Tag Archives: travel

Oct20

NC Scenery

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NC Scenery

Hi everyone and happy weekend! For the past week, my family enjoyed a vacation in Hendersonville, North Carolina. A fun time was had by all and it was so nice to share in the beautiful scenery of the mountains with amazing company. On one of our excursions, we hiked at a trail called Catawba Falls and were treated to a glorious view of several smaller waterfalls flowing into each other at the top. We were also the recipients of some wildly muddy shoes and jeans compliments of Hurricane Michael! Take a look:

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A moderate hike on a good day, this trail was actually fairly difficult when we were there, because of the intense rain that North Carolina got the week before. So, the mostly upward trail was really muddy, which led to some slipping, sliding, and very dirty shoes! There is nothing better than being amongst nature and hearing the flowing water from the falls joining you with every step, though, and the mud and gunk was just a small price to pay for that.

After our hike, a cold treat was definitely in order and we stopped for a shaved ice at Pelican’s before heading back to our cabin. Try not to drool at all this deliciousness:

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With over one hundred flavors to choose from at Pelican’s, the possibilities were literally endless. And, unfortunately for me, every flavor sounded fantastic! So, I just had to pick one and go with it and went for French Vanilla Cola because after the hike, I wanted nothing more than an ice cold Diet Coke. The shaved ice was a fine substitute, but ordering a large size was a total mistake because of the classic case of “eyes being bigger than your stomach”. If you’re in the area and stop by Pelican’s, just know that you will be more than okay with the kiddie size! 😀

Where was the location of your last family vacation? What is your favorite hiking trail in your neck of the woods? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct19

Lil Red’s Adventures In Microblading

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Lil Red’s Adventures In Microblading

Hello! During a recent trip to Pittsburgh, I got to spend time with my super cool cousin, Laura, exploring the city, eating hella food, and having her microblade me! Laura is one of the pioneers in bringing microblading to Pittsburgh and owns her own studio, La Marie Brow Club, where she works her magic. Admittedly nervous, although I had absolutely no reason to be after the fact, I am now a walking testament to Laura’s work and am a firm believer in the power of microblading!

My nervousness definitely stemmed from the fact that I am a low key girl when it comes to my brows. I fill them in with an eighty-nine cent pencil annnnd that’s about it. Whenever I pluck them, I always end up overdoing it so, now, I just let them do their own thang. Have I wanted better brows? Sure. But, I’ve never been keen on constant waxing and maintenance and, at first, microblading sounded lightweight terrifying! But, now that I officially have amazing brows, I can’t believe that I didn’t do this sooner. Take a look at my before and after shots and, then, we’ll discuss everything further:

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As soon as we got to the salon, Laura immediately got to work preparing the space and explaining the first steps in the microblading process to me. First, we took some before pictures, which you can see above. And, then, Laura began to map out my brows according to my preferred side, which happens to be ol’ rightie. She used an eyebrow pencil to take measurements and used her makeup artist’s eye to create an outline that enhanced my right brow and made my left brow closely mimic its partner.

After a game plan was made special for my MUG, Laura applied a topical numbing agent to my brow area and we let it sit for twenty minutes before the microblading began. For those of you who aren’t hip, microblading is the manual process of implanting pigment into the upper region of our skin’s dermis in a way to mimic the appearance of natural hair. The blade that is used is dipped in pigment and each hair stroke is manually placed into the skin.

Once my brows were comfortably numb, Laura began the microblading festivities. The best way that I can describe the feeling of being microbladed is like getting papercuts on your eyebrows. Papercuts are a pain in the butt. But they are not unbearable and, although I could definitely feel some strokes more than others, the overall level of pain was extremely tolerable.

During a brief break after Laura’s first pass with my brows, a second numbing agent was applied to help ease any discomfort after wiping them down. Then, a second go was made for Laura to add the final touches and hair strokes to complete my beautiful new brows!

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^^^ Peep those results!

Spending time with Laura in her salon has been the highlight of my last few months and I cannot wait to come back to Pittsburgh in two months for her to touch my brows up. La Marie Brow Club provided a sterile and safe environment for me to get eyebrows perfectly customized for my face. Laura made me feel so comfortable and secure with all of the choices that we made together and she walked me through every step of the way with ease.

Watching my cousin display her amazing talents and doing a damn good job of it was so inspiring to me. Laura’s artistry involves immense skill and she was able to complete a task that looks dauntingly difficult with a smile on her face and well thought out answers to all of my questions. Saying I recommend Laura highly is an understatement, because she instilled a newfound confidence in me with her craft, and nothing can ever top that.

Take an inside look at Laura’s salon, located behind Lantern Rose tattoo shop!

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More about Laura:

Laura opened her business, La Marie Brow Club, in April of 2017 and received her certification in January of 2016. Not only does she offer microblading, but she also does upper lash line enhancement, freckles, beauty marks, and tooth gems (Which are so cute!). Laura has spent over ten years in the field as a licensed cosmetologist and esthetician, but enjoys doing eyebrows the most. When she is not booked at the salon, she loves spending time with her boyfriend, Victor, and beloved pets: Randy the cat and Lucille and Igor the Boston Terriers (And they are all so cute, too!).

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Interested in getting microbladed? You can reach Laura with the following:

Social Media Platforms

Thank you so much again to my beautiful and talented cousin for finessing my brows! Laura has the Lil Red Guarantee for fantastic results and service so, if you were at all on the fence about being microbladed like I was, trust in that and schedule an appointment today!

Do you have microbladed brows? How were your results? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep28

Cleveland Aquarium Pics

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Cleveland Aquarium Pics

Hi everyone and happy Friday! I hope all of you had a wonderful week and are looking forward to a fun and relaxing weekend. This past Saturday, I visited the Cleveland Aquarium, and it was mediocre at best for the price of admission. And, we all know that this is no beuno for a gal who balls on a budget! But, I did get some nice pictures of the undersea life that was there so take a look and let’s discuss:

 

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The total cost of admission was twenty dollars as well as a six dollar parking fee and the time spent in the aquarium amounted to barely an hour and a half. This was disappointing to me because, although the displays that were there looked cool, I felt like I wasn’t getting a lot of bang for my buck. The aquarium, in total, was three or four rooms with spaced out displays and, then, two other rooms with full room displays that included a string ray touch tank and the shark tank with a walk in tunnel.

I really enjoyed the shark room and the walk in tunnel was really neat and long in length. However, the other rooms that had spaced out displays featuring aquatic life of different countries left a lot to be desired. There were about three or four tanks per room and that was it. So, it felt more like a large, well decorated pet store than an actual aquarium.

If you are planning a trip to the Cleveland Aquarium, my best advice to you is don’t. You are much better off spending a day at the Cleveland Zoo, which provides you with an excellent value for your money, as it is a whole park rather than just a handful of rooms. It is also cheaper than the Aquarium, too! 😀

What is your favorite activity to do in a big city near you? Who else has a zoo or aquarium close by? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep9

What I Love About Autumn

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What I Love About Autumn

Hello everyone and welcome to a post in pictures by my favorite It Brit, Dannii, from A Beautiful Thing! Dannii brings so much vibrancy to the blogging world with her fun page that showcases her wonderful travels, fashion, and the most beautiful pink hair you will ever see. She is such a delight and you just have to go check out her page after this post because I, for one, can’t get enough!

What I Love About Autumn

I Love…. Cozy Sweaters

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I Love…. Keeping Warm with a Hot Chocolate

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I Love…. The Leaves Changing Color

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I Love…. Pumpkin Picking

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And I Love…. Halloween

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What are your favorite things about autumn? What is your favorite fall tradition? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep6

4 Tips For Buying A Lake House

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4 Tips For Buying A Lake House

Maybe you’ve always wanted a place to take the kids during the summer. Maybe you’re just trying to get away from it all. Whatever your reasons for considering the purchase of a lake house, here are four tips for making a smart decision about lakeside real estate:

1. Make a List

How big does it need to be? What features are you hoping to find? What amenities would get you excited? This doesn’t have to be a hard-and-fast list that you can’t deviate from; it can be a flexible collection of ideas that will get you thinking about what you desire in your future lake house.

2. Consider the Location

Location is one of the most important aspects of buying a lake house, especially if you’ll be responsible for maintaining the land around it. You might wind up needing something like weed control for lakes to keep nature from taking over. You’ll also want to think about climate, soil, shade, and the view from your windows.

Don’t be afraid to shop around for the location that is “just right” for you. Whether it be close to where you lived previously or in an entirely different state, you want your lake house property to be relaxing, safe, and family friendly. If waterfront property in your area is lacking, there are 55+ communities in Tennessee that boast lakeside views as well as communities along the different Great Lakes. Road trip, anyone?

3. Look Into the Owner

Once you’ve found a potential lake house, make sure that you do your research about its owner. They should have a clean, non-criminal record, and the house shouldn’t have any weird leasing issues or documentation mishaps. If you ever suspect that your lake house deal isn’t legitimate, don’t be afraid to cut your losses and walk away. A little firmness now can save you a world of trouble tomorrow.

4. Think About Year-Round Upkeep

If you’ll only be vacationing in the lake house once or twice a year, what will happen to it when you’re not there? Will you rent it out? Will you hire someone to maintain it? How much will it cost? Think about these things before committing to a particular land or cabin purchase. The little details could end up being a big deal.

These are just a few tips for finding, selecting, and evaluating a potential lake house. They can be a great investment for the future, but you’ll need to know what you’re doing before you sign on the dotted line. Good luck!

Aug27

The Best Places To Raise A Family In The US

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The Best Places To Raise A Family In The US

Parents usually see the world a bit differently when their kids are young. They choose areas that are affordable, safe, and comfortable with enough storage space, while things like proximity to bars and restaurants take a back seat. Here are the top places that you can stay in the US if you want to raise a family:

Wylie, Texas:

This is one of the fastest-growing areas of Texas, and it has a good community spirit. Thanks to the city’s proximity to Ray Hubbard and Lavon lakes, your family can enjoy a day out in the swimming spots and hiking trails in the area. The crime rate in Wylie is well below the national crime rate, which makes it a great place to raise your children. If you move to this city, you are likely to find a job because it has a low rate of unemployment as well as a booming economy.

North Arlington, New Jersey:

If you want to enjoy the perks of a big town in a small one, North Arlington is the place to be. Situated just fifteen miles from the financial district in NYC, this location will give you an ideal home base with low crime rates and great schools. The town boasts a high academic record and a very high graduation rate. In good weather, you can head to the 85 acre Riverside County Park with your kids. And, on cold and wet days, you can head to Secaucus outlets to enjoy some shopping.

Fishers, Indiana:

This small city of about 86,000 people is located sixteen miles from Indianapolis. Redevelopment projects that total 90 million dollars have made this city an attractive location for entrepreneurs who are looking to relocate.

But, if you are moving to Fishers, you should not expect all work and no play. The recently developed downtown has a number of boutiques and restaurants, which makes it a perfect weekend spot. Moreover, this city has 104 miles of multi use trails and nature as well as 24 parks. During the winter, you can head to Flat Fork Creek Park, which is an ideal spot for sledding because of its high peaks.

Lone Tree, Colorado:

This Denver suburb is a quick light-rail ride or drive into the city, which makes it the ideal location for people who commute to work. Despite its small size, this town is home to a huge shopping center called Park Meadows Mall and an art center that hosts regular dance performances.

With high school graduation rates at more than 90%, you will not have to send your children to schools outside of the town. There are also low crime rates in Lone Tree, making it great for bringing up children. If you are browsing homes using a website like this, you should always ensure that they are in a relatively safe area first.

Monterey Park, California:

This location is just a few miles from downtown L.A, which makes it easier to commute through the expensive Los Angeles area. Within the borders of this small city, your children can enjoy recreational activities in a dozen parks. The high graduation rates in Monterey Park don’t hurt either! This region is a foodie heaven, thanks to its ethnically diverse population. Monterey Park also honors the different cultures in the area by holding several special events throughout the year.

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Whether you want to live in a premiere destination in the Bay Area or a rural area, you should make sure that the place has low crime rates and good schools before anything else.

Jun21

Cleveland Zoo Fun

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Cleveland Zoo Fun

Hello! Last week, I got to enjoy some time at the Cleveland Zoo and it was such a blast. This zoo offers at least five major exhibits including the Asian Highlands, Australian Outback, African Savannah, and so much more. There is also a separate building that mimics a tropical rain forest for you to explore. It’s so cool! Here are some of the pictures that I snapped throughout the day for your viewing pleasure:

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It is always so amazing to take a trip to the zoo, especially a big one like the Cleveland Zoo, so that you can see all of your favorite animals up close and personal. I am a lover of all creatures big and small, but when I am at the zoo, I am incredibly partial to the monkeys because they all have such distinct personalities. It was a hoot to see one of the monkeys passed out in a cat nap and the tiny black one licking his fingers after a yummy treat. But, the orangutans will always be my number one favorite.

Orangutans are such fascinating creatures to me, and I could seriously watch them all day. You can genuinely see such human like traits in their eyes like empathy and humor and I would give anything to be able to interact with them. The baby orangutan seen in the last two pictures above definitely stole the show, though. You could tell that he or she was having the time of its life just monkeying around and making us humans laugh. He was doing yoga-like poses, snuggling with his mom and dad, and playing dress up with the burlap sack. It doesn’t get much cuter than that!

What is your favorite animal to see at the zoo? Do you have a zoo that you like to frequent in your neck of the woods? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun6

Creative Ways To Save For Travel

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Creative Ways To Save For Travel

You can travel with debt, but taking steps to reduce your debt before traveling is advisable. Loan consolidation makes a lot of sense, and could save you enough capital for a trip over time. Generally, when you’ve got any debt, your best strategy to liberate yourself will be to live beneath your means until the cost has been overcome.

For example: say you make $2,000 a month. $800 goes to rent and utilities, $200 goes to gasoline, $500 goes to food. What do you do with that additional $500? Do you spend it, or save it? Well, if you’re living beneath your means, you save it. That, or you put it toward paying off any debt you owe.

Something you additionally want to do is find ways to cut down on regular bills. For example, if you’re paying $200 a month in gas, but you only live two miles from where you work, and this is your primary reason for driving, see if you can cut that number in half. A 250-mile tank can make 125 two-mile trips or 62.5 consecutive work-days.

If you’re only working 20 days a month, then you can make it to and from work and still have 80+ miles left over for whatever you like. If you’ve got a conventional car, a tank is only around $50. So, if you can cut down your time spent driving, you can preserve the lifespan of your vehicle while reducing your monthly expenses, allowing you to either save money or pay off debt with greater expedience.

Practical Considerations:

Certainly, this is easier said than done. Once you’ve established the non-negotiables of your budget, it’s time to see what you’ve got leftover and what you can do with it. Even if you have relatively little, proper planning can help you attain necessary capital for a vacation. Funds for your trip could come from smart, short term budgeting for a weekend getaway. Or, perhaps you would like to explore luxury holidays to Iceland. A big trip means planning to the letter, budgeting until you have the means and then some, and making long term changes to your lifestyle.

If after you streamline your budget, you can only add an extra $200 to your expendable income, that is still $2,400 in a year; or enough for a pretty decent vacation. You might also find that budgeting paid off during your travel itself. If you travel abroad and have extra money left over, you could convert old currency to cash to put towards your next adventure.

Transportation:

Another important thing to consider in your budget is your car itself. If you feel like you are constantly shelling out for repairs and a full tank isn’t getting you far, you might be due for an upgrade. A great first step is researching “preapproval car loan” to find dealerships near you where you know you can purchase from. You can also look into how much money you will get towards a better vehicle if you trade your car in. Newer models of cars are safer and more economic and can end up saving you money in the long run. Not to mention you will want a safe car when you are driving to your vacation destination!

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Budget wisely!

Avoiding Creature Comforts:

Still, this is a fairly ideal circumstance, and cutting down your monthly expenditures in terms of food and gas can be difficult. So, you must find ways that you can eliminate discretionary spending. You may be surprised at how many unnecessary things you buy. Don’t think about creature comforts, think about living at a bare minimum.

For $100, you can eat well for a month as an individual, should you be careful enough in purchasing and preparing your own meals. You can combine such a budget with EBT or food bank sustenance to increase the amount of food you have access to. You can additionally seek options beyond your income to help you acquire what you need.

You may be surprised to find what you actually qualify for, especially if you’re a low-income family, there may be support solutions out there for you. Here’s the AUS Benefits website; it can help you to see if you’re eligible for financial assistance in certain areas of life. Sometimes, this can come in the form of direct support or tax breaks.

Something else that can help you save money is where you choose to travel. You don’t have to stay in the highest dollar accommodations available. You may look for friends, relatives, or look for special offers such as these. There are also after-market type hotel situations which, though perhaps not ideal, can save you a few hundred dollars.

Although travel is a luxury, it can be more attainable with the above tips!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Feb27

The Best Gifts For The Traveler In Your Life

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The Best Gifts For The Traveler In Your Life

The best gifts are always those that show how much you know a person. That’s an ironclad rule across the board. A lot of us know a person to whom travel is more than just a yearly vacation, it’s part of their lifestyle. An itch they absolutely have to scratch. If you know someone bit by the travel bug, then a gift that fits that lifestyle can be the most valuable of all:

Their Memories:

Travelers like to do more than roam the world, many of them like to document it in some way. Gifts that can help them do that encourage them not only to do what they love but to keep sharing it. If they’re a photographer, then lenses, cases, tripods, and so on can help them take better pictures. A handmade, leather-bound notebook can encourage them to start keeping travel diaries. Even photo frames containing some of their best snaps can help them look back on their journeys with pride and appreciation. It could even be something as basic as finding Japanese greeting cards, or something from a place they visited that they absolutely loved to help keep it close to them always. Sometimes the simple things are the best, right?

Something To Display:

Often, finding something special from one of the countries that they’ve been to can bring some of their best travel memories flooding back. Souvenirs like collectible coins featured on this website, postcards, or even ordering some food that they tried abroad can help them relive the journey all over. What’s more, it might give them something to display in honor of those past trips.

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 A beautiful globe to display is also a great idea!

The World They Love So Much:

A globe or a world map is always a great gift for a traveler if they don’t have one. It gives them the chance to look back on just how much of the world that they have seen. If it’s an interactive map, like the scratch maps shown at this site, then that’s all the better. It acts as another way for them to record their journey, to fuel a sense of accomplishment, and encourage them to scratch more locations off that map.

Somewhere To Go:

If they love seeing the world so much, why not help them see even more of it? Serious travelers know you don’t always have to fly hundreds of miles away to have a great time. You can find closer travel opportunities by suggesting a road trip, finding a national park near you, or even visiting a museum if they’re also an art or history buff. More than simply giving them something, it shows you’re willing to try that new experience with them.

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 Pixabay Image

A Helping Hand:

Finally, there are all kinds of gifts that can help them better enjoy traveling. Translation earbuds, neck pillows, portable chargers, eBook or audiobook subscriptions for those long travels are all good places to start. You could also consider transportation tickets to further assist during travels. A boarding pass for a train ride, subway card, or even a ticket for a Ferry to France the next time they are abroad will be so appreciated. They might be used to traveling around the world in discomfort but that doesn’t mean that they necessarily want to do it that way. Making their life a little easier is the most one could ask for from a good gift.

Hopefully, the examples above give you some idea of how you can treat the traveler in your life. A little acknowledgement and appreciation of that hobby are sure to make any gift all the better.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Feb19

Why Is Japan Such A Popular Destination?

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Why Is Japan Such A Popular Destination?

If you are a keen traveler, there are probably many places on your list which you would like to visit. One that is commonly near the top of many lists, however, is Japan. For a lot of Westerners, Japan is seen as the ideal go-to for a slice of Asian life. It is certainly true that there is nowhere else quite like Japan, but the question is: why? What is it about this country that makes it so enticing to Western wanderlusters? As it happens, there are a number of reasons you might want to visit Japan, and knowing what they are just might tempt you into making it onto your travel list for the next few years. Whether you are planning a trip with friends and family or looking into japan solo travel packages, let’s look at some of the best reasons to visit Japan:

The Culture:

One of the main things drawing people into Japan has to be the culture. No matter who you are, you have to admit that Japanese culture is pretty much unlike any other in the world. And, for that reason, it is likely that a visit to the country will be a fascinating one for someone who is not used to it. In fact, Japan is one of the places where people most commonly experience culture shock when they are traveling, and if you are someone who likes a bit of culture shock, then this is definitely somewhere you should consider visiting at your earliest opportunity. There are so many aspects to the culture which might attract the traveler, from Japanese anime to the high-tech and fast-paced wonders of the city, so you can definitely expect not to be bored with the cultural highlights if you do visit.

The People:

Japan is also famously filled with some of the most polite and friendliest people on the planet, and that can be hugely important when you are traveling. If you are keen on traveling alone, you will find that the people being so friendly is definitely most welcome, and it will likely be one of the most important factors of all, in fact. Of course, it is never true that every single individual is pleasant to deal with, but on the whole you will probably find that Japan offers you an experience which makes you feel safe and welcome from the very start.

The Terrain:

If you are interested in seeing a huge variety of terrain, then you really don’t need to look any further than Japan. You could be crammed into the train in the busiest city in the world one moment, and completely alone on the top of a beautiful mountain the next. No matter what it is that you actually want from your trip, you can be sure that Japan will be able to offer it. This makes for a fascinating and enormously satisfying experience for any traveler, so it is well worth considering for your next trip abroad. You might even find that it is easier to traverse than you had assumed.

If your goal for your trip to Japan is sight seeing, you will surely want to know all of the best tourist destinations as well as beloved local spots. Of course, you can complete your own research online. However, AI functions like those featured on Novae.Travel can be a great asset for all aspects of your trip including popular locations, flights, and hotels.

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So pretty!

Featured Image By: Pexels