Mar20

Hosting The Perfect Game Night

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Hosting The Perfect Game Night

When your favorite sports team sets the date for an important game, hosting a party with your fellow supporters is one of the best ideas you can indulge in. Organizing an amazing games night needn’t be as difficult as you might expect, as there are a few key tips and tricks that you can make the most of today:

Decorate The Space:

Whether you’ve booked out a venue or you’re just hosting your games night in the comfort of your living room, decorating the space in preparation for your fellow supporters arrival is an essential step to take. Prepping your venue to make it fun and inviting will add to the atmosphere dramatically, setting the scene for a brilliant game night that’s full of laughter and excitement! You can start off by sourcing a few balloons that match your team’s colors, as this is the most affordable option to upgrade your space. Investing in personalized banners or posters that show your support for your team can be a more flashy choice.

Don’t forget, if you’re hosting at home, it might be a good idea to prepare for mess – putting any fragile, breakable decor away is recommended, as you don’t want a happy celebration to turn into an apologetic embarrassment.

Provide Food & Drink:

Having some tasty snacks and a few delicious drinks to wash them down with will add a whole new level to your game night, and your guests will go home happy with full tummies no matter what the score ends up being! A finger food buffet of easy-to-eat no-mess options is going to be your best bet, as you don’t want to have to sit down and eat with a fork and plate when celebrations can occur at any moment. Sliders, fries, pastries, crisps and dip, cupcakes, and similar options are usually great crowd pleasers! If you’re stuck on what to create, take a look around online to find a wide variety of game night recipes that you can whip up in record time to impress your fellow supporters.

Souvenirs:

Purchasing some personalized team shirts or scarves from a uniform store will give your guests something to take home with them and use again, and they’ll remember the game night night every time they see it! Make sure that you find a reputable provider from whom you can place an order with confidence, as you don’t want to waste money or time with poor quality souvenir options.

Hosting the best game night for you and your fellow supporters to enjoy has never been so simple with the tips above!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Mar20

Our Engagement! Here’s How It Happened

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Our Engagement! Here’s How It Happened

Hi! On March 13th, Johnny and I got engaged and it was the surprise of a lifetime because I had NO idea. As you all know, Johnny has been helping me photograph my Reimagine Your Wardrobe series and even agreed to be my model every now and again. He suggested that once the weather was nicer, we could go to downtown Cuyahoga Falls AKA the Riverfront and take some pictures together for a day date and I was ecstatic to go on a safe outing – one of our first since October of last year.

It was a beautiful day on Saturday with a clear blue sky and warmer temps so after hanging out in the morning, we got ourselves all done up and stepped out in our OOTDs. We spent an hour or so exploring different areas along the shopping plaza and the Cuyahoga River and were having so much fun taking pictures, pretending to be photographers and models, and enjoying the weather and each other’s company.

You can get all of the details for our outfits tomorrow as well as additional pictures but here is a little preview:

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Throughout our photography adventure, we were struggling with the timed setting on the camera and for our last pictures together he said we should just take a video and save our favorite screen grabs from it. That sounded much easier to me than having to run back and forth between the camera and where we were standing under a stone archway so we got ourselves situated and began posing while a video was being taken.

Johnny told me I should face the other way for a few shots so I turned around thinking he was working the camera right along with me. Then, he told me I should turn towards him and he was on one knee! You could have knocked me over with a feather – it was absolutely amazing. And, yes, I have watched the video of our engagement a million times since then. 🙂

After the proposal, we sat on the patio of our favorite bar, The Cashmere Cricket, to have drinks and celebrate. This also just so happens to be where we had our first date. How sweet is that?! On Saturdays, The Cricket makes their drinks with dry ice so our beverages were smoking and bubbling like a science experiment as we sipped on them and grinned from ear to ear every time Johnny delightfully exclaimed that he “got me”!

Once we finished up on the patio, we went back to our place and a few of our friends in our “COVID bubble” stopped by for an hour or so. Then, Johnny and I snuggled up on the couch to listen and sing along to some music together. We ended the night with a dance party while we watched Grease and it was simply perfect. ❤

Be sure to tune in tomorrow for our Engagement OOTDs and keep checking back in for more on my ring, which needs resized!

How did you get engaged? Where did you and your partner have your first date? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar19

4 Benefits Of Greenery In And Around Your Home

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4 Benefits Of Greenery In And Around Your Home

It’s said that nature can be beneficial for our health and well being in a variety of ways. It not only adds beautiful color to your home but can lift your spirits as well as improve your air quality. Here are four benefits of greenery in and around your home:

Nature Makes You Happy:

As humans, there are core connections that we need. One is that we need human connection with others in order to feel content and fulfilled. Whether that’s being a social butterfly or simply connecting with others over the internet or with a small family unit. The other thing is that nature and being around nature can also help make us happier on the inside. There’s something about seeing a flower blooming or that stark green color on a leaf that can improve our mood for the better.

That’s why it’s good to have plants in all of your rooms, especially in places where you need that little bit of extra life, perhaps the bedroom where you’ll wake up feeling tired or sad from a dream you’ve had. Seeing something so colorful and alive can be uplifting.

It Keeps The Air Cleaner:

Whether you’re working with a bud trimming machine in your job or doing some casual gardening outside in your backyard, having greenery around you can impact the quality and cleanliness of the air. Plants and flowers help to purify the air, making it healthier for us humans to be able to breathe in and out. It’s important to incorporate a lot of greenery in your home and around it to help contribute to this science that’s proven to help with your health on the inside.

Helps Improve Mental Health:

Gardening is an amazing activity to take up if you struggle with your mental health. It will feel so good to get outside in the sunshine, breathe fresh air, and help something grow. Gardening is a true testament that if you nurture and care for something, you will achieve beautiful results – much like tending to your own mental health. A new hobby also helps fill excess free time and will provide a deep sense of accomplishment when your first flowers begin to bloom.

You’re More Productive:

Productivity or a lapse in productivity is something that most of us will tend to experience on a daily basis. Sometimes we’ll have good moments of productivity and others, slightly less to none at all. It’s always good to find ways of inspiring and motivating you whether it’s in your personal life or work life. Plants and flowers can help bring that productivity, sending good vibes to your brain to stimulate it. So if you’ve been feeling a lack of it recently, then be sure to invest in a few more plants for your home.

The benefits of greenery in and outside your home are proven to be helpful in creating a happy environment so use these tips for yourself this spring!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Mar19

Balancing Costs With Essentials As An Artist

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Balancing Costs With Essentials As An Artist

Creatives have it tougher than others. Unless they end up on magazine covers or are propped up by the industry as the Next Big Thing, it can feel difficult just to survive. And that’s even before the self-doubt kicks in over whether you chose the wrong company to work for. If art is your passion, it’s only understandable that you want to make a living with it. A lot of people will tell you that you won’t make money from a career as an artist, which is not the case at all. Try incorporating these tips to achieve your artist dreams without going broke in the process:

Consider the Right Investments:

One major issue with following your artistic dream is the costs, and anyone who has a creative bone in their body knows what these costs are. From acting lessons to high-quality paints and utensils, it can feel you’ve spent everything before you’ve earned a cent. This is why you need to choose the right investments for your craft. Look for high quality but affordable materials from The Sydney Canvas Company, and don’t forget to create a website to go alongside your social media profiles to boost awareness and look more professional.

Know Your Worth:

Many struggling artists desperate for work will have no choice but to accept being paid in exposure. This is a bit of a joke, though, and it’s something clients use to get people to work for free. If you know your worth, you’ll be able to avoid gigs that take advantage of you, which means you have more time to focus on improving yourself. While you might miss out on some jobs, you will be able to demand a price that you can live off of, because you can’t pay for groceries with likes or word-of-mouth.

Don’t Abandon Other Work Entirely (Yet):

Once you decide to pursue your passion, you may have plans to quit your current job and say goodbye to the nine to five lifestyle. However, as you are not stable yet, this is not a good idea. If you want to make sure that you can balance living costs with the essentials as an artist, you’ll need to persevere in your day job for now. As time goes on, you may be able to reduce your hours before giving it up entirely, but until then, stay patient.

Research the ‘Competition’:

It feels wrong to pit artists against one another when they all have the same goal in mind, and that’s why the word ‘competition’ feels off. Still, if you know what others in your industry are doing, you will be able to adapt to the times, especially when it comes to charging for work or considering how to improve in the future. Building a network of artists is free, and this can help you become better in every aspect of your work.

There will be many, many times where you feel like giving up your dream for something more stable. But, doing so would be a disservice to your talent and your passion. If you know how to balance the cost of being an artist with living a comfortable life, you’ll find that it is possible to make money from what you love to do.

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Mar19

Guess What?!

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Guess What?!

Hello everyone! I have got some big news for all of you so I am going to get right to it… JOHNNY AND I ARE ENGAGED!! He proposed to me on Saturday the thirteenth and I am still floating on cloud nine. You guys will have to tune in tomorrow for the full proposal story but here’s a little sneak peek of our day:

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I am, truly, the happiest, luckiest girl in the universe and this past Saturday was one of the best days of my life. I just melt every time I think of how Johnny proposed and we are so excited to share our joy and story with all of you. See you tomorrow! Much love. -Sarah

Mar18

Spring Has Sprung!

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Spring Has Sprung!

Hello! While there is an actual calendar date for the first day of spring, it has already sprung for me because of the bulbs and flowers popping up in my parent’s yard. My dad is an incredible gardener but, unfortunately, just had surgery for a dislocated shoulder and broken arm which means he will have to sit this gardening season out.

My family has all agreed to step in to tend to the yard and garden this spring and summer under my dad’s watch and I’m excited! I used to love helping out in the garden when I was younger and this past week as I walked around the backyard, I was delighted to see some flowers already poking out from the dried grass and leaves. Check it out:

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This has been a crazy past few weeks for my family with my dad’s injury on top of other personal matters and seeing these sunny little flowers during a beautiful day made me feel hopeful. Yellow was my grandma’s favorite color and one of mine too. She also loved planting flowers, herself, and catching sight of my dad’s crocuses and his “buttercups” as he calls them was like getting a special hello from her.

Despite the much needed transition into warm weather, things still feel so dark right now due to the pandemic. However, stepping out into the sunlight and having the first flowers of the season there to greet me put a smile on my face. It made me feel genuinely happy and I am looking forward to spending time outside with my family in the nice weather. My gardening skills might not be up to par with those of my dad but I’ll give it my best shot so he can still have his yearly flowers and veggies during his recovery. ❤

When do you feel like spring his sprung? What is your favorite flower? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar17

How To Protect Your Business

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How To Protect Your Business

If you want your business to be successful, then there are multiple different areas that you need to focus on protecting. Protecting a business is about more than just keeping your numbers out of the red, so where do you start? Consider the following:

Protecting your premises:

When people talk about protecting their business, they’re usually referring to the physical premises of their company. This can be your store or your office, but it might also include your warehouse or even your home depending on your business. Protecting your business typically means having security cameras and alarm systems. However, there are some cases where a large warehouse may need security guards or even multiple systems to defend against intruders. This is extremely important to protect your staff as well as your stock and ensures that you won’t face any burglaries in the future.

Better protection for your business can also come in the form of using managed IT services for enhanced cyber security. This is not just a necessity for your business but for your customers too. The people who purchase from your company expect their information to be completely safe. Failure to do so could lead to the downfall of everything you worked so hard to build.

Of course, protecting your premises also includes protection from the weather or, heaven forbid, a fire. There should be several fire extinguishers handy throughout the space, a sprinkler system, safety plan, random fire drills, and fire doors. Fire doors help slow the spread of fire and smoke throughout a property and can even help protect neighboring buildings. You will want a fire survey performed periodically so experts can evaluate the condition of your fire doors to ensure that they are up to performance standards. The threat of fire must be taken seriously so yourself and employees can always be best protected.

Protecting your employees:

Your employees need as much protection as anything else in your business. This usually starts with looking after their physical and mental well being. It can mean keeping an eye on them to see if they’re healthy, but it can also mean checking on their work progress and seeing if they’re encountering any troubles.

You might also want to look at working with a health insurance broker to offer your employees benefit packages that help them stay healthy. This not only helps to protect your employees, but it can give them peace of mind knowing that their employer is looking out for their health. This adds another form of protection in the form of higher retention rates. It means that your employees will be less likely to seek out other career options because they’re happy in their current position with an employer that cares for their long-term health and well being.

Protecting your digital assets:

Most of us already have some kind of anti-virus software or firewall to help protect our computers from hackers, but that’s really not enough these days. Cybercriminals are becoming a major problem for businesses due to organized online crime and large teams of hackers that share common monetary goals. They won’t hesitate to target smaller businesses if there’s a chance that they can make a profit from breaking into your systems.

It’s a good idea to research and find managed IT support near you to help protect your online systems, but it’s also important to ensure that your cloud-based services and systems are all up to date. You also need to be careful of social engineering; a method of obtaining passwords and important data that can be used to break into a company’s computer systems and online services. Do not discount the importance of a strong IT team because your business could be highly vulnerable without them. To begin finding the right IT support for you simply enter a search for “Business IT Support Bluffton SC” (or your local area) to secure a good fit for your business.

As you can see, there are many different ways to protect your business and they are all equally as important as the other. Spend some time coming up with a protection plan for your company, your staff, and your digital assets if you want your business to last a long time.

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Mar17

Amazon Skin Care Haul

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Amazon Skin Care Haul

Hello! Pre-pandemic, I would just go to TJMaxx whenever I needed to restock my beauty supplies. For the past year, however, I’ve just been placing orders on Amazon every couple of months for my moisturizers, serums, and eye cream. Believe you me, there is nothing I miss more than browsing the aisles of TJMaxx and finding all of the things that I didn’t know I needed but limiting my exposure to COVID-19 whenever I can will always be more important.

I had come to the bottom of the barrel of my beauty stockpile so there were a lot of products that needed replacing. I also wanted to start some birthday shopping for my dad and sister! As always, Amazon came through and I have a huge skin care haul to show for it. Check it out:

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During my last Amazon haul, I tried the Neutrogena Hydro Boost moisturizer and Eclat Vitamin C serum for the first time and enjoyed using them so much that I just had to buy more. My skin looked brighter and more radiant after only one use of the Vitamin C serum and I definitely have noticed a difference in the smoothness of my skin compliments of the moisturizer. The Hydro Boost by Neutrogena is a bit pricey so I decided to get a two pack of the Garnier Moisture Rescue gel moisturizer too to help cut the cost. Both of these moisturizers have a light gel texture making them perfect for summer.

As far as eye cream goes, I was looking for something a bit cheaper than The Body Shop’s Vitamin E cream or my usual SkinLab Lift & Firm gel. They both run for around twenty dollars on Amazon while I used to get them for around seven at TJMaxx. I purchased the Elf Holy Hydration! eye cream for under seven bucks a jar and it had great reviews on Amazon so I am hoping I will like it too… Considering I got three of them lol!

Nothing is better to me than actually going shopping but I’d be a liar if I said that I didn’t love online shopping too! Whether it’s a birthday present for a loved one or just restocking my skin care hoard, it’s fun to get packages in the mail and I am looking forward to incorporating my purchases into my daily beauty routine.

What is your favorite skin care brand? How often do you resupply your beauty stock pile? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar16

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Midnight Library By Matt Haig Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Midnight Library By Matt Haig Edition

Hi everyone and welcome to a new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! Today, without giving any spoilers away, we are going to be talking about the super popular The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. A month or so ago, I felt like I was constantly getting recommendations to read this book and, obviously, I caved since we are discussing it now! Multiple people told me it was “one of the best books” they have ever read and I was definitely interested in seeing if it lived up to the hype.

While I can certainly understand why people really enjoyed this book, I didn’t think it was the best thing I have read by any means. I was into it for the first two hundred pages or so but it dragged out quite a bit and I was ready for it to be over. Let’s discuss further but before doing so I will put a trigger warning in place as The Midnight Library deals with suicide.

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Nora has had a bad day and, according to her, an all around bad life filled with regrets and what ifs. She had the potential to be an Olympic athlete or a rock star but now she lives alone in a shabby apartment and just got fired from her job at a music shop. Broken family relationships and friendships leave her feeling even more alone and her cat died. Her life feels unaccomplished and meaningless and she wants it to end. So she takes an overdose.

But, just when Nora thinks her life is over, she wakes up in a library that is filled with an infinite number of books and is overseen by the librarian at Nora’s high school twenty years ago, Mrs. Elm. This place is called The Midnight Library and it is where people who are hovering between life and death might find themselves. It looks different to everyone but the idea is the same: You can try out any kind of life you would like and if you find one that makes you especially happy, you can stay there.

Before Nora gets to take a different life for a test spin, she must face her own personal Book Of Regrets. As you can guess, its pages are filled with all of the things Nora wanted to do but didn’t. By confronting these regrets, she is able to narrow down the lives she might like to try, like if she really did become an Olympian or a glaciologist. However, despite all of these different lives, Nora always ends up back in the library because something about it didn’t make her completely happy.

Nora can’t stay in The Midnight Library forever and she is quickly running out of time but none of the lives have fully restored her will to live. She is in a place where people are either born or die so what will she end up choosing? Read The Midnight Library to find out!

Now, let me start off by saying that I absolutely LOVED the idea of The Midnight Library and the possibility to live a multitude of different choices, careers, and lifestyles all around the world. I also deeply appreciated the resounding theme of the book that true happiness can be found within yourself and your perspective. Happiness doesn’t come from what you did or failed to do but how you are best living in this one moment because each one opens up a new universe. Like Nora, I struggle with mental health issues and and this was a powerful and inspiring message to me.

Overall, I liked The Midnight Library a lot but it lost a lot of its initial momentum at the halfway mark. The first few times Nora was transported to a new life it was exciting but then there was another, and another, and another… And it just felt like it was never going to end. There was so much build up for an ending that was very easy to be predicted and all of the extra life hopping and parallel universe theories seemed unnecessary and, frankly, it got to be a little boring.

Despite being too drawn out for my taste, this book kind of had a Mitch Albom The Five People You Meet In Heaven vibe and it was a good read. It wasn’t the best thing I’ve read recently but it wasn’t the worst, either. I am going to rate it with a seven out of ten stars. I enjoyed the story line and the hopeful message. It is also a great reminder to always be kind because you never know what someone is going through. I recommend giving it a read!

What are you currently reading? What did you think about The Midnight Library? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

Mar15

Updating Your Skin Care Routine For Summer

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Updating Your Skin Care Routine For Summer

Hello! Just like your wardrobe needs updated come the warm weather, your skin care routine will need a few changes too to keep you looking your best. Heavy products for dry skin in the winter can cause oiliness and breakouts when it’s really hot out so light but effective products are the name of the game when it comes to summer skin care. Today, we are going to look at a few simple changes you can make to your routine for radiant skin all summer long:

Products With SPF:

Skin care products with SPF in it should be used all year round but it is especially important in the summer time – of course! There are plenty of moisturizers, serums, lotions, and chapsticks with SPF that will help protect your skin in the sunshine. Incorporating SPF into your skin care routine is also a great hack if, like me, you hate putting on sunscreen. While we all are excited to soak up the sun after a long winter, we must do so safely and using SPF products will better protect you from harmful UV rays that can cause burns and cancer.

Lighter Moisturizer:

As mentioned above, you will want to switch to a lighter skin care formula like this Palo Duro Moisturizer during the warm weather to prevent oiliness and clogged pores. We all know how uncomfortable it is when a product just feels greasy in the summer so you might want to opt for a gel moisturizer, instead. A gel moisturizer absorbs quickly while still being super hydrating which will keep your skin from feeling weighed down by heavy products.

Don’t forget to switch out any cream based cleansers too! Rather, go for a gel base again. I, personally, love the Clean & Clear Hydrating Facial Cleanser. It’s invigorating, smells amazing, oil free, and leaves my skin feeling so clean without the dried out sensation.

Facial Scrub:

I am sure we all plan on being outside as often as we can to enjoy the warm weather and while it will be wonderful, there is so much that can clog up your pores in the summer. Dirt, grime, and sweat can all lead to clogged pores which, in turn, can cause breakouts. During the summer, I highly recommend incorporating a facial scrub into your skin care routine to use a few times throughout the week. Not only will it help rid yourself of any remaining dry winter skin but it will also clear up the gunk that gathers in your pores. 

Another great benefit of facial scrubs is that the removal of dead and dry skin has a brightening effect. There is nothing better than sun kissed radiant skin! Another way to achieve enhanced radiance is to treat yourself to a brightening facial. You will be amazed by the results after just one trip to the spa and it will become your favorite form of self care. 

Making the above changes in your skin care routine will keep your skin clear and healthy all summer long. You can’t go wrong with lighter products that offer SPF!

How does your skin care routine change with the seasons? What is your favorite skin care brand? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah