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Top 10 Books of 2023

I read over 100 books in 2023 (111 to be exact), and the quality ranged from DNF to 11/10! Here were my top ten favorite books that I read last year, in no particular order. I didn’t include ratings because it’s safe to say they were all 5 star reads! (Note: some of these were released before 2023 and a few are being released in 2024, but I’m counting them!) Dark Matter – Blake Crouch This was…

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April Reads

Here are ratings of all the books I read in April: The Very Nice Box – Laura Blackett & Eve Gleichman ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I had a hard time rating this because this book was very slow, but I surprisingly enjoyed it! I think there was supposed to be a deeper meaning behind everything, but the overall story was easy to follow and fun to read. This is a good palette cleanser after a few intense books! The…

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Easy Care Plants for Beginners

When you’re starting your plant parenthood journey, it’s easy to be enamored by fiddle leaf figs and other beautiful plants that end up being difficult to care for. Here are low maintenance options that are perfect for plant beginners! Snake Plant Light: Any! Snake plants can tolerate low light well, which makes them great for rooms that don’t get much sun, like bathrooms or offices.Water:…

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March Reads

Here are ratings of all the books I read in March: Luckiest Girl Alive – Jessica Knoll ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I watched the movie first, which is always the wrong way to do it! It was a good book overall, but there were some scenes that felt rushed and not fully thought out. I’ll Stop the World – Lauren Thoman ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ An absolutely INCREDIBLE read!!! I was hooked from the very beginning, and loved the…

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Where to Start with Wedding Planning

Tony and I have been engaged for almost a year and a half, and finally made it to the year we’re getting married! When I first started the planning process, the first step was to figure out where to start! Here’s what I’ve done, in case it’s helpful for others: Sign up for wedding planning sites Before you do anything else, sign up for The Knot and/or Zola. These sites have information on…

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Easy Ways to Identify a Mystery Plant

Easy Ways to Identify a Mystery Plant

Happy National Houseplant Appreciation Day! If you received a plant from a friend or from a plant swap but aren’t sure what it is, check out these handy ways to identify it: Use your phone’s camera Did you know both iPhones and Androids have a built-in plant identifier?? On Android: Open the Google Lens app Take a new picture of the plant and tap the plant and Google will pull up the info it…

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Holiday Markets in the Twin Cities

Holiday Markets in the Twin Cities

Tis the season for holiday markets! I love checking off Christmas gifts for friends and family while supporting local vendors. Here’s a list of the holiday markets happening in Minneapolis & St. Paul in December. I’ll add to this list as I find new events, and comment below if you know of one I missed! December 2nd, 3rd & 4th 2nd: Olio Vintage 3rd: Lakes & Legends 4th: Old St. Anthony…

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The Best (Free!) Way to Get Into Plants

The Best (Free!) Way to Get Into Plants

If you want to start a plant addiction hobby, but don’t want to spend a ton of money doing it, I have good news for you! I’ve spent enough money on plants and have figured out a great free way to do just that! The secret? Plant swaps. What started off as a small collection of 3 big box store plants ended up blossoming into a new hobby, a collection of 40+ plants, and a fun new way to connect…

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Best Fall Activities in the Twin Cities

Best Fall Activities in the Twin Cities

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Spooky Season Book Recommendations

Spooky Season Book Recommendations

Looking for a good thriller to get into during spooky season?? I loved these and highly recommend them!

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Fall Plant Care Tips

Tips to help your houseplants transition to the colder seasons!

I know we don’t want to start talking about the “W” season yet, but it’s time to start thinking about it for your plants sake! Here are a few tips for how to ensure your plants make it through the cold season: Stop fertilizing Plants need an off season just like sports teams do! During the fall and winter, stop fertilizing your plants to give them a few months to focus on existing…

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The Best Vegetarian Chili Recipe

The Best Vegetarian Chili Recipe

🎉 IT’S THE FIRST DAY OF FALL!! 🎉 And you know there’s no better way to welcome in cooler temps and changing leaves than with a crockpot chili! Here’s the world’s easiest (and vegetarian) recipe I’ve perfected over the past few years. Ingredients: 1 (15 ounce) can black beans (drained and rinsed) 1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans (drained and rinsed) 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans (drained and…

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Introducing: Kortbein Creative LLC

Introducing: Kortbein Creative LLC

I have exciting (and not so “new”) news: I started my own company, Kortbein Creative LLC! In January 2021, I decided to finally take the leap and start my own company, focusing on helping small businesses with their social media needs. I’ve been interested and involved in social media for a while, and through various side jobs and projects have come to realize that I really love helping small…

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Moving Tips You Probably Didn't Consider

Moving Tips You Probably Didn’t Consider

Tony and I recently moved from Minneapolis to Woodbury, and while we’ve moved together previously, I always forget how…fun…it is until you’re trying to shove blanket #12 into a box filled with a Keurig, potting soil, and Windex. I wanted to share some key tips I learned along the way in hopes I can help you during your next move (and as a reminder to myself for next time): (more…)

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Being Part of the Great Resignation...Twice

My experience being part of the great resignation...twice. Why I left, what I'm doing next, and how I feel about it all.

Towards the end of 2021, I decided it was time to quit my job. I wasn’t progressing in my career, wasn’t doing what I was most passionate about, and just felt ready to move on. I didn’t have a plan, I just knew I wanted to get out of there and move onto something that was more relevant to me. I started a new position at an agency in December 2021, and while it seemed like the perfect match for…

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5 Easy Reusable Swaps to be More Sustainable

5 Easy Reusable Swaps to be More Sustainable

It can get really overwhelming thinking of all the things you need to do to help the environment. There’s a million products you can buy and things you can do, but where do you even start?! Here are 5 easy things you can swap to reusable to be more sustainable in your daily life without making big investments! Bags – I bought a few of these flip & tumble bags back in 2012 and haven’t stopped…

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Upgrading my Google Pixel 5 to a Pixel 6 Pro and then "downgrading" to a Pixel 6

My experiences with the Google Pixel 6 Pro and the Pixel 6 after upgrading from my Pixel 5.

If there’s anything I’m consistent at, it’s not being satisfied with my phone! I recently upgraded from my Pixel 5 to the Pixel 6 Pro, but after using it for a few days, I realized it was just too big for me and ordered the Pixel 6. The 6 is only 0.3 inches smaller than the 6 Pro, but it’s just enough to make a significant difference for me. I loved my Pixel 5, but naturally wanted to check out…