Tag Archives: fun

Wow Factor: Three Daring Home Design Ideas That You Should Try

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Sometimes, it can be easy to let your home settle into feeling just a little bit plain. There’s nothing strictly “wrong” with it; it just seems sort of lifeless. As though the house just seems to fade into the background without having much personality of its own. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but sometimes you want to bring your home to life in a more vibrant way.

One of the biggest things that can cause a home to feel a bit bland is that everything about it feels rather safe. A home that’s exclusively filled with neutral colors or typical arrangements is going to do perfectly well but isn’t really going to wow anyone. If you want to create a little more excitement in your home then it’s time to start taking risks! Here are three daring design choices that you can implement into your home:

Contrasting Colors: Far too many people fall into the same trap of filling their homes with plain, neutral colors. Now this can sometimes be a great design choice. After all, it offers you a blank canvas to work from when you’re decorating. But if you’re not complimenting your color scheme with vibrant decorations, then you run the risk of everything looking boring and washed out.

Instead, why not create some real contrast in your rooms by using some bright colors. One of the best places to use colors like this in on your ceiling. Most people tend to ignore the ceiling and focus on the walls, but plain walls with a bright colored ceiling can create a wonderfully vibrant atmosphere without sacrificing the light quality in the room.

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So fun!

Go Industrial: This might not be for everyone, but there’s something to be said for peeling away the very neat and cozy interior of a lot of houses and bringing a slightly more industrial quality to your home. Plenty of places can benefit from the unique charm that something like exposed brickwork or concrete flooring can create. Concrete floors with a well-styled rug can create a room that has some serious visual interest from any angle. And if your home is well heated and insulated, then you’re not going to have to worry about losing any heat through the exposed brick. The contrast of the stark concrete or brick with the soft furnishings of your home will create a unique aesthetic that guests are sure to love.

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Patterns Are Your Friend: A lot of people tend to steer clear of patterns as a general rule. That’s because if you make the wrong choice of patterns, it can leave a room feeling cluttered and confusing. But, if you choose something bold and simple, thick horizontal stripes or simple tessellating shapes work wonders, then you’ll be amazed at just how much life you can bring into your home. It helps to give a room a sense of shape and focus and can help to influence the way that everything is arranged, both in terms of furniture and decoration.

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I want this room!!

Loft Unicorn Sweater

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Loft Unicorn Sweater

Heyyy everyone and happy Thursday! I feel like such a dummy because I forgot one of my absolute favorite presents that I received from my mom in the Best Of My Holiday Haul. My mom and I love shopping at Loft and in early December, the most darling sweater was featured in their holiday ads that we were thumbing through. It was a deep navy blue and had an outline of a unicorn stitched in the middle with baby blue thread. I expressed my love for it to my beloved mother and the sneaky devil must have ordered it shortly after! Take a look:

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So. Cute!

One thing that I really love are fun and unique sweaters. It is so easy to get lost in the blah of constant cable knit that one might simply forget that there is so much more in the world of sweaters. As one of my favorite 60 degrees and below weather staples, I am always on the lookout for new sweaters to add to my collection. I love fun colors, patterns, and pictures and I think that this unicorn stitched sweater is just perfect! Thank you so much for such an amazing gift, mom. I LOVE YOU!! ❤

Loft has more adorable animal sweaters in store and online but bear in mind that they run very large. The sweater pictured above is an extra small so it might be wise to size down so you’re not swimming in it!

My new Loft Unicorn Sweater is one of my favorites and I have already worn it twice since receiving it on Christmas! Who went to an ugly sweater party this year? What is one of your favorite sweaters in your wardrobe? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Post Christmas Shopping

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Post Christmas Shopping

Hi everyone and happy hump day! I hope all of you are having a fabulous week so far. The day after Christmas, my mom and I ventured to the mall to make some returns and do a little shopping. It was actually not as crazy as I expected it to be and thanks to some gift cards and holiday cash, I was able to add two fun new things to my wardrobe. Take a look and let’s discuss:

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The Haul:

  • Forever 21 cropped rainbow sweater
  • Loft velvet skinny jeans

F21 Sweater: I lucked out this Christmas and ended up getting some gift cards to Forever 21 which is easily one of my favorite stores. I think that this sweater is the cutest and it was only twenty dollars which, in my opinion, was a steal. My mom and I went shopping at just the right time because I snagged the only small that was left among a bunch of larges! GREAT SUCCESS. I am actually wearing my new sweater along with my velvet skinnies from Loft at this very moment and it looks adorable! Pictures will definitely be up some time this week so stay tuned! 🙂

Loft Jeans: First of all, Loft literally has the best skinny jeans that I have ever worn, so I was so happy to score another pair that was marked all the way down to twenty-seven bucks from seventy! Second of all, I have had a love/hate relationship with the velvet trend that has been so popular as of late. I love some of the velveteen pieces that I’ve seen but I hate that none of them speak to me on a personal level! But, black velvet skinnies are definitely something that I can do since you guys all know that black skinnies are all I wear. Not only is the fit of the Loft skinny jeans superb but the velvet adds a fun new texture to every outfit and I am loving them with my Forever 21 rainbow sweater! ❤

After a tiny post Christmas shopping haul, it’s now time to save my money and store away my Forever 21 gift cards until spring to add to my warm weather wardrobe. However, this is going to be SO HARD considering my email inbox is legitimately overflowing with sale notifications from all of my favorite stores! GET BEHIND ME, SATAN!!

So there you have it, my Post Christmas Shopping! Has anyone scored some amazing after holiday deals? Where is the best place to get the best price after the holiday season? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New Hot Pink & Black Nails

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New Hot Pink & Black Nails

Hiii everyone and TGIF! Yesterday, I had a little pampering party to get myself perfect for the holiday weekend. I got my nails filled in the morning and then spent the evening dyeing my hair to get it nice and bright red for Christmas. As always, my nail tech, Vinny, did an amazing job shaping and sharpening my nails. I opted for a color for the accent nail that I rarely pick but am actually loving right now. Hot pink! It is far from your classic, run of the mill highlighter hot pink but more like a bright fuchsia and I think it is so fun! Take a look:

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The color looks admittedly red in this picture because poor camera quality but you get the point! Normally, when I am picking an accent nail color, I go with red or shades like grey, beige, or white. This new accent nail color is definitely out of my comfort zone considering I don’t own one pink item in my wardrobe but I’m glad that I went for it! Small changes to your daily routine are always fun and the little things like a new nail polish color or lipstick can really set yourself up for having an amazing day. Make sure that you find time to TREAT YOSELF this holiday season!

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I hope everyone has a fab Friday and a great Christmas Eve Eve! What accent color should I pick next time I get my nails filled? What is your go to shade of nail polish? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Amazing DIY Projects You Need To Try Next Year

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Being able to make something out of practically nothing is pretty awesome isn’t it? There’s nothing more satisfying than starting out with just a few chunky pieces of wood and ending up with something super awesome to fill your home or garden with.

Furniture and decor these days is so stupidly expensive that it makes sense to do it yourself. Even the pieces that are supposed to look old and shabby cost a fortune these days, if not more, so why bother forking out all of those extra dollars when you can do it for a much cheaper price yourself?

DIY projects aren’t just great for the final result, either. You’ll have something to fill your time with, a new set of skills, and, of course, the patience of a saint afterwards. If you’ve got some spare time on your hands (or little to no spare cash), then try these DIY projects and kick start your new year in style.

  1. The Most Stylish Table Lamps You’ll Ever See: This one is actually amazingly cheap as well as super easy. If you have some spare wine glasses around the house and a few paper shades (if not, both of these items are easy to find and can literally be purchased for a few dollars), drop an LED tea light into the wineglass and cover it with a paper shade. These make the perfect dinner table lampshades that are both safe and stylish to use.
  1. A Side Table With Style: If you have some old window shutters in the garage that haven’t been used in years, then why not put them to good use? You’re clearly not going to use them for their original purpose again so, instead, make a table from them and have an amazingly quirky looking table in one of your rooms for little to no cost.

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  1. A Lick of Paint Never Did Anyone Any Harm: If you’ve opened a tin of paint recently and got all of your walls finished, then you don’t need to throw the leftovers in the bin. Paint is expensive these days so you don’t want to waste a drop! Use what’s left to freshen up the furniture around the house. Chairs, tables, display surfaces – whatever is looking a little downbeat, spruce it up in the simplest, cheapest, and easiest way possible.

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  1. A Little Woodwork Knowledge Goes a Long Way: If you’re not much of an expert where woodwork is concerned, then don’t worry because that doesn’t need to stop you from having great wooden furniture in your home. Simple projects like a stowaway bench will bring character to the kitchen or garden play area. For tips on what sort of equipment you’ll need to get the job done properly, check out Straight Kerfs’ homepage.
  1. Make Your Decor Pop With Mini Bursts of Color: If you find that your all white furniture leaves your home looking a little boring, then there’s no need to go out and spend a fortune on replacing it all. Simply cover the metal or wooden handles with patterned fabric swatches. You can mix or match and have your home looking far more colorful at the cost of just a few dollars.
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    Bring on the color for a fun new look!

How do you DIY? What is one DIY project that you’re really proud of? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Christmas Countdown Questionnaire

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Christmas Countdown Questionnaire

Hi everyone and happy Tuesday! I hope that all of you are having a wonderful start to your week. With Christmas being just around the corner in a whopping five days, I thought that it would be fun if we all answered some holiday season related questions and see how everyone is faring during this super festive time of year. Feel free to reblog this post and find out how your readers would answer these questions! You are also more than welcome to add questions of your own or change any of mine – I promise I won’t be offended! 😉

Holiday Q & A:

  1. What is on your holiday wish list this year?
  2. What is your favorite seasonal food or drink?
  3. Are you an early or late holiday shopper?
  4. On a scale of 1 to 10, how good of a gift wrapper are you?
  5. Best present you’ve ever received?
  6. How about the worst?
  7. Do you prefer shopping in store or online?
  8. What holiday are you celebrating this season?
  9. Who is the hardest person on your list to shop for?
  10. What is a gift that you would like this year but will never in a million years receive?

My Answers:

  1. My holiday wish list is usually the same every year – moolah and makeup! I love when I can get a full restock of my favorite beauty essentials on Christmas. It may seem kind of boring, but my beauty must haves are things that I use daily and run out of quickly so having a few extra on back stock is a godsend!
  2. I LOVE Christmas dinner, which is typically the same as Thanksgiving dinner! So stuffing, mashed potatoes, yams and all of the vegetarian side dishes are my faves. I don’t really have a favorite holiday drink but I do enjoy treating myself to a Peppermint Mocha from Starbucks at least once during the winter.
  3. I am a very early holiday shopper! I was done buying and wrapping presents by early December and I am so happy for it. Shopping any later would give me anxiety!
  4. I would say that I am a 4 when it comes to holiday gift wrapping. I start out strong but then by gift number three, I think that a toddler could wrap better than I can.
  5. Hmm…last year my mom got me a gorgeous new coat from Target that I had my eyes on for forever and I freaking love that thing so much.
  6. I can’t really think of the worst present that I have ever received – that’s what gift receipts are for!
  7. Online holiday shopping is a must for me. I honestly can’t remember the last time that I did a majority of my Christmas shopping at the mall or wherever. Almost all of my shopping was done on Amazon and it made all of my Christmas purchases a breeze.
  8. My family celebrates Christmas but as a nonbeliever, I am only there for the food and the presents!
  9. MY SISTER IS SO HARD TO SHOP FOR. You would think that she would be one of the easiest but that has never been the case. My sister is very specific when it comes to things that she does and doesn’t like. That’s why I usually have to opt for gift cards or booze for her!
  10. An all expenses paid trip to Europe, duh. 🙂

How would you answer some of the questions on my Christmas Countdown Questionnaire? How does your family ring in the holiday season? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Easy Peasy Parties: Don’t Miss The Fun With These Time Saving Tips

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Easy Peasy Parties: Don’t Miss The Fun With These Time Saving Tips

If there’s one thing that I love, it’s parties! They’re a great excuse to dress up, gather your friends together, and have a great time. But they’re also hard work. If you’re not careful, you could spend the whole evening in the kitchen preparing food and ensuring everyone’s needs are met. Follow our simple tips to enjoy your parties and still be the hostess with the mostess.

The Right Tools For The Job: Having the right tools for the job will make the process simpler and more efficient. So it follows that having the right kitchen appliances and accessories will make your preparations much smoother. Start with the basics like a good set of kitchen knives. Most food prep requires chopping of some description and the right knife will make your job much easier.

If you enjoy baking, possessing a professional food mixer will save on combining, rubbing in, whisking, etc. You’ll be whipping up Baking Show quality cakes in no time at all. An ice machine is also a godsend when it comes to parties and cocktail hour. Check out reviews such as the Manitowoc Ice Machine Review to find the best machine for your needs.

And finally, a dishwasher is indispensable and will pay for itself time and again in terms of the time you save. At the end of the party, you can stack the dishes, close the door, and switch it on. No more standing at the sink for hours clearing up.

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^ My kind of party!

Food: The food will depend on the type of party that you’re throwing. If it’s a casual affair, maybe chips, dips, and beers will be sufficient. If you’re throwing a dinner party, then that’s a whole different ball game. For anything in between, there are several nifty time-saving methods that you can employ.

  1. Suggest Everyone Brings A Dish: This will take a little organization. Otherwise, you’ll have thirty plates of cupcakes and no savory snacks. Get your friends together and decide who will bring which dish. Ensure that you have a good selection. This will free you up to spend time on your dress preparations, so you can emerge looking effortlessly stylish.
  1. Do A Buffet: Buffets are a great option when it comes to parties. The food is provided on a large table and everyone helps themselves. You can cater for lots of different tastes; just ensure that everything is correctly labeled. You don’t have to worry about trips in and out of the kitchen and ensuring everything is timed to perfection. You won’t even have to serve. Everyone can serve themselves while you get on with having fun. This is how my graduation party was set up and it worked perfectly! Just make sure that you provide for people with dietary restrictions and preferences like allergies or veganism!

For extra time-saving points, provide guests with paper plates and paper napkins. At the end of the night, go around with a plastic bag and toss the plates in the garbage. No washing up. Bonus! (In my opinion, this is a must!)

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  1. Provide a Drinks Table: Providing a drinks table where everyone can help themselves will ease the burden of constantly having to check that everyone’s glass is filled. Pop and water are a necessity but you could also provide the fixings for hot chocolate or a specialty cocktail for some mixing fun!

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Cheers!

Parties are fun and a great way to catch up with all of your friends. Don’t miss out on yours by spending it in the kitchen. Employ a few smart time-saving strategies and the party will run itself.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

The Perfect Festive Night In

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The Perfect Festive Night In

The countdown to Christmas is on, by the end of this week we’ll be tucking into a big dinner and ripping open the presents under the tree! But in the meantime, why not enjoy the run-up to Christmas? It’s that perfect time of year when everyone is truly in the festive spirit; chances are you’ve already broken up from work and have free time to relax and enjoy yourself. Here’s everything you need for a perfect, festive night in.

Make Your Surroundings Cozy: Whether it’s your comfy sofa with plenty of throws and pillows, or your bed with gorgeous, clean sheets make sure that you have everything situated for cold winter cuddles. If you want to really treat yourself you could buy a brand new set to use; Christmas bedding is a popular choice, or you could go with something luxurious like hotel bedding from Richard Haworth. Light some candles, turn on the heating, draw the curtains and create the perfect cozy environment to enjoy your evening.

Use Some Pampering Products: A pampering bath is the perfect way to begin your cozy night in. A soak in a hot bath with a luxurious bath oil, bath bomb, or bubbles will warm you up and have you feeling perfectly relaxed. You could use a face mask to treat your skin, and a hair mask to nourish your locks. You could paint your nails in a festive shade and use your most indulgent skin care to leave your skin feeling extra smooth and soft. We all have those products which we save for a special occasion, so why not make that now!

Change into Comfy Pajamas: Once you’re out of the bath, comfy pajamas are a must. You can buy pajama sets, dressing gowns, fluffy socks, and slippers all for relatively cheap, and they’re great for this time of year. You want pieces that are ultra soft and comfortable so you can properly lounge. I recommend TJMaxx for all of your pajama needs – that’s where I stocked up!

Prepare Some Festive Food and Drink: Enjoy some of the delicious festive snacks that you probably wouldn’t have during the rest of the year. Hot chocolate with all the trimmings, or a glass of mulled wine. Lots of chocolate and indulgences- Christmas isn’t a time to be counting calories! Allow yourself whatever you want, guilt free. The inevitable New Year’s detox is right around the corner so may as well enjoy it while you can!

Decide On a Few Things To Do: Do you have a box set that you’ve been dying to start, or a program you want to catch up on? Now is the time to put it on. You could scour Netflix for some Christmas films or download lots of books to your Kindle. You could listen to music, Skype a friend or family member, or even put on a meditation app and just relax. This is a great time to catch up on all of the fun things that you want to do on a regular day, but just don’t have the time for. Having time to sit around and do whatever you want gives your mind a much-needed break from work. When you eventually do go back in in January, you’ll be well rested and ready to go.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Turning Your Back Garden Into A Perfect Paradise In Five Easy Steps

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This time of the year, it’s hard to think about going outside too much. Your back garden starts to turn into a barren wasteland, with patchy, brown grass and a load of bushes and trees that are more stick than leaf as the winter gets into full swing. Looking out of your back window has never been more dismal! Luckily, there are some things that you can do to make it a little better during the first sightings of spring. Read on to find out more…

Add Evergreen Plants: If you’re going to add more plants to your back garden, it’s best to make them evergreen ones, so that you can appreciate them all year round. You could add daphne plants, which are known for the small, fragrant flowers that grow during the winter and spring. Or, you could try aucuba, a tough green shrub that will make it through the harshest winters. You could also add a lavender plant – not only is it attractive and fragrant, but it’ll also attract bumblebees throughout the summer.

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Pretty!

Grow A Vegetable Patch: If you start to grow your own vegetables and become more self sufficient, then no question about it, you will feel incredibly proud of yourself. Make sure that you do your research first so you can find out what fruits and vegetables grow at what time of year. If you’re really determined to produce your own food, then you could get a greenhouse to get yourself organized and grow a bountiful harvest for you and your family to enjoy.

Install A Deck: If you want to turn your back garden into a place where you can relax, then it’s important to install a deck. Invest in some treated timber from a reputable merchant like George Hill Builders Yard, and work with a garden designer to find the shape of the deck that’s right for you and your family’s needs. A deck will enable you to sit outside and eat together when the warmer weather comes around. Although it isn’t very environmentally friendly, a patio heater can always keep you warm out there in the winter while sipping hot chocolate with friends.

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Install A Water Feature: There’s very little that’s more peaceful than the gentle trickling of water. If you have the space in your back garden, why not add a small fountain or pond? Not only will it provide an area of peace and reflection, but it will also encourage a wider variety of creatures to take up residence in your back garden. Bear in mind that it doesn’t have to be a huge feature that takes over the space. A small fountain or even a bird bath will be just as effective!

Add A Bird Feeder: One of the small joys in life is looking out of your kitchen window at the birds in your back garden (I do this frequently!) – so you should install a bird feeder full of seed where you can see it. Buy a bird book so that you can identify different breeds of birds and figure out which ones will come to visit the feeder the most depending on where you live.

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So cute! 🙂

Graduation Pictures!

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Graduation Pictures!

Hi everyone and TGIF!! Yesterday was my big day – I graduated from college!! If you don’t already know, I just got my Associate of Arts degree from Cuyahoga Community College. The graduation ceremony was last night and it was great! It was barely over an hour, too, which was especially nice because I much prefer short and sweet over something long and drawn out. My (almost) entire family came out to watch me strut across the stage but unfortunately my dad was really sick and couldn’t make it. Luckily, there are some great pictures and videos to show him, including some of these:

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Walking across the stage to shake hands, kiss some babies, and get my diploma was freaking awesome. AND I was magna cum laude or however you spell it so that’s pretty cool, too! There will definitely be more pictures to come from the ceremony because they had a professional photographer taking pictures and I know he snapped some good ones!

Now, I have my graduation party to look forward to tomorrow! In the afternoon I will have an open house style get together at my home for my family, Special Olympics students, and some former teachers. Then, in the evening my friends and I will go to my favorite bar, the Cashmere Cricket, for some drinks and some good old fashioned white girl wasted tom foolery. I CAN’T WAIT!! I haven’t had a day dedicated just for me in a long time so it is going to be a lot of fun to bask in the glory of being a genius college graduate for the day!

I hope everyone has an amazing weekend and a fabulous day today! How did you celebrate your high school or college graduation? What drink(s) should I get tomorrow night to celebrate? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah