to detail.
David and I have been really being intentional about tracking where our money is going. Â We are also (always) Â looking for ways to save money. Â I drive a lot for work, so using the Get Upside app helps save money on gas. Â Sign up using my code, A4T5S and earn an extra 15 cents per gallon cash back, and I’ll earn a little extra, too.
Another way we are saving money is using the Albert app to help us analyze our spending and helps us achieve our savings goals. Â I am loving it and highly recommend it!
One of the reasons why we are trying to be more intentional with knowing where our money is going is because I am trying to avoid adding clutter to our homes. Â I have been purging our closets and cabinets and make three piles. Â One to toss, one to donate, and one to sell. Â I sell home items on our local Buy Sale Trade sites on Facebook and I sell my clothes on Poshmark and at a local consignment shop. Â It has felt so good to get rid of some of the extra “baggage” I’ve had cluttering our space. Â Have you used Poshmark? Â Use code MDB0112 to get $5 towards your first purchase!
I am most looking forward to fall so I can start burning fall fragrance candles in our house. Â I love Capri Blue fall fragrances and the beautiful jars that they come in. Â This spiced cider candle and the fall leaves candle are amazing! Â I like to burn one fragrance in the kitchen and the other in the living room to get a combined scent of the two.
Y’all, we are less than 60 days away from mid-term elections. Â Please, please, please be sure that you are registered to vote, know your polling place, what your state rules are about IDs, and most importantly, Â that you vote. Â This is an opportunity that not many places get, and every vote does matter.
I am loving this nail color for the upcoming fall and winter season. Â I have gotten in the past few times I’ve had a manicure. Â Stay tuned later this month for my favorite fall nail colors.
I am itching to get to the mountains for a weekend getaway this fall. Â I love leaf season in North Carolina and I have always wanted to go apple picking while visiting. Â Do you have a favorite spot to go? Â There are several towns on my “to visit” list, but some of our favorites are Blowing Rock, Bryson City, and Asheville.
I hope you have a great weekend and are safe with Hurricane Florence rapidly approaching. Â I hope you’ll follow along this weekend as I have one of my favorite types of weekends planned as long as the weather holds out.
Love that you included voting in this post!!