Tag Archives: conversations

How To Be The Life Of The Party

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How To Be The Life Of The Party

If you have ever stood in a crowded room wondering what you are going to say to other people who are holding drinks and shouting too loudly over the music, you are not alone. Many people often wonder how they can be the life and soul of the party. What is actually involved in taking on this role? How can you become that person, at least for one evening? Here is what to do:

You’ll want to start by bringing the right kind of energy to the party. You don’t necessarily need to kick the door down and tell everyone a joke that you’ve been thinking about all week. All it requires is going with an approachable demeanor, smiling a lot, and bringing people together. Often, the person who’s considered the life and soul of the party is the person who is “facilitating.” Try to make that person you.

We’ve all been there. You go to a party, and the person you’re talking to only wants to discuss their experiences and their life. It’s boring and dull. The good news, though, is that if you can stomach it, you can turn this around and master the art of active listening. The idea is to encourage the person you’re speaking to and to say the right things at the right time. You’ll notice that if you do this, the person will warm to you far more quickly, and you can potentially have a much more interesting conversation with them. When you really engage with them, they become friendlier and view you as a charismatic person.

Another thing you might want to do, depending on the crowd, is to learn the steps and do what other partygoers do. What this means, of course, depends on context. It could be bringing a tasty appetizer, being the resident mixologist, or putting together an awesome playlist. If you have an understanding of the general expectations of the party, then you are putting yourself in a very good position. For example, let’s say you’re going to a corporate party. Expectations there will be very different from a party you’re going to with your friends!

Don’t be one of those people at the party who tries to dominate every conversation. Instead, exercise your quiet power and then move swiftly when the situation calls for it. Being a great social presence is often about knowing when to step back and let others take the lead. You don’t necessarily have to be the literal life of the party if you don’t want to be. Try to read the room and gracefully exit when necessary.

Finally, it’s a good idea to become a connector when you want to make an impression. As mentioned earlier, if you can bring people together through shared common interests, then you’re the person everybody goes to because you’re someone that they can rely on.

Step up your party approach with these tips and have fun!!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Flower Child OOTD Bloopers

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Flower Child OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Flower Child OOTD! These pictures were taken during a charming little date day I had with Johnny and is, hands down, one of my favorite summer OOTDs yet. From head to toe, I felt fabulous in this fit and it had me thinking that maybe dressing for summer isn’t so bad after all. Momentarily, anyways! Although I was feeling my damn self, there were definitely some pics that didn’t match the superstar vibes lol. Let’s take a look:

Feeling AND looking like a pissed off soccer mom

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Out here trying my best to work the wind in the hair

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This face was absolutely in response to something or other Johnny said!

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Staring at you from across the room like

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I swear to high I’m not god

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Why I oughta

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99% of the time wind in the hair results in hair in the mouth

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Whenever Johnny and I are out and about, we often get stopped to chat it up with people. We both have very distinctive personal styles and it turns into an instant conversation starter. This is something that we really enjoy because we love meeting new people and it’s always nice to receive compliments too! As we concluded OOTD shots and were making our way back to our car, we were stopped in our tracks by the tiniest voice saying that she likes butterflies too. When we turned around, we saw a little girl with her dad and sisters who took a liking to my sunglasses.

For the better part of fifteen minutes, we made chit chat with the lovely family visiting the area from Columbus. Johnny and the dad were able to talk music while the sister squad and I talked up a storm. We chattered away about animals, birthdays, Taylor Swift, and fun places they might like to see during their trip. By the time our conversation was done, the admirer of my sunglasses invited me to her fifth birthday party and I almost cried lol. It was just SO sweet and if they weren’t in completely different cities I might have had to take her up on it!

The point of this story is to engage with and be kind to everyone you meet. This chat totally made mine and Johnny’s day and it all started with four simple words of “I like butterflies too”! ❤

What makes your day? What are your go to conversation starters? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Love To Read? Start A Book Club!

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Love To Read? Start A Book Club!

Hello! When I am not working, binging Criminal Minds, ice skating, or playing way too much Animal Crossing, I absolutely love to read. There is nothing better to me than cracking open a good book and reading “just one more chapter” for hours on end! While I don’t belong to an in person book club, I take a lot of pride in Lil Red’s Book Club on the ol’ blog and so enjoy sharing my latest reads with all of you.

If you and your friends are avid readers too, there is no better time to start a book club. The cold winter months means extra time at home and nothing says comfy cozy like curling up on the couch with a new book. It doesn’t take much to create a book club of your own and you can get started with these ideas:

Decide What To Read:

First and foremost, you have to decide what your book club will be reading and how these books are being chosen. Will each person take turns selecting a book? Will you be reading popular books from different genres? Or maybe going with authors in an alphabetical order? You could even make your book club exclusive to one genre like romance or true crime.

However you go about choosing your books, it is important that everyone agrees on it. If you are going the true crime or horror route, do screen the book ahead of time in case there is any subject matter that might be triggering to any of your club members.

How Often Are You Meeting?

Whether you’re meeting in person or virtually, make sure that you come up with a schedule and follow it. Should your members have a book finished in one month to discuss? Or, perhaps, they might read forty pages per week? Keep in mind that everyone’s schedules are different and you don’t want anyone to fall behind with their reading. It can be discouraging if one member is flying ahead in the book while everyone else is stuck on chapter three!

What Will You Talk About?

Some book clubs use an open discussion format when discussing their latest book while others might have a list of questions or topics that they want to talk about. Prior to hosting your book club session, come up with key talking points ahead of time to keep the conversation moving. Some books as well as author’s websites include book club questions which are all great starting points for inspiration.

Snacks & Drinks:

A five course meal is definitely not necessary for your book club meeting but some light snacks and drinks are a must. You could sample different teas, beers, wines, and finger foods popular in where the book is set. Or, you could have themed treats like button cookies if you read Coraline or endless supplies of chocolate if your club just finished Chocolat. If you are having virtual book club meetings, then fear not. You can leave treat bags at each member’s house.

Book clubs are an amazing way to bring fellow reading enthusiasts together for an evening of good company and conversation. Don’t forget that you can host movie nights too if the book you have read has been made into a movie! 😀

What is your favorite book turned movie? What is your book club currently reading? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah