To Growth, Good health, Great prosperity

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Every Christmas, I receive a lot of corporate swag from companies that partner with my business, Zamartz. I have collected many limited edition logo-stamped items over the years — hats, bags, tees, you name it. This year was a bit different, though. Since COVID hit, most of my partners had to cut costs, which meant no merch.

I was pleasantly surprised when I received a lovely plant from my partners at LiveArea! They worked with a company called Lula’s Garden, which sources beautiful Succulents. I got a Ruby Ball Cactus along with a Succulent plant, both kept in a sleek black pot. The pop of color from the Ruby Ball Cactus was the perfect complement to my Christmas decor. My vintage candy dishes and hand-blown tree ornaments never looked so vibrant! This plant symbolizes everything that I want to see in 2021 – growth, good health, and great prosperity.

A perfect day for a Perfect Manhattan

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Although the holidays are right around the corner, I got the celebration started early by channeling my inner mixologist. Some of my favorite cocktails are Dirty Martinis, Vespers, and Piña Coladas, but I love Perfect Manhattans most of all!

Here’s the recipe for a Martz-style Perfect Manhattan:

I sipped my Perfect Manhattan out of a Vintage Remix Lab Nick and Nora glass. From the drink to my glass to the holiday decor in my home…everything was just perfect!

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How i make my “Perfect” Manhattan. The difference between a “Manhattan” and it’s perfect counter part has to do with the ingredients and the garnish. Instead of cocktail cherries as garnish you replace with a lemon twist, and I like to use Rye when making my cocktail.

Ingredients

3 Oz. of Rye Whiskey
1.5 Oz. Sweet Vermouth
3 splashes Aromatic Bitters
1 lemon
ice

Mixing

Add 2/3 ice to a cocktail mixing cup.
Add Rye Whiskey, Sweet Vermouth and Aromatic Bitters.
Stir to mix for 1 minute being careful not to chip the ice.
Strain mixture into your favorite cocktail glass.
Cut a thick twist off of a lemon with a vegetable peeler, lightly warm lemon with match, and squeeze peel over glass.
Run lemon over rim of glass and slip into drink to garnish.

Gucci Donald Duck Bday gift to myself

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I have been collecting Donald Duck memorabilia for a long time. My approach to collecting shifted about 5-6 years ago when I decided to start decreasing my consumerism and environmental impact. A big change happened within my wardrobe. I started to simplify the items in my closet and vowed to only wear blue.

I began to only hunt for Donald Duck themed apparel so my collecting could align within my new buying habits. This shoe was the perfect birthday present to myself. The sneakers fit well and the design is adorable. It feels great to have Donald Duck back into my life!

The Evening Lights Set in space

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I have noticed that I have an affinity with light. I am drawn to the way it brightens a room or adds shadows which create depth within a space.

Today, I fell in love with the way this afternoon’s sunset drew an outline of my bookcase on the wall. The beige and gray lighting reminded me of Caravaggio’s dark and dramatic work. It is hard to believe that I captured such a Chiaroscuro-esque image with just my iPhone.

Thankful from healthy family & friends

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This was my first year making turkey for Thanksgiving dinner. We purchased a huge one from Butcher Box so I wanted to make sure that it was cooked properly. Luckily, it turned out great! Since this turkey was pretty special to me, I decorated the dinner table accordingly. I created a beautiful tablescape with handmade Polish pottery and flowers from Urban Stem. My husband, parents, and I enjoyed our meal and each other’s company.

Many tragic events have occurred this year, but I still have a lot to be thankful for in my life. Despite the rapid spread of COVID-19, I am thankful that I have remained healthy. I miss being around my family and friends all the time, but I am thankful that we have stayed connected. Although it was a huge adjustment, I am thankful that I have been able to work from home. Lastly, I am thankful that my family trusted me to make the Thanksgiving turkey this year.

The world felt just a bit more friendly

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There are a set of birds that constantly visit the Hudson River Palisades across from my apartment. Their favorite spot is the railing right outside my window. Over time, I have gotten to know their little quirks and habits.

I know that these birds are not wasteful. They did not hesitate to eat the seeds from my mums once they started to die. I have also learned that they are resilient. One of the birds dove into my patio furniture, got right back up, and flew away.

As fascinated as I am with these birds, they appear to feel the same way about me. One bird stared at me through my window for about an hour while I worked. Now that we have gotten to know one another, it is safe to say that we are friends.

Good morning Fall on the Hudson River

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Right after a rainstorm, the Hudson River and surrounding nature look as vibrant as ever. There was a great contrast between the slightly gloomy sky and refreshed rust-colored trees. Even the barge passing through added beauty to this scene.

Just as the storm settled, the sun began to set. The barge’s bold, red paint reflected the remaining brightness from the sun. Its coat also complemented the various hues of autumn. Each barge has numbers on the side that indicate its origin. It is always interesting to discover how far one has traveled before it reaches the Hudson River.

Boo Bitches (the dog kind), Dyson is a Dragon

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I never really put dog clothing on Dyson. However, his grandparents got him a Halloween costume this year, and I could not pass up the opportunity. He was going to be a dragon.

Dyson looked great in the costume. Although he was dressed as a ferocious, fire-breathing creature, he looked cute as ever. I am glad that his grandparents got him such an adorable outfit.

He loved posing in his little dragoon costume although he had trouble negotiating two tails.

Weekend board game Fog of love

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My husband and I got married in September. One of the wedding gifts that we received was a board game from my friend Andrew. We decided to wind down from the hectic work week by giving the game, Fog of Love, a try.

It came with a bunch of colorful cards and chips. The objective of the game is to play out various relationship scenarios, adopt different personas, and go on pretend dates. It also comes with expansion packs to help switch things up. My husband Angel and I had a fun time playing the game. We highly recommend!

Gettysburg Battlefield, FYI the North Won!

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Back in October, while the weather was still bearable, my family and I took part in the Gettysburg Battlefield Tour. We wanted to have a mini vacation that was mostly outdoors because of COVID. The area we visited was beautiful, but the story about the land was tragic. So many people died on those grounds fighting for our freedom.

During the tour, we learned so much about how our country came to be. Recognizing that our country only exists as it does today because of those who sacrificed their lives all those years ago, was a humbling experience. Within our tour group, there were people who wanted a new experience (like me and my family), history buffs, and right-winged patriots – quite the interesting mix.

Side note: my family and I were annoyed because President-elect Joe Biden was scheduled to visit the day we were leaving – missed him by just a few hours. Seeing him in person would have made the trip even better, nonetheless we had a great time.

Weekend Bath time with Dyson & bathbombs.

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I got a taste of what it is like to be an influencer. A brand called Bubbly Belle sent over some bath bombs for me to try. I love bath bombs and so does my dog, Dyson. He loves to see the splashing water and exploding ball of soapsuds.

I decided to incorporate Dyson into my sponsored post. Before I tested out the bombs, I snapped pictures that showed off the product and my adorable dog. After giving them a try, we both agreed that it was a great product!

Loving my plant babies and watching them thrive!

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Taking care of plants is incredibly wholesome and rewarding. I discovered my green thumb a few years ago when I began growing this [plant name in picture]. Three apartments later, it is still thriving!

I currently have nine other plants throughout my home. Nothing is more beautiful than looking around a space and seeing signs of life everywhere. Each one of my plant babies gets an equal amount of love and care. Maybe I can find room for a few more…