Tag Archives: adventure

Sep1

Our Two Year Anniversary!

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Our Two Year Anniversary!

Hello!!! Today is a special, happy day because it is mine and Johnny’s two year anniversary of couplehood! We are also fast approaching three months of being married. 🙂 Two years ago today, Johnny and I made our relationship “Facebook official” and we have been together almost every day since. It has been the best adventure of my life and every day I am excited for what is in store for us next. In these next few weeks, I predict it will be lots of LEGO building thanks to our anniversary gifts! 😀

Now, let’s go down memory lane with some of my favorite pictures of us:

^^^ I could go on forever!

Although Johnny and I agree that being married doesn’t feel any different than our relationship felt before, we both freaking love being married! We truly have never left the “honeymoon phase” from when we first started dating and it makes each moment spent with him special. In fact, I still get butterflies whenever I see him and it is the best thing to come home to him every day after work.

While I love our date days more than I can say, my favorite times are spent in our apartment enjoying each other’s company. There is nothing better than sitting down with him after cooking dinner, tuning into our “programs”, and spending the evening talking and laughing. And, believe you me, we never are hurting for things to laugh about because we could bring up a quote from a show that we watched when we first started dating and are instantly in stitches… Much to everyone else’s annoyance! 😀

Being married to Johnny makes every day a good one and I never take that for granted. It always feels like a sunshiney day with him no matter what weather Ohio serves to us in the given hour lol! Here’s to our permanent honeymoon phase and a lifetime of happiness. ❤

Are you celebrating anything special this month? What are you looking forward to? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug25

D-Day Reenactment Adventure

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D-Day Reenactment Adventure

Hi! This past weekend, Johnny and I had a road trip to Conneaut, Ohio where we saw a reenactment of D-Day. My husband is a history buff and is constantly teaching me new things from the many books he has read, documentaries he has watched, and podcasts he has listened to. World War II is his favorite thing to learn about so when I found out about this reenactment so close to home, I knew we had to go because he has never been to anything like it but has always wanted to. Check out some pics from our adventure:

Our day spent in Conneaut was an absolute thrill and it was so much fun to see Johnny in his element! It was amazing to see him chatting it up with all of the volunteers, actors, and veterans and every time I looked at him he was grinning from ear to ear. While the “big show” of the D-Day reenactment was spectacular, seeing how much Johnny was enjoying himself was my favorite part of the whole thing. ❤

The morning of our outing started out with a bang when we saw a reenactment of The Battle for La Fiere and that was insanely cool! We definitely both jumped out of our skin when the first shots were fired lol. From there, it was a whirlwind of tank and mortar firings, weapon demonstrations, SAS trainings, and camp shows. I was most partial to The Battle for La Fiere reenactment and we both loved the mortar demonstration!

While there was plenty in the schedule that we did to fill up time until the D-Day reenactment at three, we both enjoyed walking around the different areas representing Germany, France, and England and taking in all of the sights. It was also a lot of fun to browse through all of the different vendors and eat fair food and drink hella fresh squeezed lemonade. Johnny walked away with lots of souvenirs that are now proudly displayed on our knick knack shelf.

The actual D-Day reenactment was so well done and, although our view wasn’t the best, it was still really special to see. The coolest part had to have been seeing the P51 Mustangs and the C47 Transport planes flying around the beach as well as watching the boats come up onto the sand with more and more soldiers. From the sounds and the smoke to the tanks and guns firing, it was an astounding display and we can’t wait to go back next year.

Thanks to some tips from other viewers, we learned about more reenactments in our area and I just know it will become a regular thing for us to do. We thank all of our veterans and those who lost their lives from the bottoms of our hearts for their amazing service and bravery.

Have you ever been to a war reenactment before? What was it like? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug13

4 Advantages Of Hiking With Your Dog

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4 Advantages Of Hiking With Your Dog

Hiking does not have to just be a human pursuit; it can be undertaken with a dog too! Why not combine your exercise with theirs? It will be time-saving, your dog will love it, and will save you money on paying to keep them fit in other ways that will keep you inside rather than enjoying the outdoors. So, let us consider the advantages of Hiking with dogs:

Cure for Dog Boredom:

Hiking is a good way to cure dog boredom. If they are not kept occupied, then dogs have been known to develop some rather destructive habits around the home. Owners must keep dogs both physically and mentally stimulated to avoid things being chewed and destroyed. Longer walks, such as hikes, are likely to be the solution that you have been looking for to this problem.

Extra Exercise for Both:

We could all benefit from more exercise than a couple of dog walks a day. Although all exercise is good for us, these are hardly going to keep us at peak fitness levels. So, why not make the walks longer and consider going on a hike with your dog? It will be both stimulating and healthy.

Dogs make excellent hiking or trail partners when it comes to exploring new places, and there are many breeds of dogs that are the perfect choice when it comes to extended exercise. These include Alaskan Malamute, Australian Cattle Dog, Australian Shepherd, Bernese Mountain Dog, German Shorthaired Pointer, Portuguese Water Dog, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Siberian Husky, Vizsla, and the Weimaraner.

Don’t worry if your breed of dog is not on this list because they should still love hiking. You can take them on longer runs to test out their endurance levels, while always being aware that you have to get home again and some breeds are likely to be too heavy to carry!

Boost a Dog’s Enthusiasm for the Outdoors:

Although the majority of dogs will enjoy the outdoors and their walks, there will be dogs that would seem to prefer to stay inside and sleep, even on a nice day. This will require some motivation on your part as most dog owners seek out a dog to take it on walks as much as for the company it provides.

Dogs may fear a walk if they have come across another dog that has been nasty to them or one that they simply do not like. So, if you can take them out in the car to their walk, then this may provide a more enjoyable experience and hopefully wean them back into walking as they did on the streets before they were spooked. Making a walk as enjoyable as possible will boost their enthusiasm. A hiking trail with lots of new sights and scents should do the trick.

Minimal Expense:

It costs nothing to walk and involves minimal expense commuting to a nearby spot to hike. We can rule out the cost of gym membership and, at the same time, exercise ourselves and our dog for virtually nothing in comparison. We might buy some hiking equipment to enhance, protect, and provide for a better hiking experience for us and our dog, but this can be used time and time again. Every time we enjoy hiking together, we can make use of our purchases of hiking accessories.

In terms of the hiking equipment you might need to purchase for your dog, you should consider a harness to provide more comfort and support when you are walking your dog on a lead. A collapsible bowl will be inexpensive yet take up less space in your rucksack. Most importantly, make sure that your dog has an ID tag in case they should stray from you.

Just like us, dogs can get bored! This can be rectified by exploring hiking trails in your area together for a fun new way to exercise.

May7

The Best Day!

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The Best Day!

Hi! Although Johnny and I had a rough bout with side effects from the Moderna vaccine this past weekend, it was still a great one because my brother, sister in law, and their son traveled from Georgia for a visit. My family is fully vaccinated and it was such an amazing gift for all of us to be together for the first time since our family trip to Kentucky last summer. When my nausea subsided enough on Saturday, Johnny and I enjoyed a quick trip to the park with our nephew and it was so fun watching him run around and play. However, Sunday was the best day I have had in forever.

On Sunday, my entire family: Mom, dad, sister, brother, brother, brother in law, sister in law, niece, nephew, and fiance went to the Akron Zoo together. To visit the zoo according to their COVID standards, you purchase tickets for a time slot and a limited amount of people are allowed in the park. We got to view the Akron Zoo on a beautiful day and it wasn’t as crowded, which was really nice.

Of course, I love going to the zoo any time any day but it was the absolute best to be there with my whole family and see my little niece and nephew have fun. They both loved riding the carousal, seeing the Grizzly bears swim around in their exhibit, and each getting a stuffed bear from their TT at the gift shop. My only regret is how quickly our two hour time slot went by because I could have stayed there for hours with everyone if we could!

After our outing at the zoo, we had dinner on the patio of one of my family’s favorite Mexican restaurants, El Campesino. This was such a treat for me because Johnny and I haven’t been to a restaurant since the pandemic began. It was so special to share a big meal with every single one of us at the table and it was also so special to me to have my first Margarita in over a year lol! The food was delicious and just like our trip to the zoo, I was sad when it was over because I wish we could do family days like that all of the time.

Being surrounded by all of my loved ones on Sunday is a memory that I am going to cherish for forever. It was just awesome to see my brother, his wife, and my adorable nephew for the first time in so long and also a small miracle that we found a day that worked with everyone’s hectic schedule. I cannot wait for our next family event which can now happen more frequently since we are vaccinated and, until then, I’ll be replaying our joyous day on repeat in my head! ❤

What is your family’s favorite restaurant? What is your favorite family memory? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan20

Lil Red’s Book Club: Miss Benson’s Beetle By Rachel Joyce Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Miss Benson’s Beetle By Rachel Joyce Edition

Hi everyone and welcome to a new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! Today, we are going to be discussing the newest book by Rachel Joyce called Miss Benson’s Beetle. I am a huge fan of Rachel Joyce, as she authored one of my favorite books, The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry, so I was very excited to read Miss Benson’s Beetle. Like Harold Fry, it was nothing short of delightful and told the tale of an unlikely duo going on a big adventure. So, without giving any spoilers away, let’s discuss:

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Marjory Benson is a homely woman living in 1950s Britain with a large stature, no remaining family, or any meaningful relationships. She is a teacher of domestic sciences and, more often than not, is the subject of cruel jokes from her students. One day, after a particularly nasty cartoon rendition of her was passed throughout her class, she had enough and marched (Rather, limped) right out of the school. It was a “straw that broke the camel’s back” moment and she was ready for an adventure.

As a child and young adult, Marjory had a fascination with collecting beetles, which sprang from looking through a book of undiscovered creatures with her father. This book included the Golden Beetle that is supposedly found in New Caledonia and it has never left the back of her mind since. Now unemployed, Marjory decides that this is her time to travel across the world, find the beetle, and name it after her father.

Of course, this will be no easy feat and Marjory decided that she needed an assistant to accompany her on her search. Her interviews with potential candidates left a lot to be desired and, in the end, Marjory was stuck with the last option she wanted to go with – a young, flashy woman by the name of Enid Pretty. Enid is everything that Marjory isn’t. She’s talkative, outgoing, fashion forward, and an instant annoyance to Marjory. Despite their differences, Marjory needs an assistant and Enid joins her on the extensive traveling from Britain all the way to the Pacific island of New Caledonia.

Little does Marjory know, her assistant is bringing a lot of baggage along with her and I’m not talking about the traveling kind. Well, that too, actually, considering Enid brought countless suitcases with her! Enid is a woman on the run and a trip across the world is her perfect getaway. Later, in their journey, Enid is named one of Britain’s Most Wanted Criminals with Marjory wanted for association. Can the women continue to evade the law, find the beetle, and salvage some form of friendship? Read Miss Benson’s Beetle and find out!

It has been a long while since I read a book that I would consider “light” as I am drawn to mysteries and psychological thrillers and Miss Benson’s Beetle was like a breath of fresh air. It was such fun to join the odd couple of Marjory and Enid on their adventure and I felt eager to read it every day. From their travels on boats, trains, and a stolen Jeep to them trekking through the New Caledonia rain forests for an undiscovered beetle, I felt like I was with them every step of the way. I laughed when Enid said something silly, cried for their hardships, and felt my heart pounding every time they came in contact with the police.

I loved this book because, at the end of the day, it was a testament to the power of friendship no matter how unlikely. It also gave Marjory Benson, a woman who spent her life wishing she was invisible, a chance in the spotlight. All she needed was the help of Enid to coax her shine out of her. Watching Marjory transform into a confident woman while Enid matured through Marjory’s guidance was a joy. I was rooting for their success the whole time and I just know that you will too.

Miss Benson’s Beetle was one of the best feel good books I’ve read in years and I can’t recommend it enough. I am going to rate it with the prestigious ten out of ten stars for brilliant characters, a unique story line, and the wonderfully descriptive writing of Rachel Joyce. I enjoyed it so much that I wouldn’t mind reading it again and I literally just finished it!

What are you currently reading? Which book should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct15

It’s A Walk In The Park

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It’s A Walk In The Park

Hello! A super nice thing about October other than all Halloween everything is that Johnny has every Friday off. I, on the other hand, always have Fridays off so it has been really fun having an extra day to spend with him on our weekends. Although we are always okay with staying at home with our video games and streaming services, we decided to have a little field trip this past Friday.

Johnny and I loaded into his mini van and went for a drive through the Cuyahoga Valley. We admired the changing leaves while enjoying the pleasant temperatures of an autumn day, all set to the tunes of Dire Straits which Johnny deemed appropriate driving music. Sadly, he passed on my offer to play some Cardi B but that’s neither here nor there.

Regardless of what our soundtrack was, it was exciting to be doing something with my boyfriend other than sitting in the apartment. He had just gotten his hair done and looked SO fine and driving around and talking and laughing had me falling in love all over again. :*)

We stopped off at one of the hiking trails before heading home and took an excursion around Indigo Lake. We explored train tracks and Johnny proved to be an excellent stone skipper. I proved to be… Anyways, it was a hoot. To be out in the public of nature together was refreshing for both of us because we don’t venture out often now, as safety is our primary concern.

Johnny and I were both kitted out in our fall Sunday’s Best but, as always, it was back in our comfy clothes as soon as we returned home. We settled in for an evening of weird comedies like Tim & Eric’s Bedtime Stories and The Mighty Boosh and it was a great day. ❤

If you’re feeling cooped up from being at home a lot now, don’t discount the benefits of spending some time outdoors. I think you’ll be glad you did. 🙂

How do you safely go out right now? Where is your favorite place to go hiking? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar25

Lil Red’s Adventures In Microblading: My Touch Up Appointment

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Lil Red’s Adventures In Microblading: My Touch Up Appointment

Helloooo! At the end of February, I took a trip to Pittsburgh to hang out with my fabulous cousin, Laura. She is seriously the coolest person on the planet and she is an absolute microblading genius. Laura microbladed my eyebrows in October and I was finally able to go see her after a few months apart compliments of my surgery. During my visit, Laura touched up my eyebrows and gave me some adorable bling for my teeth. Check it out:

lmbcgems

Laura is the owner of La Marie Brow Club in Lawrenceville, PA and is an esteemed makeup artist. I’m not going to lie, I was ambivalent at first to get microbladed, but I knew that I would be in the best hands with her and was obsessed after my initial appointment. A touch up was definitely needed, though, and I was so happy to finally get it done!

Similar to a touch up session for a tattoo, Laura went over the hair strokes on my eyebrows that might not have taken as well. She also used a darker pigment because I wanted a more bold look after dipping my toes in the water the first time. The nice thing about being microbladed, is that Laura numbs the area before she gets to work, but it did hurt a little more this time around than the first. However, I am also super comfortable with her which, in her words, makes me “squirmier than the average bear”. Lololol.

I am so in love with how my brows look after the touch up session. My first time being microbladed in October really set the ground work for what my brows look like now. And, during the touch up, it all comes together to create a bold but still natural looking brow, which was important to me. Laura listened to what I wanted and executed it perfectly. I feel like these are the eyebrows that I should have had my whole life and never having to apply brow makeup is the best thing ever.

Laura created eyebrows that were just for me and her studio was a safe, clean, and welcoming environment. She also explains the aftercare instructions thoroughly and provides you with her custom made Brow Love to apply after you’ve been microbladed. And, the fun didn’t stop there, because after my touch up, she put my tooth gems on for me which are the cutest. 😀

La Marie Brow Club also offers upper lash line enhancement, freckles, beauty marks, and lip blush for all of your permanent makeup needs. I cannot recommend their services enough so, if you’re in the area, schedule an appointment ASAP!

Would you ever get microbladed? How about any other forms of permanent makeup? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec17

Cute & Romantic Ideas For Celebrating Your Anniversary

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Cute & Romantic Ideas For Celebrating Your Anniversary

Whether it’s the anniversary of your first date, when your relationship began, or your wedding anniversary, it’s always nice to celebrate and mark the occasion, isn’t it? Of course, knowing how to celebrate in a romantic way isn’t always easy. However, if you’re smart about what you plan, you can organize the most amazing day ever for you and your partner. In need of some inspiration? Have a read of the tips and ideas below for marking your anniversary in the most best way:

Start the day right with breakfast in bed:

Treating your partner to breakfast in bed? Get creative and treat them to the perfect dish. You could opt to make a traditional breakfast, such as a fry up a sausage or bacon sandwich. Or, how about trying something a little different.

One way to do this is to cut the toast into hearts or you could even do pancakes and waffles in heart shapes with your partner’s favorite toppings. You can buy heart-shaped pancake pans and waffle irons or silicone molds to use to create these cute shaped breakfasts. You can also buy egg shapers for heart-shaped fried eggs to add a little extra sweetness to their favorite eggs on toast combo.

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Yum!

Find that perfect card:

When finding a card for your partner, it doesn’t just have to be a standard happy anniversary card. You could try and find a card that represents your relationship with a picture or a joke that you can laugh about together.

If you are struggling to find one, then you could look to order it online on websites like Moonpig or Funky Pigeon where you can personalize the card with pictures of your relationship or something that represents your relationship. What’s great about these services, is the fact that you can also choose to have this sent to you blank so you can fill it in by hand which is more personal, or if you would prefer, you can just type your message in via the website.

Pick an amazing gift:

Choosing gifts for your partner can be difficult, so it is always best to think about what your partner likes and what their interests are, so that you can get an idea of the perfect present. During the time that you are together before your anniversary, look at the sort of things that they tend to treat themselves to or talk about wanting to have and try to keep a mental note of this, so you know what sort of things you need to look out for. For example, these hearts on fire diamonds at Dipples could be the perfect gift for a girl who considers diamonds to be her best friend!

You could also take inspiration from the internet. Places like Pinterest are great for gift ideas as you can search a general category and different boards that have been created will come up giving you all sorts of ideas and indications of what your partner may be into. If you have a general idea of what your partner likes, then searching the internet could be the inspiration you need. You can search for things like ‘gifts for music lovers’ or ‘gifts for fashion junkies’ which will give you plenty of options to choose from.

Plan an incredible day:

When it comes to the actual day itself, it is a day for both of you so you can book a surprise trip for your anniversary and give it early so that you have a lovely time away with your partner or it can be something you plan together. Some couples like to just have a nice day in watching movies, cooking, and enjoying each other’s company. This is fine, but if you know your partner would love to go out somewhere, then there are a lot of things you can consider planning. When planning the day, think if there is anywhere they have always wanted to go or mentioned they enjoyed previously, or pick somewhere that is special to the both of you and your relationship.

If you really want to go all out, you could plan an incredible getaway. If you are visiting beautiful Hawaii, Kauai Farm Tours could be the spot for a romantic dinner. You could do a tour of museums in a new state. How about a stop at some local breweries or wineries? Or, perhaps, a “best of” tour of your favorite food at your vacation destination – burgers in London, anyone? Whatever and wherever you choose, it will be an anniversary for the ages!

sunshine coast couples retreat

Have a lovely evening:

After an exciting day out, the fun doesn’t have to end there. You can also plan to have a relaxing evening in together. When you get back, you could go out for a meal and drinks or go out to go bowling or to watch a movie. If you have had a long day and fancy an evening in, you can spend it watching a film with a takeaway meal and a drink or you could cook a delicious dish together.

Planning an anniversary can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. With these hints and tips, you can have an amazing time with your partner, celebrating your relationship.

Nov28

Fulfilling Career Ideas For The Adventurous

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Fulfilling Career Ideas For The Adventurous

Working at a desk from 9-5 each day is the ideal for some. And, for others, they might be looking for something with more adventure. They do not just want to spend all day in the same place, doing the same work, and looking forward to a two-week vacation where they can let their hair down. They want their life to be like one long vacation and there are some jobs that can achieve that sense of freedom:

Deep Sea Diving:

Exploring the depths of the oceans is not the ideal career for everyone. Physically and mentally you need to be in great condition and be a first-class swimmer. You need to be able to stay calm when faced with sudden danger, too. There are various opportunities for deep-sea divers to work, but you do need the right certification for the job you want to do. Because it is so specialized there are usually jobs available in many industries, including film making, scientific research, forensic and law work, archaeology, and recreational dives.

Pilot:

Regardless of whether they are flying a private jet or working for one of the airlines, pilots get to see the world without having to pay for their travel. In fact, they get paid to fly all over the globe. As with many of the more adventurous jobs, training is needed. This usually starts with the private pilot certificate, then it depends on what type of flying you want to do to decide where to progress from there. Whichever direction you go in, you will be going places. Who knows? Maybe you will even be flying a jet for Jettly or a plane for a major airline!

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Pixabay Image

Adventure Guide:

Do you want to experience the thrill of an adventure every day? This job may be the one for you. As you introduce other people to activities such as kayaking, zip lining, snorkeling, scuba diving, rock climbing, water rafting, or maybe skydiving, you can enjoy the adventure with them. No two trips will ever be the same because people are different, and that will keep variety in the job.

You do have to be trained to do all of the activities and have certification that you know how to keep your charges safe. You will also have to be trained in first aid and how to handle emergency situations.

Marine Biologist:

   
This is the study of life in the oceans. Pollution and climate change are affecting the seas and as this happens marine life is also changing. A marine biologist studies these changes and works to find solutions to the problems. You could be working out at sea or researching samples in a laboratory. You could also be involved in building marine reserves or mapping the movement of different species. The variety of jobs for a marine biologist is huge.

There is no end to the jobs that involve some sort of adventure. You could be a mountain climber, a wild land firefighter, a park ranger, a crab fisherman in Alaska, or maybe a wildlife photographer. They will all provide a rush that adrenaline junkies need while at the same time earning you a living.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Nov17

Living Microbladed

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Living Microbladed

Helloooo everyone and welcome to one of two follow up posts from Lil Red’s Adventures In Microblading! As you all know, I visited La Marie Brow Club in Pittsburgh in October to have my brows finessed by my cousin, Laura. And, now that my makeup routine has been literally cut back seventy-five percent and I never have to buy an eyebrow pencil again, I simply cannot believe that I didn’t have Laura do my brows when she began her business last year. Take a look at my result pics and let’s discuss:

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Living Microbladed is the best thing that ever could have happened to my face, lol. Seriously, the time that is saved from having perfect brows is second to none. I can sleep in longer or I can get up at my normal time and finish an extraordinary amount of work on my blog before I leave for work because I’m not wasting my time trying to get both eyebrows to look exactly the same with makeup.

My new eyebrows make me feel SO freaking confident. They frame my face in a way that my natural brows never could, with or without makeup, and they make my eyes pop, pop, pop! Even my boyfriend thinks that they make me look “more sophisticated” and I totally agree – I love it!

Laura is going to touch my brows up in mid December and during this session she is going to add any extra hair strokes that she might have missed. I am also going to have her darken them to the color that they were when I first got them done. The color that Laura chose is perfect because it’s the exact same color as the pencil that I was using. But, now that they have lightened to that color, I now know that I prefer them to be a bit darker. I’m excited! 😀

I cannot wait to visit La Marie Brow Club again in December and do be sure to check out my last blog post on my adventures and schedule your appointment with Laura today!

Would you ever get microbladed? What is your eyebrow makeup routine? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah