Hiii! Starting on Friday, I will be enjoying a long weekend visiting my brother and his wife in Atlanta, Georgia. I have been so busy for the past couple of months making up for lost time at work post surgery and now preparing for my move, so a little trip will be just what I need before my move in date the following weekend. While I am away, I would be happy to feature some guest bloggers on my page. So, if you have a post that you are particularly proud of or would like to create something new, please shoot me an email at: sarah.mush6794@gmail.com! THANKS! ❤
Hello! Today is a very special day, because it is my big sister’s birthday! Kristen is my best friend and has granted me the gift of having two other besties – her boyfriend, Ramon, and my darling niece, Valerie. Together, we create a foursome of awesomeness and I couldn’t ask for a better group of people to be surrounded by.
Kristen’s little girl is one month and one day old and it has been the most amazing thing seeing Kristen blossom into a mommy. I am so incredibly proud of her and I brag about her every chance that I can get. How can you not when you share DNA with a lady like that?! I love you so much, Kristen, and I can’t wait to celebrate with you!
Hellooo everyone! This past week, I treated myself to a new set of acrylics. The ones that I had been wearing for over a half a year or so were getting pretty flimsy and it feels so good to have some nice, sturdy new nails again. And, did I mention that they’re pretty?! I went with a springy color palette and am in love with the soft pink and shock of glitter that I chose. Check it out:
I recently painted one of my client’s nails with a pale pink similar to the color that I went with and I was obsessed. So, I decided that that shade definitely had to be used once I was able to get my nails done. Light pink is so lovely for spring and it reminds me of one of my favorite flowers – pink hyacinths! The gold accent nail compliments it nicely, too, and is reminiscent of golden foil wrapped chocolate eggs for Easter. 😀
And, as always, Elysian Nails did a wonderful job with my talons. I honestly can’t believe I ever went to a different salon, because this one is the real deal. Amazing techs, gorgeous set up, and fair prices – it can’t be beat and I am so happy to have finally found a salon that I love!
What color of polish do you have on right now? What is your favorite spring flower? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
They say we should treat our body like a temple, but many of us are very good at ignoring that advice. In fact, some of us behave more like our bodies are toxic dumping grounds and completely forget that the things we consume actually have a significant effect on our health and well being. Luckily, if we know what is good and bad for our body, we can make much more educated and healthy decisions. A topic you can read more about in the post below:
Liquids:
There are some things that are good to drink and some that aren’t so great for you. Of course, water is essential, as staying hydrated can not only help you be more mentally alert but can help your body function better all the way down to the molecular level! Be careful, though, because you can have too much of a good thing. In fact, if you go over your recommended daily water amount it can actually make you quite ill.
There are some drinks that you should try to stay away from, as well, or at least minimize your consumption of, due to their toxic nature. These include alcohol, sugary soft drinks, and even caffeinated beverages. You don’t have to give them up entirely if you don’t want to, but they all can have a dehydrating effect. Sugar and caffeine can also cause an increase in anxiety, while too much alcohol is not only bad for the liver but can seriously impair your judgment.
Products:
I know you’re expecting the next section to be all about things you should not eat because they are toxic, but before we get to that, we want to talk about the lesser known issue of products that we use that can have an adverse effect on our health. In particular, makeup, perfume, and cosmetics need mentioning here, because they are nearly always applied directly to the skin and so are easily absorbed by the body. What that means, is that if there is anything nasty in them, it will end up in you!
In fact, recently, there has been a move towards more natural and healthy products in the cosmetic and toiletries industry including non toxic perfume and paraben free toiletries. Using beauty products that are better for you has never been easier.
Food:
Finally, when it comes to food, there are plenty of things that can be toxic if you consume them. However, apart from the basic poisonous plants and berries, there are also other things that you need to watch out for. These include sugar which, while we love the taste is beginning to be thought of like a narcotic style substance that can cause many problems when ingested.
It’s also wise to be mindful of the containers you store your foods in, as some can leach out plastic molecules, which we then end up ingesting. This is something that can lead to a toxic buildup in our system and contribute to all sorts of health problems!
Treating your body as a temple includes being mindful of what you’re putting in it, so use the tips above to detoxify your lifestyle today!
Hello, everyone! Today is a fantastic, wonderful, special day because it is my dad’s birthday! I am lucky enough to say that my dad is one of my literal favorite people on the planet. He is a loving father, devoted husband, friggen hilarious, and is a man of many talents. From tending his beautiful garden to planning amazing family vacations, everything that my dad does, he does to picture perfection. I so appreciate this, because it has truly taught me the importance of a job well done throughout the years.
I cherish all of the time that I get to spend with my dad. Even just watching an episode of Seinfeld or sharing a meal together makes me happy and I am so going to miss seeing him every day once I move. CHARLES is the best dad in the world and is now the best grandpa in the world to my little niece, Valerie. I love you so much and I hope you have a great birthday even though you hate birthdays!
Hello, hello! All of you have been following my process of getting ready for my move into apartment life and I thank you for it. I am so excited and, honestly, I wish I could move in right now! But, my move in date of April 20th will be here before I know it and I’m happy to say that pretty much all of my preparations for it have been made. Of course, there are things I still need, like home decor – but I’d rather get all of that once all of my furniture is moved in because then I’ll have a better understanding of how I want to decorate.
During moving prep, my shopping hauls definitely helped me feel more excited rather than stressed out and my bedroom has officially been overtaken with all of my purchases:
^^^ So. Much. STUFF!!!
While I am feeling good about everything I have, I just know that I am forgetting some things and that is where all of you come in. Has anything been missing from my apartment hauls? What are some apartment necessities that I will need? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hiiii everyone! When I am making my schedule for work, I prefer to work two or three really long days so that I can have a few laid back ones during the work week. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love my schedule and am going to keep it that way. But, the eleven plus hour days can get exhausting. So, when I am driving from client to client, I use my time in the car with my music to refresh myself. And, that is what this month’s Funky Time Jams are all about – the songs that help me keep going during a long day:
^^^ And, as always, I have no rights to these songs or videos.
When I’m driving and I’m kind of tired, my soundtrack is all about music that I can sing along to. I turn the volume up and I put my air on and I just sing at the top of my lungs and it always manages to get me bright eyed and bushy tailed for the next person that I’m working with. That’s why all of the songs above are more fun ones than my normal all emo everything. Of course, if I’m having a bad day, then it is absolutely all emo everything, though lol.
All of the songs above are ones that I know by heart and they instantly make me dance and I end up feeling so rejuvenated afterwards. But, it’s definitely not hard to feel that way after playing a little Pharrell or Duran Duran! Eighties music is another must to help perk me up and my car dance parties are honestly what keeps me sane sometimes during my super busy weeks. The power of music!
What do you like to play to help get you through a long day? What kind of music do you listen to to get you in a fun mood? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hiii everyone! In my neck of the woods in Ohio, there are several thrift stores called Abbey Ann’s. Rather than clothes, though, they sell furniture and unique knick knacks for your home. Going to Abbey Ann’s wasn’t even on my radar until my client’s mom suggested it and I am so glad she did, because I got all of the furniture I needed for my apartment for a whopping four hundred and thirty dollars. This includes the following:
Loveseat
Chair and footstool
Vanity and stool
Full length mirror
Coffee table
Two end tables
Unfortunately, I do not have pictures of the goods right now, because they are all covered up in my garage. But, I will definitely take pictures once they are all set up in my apartment. What I will say for now is, that I was a friggen fool for even considering purchasing all new furniture for my apartment when I got SEVEN things for less than what one new item would probably cost.
People tend to turn their nose up when it comes to thrift and consignment shopping and, I have to admit, I can be one of those people. But, I know a well taken care of item when I see it and all of the pieces that I picked out were of such high quality that I couldn’t pass any of it up. Not only that, but the owner of the Abbey Ann’s that I shopped at cleans all of the furniture up and sands or polishes them to make them look like new. In fact, he had just steam cleaned the loveseat that I bought two days before.
I’m really proud of myself, because after furniture shopping I pretty much have all of the big necessities that I need and I got it all for a price that was a steal. Now, all I have to do is pick up a few more random needs and I will be all set for moving day. That wasn’t so hard, after all! 🙂
Do you have a store similar to Abbey Ann’s in your area? What is the best deal you’ve ever scored at a thrift or consignment shop? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hello! During my shopping for my move, Target has been especially kind to me. I have gotten the most useful things from there, including pots and pans, Tupperware, a trash can for my kitchen and a bunch of other odds and ends to help fill up my apartment. And, I got all of the goods below for prices that I was comfortable paying, which made me happy. Moving has proven to be expensive (Surprise, surprise lol) so balling on a budget has been a necessity. So, thank you to Target for helping me get the following:
It’s hard to pick what I am most excited about from my Target haul, but I’d probably have to go with the box set of The Hunger Games, haha. I love those damn movies and books so much so when I found the set for TEN DOLLARS, I couldn’t pass it up! Plus, until I decide what entertainment subscription I want to get, I just plan on watching a movie when I have some time to sit and relax. So, this purchase will definitely help fill a random few hours or maybe even a whole day on the weekend for a marathon…and wine.
My other bigger buys include a folding shelving unit for my office, potentially, and a floor lamp, which will look really nice beside my TV set. As I mentioned in other haul posts, the lighting in my apartment sucks so finding floor and table lamps has been a major priority. I hate dull lighting so brightening things up is an absolute must.
And, finally, I love the armed pillow I got for when I’m reading and I also grabbed some bathroom supplies including three sets of a bath towel, hand towel, and wash cloth as well as a new scruffy and some Jergens. A more odds and ends purchase but they definitely needed to happen!
Which entertainment package are you subscribed to? How do you create good lighting in your home? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Anyone who has a child can confirm that their education is a gigantic investment in terms of money, time and, more often than not, sanity too. But, ultimately, kids are the biggest part of your life, so this kind of result is to be expected. However, it doesn’t mean that they should take over your life aspirations. Some parents can hear their inner voice calling for more qualifications. The dilemma is real; is there a right time to go back to school as an adult? The desire to pursue your studies is a sure enough indication that the right time is now. Nevertheless, the voice of reason can be louder at times. What is the point of going back to school, anyway?
It’s about respecting your personal goals:
When you become a parent, your life takes a completely different turn. You have to learn to put your family needs first. When you’re a mom, you can find yourself trapped in your parental role, convinced you can’t do anything for yourself until the kids are much older. In reality, it’s important to understand that being a parent is not your sole purpose in life. Your dreams and hopes didn’t disappear when you had your first child. There are still plenty of things you might want to achieve and, if higher education is a personal goal, you should make sure you can find time in your busy schedule for it. Time management skills are vital for parents who are trying to juggle family and personal objectives. But, as you learn to free time for yourself, you can make sure you stay true to the person you are.
It’s about giving your career a new boost:
Going back to work after a baby is a wake-up call for many mothers, who suddenly realize that their current job isn’t sufficient to support the family. As a result, one of the most often quoted reasons for heading back to college is the prospect of a more profitable career. Targeting skills that are highly demanded such as public administration – Norwich University has a mind-blowing article about how influential administrators are in supporting economic growth – or programming language. A better job gives you the chance to secure your lifestyle.
It’s about making better adults:
Parents are a child’s first role model, and, as such, your every decision can help to shape the adults of tomorrow. A mother who works – whether she goes back to finish her studies or she enjoys a successful career is a positive role model for children. Your child can learn the importance of working hard, inside and outside the house. Additionally, you can also help to eliminate gender clichés by creating new gender rules; namely that working parents both share chores at home and pursue their careers in equal levels.
If you’re worried about finishing your studies after the birth of your baby, you need to think of the bigger picture. As an individual, you haven’t surrendered your personal goals when you became a mother. On the contrary, achieving these can not only help you to improve your household income but also to be a positive influence on your child. The question is not whether going back to school is a good idea, but what you could lose if you decided against it.
