This quote from Albus Dumbledore has stuck with me over the years. I use it as a reminder to remain optimistic even in the darkest of times. I’ve always been an optimistic person, however, there are days when I can lose that for just a moment.
The universe has been pretty good to me lately so I can’t really complain but life is never a smooth road. In the words of the shrunken head on the Knight Bus, “It’s gonna be a bumpy ride!” I’ve driven on some pretty rocky roads so I know this to be true.
I like to be prepared for my next dark time. Like the great Hagrid once said, “There’s a storm coming, Harry. And we all best be ready when she does.” With that in mind, I try not to forget ways to get through my next storm. Whether it’s just a drizzle or a full on monsoon, I have a plan. I’ll remember to turn on the light.
I saw this quote on Instagram and had yet another wake up call! (Two epiphanies in one week? I’m on a roll!) I need to find more activities that pull me away from my phone and into adventures.
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I’m definitely guilty of being a social media addict so I am no expert, but I thought I’d share some ideas I had on ways that we can take a vaca from our devices:
❤ Something outdoorsy like hiking or camping.
(Because nature is cool! 🍁)
❤ Water activities that require us to put our phones aside like swimming, jet skiing and kayaking. I don’t partake in these activities but they sound fun!
❤ Host a game night at home with friends and make everyone put their phones in a bowl for the duration of each game. After all, we can’t win with our faces in our phones!
❤ Play a game of Phone Stack the next time we head out to dinner with friends. Who ever touches their phone first, pays the bill! Who doesn’t want free dinner? 😉
❤ Get a group of friends together for a few rounds of sand volleyball, corn hole or putt putt. Any outdoor sport or activity that requires both hands would work 🙂
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There doesn’t have to be a strict no phone rule. Occasional breaks to snap, take pictures and do a status update is fine but I think we’ll enjoy life much more with our phones away and our focus on the experience!
Have any other ideas to add to mine? Leave them in the comments below!
I cannot believe that it is already mid-July! Where has the time gone? This year is flying by and it got me thinking that I really need to start living life in a more exciting and fun way.
This August, my husband and I are making it a point to go on a couple of small road trips. I am always so scared to just get up and go because I think about more responsible ways to allocate the funds but I have to stop. I’m 30 years old, I rarely travel and my family and I need to start seeing life beyond the bars of Cleveland, Ohio!We are heading to DC for three days in mid-August with my son. This one was actually my son’s idea. He adores Barack Obama and is so excited to see the White House. We also got invited to tag along with some friends to the Afro Punk Fest in Brooklyn, NY toward the end of August. This will be our first time visiting New York! Crazy, I know! I’m honestly more excited to people watch and steal fashion ideas than I am for the actual fest. ❤
I also have a mini girls trip coming up! Yas! One of my good friends and I will be road tripping to Philly in a few weeks for the Coldplay concert. SO pumped because I love Coldplay and we get to run (more like slowly crawl) the Rocky steps. 😉
I advise you all to come to the same realization as I did. Go on a quick road trip with your loved ones. Be spontaneous! Our lives go flying at the speed of sound (Coldplay pun) and we need to take full advantage of the time we have left here.
Unable to travel? Be a tourist in your own town. Last Friday, I had an awesome girls night in Downtown Cleveland and I hit up a local festival on Sunday with my husband. I had a blast! Summer is the perfect time to track down some local events, festivals and concerts. Before you know it, it will be freezing out and you wont want to do anything else besides Netflix and chill.
Yes, be responsible and worry about the serious things in life but also remember to HAVE FUN!
Hey Guys! So, I know it’s much easier to invest a few dollars into the electric beach but there are better and more entertaining ways to get your bronze on!
Why choose natural sunlight over light bulbs, you ask? Well, it is much healthier. According to Mind Body Green, sunlight has many health benefits including the reduction of the depression. You’ll still want to use sunblock, though, because even natural rays can be dangerous. Everything in moderation, right? 🙂
I decided to try a few things out this summer and so far, so good!
Do yard work
Go to a baseball game
Walk around an outdoor shopping plaza
Go to an outdoor festival or concert
Hit up a day club
Play with your kids outside or at the park
Explore your city by foot
Go on vacation and explore that city
A day at the pool or beach
Outdoor fitness classes
Put on a tank and a pair of shorts, do a few or all of these activities and you’re sure to get some color! Tanning beds may give you a quicker tan but these are way more fun, don’t you think? 🙂
Soak up the sun, loves ☀️ I’ll see y’all out there. 😎
Just call me the Ghostbuster! I ain’t afraid of no ghosts! 😛
Ghosting defined by The Skimm: “The word for that guy you met on Bumble, went on three dates with, and never heard from again. A new study says that almost all millennials are guilty of this kind of thing. Swipe right, date, disappear. Repeat.”
Sounds pretty shitty, right? That’s because it is.
Disclaimer: I will not apologize for being so harsh.
I am married and won’t have to ever deal with this, hopefully, but I know people who have. This recently happened to my boss, someone who deserves the absolute best. It pains me to hear my friends vent about someone they like falling off the face of the earth. It’s just a dick move and I’ll tell you why.
You’re acting like a coward
You decided to ghost because you’re not brave enough to give someone honesty or deal with confrontation. You find that it is easier for you to just ignore someone completely. You stopped answering their phone calls and ignore their texts. You may have even gone as far as blocking them on social media and/or blocking their phone number. You’re treating them as if they’re some kind of stalker when really, he or she is a normal human being who is interested in you and you’re just too scared to tell them, “sorry, feelings are not mutual”. Grow a pair, contact them back and tell them you are not interested.
You just don’t care
Maybe you’re not a coward, maybe you just dgaf! This is even worse than being scared because it’s not fear that’s stopping you from properly ending the relationship, it’s total disregard for someone else’s feelings. You just don’t care to tell them because you, my friend, are selfish. You decided that you were not interested and are moving forward with your life without giving them the equal opportunity to do so themselves. You left them wondering, “WTF happened,” while you chill and live a carefree life. Uh uh, not cool!
It insinuates there’s something wrong with them
When you disappear on someone, it could cause one to feel as though they are the problem. They start to rethink every interaction to see where they went wrong. They think about everything they said and did. “Did I come on too strong?” “Was I not enough?” “Am I not attractive enough?’ “Was it because I snort when I laugh?” Legit, people will think about every little thing they did and over-analyze it. Yes, this is something they need to work on within themselves but don’t add to their insecurity.
You may not feel as though there’s anything wrong with them, you’re just not feeling a connection and that’s fine. Giving that explanation right there could stop someone’s mind from running wild with self-doubt. If you care anything about other human beings at all, be decent to the ones you come in contact with, especially if you dated them, even more if they’ve given their body to you, you jerk! *Over-the-top eye roll*
You’re not creative enough to think of a lie
Ok, so 99% of the time, I’m completely against lying. Do not lie! However, if you’re deciding between ghosting and lying, you lie! Let’s say you’ve been seeing someone and it’s not that serious. Your ex, whom you love, comes back into the picture and you choose to pursue that again and make it work. If you’re scared to tell the new person that this is happening, lie! Tell them you’re not ready for a relationship. Tell them you want to enjoy single life. Hell, tell them you’re thinking about moving far away and don’t want to complicate things. Tell them anything you think sounds good, if you want to save face. Use your noggin, get your creative juices flowing.
If you cannot do this, it shows a lack of resourcefulness and/or lack of effort. Regardless of what the truth is, at least you ended it and they’re not wondering where the hell you went and what the hell happened.
Bottom line is;
Know when you can ghost and when you cannot. Apparently, sometimes, it’s “acceptable”. GQ has a complete guide here.
While you may not have a connection with someone, think about their feelings before you ghost, you selfish POS 😉 .
This week has been kind of blah for me. I was home sick from work on Monday and Tuesday due to lady troubles *eye roll*. I was not feeling well at all. I finally went back to work on Wednesday and it was a stressful one. Our inbox was full and the phones were ringing off the hook.
Since my son was at his father’s last night, I took a detour on my way home to my happy place!
What’s that, you ask? TARGET! Duh!
They have an amazing home sale right now. I’m trying to save money so I only bought a few things for very low prices. Check out what I bought and get your Red Card ready because you’ll want to go snag some stuff before it’s all gone!
Metal Marquee Letter Small – Ampersand and “O” – Threshold™
These little cuties are $4.98 each. They were originally $14.99. What a steal! They look adorable on my end tables and the lights are BRIGHT! The batteries are not included so you’ll need to pick up some double A’s. They also each come with two replacement bulbs.
There weren’t many letters left so I was thrilled to see that they had an “O”for my new last name! I love being a newlywed and wear my new name proudly. Anytime I see one, I have to snag it, especially if it’s on sale! 🙂 If you don’t see the letter you need, keep in mind any baby showers or bridal showers you have coming up. These make perfect gifts!
“Never Grow Up Throw Pillow” – 20″x12″ – Pillowfort™
If you’ve read my post, PSA: Don’t Rush to Grow Up, you know I’m no fan of adulting. What really sold me, though, was the price. It was originally $16.99, I got it for a whopping $5.08! It was a no brainer that it had to be mine :).
I’m pretty sure this pillow is meant for a child’s room but, I thought it would look cute in my living room on my couch.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
New Adventures Door Mat – 18″x30″ -HOT NOW®
I’m obsessed with arrows so when I walked by this doormat, I had to have it. I saw the red clearance tag but couldn’t quite read the price from a distance. When I bent over to get a closer look, I prayed that it was less than $9.99. (Sometimes I just refuse to pay $10 dollars or more for ANYTHING. I have very strict clearance shopping rules. They keep me from overspending.) It must have been my lucky day because it was only $6.48! In the basket it went! I put it by my front door, inside. I’m sure it’s supposed to go outside but I love it so much and don’t want it to get dirty. I know that’s what it’s for but I just can’t even do it. I love the message on it too. #YOLO!
Red Hot Chili Peppers Californication Graphic Tank – Bravado®
This wasn’t in the home section but it was a must-have! I love three things about this tank; Red Hot Chili Peppers, Californication and the state of California in general! My location on Twitter reads “Dream of Californication,” although, I live in Cleveland, Ohio. It has said that since 2009 when I first created my account. Because of all of these reasons, I broke my clearance shopping rule and dished out $10.48 for the top. I had to!
I can’t wait to wear it. I plan on dressing it up with black liquid leggings and dressing it down with a pair of cut-off shorts!
Bonus!
To top all of those good buys off, I came home to my ipsy bag in the mailbox! Score! This was just the icing on the cake!
The contents:
Crown Brush 3 Tone Bronzer
FORMULA X Nail Polish in Wingwoman
BioRepublic SkinCare Fiber Mask Set in Cucumber Breeze and Pomegranate Crush
Liptini Cream Lip Color in Pinktini
theBalm Cosmetics Meet Matt(e) Trimony Eyeshadow in Matt Kumar (matte cranberry)
I cannot wait to try all of these goodies! I already painted my toes with my new polish last night 🙂 If you don’t have ipsy, sign up here. I highly recommend!
I have to say, yesterday was a good day! *Ice Cube Voice*
Next time you have a bad day, suck it up, wait it out and do some shop therapy. Works every time ❤
What a great time to be a woman! Women used to stay at home to take care of the children and house duties while the men worked. Nowadays, we do all of that and work a full-time job. In some households, the woman is even the breadwinner. Go us!
I was inspired by two girls on my son’s little league team to write this post. In last week’s game, Carly went against the coaches’ instructions both times she was up to bat, stole bases and scored the only two points our team had that day. You go girl! Later in the game, Paige got smacked in the head with a baseball, the coach yelled, “shake it off, Paige,” and that’s exactly what she did! She played the rest of the game while clearly being in pain. These girls out-shined the boys big time! Little MVPs!
These are just two small examples of how resilient women are. I’d like to celebrate us by listing five women who inspire me and who showcase what women’s empowerment really means.
Iskra Lawrence
Ms. Lawrence is shutting model stereotypes down. You don’t have to be thin to be a supermodel and she is living proof. People are literally obsessed with her. I am one of those people! Iskra was dropped by her modeling agency for being “too big” and was told she was too small for plus-size modeling. Aerie snagged her for their “Real” Campaign and boy, did they hit the jackpot.
This woman is confident, fun and has quite the sense of humor. She posted a photo of herself on instagram covered in snacks and indulging in a bag of potato chips. This photo slammed body shamers and inspired people who have been bullied about their weight. She also helped create the National Eating Disorders Association Inspires Seal of Approval campaign.
You can catch her on Insta looking fierce and dancing like nobody’s watching! Just follow her now and thank me later. ❤
Hillary Clinton
Just this month, Hillary became the first woman presumptive nominee for a major American political party. This is a big deal and whether you support her or not, we could have our first woman POTUS! This could be the first time we can use the term “First Husband”…or “First Man”…or whatever we decide to call Bill. She is about to go toe-to-toe with “The Donald” in debates where he is going degrade and belittle her and I have no doubt in my mind that she will take it like a champ and fire right back! #ImWithHer ❤
Lena Dunham
Actress, writer, director, producer and LEADER! Lena speaks out on any and all social issues that she feels passionate about. She does not hold back for anyone. She has touched on sexual assault, Planned Parenthood funding and women’s health, body image and equal rights for same-sex couples.
Her book, “Not That Kind of Girl,” talks about her experience of being sexually assaulted at her Alma Mater in my home state. Not cool, bro! Just this week, she posted a video on her twitter account dedicated to the survivor in the Standford case. She uses her role as a public figure to not only entertain us but to inform us and raise awareness. More celebrities should follow her lead! 😎
Gabby Douglas
She is the first African American woman in Olympic history to become the individual all-around champion and the first American gymnast to win gold in both the individual all-around and team competitions at the same Olympics as well as being the only American all-around champion to win multiple gold medals in a single Olympic Games. She is also the first female reigning Olympic all-around champion to return to the World Championships and medal in the all-around since Elena Davydova in 1981. (I literally copied all of that from Wikipedia because there’s just no other way to say it 😉 )
Sheesh! That’s a mouthful! With all of that being said, she still had other struggles that she powered through before achieving all that she has. She encountered racist bullying in one of the gyms she was a part of that made her almost stop competing all together. She clearly kept going and it paid off! Keep an eye out for her. She’ll be competing in this year’s Olympics.
Gina Rodriguez
She’s basically my favorite person! She won Golden Globe for Best Actress in a TV Comedy back in 2014 for her role in Jane theVirgin. NBD! What really makes her stand out, though, is her dedication to empowering women. She started the We Will Foundation, which is focused on funding arts education scholarships for less fortunate young women. In addition to that, every week she posts an image of a woman of Hispanic descent for #MovementMondays on her Instagram account. She highlights their accomplishments, why they inspire her and why we should pay more attention to them. She focuses on immigration reform, education and body image. She’s another super celebrity using her powers for good. I love it!
This list could literally go on and on so I had to stop at five! Continue to be inspired by other women and continue to be an inspiration to other women. This is our world, they just live in it 😛 !
Why do I rave about this store? Because they have awesome and cheap shit!! Kid you not!
I love a good deal! My mother has passed down her talent and patience to track down sales. Shopping the clearance section at your favorite store is one obvious way to save a few dollars, however, thrifting is a cheaper alternative.
In Cleveland, Plato’s Closet was the place to find used, name brand gear. After many unsuccessful trips, I decided not to waste my time anymore. My thrifting days came to a hault.
Luckily, my friends Megan and Lizzie dragged me to a dollar sale at both the Lakewood and Coventry Avalon Exhange locations a little over a year ago. I’ve been hooked ever since. I didn’t even know they existed before that glorious day. Silly me! If you’re in the Cleveland area, check it out ASAP. (They also have locations in Pittsburgh, PA, St. Louis, MO and Winter Park, FL.)
I made a random stop at the Lakewood location last week and found a few awesome pieces that I wanted to share.
(Disclaimer: My photographer husband has been super busy lately so, you guys get selfies this time around. 🙂 A stack of DVDs and self-timer are no match for his skills though!)
Forever 21 Baseball CropI plan on getting a lot of use out of this tee. It was only $5.50 so the ROI on this bad baby is amazing. I love it with my hubby’s flannel tied around my waist. It would also look cute with a pair of high waisted leggings or cut off shorts.
American Eagle Denim BraletteExcuse my resting bitch face, but this $5 top is adorbs! It’s super comfy and would pair well with any cotton bottom; a maxi skirt, leggings or shorts.
AviatorsAll sunglasses at the front of the store are $10.50 right now. It’s very easy to want to try on a ton of them because they all rock! My bestie tried to buy these off of me for $20. I shut her down and drove her to Avalon to get her own pair. She ended up with two pairs for the same $20 she offered me. You’re welcome, Amanda! 😛 #WeRockAV8As
Herschel Fanny PackThe unique thing about Avalon is that they post the really cool items they get in on their Insta and you can call, buy the item with a credit card and pick it up later. I literally had just gotten home from there and they posted this work of art on their IG. My husband and I decided it had to be ours! I called and for just $14.50, I was a proud owner of a fanny pack! I’m loving that it’s unisex, my husband has used it numerous times this week. The jockey and dog print is also a plus.
Gap Cropped Vintage Denim JacketDays after my shopping trip, I was on my lunch break scrolling through the gram and this caught my eye. I immediately wanted to call and buy but I was being cheap that day and decided to skip it. About five minutes later, my friend commented on the photo, mentioned me and said “you need this.” I took that as a sign and called them right away! Totally worth the $14.50! I can wear this over anything and I’m loving how apparent it is that it’s not from this decade. #tbt!
Keep in mind that you might not find something you love every time you go. They are constantly buying single, unique items to fill the store. You’ll have good days and you’ll have bad days but don’t give up! Thrifting takes patience and perseverance!
My advice; take numerous trips and stalk their Instagram. Also, they will buy your clothes! if you’ve got some gently used, trendy pieces you no longer wear, you have a chance to make money and make room in your closet for all the newish things you’ll find there!
I remember impatiently seeking independence when I was a teenager. I wanted to do whatever I wanted, have a career and be a grown up. Back then, parents just didn’t understand and I was tired of being told what to do. At this point though, I’m realizing that I had it so easy. My parents only wanted what was best for me and I had zero responsibilities. My best advice is to stay a kid as long as possible.
Photo via weheartit.comNow, once you’re about 25, I think it might be time to get it together but before then I’ll give you a pass to get your Peter Pan on!
Do these five things and I promise you’ll be virtually stress free.
1.Live at home for a while
Unless you’re in college and live on campus, the parentals are the best roomies you can have. Living with them may not be completely free but it’s dirt cheap compared to living on your own. The downside, of course, is the lack of privacy, but after dishing out your hard earned dollars to rent, utilities, groceries furniture and decor, you’ll be wishing your mom was still walking into your room without knocking.
Don’t forget to save money while you’re there. Shop smart and load up your savings account. The money you stack up could go to tuition, a spring break trip or even pay for things you’ll need when you are ready to move out.
2.Remember that it’s okay to be single
A wise cop in Cottondale, Florida once said, “the boys and the beach are still going to be there whether you go 99 or 25.” He was definitely referring to the fact that we were speeding down the road to get to spring break in Panama City, however, I think it’s a relevant statement. There will always be boys. Don’t speed up the process. Do you. Experience things, focus on school and start building the foundation for a promising future.
My brother used to tell me, “you haven’t even met everyone you’re going to meet in your life.” If you’re single right now, it’s likely that you may not have met the right person yet. There’s about 8 billion people in this world so, that fuckboy that screwed you over is literally the least of your problems.
Don’t rush into something just because you feel lonely or because all your friends are dating. Just chill. I’ve seen a lot of relationships around me come to an end due to infidelity or because one of the two parties felt as though they didn’t experience enough in life to make a commitment. Stay single, date around, go on vacations and don’t let a relationship hold you back from doing anything. Get serious with someone when you see real potential for a great future with them. Don’t waste your time or anyone else’s.
3.Don’t stop doing things you love
I know once you hit college age, parties, date nights and clubbing will be your activities of choice, but don’t neglect your old hobbies. Go rollerblading, ride bikes, play Mario Kart or go cosmic bowling. I’m 30 years old and I wish I was laser tagging right this very moment. You’re not “too cool” to do any of these things. If anything, you’ll start a trend.Go against the grain. Once people start seeing you snapping from the skating rink, you’ll see more and more people there each time you go. You’ll also notice that you’ll have less drama. Let’s just be honest, nothing good comes from binge drinking. You spend all your money, text the wrong boys and get involved in stupid girl fights. Complete and utter waste of time and money.
4.Drive your first car until the wheels fall off
“According to Edmunds.com, the average monthly payment on a new vehicle is $479.” Sheesh! That’s a lot of money. For a used car, it may be around $200, but nevertheless, saving up a few thousand dollars for a car would be most ideal. The car would be fully paid off so you wont have a monthly payment and you’re not obligated to pay for full coverage insurance.
The key to keeping stress down is to eliminate as many monthly obligations as possible. Behind having an apartment, this is the second most expensive bill to have so cutting this will do wonders for your bank account.
5.Have sleepovers
Throw on your cutest jammies, rent a chick flick and spend a night in with your girls. Put away your fake IDs for the night and tell the boys you’re busy! Catch up with your friends, play board games, order take out and stay up late. Don’t take these moments for granted because once everyone gets married and has kids, sleepovers will be non-existent.
Don’t get me wrong, I love being a mother and a wife. I’m so excited to enter into my 30’s and am fully embracing being a grown woman. However, the ages between 15 and 25 are irreplaceable years. This is your time to live it up, be carefree and make mistakes. I look back at these years and get so giddy about the experiences I’ve had during that time, even the embarrassing moments.
It all comes down to living in the now, not stressing about tomorrow and saving money whenever you can. Before you know it, you’ll be in your late 20’s wondering why life is flying by so quickly. The days are already coming and going at a rapid pace, there’s no need to hit the fast forward button.
As lifestyle bloggers, photos are a requirement. We post OOTDs, makeup tutorials and our everyday activities. The difficult part is that a lot of us don’t have modeling experience. We’re regular people, doing regular things so getting comfortable with having our picture taken can be a struggle. Luckily, I have an amazing photographer, who just so happens to be my husband, to direct me through the beginning stages of my relationship with the camera.
We shot this past weekend for a little practice and he gave me a few tips that I want to share with my fellow bloggers and Instagrammers. Hopefully they will be as helpful to you as they are to me. 🙂
1. Look Away
I’m not sure if you guys run into this issue but I’m a smiler. I’m not comfortable with serious, seductive looks so I literally just stare awkwardly into the lens with a huge, cheesy smile. That definitely gets old and starts to look unnatural after a few shots. My husband instructed me to turn my head to shake things up a bit. It also takes away a lot of the pressure since you’re not face-to-face with the camera. The focus is less on you and more on your outfit or your actions.
2. Keep Your Hands Occupied
To avoid a boring picture with your hands dangling to your sides, do something with them. Place one on your hip, put them in your pocket, hold onto your belt loops or play with your hair. Use props like a coffee cup, bouquet of flowers or a camera. Any prop would work as long as it’s relevant to the content you’re posting and the environment that you’re in. This method gives the image a more organic look and adds a little spice to it without having to actually “pose”.
3. Lean On Something
Try resting on a wall, a car or a railing. Leaning naturally relaxes your body and allows you to take a breather. I’m not sure why but I tend to hold my breath during photoshoots because I’m nervous. Don’t do that! Inhale, exhale and loosen up. I cannot stress enough that the more natural you look, the better.
4. Exaggerate Movements
On the contrary to the last tip, sometimes photos require a little drama! Pop that hip out, flip your hair around or throw your hands in the air. You may feel a little silly but this translates really well in photos. It may even make you laugh which will create a genuine, open-mouth smile. Also, try looking over your shoulder while it’s dramatically lifted toward your chin. This isn’t a natural position but it adds elegance to the shot. Get creative with this one, you might surprise yourself.
Now, I’m no expert on this subject by any means but these tips have changed my mindset completely. I went into it thinking that I would be posing in front of a camera. However, what the photographer really needs is continuous natural movements. These tips will help me improve over time. I will certainly update you guys on my progress and share more tips as I learn them.
Follow me on Instagram to see more of my photos. Most of them will be taken by husband so follow him too 🙂 If you have any other suggestions, please leave them in the comments! 😉
Just this month, Hillary became the first woman presumptive nominee for a major American political party. This is a big deal and whether you support her or not, we could have our first woman POTUS! This could be the first time we can use the term “First Husband”…or “First Man”…or whatever we decide to call Bill. She is about to go toe-to-toe with “The Donald” in debates where he is going degrade and belittle her and I have no doubt in my mind that she will take it like a champ and fire right back! #ImWithHer ❤
Daisha Olmeda 