Tag Archives: new

Green With Envy Japna Top

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Green With Envy Japna Top

Hi everyone and happy weekend! After shopping beauty during my last TJMaxx haul, it was all about trying to find a pretty new top to wear for Fourth Of July festivities. Out of the buttload of looks that I tried on, I finally settled on this gorgeous deep green peek a boo top by Japna. Take a look:

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I. Freaking. LOVE this little number. From the forest green color and the black and white vertical stripes to the flutter sleeves and peek a boo back – this top is totally perfect. And, how cute is the above the booty bow that tightens and loosens the shirt? The answer is: VERY. 😀

Fifty shades of green is my absolute favorite color to wear. It looks amazing with my pale skin and red hair and it definitely is one of my go to colors that isn’t black. I also am a huge fan of the little skin surprise on the back to show off all of my tattoos. The flutter sleeves add a touch of sweet to the sex appeal of this crop top and the overall look is very flattering. And, you can’t beat a thirteen dollar price tag!

What is your favorite color to wear? How would you style this top? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Five Ways To Learn When On The Go

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Five Ways To Learn When On The Go

Knowledge is power, as they say, yet judging by how people spend their time, you wouldn’t necessarily know it. We spend the best part of our first two decades on earth getting educated, and then, we simply stop. On the one hand, it’s understandable: we’ve learned the essentials during our formal schooling, and now it’s time to enjoy other things in life. But on the other, education is always worth pursuing. There’s much to know that they would never have taught you in school! But we know time is in short supply. That’s why we’ve put together some ways to learn while you’re on the move. On the commute, when you’re jogging – there’s always time to learn something new.

Put the Phone Down:

You’re sitting on the bus. You’re at a cafe, or the bar, waiting for your friend to arrive. Wherever you are, the temptation these days is to pull out your smartphone and start scrolling. But what are you missing out on when your mind is in a digital space? Education about the real world! There’s much to learn just by keeping our phones in our pocket and looking around every once and awhile. It’s a good chance to think big.

The Best Minds:

You might be a smart person, but you don’t know everything. As such, there’s much you can learn by listening to talks from some of the world’s best minds, past and present. There are plenty of inspirational talks on YouTube, which you can then convert to MP3 by using Convert Video. The next time you’re traveling from A to B, you’ll be able to fire up some inspiring words of wisdom and learn something new just as you’re going about your business.

Tune into the Radio:

It’s a good idea to learn about things which interest you, but it’s also good to learn about new things, too, things that you’ve never heard of before. Practically everything is interesting if you go deep into it enough! When you’re in your car, look at firing up talk radio, such as NPR. They usually talk about issues that you won’t hear about anywhere else, or things that you’ve never heard about before. In the process, you’ll be broadening your knowledge base, and may just pick up a new passion. Nice!

Carry a Book Around:

Are you always carrying a backpack or handbag around? Then keep a book in there. You’ll be surprised by just how many minutes of downtime you have during the day. These minutes present you with the chance to get your book out, get to reading, and learn something new. You’ll also significantly increase the number of books you read each year, too.

Strike up a Conversation:

Everyone’s smart in their own way. Next time you’re by yourself and have some downtime (or you’re on a plane), strike up a conversation with a stranger. They will always tell you something that you didn’t know before, and you can tell them something new, too. Plus, they might become a friend!

Continuing your education after school can be about street smarts, too. So try and learn something new the next time you’re on the move!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Bath Bomb Blitz: Lush’s Over & Over Edition

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Bath Bomb Blitz: Lush’s Over & Over Edition

Hello! This past weekend, I finally got to enjoy a nice, long soak in the tub with one of the bath bombs from Lush that I received for my birthday. I was feeling so worn out, so I decided to go with the Over & Over bath bomb, because of its bright yellow and orange color to see if it might help energize me. And, after watching it take off in different directions in my tub like a little rocket, it surely did! Take a look:

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This is so bad, but my first thought when this bath bomb hit the water was “great, it’s going to look like a tub full of pee”, because of the initial pale yellow color. But, shortly after, I was proven wrong, because the pink coloring from inside the bomb began fizzing out in full force. So much so, that it literally made the bomb whiz off in the opposite direction of the tub like a shooting star. It. Was. Awesome.

From then on, the bomb began fizzing its vivid yellows, oranges, and hot pinks for a solid ten minutes, all the while it was filling my bathroom with a scent that was like freshly squeezed pink lemonade. The swirling colors left the final shade of the water a really pretty sunset orange and it felt like laying in a bubble of sunshine once I finally got into the tub.

Not only was the bath bomb display gorgeous but, because it’s made with cocoa butter (My favorite!), it left my skin feeling so hydrated and good – especially after shaving the Woolly Mammoth legs! 10/10 would use this bomb Over & Over again!

What is your favorite bath bomb from Lush? What is your favorite non bath bomb product from there? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New Pixi Eyeliner

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New Pixi Eyeliner

Hello everyone and happy Monday! My mom is a big fan of Pixi cosmetics and always scores super awesome deals when shopping their products online. She always manages to get some type of freebie or percentage off of her order, making the purchasing of a more expensive makeup line totally worthwhile. During her last online haul, my mom got two mini eyeliners for free, and bequeathed the black one onto me since she wouldn’t use it. Take a look:

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I have to say, this Endless Silky Liner by Pixi offers the smoothest application that I’ve experienced from any drugstore brand. Although I use similar eyeliners to this one, you can definitely tell that they are a pencil. Not the case with this one. The liner itself feels so creamy and the color is so pure and I can kind of see why people would spend about fourteen dollars for a full sized one of these.

Would I ever venture into purchasing from the Pixi brand after I finish this eyeliner? Maybe if it was a really amazing deal. But, I’m okay with sticking to my CoverGirl eyeliner for now! 🙂

What brand of eyeliner do you use? Do you use a liquid liner or a pencil? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New Black & Lavender Glitter Nails

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New Black & Lavender Glitter Nails

Hi! Last week was such a treat for me, because I got to be pampered two days in a row. I finally was able to squeeze time in for a much needed haircut AND, the following day, I got a much needed fill for my talons. Needless to say, I’m really feeling myself. I even decided to throw some glitter like confetti on my claws for something a little different. Maybe it’s the new haircut confidence?! Check it out:

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Although I will always love my plain black nails and accent nail, I have to admit, this starry night style glitter is a lot of fun. I would even go as far to say that I’m obsessed! This tiny change was so exciting for me that now I’m considering going the matte route on my next fill for something edgy and cool.

It’s amazing what a confidence boost that a good haircut can give you, and I really think that it had something to do with my decision to switch things up a bit. And, even though change is scary for me, I’m not complaining in the slightest! 😀

What color of polish do you have on your nails or toes? What color should I get my accent nail on my next fill? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Tiny Target Haul

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Tiny Target Haul

Heyyyy! This past week, Target was having a wonderful promotion where you got a five dollar gift card if you bought twenty dollars in self care products including makeup, shaving, skin, hair, and oral care. My mom and I decided to split the lot since she needed to restock on tooth paste and mouth wash and I wound up with these new skin care products:

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Although makeup shopping is fun, I live for skin care and trying out new products. I love the St. Ives scrubs more than life itself, and when I saw their newest Coconut & Coffee scrub, I was eager to give it a try. It smells amazing and, according to the container, it offers a deep clean which is exactly what I want when I use a facial scrub. I cannot wait to use this once I finish up the cleansing products that I’m currently using – but, I’m so excited that I might have to try it now!

I also ended up with a bottle of Garnier’s Micellar Cleansing Water, which came with a mini foaming gel cleanser for free. I am finishing up a bottle of Simple’s cleansing water at the moment and I’m not too impressed by it, but my sister loves the Garnier Micellar Water so I decided to go for it. It definitely didn’t hurt that they offered a freebie along with it, either! Regardless of not being blown away by micellar water in general, it’s a lot cheaper than eye makeup remover, so I’m a fan in that regard, for sure.

Has anyone used either of the products above that I purchased? What are your thoughts on them? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

10 Ideas To Kick-Start Your Business For Summer

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10 Ideas To Kick-Start Your Business For Summer

If you’re someone that tends to notice a bit of a change in your business at different times of the year, then you’ll often need to get creative with your company strategy. Many businesses experience seasonal fluctuations in sales or even their company culture and employee engagement. And, if you’re one of them, you’re going to want to pick up some tips and tricks on how to cope with them, because even the most successful businesses are faced with challenging times. However, the trick isn’t centered around how or when they happen, but how you react and get things back on track. Summer is coming up and it’s time to really work on your business ideas to support the season. But what can you do? Some of the following:

Aim To Go Viral:

Let’s kick off with something that you really want to try and do – and that’s to go viral. It’s safe to assume that you’re going to be on social media, and you probably have some campaigns up your sleeve for summer, too. But if you really want to kick-start your business, you’re going to want to reach a massive audience and get a lot more traction with your posts. Make sure that you keep those tactics in mind when you’re planning out the execution of your campaigns.

Of course, going viral is something that is easier said than done if you are unfamiliar with the world of social media. If this is the case for you, it could be incredibly worthwhile to find a marketing agency like InSync Media to assist you. They will be able to form a cohesive marketing strategy, execute it, and get your posts in front of more people.

Host An Event:

If there’s one thing that we all love during the summer, it’s a good old-fashioned event. And it’s great to have an excuse to throw a big party. Give yourself plenty of time to get planning and establish an event marketing timeline so you can be completely prepared for it. Think about which customers, media outlets, or even influential people you might like to invite. When you host an event, you’re not only going to get people talking about your business at the event itself, but you’ll also get the additional coverage on social media which can give you a boost, too.

Launch A New Service:

You may not be able to launch an entirely new product in a few short months, but you could up your game when it comes to services. Whether you want to offer a personal shopping service online or create a VIP delivery option, it is a great way to shake things up and see a spike in your sales. If you are considering improved delivery options, you will probably need some help. Impacked Packaging helps companies source packaging with reliable services and great prices to match. You and your customers will both be happy!

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Get to planning!

Bring In More Video:

If you’re not someone that tends to use a lot of video in your marketing campaigns or even internally in your business, then this could be something that you change. But don’t worry, you don’t have to be a professional videographer to make this happen. In fact, it’s probably good that you don’t attempt it yourself, because when you bring in the right company, such as www.lifetime-media.com, the quality will be better. Whether you are doing internal videos or promotional material, the use of video is going to give you an exciting new dimension to play around with.

Work With Influencers:

Influencers have an ever-increasing presence in the lives of consumers. These are the men and women that your consumers follow and look to for advice. So, of course, choosing to team up with them to promote your business or to support a launch that you have coming up is going to be a good idea. Make sure that you create a strong strategy for this as www.foundr.com talks through. That way, you’ll be sure to choose the right influencers and be able to get the best results.

Collaborate With Another Company:

You could also think about collaborating with another brand. This isn’t going to be one of your direct competitors, but you could definitely look to work with a company that has a similar audience to you, but perhaps in a different industry. That way, when you launch a product or host an event together, you’re going to be targeting the same consumers, but you’ll also get double the exposure by tapping into their engaged audience, too.

Create Limited Edition Packaging:

Everyone gets excited when the word limited edition gets thrown around. Again, creating a new product might not be manageable for you, but you might be able to launch some spring or summer themed packaging to impress your customers this season. If you are shipping a product like fragrances, tea, or coffee in limited edition packaging, do keep in mind that airtight packaging does not necessarily mean smell proof. You will want to research different materials and seals carefully for the best costumer experience.

In the same breath, you might also want to consider switching up the labels on your products to create a brand new look for old favorites. Businesses like Columbine Labels in Denver (or something similar in your local area) provide custom label printing services. Your labels will be one of a kind and customers will be sure to take note. You could even launch a sale to discount the products with the old labels.

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Run A Competition:

Customers always love an exciting competition. So take a look at the best ways to run a successful contest, make some plans, and launch one or two over the summer just for fun!

Start A New Series:

We’ve mentioned your social promotions a few times now, but for a very good reason. It’s very likely that you tend to stick to the same kinds of promotions and the same types of posts. So if you really want to shake things up for summer, then you’re going to want to launch something new. A series is a great idea for this. Whether it’s a range of interviews, thoughts from your teams, or posts based on a set topic, this can be a really interesting way to engage your audience online.

A social media series is the perfect way to introduce something brand new for the summertime. Maybe your homemade skin care line now has SPF and you could work with influencers to promote it. Your food truck might be serving up tasty summer smoothies and could benefit from a professional in food and beverage marketing. Summer is the time to explore and have some fun with your content so don’t wait until the last minute. Start brainstorming now!

Launch A Flash Sale:

Finally, you could think about launching a flash sale. And no, you don’t have to overdo the discounts here. If you want to drum up some excitement, you could hide codes around the website or send out gifts with purchases. Either way, timed promotions like this can often give your sales a boost when you need it the most.

Summer is just around the corner, so get to planning something exciting and new and watch your business bloom.

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Jolie In Jaase Top

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Jolie In Jaase Top

Hello hello and happy Monday! On my last trip to TJMaxx, I picked up a new top by Australian brand, Jaase, that I am simply obsessed with. It’s fresh, it’s floral, and it’s fabulous. This new zipped crop is completely perfect for spring and I loved it on the hanger, in the dressing room, and on my person because I had to wear it immediately the next day. Take a look:

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Other than black and green, I’m pretty sure that my favorite color to wear is the grey blue that is featured in this little number. I love how the simple white flowers pop against such a muted background. I also love how my complexion and hair pops, as well! This is probably my fifth or sixth top that features the pigeon color palette that I am so very fond of and, yes, I am sure that I will add more to my collection soon!

I love the shape of this top. The tight cropped torso is a snap to apply thanks to the zippered front, and it looks so chic paired with its bubble sleeves that taper into the cinched in finale. This Jaase top is unique, and that is so important to me. The shape of it is so different than anything in my closet and the fifteen dollar price tag doesn’t hurt, either.

Once it gets warm enough to wear shorts with tights, trust and believe that that is what I’ll be pairing my new find with. This Jaase purchase is going to look darling with A-line skirts and will add some flare to my black skinnies when it’s too chilly for shorts and tights. So fun!

What is your favorite color to wear? How would you style this top? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New Hot Tools Hair Straightener

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New Hot Tools Hair Straightener

Helloooo! For the past few months, I have been suffering from mild distaste for my hair. “WHAT?! But you love your red hair!” Yes, yes I do. BUT, my hair itself has just not been styling well, as of late. It just seemed like no matter what styling sprays and serums I used and how many times I flat ironed my hair, I could not get it straight for the life of me.

When I say that I want my hair straight, I’m talking pin straight, so it was infuriating to straighten my hair only to have it be frizzy and wavy shortly after. At first, I was wondering if my amazing hair stylist didn’t take enough bulk out when she was thinning through my thick locks. But, I poo pooed that thought immediately after, because she’s a genius. Then, I realized that it was my hair straightener.

I have been using my old faithful Ion One Stroke for a solid four years now, so it only makes sense that it might not be working to the best of its ability. Finally, the frizzy mess that my hair would turn into five minutes after straightening sounded about right. So, I did what I normally do…

I went to TJMaxx and got myself a Hot Tools straightener for twenty-five bucks.

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This styling tool heats up to 450 degrees, which is perfect for my thick hair. It also has a handy touch screen to turn the product on and off and to adjust the heat. Immediately after using my new Hot Tools straightener, the difference in my hair was all I needed to justify my purchase. My locks looked straight, sleek, and the style held all day.

I am so happy to have solved the mystery behind my bad hair months, because I am SO over covering up my hair with hats, beanies, headbands, and wearing it up. Now, my crimson crown can flow freely and perfectly straight. Thank gawd.

R.I.P

Ion One Stroke

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What are your tips for achieving pin straight hair? How do you usually style your locks? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

True Destiny Flower Power Top

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True Destiny Flower Power Top

Hi everyone! I don’t know about ya’ll, but I am ready for spring! It has been snowing on and off again in Ohio, so I have still been bundled up in my winter’s best. But, that doesn’t mean that I can’t think about warmer weather constantly and do some spring shopping! Who needs spring cleaning, anyways?!

To get myself ready for warmer weather and spring flowers, I indulged in this gorgeous, retro inspired True Destiny top from TJMaxx. Take a look and let’s discuss:

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I am so obsessed with this top. The colors, the structured torso counterbalanced with larger than life balloon sleeves, and a tie neck back to top it all off. I can’t handle the cuteness. The bright colored flowers bouncing against a bleach white base make me so happy and it takes spring florals to a whole new and unique level. It is truly a mod, flower power top to the max and I’ve already worn it three times this week!

Since it’s been so cold, I’ve only been pairing this shirt with my black skinnies. But, come warmer weather, I am so excited to wear this True Destiny top with a sweet pair of dark denim shorts and my heeled floral sneakers for a fun and sunshiney OOTD.

How would you style this top? What is one of your favorite patterns to wear? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah