Sara Elise

V-Day Weekend Survival Guide ❣️

As we head into Valentine’s Day weekend, I wanted to put together this little post to share some ideas of how to spend it. I talked about this in the past couple of posts but I will reiterate it again because it’s that important… Valentine’s Day isn’t exclusively for couples!!! I strongly believe that Valentine’s Day should be celebrated with your loved ones, whether that be significant others, family or friends, the choice is yours! Reminiscing on last year’s Valentine Day, I realized that many of us will be spending it indoors and won’t be celebrating with big Galentine parties this year. Another holiday that is going to look different this year than in years past but it’s truly what you make of it. Personally, I’m not too comfortable with the idea of going out to dinner on actual Valentine’s Day because of crowds, etc. so I have opted to spend Sunday with a fun day inside. Now I already know what you’re thinking… “Sara, I’ve been inside all year, what’s the difference?”. If there are plans in place for the day/weekend, you’ll still look forward to those activities and enjoy the special moments even more regardless of how different it will be this year.

Activity Ideas:

At-Home Brunch: Okay brunch is fun any Sunday morning but if it is brunch on V Sunday, I’m sure it will be much more enticing. I have put together a Pinterest board to browse through below for all of my inspiration. Pancakes, waffles, doughnuts, eggs, fruits, there’s a little bit of everything for everyone. I think I’m going to attempt the emoji pancakes with some strawberries around them.

Strawberry dipping: This is on my to do-list for this weekend as well. Dipping strawberries in whichever chocolate is your favourite would be an appropriate activity to try this weekend. I picked up some Wilton melting molds and some baking decorations for this project from Michael’s too. Check out my inspiration below.

Charcuteries Boards before Movies: Does cuddling up on the couch with a charcuterie board sound like the kind of day you are looking for? There are several movies on Netflix that would be great for Valentine’s which I will list out. Additionally, I was thinking of making a charcuterie board full of pink, white and red desserts to enjoy. This could include fruit, sweets, savory snacks, and candies depending on what you like to snack on.

Netflix movies to check out:

My Best Friend’s Wedding
To all the Boys I’ve Loved Before (part 1, 2 and 3)
50 First Dates
Squared Love
The Prince & Me
Runaway Bride
Sex and The City Movie 1 and 2

Play Games Together: When was the last time you and your significant other/friends played a game together? Pull out one of your old childhood favourites or a deck of cards and get to the fun. This is something simple that could be enjoyed with a couple of people or your whole family. This will ensure that no one feels left out.

Write Love Letters: Some may say that writing love letters are outdated but I love giving and receiving handwritten notes to my friends, especially now that I barely see them at all. What if you and your significant other take some time and write love letters to each other and then you can exchange them and read them when you’re having a down day.

Wine and Chocolate Tasting: This shouldn’t take too much twisting of your arm to try out. 😉 Different chocolate types pair well with certain wines. Why don’t you try them out this weekend? If you get a bottle of red, white, and rose try them out with pieces of white, milk and dark chocolates. Determine which pairings couple the best to you. Who knows, your friends might have different opinions than you! Is your favourite type of chocolate milk, dark, or white? Mine is hands down, milk.

Create Your Own Cocktails: If you can’t go out to the bars, bring the bar to you! You can concoct your own cocktail at home with your loved one and make it the themed featured drink of the night. All you have to do is choose the spirit base (gin, vodka, tequila etc), add as much or as little of a mixer (pink lemonade, tonic, cranberry juice), and finally garnish (mint, any type of berries, or olives for a savory twist). There are so many options with this activity. Name it and share it with others so we can all try them too!

I hope this post sparked some interest and ideas for you to decide on how to spend Valentine’s Day. If it truly is not your type of day, at least try some of these ideas to do something other than lounging in bed all weekend. Big shocker, most of this post has to do with food… the best way to anyone’s heart. Please comment or let me know if you are planning on trying out any of these activities because I would love to hear how they go. Can’t wait to see all of your V Day plans and I hope your weekend is filled with love, gratefulness and kindness.

Happy Valentine’s Day Weekend!

XOXO

–Sara 💋

#blogger #blog #ontheblog #backtoblogging #ontheblogtoday #bloggergetssocial #bloggerlife #newblogpost #bloggingtips #lifestyle #liveyourlife #loveyourlife #confidence #kindness #spreadkindness #spreadjoy #february #ValentinesDay #gifts #siginificantothers #boyfriends #girlfriends #wives #husbands #galentinesday #friends #loveisintheair #cupid #Valentinesweekend #pinterest #funactivities #todothisweekend

Self-Love Is In The Air

Happy Monday everyone! Was it hard for anyone else to wake up this morning? The infamous morning after the Super Bowl, of course pre-covid, was the day that most people frequently called out of work for. Let me tell y’all, this morning was a struggle to get out of bed. Don’t be fooled though, I didn’t drink a lick of alcohol last night but I did enter into a self-induced food coma shortly after the game ended. Anyways, on to the heart (all the pun intended) of the content today. We are going to shift the love train to ourselves for a minute here. While we are now less than a week away from Valentine’s Day, I wanted to center this blog post around self-love because I truly believe loving yourself fully is how you can, in turn, love others for who they are. I have struggled with this concept for many years as I always had this constant urge to make others feel better. Where are all my people pleasers at?! I was the definition of a people pleaser who would move mountains for my friends, family, acquaintances from school/work, and even complete strangers sometimes. I would put other’s happiness before my own almost like clockwork and didn’t think twice about it. This happened for a long long time until last year when I basically had a reckoning with my health. I realized shortly after that I couldn’t keep up the pretense anymore, I couldn’t consistently put others above myself because I was basically neglecting my own emotions. I didn’t like who I was. I know, cue the drama… but really, I didn’t like who I had become because I had lost almost all the love for myself. I wasn’t happy with how my life was looking (excluding my relationship that brought me joy every single day, I’m not exaggerating) which largely had to do with my attitude and mindset. Now don’t get me wrong, it is a wonderful characteristic to have a big heart for others but never at the expense of yourself and your own health/emotions.

I know y’all have also been surrounded by the social media hype of almost this “self deprecation is trendy” moment that seems to creep around on the internet. Some may think its funny or “on-brand” but it truly isn’t something to always joke about. I have made a conscious effort to cut belittling myself or my efforts, even if it was just in my mind at first. I want to share with you 5 ways that you can also join me in this effort to love yourself whole-heartedly.

Morning Moments- First on the list is to create your own morning moments that mean something to you. Whether this looks like a meditation, devotion, prayer, or just silent reflection, make this a focal point in your morning routine before your day has to start. For me, I have a little bit everything because that is what works for me. I have tried many different combinations these past few months and I have found that starting with a mini meditation to find my breath and center my thoughts for today is the best way for me to start. Then I choose an intention for the day and work through a devotional. After this, I sit for a few minutes, doesn’t have to be long, to reflect on how yesterday ended and how blessed I am to wake up another day. I strongly urge you to explore a morning moment routine if you have trouble setting yourself up for success that day. It truly doesn’t have to be long I think my morning moments routine takes about 10 minutes tops. This has quickly become one of the best parts of my day and I wake up looking forward to feeling this inner peace before my busy day starts.
Change is a part of life- I heard in one of my meditations the other day something that really resonated with me. It was the fact that for as many years as life has been created on earth and for the thousands of years that might come after me, there will never be another me. I am the only version of myself and I should embrace my authentic self. This statement struck me very deeply because while it sounds like common sense, when explained from a different perspective, it settled with me in a way that had never before. As we all have experienced in one time of our life or another, change can happen in the blink of an eye. The important thing to remember is that change isn’t the universe switching things up on you but rather change is good and an expected part of life. If we stayed in our comfort zone or in the same pattern for years and years, we’d never evolve. So instead of cursing changes, big or small in life, let’s work on embracing and acknowledging that change is meant to happen. Let’s not let life happen to us, but rather let our life happen. Through realizing change is inevitable and part of life, it has made me less likely to harbor against myself for not being prepared for a change and subsequently, allow to continue loving myself.
Find a hobby/Explore a passion- If you are reading this blog post then you are quite literally helping me fulfill my hobby and passion project. I never thought I would have the guts to start a blog because I was nervous that others would judge me or even worse that I would judge myself. However, I realized that by letting my negative thoughts drive my actions, I wouldn’t be able to explore this passion project I was excited about. I know many of us are still living our quarantine lives so this particular bullet might be a bit challenging but I highly recommend trying out that little idea that you keep pushing to the back of your head (yes we all do this too) now that we have the time to do so. It doesn’t have to be anything grand, it can be as simple as picking up the book of your shelf that you bought forever ago but never got around to reading it or it could even be trying out that super complex recipe that caught your eye but never had the patience or time to practice it. Stepping out of your comfort zone may seem a little daunting at first however if you never try, it could potentially stop you from doing something you actually fall in love with. Letting your actions shine through naturally will nudge you to loving yourself more.
Giving gratefulness a chance- The next bullet in my list is to identify 1 thing that you are grateful for per day. I typically do this at night when I’m winding down for the night but this would also be a good step to add into your morning moments routine mentioned above. I’ve also seen others recommend saying 3, 5, or 10 things to be grateful for which I think is admirable however I just stick to 1 because I think if I did more than that every day I would become overwhelmed. Again, doesn’t have to be rocket science, just something that you are grateful for and I try to make it specific to that day (not just repeating the same thing each day). I also try to make sure I’m not too vague in my statement/thought. I wouldn’t think “I am grateful for my mom”. My thought would be more like “I am grateful that I was able to talk with my mom about our days after dinner because I know I won’t have this little luxury after I move out”. Being intentional with your thoughts can truly make all the difference. I believe that being grateful for things in your life, can steer us into a direction of outpouring in others lives which can make you feel fulfilled.
Moving your body- Even if it’s just for 30 minutes, moving your body is essential for your happiness!! I cannot emphasize this enough. I feel like Elle Woods from Legally Blonde “Exercise gives you endorphins and endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t kill their husbands.”. Whatever it is that you enjoy doing for getting your body moving (sports, dance, creative disciplines like yoga, structured gym movements) is worth it. Being active will make your body feel healthier and your mind more relaxed. I have made many lifestyle changes over the past year such as, changing what foods I eat, choosing what to drink/what not to drink, figuring out which pain relief methods work best for me, and the amount of movement I do a day (I think this will be whole other blog post), but all of these changes have helped me not only nourish my body but also, nurture my mindset. Through this, I allow myself the opportunity to believe in myself and love myself.

If I knew the person I was today by this time last year, I wouldn’t have believed it. Throughout the last year my life has changed so much and I have walked through this self-love journey radically. However, this is not to say that it wasn’t without strife, hard work, and perseverance through the bad days that didn’t exactly go my way. And my work is far from over, I still have quite a path ahead. I hope that some of this post resonates with you and you can takeaway some of these bullet points to start implementing in your own life if self-love is a journey you are walking on… I would love a walking buddy 😇. Tell me in the comments or message me @saraeliseblog on Instagram to let me know if you any of these have worked for you and what your experience has been. Thanks for reading and supporting my blog posts!

XOXO

–Sara 💋

#blogger #blog #ontheblog #backtoblogging #ontheblogtoday #bloggergetssocial #bloggerlife #newblogpost #bloggingtips #lifestyle #liveyourlife #loveyourlife #confidence #kindness #spreadkindness #spreadjoy #february #ValentinesDay #siginificantothers #galentinesday #friends #loveisintheair #cupid #selflove #morningroutine #selfcare #changeisgood

💘It’s Cupid Time- Valentine’s Day Gift Guides Included 💘

Valentine’s Day is a little over a week away!! I cannot believe how fast time is flying however, I am beyond excited to celebrate one of my favourite holidays (which other day of the year is sprinkled with pink, red, and white?). While I still spend the majority (like 98%) of my time at home, I try to find opportunities wherever I can to find happiness or at least the chance to smile. For these upcoming few days, what that looks like to me is celebrating my relationship, friendships, and family relations. Sure, someone could say I’m feeding into the commercialized hype of Valentine’s Day, but to that , I would say I DON’T CARE. If you like celebrating V day, then no one should shame you for it, especially since most of us have the best of intentions anyway. I have always loved Valentine’s Day, maybe because my mom always made the day special for my sister and I, or maybe because like any kid, I liked the chocolate. Whichever it was, the exciting butterflies always flutter around in my stomach at the beginning of February in anticipation for Valentine’s Day. I even remember the year I went through a breakup 2 days before Valentine’s Day! That year, by the time the 14th rolled around, I figured I was going to want to burn down all hearts and flowers, but on the contrary, I felt even more loved than before because my family and friends surrounded me with their company. I think that’s why I have never really fed into the fact that if you’re single, then V Day isn’t for you or you always have to make such a big deal on the day if you’re in a relationship. To me, V Day is all about expressing your love and gratitude to all the people that are special to you in your life… significant others, friends, siblings, parents and any other family relatives. I do this in various ways, either buying small chocolates for my family, or sending cards to my friends, or even making dinner plans the week of with some of my close girlfriends (pre-covid, of course).💌

I hope to be a good resource for you, if you are shopping. With that being said, I have put together two gift guides, one for him and one for her. My goal was to make the shopping easier for y’all and just click and ship basically. I love finding some good deals, throw in some cute colours, and I am having a ball. I will break down the gift guides below (from left to right):

**Valentine’s Day Gift Guide ~ For Her**

Crux Electric Air Fryer, SALE $62.99 with code HOME: I put this picture of the pink one because duh, but it comes in two other colours that would be perfect to compliment any kitchen.
HOT Wire Trivet, SALE $7.19 with code HOME: Such cute variations of several sayings to get and you can easily use this for the cocettes listed below.
Barefoot Dreams In the Wild Blanket, $180: I have heard rave reviews about this! There are several different combinations on the website to choose from. I’m waiting for the perfect time to strike to get this for myself.
CHANEL Chance, $85-$140: A classic Chanel scent that your girl will swoon over. Of course, it’s the perfect shade of pink which doesn’t hurt at all.
Fluff Yeah Genuine Shearling Slingback Sandal, $99.95: These sandals are super on trend right now and the perfect gift for a cozy Valentine’s night in. The red is a classic Valentine’s Day colour but there are lots of others to choose form if red isn’t their favourite.
Heart Stonewear Cocettes, SALE $27.99 with code HOME: Set of two stoneware pieces (good quality) that will be great for oven-baked recipes that can go straight to the table from the oven.
Elevated Heart Ring, $75: This is such a beautiful ring if you are looking for a heart-specific ring. Now fellas, this doesn’t have to mean anything more than a beautiful ring. Most women, myself included, love to accessorize with many rings so this is a lovely addition. You can never go wrong with Pandora jewelry!
Rose Quartz Crystal Facial Roller, $28: For the skincare lover!! This facial roller will help bring out her inner glow and have a relaxing facial massage every morning.
Kendra Scott Heart Pendant, $68: This is a new arrival from Kendra Scott and it came perfectly in time for Valentine’s Day. It comes in 3 metals, silver, gold and rose gold which is a great variety to choose from for the recipient.
Heart Stud Earrings, $46: Red heart earrings for a Valentine’s gift, could there BE a better gift for the occasion? (cue Chandler’s voice) Such a dazzling set that you can barely turn down at such an affordable price.
Kendra Scott Heart Small Hoop Earrings, $48: A perfect compliment to the Heart Pendant, these small everyday hoop earrings would be a great addition to any woman’s collection. Easily worn for V Day date night or for an everyday type of look. Comes in all three metals too silver, rose gold, and gold.
Godiva Valentine’s Fabric Heart Gift Box (14-piece), $34.96 (CURRENT DEAL OF THE DAY, will go back up to full price after today 2/05/2021: As a previous Godiva chocolatier, I can fully attest to the luxurious chocolate in this heartfelt keepsake box. My personal favourite type of chocolate is milk chocolate, what is yours?

The Ultimate Game for Couples, $24.99: Found this fun game on Amazon and thought it would be a perfect gift idea if you are looking to do something other than watching tv on your weeknights.
Star Wars Heart Tin, $19.99: This heart tin is filled with fun chocolate caramel hearts which would be a great addition to any Valentine’s gift basket.
Club Room V-Neck Wool Sweater, $24.99: I absolutely love this sweater! Great for any holiday party during the winter months and you can’t beat the sale price.
Light Saber Chopsticks, $11.97: What a creative gift for any guy in your life! If you are planning on ordering Chinese or Thai takeout for V-day, this could be a nice surprise to add to the ambiance.
My Girlfriend is Hotter than My Coffee Mug, $12.95: I bought this for my boyfriend last Christmas because he can’t go without his coffee in the mornings so I thought he could always think of me when he drinks form the mug. If you are looking for a similar effect, check this link out.
Electric S’mores Maker, $40: I mean who wouldn’t want to make s’mores more often? This electric maker would make a fun gift for your significant other to make any date night more cozy.
Beer Making Kit, $64.99: Is your man bummed about not being able to go to his favourite bars lately? Bring the beer to him this Valentine’s Day with this craft beer making kit this year. Unfortunately, the one pictured is no longer available so I linked another kit with great reviews.
Romantic Toilet Paper, $13.95: Okay, did you guys smirk at this one too? I think this would be a funny gift to give to your significant other at least just to make them laugh.
Massage Gun, $129: I bought this for my boyfriend last year as a gift and he really likes it! Since he works out very often, he is able to use this to relieve tension throughout his body. I highly recommend snagging one of these if your significant other has a similar lifestyle.
Bleu De Chanel, $80-$135: This scent is described as woodsy and citrusy as well as one of the top selling colognes on the market right now. The price will also depend on the size you purchase. If the man in your life is in need of a good cologne, this one would be a top one to try.
The MeatEater Fish and Game Cookbook, $19.71: Ah the way to a mans’s heart is through food… or at least that’s what my mom always taught me. This cookbook is for the carnivore in your life that just can’t get enough of various meats and fish. Sure a book isn’t the most glamorous of gifts but I can guarantee this is going to bring a big smile on his face.

Shipping Deadlines:

Kendra Scott- Order by 2/7 for Free Standard Shipping and delivery by Valentine’s Day
Pandora- Order by 2/8 for Free Standard Shipping ($55+) and delivery by Valentine’s Day
Macy’s- Order by 2/8 for delivery by Valentine’s Day
Nordstrom- Free Shipping and Returns
Amazon PRIME- 2 Day Shipping

If you do end up using any of these links or buy any of these items, please let me know!! I would love to hear if they work well for you and if the gifts brought smiles to the recipient’s faces (and if these gift guides were helpful for you). Valentine’s Day should be filled with love, thankfulness, and joy, I hope yours is filled with it all. ❤️

XOXO

-Sara💋

Be Kind to Yourself

**It has snowed for the past two days! Sitting at my desk, drinking my hot chocolate writing this blog post after playing in the snow for awhile!**

Happy Monday and HAPPY FEBRUARY!!💗 February is one of my favourite months of the year because it brings so much love and thoughtfulness. If you head over to my Instagram page @saraeliseblog, you will see a couple Monday inspirational pictures that I wanted to frame our minds to in the beginning of the day. I intend on making Mondays more motivational/inspirational/upbeat on my feed and incorporate that positive energy right here in my blog posts. I feel that is important for us, especially when most of us are either working from home or do not feel safe being outside of your house, to find happiness in the everyday things that we may have taken for granted at one time. I know for myself, I truly took many things for granted leading up to the pandemic. However, this past year has given us all the unique opportunity to reevaluate our own lives and look inward to identify what (…or who) works for us and what no longer serves us.

Over the past year, I have faced challenges and triumphs in various aspects of my life, as I’m sure we all have. Whenever I felt a setback happening, I would start to downward spiral and starting pinning myself for all of the things that could’ve led up to that point regardless of the circumstances. I’ll give you an example. About a month ago, I was advised by my doctor to wean off a prescription medicine I had been on ever since my gastrointestinal disorder diagnoses in July. Eagerly awaiting this moment, I followed his orders and went on with my days and didn’t think much of it. Until one evening, I started to have an uncontrollable set of the shakes, my abdominal spasms had returned, a glooming headache was fully in motion, and I couldn’t breathe easily so I reached for my inhaler to regulate my breath. I felt defeated, instantly having flashbacks of what had happened back in the summer of last year. I started running through my head to see if I had eaten something out of the ordinary that day, went back and tracked the amount of water I drank to ensure I wasn’t dehydrated, checked my pill case to check that I hadn’t forgotten one. When I realized that my “checklist” had all been completed, I started to think to myself how am I not strong enough to handle the pain, perhaps my pain tolerance had weakened. Was it all in my head? I listened to the doctor and couldn’t understand why I was having a considerable episode in the middle of the night when no one was awake to even help. Granted, what could they really do in that scenario, other than trying to comfort me? So let’s review the characteristics I pinned on myself that night for an episode that I clearly could not solve quickly… weak, frail, complainer, and confused. I felt that I shouldn’t bother others by waking them up telling them something was wrong or even continue to find answers because I chalked it up to “my body just not being able to handle it”. Let me be clear, this is an example of what NOT to do.

The next day, I immediately called my doctor to recount what had happened the night before. He told me to go back on the medicine I had previously stopped taking because clearly, my symptoms weren’t clearing up in the timeframe that was intended. Again, those thoughts of not being able to handle what was going on with my body, started to creep back in. I stopped myself and realized that I had allowed negative thoughts in my own head to wreak havoc therefore I kept those thoughts circulating within me. That’s when I knew I couldn’t continue to feed myself negativity. How can one expect kindness from others, if they are not kind to themself? I went back through the chain of events in my head and thought how attentive I was to myself for ensuring my checklist was thoroughly examined the night before. How I was courageous enough to pick up the phone and advocate for myself to the doctor (for those of you with chronic conditions, you know what I mean on this). Finally, how kind I was to myself for realizing that I didn’t always have to find a reason to place the blame on myself. This was a turning point for me because in the weeks that passed after this incident, I found myself actively switching those negative thoughts that would creep in, with possible positive attributes. It’s all about mindset and perhaps that’s the hardest part to comprehend, for me at least.

Reframing my thoughts in negative situations or situations that are out of my control has been an area that I have struggled with before but have found myself improving more everyday. I have found that negative daily thoughts cloud my judgement which is not healthy. To counteract this, I have made a conscious effort to think through my thoughts internally to see if they are subconsciously hurting me. This may look like if I have another unfortunate painful night, I recognize the pain I’m in, proactively record/identify what is wrong, and believe in myself that my strength and grace will carry me through. Being kind to yourself may seem simple at face value, but once you dig deeper you might find there is still so much more kindness left to give yourself. If you have some trouble finding it… I would be happy to help or offer any advice I can!

Thanks for reading! Happy Monday friends, let’s crush this week 🙂

— Sara 💋

Persevering vs Achieving New Year’s Goals

I’m a To-Do list person. There I said it. I don’t have any objections to flying by the seat of your pants, but I personally have never been able to operate like that. Ever since I was little, I had all different types of organizational items within an arm’s reach away. Journals, diaries, planners, colourful writing tools, and all the stickers you could possibly think of and it all brought me so much joy. Sure, it’s not like I was planning a world peace movement, rather a few playdates with my friends here and there. However, there was something about knowing what I wanted to achieve in a certain amount of time that I believe has largely driven me to where I am now.

Now even thought it’s the end of January, I still like to revisit my goals and intentions I set for this year. Now I’m not a huge fan of a New Year’s Resolution like some may be, but I do believe in setting overarching themes for the year so I can intentionally achieve goals I plan for myself. As a society, we tend to get wrapped up in the New Year flutter that fills the first week of January. This is ~completely~ fine, if you don’t get burned out. I found that in the years that I made huge goals for myself and went really hard in the first couple of weeks in January, by the time February or March rolled around, I didn’t feel like those goals were attainable/ didn’t want to achieve them anymore. I like to remember that yes if you set goals intentionally then you want to achieve them, however if circumstances change that inhibit you from achieving specific goals, then change them. Don’t say you epically failed and just write it off as a big NOPE for the year. Make sure your goals are aligned with what you want to see from yourself this year. Sometimes I felt like if I hadn’t achieved my various goals by March then I wasn’t going fast enough or wouldn’t be able to accomplish them all. WRONG! The intention is for the goals to be achieved throughout the full year, not the first quarter of the year. Remember, goal setting is not a race it’s a marathon. Sure you want to set yourself up for success, but kindly give yourself grace when needed. If you haven’t glanced back over your goals/word of the year/resolutions/vision boards, or whatever you chose to elaborate on this year, then I would highly encourage you to do so.

As the first month of 2021 is nearing its close, I intend to take this weekend as an opportunity to look through my previously laid out goals to check in and make sure that they still align with my intentions. The way I chose to lay out my goals this year was to separate them into different subsections, if you will, and then followed up with dot points for each. Some of my categories included Lifestyle, Personal Development, Finances, Faith, and Food/Dietary Needs to name a few of the 11 I originally created. I also found it helpful that I didn’t put a huge goal in each category, but rather small task-oriented actions under each to ensure I am working daily towards improving upon the categories. If I had set over 11 large goals, I think I would’ve become too overwhelmed to even begin. Throughout the coming months, I intend to check in with these goals and then write either the date it was achieved or if its a daily type of goal, like drinking 70 oz of water a day, I would come back to that at the end of year to see if I was able to uphold that standard for myself.

I tend to write my goals in my planner so then I have it all in one place and don’t have to keep track of random pieces of paper throughout the year. After the middle of last year, I basically threw the towel in on planners because I didn’t see any reason to buy and write in them. This year I thought to myself that even if I don’t have huge plans or consistent weekly items to add to the planner, it’s still a worthy investment since it will help me orient myself throughout the various months. Now that my blog has been reborn, I can now use it to plan out my posts more efficiently. You don’t have to get fancy and buy a super expensive planner either, a desk pad, or a journal with the year of dates would also work for intentional goal/yearly planning.

All in all, I’ll wrap up this post by saying that giving yourself grace when you are planning your goals or your weeks or even your days is so important. As we all experienced, 2020 and even throughout this first month of 2021, we have experienced a ton of mixed emotions everyday. How do we plan for that? We don’t, because there is no possible way to plan for unexpected surprises that will ensue various emotions. What we can do, is control our reactions and strive towards spreading positivity and love to all… which is exactly what I hope to do with this blog.

Comment below one of your goals for 2021 or what you use for your planner! If you don’t want to post them publicly, just DM them to me on instagram @saraeliseblog 😊 Thanks for reading!

–Sara 💋

9 months later… I’m Back

As I typed that title, I realized how this might sound. So let me answer this upfront- no, there are no babies around here haha. My fingers are somewhat trembling as I type this post. I started this blog platform last year in April and it was one of the best decisions I had made, no regrets. However, just like how life took a turn for EVERYONE last year, my life was flipped upside down in May shortly after my blog was published. So let’s rewind a bit and I’ll explain where the heck I’ve been…

Okay so basically everything changed a little before Memorial Day weekend. At the time, we had been in quarantine for about 2 months and all were looking forward to the summer even if it was just to get outside and walk in the beaming sun. Unfortunately, over that holiday week into weekend, I started to feel nauseous and uneasy. My (chronic) migraines were picking up, I couldn’t keep any food down, my body was aching, and I felt very dehydrated. Several doctor visits, 2 CT scans, 2 covid tests, 2 visits to the emergency room, 1 HIDA scan and an upper endoscopy later, I was diagnosed with several gastrointestinal disorders in July shortly after my 23rd birthday. From the middle of May till about the middle of July, I was in a very dark place, mentally, physically, and emotionally. I can remember very clearly days upon days laying in bed just waiting for the time to pass to hopefully wake up with less pain. Even worse, I started to feel bad for even having these problems because all I could think of was how the world was suffering with COVID-19 and who was I to complain about my issues when there were clearly more pressing matters happening to others. I am going to share something that one of the ER nurses told me on my second visit. I was so fed up with not knowing any answers and feeling like a burden, that I confessed it all to the kind nurse who was with me that day. She said to me “I’m so glad you are here Sara. Many patients aren’t coming at all to the ER room because they are terrified of contracting the virus or they think their problems aren’t as important as others. It is imperative that regardless of what is going on with covid, that you remain vigilant in caring for your own health. Please pass this along to your family and friends so they know not to be scared of coming to the ER when it is needed.” Wow, mind blown. I was shocked to hear this because I was expecting them to kinda agree with me that my health issues weren’t as “important” as others… boy was I dead wrong though.

These past 6 months, after my diagnosis in July, has consisted of MANY trial and error escapades. I have been put on and taken off several medications to find what works best for my body. I have kept a food journal to decipher what my triggers are. I have tried different alternatives to foods that I once had no problem of eating. I have refrained from consuming alcohol for the most part. I have exercised nearly every week day for at least 30 minutes a day to keep my endorphins up but most importantly, I have shifted my mindset. Instead of being the terrified, nervous, and reserved person who was contemplating even going to the ER (trust me, if my parents hadn’t nearly dragged me to the car, I wouldn’t have gone) when I was in excruciating pain, I am now a curious, open-minded, adaptable woman who is fighting to get more answers. I feel somewhat proud that after all these months I am able to speak up for myself and my body. Don’t get me wrong, I definitely felt like my body had betrayed me for awhile there, but now I believe it was alerting me to know that something was wrong. I believe we can all relate to this in some way. Perhaps you also feel like your problems, health-related or otherwise, are not “as bad” or “as important” as others so you dismiss them… take it from me, your body knows itself and you are JUST AS IMPORTANT.

So now that brings us to the present day. Here I am back on my blog, with a Starbucks next to me, writing away. You may be thinking, okay so why is she doing this again after so much time has passed? To that I would answer, I have no freaking idea. Like I mentioned previously, 2020 was a dark year for me and it had a lot to do with what was going on mentally and health-wise. I felt like I was unworthy of this platform, I felt like no one would care about what was going on with me because it was small peanuts compared to everything else. I deleted my blog app off my phone, tucked away all my ideas, and basically didn’t bring it up again. I was focused on my healing journey and getting my mind back into a better place.

In November, I had a very long conversation with my boyfriend, about what my life looked like and what I wanted for myself. I wanted to find an inner happiness most of all. He was the one who brought my blog back up to me and asked me why I stopped writing. Obviously my response was, “um I’ve been ill”. As our conversation flowed and he pressed me about my reasoning for stopping, I realized something that I hadn’t thought of before. Yes I was physically ill so I had stopped virtually everything I was doing outside of my actual job, but I didn’t feel confident anymore. I felt like my body betrayed me and when that ship sank, so did my self-confidence. I started this blog to make others feel confident, empowered, and worthy of all good things that come to them. I didn’t feel any of those things for months and months so who was I to share with my audience (all of y’all) my thoughts while trying to front a confident demeanor. And thats when it hit me. THAT is my why. That is my why behind dusting the cobwebs off this blog and taking the reins back of my life. Sure, not everyday is going to be as peachy as some, we all go through our struggles, but having friends and a community to support through the tough times, can make all the difference.

I hope this post has encouraged you to never doubt what your body/mind is telling you. I still have many questions unanswered about my recent diagnoses, which I intend to seek answers for without hesitation. It is my right to know what is happening with my own body and to understand how to nurture it to thrive like it once did. Thank you to all of you who have supported me and reached out over the past months (y’all know who you are), it has meant the absolute world to me. I suppose this isn’t the fashion/beauty post I had intended to gear my blog towards but this is real life. If I can help anyone else out there struggling with at least acknowledging their own self-worth, then this blog is worth it. Can’t wait to continue writing for y’all…Thanks for listening and sticking around xoxo.

–Sara 💋

P.S. I have decided to conquer one of my fears and put my blog into an instagram account! Follow me @saraeliseblog for content updates!

#blogger #blog #ontheblog #backtoblogging #ontheblogtoday #bloggergetssocial #bloggerlife #newblogpost #bloggingtips #lifestyle #liveyourlife #loveyourlife #confidence #health #wellness

What’s Worth Streaming Right Now?

We all will be spending a considerable amount of time at home for the foreseeable future… so what’s actually worth streaming right now? Let’s not even get started on the numerous streaming platforms that are available nowadays, otherwise we’d be here all day. For the purpose of this blog post, I will only use the three streaming services I currently have which are Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+. The following lists are not in any particular order just some of my all-time favourites.

Netflix- Top 5:

Gilmore Girls: Okay this one is a classic! I usually have this on in the background the majority of the day. I mean who else loves to see the coffee-fueled, fast-talking, junk food-loving mother and daughter duo… Lorelai and Rory Gilmore.
The Crown: I binge this show every time a new season is released. From what it seems like, most of the show is based on true historical evidence with some dramatization of the plot. I think season 3 will be great given that they will introduce Princess Diana (if you know me, you know she is my icon) into the story.
Narcos-Mexico: This is a recent find! I watched both seasons in 2 weeks and it was so interesting. Huge disclaimer that it has a lot of explicit language, (obvi) drug content, and straight up violence. I also recommend watching this on either a laptop screen you are fully engaged in or a big screen where you can read subtitles as well. This show requires a lot of attention, but quite excellently portrayed.
Tiger King: Hey all you cool cats and kittens! Unless you’ve been living under a rock, I’m sure you’ve heard about the show Tiger King. I binged the show in 2 days and had no idea what I was in for. If you are looking for a quick and “out-there” type series, check this one out. Oh also, Carol Baskin did it- nuff said.
Love is Blind: Still just as crazy to watch but I oddly liked the show way more than I thought I would. The concept of a social experiment to find a life partner is really interesting. Can’t wait to see the 2nd season which Netflix recently confirmed it will start filming.

On my list to watch next on Netflix: Lucifer, Peaky Blinders, Outer Banks, and El Chapo

Hulu – Top 5:

Ugly Betty: This show is an oldy but goody! I remember watching bits and pieces of this show quite a few years ago but I decided to rewatch it about a year ago and it was one of the best decisions I could’ve made. So much drama and fashion… never is a bore either.
Love Island (UK): During my time living in England, I grew attached to this show! At the time, it had just released so I watched seasons 1 and 2. This is basically a smash up of The Bachelor and a bit of The Jersey Shore sprinkled with British accents. Y’all have to watch this!! You won’t regret it.
Cults & Extreme Beliefs: I can’t quite remember who recommended this show to me but whoever it is, I need to thank them 10000 times over. It’s a documentary series that dedicates an episode to one particular group with a moderator. Then at the end of the series, they all reconvene and talk through their various situations. I cannot recommend this series enough- I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The Bachelor/The Bachelorette: While current production for future seasons are on hold because of coronavirus, the past seasons have been pretty entertaining. I started watching this show back when Chris was the Bachelor and he was a farmer somewhere from the Midwest. I think the best season was either Colton or Hannah’s. I’ve been told the earlier seasons of this show are better though so I might start from the beginning. Plus, Chris Harrison is the REAL star of the show.
The Handmaid’s Tale: I started this show a year ago and haven’t quite gotten up to the current season yet. I was only able to watch an episode every day or so because it was a lot to ingest but I intend to pick back up with season 2 this coming week. Let’s try not to draw any parallels between the show and our current situation so we don’t go crazy.

On my list to watch next on Hulu: Life of Kylie, Dave, and Love Island: Australia

Disney+ – Top 5:

Princess Diaries: Does this one really need an explanation? I mean come on, this is one of the best movies ever! Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway, yes please!
The Parent Trap: You can find me reliving my childhood while watching this movie. I never went to a summer camp growing up but I always dreamed of attending one and possibly finding my long lost twin sister.
Aladdin: Surprisingly, I really like the newest version of Aladdin. I didn’t think I would- stubbornly, I didn’t want to like it as much as I did because I felt like it couldn’t have been as good as the original cartoon. I’m glad I was wrong though, I will happily watch this movie throughout the week! I love the all of the fantastic colours in the dancing scenes, the humour (Will Smith DUH), and the songs that were included.
Mulan: “I’ll make a man out of you…” is the best song for me to have on in the background while cleaning my room HA. This movie never gets old to me, plus the strength that Mulan portrays in the movie is an instant draw in for me.
Lizzie McGuire: Yes, I do enjoy re-living the early 2000’s by watching this show! Did anyone else think there were endless seasons of this show too? Absolutely love Lizzie McGuire and fully intend to rewatch constantly.

On my list to watch next on Disney+: Onward, Avengers: Endgame, Be Our Chef

Now that we are all confined to our house (and most likely will be staying put for quite a few months), it’s the perfect time to start some new shows that you’ve had your eye on. While I don’t recommend just sitting in front of the TV aimlessly, watching a few episodes every now and then is a good distraction from all the news that is going around right now. If you have any good show/movie suggestions, please feel free to let me know. I’m always looking to add more on to my list. Happy Streaming!

~~Sara

#blogger #blog #ontheblog #ontheblogtoday #bloggergetssocial #bloggerlife #newblogpost #bloggingtips #lifestyle #liveyourlife #loveyourlife #coronavirus #hope #grateful #shows #streaming #netflix #hulu #disney+ #movies #news

What You’re Really Looking For… Designer Dupes!

I don’t know about y’all, but I LOVE a good designer dupe. There are so many designers that inspire my fashion choices however, their price points are NOT inspiring. Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Valentino, Saint Laurent, and Christian Dior are just some of the few top designer brands I love. I tend to look at shoes, purses, makeup, and perfume in designer brands. While I would prefer to easily be able to purchase a designer item, it hurts a bit more to see that price tag than it would to buy a dupe. I’m hoping many of you feel the same way which is why I went ahead and dove right into this blog post. If you do choose to purchase one of the dupes I have listed, please let me know! I would love to know your thoughts as well as an item comparison if you have the designer product as well. I hope this blog post comes at the right time for most of y’all as I know everyone is tightening their purse strings nowadays. For sizing reference, I will use the same sizes/prices I would buy for that particular item, unless my size is sold out. Without further ado…

Gucci Belt Dupe– Amazon

Size: Medium, $13.98

Compared to ~$460 value

Tory Burch Sandal Dupe– Amazon

Size: 9 (they didn’t have my size 5), $29.94

Compared to ~$198

Chanel Quilted Bag Dupe– Amazon

$26.98

Compared to ~$5,800

Valentino Jelly Sandal Dupe– Amazon

Size: 6, $20

Compared to ~$425

Tiffany’s Atlas Bangle Dupe– Amazon

$12.50

Compared to ~$7,200

Gucci Leather Loafer Dupe– Amazon

Size: 6, $39.99

Compared to ~$730

Louis VuittonTravel Makeup Bag Dupe– Amazon

$29.99

Compared to ~$765

Dior Thread Bracelet Dupe- Etsy

$25.50

Compared to ~ $420

I hope at least one of these dupes have caught your eye! (SHOUTOUT to Yasmin for giving me some inspiration). As a disclaimer, I have not been able to order these dupes purely because I’m in mega-saving mode but the moment I have some wiggle room my first purchase is going to be the Dior dupe bracelet. If you haven’t read in my previous blog, the world is hurting right now. Unfortunately, spending a ton of money on designer brands is not going to be our top priority for awhile. This was the driving force behind this post- I want to be as utilitarian as possible and share products with y’all that are affordable.

Happy Dupe Shopping EVERYONE!!

~~Sara

#blogger #blog #ontheblog #ontheblogtoday #bloggergetssocial #bloggerlife #newblogpost #bloggingtips #lifestyle #liveyourlife #loveyourlife #designerdupes #wakeupandmakeup #spring #bestsellers #luxury #savings #dupeshopping

Talking About the Elephant In the Room…COVID-19

Coronavirus, Covid-19, pandemic… all of these words are what surrounds us these days. Whether it’s via social media, local news outlets, or even in everyday conversations, it seems like we can never escape these words. The intention of this blog is to not talk about the actual virus or the spread of it, as I am not a medical expert and don’t wish to speak like one. I intend to do quite the opposite actually, I want to talk about the more positive/constructive things that have come out of this time. Our “coronacation” will go inevitably down in history books; so let’s try to focus internally on how we can better ourselves throughout this time.

On Monday, I will begin my 8th week of working from home for my job. I was grateful that my job was one of the first companies to enact a stay-at-home order throughout the country which means I have been working remotely (from my couch) for the past 7 weeks. Yes, it has been nice to not go into the office, but I’ve also found myself becoming more lethargic as the weeks go on. There are several activities that I would like to share throughout this blog post to uplift others as well. I have been brainstorming some of these activities to keep me busy, be productive around the house, and uplift my self as much as possible.

1. Keep a schedule- I know, this doesn’t sound very fun. Especially when [some] of us have been given the opportunity to work from home. Try to keep your schedule as routine as possible. Get up (yes out of your bed), get yourself ready for the day, and go to your designated workspace to begin the day. I also would recommend going to bed at a relatively decent time to keep your body in rhythm as well. I have fallen victim to scrolling aimlessly on all social media platforms late into the night which I am going to try to do less of this upcoming week. In my opinion, it is so important to keep your body in the habit of doing things, like it did, prior to the quarantine. If you regularly exercised, keep it up [even if you didn’t, this is the perfect time to start!]. If you like to read before bed, keep doing it! If you like to treat yourselves on the weekend with a special ice cream for getting through the work week, don’t let anyone stop you! Keeping a corona schedule is just as important, IF NOT MORE important, than before.

2. Clean your living space- For hygienic purposes as well as your sanity, try to keep your living space, whether it be a house, apartment, townhouse, basement, room, or a dorm, clean and disinfected as much as possible! Not only will it keep germs from being around you as long but for some people it can be therapeutic to clean their space. I like to deep clean my room/bathroom every 3 weeks normally, but now that we are in our current situation, I frequently wipe down surfaces and floors. It really gives me peace of mind that I’m trying to take care of my little area as much as possible.

So what have I actually been doing to pass time?

DELETING PICS OFF MY PHONE- This is probably one of the best things I could be doing right now. I’m a little embarrassed to say that I started with just over 22,000 pictures in my camera roll. Now that I’ve been working on deleting some pictures over the past couple days, I have gotten that total number down to 18,000. Now you may be thinking, okay but why do you have THAT many pictures?? The short answer is that I like to keep memories on my phone so I always have them to look at. The bit of a longer explanation is that I got my first iPhone when I was in 10th grade in 2012. This means that I have transferred my photos from phone to phone for the past 8 years!! Additionally, I was blessed to have been able to travel to many different countries throughout my college experience so I wanted to document all of the places I went to which has most definitely contributed to this large number. I couldn’t recommend to go through your camera roll and just weed out whatever you don’t need anymore enough!! Let me know how many pictures you have in your camera roll, hopefully I’m not the only one with an absurd number too. I intend to keep going through and decluttering the camera roll but it will take a few more days for sure.

DAILY EXERCISE- I’m not gonna get on here and start preaching about how you should be exercising everyday and constantly burning calories and whatnot. With everything going on right now, there are so many priorities that may come before this one however, if you value exercise, make it a priority! I work from home now, which has given me motivation to get up early in the day and do my workout before I even start to work because it helps give me energy to carry on throughout the day. If morning workouts aren’t your cup of tea, then I have also been switching some days to working out in the afternoon as a mood booster after a long day of work. This also gives my body a break from sitting down all day. Working on my physical health has been so important to me for the past several months. I’ll admit I gained quiet a few pounds after graduation (probably the heaviest I’ve ever been) and towards the end of 2019, I truly just didn’t like the way I looked and how I felt. I would be so lethargic throughout the day; I knew I needed to make a change. At the beginning of the year (yes, I had a cliché New Year’s resolution, don’t hate), I decided to promise MYSELF that I would take better care of my body by watching what I put into it and how I use it throughout the day, which means more exercises throughout the week. I have been determined to not let quarantine stop my rhythm either. If it feels good or if you just simply need a break from it all, get up and get moving!! Do what makes you feel good- running, dancing, walking, yoga, HIIT circuits… the possibilities are endless.

CONNECTING THROUGH MAIL- I have been frantically writing letters to my close friends over the past few weeks to make sure they knew I didn’t forget about them!! HAHA just kidding. I mainly write letters to my friends because I try to think of how it feels to receive mail (especially when it’s not bills and spam). There is just nothing better than receiving an old-fashion card in the mail (SHOUTOUT to you Emily for your lovely one that I received). I highly recommend during this time at home to connect more with your friends through mail. Sure you could send a text, but to write down your feelings on a piece of paper, is so much more personal! I’m sure your friends would love this too.

SEWING/REPAIRING CLOTHES- I have a pile of clothing items right outside of my bedroom that have been sitting there FOREVER! Literally months. I have been brainstorming on how to best tackle the pile but I’m working on sewing holes back together first, repositioning buttons, and then seeing if I can hem a few items too. This is the perfect time to post up in front of the TV with your sewing box and get to work. Once this quarantine is over and we can all go back outside, we are going to need our clothes looking top-notch! Also, I don’t know everything there is to know about sewing either so I’ve been watching lots of YouTube videos to help!

PERFECTING SKINCARE/MAKEUP- This one brings me so much JOY! I have been testing out different skincare products while I’ve been home so I can see what works best for my skin and ensure I’m using the best products I can. There has been some trial and error in this process but at least I’ve been home so I can hide a little bit. Once I get a good routine going, I will share more! Going hand in hand with trying different products, I’ve also been creating new makeup looks to wear out once I can go out again. These need a lot of attention together because in order to have makeup products work the way they are supposed to, your skin needs to be taken care of. A clean canvas can make your makeup shine radiantly like it never has before. Hoping to have a glow look by the time I can hang out with my friends again and feeling more confident in my own skin.

These are only a few of the things I have been doing while I’ve been home full-time but I wanted to give special attention to these breakdowns because I thought they would be most beneficial for others to think about as well. Let’s face it, the situation we have all been put in is hard to think about. We’ve never experienced anything like this before. Making the best of it is the most important thing we can do right now as well as HOPE for the best. Every night, I have “taken inventory” of all of my blessings that I have and speak my prayers into existence. HOPE and GRATEFULNESS can truly uplift the world these days~ let’s continue to try to spread peace together.

Please reach out to me if you are struggling with our “coronacation”. I am always hear to offer an ear to listen. We WILL get through this.

~~Sara

THE Sephora Spring Sale – What to BUY!

The time has come for the Sephora Spring Sale!! This sale is 1 of 2 sitewide sales that occur throughout the year. Sephora hosts both the spring sale and the holiday sale for their shoppers which, I’m sure I can speak for all of us when I say, that this is a time we all look forward to. From luxury skincare, designer fragrances, and top-seller makeup items, this is the time to place your orders and save BIG. We all know it gets a little pricey to be pampered and primed. Trust me, I know- life isn’t fair! That is exactly why I am compiling several lists for y’all of makeup products and skincare. In each list I will mark what I will be restocking (*) and what I haven’t tried before but am intending to buy (&). Below I have posted the timeline for the Sephora Sale which correlates with the status you have as a Sephora member. If you are wondering what status you are, sign into your account (or sign up, its free!) , and look at your amount of points which will give you the status of Rouge, VIB, or Insider.

The dates that correlate with the statuses above are the dates in which you are able to shop the site with the code SPRINGSAVE. I wanted to get the blog up and running before the majority of members are able to shop the sale. I, a peasant, am an Insider (so close to VIB status though!) so I am loading up my cart and wish list with some of the following items:

These items include long-time favourites, new finds, and items I simply cannot live without. I will include my shade as well for reference; follow the links for details. As I am trying to make this as affordable as possible, I will try to be selective with my recommendations so that you aren’t steered in the wrong direction!

Top Picks for Makeup

TOO FACED: Born This Way Foundation (Natural Beige) $39. This was one of the first foundations I tried from Sephora and I loved it. It was a good matte foundation (good for oily skin) that worked well for me particularly in the summer when I was able to tan a lot. Now that it its becoming warmer, this is a good foundation to snag. I am weary of buying it during the winter though because it makes my skin look orange-tinted with dry skin.

BITE BEAUTY: Changemaker Supercharged Micellar Foundation (M65) $39.50. This foundation is a GAME CHANGER, hands down. I had heard several reviews about it and wanted to try it. It is vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free, and extremely light on the face. While I was searching for a medium-coverage foundation , I came across this one in the store and sampled it on my skin. Shortly after, I realized this foundation was the perfect match for me to wear to the office. I wanted something light, simple, breathable, and to even my skin tone out in the morning before heading off to work. This foundation fulfilled every one of those items. Can’t recommend this foundation more for everyday use! (*)

TARTE: babassu foundcealer skincare foundation SPF 20 (35G medium-golden) $39. I particularly like this foundation for a night-time look, date night, or a girl’s brunch for more coverage. It is listed as a medium-coverage foundation but it truly does feel like a full-coverage foundation. It covers all impurities and imperfections while leaving a natural and flawless finish. Will definitely be snagging this one. (*)

TOO FACED: Damn Girl! 24-Hour Mascara ($25). I absolutely love this mascara to wear on the weekends. Gives so much volume and length to your lashes. Will definitely be restocking. (*)

TOO FACED: Better Than Sex Mascara ($25). Another rave about a TOO FACED mascara, they knocked it out of the park with this one. A must-have in every collection for all occasions.

BENEFIT COSMETICS: Roller Lash Curling & Lifting Mascara ($25). I bought this mascara a couple months ago specifically to go with my simple work makeup routine and it has worked perfectly. It looks super natural on the eyelashes and comes off very easily at the end of the day. (*)

TARTE: Big Ego Macara ($23). I’ve heard great things about this mascara and am eager to try it. Plus its hot pink so it’s an instant SOLD for me. (&)

KVD BEAUTY Tattoo Liner ($21). I received a birthday sample of this from Sephora last year but didn’t use it until the winter. I really liked the applicator of the pen because it didn’t smudge at all! I much prefer pen liners rather than gel or true liquid. Planning on getting the full size! (*)

TARTE: Sex Kitten Liquid Liner ($20). Super jet black liner that I love to do my winged eyeliner with. The pen is really sharp too which you can easily fill in with close to your eyelash line.

KVD VEGAN BEAUTY: Everlasting Blush ($26) in shade Foxglove. Hands down one of my fav blushes!! Brings out the rose in my cheeks and doesn’t look too peachy (my skin shade doesn’t work well with corals/peaches/oranges).

SMASHBOX : Photo Finish Foundation Primer ($36) the original. This face primer is super lightweight and has been a recent new love. A must-have for both work and weekend look!

IT COSMETICS: CC+ Cream with SPF 50 ($39.50) I have heard that this is a great lightweight cc cream to wear during the summer to the pool and the beach. I looked at the shade finder and plan on getting the shade Natural Tan. Super excited to try this plus the high SPF content is a great selling point to me. (&)

CHARLOTTE TILBURY: Hot Lips Lipstick 2 ($37). This is a bit of a splurge lip product but I cannot recommend this lipstick enough! I have it in the shade Glowing Jen (named after Jennifer Aniston, an absolute icon) and is in a super cute cheetah bullet case. I wanted to share this because it has far exceeded my expectations as far as a lipstick goes. It’s moisturizing while pigmented and won’t come bleed into your skin. I intend to get the first version of Hot Lips in shade Kim K.W. (obviously in honour of Kim Kardashion-West). (*)

CT continued from above: Lip Cheat Lip Liner ($22) in shade Bond Girl. Perfectly compliments the Glowing Jen lipstick above. Will def stock up on this liner while I can!

CT continued: Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder ($45). Excited to get my hands on this product. Will be getting it in shade 2 medium but I am excited to try it out for myself. The reviews speak for themselves, excited to “naturally glow” this summer! (&)

Top Picks for Skincare

BITE BEAUTY: Agave+ Nighttime Vegan Lip Therapy ($24). I bought this in the beginning of the year and I like to use this a few nights a week. I have a bad habit of pulling skin from my lips during stressful times (I know it’s bad) so this has been a God-SEND as of recently. A little bit goes a long way, it will last a long time!

LANEIGE: Lip Sleeping Mask ($20). Many of my close friends have RAVED about this product plus it’s one of Sephora’s bestsellers so I definitely want to give this a shot. All scents seem likable but y’all know me, I’m going for the pink one. Apparently this mask is best for daily use so hopefully this will be hydrating and rejuvenating for my lips! (&)

DRUNK ELEPHANT: T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial ($80). As we all know, Drunk Elephant is a top-tier skincare line so if you had your eye on any of these types of brands, now is the time to strike! I’m going back and forth on buying this product simply because of the price but as for the reviews I’ve heard/read, this would be the one splurge product I buy from the sale. I’m looking for a durable face mask to make sure my skin tone is evened out.

HERBIVORE: Rose Quartz Facial Roller ($40). I have been eyeing this face roller for awhile and will be buying it for sure. I struggle with getting a good nights rest most nights which has encouraged me to look more into facial rollers. They aim to reduce puffiness and inflation within the face which is exactly what I need to get rid of. Excited to start reviewing this product. (&)

CHARLOTTE TILBURY: Magic Eye Rescue Cream ($60). Another splurge product (MAJOR eye-wink here)!! To go hand in hand with what I wrote just above, every morning, my under-eyes look ROUGH. Enter Magic Eye Rescue Cream here. This product is online only so make sure to snag it while you can. I’m hoping this product will cure my dark circles and moisturize. (&)

As we all know, Sephora covers a lot more than what is included in my blog post. There are fragrances, hair care, and tools to all look into as well. For example, if you have been eyeing the new Dyson hair dryer tool, now would be the time to invest! Or for me personally, I want to restock my favorite Chanel and Miss Dior fragrances that will also be included in the sale. Shop smart this sale guys!

If you have any specific questions or products you are wondering about, let me know! Would love to hear what y’all order!

–Sara

*All items are courtesy of Sephora’s website and are linked.

#blogger #blog #ontheblog #ontheblogtoday #bloggergetssocial #bloggerlife #newblogpost #bloggingtips #lifestyle #liveyourlife #loveyourlife #beautyhacks #wakeupandmakeup #Sephorasale #spring #bestsellers #makeup #skincare #luxury #savings