If The Shoe Fits: B.A.I.T. Edition

Standard
If The Shoe Fits: B.A.I.T. Edition

Hiii everyone and welcome to another issue of If The Shoe Fits! It’s been a while since I’ve had a good shoe haul, there’s no denying that. It’s also true that I really don’t need any more shoes, there’s no denying that. But, ModCloth’s warehouse sale was too good to pass up, and I walked away with three pairs of shoes for just under one hundred dollars. If I bought them all at their original price, it would have been an over three hundred dollar purchase! Like I said, it was a sale that was way too good to pass up. Take a look at these fun mules by B.A.I.T. and let’s discuss:

bait1bait3bait4bait2

Sweet daisies, mustard yellow, and a heeled mule make these new shoes the epitome of 1970’s feel good vibes. So retro and too cute for words, I just couldn’t say no to them. ModCloth has always been a haven for vintage and retro inspired duds and I think that these B.A.I.T. mules perfectly embody the style story that they are going for. I feel like I could see these shoes on the racks of a vintage store, but I love that I got them brand spanking new!

I can picture wearing these B.A.I.T. beauties with my dark wash denim A-line skirt that zips up the front and a black cropped sweater with a rainbow on it from Forever 21 for a sassy look that’s straight out of the 1970’s. So fun!

f21skirtbait1

^^^ Love!! Can’t wait for the weather to get warm to bust this OOTD out.

How would you style these mules? What is your favorite type of shoe to wear? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

If The Shoe Fits: Lulu Hun Edition

Standard
If The Shoe Fits: Lulu Hun Edition

Hiii everyone and welcome to a new edition of If The Shoe Fits! Recently, ModCloth had a warehouse sale and everything in their markdown section was either forty, thirty, twenty, ten, or five dollars. It. Was. Amazing. When ModCloth has a sale that good, it’s hard not to buy anything and I ended up ordering three pairs of shoes for thirty dollars each. The best part, is that every single pair was well over one hundred dollars. Such a steal! Take a look at this darling heeled oxford pair by Lulu Hun and let’s discuss:

lulu1lulululu3lulu2

It was such fun to open my package once it arrived and be greeted by the adorable design on the box. The retro pinup girl is too cute and the motto “Style starts with shoes” is one that I definitely concur with, considering I can’t stop buying them to save my own life. Although there were many gorgeous clothing options to pick from during the warehouse sale, the trick was that every item you bought was final sale and could not be returned. I don’t have the guts to purchase final sale clothes online so shoes, shoes, and more shoes it was! So not mad about it, though. 😀

As soon as I saw these stunning Merlot and camel heeled oxfords, I just had to get them. The color combination is divine and they are versatile, because they will be great for work or play. There is nothing better than pairing a smart oxford style shoe with sharp skinnies for a cool business casual look. And, they will look so sweet come fall with a sweater dress, blazer, and thick tights.

My only complaint about these shoes, is the quality is not the best. I say this, because while I was putting them back in the box after taking pictures of them, one of my nails went into the material and when I say went into, I mean went through. My acrylics are actually quite dull right now because it’s been a while since I got them filled and they still managed to pierce the colored outer layer completely. It’s a small blemish but I’m not thrilled about it and plan on being extra careful when I wear them.

Despite a minor hiccup, I’m still really happy with this purchase and the bargain price that I got it at. 10/10 would hit the ModCloth warehouse sale again and hope they bring it back soon!

Which stores or websites offer the best sales? What is your favorite thing to shop on ModCloth? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Wig Hair Trends For 2019

Standard
Wig Hair Trends For 2019

Going bald is no longer the only option for women with alopecia and other conditions. With the plethora of options available for wigs, women can enjoy the latest beauty trends with all of the flair of their hair-growing sisters. Here are some of the latest trends of wigs for women in 2019:

Glossy Hair:

Moving from Instagram to the mainstream populace, glossy hair is a super shiny finish on hair. Wigs are easy to style, clean, and care for. This trend is easy to do with the wigs for women with alopecia Chicago. Use on a new one or one you already own.

Blunt Bobs:

The blunt bob is back thanks to celebrities such as Karlie Kloss and Kendall Jenner. Wig companies are matching the style of the shorter version of the mid-length boyfriend bob for a sassy and chic look.

Big Hair:

Bring back not the big hair of the ‘80s but the pumped-up volume of the ‘60s. Style long or medium length with a round brush and blow dryer to achieve maximum lift at the roots. A simple style to achieve with your wig.

Long Layers:

Long layers seem to always be in fashion. Longer layers are available for you to capitalize on the flowing locks of your dreams. Available in super straight or multi-layered, long hair is now a mainstay in the wig industry.

Lovely Lilac:

Lilac is the trendy new color in hair. Many wig companies are offering bolder and brighter colors to match the mainstream hair industry. Whether you go pastel or jewel toned, this hair packs a punch!

Grey Hair:

Grey is growing in popularity and not just among older women. The age-inclusive color has been used as a highlight, wash, and in stripes for various effects. You can be any age to take advantage of the classically cool color.

Wig manufacturers work hard to match the latest styles and trends. If you’re looking to update, buy a new one, or it’s your first purchase, then follow these latest hair trends for inspiration!

Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire Swatch In Red Heels

Standard
Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire Swatch In Red Heels

Hiii everyone and welcome to the second swatch from my Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire collection samples. We are going to be looking at a gorgeous shade of red appropriately titled Red Heels. And, let me tell you, the glossy shine is so reminiscent of a brand spanking new pair of patent leather red stilettos and I am LIVING for it! Take a look and let’s discuss:

guerlain1guerlain2heelsheels1heels2

After falling head over heels for the other sample color in Pink Tie yesterday, I was so excited to give this luscious red a try. And, it definitely did not disappoint. These colors are my first stint at taking a closer look at gloss lippies and, once I got it in my head that it’s going to be a different look than my preferred matte, I was definitely more willing to like something new.

Lil Red is all about rich, saturated colors. And, I think that’s why I always go for matte lipsticks. I like that the color completely covers your lips while a gloss kind of just lays over top of it. I love these Guerlain colors and I think that a gloss would be a nice change of pace when I’m on the go at work, because it’s not so super done up. And, I can totally see myself applying it in my car mirror at a red light. Red lip gloss worn in a little red car? Ugh, forget about it! But, at the end of the day, it will always be all about the matte. Nevertheless, here’s to trying a new product!

Which Guerlain shade do you like better, Pink Tie or Red Heels? What lip products do you prefer to wear at work? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire Swatch In Pink Tie

Standard
Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire Swatch In Pink Tie

Howdy! In my most recent Sephora haul, I chose a fragrance and some little pods of lipstick as my free samples. I love when they have lippie samples as an option, because they are so much fun to try out and swatch for the ol’ blog. Today, we will be looking at one of the two colors that came in my sample pack from Guerlain’s La Petite Robe Noire collection in Pink Tie. And (Shockingly!) I think I like it! Take a look and let’s discuss:

guerlain1guerlain2guerlain3guerlain4guerlain6

Okay, we all know that I am so not a pink lipstick girl. But, for some reason, I really really like this Guerlain lippie. It reminds me so much of my watermelon pink Clinique Chubby Stick if the color were more prominent and I’m looking forward to experimenting with it. Unfortunately, this color just doesn’t scream winter weather to me, so trying it out will probably involve me putting it on and immediately taking it off. But, I can totally picture Pink Tie being perfect with a darling dress in the spring and some daring short shorts in the summer. This shade is fun, poppy, and it’s not red – that’s for sure.

And, another thing that it’s not: MATTE. We also all know that I’m so not a glossy lipstick girl. But, for some reason, I really really like the shiny punch of pink. The other shade that came in my sample pod is a gorgeous red called Red Heels and I think that that glossy pop is going to be killer for an upcoming Valentine’s Day post. Keep your eyes peeled!

It’s no secret that Sephora’s free samples are the best. It’s always fun to try something new – and it’s always better when you end up liking the new thing that you tried! 😀

Are you a glossy or matte girl? What is the perfect shade of lippie for Valentine’s Day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Must Read Tips For Musicians In 2019

Standard
Must Read Tips For Musicians In 2019

For every musician, a main goal at the beginning of every year is to get better at your music and make a greater impression in the industry. No matter what level you’re at, we hope these tips will help you:

Online mastering:

To ignore the process of audio mastering is to make a massive mistake. A lot of people confuse mixing and mastering with one another. However, they are two completely different processes. Mastering is the final stage in the music production process. It tightens, defines, and polishes the piece of music without altering the sound excessively. It can bring a clarity and a punch which no amount of mixing can achieve. To release a piece of music without it would essentially mean you were bringing out an incomplete track.

Nonetheless, the reason why people still overlook mastering is because they see it as a hassle and an expense. Not everybody has the capability of getting down to the studio in question nor do they have the money available to pay the extortionate hourly rates charged by many mastering professionals today. However, you need not worry about any of this anymore. There are online mastering services available, which are cheaper and much easier too.

SEO:

Both SEO and website design affect the success of any musician today. Since your campaigns will be tailored to bringing more people to your website and converting them from visitors into actual fans, you need to pay great attention to the overall feel and look of your site. A poorly designed website can be an instant turn off and is something you will need to outsource if you don’t have the skills to do it yourself. To begin finding a professional that is a good fit for you, simply enter a search for “web design in Huntsville” (or your local area) and you will be able to see online portfolios, reviews, and more. Similarly, you must work to ensure your website is visible, hence the need for professional SEO.

For online marketing success, you should, therefore, work with an expert SEO consultant. Their service should provide you with quality content to post on your website, including, for example, information about you, your gigs, and so on. You should also ensure that you are adding videos and images (where required) on top of your text. After that, you can, with the help of the consultant, focus on marketing your website to the target market. Search engine optimization is important to your overall online marketing plan. Stay away from easy options and ‘quick tricks’ because search engines are now smarter than ever before. They know all the tricks you will try to pull, including poor-quality content that is stuffed with keywords. So, focus on quality content using tested SEO strategies, or by working with full SEO and marketing services to attain the best results.

It is also worth looking for marketing packages that have been specifically tailored to the music industry. Targeting potential fans and record companies is a lot different than trying to drum up customers for a retail business, for example. You can find Soundcloud promotion packages, which are great for any musician. These packages are designed to ensure your music gets heard by the right people. While packages differ from supplier to supplier, you will generally find that these companies will post your music across different platforms, from blogs to social media pages.

We understand that this is a lot of information and it can feel overwhelming. Rest assured that all of these marketing aspects do not need to be completed at once. Set your own pace with A beginners guide to music publishing and do what you know you can accomplish. Then, you can outsource for the areas that you know you need help with.

Invest in quality equipment:

Investing in professional studio equipment should be something to think about early on in your music career. That way you can plan ahead and expand the equipment as your career moves forward. It is also cheaper to do it in bits, rather than suddenly have to find the cash for a complete top-of-the-range kit. As well as your instrument, you will want a decent pair of headphones, a computer, and look at Aeros Loop Studio vs Boss RC-505 for your looper. Depending on how far you intend to go, things like good soundproofing and a dedicated music studio might also be on the list.

Alexander Technique:

Another tip for musicians in 2019 is to try the Alexander Technique. You may have heard about this before. It is a method that was developed in the 1980s by Matthias Alexander. It is designed to promote overall well-being through increasing your awareness of posture so that your body experiences minimal effort and strain.

Instead of maintaining ease and using the fluid techniques required, musicians restrain themselves with muscular tension during a soft passage, for instance. This is just one example of a common overreaction. Over time, such action can result into regular misuse, which can cause injuries. This is where the Alexander Technique comes in. It will help you to find the right balance so that you can play an instrument with greater ease, while protecting your body and improving your music in the process.

There are lots of different ways that you can improve your efforts in 2019. If you are a musician, whether you have much experience or not, use the tips that have been provided in this guide so that you can achieve more throughout the year!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Additional January 2019 Finishes

Standard
Additional January 2019 Finishes

Howdy! Last month brought me lots of empties, because I was finally able to get back to all of my beauty routines post surgery. It was so nice to feel pampered again and I enjoyed using up the products that were sitting there unused for the entire month of December. All of my posts are prewritten and I managed to finish an additonal handful of empties during the last haul of January, which we will be discussing today. Take a look:

jan1

Would I Use Again?

  • Suave Cocoa Butter & Shea body wash: MAYBE
  • Garnier Micellar Water: YES
  • Bath & Body Works lotions: YES
  • Fresh Soy Face Cleanser: NO!!
  • Glow Recipe Avocado Melt Sleeping Mask: NO!!

Why/Why Not?

Suave Body Wash: Like the other Suave body wash that we chatted about in my January Finishes post, this one is still a maybe for me. I will say that I liked the Cocoa Butter & Shea scent much better than the Almond one. I’m a sucker for anything cocoa butter! But, this body wash didn’t lather very well and I felt like it was drying my skin out. Maybe it would be better to use during the warmer months but, during the middle of winter, it was just not enough to keep my skin hydrated. It took me exactly one month to finish one bottle.

Garnier Micellar Water: We all know I’d use this product again. Thank you, next!

B&BW Lotions: I used up Pretty As A Peach and Orchard Leaves & Blue Sky travel sized lotions from Bath & Body Works after a long soak in the tub and it was nice! I am partial to Pretty As A Peach but, the Orchard Leaves & Blue Sky smelled really good. Its scent was exactly like breathing in crisp autumn air and it was refreshing after the sweeter peach aroma. I got about one and a half full body uses out of one travel sized bottle.

Fresh Cleanser: I received this soy cleanser by Fresh during a huge freebie haul from Sephora and it was disappointing at best. The only positive, was that it smelled like cucumbers and I really liked that! However, the cleanser made my skin feel very tight and it did nothing to remove my makeup. In fact, I don’t think it did anything. It did not lather at all and I would definitely not recommend it.

Glow Recipe Mask: The Avocado Melt Sleeping Mask by Glow Recipe was a freebie during my last Sephora haul. You can read the full review in the Face Mask Festivities post but, just know that this product is not worth the forty five dollar price tag for a full jar in no way shape or form. I have used daily moisturizers that were more nourishing than this sleep mask and I had to use a lot of product to feel like it was doing anything. Not impressed and I would not recommend it.

Although this batch of empties was not the best, I’m still happy to have used them up! There is nothing better than finishing a product and moving on to the next thing that you have been dying to try. 😀

Have you used any of the products above? What did you think about them? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Bath Bomb Blitz: Lush’s Shoot For The Stars Edition

Standard
Bath Bomb Blitz: Lush’s Shoot For The Stars Edition

Hiii everyone! Today, we are going to discuss one of the bath bombs from Lush that I got from the darling Kate of Live In The Nautical for Christmas. I know, I know it’s over a month after the holiday but, I was incapacitated for most of December and the first week of January and the rest of that month was spent trying to catch up on missed work. So, a long soak in the tub with a Lush bath bomb was just what the doctor ordered now that I feel like I can finally relax a little. Take a look at Shoot For The Stars:

stars1stars2stars3stars4stars5stars6stars7

Shoot For The Stars has easily been one of the best bath bombs that I’ve used in a long time. First of all, it smelled amazing. I caught wonderful whiffs of creamy vanilla, which is one of my favorite scents, and being enveloped in that during a soak felt so lush! And, more importantly, the color show that the bath bomb put on was pretty spectacular, too!

As you can see from the first picture of Shoot For The Stars in the water, is that it got to work as soon as it was in the tub. It rocketed all about, leaving behind gorgeous azure blue in its path, along with shooting star trails of gold glitter. It took a solid two plus minutes for the bath bomb to fizz out but, that was not the end of it.

The most fun part about Shoot For The Stars is that the four glitter stars embedded in the bomb became detached. Instead of letting them dissolve, I took them in my hands and rubbed them over my body. It left my skin glowing in golden sparkle and it matched my new metallic face mask perfectly!

The stars had me feeling like I just applied lotion – they were so insanely hydrating. #smallbutmighty And, the bath water was so nourishing for my skin, too. I love using the Lush bath bombs for that reason alone. I shave when I’m taking a bath and I get out of the tub feeling like I put body butter on. There is nothing better.

I would definitely use Shoot For The Stars again and give it an eight out of ten. Highly recommend!

What is your favorite bath bomb from Lush? What are some of your other favorite Lush products? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Stingy Girl Secret

Standard
Stingy Girl Secret

Hiiii! Okay, so before you read this post, a back story is definitely required. Because, even I have to admit, my Stingy Girl Secret makes me sound like the biggest cheapo on the planet. But, I promise you that this was the most unintentional hack I’ve ever come across. Let’s begin:

As all of you know, I had a really unfortunate oral surgery in December that left me suffering for an entire month. Although I am feeling much better, I am still having issues with beverages that are too cold. During recovery, I could only drink or eat anything that was tepid in heat because of the extreme sensitivity that my mouth was experiencing. With that in mind, we may proceed.

Monday is essentially my busiest day of the week, because I have back to back clients all day. Because of this, I like to get a little treat before I start my work day. AKA, I go to Starbucks after I fill up my car at the gas station. It has been my routine for some time now, and my day always feels off if I falter from that.

Normally, I enjoy an iced coffee to start off my work week. But, after an unfortunate incident, I just haven’t had the taste for it. (Long story short, my mouth started bleeding profusely when I was at a client’s house while drinking my iced coffee. The bleeding had nothing to do with the drink but, for now, I just can’t stomach it.)

Anyways, I’ve been on a big green tea kick from Starbucks since that happened post surgery, but I know that my mouth couldn’t handle a hot or an iced tea. So, upon my first trip back to Starbucks when I felt up to it, I went into the store instead of the drive thru, because this required the utmost sensitivity. I hesitantly walked up to the counter and asked for a room temperature green tea with anxious thoughts rushing through my head.

Is this request even possible?

Will they deny me my request for a not hot but not cold beverage?

Should I just run away screaming and never show my face again?!?!?!

Luckily, I didn’t have to run out of the door in shame and return only with a paper bag on my head, because the barista said I could do an iced green tea with no ice. An iced green tea with no ice?? My god, it’s so simple. So brilliant. So exactly what I needed. An iced green tea with no ice. It was a revelation. I paid for my drink and eagerly awaited for it down the way. Once my name was called, I reached for the cup and I couldn’t believe it.

IT WAS FILLED TO THE BRIM!!!

In my hazy post surgery gone wrong trauma, I really don’t know what I was expecting. For them to just fill the cup halfway because of the no ice request, I guess. But, no. My Trenta cup was filled all the way to the top with BEVERAGE. It was a miracle.

I really didn’t realize how little drink that I was getting from an iced beverage when the ice was actually in it. On my normal Monday morning commute, I would finish my drink on my way to work. But, now that I have a filled to the brim drink, I can sip on it happily for a while when I’m working. And, to this day, I always ask for my iced drink with no ice so that my sensitive teeth aren’t screaming at me and I can get a full whopping thirty ounces of beverage with no questions asked.

Stingy? Yes. But, this find was so unintentional and honestly so simple, it’s a bit stupid. BUT, it was literally the only highlight of the major trauma that I went through last month and I had to share it with all of you. I don’t know what I was getting at with this essay but, I’ve said my piece, and I feel really great about it – so thanks for reading! 😀 lololol

What is one of your stingy secrets? How do you save money when you treat yourself? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

February 2019 Funky Time Jams

Standard
February 2019 Funky Time Jams

Howdy! After the month of January dragging ass like it does every year, we are finally into February, which is sure to fly by. And, I’m glad for it, because it was starting to feel like January 47th! Now that the pace has been picked up with our short little month of love among us, some hard hitting jams are definitely called for. Take a listen:

^^^ And, as always, I have no rights to these songs or videos.

As some of you know, I enjoy going to a vinyl record club at one of the local libraries in my area. At one of our last meetings, the album Let It Be by The Replacements was brought in and I was a huge fan. There is nothing better than gathering with your friends to play some early punk rock, and it’s always a hoot to pick out the bands that you can tell drew inspiration from The Replacements. For example, did anyone notice that Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day sounds exactly like the lead singer?!

I have also been hooked on Marilyn Manson’s Golden Age Of Grotesque, which features many of his more popular crowd pleasers, which I like playing to get me hyped on my way to work. And, finally, you may have noticed that a little rap was thrown into the mix, as well. But, I just couldn’t help myself. My sister was playing Nicki Minaj’s new album, Queen, while we ran errands and anyone who says that Majesty isn’t a banger is a liar. That song gets stuck in my head so badly and the only cure is playing it on repeat, of course!

Which album would you bring into a record club? Which album do you think that I should bring in on my next turn? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah