Bath & Body Works May Freebie

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Bath & Body Works May Freebie

Hi! So Bath & Body Works finally sent me a freebie coupon after months of not receiving anything, so I was excited to run into the store and grab a travel sized lotion or shower gel. I was in a rush when I was in the store, and their new packaging definitely didn’t help, because I couldn’t tell what the idea was for any of their scents. Take a look and you’ll see what I mean:

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I really did like B&BW’s old packaging, because it let you know what the product would smell like without having to flip the lid. Now, you can’t tell what their scent would be like from anything and, frankly, I think the packaging looks cheap. I selected a new scent of theirs called Happy Vibes and it smelled okay. It’s a floral/citrus scent and the only reason why I selected it was because I was in a hurry. The flowers in this gel definitely overpowered any notes of citrus that you could smell, so I am not a huge fun. But, hey, it was free! 😀

How do you feel about B&BW’s new packaging? What is your favorite shower gel fragrance? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Forget Changing Careers, Here’s How To Really Refresh Your Work Life

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Forget Changing Careers, Here’s How To Really Refresh Your Work Life

No matter our career choices, we all reach the stage where work drives us crazy. You know the feeling, right? Your alarm goes off, and you can think of nothing worse than the day ahead. Sometimes, this is a one-day thing. It might be that you’ve got a lot going on, or a big meeting. That’s natural stuff and nothing to worry about.

But, if you dread heading to work every day, it’s a sign that something has got to change. After all, this is where you spend most of your time. It won’t help your happiness or your health to treat each day as an obstacle that you need to get past. Hence, why many people opt to change careers.

And, a change can be as good as a holiday. But, changing jobs isn’t easy. What’s more, there’s every chance that another position in your field will make you feel the same way. With that in mind, consider the following options for shaking off that workday dread:

Seek more responsibility in your current workplace:

If you’ve done the same job for five or more years, it’s no surprise that you’ve had enough. Even the most exciting position would get tedious after that amount of time. But, if you did apply for roles elsewhere, there’s every chance that your workload itself would be much the same. As such, once the new-job excitement wore off, you’d be in the same position.

Instead, then, consider how you could gain more responsibility where you are. You’ve been here for years. Your boss knows and trusts you. So, they might be willing to offer you a promotion that you wouldn’t qualify for elsewhere. And, a promotion with more responsibility is sure to transform your career more than the same role in another firm.

Change your outlook:

You shouldn’t need us to tell you the importance of outlook. We’re all mad about mindfulness nowadays. So, why not consider this when it comes to work? Your outlook right now sounds pretty bad. And, that can fuel itself. The worse your attitude towards each day, the less likely you are to flourish. Instead, try getting into the habit of bringing a more positive outlook to each morning. You might want to repeat positive affirmations as you head to the office. Or, you may want to take some time out each morning to meditate and settle your mind. Either way, approaching work with a positive and engaging attitude could be all it takes to transform your experience.

Find new ways to approach your role:

As well as changing your mental approach, you could shake things up with something a bit more literal. By making suggestions for new systems in your office, you stand to bring fresh air to everybody’s days. If even in-office changes don’t do the trick, you could go all out here by opting to work a few days a week remotely. More employers are getting behind this, and it could be a fantastic way to reinvigorate your days.

Shaking off the blahs of a mundane work day can be a trying effort, but well worth it once you get the spring in your step back on your way to the job!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Lovely Lavender

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Lovely Lavender

Howdy! Despite 75% of the weather that Ohio experienced this spring being crappy, the flowers and greenery have all been magnificent. One of the crowning jewels of our yard, and something that my dad is particularly proud of, is his lavender bush. CHARLES planted his lavender when it was just a tiny sprig years ago. And, this year, it really is at its biggest and most beautiful. Take a look:

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Our ginormous lavender bush, that looks more like a tree now, stands by our back deck and envelopes it in a simply gorgeous aroma. It provides the perfect amount of shade from the hot sun to make reading on the deck more pleasant, and it makes sitting underneath its blossoms feel like you are in your own secret garden.

It’s so crazy how something that was barely a foot high a handful of years ago erupted into such a magnificent focal point in our garden. This lavender bush/tree really showcases my dad’s green thumb and it makes me proud to have it as a main feature in our yard.

Is anyone currently preparing a flower or vegetable garden? What are you growing? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Final Therapy Update

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Final Therapy Update

Helloooo! I hope that all of you are having a wonderful weekend so far. As you can tell by the title of this post, this will be my Final Therapy Update until I choose to go again. I was definitely on the fence about going to my appointment this week, and I ended up canceling it.

I just feel tired of going over the same things week in and week out, and I almost feel like being in therapy gave me an excuse to engage in risky behaviors like binge eating or drinking, because I could just talk about it at my next appointment. My therapy sessions were very helpful to a point, but I felt like the metaphorical wall had been hit, and none of the advice that I was getting was anything that I felt like I could utilize.

This is not to say that I didn’t like my therapist at all, because I really did. But, I also felt like she was trying to force a belief system on me that I was not comfortable with, and didn’t seem to have any other advice but that. Although I could totally research things on my own, I did expect to gain some new insights during therapy and, after a while, I just wasn’t any more.

If a mental rough patch comes up, I do plan on returning again so that I have a safe place to communicate my feelings. But, for now, I am taking my medication daily and seeing what I can do on my own to start improving things for myself.

Has there been a time when therapy has been helpful for you? What are some of your mental health struggles? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Proud Pacer Update

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Proud Pacer Update

Hello! This past year has definitely been a struggle as far as my weight goes. As a recovering bulimic and a lover of binge eating, my weight jumped to a number that I was not happy with this year. My life has been extremely stressful, and binge eating did bring me a lot of comfort when I did it – but, the weight that I gained was totally not worth those before bed snacking sessions.

As someone who is recovering from an eating disorder, I had to *gasp* try and shed this weight the healthy way. And, let me tell you, it was a real bitch at first. From self harming to purging, my ways of feeling good were a quick fix. And, we all know that that isn’t what weight loss is in the slightest if you want to do it the right way!

I knew that I was making slow and steady progress as I attempted to complete 10,000 steps per day and work on my portion sizes during meals. But, I didn’t realize how much progress until I finally gained the courage to get on the scale, which is my worst enemy. I stepped on, took a deep breath, and was so happy to see that I lost twelve pounds!

I may not be loosing weight as quickly as I would like, but that doesn’t undermine my accomplishment any less! I am really proud of myself for actually doing this the “right” way for once in my life – totally self harm free. I am hoping that I can lose another ten pounds to get back to my normal weight in the next few months. But, for now, I am super happy with my progress so far!

Pacer Stats:

  • Days Active: 73
  • Steps Taken: 604,994
  • Calories Burned: 15,000
  • Active Hours: 93
  • Miles Walked: 200

(And, this is pre-written so the above stats are slightly higher!)

Who else uses a pedometer to help keep them active? What are your methods for losing weight? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Want To Enjoy The Remote Working Lifestyle?

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Want To Enjoy The Remote Working Lifestyle?

Today, the opportunity to work more flexibly, where we no longer need to commute to an office in order to make a living, can be viable for anyone. For as long as we have a decent internet connection, we can practically work (or study) anywhere in the world. Today, most people are valuing a much more valuable commodity than money, and that’s the ever depleting commodity of time. In particular, they want to squeeze as much out of life as possible and, in order to do that, they often have huge travel plans or at least aspirations, and to travel the world one needs the flexibility and finances that are made possible by remote working.

Indeed, today, “living the dream” is less about having a fancy car and a corner office, it’s more about having the freedom to do what you want, when you want, with who you want – rather than being chained to a job with colleagues you may or may  not get on with, being stuck in congested commutes and getting home knackered to the point you just flop and drop in front of the TV with your family (often, still catching up with work on your laptop).

The freedom of the remote working lifestyle means, quite literally, that the world is your oyster, and in these exciting times, many of us are looking for ways to tap into this lifestyle and the freelance economy.

Similarly, many people wanting to learn new skills are looking at ways of doing this that work around their life, rather than having to work their life around their studies. This is particularly pertinent for mature students who may have existing work or family commitments, and therefore can’t access the full time courses offered by many universities that require regular attendance.

Today, however, even prestigious universities like Exeter University will allow you to study advanced courses like a masters in education online. This means that you could, hypothetically, have your cake and eat it too – as many students finishing their undergraduate studies have the desire to travel the world and take a gap year; but studying online in this way means that you can literally have the best of both worlds.

In summary, the remote working lifestyle is clearly an attractive option, as it enables the time and freedom to enjoy life and ensure that you are living your life for yourself and your family, rather than having to try to squeeze your life in around the office. Today, many companies are offering people more flexible working hours and the ability to work remotely, as they see that in order to stay competitive within the job market, they need to offer the flexibility people have been craving for decades.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Two Sleepy Doggies

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Two Sleepy Doggies

Howdy and TGIF! Monday is my long day at work, and by the time that I get home, all I want to do is get in my jammies, put my dogs up, and watch The Voice with my mom. Normally, my two rescue pups, Gem and Ollie, just want to play all day until everyone else goes to bed, but they must have been just as tired (Or bored with The Voice!) as I was, because they ended up falling fast asleep on the bed with my mom and I. It was so cute I could hardly stand it and I just have to share these Two Sleepy Doggies with all of you:

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Lol, so the first picture of Gem is more for me because I think it’s hilarious. But, the other one of her and my little Ollie is just cuteness overload. My dogs are honestly the most perfect creatures on the planet and I love them oh so much. To have them curled up and snoozing away while my mom and I watched a crappy singing contest was the best way to end a long, hard day and it was just what I needed before I went to bed, myself.

How do your pets greet you after a long day? Who are you rooting for on The Voice? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Is A Change Of Career In The Cards?

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Is A Change Of Career In The Cards?

Many of us go about in our working lives in careers that aren’t exactly suited to us. It could be because you were unaware of the options ahead of you, maybe you missed out on getting the qualifications you needed, or due to things like the recession. You simply might have had to take whatever work you could get your hands on at the time. Whatever the situation, it’s never too late to reconsider your options. While changing careers is a huge deal, it’s something that could dramatically change your life for the better.

Your career is a huge part of your life, when you spend eight plus hours a day at your workplace (and have a wage you rely on) a change isn’t something to take lightly. So, before you go ahead, make sure you really do want to make a change. Work out what your reasons are, and be sure that you won’t end up wanting to change again after building yourself up in your new job. In some cases, a complete switch of careers might be what’s needed, but in other cases progressing in your current role could be the way to go.

For example, if you’re already a nurse, studying something like an dnp nnp online will open you up to new and exciting job opportunities. If you think you have a flair for a different type of job, such as PR or Marketing, then you will need the help of a good recruitment agency. They can help you identify any transferable skills from your past job and to brush up your CV to make it more relevant to the work that you want to do. A good agency will also have loads of contacts ready and waiting for new recruits.

It goes without saying that you may have to take a knock to your salary at first. It is vital that you know the minimum amount you can earn without getting yourself into debt or becoming all work, no play because you cannot afford a social life. Work on a good budget and research the expected salaries in your chosen field and within your area. If you can’t make the two work, then you may need to reconsider your options. Don’t let it stop you, though. Be direct and honest with your salary expectations. Tell your agency, if you are using, the lowest you can go and then talk to any potential employers to see if they can accommodate you.

A simpler way of swapping careers could be to cut down your hours at work and take on a part time job. This could give you a boost on your CV and help you balance the finances during a full time change. Even taking a Saturday job in your new field in a volunteer capacity will be useful in changing paths and will show new employers that you are serious and committed.

Finally, don’t let age worry you. While there are lots of bright young things out there as competition, you actually have the edge on them when it comes to proven ability. Even if not through the same industry. You will have references and a more complex CV. Employers know what they’re looking for and they realize potential when presented with it. So be confident and show yourself in the best possible light!

Featured Image By: Pexels

OOTD Time

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OOTD Time

Hiii everyone! I have to admit, I have really been slacking on taking updated photos of myself for social media and blogging purposes. However, there have been a few days where I’ve really been feeling myself enough to take some standard mirror pics to feature some OOTDs that I love. Take a looksee:

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Look One:

  • Floral Top: Loft
  • Jeans: TJMaxx
  • Platforms: TJMaxx

Look Two:

Look One was a semi business casual outfit for work. Because I am out in the community and not in an office while working, I can get away with making the outfit more casual than business! I love my bright yellow top from Loft, which looks friggen awesome with my hair and skin. I also love how both the top and my Bamboo brand shoes are both channeling an Oriental vibe, which played off of each other in a really cool way. I was a bit ambivalent about pairing yellow and red together, because all I can think about is ketchup and mustard – but I was very happy with this OOTD and after seeing how I looked, I stopped thinking about the Micky D’s color combo instantly! 😀

On the other hand, Look Two was strictly an outfit for play and it has turned into one of my favorites. I love how the slouchy Harem pants look with the more fitted moto jacket and how my shoes ended up getting tucked under my pants. It created a really interesting silhouette and, even though I was super comfy in this OOTD, I felt totally cool. I rarely dress for comfort, because sometimes it sacrifices the style aspect of a look, but that wasn’t the case at all for this one and I definitely plan on rocking similar outfits in the future.

I live for creating cool outfits, and now I just need to be more dedicated about taking pictures of them! How do you style a business casual OOTD? How about a look for play? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mother’s Day Bouquets

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Mother’s Day Bouquets

Hi everyone and happy late Mother’s Day to all of the wonderful moms, pet moms, and soon to be moms out there! You are all amazing and thank you for everything that you do – especially my mom! 😉 As a flower loving family, beautiful bouquets were the only way to go this Mother’s Day. Check out these gorgeous blooms and let’s discuss:

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The lavender bouquet seen first is compliments of my dad. He created his gift fresh from the lavender bush (Or tree?!) that he planted in our backyard. They smell divine and the pale purple color is spectacular. My dad planted his lavender when it was just a tiny sprig and now it is a huge, blossoming tree. It looks awesome and will definitely supply us with more bouquets all summer long.

The day lilies and vase are compliments of yours truly. My mom loves lilies and so I thought that they were the perfect flower for her gift from me. I love the dazzling orange and it looks striking against the Air Force blue vase. The butterfly and dragonfly adorned vessel was the last of its kind at the store and I can see why! I think that it is so pretty and I knew that it was something that my mom would love because the simple country style decor is her favorite. And, of course I was right!

We had a wonderful Mother’s Day celebration at my place and I hope that all of you did, too! How did you celebrate Mother’s Day? What is your favorite thing about your mom? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah