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February 11, 2021

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Winter 2021 Valentine’s Day Wine & Dine Playlist

Although restaurants across NYC are reopening for indoor dining this Valentine’s Day weekend (and Lunar New Year), I think most people are going to play it safe and just order take out.

In the event that you decide to have Valentine’s Day dinner in the safety of your home, I’ve made the perfect playlist to serve as the soundtrack to your lovely quarantine feast.

You can play it while you’re cooking, put it on repeat as you set the table for you and your Valentine, or snuggle up with some wine and crank up the volume while you wait for your food to be delivered.

Whatever the situation may be, enjoy this winter’s flavorful Valentine’s Day Wine & Dine Playlist!

1. Hunger, Rhye. Let’s work up an appetite. 

2. Yummy, Justin Bieber. The lyrics speak for themselves.

3. Buy You A Drank (Shawty Snappin’), T-Pain ft. Yung Joc. Good thing you’re already home 😉

4. I Got the Juice, Janelle Monáe ft. Pharrell Williams. 🍋🍑🍒🍓

5. Wasabi, Little Mix. She’s “sweet and salty.”

6. Cake by the Ocean, DNCE. Keep on hoping and maybe it might happen 🤞🏽

7. Chocolate, Maluma. A lil bit of Latin sweetness. 

8. Cherry, Lana del Rey. “My cherries and wine, rosemary and thyme…”

9. Moon Sugar, Night Beds. Sweet tooth.

10. Simple & Sweet, Jon Bellion. One final serenade.

Have a Happy and Safe Valentine’s Day!

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February 4, 2021

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January Favorites: Biden-Harris Inauguration & ‘9-1-1: Lone Star’ S2 Premiere

Well, now that we’re back to having competent human beings running the US government, news will be boring on the politics side of things (just the way I like it). There is no shortage of exciting pop culture news to recap for the month of January, though, and all of my favorite shows are back on TV, so let’s get to it!

Here are my faves in pop culture and entertainment for the first month of 2021!

Favorite News Articles

1. Jennifer Lopez’s Inauguration Day performance. Love that she spoke some Spanish during her rendition of “This Land Is Your Land” and “America the Beautiful.”

2. Michelle Obama’s Inauguration Day outfit. If I could afford just the jacket part of this glorious ensemble I would totally buy.

3. The Bernie Sit meme generator. Truly the perfect vibe for these times.

4. The women who secured the ballot boxes during the Capitol riots. Give them a Medal of Freedom.

5. There’s a 7-Eleven Airbnb in Dallas. And it’s only $11/night?!

Favorite Music

1. “Safeword” by Rhye. Starting the new year out right with a whole new album from Rhye!

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January 25, 2021

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Quarantine & Work From Home Items Inspired by Pantone’s 2021 Colors of the Year

*AFFILIATE LINK

If you know anything about me you probably know how much I ADORE the color yellow, so when I found out that Pantone’s 2021 Colors of the Year included a shade of yellow I was ecstatic!

Pantone’s 2021 Colors of the Year compliment each other so well. Illuminating and Ultimate Gray are a nice balance of sunshine and stormy, making it the perfect color combo to express the mix of emotions 2021 is making us all feel thus far. 

I’ve compiled a few fun items worth acquiring for your quarantine/work from home situation. From DIY projects to activewear and computer accessories, there’s just about something to make anyone’s day a bit more bearable in this collection:

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January 14, 2021

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Photowall Custom Canvas Print Review

*SPONSORED

You might remember that back in 2017 I reviewed a canvas print sent to me by Photowall. They reached out to me again this month to review another one of their products, so instead of choosing a canvas that was already on their site, I decided to have one of my own DSLR photos blown up in a custom print!

The photo I chose to have blown up is one that I took in the summer of 2020 in Dorchester County, Maryland. It was taken on a farm while my boyfriend’s family’s Border Collie, Ajax, was running around. 

I had the choice of having the canvas print with no border, a black border, or a white border. If i chose no border, the top of the tall tree in the top left was cropped out, so I went with a black border.

Just as with last time, one of the screws didn’t want to line up with the hole. I didn’t have a drill or another screw I could put in it, so I just left it out. 

Delinquent hole

I love the way it turned out! It’s super fun seeing one of my own photos blown up like this.

The print was light enough to hang up with Command strips, as I did with my first canvas print.

Photowall also has wallpaper and wall murals available for purchase. Be sure to check out their selection at photowall.com and use the code thewhisperbox25 for 25% off your order (expires 2/14/21). Their products would make great Valentine’s Day gifts ❤️

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January 10, 2021

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December Favorites: WAmP & “End of the World” Music Video ft. Zooey Deschanel

Sooo, 2020 is over right? Yeah? 🥴

I really have no words to describe what went down at the US Capitol this past week but boy am I glad the election results are certified and we can move forward to Emperor Spray Tan being dragged out of the White House kicking and screaming Inauguration Day on January 20th.

On that note, let’s journey back to December 2020 for a lil’ bit for my faves in pop culture and entertainment.

Favorite News Articles

1. Cardi B gives her stamp of approval for Johns Hopkins University’s “WAmp” (Wear a Mask Please). Love this so much. 

2. Marsai Martin set the record for youngest producer. YAAASSS gurl!

3. Steve Kornacki gets a gig doing football stats weeks after his amazing 2020 election coverage. Someone give this man an Emmy. 

4. iCarly is getting a reboot with the original cast! Something to look forward to in 2021 🙌🏽

Favorite Music

1. “Teach Me How To Love” by Shawn Mendes. This man can do no wrong I swear.

2. “Lets Have a Party” by Mike Posner. Feel good fun.

Favorite Celeb Instagrams

1. Sky Ferreira and the little black kitty. Too much adorableness! 

2. Ariana Grande is engaged! The ring is so gorgeous and I wish her all the best after going through so much in the past. 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Ariana Grande (@arianagrande)

Favorite TV Episodes

1. Black-ish, “Compton Around the Christmas Tree.” Of course Bo would want to do more than just peel potatoes 😜

Favorite YouTube Videos

1. Zooey Deschanel stars in Katy Perry’s “Not the End of the World” music video. I’m ded. 

2. Liza is having a ball making masterful cuisines with her air fryer. Oh, how I’ve missed this crazy chick!

Is it too late for a refund on 2021 though? 🤔

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December 31, 2020

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2020’s Best in Music

Of course my neck would hurt and my head would start to pound on the last day of this God-forsaken year when I’m scheduled to recap the songs, artists and albums that kept us all sane in 2020.

OF COURSE.

Anyway, I’m powering through this with the help of Tylenol and eggnog.

Truly, music is the MVP this year. I’m amazed at how many artists followed through on their releases and then some (looking at you, T-Swizzle).

So without further ado, I present 2020’s Best in Music:

1. “Nydia,” Buscabulla, Regresa. Started out the year with these enchantingly addicting vocals.

2. “Sinner,” Galimatias, Renaissance Boy. This boy better get his behind on tour as soon as its safe to do so again.

3. “Pure / Santiago,” Lido, Peder. This year’s pleasant surprise for sure.

4. “Is It True,” Tame Impala, The Slow Rush. I feel like Tame Impala knew how 2020 was gonna go before it even started.

5. “Midnight Sky,” Miley Cyrus, Plastic Hearts. I can get used to this rock and roll phase.

6. invisible string, Taylor Swift, folklore. Back on that Taylor Swift train.

7. “Mission,” Qveen Herby, EP 9. Eat cake, stream spoopy Qveen.

8. “WATER (ft. Pharrell Williams, Salatiel),” Beyoncé, The Lion King: The Gift (Deluxe Edition). So glad this was re-released with Black is King!

9. “Back Up,” Aluna, Renaissance. AlunaGeorge WHO?!

10. “Easy”, Troye Sivan, In A Dream. So proud of this kid.

11. “Spark It Up,” LEISURE, Side A. Not even a global pandemic can rob this band of their chill.

12. “Supersonic”, Fleurie, Portals (The Deluxe Version). Excited to watch Fleurie continue to grow as an artist.

13. “Oakland (ft. Winnetka Bowling League),” RAC, BOY. Lord knows we all needed this RAC album this year.

14. “Babe Ruth,” COIN, Dreamland. The calm before the chaos.

15. “Dance Again,” Selena Gomez, Rare. “Feels so good” indeed.

See you on the other side 😉🎉

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December 26, 2020

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DSLR Diaries

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DSLR Diaries: The Rest of 2020

Since 2020 didn’t end up being what anyone thought it would be, photo opportunities were very scarce this year. At the start of the pandemic, I was stuck out on Long Island for about three months (all of spring) without my camera, and once reunited with it in NYC I barely went out due to social distancing rules.

My dream of taking more photos of actual humans in nature went downhill really fast, and I’m not sure when I’ll be able to get back to trying in the future now that the COVID-19 vaccine is being administered.

However, looking back at some of the photos I was able to take after the lockdown, I realized my 2020 could have been a lot worse. I still went on a few road trips (the safest way to vacation during a pandemic IMO), so I was able to capture some amazing shots. I also managed to take a few photos around Manhattan.

Here are some of the photos I wanted to highlight from this year:

Summer 2020

Cloudy skies in Dorchester County, MD

June 2020’s Sahara Dust in Manhattan, NY overlooking NJ

Layton’s Chance Vineyard & Winery in Vienna, MD

Summer berries in Highbridge Park, NYC

Ocean City, MD

Wild horses on Assateague Island

Behind Snappers Waterfront Cafe in Cambridge, MD

Fall 2020

Found a flower while pumpkin picking at Emily’s Produce in MD (plus a ladybug)!

Goat friends at Emily’s Produce

Baltimore’s Inner Harbor

Union Square, NYC before the Nor’easter

Be sure to check out my photography Instagram @thewhisperboxpix for more!

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December 10, 2020

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Oct & Nov Favorites: Goldroom’s Saguaro Mix 2020 & Doja Cat’s “Say So” @ MTV EMA

Because 2020 couldn’t end without a reactivation of my nerve pain, I had to put off posting my combined October & November Favorites for a week and then I started slipping into a deep, dangerous bout of procrastination.

So here we are, on December 10th, looking back at the beginning of the last quarter. Cool.

Let’s get on with it.

Favorite News Articles

1. Mindy Kaling had another baby. HOW IS SHE STILL ABLE TO KEEP THE IDENTITY OF HER BABIES FATHER (FATHERS?!) A SECRET PLUS HAVING A WHOLE OTHER KID WITHOUT US KNOWING. HOW?!

2. Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton are engaged! Hoping he treats her well (we’re watching you, Blake 👀). 

3. Harry Styles hung out at a fan’s house while she wasn’t home after his car broke down. I’d be so pissed if one of my fave musicians dropped by while I wasn’t there 😫

4. Assemblywoman Shirley Weber’s reparations bill in California. Gotta start somewhere. #BLM.

Favorite Music

1. Saguaro Mix (Sunsets #5) by Goldroom. Such happy vibes for these trying times.

2. “Edge of Midnight (Midnight Sky Remix)” by Miley Cyrus and Stevie Knicks. Loving this mashup remix!

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November 24, 2020

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Quarantine Diaries: A Cause for Concern

The fact that I’m reviving the Quarantine Diaries segment in itself is a cause for concern at this point.

I haven’t blogged in a month due to the rollercoaster of nonsense that has ensued this election season (wooo Biden Harris 2020!). I figured it would be a great time to take a break and have one less thing to stress over (don’t worry, monthly favorites will be combined next month to make up for it). 

However, election tomfoolery aside, COVID-19 is still an ever-looming cloud of impending doom over all of us, and it’s about to start feeling way worse as the holidays approach.

I’ve already been told by my parents, who live in the same state as me, only about a half hour away by car with no traffic, that I should stay my little behind in NYC instead of spending Thanksgiving in Long Island with them.

Countless friends and coworkers are grappling with the reality that spending the holidays with family is simply not an option this year due to the pandemic. I commend them for taking this seriously and thinking about the health of their fellow man (and woman) this season.

That being said, I was VERY disturbed last week when I saw this video in an article explaining the COVID-19 safety precautions they’re taking at malls to allow children to visit Santa Claus.

I’m sorry, but why in the world would you be taking your child to a MALL to visit SANTA during a FREAKING PANDEMIC?!

Do you want Santa to fall ill and then not be able to deliver presents on Christmas Day?! 

Let Santa quarantine in peace. Please. I beg you.

Kindly take the time to explain to your children that Santa is setting an example of a responsible human who abides by coronavirus safety measures, so he can’t visit this year for photos. It’s that simple.

Or just find someone in your bubble that your kids are quarantining with and ask them to dress up as Santa for them. Much safer that way.

This holiday season is going to be difficult, but it will be much more so if you end up losing a loved one due to being careless and selfish during the pandemic.

Wear a mask, wash your hands, and have a Happy Thanksgiving.

 

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October 23, 2020

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WHITL Earrings Review

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whitl earrings*I received these earrings complimentary from WHITL. All views are my own.

A few weeks ago, a company called WHITL Woodworking sent me an email asking if I wanted to try their handmade wooden jewelry. The costume jewelry collector in me could not refuse the offer!

WHITL Woodworking in Abilene, Texas makes eco-friendly earrings out of  ethically sourced wood. They also have designs made of leather, which are quite sophisticated and unique. The company partners with local mental health nonprofits to assemble their earrings.

I had a hard time choosing the earrings I wanted to review due to the fact that they have so many amazing designs on their site. I settled on the Cheetah & Maple Claw Earring, and a friend of mine picked out the Walnut & Rose Gold Leaf Earring set. I was also sent two mystery earrings, which ended up being the Beautiful 3 Point Cactus Earring  in the color Moss and the Feather Earring in the color Walnut.

I absolutely LOVE the Cheetah & Maple Claw set, as it’s super bold and stands out quite a bit against darker-colored outfits.When I showed these to my mom she immediately started telling me about this cheetah-print loungewear set she has that would look amazing with it, so I might let her have them.

whitl cheetah maple claw earrings

I also really love the Feather ones. The color is perfect for autumn, and I can definitely see myself wearing them a bit when I want to add a little subtle charm to my look.whitl woodworking feather earringsYou’re bound to find a pair on their site that would be perfect for yourself or as a gift for someone else.

whitl woodworking

Use the code whisperbox to get $5 off of your order!