Monday, July 28, 2014

Meet Chris: The Man Guaranteed to Brighten Your Day

Happy Tuesday!

The other day my dad sent me a video that he received from one of his coworkers.  It's been out for a few months now so you may have already seen it. It's a short film that is currently on Oprah's YouTube channel and follows a remarkable individual, Chris.

People with some of the biggest struggles never falter in showing the world just how beautiful their lives are. Then again, we are the only ones that can truly set our limitations. Chris is no exception. Please take 5 minutes out of your day to watch this.

(If you're on mobile click here.)

Chris' laugh is contagious; his charisma is refreshing. A beautiful and inspiring story.  How could you be anything but happy after watching this?

Have a great day!
Best,
Sarah

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Weekly Links: The Big Apple


Happy Friday guys!

As briefly mentioned on Monday, I ventured off into New York City to watch 5 Seconds of Summer. My friend Shannon and I arrived at 2 in the morning. While you may think that is crazy, there were hundreds, if not thousands, of girls that waited in the streets of New York for up to 6 days just for this concert- that's dedication!  5 Seconds of Summer was the Today show's biggest concert as of yet and because of this, Shannon and I's efforts did not prevail. 


So, we got some bagels, listened to the boy's soundcheck and performance and ultimately just watched their performance once I got home. Calum, Luke, Michael and Ashton display more talent at 7 am than I ever will in any endeavor. Oh, Shannon and I even saw the legendary editor of Vogue, Anna Wintour, on the street. No kidding- she walked  right by us without a body guard. She was pretty safe since I am positive the sea of pre teens didn't know who she was. But I did. And it was awesome.

*Click the hyperlinks below to be redirected to the original article*


Companies are starting to look into giving back to communities and charities. Riding this beneficial trend, the menswear brand Twillory is doing something a bit out of the ordinary. With each clothing purchase, your package will include a prepaid mailer bag to send back any gently worn clothing you no longer wear. Your donation goes to the charity Career Gear and helps  low income individuals better dress for their jobs which can ultimately lead to better chances and income opportunities they would not have otherwise. I think this is a really neat idea because you don't have to leave your house, don't have to worry about the shipping expense and give people a step up in the business world! You can read more about Twillory's mission and  how to donate here.


Everyone and their Mother is obsessed with Fifty Shades of Grey. My stupid humor aside, the best selling series is going to be a movie early next year. Last year there was so much speculation as to who would play Ana and the notorious Christian Grey and now the focus has shifted to the movie's trailer. Released yesterday morning, the trailer is surprisingly tame and features Beyonce.  Yes, you read that right.Beyonce recorded a new and surprisingly eerie version of her hit 'Crazy in Love'. Hopefully, the trailer can tie Fifty Shades fans until February, but if not, Beyonce's vocals surely will.


Jimmy Kimmel is the king of trolling people. In the past he's challenged people eating gluten free to define their lifestyle- which many couldn't!- to having parents prank their children and making them believe all their Halloween candy was devoured. This week, Kimmel surpassed his own bar by asking people to test out Apple's Itime. Plot twist: the watch hasn't even been designed yet and is actually a $20 watch from Cassio. Watch the woman at the 3:08 mark; made my day.

                                                            Random Little Links:
Have a lovely weekend everyone!
Best,
Sarah

Sunday, July 20, 2014

OOTD: Flower Child


Hello there!
In the 60's, Flower children ruled San Francisco. They filled their lives with peace, love and all that good stuff. While the days of flower power are long gone, it's still fun to emulate that period of time.

It seems like my outfit posts somehow incorporate a floral or flannel (blame it on Vermont). However, it just doesn't feel like appropriate Summer  attire until you throw on a Sunflower pattern.You don't need a crazy floral crown or a music festival to feel free and at ease for a day.


Dress: Wet Seal
Bralet: Forever 21
Shoes: Forever 21
Sunglasses: Ray Ban


I bought these shoes quite some time ago, but am super excited that it is now acceptable to wear them. They are also very comfy which is a plus!



I received this dress from my roommate as a birthday gift and it is the best thing to throw on.  Shift dresses are so light and airy: the perfect pairing. The last thing you want during hot Summer months is for your clothing to stick to your body.


This is me breathing a sigh of relief for finally posting another outfit post.  This face also comes from me realizing I'm going to watch 5 Seconds of Summer on the Today show tomorrow. (I've blogged about them before here and here!) I'm so excited to see them live and also spend some quality time with my best friend.

I hope you all enjoy your week! 
Best,
Sarah

Friday, July 18, 2014

Weekly Links: A life in Pictures


Happy Friday friends!
It's finally a beautiful day, it stormed most of the week near me- and the weekend is here! The world is our oyster. I know it's quite cliché, but seriously, make this weekend yours.
 
*Click the hyperlinks below to be redirected to the original article*
 

For some reason stories about average, everyday people getting plastic surgery in order to look like their favorite celebrities are becoming more and more popular. (Remember when I talked about the real life Barbie and Ken? - scary stuff!) I mean, sure we idolize celebrities, but do we really need to look like them? This week, I heard about Claire and Sheldon, 2 individuals that paid big money to look like Kim Kardashian and Justin Bieber. I didn't put their pictures above-  so please click the hyperlink to see just how identical, or rather not so identical, they look to the celebrities they are trying to emulate. You can watch and learn more about these plastic surgeries on E!s Botched on Sunday at 10... I will definitely be watching because I need to know who in their right mind thought Sheldon looked like Justin Bieber. Oh my.
 

 New father Nathen Steffel posted a rather interesting request on Reddit.  His daughter, Sophia, was diagnosed with  hepatic hemangioma in her liver before she was born and unfortunately only lived a short 6 weeks before passing away last week.  Steffel took to Reddit, hoping that its users could help photoshop a picture of Sophia (pictured above) without her breathing tubes. He said that he and his wife did not have any normal photos of Sophia as she was hooked up to breathing tubes her whole life. His request sparked numerous responses and the photos he received are absolutely beautiful.  
 

What you're looking at is a picture of the future, at least from photographer CYJO's viewpoint. Stated in this article, the Census Bureau predicts that by the year 2043 no single racial group will make up a majority of the United States. CYJO's photo series called 'Mixed Blood' captures beautiful portraits of present day mixed families. The series includes portraits of families from New York and Beijing. You can learn more 'Mixed Blood', CYJO and view her portrait's on her website by clicking here.

 
In 2008, Florida deemed same sex marriage unconstitutional.  On July 22, that ban will be lifted.  When this change is put in place, 20 states will have legal same sex marriage. While this is a slow and steady process, it's one step closer for all to have basic human rights.
 
Random Little Links:

  My weekend will most likely consist of a Saved By The Bell marathon and the purchase of a new laptop and planning for my trip into New York City next week. My laptop laced in Lisa Frank stickers is at the end of its life and I am so ready to kick it to the curb. Out with the old and in to the 21st century. A new outfit post will be coming your way on Monday. Have a great weekend! 
 
Best,
Sarah

Monday, July 14, 2014

My Beauty Besties


Good Morning friends!

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. These Summer days are not only flying, but are also laid out in a way that blogging has to take the back burner every now and then.

Over the years, I've had quite the trial and error process when it comes to different body, hair and makeup products. Beauty brands know that pretty packaging and the right wording can make girls swoon. 

This product can make my skin look pore less and lasts all day? Well, then I might as well buy ten, you feel me?

After spending most of my days as a teen trying out every beauty product imaginable, I have finally gotten my favorite beauty buys to minimum.  I still try to change some things in my beauty arsenal from time to time, but today's post is about the lovely products that have stood the test of time.  

As long as beauty companies keep making these products, they will be filling up my makeup bag and bathroom. I'd like to introduce you to my beauty besties...

Hair


I love every Aussie product that I have ever tried, but their 3 Minute Miracle is a real drugstore  gem. For $3 and 3 minutes of your time, your locks will transform into silk. Australian aloe and jojoba oil are what make this deep conditioner a keeper in my book. Whether your hair is thin or a thick tangled mess like mine, this product will soften and smooth without weighing your hair down.
Unfortunately, no matter how good a product may be, your hair will soon get used to it so it is important to switch out your hair products! This is something that I have just recently learned.  This past year at school, I used L'Oreal's Power Moisture hair mask. It does everything that Aussie's 3 Minute Miracle does, but is a bit thicker. This is a good choice for curly or thick hair and lasts longer than Aussie. However, I love both of these products so I don't mind switching off on which one I use!



Curly hair gets very frizzy, very fast. Mousse has never worked well for me so the next best solution  I looked into was hair gel. I was nervous about trying out different hair gels because a little goes a long way. If  too much is applied, your hair looks greasy or becomes crunchy! No bueno. I found a perfect, light weight solution to combat frizz on accident a few years ago and never looked back.  L.A. Looks Nutracurl gel works wonders. I don't know how this gel can be so lightweight and still manage to keep my hair tame, but it does. This gel is often hard to find, but Harmons, CVS and drugstore.com tend to always have it in stock. I put about a quarter sized amount in my hair after I shower and then wherever it is needed after my hair dries. 

Body and Face


Olay is one of the best companies out there for your skin.  Their face washes and lotions are so rich you'd think they are from a department store. Their body wash is no different.  Olay's daily moisture body wash has the equivalent of one jar of moisturizer inside and leaves your skin smooth and soft long after you shower. They also offer an age defying body wash with the same amount of moisturizer inside that I also recommend.


This is my newest obsession. A girl in my dorm used this and I thought it was so cool that I went out and bought some myself. I was an avid makeup wipe user for the longest time. However, spending up to $6 for makeup wipes almost every other week sucks. Save your time and money! $4.50 for a makeup remover that will last for MONTHS. One swipe of this cream and then a wet wash cloth effortlessly gets rid of your makeup and is so gentle. Pond's is not just for your grandma anymore! And even if it is, your grandma is awesome because this cold cream is magic in a jar.

Makeup


I'm a firm believer in using more than one mascara. Mascara brushes and formulas all have a different purpose and if you can create the perfect combination of mascaras your lashes can look so darn good. New mascaras are always coming out and I'm a sucker for their awesome colors or shapes that I can't really stick with just one- unless it's Maybelline's Full and Soft. No matter how many coats of this  bad boy you put on your lashes, they will not clump. This mascara is a perfect base to your  multiple mascara routine or just on its own for a more natural look. Lauren Conrad also swears by this mascara so that's pretty cool.

 
Powder is a must for oily skin all year round and becomes top priority in the Summer. I tried numerous face powders, but only one stands the test of time. Rimmel London's Stay Matte pressed powder lasts forever and doesn't oxidize. In other words, it stays true to its color all day long, regardless of sweat or your skin's natural oils. This powder is so light but still gives just the right amount of coverage and staying power. 
 
Oddly enough, all these products are from the drugstore. It just goes to show that awesome things can come with small price tags. What are the beauty products you can't live without? Let me know! I love discovering new products.  Have a lovely week guys!

Best,
Sarah


Monday, July 7, 2014

Music Monday- The Maine


Hello there everyone!
I hope you all enjoyed your weekends whether it was filled with fireworks, a sea of red, white and blue or otherwise.

Sunday I went to Vans Warped tour.  Luckily, I made it out with only a minor sunburn and a ton of fun memories. 

I've watched The Maine play numerous times before, but on Sunday they brought their show to the next level.  As one would say, things get better with age/ time. I've been listening to The Maine since they started way back in 2007 and although they are gaining popularity each and every day they have stayed humble and have inspired many, many people.



That being said, as  I watched them yesterday, I realized there are going to be times like that where you stop and remember why you love something so much. 
I really like those moments. 

* UPDATE: The Maine released a Warped Tour diary since this was originally posted and yours truly makes a cameo :) To say I was excited is an understatement. I screamed for about a solid minute and danced around the house much to the amusement of my sister. Watch it here! AHHH! *

Throughout their 7 year journey, The Maine has toured the world, released a book and DVD,  crafted 4 albums, 7 EPs and just dropped their newest release- 5 extra songs on their extremely popular Forever Halloween album. 

 I am so proud of The Maine as a group, how inspiring they are. Still humble. How they are still just that group of 5 normal guys from Arizona. And for that I think it's only appropriate to appreciate some of  my favorite songs of theirs.  (If we had all day, well, I'd make you listen to every song of theirs...) With every album released, The Maine never fails to push their creative boundaries and  tweak their music style. I can't wait to see what the future holds for them.

Enjoy!

* If you are viewing this on mobile, click the hyperlinks below to view*




Have a wonderful week!
Best,
Sarah

Friday, July 4, 2014

Weekly Links: Happy Fourth!


Hello friend!
Happy Friday and happy Fourth of July to those reading this in America. 

Summer is in full swing.  Days now tend to feel like you're swimming in humidity and I'm grateful that I get to work in air conditioning all day. I guess that kind of takes away the whole purpose of Summer though, doesn't it?

*Click the hypertext below to be redirected to the original article*



Alright, so I used to be obsessed with Hello Kitty, but then again who wasn't? My friends and I would draw all of the Sanrio characters and  even gave each other nicknames. Mine was Keroppi because I love frogs. However, as time passed, interests changed and Hello Kitty was just a small phase in my life.  Unlike me, 29 year old Natasha Goldsworth has not grown out of her Hello Kitty fascination and owns more than 10,000 Hello Kitty items. Natasha's house is decked out in Hello Kitty memorabilia and it's no surprise that she is running out of space. 


Always just started a campaign called #likeagirl. What exactly does someone mean when they say 'you ___ like a girl?' Why does someone's gender determine how well something is done? It doesn't. That's why Always #likeagirl campaign in going viral. It's a powerful step in the right direction. No boy or girl needs to be ridiculed based on their gender and their gender definitely shouldn't put a  perceive what they can or can't do.   


One last thing! If you're like me and love to paint your nails then you know the fourth of July is the perfect day to experiment. Here's some last minute nail art to try today!

Random Little Links:

I'm going to Warped Tour this weekend and I am pumped. Big concerts like this are a staple for me during the Summer. Here's crossing my fingers hoping I don't get a sunburn!

Have a great weekend!
Best,
Sarah