Trying to keep myself uplifted, so, I’m gonna dream.
Here are some items I’m dreaming of and a full bank account.
Chanel: Mini Classic Handbag
I have not seen this in person, but I think it would be a great addition to my capsule wardrobe. If the leather is like it looks here, I’m sure it can really withstand years of use. I’m sure it is really beautiful – lambskin.
I have seen this purse in person numerous times – the design is timeless, especially with the monogram. I love it and hope to add it to my capsule in the near future. I just read about the details of the bag on the website and it is canvas.
I doubt most people know that. Looks like leather.
I’ve had a few pair of these and I really enjoy them, however, I would prefer that they were still full leather. I lived in these during the Fall and Winter months, however, if they continue to fall apart after a few wears, I will stick with my second hand Frye Boots, for sure (I may need to do a whole post on my Frye Boot collection). I really like the design of these boots, they are very simple and greatly enhance my Capsule Wardrobe, but come on, Michael of Michael Kors. Come on.
I am more of a Honda fan, but they keep discontinuing the cars that I like, so I’m moving on to Toyota. I love the new Prius design, but that price tag? It needs to be fully electric in my opinion. If I were rich, I’d buy this car and convert it. This would be an upgraded version of the CRZ for me.
I bought a Nintendo Switch 2 a few months back – and to be pointed, I really enjoy the system. Warning: I am a Nintendo Freak – and by that, I mean, I do not play many other platforms. In my youth, I used to game pretty hard on PC, SEGA, & Nintendo platforms, but as I’ve grown into a woman, I only play Nintendo. I most recently got back into gaming, honestly, due to curiosity of how the games have evolved (not much) and I’d like to mention Lupe Fiasco, so due to this song.
A quick rundown of the Switch 2 – it does not vary enough from the initial release of the initial system, which I now call, the Switch 1. Honestly, I think that the gaming companies should only move their players to new systems when they have made significant changes. As this is primarily a handheld system, I’m also mildly upset that it is so big. I’ve adapted, but I do prefer the size of the Switch 1. Also, I’ve noticed that I might be a little too insular – I’m not taking advantage of the cool online gaming features. I do not have great Internet in my area (WTF Google, no fiber for the Southside of Atlanta, almost 16 years in now), so I’m not doing much online gaming. I do research, however. I’ve spent the last month playing Pokopia and I’m exhausted. Pokopia is amazing, but I doubt that I will be able to take advantage of how cool the game is without a Nintendo Online Membership and some online gameplay to visit the cool isles in the imaginations of others. I’ll do a more in depth review of Pokopia another time – right now, I want to write about a lesser known game, Europa. This game, now sold in the online Nintendo store, was developed, at least in part by NovaDust Entertainment.
Someone mentioned this game on Threads (@prabhjotlamba via Gaming Threads) and I immediately wanted to experience it for myself. After a few days of contemplation, I decided to download it. It is immediately breathtaking visually, with its Ghibli inspired styling – I do not believe there are very many games which look like this on the market. Not only that, it currently has a 15.00 price tag. Whoa! I immediately enjoyed Europa upon first gameplay, however, I do not believe that the game is complete.
I was engrossed in the world of Europa, but I lost interest quickly. The visuals bleed into each other too much, the camera angels are odd at times when gliding and landing, and maneuvering through some of the needed movements for the character can be difficult on the Switch 2 controllers when using handheld play. I also had a lot of confusion after entering into the main part of the game – how do I make progress from the ruined temples? I believe that the free roam doesn’t give enough guidance to move beyond this point. I also think that the soft focus is very difficult to play with.
The game itself is very cute. Lovely, even. I can see the differences between the main development teams at Nintendo, or whomever they may outsource to, and the team behind Europa. I do believe that it is still worth playing, but with realistic expectations.
I do not think that my workouts would be anywhere near as good without my collection.
Here are a few pieces that I recommend – you might be able to find these at Marshalls for a steal, or you can order them directly from their website. By the way, their customer service is so good and the folks are so nice. I think that they are also open to suggestions – a year ago, I asked about the weight of their bands, and they could not give me a clear answer. NOW THEY HAVE BANDS WITH ACTUAL WEIGHT (light, medium, and heavy – they are definitely stronger than their prior set – I had the booty bands and they popped.)
Their development team and leadership teams seem to be really awesome. Have any ideas you think they would benefit from (WHOA THOSE KETTLEBALLS) – maybe suggest them. I would love to see a BALA inspired reformer similar to the ones sold on LHANEL.
My current workout faves are below. Thanks for requesting this as a blog post:
Bala Bangles have supercharged my workouts, my walks, and I love how stylish they are. When these were first introduced, they made HUGE waves in the yoga and light weight lifters communities for their style.
Just so you know, I’m a fan of their charcoal and sand color ways.
The Power Ring is such a nice weight to have. I believe that they used to sell this in smaller and bigger sizes, but I have the 10 pound weight.
Bala Mats – These mats are so helpful for floor workouts or for cushioning the floor better. I love my Wavy Mat, but I do not feel as though I use it as much as I should. I have rugs covering the floors of my rooms (I live in a very old home so I use them to ensure that my floors are insulated well). However, their newer release, the Compact Mat, will be getting much use as I think it would be very beneficial to assist with elevation.
Bala Beams – I have the 15lb and the 35lb beams. Need I say more? I ditched the gym as it was cutting into my day too much. I don’t need any of those machines.
To buy:
I want the KettleBall Trio (possibly in Sand). I have a very heavy, very ugly one from Walmart that I purchased during COVID and I think that these would be a lovely replacement. I’ll probably give that one to my brother. I love that Bala has infused so much style into their weights, they are like eye candy.
Somehow my Bala Ball got marks on it that won’t disappear even after using the pink stuff. Shock and dismay. Anywho, I need another one of these – in charcoal this time. I also want a weighted ball – The Power Ball.
Pokemon Pokopia is the ish. NOT better than Legends Arceus, but very interesting and cool. I really like the Switch2, however, I still believe that they should have held off on release. Starting to feel like I can’t wait for Wind + Waves. I’m so thankful for my guide – so helpful with understanding what is going on in the game. I did purchase ZA and my Totodile did become a Pharrelagator (Feraligatr), but I chose not to continue to play, at least right now. I’m not big into battles and after a year of playing the Arcues game, I just had to call it. I needed a BIG BREAK from that format.
I permed hair for the first time on Monday. UGH. It is so pretty! I will definitely have to do another round, but I do think that this is the right path to get the kind of curls I was hoping for.
Baked Chicken DOES NOT TRUMP OVEN FRIED CHICKEN. DOES NOT.
Sauteed Arugala is the move, but not so much the move that I won’t still eat it raw.
Change is hard.
I started the Data Science program again and I do not feel as though I am soaking very much in, but I definitely know more now than I did before.
Recently, I’ve really enjoyed tagging some of my favorite artists on TikTok, hoping that I can participate in their creative process as well. I am not sure that any of my comments have gotten to them, however, I have been doing that for a while and I hope that they enjoy it and know that I think about them frequently. They have added so much joy and thought to my life. I aspire to be like them in some ways.
As I peruse the app for creative inspo, I have found some very entertaining things. I want to share them here, though I cannot say that they will still be active by the time you all find them. Especially this first Creator. I don’t think that many of my readers know this but I have attained fluency in Spanish though I am continuing to strengthen my skills. This Creator is sharing how to speak dirty in Spanish, and he sure is GOOD AT IT.
@elniggatino – Wanna learn how to curse or speak more explicitly in Spanish, this is the way to go. He is a cutie and of age! He even has a real explicit Spanish course available for purchase. Just 10 bucks!
@Blackbean_cms – What a talented artist. Not only are his paintings amazing but his videos are sooo good! He makes me laugh a lot. In one of his latest vids, he shared how to make paint from clay. Pretty cool if you ask me.
@novianwright_ – I really like this guy’s music. It is so vibey. He is BOSTON based and I was trying to share his work with people that I really admire, I’m not sure if it went anywhere. My heart belongs to them, Novian. YouKnowWho? I really like Sabotage and the feature below, ‘i wonder’.
Now that the hoopla of my last post has died down, there are a few items I want to mention regarding my pets. This one is sure to be a treat for all the cat lovers. I feel as though these items not only made my life better as it pertains to caring for my littles, but also made their lives more enjoyable overall. I dreamed that they would be outside and indoor kitties but it is just too dangerous in my area for that. Though they are on the larger side, they are still pretty small cats
Solid Gold Pet Probiotic – When I initially added this probiotic to my cats’ food, they loved it! It added a new range of flavors to their meals and I also know that it is very, very good for their tummies. My cats used to throw up a lot. This probiotic helps to regulate their digestion and adds additional flavors and nutrients to their already robust and diverse diet. I can tell that they notice when it is not mixed into their meal. In addition, I think that it might have some benefits for their teeth.
One Fast Cat – Cat Wheel – This was so pricey to me and such a space suck, but my cats have loved having this in the home. Now, they have a dedicated space to run in and my girl always sits on the wheel. Whenever I am near by, she runs on it. It is so fun to watch her do it and to “help” her. She even started doing some tricks. Like jumping as deep into the wheel as she can and then running at a pretty fast speed when lands, so if you have Maine coon cats, I believe this type of toy is really beneficial to their wellbeing. Mine cost 200 dollars but I do not regret it at all.
Pine Pellets – I’ve been using pine pellets for my cats litter since I adopted them. The pine does not mask the odor of their poop, but the pine does smell amazing in my home. I think that the pine adds a lot to the space and is more comforting than regular litter, not only that, it is so cheap and good for the environment. The price of the pelletized litter did go up during covid, but it is still hard to beat at 8 dollars a bag. I use the composted litter on my roses and it has been a great benefit to my home.
Kindfull Food and Meal toppers – I was a big fan of Luvsome foods, but I am really enjoying how the Kindfull brand is beneficial to my babies as well. I think the range of options this brand has is pretty great and my cats always love the food no matter what flavor I pick up.
Quail Eggs – I started to get a little angsty when the cat parents that feed their pets duck heads and whole fish started showing up on my feed, but for some reason my cats won’t eat entrails from the Dekalb farmer’s market or baby chicks. I added some quail eggs to satisfy both myself and them. Their coats shine and they haven’t gotten sick even when forcibly intermingling with the cat colony outside of my home. I’ve been amazed.
Honorable Mention:
HomeoPet – this has been a Godsend. I did not have my blog when I first adopted my cats, however, I truly love this little line of over the counter meds for domestic pets. I think that it might have saved their lives. I was volunteering at a shelter when I met my cats, Nike and Addidas. They had really, really terrible colds, so bad that the shelter did not want them to leave. Their vet did not think it would go away, they even prescribed them Benadryl. When that did not work, I scoured the pet stores and found this line – their colds cleared up within a month. I think that is a long time, but it definitely chased the bug away.
A lot of life occurred in 2025, so much that I cannot blog about it all. I’ve considered vlogging some things, but I think that writing on my blog is truly the best medium for me right now.
I personally support each and every one of these recommendations. I have first hand experience with them. All things mentioned in this post have helped to make this year really great in some way and I want to share the experience with you. I hope that you take some time to either visit, purchase, or listen. Let me know if you feel similarly, have different opinions, or suggestions of your own. I’ve made this post specific to Atlanta as I am Atlanta based, however, most products or media can be found online, if there is something that must be done in person, please consider giving ATL a visit. 🙂
We’re full, but not so full these days.
Without further Ado.
Best of the year Nellielytu – ATLANTA 2025
Hair/Beauty/Skin
Most of my content has centered around this the entire time the website has been up, but I do have a products that I want to spotlight.
Lady Speed Stick Brazilian Mist Leave in Spray – I found this product at DOLLAR TREE of all places. I love the ingredient list, it works very well for my hair, it is super cheap (I go through a lot of this product as I use it as a daily refresh spray, so the price point is amazing. Pro tip: add aloe vera juice for additional moisture.) And the scent! It smells so much like Sol De Janiero (pistachio!) that it is hard to beat. The best, truly. A runner up would be Lola from Rio Rapunzel leave in. Also good but about 15x the price at my local Beauty Master.
Entertainment
Sinners. I know that everyone has been into SINNERS over the last year and I am no different. This movie was truly a treat – not too scary, fun, creative, well shot and acted. I love the use of imagination to create this work. I plan on seeing it again as they have brought it to IMAX for an additional showing. Woah!
Monster Rancher. What a blast from the past. I saw a post about this show mentioned on Threads (my newest social media obsession) and I knew that I had to watch it again. I have not been let down. UPN69 ahead of all the other stations with anime. Definitely worth a new watch.
Lupe Fiasco’s free concert in Boston. Lupe Fiasco and MIT hosted a concert in May with the Orchestra program and it was definitely worth flying in for. Anytime he posts about these types of events, try to check them out.
Interviews
I really love this man.
When I’m working, If I’m not listening to music, I’m listening to interviews/podcasts. I listened to this interview several times throughout the year and it is a good listen every time.
Food
Slim and Huskys. Best pizza on the planet this year! My love of the pizza that they serve is so great. The Rony, Roni, Rone is my go to. As I’m not a tomato eater, their pesto and Alfredo sauce is top tier. Add in that jalapeno cilantro dipping sauce and it is truly a treat.
Music
One Republic. Anything from them or from The Fray is on this list. Their music catalog got me through the workday on days where I’m doing a lot of data work.
Clothes
Rainbow Dresses. I love the simplicity of the standard rainbow dresses and you cannot beat the 10.00 price tag. The look good on everyone with a body con fit – just layer them with some thin heat tech and you are good to go for the winter. I’ve been trying this out during the late fall in ATL and it has served me well without having to pull out the chunky coats. I am just as sad as everyone else that the temps have been hovering around 35-45 degrees, but this combo has kept me well in the early mornings as I walk to work.
House Maintenance
Brookstone heating blanket – I have two of these and they are so helpful in the winter so I’m not running my heating bill through the roof. I have one for my bed and one for my couch.
Places to visit
ATL Botanical Garden – This is truly one of the best places to visit in Atlanta. I have been so many times over the last quarter – they have some of the best exhibits bar none (Alice in Wonderland) and the best winter light show in A.
A few years ago, feather crochet hair was alllllll the rage on my Instagram. As a visual person, I LOVE Instagram (and Pinterest), there is SO MUCH inspiration that can be found and studied on these two platforms. I have been trying new things with my hair and I found plenty of new ways of styling my curly hair via Instagram. As someone that does not go to the hairstylist anymore (they always want to cut someone’s hair off), I found that the crochet hair advertised was truly quite appealing. The price tag tho – 5 packs of crochet hair on QVR, or even Elfin, can run upwards of 300 dollars (check out Hotbraids, this hair is giving Curlsqueen quality in terms of fullness.) Plastic crochet hair can be purchased for less than 10! And the plastic crochet, when complete is pretty. I personally think that the straight hair crochet works much better than other styles of plastic hair. I’ve attached mostly straight plastic crochet below, however this YouTuber does have a lot of tutorials on curly crochet styles with plastic hair.
This one was done with human hair cut from their clip INS – I love that she upcycled. I do not like that plastic hair is polluting our land so badly, that is why using human hair is truly an advantage. And when it gets old, you can compost it.
India can some how keep her curly crochet braids nice for 6 weeks plus. Awesome.
The issue with the plastic hair is that it tangles sooo fast. I love curls and this type of plastic hair tangles the most. I had to stop purchasing plastic extension hair. Using it pushes strongly against my ethics. I prefer to recycle and reuse instead of tossing away. These two vendors, Sexy Lady Hair and HoomyHair have some of the most luscious curls available in human crochet.These vendors can make crochet out of any available hair type that they have for sale. All you have to do is ask – these two vendors are so friendly and responsive. I have more of an Indian curly texture naturally, so I bought these textures. DO NOT FORGET – the hair has been washed and set a certain way in the videos but when you style it at home, it will look different as they are set for sale.
Here is what the hair looks like. These pictures and videos convinced me to purchase – this tiktoker seems to sell similar hair.
A lot of people have been asking me what shorter lengths look like in my Indian Curly so I decided to finally install 16, 18, 18 in the texture and so cute! #fyp @TheCurlySource
Traveling as a woman on a budget can be so hard. Not only does it have a somewhat dangerous aire to it, but it can be so expensive. I really need to keep my money in check. Here are a few tips that keep me feeling happy and together whilst on the road to distant locations.
Emergen – C: I take my vitamins diligently, however, having some emergen -c on hand has saved me on many ‘o flight. Not only am I able to fend off migraines better (which are very common for me and love to get at me while at the airport) but also, all the nasty germs that can be encountered while traveling no longer stand a chance.
Sol de Janiero travel kit: I’m am a true Sol de Janiero lover! These kits keep me up lifted and smelling good while traveling without having to lug around my expensive smell goods. You can find these in store or at Ulta/Sephora/Amazon.com. The parent website has them, too.
Dollar Tree for other upkeep essentials: toothbrushes, toothpaste, body wipes (the lady speed stick is soo good) and snacks. They always have great knick knacks that aid with traveling (poopurri).
Other notes:
A lot of people like to travel with their expensive shizz, but I don’t. Take your cheaper items that you won’t be as angry if they are left behind. For example, an older set of headphones, a water bottle that costs a dollar, the older model console instead of the latest drop. Not only is this less eye catching to thieves, but I’m not as concerned about my goods as the latest is safely at home.
I keep my wardrobe minimal. Rewearing items, traveling with a well paired capsule, travel sized satchets of detergent, and a gain refresh spray are really great. Wearing basics really makes it very easy to pack light – in fact, I’m known to be someone that just has a book bag most of the time.
As I’m growing my hair, crochet styles are the best way to still look great without much effort. Who wants to spend hours in the mirror doing their hair when they can be out in the sun. Ygwigs has great crochet hair of all styles. I highly recommend.
