Feb1

One Lovely Blog Award #4

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One Lovely Blog Award #4

Heyy everyone and happy Hump Day! Oh my goodness! So many awards, so little time – but thankfully, I freaking love doing these posts so it’s time well spent. Super special thanks to one of my darling friends, Jackie, for nominating me for my fourth One Lovely Blog Award. Miss Jackie is going to be one of my featured bloggers for my Think Spring series so be on the lookout for her in the next couple of weeks but, until then, check out her page here! Okay, let’s get to the rules:

The Rules:

  • Thank the person that nominated you and leave a link to their blog
  • Post about the award
  • Share seven facts about yourself
  • Nominate at most 15 people
  • Tell your nominees the good news

Seven Facts About Me:

  1. I love to read and am currently on my seventh book of 2017 already – All The Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy.
  2. I have a weakness for getting hooked on different television series. I’ve rewatched Orange Is The New Black and Wentworth three times each and have grown increasingly fond of Face Off again on SyFy.
  3.  I coach figure skating for the Special Olympics and will be enjoying the banquet party to celebrate tonight. And soon, I will start coaching my friend, Dana’s, little girl so that will be fun!
  4.  I love all things food as long as it doesn’t have meat in it because I am a strict vegetarian. I love to cook, bake, and EAT!
  5.  My current favorite adult beverage is the Moscow Mule – I’m obsessed!
  6.  I am dedicated to improving my French speaking skills for when I eventually go to Paris and have been listening to French tapes in my car for the past year.
  7.  I have four tattoos and eight piercings and am always thinking about getting more! It’s a curse!

My Nominees (I’m only doing three):

Thank you so much again to Jackie for the nomination! You’re the best! What is one fun fact about yourself? How do you shake away the midweek blahs? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan31

Stamp Your Personality On Your Home With These Quick Fixes

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Stamp Your Personality On Your Home With These Quick Fixes

Homeowners are keen to turn a new house into their family home pretty much as soon as they move in. Even though they can be excited to start redesigning a new property, life can often get in the way and ends up slowing down this whole makeover. But don’t worry if you start to lose time to fix up your new house – there is plenty that you can do to stamp your own personality into a house no matter how long you have been living in it! Here are some super easy and quick fixes that can help you personalize your own home:

Use Plenty of Color: Homes in which the predominant colors are whites and creams are often regarded as quite austere and sterile. That is certainly not what you want to aim for if you want a home that pops with your personality! So be sure to use plenty of color in your rooms. You can go bold and paint your walls with bright colors. Sound a bit too intense for your tastes? Instead, opt for neutral shades on your walls but add bright accessories for bursts of color. You’ll find lots of colorful accessories by looking at sites like the Versace Home decor and furniture website.

Share Your Memories: No one will have the exact same memories as you do, so one great way to splash your personality all over your home is to share all your memories. There are various ways you can do this. For example, you could hang photos from all of your adventures abroad in your living room. You might even like the idea of collecting all your trinkets and souvenirs from around the world together and showcasing them in a display cabinet. Displaying family photos is also a great way to show off your fantastic memories, especially if your kids are no longer babies. Nothing beats cute baby pics!

Show Off Your Hobbies: No matter what your hobby may be, there will certainly be ways of incorporating it into your interior design. For example, if you have an artistic side, you might like to create your own artworks to hang on your walls. If you love watching the birds in your garden, you could think about taking some photographs to hang on your walls. Love sports? Then why not buy some decorative sports equipment to display in your home. For instance, a vintage tennis racquet or a cricket bat will look very stylish propped up in your hall with smart lighting around it.

Get Your Kids To Help: I’m sure your kids will love having their pictures and drawings stuck onto the doors of your fridge. But why not spread them out around the house? You can frame the best ones and display them in your living and dining rooms. There are also some companies who will take a drawing that your child has done and print it onto a cushion cover. That will be a super cute touch to any living room!

Make boring and blah a thing of the past and add a touch of fun into your home with these tips.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jan31

Puppy-Love: Introducing A Dog To Your Children

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Puppy-Love: Introducing A Dog To Your Children

There can be nothing cuter and more heart-melting than seeing your little one(s) playing in the house or garden with their best-friend; their dog. Very quickly, you’ll watch them become the closest of companions, look out for each other, and make a bond like no other. However, there needs to be some responsibility when introducing a puppy or a dog into your home, especially with small children running about. The dog needs to get used to the children, especially as they approach life differently to adults: they scream, shout, run, and rarely sit still. As such, you’ll also need to teach your children how to care for a dog to instill a sense of responsibility as a new caretaker to their canine companion.

A Cautionary Tail: Making sure you create the foundations for a wonderful relationship can be dependent on the age of your children as well as the age of your dog. If you’re thinking of doing something fantastic and getting a rescue dog, you might want to wait until your little one is a bit older. If you’re getting a puppy, we’d suggest that you supervise the way it interacts with your tiny human by monitoring them at all times, at least at first. Of course, we all live busy lives and total supervision can be hard. So if you can’t supervise, keep your dog in a safe and comfortable place away from you kid(s),  just in case.

Creating the Best Relationship Ever: When it comes to bonding, you’ll need to teach your kids how to be around dogs, especially yours! The first thing you should do is teach your children how to say ‘hey’ to a dog nicely, so that it doesn’t get spooked or scared. Basically, let the dog know that you are there and that you want to interact with him or her. A great way to do this is by standing side-on, getting your child to make a slightly bunched fist and invite the dog to come to you. If the dog wants to play, then great, but make sure your little ones stroke his back and don’t reach for his head straight away.

Another great tip is to teach your child that dogs need to be treated with care and that they should always be gentle with dogs. That means no hitting, no biting, no scratching, and no pulling ears or tails. As a parent, reading up is always a great thing to do, as well. Read up on the breed of dog, yes, but why not go one step further and educate yourself on dog body language. This is an excellent way to know if your doggy is getting uncomfortable and being able to intervene before anything happens. Make sure you’re always ready to intervene, like we said above; just in case.

On the dog side of things, a great thing to consider is training; professional training. It doesn’t matter if it’s a new puppy or a rescue dog, dog training services are a fantastic way of getting your dog to behave, know your commands, and learn how to act around children. We can’t stress enough how valuable this service could be, not just in terms of safety, but your stress levels too – dogs combined with kids can be quite hard work!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jan31

Who Is Really Looking After Your Kids? Get Peace of Mind, and Find Safe Childcare

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Who Is Really Looking After Your Kids? Get Peace of Mind, and Find Safe Childcare

Sometimes in life, we have to leave our children in the care of others. Maybe it’s due to work commitments, because of their extracurricular activities and hobbies, or perhaps we just need a break. Parenting is busy and stressful, sometimes you just need a nice date night with your partner away from the kids to keep the spark alive and claw back a bit of sanity! But when our children are so precious, as parents we need to be vigilant about their caretakers. Schools require teachers to have thorough checks done, but not all childcare establishments do, so you have to be careful. Here are some of the ways that you can ensure your child is safe when they’re being looked after by others:

Do a Background Check: When it comes to your kids, you can never be too careful. Doing a background check on anyone who cares for your kids without you there can give you peace of mind. You’re able to pull up past information about people from convicted crimes and warnings to cases that were dropped in court. You can get background checking done from an Expert Private Investigator in Edinburgh – Bondrees.com if you are considering a new childcare provider. While it’s not completely foolproof, a clean record can help if you don’t know the person well.

Of course, always use common sense and good judgment, but if you just need to know their background to be sure, then this is one way to go about it. Whether it’s a nanny, babysitter, an ex’s new partner, or anyone else who is around you children- it’s always good to be cautious. You could click here for free warrant checks online if this is something that you would benefit from.

Ask About Medical Training: If you leave your children at a daycare, babysitter’s house, or with a nanny- ask about what medical training they have had. Do they know first aid, and can they apply it to children? Don’t feel shy about asking to see certificates for proof. Those who have nothing to hide won’t mind showing you. The same applies to food safety. To avoid illnesses and food poisoning, those looking after children and preparing food for them should have a good knowledge of kitchen safety and hygiene.

Request References: Good references will show you that the person looking after your children is competent and good at their job, as well as has prior experience in child care. If you’re hiring a nanny, for example, you will want to choose the most qualified candidate, and past experience is a great way to judge how well they will do when they work for you.

Use a Nanny Cam: In most places in the US it’s completely legal to use surveillance equipment in your home, without the consent of the person you’re recording. It’s illegal to record in areas where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy however, so it goes without saying that bathroom areas are off limits but also your live-in nanny or au-pair’s bedroom. But for use elsewhere in the home, a nanny cam can be useful if you want to keep tabs on what’s going on.

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Pexels Image

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jan31

Here’s Why Everyone Should Do At Least One Sport

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Here’s Why Everyone Should Do At Least One Sport

We are a generation of yoga-practicing, gym-going, swimming-lovers. Now, while it’s all well and good to be involved in activities that are not team-based, team sports come with a lot of benefits, which is why everyone should aim to take part in at least one team sport. A lot of people give up team sports when they graduate from high school, but there’s no need to. Believe it or not, taking part in team sports is not only a lot of fun but also incredibly beneficial for a range of reasons, including the fact that most team sports offer a fantastic workout. Still not convinced to give team sports another try? Then have a read of the reasons why you should, below:

Team Sports Boost Confidence: When you’re taking part in a team sport, your confidence tends to increase. This is because you are learning new skills and are getting a lot of praise when you do well. Each time you get the ball, score a goal, or make a good pass, you will get praised, which helps to give your confidence a boost. So, if you lack self-esteem, joining a sports team could be the answer.

They Provide Consistent Exercise: It’s far too easy to convince yourself that you’re too tired to go for a run or that you don’t have the time to go to the gym. However, when you’re part of sports team, you can’t just not turn up to practice because you’re tired or miss a game because you are busy. This means that you’re much more likely to stick at it and exercise more consistently than before.

You Will Learn To Be a Good Loser: Yes, we all want to win, of course. However, sometimes we can’t win – it’s just another part of life. As part of a sports team such as a football team, for instance, you will get to win football trophies and medals, but you will also have to learn how to be a good loser. So that on the days when your team isn’t successful, you are able to be positive about it. Perfecting the art of being a good loser is a life skill that does come in incredibly handy.

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Pixabay Image

You Will Meet New People: One of the great things about being part of a sports team is that you will meet a lot of new people and make new friends. Whether you’ve already got lots of friends or are in need of some new ones, joining a sports team is a great way to socialize and meet like-minded people. Being on a sports team isn’t just about practicing and playing together, it’s about spending quality time together, so if you join a sports team, you will be invited to social events, as well as to practices and games.

If you’re not already part of a sport’s team, maybe now could be the perfect time to join one? You never know how it could benefit you until you try!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Jan30

Blogger Recognition Award #2

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Blogger Recognition Award #2

HEY! My friends in the blogging world were kind enough to nominate me for my second Blogger Recognition Award this week! Thank you so much to the darling Fashionably Eva for the nomination and everyone please check out her blog and give it some love – I’m sure all of you will enjoy her page! I know I do! Because I literally just did a post for the Blogger Recognition Award, I thought that I would only post the rules and who I nominate so check it out:

The Rules:

  1. Thank the blogger who nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
  2. Write a post to show your award.
  3. Give a brief story of how you started your blog.
  4. Give two pieces of advice to new bloggers.
  5. Select 15 other bloggers you want to give this award to.
  6. Comment on each blog and let them know you have nominated them and provide a link to the post you created.

My Nominees (I’m only doing three!):

Thank you so much again to the lovely Miss Fashionably Eva for the nomination – you’re a doll! Have a fab Monday, everyone! Much love. -Sarah

Jan30

January 2017 Finishes

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January 2017 Finishes

Helloooo everyone and happy Monday! I hope all of you had a wonderful and relaxing weekend. With January coming to a close and the reminder of Valentine’s Day in February coming in at full force, it’s time to talk about my empties for the month. I actually had a lot of finishes in January which I was so happy about because I was working on a few of them for quite a while and it’s always fun to start something new! Take a look at the products that I bid adieu to this month and let’s discuss:

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Would I Use Again?

  • The Body Shop Argon Oil body wash: YES
  • Peace, Love, & Juicy Couture lotion: NO!!!!
  • Jergens BB Protect lotion: YES
  • St. Ives Pink Lemon & Mandarin Orange scrub: YES
  • Olay Total Effects moisturizer: MAYBE
  • Yes To Grapefruit Correct & Repair treatment: NO
  • The Body Shop Almond body butter: YES

Why/Why Not?

TBS Body Wash: This jumbo sized body wash was compliments of TJMaxx for a whopping EIGHT dollars. It took me well over three months to finish completely and I would definitely use it again. The Argon Oil scent is mild and soft and it left my skin feeling well moisturized after each use. It might not be my favorite scent that TBS has to offer but getting the jumbo sized shower gels from TJs is a steal so I take what I can get!

Juicy Couture Lotion: This is a product that I’ve been putting off using for a long, long time because it smells like butt! Many Christmases ago my mom gifted me with a Peace, Love, & Juicy Couture box set that came with the perfume and this lotion. I don’t think that I have ever even used the perfume and the only reason that I finally caved and used the lotion was to be rid of it! The smell…it just isn’t for me. It is so overpoweringly flowery and god knows what else and I (and my entire family, who reminded me every time I wore it) completely hated it. It took me about three weeks to finish this lotion and I could not have been happier to see it go! BYE FELICIA.

Jergens Lotion: I won this Jergens BB lotion from a giveaway last year along with the BB hand cream, which I loved. I wouldn’t go out of my way to buy this body lotion again but if it were offered to me or if it were cheap enough, I would snag it. I liked how light it smelled and how quickly it absorbed but it was not an incredibly great value as I finished it after about four uses!

St. Ives Scrub: You guys already know that I love my St. Ives products and this scrub is no exception. First of all, the Pink Lemon & Mandarin Orange scent is delicious. It is so invigorating and bright and I loved using it first thing in the morning. Second of all, my skin felt great after every use. It both felt and looked radiant and instantly took away the dull, tired look that sleep can bring to your skin. It took me a little over one month to finish this scrub.

Olay Moisturizer: This empty is actually compliments of my mom who handed it down to me two days before Christmas because I was all out of whatever I was using. She said there was about two uses left which was great because I knew that I would be getting more moisturizer and skin care goodies under the tree! My mom was dead wrong though, because I got about three weeks of use out of the rest of this product which shows that just a little bit of it goes a long way. This moisturizer absorbed quickly and its scent was subtle and mild which I liked, however, the texture was too thin for my liking. I like moisturizers with a little bit of heaviness to it, like The Body Shop’s Vitamin E cream, so this Olay one just didn’t pack enough of a punch for me. I won’t say that I wouldn’t use it again but it’s not something that I’m dying to buy after using it for close to a month.

Yes To Grapefruit Treatment: I like the idea of this Correct & Repair treatment but it really didn’t do much for me. The grapefruit scent did smell great but I never saw any noticeable differences in my skin after using it. I used this product about three to four times per month and it lasted me three months so the value of it was good but that’s really all I have to say for it. I think that this product was trying really hard to be a peel and it just didn’t work out that way. Rather, it was more like a scrub that sat on your face for ten minutes before washing off. -__-

TBS Body Butter: I love, love, LOVE the almond scent from TBS so when I saw this for SIX bucks at TJs, I had to grab it! The light nutty scent is so rich despite its subtleness and it just feels (and smells) so good on the skin. I love putting body butter on after a nice, long bath so it was a treat to be able to use one of my favorites for the past month which is about how long it lasted for me, too!

The month of January brought me seven finished products and some I loved and some…not so much! But that just means that I have seven new products to test in the months ahead which is something that I always look forward to. I would say that this month was still very successful as there were quite a few empties that I would definitely use again but I am so ready for the newbie products come February!

So there you have it, my January 2017 Finishes! Have any of you ever used any of the above products before? What did you think of them? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan30

Finding Your Dream Home Needn’t Be So Difficult

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Finding Your Dream Home Needn’t Be So Difficult

Buying a home can be a trying time even when you’ve already identified your dream home. When you’re unable to discern which homes offer everything you need, it can become even more complicated. But you don’t have to, and shouldn’t be, treating it like a gamble. Instead, you should use these techniques to make your search all the more effective:

Know Your Wants and Needs: The first thing that you should do is make a list of what is a necessity in your new home and what are things that you just would like to have. Organizing your wants vs. your needs will make it easier for you to narrow down your choices based on your list. For a home that exceeds your needs, you might have to be willing to compromise on some wants. The point is to figure this out beforehand. What’s more important, the right amount of space or the right area? A patio or a pool? Energy efficiency or a wood stove? These are the elements that you need to prioritize before you even start viewing. As you establish your wants and needs, you might find that you are not willing to compromise on them. Should that be the case, it’s important to think about the pros and cons of building vs buying a home so you will be fully satisfied with the end result, whatever you choose.

Broaden Your Horizons: If you’re having trouble spotting the home that fits all of those needs (and a few wants for good measure), the fact might be that you’re not looking in the right place. There are a lot of different marketplaces to check out and some of them might be exclusive, meaning they’re out of your reach. This is why you should consider getting on side with realtors that could help broaden your search. With the experience of finding homes specific to individual needs, they could not only help you see more but also stay updated on the latest additions to the market. Otherwise, be willing to spend a lot of time looking in a lot of diverse directions for your dream home.

best suburbs for commuting to Philadelphia

Do Your Research: Worse than not finding a home is finding one only to discover later that the home comes with some issues that you never expected. Make sure you get your own house inspection and even an evaluation done on a house before agreeing to it. You should consider doing research on the neighborhood, as well. Not only can that highlight problems such as crime rates, but it can also highlight opportunities. You could find development prospects in your area which will make it an even more attractive neighborhood in the future. For someone considering a home as an investment, there are few better signs.

Another important aspect of doing your research is looking into the school district. Is your new home in close proximity to award winning schools like in this Milton Ontario neighborhood? If not, are you able to drive your child to a better option? Be sure to consider the distance to local hospitals, grocery stores, and entertainment. If everywhere you like and need to go is a fair drive away, that can really put a damper on the dream home experience.

Be Willing to Do Some Work: Sometimes, you need to bite the bullet and accept the compromise. If that compromise is that the home lacks the lighting or the fixtures that you really desire, then you should be all the more willing to make it. In that case, all it takes is a little work. Don’t let the decor or the color of a room put you off in any case. Know which aspects of the home could be easily fixed and put in the effort to solve the problems.

Take your time with any decision before you make it. Make sure you know the alternatives, as well as the properties of the home you’re potentially buying. Visit it as often as you see fit and, most importantly, be willing to understand that most houses are going to take some work before they really become a home.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jan30

Time To Take Care Of Your Body: Easy Ways To Show It Some Love

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Time To Take Care Of Your Body: Easy Ways To Show It Some Love

We are often so busy in our lives that we leave little time to think about ourselves. But for the sake of your health, you need to look after number one. Our body is so important and if you don’t make time to care for it, you will end up feeling so blah and run down. Here are some easy ways to take care of your body and show it the love it deserves:

Give Your Body a Chance to Relax: It’s often the case that we are on the go constantly. Whether it’s being busy at work or running after the kids, we are not left with much time to relax. But for the sake of our body, we need to make sure that we do have a chance for a little R&R. As we said before, relaxation is essential to lowering your blood pressure, clearing your head, and easing knotted muscles. Try and make sure to spend at least an hour in the evening relaxing. Whether it be with a bath or a good book, allow yourself the time to take a breather. And make sure that you are getting enough sleep at night. It can be a challenge to get plenty of shut eye, but sleep is so important as it gives your body a chance to rest and rejuvenate to make sure that you’re ready for the next day.

Pamper Yourself Occasionally: You can also show your body some love by enjoying a pampering session every now and again. You could have a pampering session from the comfort of your home. Have a warm bubble bath and relax for a while. You can then use a great lotion or body butter to moisturize your skin and leave it in good condition. Also, take the time to give your hands and feet a massage and apply some creams to ensure that they are shown some love, too! If you fancy something even more relaxing, you might want to consider heading to a spa. Take your loved one or a good friend and go and relax in the pool and Jacuzzi. You could even book some treatments such as a massage and a facial to ensure that your body gets the pampering it deserves. You will come away feeling refreshed and ready to move forward with your life and all of the tasks you need to face for the week ahead.

Make Sure You Eat a Healthy Diet: It’s not just the outside of your body that you need to worry about. You need to make sure you are taking care of the inside, too. And one of the easiest ways that you can do this is by making sure that you are consuming a healthy diet. Make sure you are consuming plenty of fruits and vegetables to help you maintain a healthy weight and avoid high fat and sugar foods. If you start eating a healthier diet, your body will definitely love you for it!

Finally, make sure you exercise regularly to keep the rest of your body machine in working order. Here’s to the best you possible thanks to a little self love!

Featured Image By: Flickr

Jan29

Hodge Podge Weekend Dinner

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Hodge Podge Weekend Dinner

Hey everyone and happy weekend! So yesterday I slaved away for the afternoon creating a hodge podge feast for dinner. We had a lot of odds and ends in the fridge and pantries that needed rid of so our meal consisted of a Minestrone soup compliments of our beloved Moosewood cookbook and then, I freestyled an avocado and black bean salad and a mozzarella ciabatta sandwich. Take a look at the finished products and then I will share my secret recipe for the avocado salad:

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In the fridge, I had a leftover avocado and lime from when I made guacamole last week. I wasn’t quite sure what to do with these, so I Googled avocado recipes to see if I could get some inspiration. I saw a recipe for an avocado and black bean salad but it looked incredibly lackluster, so I decided to just whip together something from my imagination and came up with the first picture seen above.

I was so pleased with the final result of my salad that, for once in my life, I actually wrote down how I made it so that I could share it with all of you. In my opinion, it looks like something that you could buy from the store and I was incredibly impressed with both its taste and overall appearance. This salad is perfect for eating plain, scooped up with tortilla chips, wrapped in a tortilla, or as a filling for fish tacos. Here is the recipe for my avocado and black bean salad creation:

  • 1/2 of a large avocado (if you go for a huge avocado like what was in my fridge, 1/2 is really all you need)
  • 1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1/3 cup cooked corn kernels (so happy to be rid of a leftover in my fridge!)
  • 1/2 of a tomato, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup red pepper, finely chopped
  • Juice from 1 lime
  • 6 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 2 tbsp fresh cilantro
  • A few shakes of Morton Kosher salt
  • A few shakes of cayenne pepper
  • Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Now, bear in mind that all of the above amounts are approximations and you can really add as much or as little of an ingredient as you want. Love tomato? Use the whole thing! Want it spicier? Add some chili powder and cumin. It’s totally up to you to personalize the salad and turn it into something that you and your whole family enjoys!

Interested in my recipe for mozzarella ciabatta sandwiches? Let me know in the comment section and I’ll publish that, too!

Overall, I am so happy with how my Hodge Podge Weekend Dinner turned out and the leftovers for days is definitely going to be nice! What dishes have you cooked or baked recently? Who is going to be making my avocado and black bean salad soon? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah