Tag Archives: organizing

May9

Content Creating 101

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Content Creating 101

Hello!! This past week, I shared my pro tips for working from home and self employment that were very well received. So, I decided to do one more 101 post with a focus on content creating. For almost four years, I have been creating daily content for lifewithlilred and I am very determined to continue this streak for as long as humanly possible! These are some of the tips that help me stay motivated and creative and maybe they’ll be helpful for you too:

Patience is a virtue:

Over the past several years, influencers and content creators have made a big splash online and I’m sure we all have a favorite personality with millions of viewers. It might be easy to think that you can immediately start publishing content and hit it big but that is far from the case more often than not. Every popular influencer started off with minimal views and they worked hard to increase them. As a content creator, it is important to be patient and continue posting even if you think no one is seeing it. At the end of the day, this is what you have to do to boost your visibility so stick with it and don’t compare yourselves to other people – nothing good ever comes out of that!

Content is everywhere:

Chances are, you are not going to stumble upon instantly viral content and if you have, then you are SO lucky! Although you might not come across million view worthy things when you are out and about, there is still content everywhere. Sometimes, it helps to think small instead of big in terms of content, especially when you are feeling uninspired. Then, you can appreciate all of the little things that are just as post worthy too. This always helps me! Take a walk and post about how you felt in nature, write about your favorite knick knack at home; if you think that it is worth writing about, then it is. Simple as that. 🙂

Never stop learning:

There is, truly, a lot more to content creating than meets the eye and the online world is changing constantly. There are always going to be new social media platforms, trends, and techniques to learn and it’s important to stay up to date with them. Myself, for example, didn’t get an Instagram until the end of 2021 and I regret that because it’s literally the easiest platform ever and I just said “hard no” lol. Educate yourself by learning about SEO, analytics, trending topics, and ways to increase your visibility and incorporate it into your content. There are so many tools out there to help you, but they’re only going to help if you familiarize yourself with it first.

Have fun:

At the end of the day, I genuinely think that content creating is fun. I love to write, take pictures, explore, and I enjoy being on social media. If you are not feeling the joy of creating something, then it might be a good time to reevaluate what you are currently doing and see where you can improve. It’s okay to take breaks and give your mind a chance to refresh so you can get back to creating and having a blast while doing so.

Stay organized:

I cannot recommend a publishing schedule enough, especially when you are first starting out. This helps your viewers know when to expect your posts, look forward to them, and keep checking in. When I first began lifewithlilred, I was posting willy nilly with no set schedule and I quickly learned the benefits of establishing one. I went from twice a week content to every other day to every day in the near decade of my page’s existence. Having this set in stone schedule definitely assisted my page’s visibility. Create a schedule that works well for you and commit to it. Content is being created every second of every day all over the world. Random postings are very easy to get lost among the crowd!

When it comes to content creating, be patient with the process of it, stay motivated, and have fun. Whether you are getting one view or a million, you created something you were proud of and that’s the best thing of all!

What is your favorite social media platform? What are some of your content creating pro tips? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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May6

Self Employment 101

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Self Employment 101

Hello! In a recent post, I shared my pro tips for Working From Home 101 and I thought I would share my thoughts on self employment as well. For close to a decade, I have been working under the best boss in the world – myself! At times, it is stressful and difficult, but it is also so rewarding and I truly couldn’t imagine working under someone else ever again. I love what I do as an Independent Provider for people with special needs and as a Content Creator and I have had years to perfect my method. All of the following works for me and maybe it will be helpful for you too:

Organization is ESSENTIAL:

When you are self employed, it is up to you to handle everything and if you struggle with organization, it can be a struggle. Thankfully, I live to organize and thrive with a fairly strict schedule, making this aspect of self employment one of my favorite things. Sticking to a schedule and staying on top of things eliminates any surprises from interfering with your work flow. To keep myself in check, I follow these steps:

Paperwork: Getting behind on your paperwork is one of the absolute worst things that you can do. This is why I refuse to end a day without completing all of my forms both tangible and online. I also set aside time at the end of every month to complete my mileage log for my taxes. I am very meticulous about my paperwork and keep everything organized in a filing cabinet in my office. It just makes things easier to have everything I might ever need at the ready and even if it is annoying sometimes, my businesses wouldn’t thrive otherwise.

Scheduling: One of the benefits of self employment is making your own schedule. This freedom can be utterly intoxicating if you are used to waiting around for a schedule from a previous job. However, don’t enjoy it too much! Falling into the trap of “I’ll do it tomorrow” or “I have plenty of time to get it done” sets you up for failure. Creating a schedule that works for you and that you know you can commit to is only going to help you!

Taxes: Filing your taxes is going to be different than usual when you’re self employed and I cannot recommend getting familiar with this process enough. All year, my “tax” file in my cabinet gets a lot of use and by the time tax season rolls around, I have nothing left to do but schedule an appointment. When you learn what things can be “written off”, you can not only save money but step up your record keeping game. It’s a win/win and, of course, if you have any questions along the way, call the person who does your taxes!

Stay Cool:

When you are self employed, you are making the plunge from “employee” to “business owner”. It is very easy to get overwhelmed by this and the best thing that you can do is to keep a level head. Staying cool, calm, and collected allows you to make rational decisions for your business and it’s never good to make these calls when you’re stressed. As the owner of two businesses, I know firsthand that juggling so many different things can be intense. Whenever I notice that I’m feeling the pressure of this, I allow myself to take a break, clear my head, and start fresh.

Keep Learning:

Even if you are your own boss, you should never stop trying to learn new things to improve your business. Find a mentor, take classes, do your own research, and ask questions. You don’t want your business to plateau, but grow! My mentor has helped me SO much in skill development, educating myself, and mastering new things. Finding someone to take you under their wing or at least brainstorm with can boost your business in ways that you might not have even considered. Be curious, ambitious, and willing to learn – it will take you far!

Enjoy Yourself:

Being self employed is something that not everyone has the luxury of doing and it’s something that I feel very lucky for. I remember this often and even on crazy busy days, I am still happy that I am doing it all by myself. Shifting your mindset from “this is too much” to “this is pretty awesome” will make your days so much more enjoyable, even under stress. On rollercoaster days, just put your hands up and enjoy the ride because you never know where your business will take you!

My businesses have thrived from being highly organized and highly motivated and I feel so proud of that. These tips help me out every day and gives me the drive to keep going forward in my own self employment!

What are some of your self employment pro tips? What is your dream job? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan18

Homeschool More Effectively With These Tips

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Homeschool More Effectively With These Tips

If you are a homeschool parent, you want to make sure that you are teaching your children effectively. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this because each child is different. However, there are some general tips that can help you get started. This blog post will discuss four of the most important things to keep in mind when teaching your children at home:

Get organized:

It’s easy for materials to pile up and become overwhelming so it’s important to keep organized. Start by designating specific areas for studying and doing work, like a desk or table. Have all of your materials easily accessible and labeled properly so both you and your children can find what they need quickly. Take the time to plan out your lessons and activities beforehand to save yourself stress later on. Having a set routine can help keep everyone on track and make things run more smoothly.

It’s also important to have an organized system in place for keeping track of grades, tests, and other educational milestones. Create a folder or binder specifically for each child which should include assignment instructions, worksheets, quizzes, graded papers, etc., as well as notes about topics covered in class or any additional resources that you may need throughout the year. Set aside time each week to review the progress of each student – this will help you to identify any areas where improvement is needed and adjust accordingly.

Allow flexibility:

Flexibility is key when it comes to homeschooling. You should give your children the freedom to explore their own interests and learn in different ways. Try incorporating activities that appeal to each child’s unique learning style like hands-on projects or field trips for more tactile learners. Consider allowing independent study time where your kids can pursue topics of interest on their own – this will help them stay engaged and motivated in their studies.

Make lessons engaging:

When teaching at home, make sure to keep things interesting! Use a variety of teaching methods such as videos, games, books, and even music to liven up traditional lectures and make learning more enjoyable. You can also incorporate real-world experiences and visits to museums or other educational sites as this will help your children make connections between what they are learning and the world around them.

Utilize technology:

Technology has made homeschooling much easier! There are so many great educational apps like ABCmouse as well as websites and online tools that you can use to supplement lessons and make teaching more efficient. Take advantage of these resources because they can provide a wealth of information while making learning fun.

Homeschooling is a unique and rewarding experience. With the right strategies and resources, you can teach your children effectively while also creating an enjoyable learning environment!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Dec15

Simple Steps To Improve Your Well Being

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Simple Steps To Improve Your Well Being

If you want to have a better quality of life, you should look for ways to increase your sense of well being. Well being is a much easier way to arrive at the position you want to be in rather than focusing on a mood, like happiness. Well being is far more loaded too. Instead of being a single thing, it is about your quality of life and all of the individual things that go into that. Let’s find out how you can increase your level of well being:

Get Organized:

A lot of stress in our lives comes from being unorganized. This can mean a lot of different things, like always forgetting dates and times of things; it can mean that your house is untidy and cluttered. It can even mean getting in control of your finances. All of these things can have a huge power to bring down your quality of life. Clutter makes it difficult to find anything, among other things; always forgetting things can cause you a lot of emotional stress from other people as well as yourself. And your finances can ruin your whole life if you keep getting into debt. To get organized, start by decluttering and tidying the home. Then, buy a calendar and write things down on it as well as set reminders on your phone. If money is an issue for you, see a financial advisor and start getting your life in order.

Fix Things:

Having a massive to-do list is not great, especially if it’s consistently getting longer, not smaller. A lot of broken things around you is not conducive for your well being. Not only is it depressing, but constantly trying something that’s broken puts you right back to the initial stage or realizing that it’s broken. This can raise your blood pressure and seriously annoy you. It is in your best interest to fix things. Some issues you will need to get professionally sorted, like getting a Honda windshield repair. However, a lot of smaller issues you may well be able to fix yourself. Look online; YouTube has a lot of DIY videos you can use, for example. The sense of satisfaction you get from learning and fixing something broken will be an awesome reward!

Exercise:

Exercise is one of the best things you can do to increase your sense of well being. It has so many benefits. Clearly, it is good for your health. It can reduce your fat mass and tone you up. It can make you feel happier as it increases the happy hormones in the brain, like serotonin. It is a great way to drive out toxins. It can reduce your stress levels, boost your immunity, and generally make you feel a lot better. If you haven’t exercised in a long time, perhaps have a word with your doctor first. It is best to start small and slow and build up to more intense exercise.

During the frigid winter, it’s easy to lose the sense of well being you had during months of fun in the sun. Start with the simple steps above to get your wellness back on track!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Nov27

Get Winter Ready With These Ideas

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Get Winter Ready With These Ideas

Winter is nearly here and preparations need to be done to keep you and yours comfy cozy all season long. From wardrobe updates to weatherproofing and everything in between, here are some steps to get you winter ready:

Update Your Wardrobe:

With winter coming you will want to make sure that you are changing into warmer clothes to beat the frigid temps. One of the best things you can do to save money is to go through all of the winter clothes you have, see what still fits and what you would still wear and then get anything you don’t have. With kids in the house and how quickly they grow, they might need a whole new wardrobe as their winter clothes from the previous year may not fit anymore.

Weatherproof Your Home:

Winter brings a lot of harsh weather and in some areas extremely harsh weather. Different weather can have different effects on your home so there are some things you need to add to your to-do list before it sets in. One of the things you will need to do is to clear out the gutters. You will also want to make sure you bleed your radiators, service your boiler, get a furnace tune-up, and check your doors and windows for drafts. You don’t want the cold weather coming in, especially with the rise in heating costs.

Declutter And Organize:

You most likely will have done a spring clean but a winter clean is also something to be done. One of the things you need to do is organize and declutter what you can. A big area to focus on is toys if you have children. With Christmas coming you want to make sure you have somewhere to put all of the new prezzies. Having an organized and clear home can also help your mental health which can often take a downward turn during the winter.

Car Checks:

The bad weather can affect your car too. You can help prevent issues by getting it checked, checking tire pressure, and making sure your heaters work. If there are any other issues, get them sorted so you aren’t stranded in the snow with a car that won’t work. You will also want to make sure your window wipers work properly to make it safe for you to see in bad weather.

Eating Healthy:

Winter and Christmas bring a lot of goodies and treats and with the darker and colder nights coming it is easy to indulge. During the winter, a lot of bugs and illnesses go around so you want to make sure you are filling your body with goodness and nutrients so your body can fight off the bugs effectively. A good way to make sure you are caring for yourself is by incorporating more fruits and vegetables into your diet. If you are having eggs for breakfast why not add some tomatoes and mushrooms to fill it out? If you are having pasta for dinner, you can add a whole variety of different vegetables or salad to the meal.

Stay Active:

During the winter months, it is very easy to want to be at home more and snuggled up watching TV. A lot of people normally reduce the amount of exercise they do in winter. You don’t have to go to the gym to work out, you can still do it in the comfort of your own home. There are hundreds of thousands of videos online of different workouts for different levels. You can also make use of the sunlight you have in the mornings and go for a walk or run around your local park. Staying active is beneficial for your health and well-being as when you exercise your body gives you a chemical which makes you feel happy, so exercise is great for improving a blah mood too.

Be in a sunny state of mind all winter long with the tips above. Make necessary preparations now to enjoy a stress free holiday season!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Apr27

Moving On Up: Lil Red’s Pro Tips

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Moving On Up: Lil Red’s Pro Tips

Helloooo! Johnny and I are moving at the end of the month and, I’ve got to say, it has been a pain in the ass lol. When I first moved into my apartment, the process was pretty easy because I didn’t have much to move. However, Johnny and I have a lot of stuff and I don’t think I realized just how much until it all had to get packed up! Today, I thought I’d share some pro tips that I learned this time around that I think you will find handy too if you are moving soon:

Start Early:

I signed for the bigger apartment that we’re moving into during the first week of April and I began the packing process the following day. Every day since, I have been trying to pack up all of the things that we don’t use on a daily basis little by little. I considered the day a success if I packed up at least a box or two! At first, the progress was slow going but here we are at the end of the month with an apartment full of boxes ready to move. 😀

If you plan your packing wisely, it really doesn’t have to be a big stressful thing so start as early as you can and take it at an easy pace.

Clean/Declutter As You Go:

During our packing, I was amazed at how much stuff that we have sitting around that we don’t use. Moving provided the perfect opportunity to declutter and Johnny and I have taken seven full bags to Goodwill already. It felt good to let go of so many things and it also lightened the load of what we had to pack considerably. It was a total win/win.

Also, I know it’s a pain but don’t forget to clean as you pack too. You don’t want to have to deal with vacuuming, sweeping, and dusting the day of your move. And I just know you have some dust bunnies hanging around under all of that furniture that’s being shifted!

Make Your Calls In Advance:

The day that I signed for the new apartment, I hired a moving company and I am so glad that I did. They only had one more truck available the day of the move and I got it! Hire a reputable company well in advance and make sure you have an inventory of all of the items you will need moved when you call.

Do be sure to do the same for things like transferring your internet and electric. Last week, I called my internet provider about the transfer and they said they couldn’t find my new address in the system. This was weird because I’m literally just moving down the street. Then, I called my electric company and they told me the same thing. Weirder.

Finally, I called the leasing office and it turns out that I had been given the wrong address. SMH! After two and a half hours on the phone everything got sorted out but I am glad that I did it with time to spare. That was an ordeal! And I actually just realized that I have to call the moving company to let them know my “new” new address. SMH again.

When it comes to moving, the name of the game is to get a head start on everything. It will save you so much stress in the long run and will make the moving process much more bearable!

What are your moving pro tips? Do you have a big life event coming up soon? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr16

Newly Organized Jewelry Tower

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Newly Organized Jewelry Tower

Hello! Johnny and I are moving at the end of the month, which means that it has been a frenzy of packing and organizing in the apartment almost formerly known as ours. Every day, I have been trying to make a dent in the packing process during my times when I’m working from home and have a break. One task that I recently completed is one that I am particularly proud of because it’s something that I’ve meant to do for forever. And, that is to finally make good use of the makeup/jewelry organizer that Johnny got me for my birthday a few years ago:

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When it comes to my bits and baubles, I am usually meticulously organized. So, don’t ask me why all of my most worn earrings and hair accessories ended up in a Dolls Kill box on my kitchen table… Especially when my jewelry container was literally sitting on the ground a few feet away from it! I knew that this simply wouldn’t do for the move for fear of my accessories getting lost and so I got to work.

The container that Johnny got me is marketed for makeup but I thought that putting my jewelry in it would be a much better option. I don’t have too much makeup but jewelry? That’s a totally different story! I don’t think I ever really realized how many accessories I had thrown into my makeshift jewelry box until I began sorting through it because, although it was shallow, it seemed never ending.

When I have the time for it, nothing pleases me more than an organizing sesh and as I began arranging my container, I felt so pleased with myself. It was so nice to make good use of a gift from Johnny and actually be able to see everything that I have in an organized fashion. In fact, I daresay that filling up my jewelry container felt even better than making a new and improved beauty stock pile and that’s really saying something because I love that too!

For fast access to your favorite accessories or makeup products, I can’t recommend a container like mine enough. I never would have known how great it was to be organized until I was running late and was able to find the pair of earrings I needed in record time! 😀

How do you keep your accessories organized? What about your beauty products? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr11

Spring Cleaning Check List

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Spring Cleaning Check List

Even though it’s still chilly out, it is most definitely spring time! While the rain and cold keeps you bundled up at home waiting for sunshine and flowers, it will give you ample time to complete your spring cleaning. Is it the most fun thing to do? Not really! But, there is nothing more refreshing than a newly cleaned house to relax in. Don’t forget these tasks as you make your house sparkle:

Do A Walk Through:

Before starting a deep clean, it’s best to perform a walk through of the house to see what needs your attention the most. You will probably find that certain rooms need more care than others or see that appliances aren’t functioning properly when you take a closer look. You might be DIYing your spring cleaning, but fast appliance repair technicians Miami will be necessary to get everything working as it should.

Your walk through is a good time to do any decluttering, clear items off of the floor, and make space on your shelves to dust. Prior to starting any cleaning, decluttering is key because why clean more stuff than you have to? Spring cleaning is all about making your home feel more spacious and open so clearing clutter is the ideal first step.

Start From The Bottom:

It is usually preferred to start cleaning from your floors and work your way up from there. A pass of your vacuum on your carpets and rugs will work just fine. But, if you have tiles, laminate, or hardwood flooring, a Swiffer WetJet will be your new best friend. The WetJet will help pick up all of the crumbs, hair, etc. from your non-carpeted areas and, honestly, makes cleaning kind of fun! If you plan on working in sessions instead of doing one massive cleaning day, it will be the perfect time for a break once your floors are nice and clean.

PS: If you have higher areas in your home to dust (IE: windows, chandeliers and other light fixtures), do that before cleaning the floors so you can sweep up any dust that has fallen afterwards.

Work Your Way Up:

The next step in spring cleaning includes everything that isn’t the floor! This includes cleaning your appliances, dusting shelves and tables, the dreaded cleaning of the bathroom, tidying up your yard, and even your car. If you have decluttered beforehand, your chores will be much easier and, as mentioned before, take some breaks. Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be done in one day and you’ll get better results if you’re focusing your attention on one area at a time.

Before venturing off to other sections in your home, make sure you have all of your cleaning products ready to go. Different appliances, furniture, and surfaces all require different products so make a list and grab what you need at the store beforehand.

Delegate, Delegate, Delegate:

If you have a partner, children, or friends to help the cleaning process, then delegate different chores as needed. You will be amazed at how quickly you get done once everyone has a task of their own to complete. If you are living alone, a cleaning check list will work wonders to keep you on track. Break the cleaning up into smaller pieces by writing down which room or chore you want to tackle each day. You will be glad you did and it will feel so good to cross each task off of your list!

Fresh and light is the name of the game when it comes to spring cleaning. Lift your curtains and blinds and let that glorious sunlight bounce all around your freshly cleaned space!

May19

Crunch Time!

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Crunch Time!

Hello! The countdown for my wedding is on and I definitely feel like I am in crunch time now. And, mind you, this is just for a super small ceremony – I couldn’t imagine the stress that soon to be married people feel for a big wedding! Thankfully, if there’s one thing that Lil Red loves to do, it’s plan and Johnny and I are constantly checking things off of our wedding to do list. In fact, I was able to cross three things off in just one day.

This past week, I got halfway through with removing all of the horrible and heinous disk sequins from my wedding dress. It is a night and day improvement with just having the top half completely sequin free and it is so worth the painstaking, time consuming effort. Later that afternoon, Johnny and I went to the courthouse to get our marriage license application sorted so that is all good to go which is very exciting!

After going to the courthouse, I treated myself to brand new jewelry for the four studs in my nose at Lucid Body Piercing. I never change the jewelry in my nose so my crystal studs were looking incredibly dingy and that just won’t do for my wedding day. The professionals at Lucid were able to hook me up with slightly bigger studs with a disk backing, which means a little more bling and no more screw posts forever getting tangled. 😀

Once my jewelry was selected, the owner of the studio, Alex, put them all in for free and it was such an amazing experience because he is so skilled and knowledgeable. We had many a laugh while he swapped my studs out and when we weren’t chit chatting, he thoroughly explained what he was doing which made me feel so comfortable. After my wedding, I am playing around with going back to the shop for a potential new nose piercing. Just being in a piercing studio to have jewelry changed out was enough to have the body mod bug come back biting!

Mine and Johnny’s wedding check list is winding down and soon, we will have nothing left to do but wait for our big day. I have really enjoyed doing the wedding preparations with my fiance and I can’t wait to get married! ❤

What helps you stay organized? Are there any new piercings or tattoos in your future? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr30

*Way* Early Birthday Gift!

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*Way* Early Birthday Gift!

Hello! When it comes to gift giving occasions, I always can’t wait to give my giftee their presents and am notorious for buying gifts way ahead of schedule. Johnny’s birthday gift, for example, was purchased four months before his actual birthday! I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t constantly asking people to give their gifts early and Johnny is, normally, pretty good about waiting till the day of the occasion. This past week, however, was a totally different story.

Unbeknownst to Johnny, I had arrived home before him after work and errands and was there when he walked in the door with a huge gift wrapped box. Because I had already seen my early birthday gift, he agreed that we could open presents a month and a half prior to our birthdays and I was gifted with the following:

For one of my early birthday gifts, Johnny got me a huge standing makeup holder for all of my must haves that are maybe always cluttering the bathroom! Not only will it be perfect for all of my lipsticks and glosses that I feel like I am misplacing constantly but it will also provide a safe space for my makeup brushes, eyeshadows, and highlighters which I have had to replace before from water damage.

This gift was so thoughtful because Johnny told me he remembered how much I liked it while he was browsing through additional storage options for our apartment. I had, honestly, forgotten about it and love my new makeup holder so much because it is something that I wouldn’t buy for myself. Rather, I’d probably end up buying more makeup lol!

If there’s one thing Lil Red loves, it’s organizing and I really enjoyed arranging my jewelry boxes and wall hangers just so for easy access to all of my favorite accessories. I expect that my makeup holder will be no different and am looking forward to setting it up to my liking. I also think I am going to end up finding tons of products that I forgot I even had so it will kind of be like shopping in my own apartment. 😀

After mine and Johnny’s super early gift exchange, we played video games and listened to records for hours and it was the best month and a half early birthday celebration ever! I can’t wait for more festivities with my fiance on our actual birthdays in June. ❤

How do you keep your makeup or accessories organized? How early do you like to shop for gift giving occasions? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah