Designing A Kitchen That Adds Value To Your Home

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Designing A Kitchen That Adds Value To Your Home

The best home renovation tasks will do a lot more than improve your home decor; they’ll add value to your property. As a homeowner, this should always linger in the back of your mind, as you never know when you may sell your home. One of the home improvement ideas that works very well is to build a new kitchen.

Yes, kitchen remodels are very popular for a multitude of reasons. They let you breathe new life into an old kitchen, modernize it, and improve the value of your home. And, as always, remodels are fun and let you explore your creativity. Even if you are not an HGTV level designer, you can still find plenty of inspiration through sources like BetterKitchens’ DIY Kitchens or Pinterest! Of course, there are a few things that you can do that will guarantee that your kitchen boosts property value as well as style. Here are some new ideas if you’re thinking about renovating your kitchen soon:

Induction Hobs:

Induction hobs are the future of kitchen design. Pretty much all new builds have them, and you’ve definitely seen them somewhere. Basically, instead of using the typical gas hobs with the flames, you now have a flat surface that’s powered by electricity. It’s way more modern, looks sleeker, and it’s also much easier to clean. All you need to do is use a wet wipe or something on the surface once it’s cooled down, and all of the oil spills will be gone.

So, it’s an aesthetically pleasing and practical option, but how does it add value to your home? Well, these hobs are way more energy efficient than traditional gas hobs and old electric ones. Here, all of the electricity that’s used will most likely be used on your pans. There’s hardly any energy leaks, meaning that you don’t waste electricity whenever you cook. You can learn more on thecaterer.com if you’re interested in knowing the finer details. As a result of this, your family can potentially save a lot of money and your property rises in value.

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Flickr Image

Granite Counter Tops:

Everyone has a very important choice during the design process of their new kitchen. Which material will you use for the counter tops? Many people think this decision is easy, as you simply pick whichever one looks the nicest. However, if you opt for granite counter tops, then you could be adding something extra to your kitchen. There are dozens of benefits to granite counters, and you can head to Worldstonegroup.com to learn more about them. But, we only care about one; quality.

Granite is a material that’s naturally made and is extremely old. Why do people keep using it? Because it’s got such a high level of quality to it. A granite counter top is there for years. It will not break or scratch under regular kitchen conditions, and it adds timeless beauty to your home. One fun fact is that granite counters don’t depreciate in value. So, if you’re looking for smart kitchen ideas that help boost the value of your home, then this is one of them.

Space Saving Designs:

Let’s face it, we all want to have a big kitchen. However, not everyone has enough physical space for such a thing. What can you do about this? Well, when remodeling your kitchen, you can think about space-saving designs that help make your kitchen look and feel bigger. Specialists for kitchen cabinets in Denver or in your area can help you come up with clever planning and solutions to maximize space and storage even in a smaller kitchen.

Ideas can include things like having tall cupboards from floor to ceiling, instead of classic kitchen cabinets. Another idea that was seen on a forbes.com list is to design your kitchen with wall-mounted storage. This means hanging pots and pans on the wall, getting magnetic strips to put knives and things on, and so on. Doing this helps declutter your kitchen and saves a lot of space. The benefit of all of this is that bigger kitchens boost the value of your property if you were to list it on the market.

One of the best options for space saving in your kitchen is fully utilizing your pantry for food and cooking equipment storage. This will save you precious cabinet and countertop space which is paramount if your kitchen is on the smaller side. To get started, simply enter a search for “custom closets in Orlando” (or your local area). Be sure to look closely at reviews for the business you’re considering and seek recommendations from friends and family too. The team you choose will be able come up with a pantry solution for you to maximize the space in your kitchen.

It can be difficult to imagine a kitchen with more space if yours is lacking it, which can make the design process feel daunting. Utilizing a company that specializes in 3d kitchen rendering services can really help with this. You will be able to design, plan, and visualize the changes before they even happen so your kitchen turns out exactly how you want it to.

Underfloor Heating:

Radiators, wall heaters – call them what you want, they’re a big pain in the backside. We need them to help heat the home, but they’re often terribly ugly. This isn’t a massive issue, as you can always buy some very nice, modern looking ones to replace ugly ones elsewhere in your home. But, when it comes to the kitchen, a radiator just takes up too much space. Not only that, but it’s not very effective and can be an issue. For example, if your radiator is close to the fridge, then it could disrupt the internal temperature. You’re much better off getting underfloor heating installed when you design your new kitchen.

It’s a modern idea, and underfloor heating is proven to be way more efficient and effective than traditional radiators. There’s a more even spread of heat throughout the kitchen, and your feet don’t feel cold on the tiles, either! If you’ve been paying attention to the rest of this article, then you can probably already tell why this will add value to your home. Having Underfloor Heating Kits installed saves energy as it’s more efficient, which is always a massive plus in the property value books. But, it also saves space in your kitchen, which we just mentioned was a great idea.

If you want to improve your home decor, then think about remodeling your kitchen. When you do this, it’s important to consider design ideas that benefit you in more than one way to ultimately increase the value of your home.

Featured Image By: kaboompics

Mystery Blogger Award #8

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Mystery Blogger Award #8

Hellooo everyone and welcome to lifewithlilred’s eighth Mystery Blogger Award compliments of my sweet friend Sophia over at sophiasbeauty. Her blog is amazing for those with an interest in beauty – she reviews the best products! Definitely consult her page and see what she has to say about any items that you might be interested in buying. Now, let’s get on to the rules for this award:

The Rules:

 

  • Put the award’s logo/image in your post
  • List the rules
  • Thank whoever nominated you and include a link to their blog
  • Tell your readers three things about yourself
  • Nominate 10-20 bloggers you feel deserve the award
  • Notify your nominees by commenting on their blog
  • Ask your nominees 5 questions of your choice with one weird or funny one

Fun Facts:

  1. I love to do puzzles, Jumbles, and play Scrabble to keep my mind active.
  2. I just had Chipotle for the first time in a little while and they were pretty stingy on their servings but it was still SO GOOD.
  3. I’ll be 24 on June 7th and birthdays are becoming less fun as the years go by. 😥

Q & A:

Three words to describe yourself? Unique, driven, intelligent.

What is the best thing that has ever happened to you? Graduating from college was pretty awesome!

What is the nicest thing that you have done for someone? I try to be kind to everyone so I can’t really pinpoint one specific thing.

Night out or night in? Both have their benefits, but I usually prefer nights in.

What are you looking forward to this year? Marilyn Manson is coming to my neck of the woods in July and I am SO freaking stoked.

Do you have a bucket list? Not really. I mean, there’s stuff that I would like to do but I don’t actively write it out or call it a bucket list lol.

My Nominees (I’m only doing three):

My Questions For You:

  1. Favorite sweet treat?
  2. What was the last book that you read?
  3. Who is a celebrity that you can’t stand?
  4. What is one of your guilty pleasures?
  5. What is one beauty product that you keep handy throughout the day?
  6. If you had to be stuck in an elevator for an hour that was either boiling hot or smelled like farts, which would you choose? Lololol

Thank you so much again to Sophia for my page’s eighth Mystery Blogger Award nomination! How would you answer some of the questions that Sophia had for me? How about some of my questions that I had for my nominees? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

Party Inspo For The Best Birthday Bash!

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Party Inspo For The Best Birthday Bash!

One of the best things that you can do in any year is to plan a party. Let’s face it, it may be a stressful time during the organization process, but the actual party always comes off beautifully, and your kids end up so happy, so the stressful bit is worth it! If you’re a standard Pinterest parent, then you’ll already have the app downloaded with several boards full of ideas for your next event.

Planning a party has a lot of different components, but the main thing to start with is the theme. You can’t hope to build the right party if you don’t have the right theme. Discuss with the birthday child what they would like, but if you have been told to surprise them, then you’ll need a little help. Check out our amazing party inspo below, then click on over to Pinterest to start building the right board. Don’t worry, all of these options work for both a birthday boy and a birthday girl!

Magic:

Who doesn’t love a magic party?! Think about it, you could hire in a magician to entertain the children, offer fancy dress options for magical beings, and you could even serve a cake like this, where a bunny is popping out of a top hat. Make sure that you include glitter pots in the party bags, along with fuzzy bunny ears, and a wand of their very own.

One important aspect that should not be overlooked is the magician’s stage. It should have a dramatic impact and their magic show should stand out. Consider getting a rainbow balloon arch over a small platform, to make it feel like a real magic show. Another consideration is to plan the party with the magician to discuss how to make it as interactive as possible; this way, all the kids will be super excited and feel included in the festivities.

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I want him at my next party!

Art:

An artsy party is a craft lovers dream. It can be a messy theme, but it’s one that is going to entertain kids for ages and they won’t forget it. Make this one a summer party, and you could pin large pieces of cardboard to the washing line and get the kids to flick paint on them in neon colors. Make biscuit palettes with icing paint to finish the look.

Sports:

Having a sports mad child makes for a very easy party theme. You can get USA baseball bats here as a birthday gift, and when it comes to the party treats, why not specify a baseball theme with baseball cake pops? Gift bags will also be easy peasy, as you can make them personalized to the sport of choice.

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Yum!

Circus:

You can go as big as you like with a circus theme; so if you’ve got the cash, you can definitely pull out all of the fun fair stops. You could go a little more moderate by hiring a clown or balloon animal maker and you could serve up hot dogs, popcorn, and cotton candy during the party, with an amazing circus tent cake to blow everyone away.

Your birthday party theme is going to be individual for your child, but you can really go all out with the effort that you put into it. Make sure that you give plenty of notice to your guests so that they can be there to enjoy the day. Party planning is so much fun, and it’s time to begin!

Featured Image By: Flickr

Highlighter Help!!

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Highlighter Help!!

Helloooo! During a recent Sephora purchase for my sister’s upcoming birthday, I decided to spend some of my rewards points on a Becca highlighter in Opal. The only problem is… I don’t know what to do with it! I liked the idea of trying a highlighter on for size and I love the color so I figured “why not”. Take a looksee:

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(First swatch photo is with no flash, the second one is with the flash on.)

I was hoping that my beauty blogger babes could help me out by directing me to their posts on applying highlighter as well as completed MOTDs featuring a highlighter. I definitely don’t want to overdo it with my new Becca Opal highlighter, but a little extra something something might be nice to try out – especially when it was free!

So, beauty bloggers, now is your time to toot your own horn a little and link me to your best highlighter related makeup posts. Thanks in advance!

What is the best freebie that you have scored from Sephora? Are you a highlighter fan or no? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New Black & Lavender Nails

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New Black & Lavender Nails

Howdy! One color that I am actually quite fond of but don’t wear on clothing is lavender. However, lavender blush is my favorite and you can’t go wrong with a lavender accent nail every now and then. I went only four weeks in between getting my talons filled this time around, but they were in desperate need of some TLC so I don’t feel too bad about it! Take a look and let’s discuss:

lavender

With spring just around the corner, I felt that a pastel accent nail was the perfect way to go. And, I freaking LERVE the heart glitter top coat which makes the nail look like an Easter jellybean treat. Yum! It felt so good to get pampered after what has been a pretty shitty month in between this fill and the last. There’s really nothing better than some time spent just for you with an outcome that is beautiful afterwards.

Which color of nail polish are you wearing right now? What accent nail color should I get next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Pregnancy & Mental Health: Overcoming Your Insecurities

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Pregnancy & Mental Health: Overcoming Your Insecurities

Pregnant women go through a lot of both physical and mental stress, which leads to so many insecurities popping up. People often talk about how your physical health suffers when you’re pregnant, but the mental side of things is rarely discussed in detail. As a result, we want to break the stigma and speak about the common mental insecurities you face while carrying a child. Hopefully, this helps any women out there going through pregnancy and feeling some of the things talked about in this piece. Take a look at all of the insecurities, down below:

I Look Disgusting

You wake up, haul yourself out of bed, and look at yourself in the mirror. One thought pops into your head; I’m disgusting. You feel like you look horrible and have just become so ugly. It makes you unbelievably self-conscious, and you don’t want to be seen in public. As a consequence, you retire to the sofa where you comfort eat all day, which fuels these feelings of insecurity.

Needless to say, this is all a mental issue. In fact, many people think women get more attractive when they’re pregnant, and that they have a special glow to them. There are a few things that you can do to overcome this insecurity, some are in your head, others are more practical.

First, change the clothes you wear so you feel more comfortable and aren’t trying to squeeze into your old jeans and tops. You can actually buy loose-fitting maternity scrubs from various websites, and these are great when you’re pregnant as they don’t really show your figure. So, you don’t see anything bulging, your clothes don’t feel tight, and you’re instantly in a better frame of mind.

Second, you need to think more clearly. Understand that you might not look your best because you had a rough night’s sleep or because you were up with morning sickness. Carrying a child is no walk in the park, it takes its toll on your body. So, there will be natural things that happen, which can make you – temporarily – look a little worse for wear. But, you often find you’ll look and feel a lot better after a nice long shower or bath. Try this every morning, and you’ll overcome this insecurity.

I’m Not Ready To Be A Mother:

This is probably one of the toughest insecurities you face when you’re pregnant. Almost all expecting moms go through a phase where they freak out and think they’re not ready to be a mother. For some, it’s right at the start, when they first find out they’re pregnant. For others, it’s right near the end when it suddenly dawns on you that you could be a mom at any moment. Of course, it can happen at any time in between too, and it may last for weeks, months, days, or minutes.

It’s common to feel this way because you’re entering the unknown. As humans, we mentally recoil whenever we’re faced with something that’s not known to us. It’s like walking into a dark cave, our brain sends out warning signals because we have no idea what lies ahead. If you’re pregnant for the first time, you’ve got no clue what could happen. You have no idea if you can be a mom or even how to be a mom, so it’s normal to get some prenatal jitters.

The only way to overcome this is through reassurance. Reassure yourself that you can be a mom and that you’ll make a great one, at that. Often, having others around you tell you that you can do something will make you think more positively, too. Also, get advice from other moms, read books, resources, and just brush up on your knowledge. This helps you learn what to expect, which prepares you for motherhood and helps banish the nerves. If your anxiety is particularly overwhelming, it is a good idea to look into different options for counseling. Read some online reviews, seek recommendations, and visit websites to learn more about their therapy services. Don’t be afraid to shop around for the right counselor or therapist for you so you can get the best help possible for your situation.

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I’m Overweight:

Normally, if you’re insecure about the way you look, you’re also insecure about your weight while pregnant. Now, we’ve decided to separate this insecurity from the first one because they are two different things. Being insecure about the way you look can mean you’re not happy with your hair, face, body; whatever. But, being insecure about your weight means you’re very self-conscious about feeling fat.

It’s dangerous, because feelings like this can often lead to eating disorders. You may refuse to eat food because you think you’re fat, which ultimately starves you and your baby of vital nutrition. The reason most women are insecure about their weight is because of the fact that they look bigger when they’re pregnant. But, this is natural. Another person is growing inside of you, you’re obviously going to look bigger!

You can put your mind at ease by doing some light exercise and trying to follow a healthy diet. At the very least, this will keep you healthy during pregnancy, leading to a healthier birth. On a mental level, the fact that you’re doing exercise and aren’t binge eating will help you come to terms with your extra size being down to the baby and not you being fat.

The mental side of pregnancy doesn’t get discussed much. Hopefully, this has shone a light on how your mental health is affected when you’re carrying a child. Also, we hope it helps you overcome these nagging insecurities if you suffer from them!

Featured Image By: Max Pixel

Careers For Anyone With A Driving License

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Careers For Anyone With A Driving License

If you are stuck on what career you want to do or you simply need a way to make some extra cash, you can make a lot of money by simply using your driving license. The beauty of having a driving license is that you become opened up to a lot more jobs and many companies might even pick you first for a job because if it. Here are some of the ways you can make a living by being a driver:

Delivery Driver:

If you are looking for a way to make some extra money this month, then you can give up a couple of hours in the evening to be a delivery driver. You can become an uber eats driver, a deliveroo driver, or even ask at your local takeaway if they need some extra help. It won’t necessarily be a huge wage for you to live off of, but it will be a good start.

Formula One Driver:

If you really love to drive and you want a career where you get to live your ultimate dream, then becoming a racing driver could be the perfect career path for you. It will, of course, be a difficult journey for you to take on, but as long as you have the passion and drive to success you can make this into a wonderful career for yourself.

Tank Driver:

If you have ever wondered who mans the tanks in the army, you could be one of these people. Tank drivers are not just average soldiers and they have to be trained heavily to be able to man such a monstrous machine. If you always loved playing army as a child, then this could be your chance to live the dream and play with the real thing for yourself.

Bus Driver:

If you love your local area and you also enjoy talking to new people every day, then becoming a bus driver could be the perfect job for you. You will get free travel around the country when you aren’t working and you can enjoy driving around your local city every day. You will, of course, need the patience to not get road rage!

Chauffeur:

Chauffeurs aren’t just for characters off of Downton Abbey, you know. Many high profile people will use a chauffeur to drive them around every day, and it means that you will have the chance to drive the most luxurious cars as you tend to your employer. You will need several years of driving experience and you will also need to have some basic car maintenance skills in case you ever get stuck out on the road.

Driving Instructor:

Last but not least is becoming a driving instructor for children and other people in your local area. You can either join an agency and work on their behalf or go out independently and make a name for yourself like that. You will need special training and lots of driving experience, as well as a license to say that you are allowed to teach. Of course, qualifications might vary depending on your location. To begin exploring career opportunities in this field, simply enter a search for “driving lessons ponteland” (or your local area). From there, you can gain more information for each agency to better determine if it’s a fitting environment for you.

If you love to drive and have a lot of, well… drive, then a career that gets you behind the wheel of a car could be an amazing option for you!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Monday Update: Forgotten Netflix Top Ten Picks Edition

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Monday Update: Forgotten Netflix Top Ten Picks Edition

Hi everyone and welcome to another week here on lifewithlilred! I am an avid fan of Netflix, and couldn’t believe that I had forgotten some of my must watches on my Top Ten Picks recent post. Netflix has really stepped up their game lately and I have deeply enjoyed these additional flicks:

  1. Welcome To Me: This movie is Kristen Wiig perfection. The part of a borderline personality disorder patient turned millionaire turned talk show host was made for her. It’s quirky, hilarious, and heartwarming all at the same time. I LOVE this movie.
  2. Forgetting Sarah Marshall: I finally watched this flick about a week ago and it was so funny! With an all star cast of Jason Segal, Mila Kunis, and the hunky Russell Brand, how can you go wrong? Throwing Paul Rudd and Jonah Hill in for good measure was just the cherry on top.
  3. Bedeviled: This cheeky horror flick was actually a lot of fun. It had the scare factor of a ghostly smartphone app with some very clever humor thrown in. It wasn’t the best, by any means, but it certainly wasn’t the worst, either.
  4. Kill Bill Volumes 1 & 2: How could I forget this amazing series?! I watched these two Quintin Tarantino classics about a month ago for the first time and I was BLOWN AWAY. Is Uma Therman a badass or what?! Now how about a third one, please?
  5. The Polka King: This based on a true story Jack Black flick is a winner. It’s a humorous tale of just how far a man will go to chase his dreams of building an empire. Jack Black’s Polish accent is a trip and it is an all around great effort by all parties involved.
  6. Lion: I LOVE THIS MOVIE. Everything about this movie. The cast, the amazing true story, the cute as a button Sunny Pawar. Omg, what an absolutely mesmerizing tearjerker. I must read the book that Lion is based off of soon!
  7. V For Vendetta: One of my all time favorite movies and graphic novels. Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman are a match made in heaven and I could watch this movie on the daily. It’s an excellent pick for fans of The Matrix and justice. 😉
  8. To Kill A Mockingbird: An amazing book, an amazing movie. Gregory Peck is perfection. Need I say more?
  9. Dallas Buyers Club: Alright, alright, alright. A cast dreamed up by the movie gods, a true story, an inspiration. I loved this movie when it first came out and swept the award season and I still love it now. Definitely a tearjerker, but well worth the watch.
  10. Untraceable: It was crazy, because I watched this movie a month or so ago and a week later it was put on Netflix. This is a surprisingly gruesome mid-2000’s horror flick and I am a huge fan. And, hello, young Colin Hanks! Not for the faint of heart, but definitely for fans of Saw!

As you can see, I had no problem adding another ten movies to my Netflix must watch list. And, honestly, I could add a lot more – which I probably will! I have been nothing short of impressed with Netflix’s recent selections, and it deserves to be celebrated.

What is on your Netflix or Hulu must watch list? Shall I do another top ten post soon? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

NYX Matte Lipstick Swatch In Street Cred

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NYX Matte Lipstick Swatch In Street Cred

Howdy! Once upon a time, when I didn’t always wear red or nude lipstick, I was a lot more adventurous with the shades that I would purchase. I had purples, silvers, and pinks – but then, the sad realization dawned on me that those colors didn’t look all that great. Now, I am stuck with the colors that I purchased a while ago that I wouldn’t wear in public if you paid me. Like, the following shade by NYX:

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^^^ Excuse the poorly drawn on heart, lol.

When my local grocery store began carrying NYX products, I went a little lipstick crazy. I don’t regret it, though, because that’s how I ended up finding my favorite shade of red. But, as far as Street Cred goes, I am not a fan.

THEN WHY DID YOU BUY IT?!?!

I told you I was more adventurous before! And, actually, pink shades used to look fairly nice on me when I had my natural brown hair. But, my, have the times changed. My complexion naturally has a lot of pink undertones to it. So, to combine my rosey skin with my red hair AND a pink lipstick? Ohhh no, no, no, no, no. I find pink to be a difficult lip color for people to pull off at the best of times – and, believe me, I am infinitely jealous of those who can (Because I sure as shit can’t!).

Although this shade and I will never get along, I will always say that NYX matte lipstick is the best ever. So, if you’re looking for a lovely pink to try out as the spring flowers bloom, then Street Cred might be the color for you!

How do you determine which color of lipstick to buy? What is your favorite drugstore or high end lippie? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Little Ladybug Friend

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Little Ladybug Friend

Hey everyone and happy weekend! The little things in life are what makes me the most happy. Whether it be a tiny flower blooming in my yard, a sunshiney day, or a little ladybug saying hello to me – I love it all. On Tuesday, while I was watching my guilty pleasure of America’s Next Top Model, a ladybug that managed to get into the house kept me company the entire time:

ladybug

I honestly can’t believe I didn’t squish the poor little guy, because he was crawling on the floor dangerously close to where I do my nightly crunches. I didn’t even notice that he was there until I sat up! For a little while, the ladybug would crawl on my fingers and hand and then fly away. Then, a few minutes later, I would find the tiny spot of red crawling about on the floor again.

A few times, I tried to deposit him onto one of our potted plants, but he managed to come back to my general vicinity each time. Maybe he was attracted to my hair?! Either way, it was sure nice to have a little buddy to enjoy Tyra Banks in all of her glory with me. 🙂

Who else is an America’s Next Top Model fan? What is your favorite type of insect? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Heal