Soup For Every Girl's Soul

Sarah's Cook Book: Gluten Free Oatmeal Cranberry White Chocolate Cookies

2012-12-23T05:33:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone!

As Christmas gets closer, I thought I would share with you all one of my favorite Christmas 'traditions'--baking cookies! These are my favorite, my mom and I make them every year and they are delicious! They aren't too sweet, and the white chocolate and dried cranberries balance each other out very nicely. These cookies also freeze perfectly! (They almost taste better when frozen! ) This year, however, we had to change up the recipe a little, because some people in my family have cut out gluten. So, I'm going to show you the recipe, then walk you through the small changes we had to make to make them taste a little more "gluten-filled" than "gluten-free"!

This isn't our original recipe--we use the cookie recipe on the back of the Oceanspray Craisin bag--which you can find here.

Here's what you will need:

2/3 cup butter or margarine, softened

2/3 cup brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats

1 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 5-ounce package Ocean Spray® Craisins®

2/3 cup white chocolate chunks or chips

The original recipe isn't a gluten-free recipe, so in order to make it that way, this is the flour we used.

You can buy this at Harry's, Trader Joes, Whole Foods, etc.

**Note: This type of gluten free flour has a little bit of a nutty flavor, so when you're mixing your cookie dough, add a little vanilla. We added about 1 1/2-2 teaspoons, maybe a little extra. This just helps to override the nuttiness of the dough.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375ºF.
Using an electric mixer, beat butter or margarine and sugar together in a medium mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs, mixing well.
Combine oats, flour, baking soda and salt in a separate mixing bowl. Add to butter mixture in several additions, mixing well after each addition. Stir in dried cranberries and white chocolate chunks.
Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack.

This recipe makes me about 32 cookies, depending on how you size them. I just pop them in the oven for 10 minutes, then turn the pans around for another 1-2 minutes. Then, voila! You have cookies that are delicious, gluten-free and perfect for the holidays!

I love baking, so let me know if you all would like to see more of these posts!

What's your favorite holiday treat?

Do you like baking posts?

Comment and let me know!

xo Sarah

*Make sure to follow me on here and on twitter for more updates and blog posts! xoxoxo

Last Minute Holiday Gift Guide for Him 2012

2012-12-21T18:18:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone!

I'm so sorry for not getting this up sooner--I typed it out and completely forgot to post it! So, I've changed it up a bit to make it last minute holiday shopping friendly! I did a Holiday Gift Guide for Her last week, so here's my version for men! I know boyfriends, dads and brothers can be hard to shop for, so hopefully this will help you all out!

For the Electronic Lover

1. Video Games

These are perfect for boyfriends, brothers or nephews. As much as I hate them, almost every guy plays video games these days, and if you know what kind of games they like they're a great gift! If you're clueless on what game to get him, ask his friends or even the guy at the video game store!

2. AppleTV

This is something that I've just discovered this year, and there are non-Apple versions of this product, but it's perfect for my dad! He loves renting shows, movies and documentaries on his iPad, and now he can connect them on his TV to watch on a bigger screen. You can get these from the Apple store, Best Buy or off of Amazon.

3. iPad Accessories

Another gift inspired by my dad is a keyboard for an iPad, or any accessories associated with electronics they use frequently. He's always complaining about trying to type on his iPad screen, so this makes it easier for him. The best one I've ever seen or heard about is the Kensington Keyboard.

For the Goof

1. Fake Mustaches

I actually recently got these from a white elephant gift swap, but how fun are they?! Any goofball would love them

For the Sports Fanatic

1. Pillow Pet

You can get these either online or from sports stores in most malls, and they're a great small gift for a little brother or nephew, especially if they are a sports fanatic!

2. Tickets

Who wouldn't love to get tickets to watch their favorite teams play? If you check out websites like Stubhub, you can usually get pretty good prices too (depending on the event, of course).

For Every Man

1. Cologne

If you know what your man likes to smell like--or what YOU like him to smell like-- go out and buy him his (or your) favorite cologne. If you don't know what you like, you could try to get your hands on a Sephora Fragrance for Men Sampler, which allows him to try all different samples of colognes, then buy a full size of their favorite.

Like I said, I've edited this slightly to make sure it's all things that are easily accessible at the last minute, since I completely forgot to post this sooner! Over the next few days I'm planning on putting up a post or two on how I bake my FAVORITE holiday cookies--because I LOVE to bake! One of the recipes is even gluten free! Let me know if you would like to see that!

What are you getting for the men in your life?

Comment and let me know!

xo Sarah

Holiday Gift Guide For Her 2012

2012-12-09T14:46:00.002-08:00

Hey everyone!

As I'm sure you all know, Christmas is right around the corner! So, I thought I'd do a little gift guide to help all of you who have a few last minute gifts to get for the women in your life! Now, some of the items I bought while I was home for Thanksgiving, so I don't have pictures of them, but some I have my own pictures of because I did a little last minute shopping yesterday. So, without further adieu, here are some of my ideas for gifts, both big and small, for the holidays!

1. Candles

Whether they are from Yankee Candle, Bath and Body Works or Target, candles are a good gift for any woman in your life. They are good for anybody from a sister to a mother. I'm giving candles to multiple people this year! Candles are also a great gift for your boyfriends parents--since they can be hard to shop for ;) Check out my most recent candle haul here for some ideas of holiday candle scents!

2. Perfume

Perfume is always a good go-to for most women. Who doesn't like to smell good, right? But, it can get tricky if you don't know what scents they like. That's why gift sets can be a great idea. They have them everywhere from Bath and Body Works to department stores. The one I have purchased is from Victoria's Secret. It comes with 7 mini perfumes, which is the perfect way for someone to pick the one they like and buy it for themselves. This is over a $100 value, and originally retails for $42; BUT, if you go right now to Victoria's Secret (or their website), it's on sale for only $25! It's a great deal, and you can give them all as a set to someone, or split them up and give them out as little gifts or stocking stuffers!

3. Lotion/Hand Cream

Lotion is good for anybody, but this product is particularly good for a grandmother, mother, or anyone with dry hands! I know my mom is always looking for a nice hand lotion that won't dry her hands out, the way some scented lotions do. While doing a little shopping yesterday, I picked up this Limited Edition L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Creamfor her. The limited edition version is not any different from the regular--it just has different packaging and a small face cream sample! L'Occitane creams are extremely moisturizing, while not making your hands feel greasy, making them perfect for those dry, cracked winter hands!

4. Nail Polish

If you're shopping for any girl, nail polish is pretty safe for anyone. Almost anyone would like a basic red, bright pink or neutral color. If you want to do something a little more creative, or just give her more options, you can go with a mini nail polish set. You can find these from multiple brands, like OPI and Essie, but this set caught my eye more than anything. It is the Ciate Caviar Mini Bar. You can purchase this from Sephora. While I did not personally purchase this, I would love to receive it as a gift! It includes 8 nail polishes--4 of them are regular polishes and the other 4 are the "caviar" polishes, that paint onto your nails as little caviar beads. This retails at Sephora for $29, and much like the perfumes, you can give this as a set or break them up as multiple gifts.

5. Hair Ties/Accessories
While this may seem a little boring, my sister has been driving me crazy about these hair ties. They are like Emi Jay hair ties, which are elastic bands in many different designs and colors. They hold your hair very well but don't crease or tear your hair out as easily. The only problem with Emi Jays is that they are a little pricey--around $3 for one hair elastic! I've seen these at Target by Goody's and other hair brands, but they are always in boring colors! So, after a little browsing on Etsy (the best website ever), I found a 20 Hair Tie Grab Bag for $13. That's an awesome deal--especially if you're still looking for a stocking stuffer for someone!

These are all of my generic, go-to gifts for any girl! Of course, the better you know someone, the easier it is to personalize it to their tastes, but here are some last minute ideas! Tomorrow, I'll do a post on a gift guide for men, because they are SO hard to shop for! Make sure to check back for that!

Follow me on here and on twitter for more updates!

xo Sarah

Bath and Body Works Candle Haul

2012-11-25T14:07:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone!

I promise, as school winds down for the semester I will get better at blogging regularly! I've been home for Thanksgiving, and am so ready for Christmas to be here! As I'm sure you all know (if you're from the US at least) that the day after Thanksgiving, Black Friday starts. If you don't know, Black Friday is a day when stores have lots of sales--it kicks off the holiday shopping season for many. Now, I'll be the first to admit that I've never actually been Black Friday shopping (it scares me a little!), but I did go shopping the Saturday and Sunday after to see what deals were left. I wasn't able to find much clothing wise, but I did score at one store in particular--Bath and Body Works. They were having a 2 for $20 sale on their 3-wick candles, which are my favorite candles in the world!, so of course I had to stock up on some. Here's what I bought!:

I purchased two of their Winter Candle, which is one of my favorites for the season! I also bought two Twisted Peppermint candles. I also bought Marshmallow Fireside, Cashmere,Merry Mistletoe,Fresh Balsamand Spiced Apple Toddycandles. Then, I just got a cute snowflake candle holder and gold gift bags, because some of these candles are gifts for other people. Finally, because they were 4 for $15, my mom, sister and I bought Twisted Peppermint soap to take home with us.

That's all I purchased! Now, of course, not all of these are for me. The sale ends at midnight tonight, so you still have time to place orders online or run to your local B&BW store before they close!

What are your favorite candle scents from Bath and Body Works?

Did you get anything on Black Friday, from there or anywhere else?

Let me know in the comments below! <3 i="i">

Make sure to follow if you like it!

xo Sarah

College Essentials: Cold Weather

2012-11-16T09:02:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone!

I got an email the other day from someone requesting a post on what to wear when the weather gets cold in college. She told me she is a freshman, and at her school (much like mine!), most girls wear shorts and a t-shirt to class when it's warm outside. But, now that it's getting colder, it's important to stay warm while still looking cute for class. College fashion, at least where I go to school, is about all being casual during the day. I've put together some items that are most commonly worn on my campus by girls in the winter. Keep in mind that you should ALWAYS wear whatever makes you the most comfortable--this is just how I stay comfortable and cute while going to class!

I'll start off with the most important part of any college girl's wardrobe--leggings. Where I go to school, they're a denim replacement during the day. Leggings are SO much more comfortable for when you have to sit through a long day of classes, and if you wear a big t-shirt (which I always do), it's completely appropriate.

Now, people all over my campus wear NorthFace or Patagonia jackets and vests. I have plenty of jackets, but I'm DYING for a vest. (It's on my Christmas list this year ;) ) Either the jackets and vests or a big chunky sweater can keep you cozy all winter. Just throw on a big knit scarf and you'll be in heaven--trust me!

Finally, riding boots. These are my savior for days when I don't want to wear tennis shoes. You can get them expensive or inexpensive, and they have them most places that carry shoes this time of year.

I hope you all enjoyed this, and I hope it helped some of you!

What's your favorite thing to wear when it gets cold?

Comment and let me know!

Don't forget to follow my blog if you like it! :)

xo Sarah

Gifts That Give Back: Operation Christmas Child

2012-11-13T16:56:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone!

So, this blog post is about something that is very close to my heart--giving back. The holiday season is coming up (or, if you're me, in full swing!), and it's the perfect time to start giving back to those less fortunate. I don't know how many of you have been with me since the beginning, but the first posts I ever did on this blog were Gifts That Give Back posts (which you can find here). I love the feeling I get when I know I'm helping somebody else.

This post is all about Operation Christmas Child, which is put on my the company Samaritan's Purse. This company does something amazing--they deliver Christmas presents to less fortunate children both in the United States and internationally. All you have to do is shop for the gifts--which you can do very inexpensively, I went to the Dollar General and Target and only spent $35 on Christmas gifts for 5 kids. Although I'm a "broke college student," this is the kind of thing I'm happy to spend money on. You pack the boxes and take them to your closest drop off location (which you can find here), and they take care of the rest! I wanted to get this post up, because the last day to drop the boxes off is November 19, 2012 this year! I know it's a little last minute, but it honestly took me 30 minutes to shop, pack and label the boxes!

So, I'm going to give you all a little look at what I've packed in my boxes this year!

You can use either shoe boxes or small plastic bins to pack your boxes--I didn't have any shoe boxes so I bought these small bins from the Dollar General for $1 each!

Now, the fun part--PICKING OUT THE TOYS!

There are some restrictions on what you can and cannot put into a box--no weapons, chocolate, etc. You can find a full list of ideas of what to and not to pack here.

Here's what I bought for the kids--I bought some things for boys and girls, as well as some for younger kids and some for older!

For Boys:

For Girls:

I also threw in a coloring book for everybody! Now, all you have to do is pack your boxes. Wrapping isn't required, but I picked up some holiday themed tissue paper to put the gifts in inside the box, just to be a little more festive!

Now, download and print your shipping labels, cut them out, tape them to your box and mark the age/gender!

Now, they do ask that for each box, you make a $7 donation for shipping costs. You can either do this by putting the money in an envelope and placing it in the top of the box, or you can make a donation online. You can read more about this on their website (linked above!).

Now, you're done! And you've just given a child a wonderful Christmas!

I hope you all check out Operation Christmas Child! Let me know in a comment if you have ever made a box for them, or if you plan to!

What's your favorite way to give back during the holidays?

Comment and let me know!

xo Sarah

Halloween DIY: $10 Tutu

2012-10-24T09:27:00.003-07:00

Hey everyone!

I know in my last post I said I'd be posting more frequently, which I will, but it's kind of hard to get back into the swing of things! Today's post is for all you last minute planners that are still looking for a Halloween costume, but don't want to break the bank making it! I bought all of this last night, and the whole thing took about an hour and a half to make, which wasn't too bad. For Halloween, my roommates and I decided we were going to be girls from "Toddlers and Tiaras," so I had to go buy materials to make a tutu. There are tons of different costumes you can use a tutu for though, whether you want to be a ballerina, fairy, or anything else!

Now, another big thing for me was that I didn't want to spend too much money on this costume. I went to Hobby Lobby last night and got everything for under $10 to make the tutu. Here's what you'll need:

1. An Elastic Band

I bought one that is 1 yard long and cut it to fit my waist. They are $1-2 at Hobby Lobby, and come in all different sizes.

2. Tulle

I bought three different colored spools (pictured below) from Hobby Lobby. They are 25 yards long (which is way more than you'll need), and are originally $3.99 each, but right now they're on sale for 50% off!

3. Scissors

4. Velcro, Safety Pin, Button, etc.

Anything to hold your tutu together at the back!

Here's how you do it!

First, start off your spools of tulle. I used white, yellow and blue, but you can use as few or as many colors as you want. Cut strips of each color. Now I didn't use exact measurements for this, but I cut them about 2 feet long. Depending on how tall you are, you can adjust this accordingly. You're going to be folding each strip in half, so keep this in mind when cutting them.

Just to keep things more organized, I put each color strip into a pile. The cutting takes the longest, so if you can pre cut some of your strips (I did about 10 of each color at a time), it saves a lot of time.

Now, you're going to take the strip you want to start with and fold it in half.

You can either tie it in a knot around your elastic band or loop it, I found it's easier to loop it around. So, you're going to put the loop under the backside of the elastic, pull the long sides through the loop, and pull it tight.

Continue on with whatever color pattern you're using, and eventually you'll have this:

Now, either stitch on your velcro or button, or safety pin it in the back and you're done! You're ready for Halloween!

Remember--you can use ANY colors you want! All I need now is a sash, crown and maybe a ni-ni to pull off the perfect Toddlers and Tiaras look for Halloween!

What are you being for Halloween?

Comment and let me know!

xo Sarah

I'M BACK!!

2012-10-16T18:05:00.003-07:00

Hey beauties!!

I've missed you all! I haven't blogged in about 4 months, and honestly I don't even have a good reason. At the end of the summer I was super busy with work, wrapping up my summer classes and getting back to school, as well as sorority recruitment. Since the fall semester started again, I've been so busy that I haven't been able to get back into it until now. But, now I'm back and I'm ready to blog! And to kick off my "welcome back" to myself, I have a new blog design! I hope you all love it! Since the last time I've posted, I've moved into a new apartment (and of course redecorated!), started new classes and tons of other things that I can't wait to tell you all about! Now, since I've been out of the swing of things, I need your help. Leave a comment and let me know what you all want to see in the future! What are your favorite blog posts to read?

Love you all!

xo Sarah

Style Ideas: The Fourth of July

2012-07-02T07:32:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!

I know I always start off my recent blog posts apologizing for not posting enough, and this one is no different! Last week was super crazy, but I actually have a few days off of work this week so I'm going to try to work on my blog as much as possible!

Now that my apology is out of the way, I'm so excited about this post because it's all about two of my favorite things--cute clothing and the Fourth of July! I'm not quite sure yet of my plans for the 4th, but I know I want to be looking cute whatever I do! The great thing about all of these outfits is that you can wear them on any summer day--not just on the Fourth of July!
Here are some of my favorite outfits for the holiday!

Race Point Red and White Striped Dress

Stripes are always a good choice for the Fourth of July! They're so easy to pair with a plain top and still look super festive.

Hyannis Skirt

Promenade Blouse

This red blouse would be so cute to pair with either some denim shorts or a cute pair of white shorts and blue flats.

Overboard Shirt Dress

This plaid blue shirt dress is probably my favorite of all of them--it's so cute and flowy yet still looks super comfortable. The red accessories just add to the festiveness of the outfit, but I would definitely wear this any time--not just the Fourth of July.

Sailor Blouse

This blouse is another one that is super cute any day of the year, not just a holiday. For the 4th, you could pair it with any red skinny jeans (I got a pair from Target for $15!), or some cute dark denim shorts, with a pop of red in accessories.

Now, of course, I can't forget about one of the best parts of the Fourth of July--cute swim suits! This time of year, you can find festive suits almost everywhere, but my favorites are from Target and Shabby Apple!

Reversible Bandeau Top

Reversible Triangle Top

Crab Island Bikini

I hope you all enjoyed this little fashion post!

What are you doing for the Fourth of July?

More importantly--what are you wearing? ;)

Comment and let me know!

xo Sarah

All pictures from Target and Shabby Apple

*This is not "sponsored" by Shabby Apple. I just really love their website lately and think they have some adorable stuff. They're also having 20% off all orders for a summer sale with the code "SUMMER20" and free shipping over $100, so it's a perfect time to order from them <3

DIY Bracelet & Clutch: Recycle Old Accessories

2012-06-24T12:21:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone!

LONG time, no blog, I know!! It's so weird but I feel like I'm busier in the summer than during the school year, with work and summer classes right now. But, nonetheless, I've been a DIY crazed fool lately! This is a simple one, since I'm trying to get a bunch of posts typed up today I thought I'd start out with a super easy way to recycle your old bags! Since I've been home from college for the summer, I did a huge closet clean out. I donated a ton of things, but some I held onto simply because I think I can make them into something else!

I started with a super old purse. I found this bag in my closet, which I've probably had since I was in elementary school.

First, to make the bracelet, it's super easy. All I did was cut the strap off the purse and tie the ends. Then I fit it around my wrist and tied it together around my wrist.

Next, I took the actual bag part of the purse and sewed a button on the front. Since my bag is a straw-like material to begin with, it was simple to fold the top of the bag over and stick the button through it. If yours is a different material, you may have to cut a button hole.

Now you're done! You've recycled your old bag and made some stylish accessories for the summertime!

I hope you all enjoyed!

xo Sarah

Sunday Smiles: Happy Father's Day!

2012-06-17T08:14:00.004-07:00

Hey everyone!

Happy Sunday to you all, and more importantly, happy Father's Day! This post really has nothing to do with anything girly or beauty related--it's just a little reminder to tell your dad how much you love and appreciate him today. My parents like to say that everyday is Mother's & Father's Day, which is so true in my family, but for those of you who aren't so close, make sure to let them know how much they mean to you.

My family celebrated Father's Day yesterday, since my sister & I both had the day off yesterday but not today. We went to a family lunch then went to see Rock of Ages, which was quite possibly the cheesiest yet best movie I've seen in a while :) This post is unfortunately short, because I'm about to run out the door to work, but I wanted it to be a little happy reminder of all the great things your dad has done for you <3

What are your plans for Father's Day?

Comment and let me know!

xo Sarah

Picture from here

Bath and Body Works Haul: Semi-Annual Sale!

2012-06-15T12:51:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!!

It seriously feels like forever since I've been able to talk to all of you! I know a week and a half is a LONG time to go without a post, and I've missed you guys!! As you know (if you've been reading my blogs) I'm pretty busy in the summer with work and summer courses at a local college. But, I have the day off today and tomorrow so I'm going to be stocking up on blog posts for you all!

Anyway, if you're as in LOVE with Bath & Body Works as I am, you probably know this week was their Semi-Annual Sale--they had huge sales on things! I went the first day two hours after they opened and there were already things I wanted that were gone! I didn't need much, since I did a Bath & Body Works Haul not too long ago, but I had to go and check out some of the deals! I didn't come away with as much damage done as I thought I would, but here's what I did pick up!

As I'm sure most of you know, I'm addicted to the Bath and Body Works candles from Slatkin & Co, which were on sale (most scents but not all) for $10, of half off! And if you read my May Favorites post, you know that I've been absolutely obsessed with the Lemon Mint Leaf candle. Unfortunately, when I got there, they didn't have any of them left in the 3-wick size! I was so sad, but instead I settled for a couple of the mini-sized candles in that scent for only $2 each. I also picked up a Black Berry Grapefruit candle. It was only $10 and I'm burning it right now as I type and it smells incredible. I also grabbed a Coconut Lime Verbena scented candle because it smells so fresh and clean--it's a great bathroom scent!

Then, I picked up a Wild Citrus Sunflower shower gel for only $3, as well as a Nectarine Mint hand sanitizer for $3 as well.

Finally, I picked up two of their foaming hand soaps. These are my favorite--I love to have a stock pile of them and switch out my scents every so often. I picked up Kitchen Lemon and Fresh Picked Raspberries for $3 each, and they are both PERFECT for the summertime!

So, there it is! Like I said, I didn't go crazy and buy a ton of things but I did pick up some fun goodies for myself since there was such incredible deals :)

I'm off to clean my room then work on some more blogs so I don't end up going this long without a post again!

If you bought anything from this sale, make sure to leave it in the comments!

xo Sarah

Announcement: 300 Follower Giveaway Winner!!

2012-06-06T05:55:00.002-07:00

Hey everybody!!

I'm so excited to announce the winner of my first giveaway! I'm going to make this announcement short and sweet, because I know you all want to know who won as well! I used random.org, and put in the number of comments then got a random number, and that corresponded with a comment number. So, without further a du, the winner is:

Brigid from Small Town Fabulous! I've already contacted her, so when she contacts me back she'll be receiving in the mail:

Three Slatkin & Co. mini candles from Bath and Body Works in the scents Caribbean Escape, Peach Bellini and Bahama Fizz.

A NYX Eyeshadow Trio in the colors Aloha, Mink Brown, Deep Bronze.

A NYX soft matte lip cream in the color Istanbul.

A Maybelline Baby Lips in the color Peach Kiss.

If you didn't win, don't worry! I'm going to be doing another giveaway soon--I think they're SO fun! :) I hope you enjoy, Brigid! :)

xo Sarah

Sunday Smiles: Mustache Mugs, Pink Houses & Dancing in the Streets!

2012-06-03T07:32:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!

Happy Sunday! I hope you're all having an amazing, relaxing, fun Sunday today! I have to work all day, but even so it's going to be a good day today :) Before I get started, make sure you go enter my giveaway!! It ends tomorrow! :) Here's everything that's making me smile today! I hope you all enjoy!

Am I the only one that wants to live in this pink house one day? <3

I wish we could all act like this all the time, dancing in the streets and having fun! :)

Words can't describe how much I love these shoes, I think they're so fierce!

I have to find somewhere that sells these mustache mugs! They're so cute and funny!

If only everybody thought like this!

What's making you smile today?

Comment and let me know!

Don't forget to enter my giveaway here!!

xo Sarah

Update + Enter my Giveaway!!

2012-06-02T08:20:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone!

I know I've been a little MIA lately, but it's because I started my summer job again and I've been so busy! I know it's finally summertime for a lot of you, especially if you're from the US, so I'm sure you understand! But don't worry, I have lots of fun things coming up on my blog soon! Hopefully I'll be doing some posts you're all interested in--I've gotten lots of requests for organization and review posts, so I'm going to try to do more of those! :) Make sure you leave a comment if there's anything in particular you want to see! Anyway, while my summer has been filled with work and a summer class, I'm still trying to do some fun things! I promise I'll get better at posting! :)

Also, make sure you go enter my giveaway! It ends Monday, June 4 2012 ( 2 days from this post!!)! You can win lots of stuff from Bath and Body Works, NYX and Maybelline! :) You can enter here!! It's super easy to enter, just follow my blog and comment! :)

What are your summer plans?

Comment and let me know!

Also, let me know if you have any blog requests! :)

xo Sarah

May 2012 Favorites!

2012-05-30T10:52:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone!

Make sure you all go enter my giveaway! It ends June 4, which is coming up SO soon!! You can win lots of goodies from Bath and Body Works, NYX and Maybelline!

Can you believe it's the end of May already?! It's officially June, which means it is time for a May favorites post! I don't usually do 'favorites' posts, but this month I've discovered a ton of new products that I love, so I have to share! :)

My first favorite for the month is my new Conair You Curl XL Wand. If you all have read my Conair Hot Rollers Review, you know that the wand was never really my thing. But now that I've broken down and bought one, I love it. It takes a little longer than hot rollers or a regular curling iron, but I really like the way it makes my hair look. I got mine at ULTA for about $27.

Next is all of my makeup favorites. I will have reviews of most of these coming soon--so I'm just going to go over them quickly!

First is Benefit's Erase PasteConcealer. I'm obsessed with this, it works so well under my eyes. It's extremely creamy and blends so well with my skin! Mine is in the color Medium.

Next is Covergirl's Lashblast 24 Hour Mascara in the color Very Black. I'm not usually a huge Covergirl fan, but when it comes to their mascaras, I'm obsessed. This literally does stay on for 24 hours but it still comes off with a normal makeup remover (you don't have to use waterproof makeup remover).

As you all know, I love NYX cosmetics and neutral eyes, so when I ran out of my NYX Trio Eyeshadow with Aloha, Mink Brown and Deep Bronze (which I'm giving away one of HERE!!), I ran to ULTA and picked up this one in the color set "Dune". It's the perfect shimmery neutral palette for summertime and I'm loving it SO much!

Now the Maybelline blush is actually something I've had for about a year now. I just found it when I was cleaning out my makeup and started using it, falling back in love with it! It's in the color "Pinch o' Pink". It's such a cute pink color for a little rosiness on your cheeks for summer nights, with a little shimmer in it as well!

The only nail polish I've been using lately is essie's 790 A Crewed Interest from their A Spring to Invest In collection. It's such a pretty, light peach color that looks good on all skin tones!

Finally, I couldn't forget to mention the Maybelline Baby Lips products! The one pictured is the clear one, Quenched, but I also love Pink Punch and Peach Kiss. If you enter my giveaway, I'm also giving one of these away! :) They're super moisturizing and perfect for the summer months. They also have SPF in them, so they protect and moisturize at the same time!

I only have one favorite left, and it's my favorite of all favorites! It's my Lemon Mint Leaf candle from Bath and Body Works. If you follow me on twitter then you know I've been tweeting about it nonstop since I bought it! It literally makes your room smell like a sweet yummy lemonade stand! The mint isn't super noticeable, but it helps to even out the super sweet lemon smell! I'm seriously obsessed, I need to stock up on them!

I hope you all enjoyed!

What are your favorite products lately?

Comment and let me know!

**DON'T FORGET TO ENTER MY GIVEAWAY! :)

xo Sarah

Review: NYX Stay Matte but Not Flat Powder Foundation

2012-05-29T18:12:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!

I hope you're all having an amazing week so far! I've started my summer job again (as a lifeguard), and I'm loving it! :) I've been really busy though, which is why my posts have been lacking a little! I'll try to get better! :)

Remember, there's less than a week left to enter my giveaway! You can enter it here! It's full of Bath and Body Works Candles, NYX lip gloss and more!

Anyway, as you all probably know, NYX is one of my favorite 'drugstore' brands, but the only store I could actually find their products at was ULTA. Well, recently, they started carrying a larger selection of NYX products, so of course I had to try some out! I had never tried their foundations before, so that was the first thing I went for. I grabbed a bunch of products, but I was most excited to try NYX Stay Matte But Not Flat Powder Foundation!

With flash

Without Flash

Unblended

Blended

So, as you can see, I've hit pan on this product. The reason I bought this in the first place was because summer was coming, and even those like me with super dry skin can tend to get oily in the summertime (especially if you're always outside in the sun!). I wanted something that could keep me from getting shiny.

Although some say that during the summer it's not good to wear powdery face makeup (because if you sweat it can look cakey), I've found that wearing powder is a LOT less heavy on my skin, making it more wearable in the summer. I've always been a fan of the Bare Minerals Matte Foundation, I wanted to try something a little less expensive and see if it works.

Price: I believe this was around $8 or $9 at ULTA, but you can also purchase it on the NYX website for $9.50. It's pretty standardly priced for a good drugstore brand face product, I think.

Quality: Honestly, I think it was a little too cakey on my face during the winter and early spring, mainly because I tend to have extremely dry skin. It has decent coverage at first application, but it is easy to build. As summer has started and I've been in the sun & sweating more, my skin is more hydrated so the product seems to cover my skin better than when it was cakey and dry.

Alternatives: Like I mentioned earlier, the Bare Minerals Matte Foundationis my holy grail product for the summer if I'm looking for a very light, daytime matte coverage. It is pricey though. NYX also makes a liquid version of their Stay Matte Not Flat foundations, but I have yet to try it out! Let me know if you do!

Overall: This product was exceptional, but not great. When I was primarily using the product, though, I did not have the ideal skin type (aka dry) for using a matte foundation. Now that my skin is hydrated though, I'm enjoying the product more. If I run out, I may repurchase for the summer just to see if I really do like it better on my non-dry skin! Overall, I would definitely recommend this for people with shiny or oily skin, because it seems to soak up all the extra moisture on my skin! If you have dry skin, I wouldn't recommend this for you, just because it didn't absorb the right way into my dry skin. But, feel free to try it and let me know if it works better for you! :)

What's your favorite matte summer foundation??

Comment and let me know!

DON'T FORGET TO ENTER MY GIVEAWAY!! <3

xo Sarah

*Find where to contact me here

How-To Hair: Mermaid Tail Braid

2012-05-25T07:58:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone!

First, make sure you enter my giveaway!! It ends June 4! Anyway, today's post was so fun for me, it's a hair tutorial on how to get a "mermaid tail" braid. It's super easy and doesn't take long at all! I've been getting tweets and comments asking for more tutorials, and I love braiding my hair when I'm bored, so here's what I came up with! :) I hate wearing my hair down if I'm not going out at night or something, so I braid/fishtail it all the time. I typically go for a braid though, because honestly I hate doing my hair if it takes more than 10 minutes on most occasions. I hope you all enjoy this tutorial! Comment and let me know if you want to see more! :)

Here's the finished look:

First, make sure there's not knots in your hair. Then, pull all your hair to one side.

Split your hair into two sections and tie one of them back

Now, you're going to do an inverted braid on one of the sections. An inverted braid is just like a normal three strand braid, except you're going to cross each strand underneath instead of over the middle piece.

Do the same with the second section

Now that your braids are done, you're going to pull on the braids and loosen them up a little. Next, you're going to take bobby pins and pin together the two braids. Do this all the way down your braids

This is what your braids should look like before you push the bobby pins together. Make sure to place them in your hair from the back so there's minimal visibility of them from the front.

Push your bobby pins together, and use a hair tie to combine them together at the bottom. Then take our the two hair ties that were holding your braids together separately and you're done!

Like I said, this is an extremely easy look to achieve. You can wear it on a casual day or dress it up at night by pulling out some stray pieces and curling them!

If you try this look, send me a picture!! :)

Let me know if you want to see more hair tutorials!

xo Sarah

*Find where to contact me here

Outfit Inspiration: Memorial Day Casual

2012-05-24T14:02:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!

As most of you all probably know, this weekend is Memorial Day Weekend! Which for most people means cooking out, swimming and hanging out with friends and family--and if you're from the South, a big bonfire! If you're me, you're working, but at least I'm a lifeguard so I'll be having fun! Regardless of your plans, Memorial Day is a day to be comfortable and enjoy yourself! Here's some ideas of what I would wear for a Memorial Day cookout/bonfire!

Of course, maxi-dresses are totally in style right now, and those would be an awesome option for the weekend as well. I usually end up running around like a little kid though, so it's safer for me to have shorts on ;)

I hope you all enjoyed!

Have an amazing Memorial Day weekend!

What are your plans?

Comment and let me know!

Enter my giveaway!!!

xo Sarah

New Product Alert + Review! PlumeLoops and PlumePearls

2012-05-23T05:16:00.004-07:00

Hey everyone!

Before I start this post, go check out my Giveaway!! Enter if you like it! :)

So, this post is extremely exciting for me! I'm going to be doing a product review + a launch announcement for the new line from PlumeIt Feather Fashion Accessories. If you all remember my Feather Hair Extension Review post from last month, you'll know how much I was raving about my new feather accessories. Well, PlumeIt reached out to me and was kind enough to send me some samples of their new line of feather hair extension earrings. They already have a line of multiple colored feather hair extensions to pick from, as well as some straight, dangling earrings. This company has two types of earrings coming out--the PlumeLoops and PlumePearls. I was sent one set of each, both in the color "natural." Here are some pictures of the products:

PlumeLoops in the color natural

PlumePearls in the color natural

As you can see, the PlumeLoops are the bigger of the two, and the PlumePearls are much smaller. In the packaging, I liked the PlumeLoops better, and I thought the smaller ones looked like fishing lures. When I actually put them on, both pair were very cute! I love how funky the PlumeLoops are--they're perfect for a super chic, boho look, which is perfect for summer! I also really like how the PlumePearls are understated, so if you don't want it to be obvious that you have feather earrings on, this is the way to go. I didn't include a picture of the packaging in this because the company assured me that the earrings were not in their final packaging. So, now let's get into the review.

Quality: The company says that Plume feathers are all-natural, and are the highest-grade feathers on the market. Now, let's be honest. I have no way of knowing if all of that is true, but I believe it is because these feathers are so soft! They are especially great because they don't poke the side of your face while you're wearing the earrings. I seriously can't get over how soft and high-quality they are.

Selection: There are five different color choices for both styles. They are natural (which I show above), tropical passion, neon, think pink and white. I'm in love with the natural ones, but I would also LOVE to have some in white!! I think they're SO pretty!

Price: PlumeLoops: $26.00

PlumePearls: $16.00

I know this may seem a little expensive compared to the types of feather earrings you can get at Target or Forever21 for less money, but the quality of these earrings (in my opinion) is much better than those! Just from opening mine and playing around with them, I can tell that the feathers themselves aren't going to fall apart easily.

Honestly, I don't know if they're waterproof, but I wouldn't take that chance on ruining them.

Now here's my FAVORITE thing about the company. They've partnered with World Relief, which is an organization that helps refugees from all over the world come to the United States and settle here. Plume currently has refugees from 4 countries employed. With every Plume feather accessory you purchase, Plume donates a portion of the proceeds to World Relief!!

Availability: You can buy these products starting tomorrow, Thursday May 24, 2012 here! They're also having Free Shipping on orders of $35 or more! :)

Customer Service: The customer service at Plume is amazing. I have been emailing back and forth with multiple employees for a few weeks, and each one is so sweet and understanding. They are willing to work with you and answer any questions you may have!

Overall, I really enjoyed these products. The PlumeLoops are more my style than the PlumePearls, but both are cute and I plan to wear them. I would LOVE to have more of these--especially the PlumeLoops (especially the white pair ;) ), so I may be ordering myself some tomorrow! :)

Do you like feather earrings?

Leave a comment and let me know if you would wear these!

Make sure you enter my Giveaway!!!

xo Sarah

*Find how to contact me here

Get The Look: Emmanuelle Chriqui

2012-05-22T15:18:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!

I've gotten tons of positive responses on my "Get the Look" posts, so here's another! This one is of Emmanuelle Chiriqui. I think she's absolutely gorgeous, especially in this look. It's perfect for the spring/summertime, almost reminds me of a Greek goddess on her! I hope you all enjoy!

Here's what I came up with:

Now, I love the look of turquoise with gold, but I added a little more gold than Emmanuelle had at first. I love this look! It's super easy, a maxi dress with gold accessories! Find everything I picked out here:)

Enjoy!

Make sure you enter my giveaway!!

Follow me?

xo Sarah

300 Follower Giveaway ft. NYX, Bath and Body Works, Maybelline

2012-05-21T07:49:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!!

I know I've been promising this giveaway post for a while now, but if you've been reading my blog you know I was waiting for my camera to be fixed! Well, it's not, but I have another I can use for now! Anyway, this giveaway is just for all of you as a thank you for reading my blog and following it--it means the world to me! I honestly can't believe over 300 people are interested in my blog enough to read it! So, thank you thank you thank you <3!! To say thank you for all of your support, I'm doing a little giveaway for all of you.

First, lets go over the rules.

1. You must be a follower of my blog

2. You have to be 18 or older. If you're not, you must have parent permission to give me your address to ship the prize to!

3. This giveaway is open to US residents only--I know a lot of my readers are from the UK, but my next giveaway will probably be international, I'm sorry this one isn't!!

4. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post telling me what kind of posts you want to see more of and what you're doing this summer--it can be anything--fun or boring! :) Also, include your twitter handle in the comment (if you don't have a twitter, you can just leave your email). If you win, I'll either DM you on twitter or email you.

The giveaway will run from Monday May 21, 2012 until Monday June 4, 2012! I'll announce the winner in a post on here as well as emailing/DM them. The winner will have 24 hours to contact me back, or another winner will be chosen! I will be using random.org to pick my winner!

The prizes!!! :)

For this giveaway, I decided to give you all some of my favorite products! The winner will get a NYX Soft Matte Lip Creamin 'Istanbul', which is my everyday, go-to color for a nice nude-pink lip! You will also get a NYX Trio Eye Shadowwith the colors Aloha, Mink Brown and Deep Bronze--perfect for an everyday neutral look! One of my summer must haves is the Maybelline Baby Lips Moisturizing Lip Balmin Peach Kiss. These products have SPF in them, so they're perfect for wearing in the summer to hydrate and protect your lips! Finally, you will be receiving three mini sized Bath and Body Works candles, from the Slatkin&Co. brand. They make my favorite candles, so I wanted to share three of my favorite scents with you all!

I hope you're all as excited about this giveaway as I am! If it's successful, I'm going to be doing more of them in the future! :) Make sure to follow and comment below to enter!! :)

xo Sarah

*Find where to contact me here

Style Crush: Kate Middleton

2012-05-17T13:45:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone!

First, I want to thank you all SO much for getting me to 300 followers on my blog! I literally can't believe that many people want to read this thing, but seriously, thank you! I know I've been saying I'm going to do a 300 followers giveaway, which I am, but I want to wait until my camera is fixed before I post that (but I might get too excited and post it later anyway;) ). Regardless, make sure to follow so you can enter that when I post it!! :)

But, to hold you all over until I'm able to get my giveaway up, I thought I'd do a post on who my current "style crush" is, Kate Middleton. I know you are all probably as obsessed with her as I am, so I had to do a post about it! Whether she's walking a red carpet or at a rodeo with the prince ;), she looks absolutely gorgeous and totally classy. These are just some of my favorite outfits of hers. I hope you all enjoy :)

What's your favorite look of the Duchess'?

Who's your style crush?

Comment and let me know!

xo Sarah

*Find how to contact me here

Photo Credit: here

Beach Bag Essentials

2012-05-16T06:33:00.002-07:00

Hey everyone!

So, as I told you all in a recent post, I went to the beach with my mom and my sister last week. It was my first beach trip of the year, so I had to re-remember all the essentials to carry in my beach bag with me! This was really requested in comments, and with it being the beginning of summer (for most people), I thought it would be the perfect time to do it! So, here are my beach essentials:

1. Beach Bag

Preferably a cute one ;) You can get them really cheap at stores like Target and Old Navy if you don't want to spend a ton on a bag that's just going to get all sandy!

2. Sunscreen

This is SO important for everybody. I have fair skin, so I have to constantly reapply sunscreen all over my body all day, but I think it's important for everybody to apply at least once before they go out into the sun. Depending on your skin type, the amount of SPF you should use at the beach changes. I use 30 on my face and switch off between 15 and 30 on my body.

*not only will sunscreen keep you from getting burns, it will help prevent sun spots and icky leathery skin

3. Hat

Even if I don't use it, I always bring a hat down to the beach with me. It's important to protect all of your skin from overexposure to the sun, but your face in particular can be more subject to burns. I usually just wear a baseball hat (which are my tomboy obsession), but you could also go for one of the trendy big floppy hats :)

4. Cover-Up/Towel

I bring a t-shirt or cover up just in case I get a little too red but don't want to go in for the day yet. A towel can serve the same purpose, but can also be used for simply drying off and getting sand off your feet!

5. Sunglasses

Personally, I hate wearing sunglasses usually, but at the beach it's especially important to protect your eyes. I'm a lifeguard over the summer and I always wear sunglasses--they keep your eyes safe from harmful rays and prevent crows feet wrinkles!

6. Sandals

The sand at the beach can get super hot, and you don't want it to hurt/burn your feet!

7. Book/Magazine

Really, anything to keep you entertained for the day! Sometimes I'll bring my phone or iPod to the beach, but if you do this I would recommend bringing a plastic baggy to put them in when you're not using them--just to protect them from water and sand.

8. WATER!!!

This is another one that is incredibly important. It's easy to get dehydrated at the beach, so you should try to keep at least one water bottle with you to sip on while you're sitting out sweating!

That's it! I'm probably going to do be doing more beach-themed posts as the summer gets closer and into full swing!

What do you keep in your beach bag?

Comment and let me know! :)

xo Sarah

*Find how to contact me here

Bath and Body Works Haul + Mothers Day Smiles

2012-05-13T14:26:00.002-07:00

Hey everyone!

I'm so excited for this post for SO many reasons! First, because I haven't done two posts in one day in a LONG time. And second, because I'm obsessed with what this haul is...like literally obsessed! It's a Bath and Body Works haul!

Before I continue though, I want to wish you all a happy Mother's Day once again! It's a rainy and gross Mother's Day where I live, but nonetheless I spent the morning baking my favorite apple-oat-rasin muffins and watching a movie with my momma :)The reason I didn't put this up earlier was because it includes my mom's present--but now that she's opened it, I can put it up! Also, I want to apologize for the quality of the pictures being so poor--my camera decided it was time to go to camera heaven :( So, until I get a new one (which will hopefully be tomorrow), I have to use my iPad or phone to take pictures! I hope it's not too annoying!

I'm sure many of you have heard of Bath and Body Works, and probably are as obsessed with their candles as I am. But, this weekend they had a sale going on for 2 of their 3 wick candles (the big ones) for $20. They're usually $19.50 each, so it's basically 2 for the price of 1, which is amazing! They also had their little mini candles for 2/$5, so of course I picked some of those up to include in a giveaway I have planned for if I get to 300 followers! :)

These are the candles I picked up for myself (and for my giveaway!)

First, I got four of the mini sized candles in Peach Bellini, Bahama Fizz, Caribbean Escape and Aloha Vanilla. I'm in LOVE with the Aloha Vanilla scent, but they didn't have any bigger ones left :(. Some of these minis are going to be included in my upcoming giveaway!

I also picked up four of the big three-wick candles in Peach Bellini (I've already gone through one of these...it's one of my favorites!), Pink Sangria, Lemon Mint Leaf (my new favorite--it smells like a lemonade stand!) and a Stress Relief candle in Vanilla Verbena which smells amazing!

Then, for my mom's mothers day present, I got her their VIP Mother's Day gift set, which was only $20 with any $40 purchase.

I didn't get a picture of it before my mom opened it, but this is from the website! It's a super cute straw tote bag, a loofah, and tons of their products! It comes with a Wildberry Dahlia foaming hand soap, a Wild Berry Tulips fragrance spray, hand lotion, shower gel and lip gloss. It also included a mini Lilac Blossom candle. I was scared she wouldn't like the scent, but she loved it! :) It was the perfect Mother's Day present, especially for my mom who never treats herself to these types of things! I also threw in a few other things, but the tote from B&BW was the main gift!

These deals on candles as well as the VIP tote are still available at Bath and Body Works as well as on their website!! :)

I hope you all enjoyed this little haul and are having an amazing day with your mom, whether you're in a country that is celebrating today or not :)

Make sure to comment and let me know what you've done today for Mother's Day!

xo Sarah

*Find my links to contact me here