I don’t sell LipSense, Senegence, or any related or other products, but, I did have an opportunity to meet a distributor through Facebook who needed some models, which give me the chance to try all of the Senegence products and get an honest opinion on quality.
All we wanted to do was spend our anniversary weekend in Disneyland, so we hopped a late night plane and headed to sunny LA.
Yep. Its week 3 of the New Year and I’m already quitting on my resolution. Well, to be completely honest I didn’t make one and haven’t for a few years now. In the past I’ve… More
Hey there friends! So, my darling husband planned a day trip to Canada for my birthday celebration this last weekend. Thank Jesus, it was a mostly sunny day and the rain held off!
Vancouver is about a 2.5 hour road trip from our place in Bothell, WA. We packed up our passports, grabbed a jacket and hopped in the car at about 7:30am.
Tony really really really wanted donuts from Tim Hortons, and I can’t blame him. They were delish and super cheap! We only paid $2.99 for a coffee and ten “Timbits.”
I think this was actually the largest park I have ever been to! Incredible hiking trails, a path along the water, plus super cute picnic areas. We wish we would’ve taken more pictures here, but we were so taken aback with the beauty of it we didn’t think to. We strolled along the waterfront for about two miles before deciding to save our energy for the rest of the day. If you visit Stanley Park – rent bikes!
Granville Island is full of little boutique and artisan stores. There are lots of wood, ceramic, and other art shops to peak at. They also have a super cute indoor market. We stopped there for a small snack of fresh Caprese Salad, meats, bread, and fresh squeezed juice
The urban scene in Vancouver is really fun. “Gastown” is the older part of town and has tons of restaurants, coffee shops, stores, and sights! We stopped at a little place on the corner called Buro. The lattes were amazing!
A total of four and half miles later, we are wiped! We headed back to the US for some dinner at a local restaurant, because I had a coupon (money savers!)
PS. I don’t know why, but going through Border Security gives me a pit in my stomach like I’m smuggling something. All I took back to the U.S. was a bottle of water, but I was nervous like my trunk was full of undeclared fruits and veggies.
Check out the little video I put together of some of our adventures in Vancouver. We’re on a hunt for a nice camera because the iPhone isn’t cutting it on filming quality. But it will be a fun memento nonetheless.
Here are somethings I do to keep my house organized;
Generally, I get rid of things that I haven’t worn in 3 months. If it’s something I’m keeping to “hope to fit soon” or something that “just needs the right outfit, then it’s not necessary. I shouldn’t have bought it in the first place. If you don’t have enough room in your closet or dressers, then your room starts to get cluttered. So get rid of some things that you don’t need!
As an adult, there are just some papers/documents that you have to keep. But some are just plain excessive. I try to keep all of my necessary papers in one designated spot so they don’t get misplaced. I like to organize them and keep all of the same types of papers together.
I have been to people’s houses that have everything in different places. In their kitchen, some Tupperware is in one cupboard, while the rest is in a separate drawer. Why!? This makes it more difficult on everyone. Keep life simple. Everything should have a place.
Things get cluttered when you have no clean clothes. When you’re in a hurry for work and you can’t find anything to wear, it’s usually because you need to do laundry! Clothes end up on the floor and things just go downhill from there.
Labels are not only for documents and file cabinets. It’s helpful when the fridge, pantry, etc. is labeled. That way, everyone in the house knows where things should go.
It’s quite simple. Do your dishes after you eat dinner. It usually doesn’t take very long, and it helps to make you feel like your house isn’t cluttered.
If you are constantly buying things, and never getting rid of anything, obviously your house will become very cluttered. When you buy something, choose one similar item to get rid of. (Ex. I bought a new decoration for my house, so I got rid of another decoration)
These are all very easy, doable tasks. It’s not hard to make your home decluttered! So get on it 😉
I think I was about sixteen years old when I watched my first full season of the Bachelor with my mom. She had been a die-hard fan since I could remember. But Bailee and I were only allowed to watch the premiere and the finale every season, because the in-between was not kid friendly! When we finally did start watching the whole season, I was embarrassingly hooked. Since moving out and getting married, I have started hosting my own viewing parties. A show like The Bachelor isn’t meant to be watched alone!
For last season’s The Bachelor, I threw a little shindig – Before the First Rose. We sipped on mocktails, ate lots of yummy snacks, and started our Fantasy League! Seriously, if you are a Bachelor watching fiend like us – this is an easy party to throw, it’s loads of fun and cost effective! Check out some of my tricks for hosting your own party in two weeks for the upcoming season of The Bachelorette!
I’m a sucker for cute decorations. Couple that with the fact that I dabble in graphic design and “voila!” I didn’t love any of the printables that I found online, so I whipped up a couple of my own based on some inspo from other parties I had seen. You can snag this printable for yourself it you want! 
The balloons were super easy – just some cheapo pink balloons from the floral department ($9.00) and a sharpie! I opted for some cute Bachelor phrases:
“Ladies, this is the final rose tonight”
“4th Time’s’ the Charm”
“On the Most Dramatic Season Ever”
“For the Right Reasons”
“Can I Steal You For a Sec…”
Next up was the flower wall (totally a Pinterest steal!) Again, on the cheap, I found these roses in pink and red ($5 @ Dollar Store) . Using gold washi tape ($1 @ Target), I adhered them to the wall. Something to note: my washi tape was NOT strong enough to hold up the flowers. So I taped them first with scotch tape and then covered it with the washi tape.
The banner was a DIY using a kit ($3 @ Target). Using gold stick on letters I just added “The Bachelor.” Super easy! ($5 @ Target)
Tablecloths were just made from scraps of old fabric that I had in my garage! And the little chalk “Fantasy League” sign was a cheap DIY ($1 @ Target)
Total cost for decor: Only $24.00!
I decided on “mocktails” for our party – because that fits our style best! The drinks were super tasty and adorable. If you’re throwing your own party – you can use the below recipes and this drink menu!
We didn’t get too crafty here – one for cost and two for time. Also, it was the start of the year and everyone was on their “resolution” kick. Which means that sugar and carbs is a no-go! Put out a basic chips and dip, because you CAN’T go wrong with Pico de Gallo! Also included are pink frosted cookies, chocolate chip cookies, and a gluten free cookie option (because I’m from Seattle where everyone is GF, including my dog.)
The cupcakes were a basic vanilla. I added a piece of strawberry and sprig of mint to the top, with a drizzle of red icing to get that rosy look!
Who said that fantasy leagues are limited to sports?! This is my second season doing a Fantasy League, and it really is fun with a group. If you’re thinking of hosting viewing parties for the Bachelorette, use this draft card and these game play instructions, rules, and scoreboard to give your guests something to do while watching the show. This is especially helpful if not all of your attendees are former Bachelor viewers and are just coming for the food (who can blame ’em.)
Let’s face it.. if you live in the PNW, you can wear shorts and a tank top comfortably during one, maybe two, months out of the year. It’s just something you have to get used to when you live here.
Even during the summer months, it’s freezing in the morning. By noon you’re sweating because you decided to wear a sweatshirt because you were cold. It’s not easy, but you can adapt!
Here are some things I’ve learned to do while living in the PNW;
In the winter, this is a no brainer. You’re cold, so of course you’re going to want to bundle up. It’s nice for when you go in somewhere that is warm, and you can take layers off.
Same goes for the summertime. Mornings are cold, so use layers! It gets hotter in the afternoon, so you don’t want to be stuck in a sweater all day.
This goes along with layering your clothes. If you don’t have many cardigans, get some! They make such cute outfits and are super practical. In the winter you can wear more sweater type cardigans (my personal favorite because they’re just oh so cute), or you can wear light ones in the summer! You can get some super cheap ones on Amazon. I got the same cardigan in a few different colors. That way you have a cardigan for almost every outfit.
Jean jackets are a must-have! They’re something you can wear all year long. With a cute summer dress, or with a sweater underneath with the hood popped out – super cute, comfy, casual outfit.
Yes, this is more for the colder seasons of course. But again, there’s really only 2 months that are warm here in the PNW. I have acquired a lot of scarves over the years. Big ones that cover basically my entire neck, and lighter ones for the slightly warmer -but still cold- days. They can be made into stylish outfits so easily. Patterns, or basic colors. They’re all a necessity 😉
Okay, these are just so cute. And they keep your legs so warm! I suggest wearing them only with taller boots. Unless you get short boot socks.
On those days when your hair is just a mess, wear a hat. It covers up your crazy hair, but also makes a good outfit. Even if your hair looks awesome, hats can make it look even better. They’re basically magic. Sometimes I decide my outfit based off the hat I want to wear. Beanies, baseball caps, floppy hats. All of them! They keep your head warm too, which is a definite plus.
Staying cute and warm is easy! You just have to have the right clothes. But honestly, somedays we don’t want to look all that cute. A sweatshirt and jeans are just enough sometimes. And you can rock it all! You do you, girl.
Its the first day of May. It may sounds a bit conceited, but I love May because it is my birthday month. I love my birthday – always have. Its is a day of celebration, presents, spending time with loved ones, and seeing a new Marvel movie (for the last seven years there has been one that opens in theaters on my birthday weekend!) This year, I am using May as a time of reflection as well.
I am turning 24. I’m not sure what it is, but this year feels like I’ve finally transitioned to adulthood. I think maybe its because I bought a fridge in cash. That feels really adult to me. I know I’m not even near knowing everything. I like to say “I’m not where I want to be, but I’m also not where I was and I’m glad I’ve made it this far.”
As I reflect on this last year, here are some things I learned:
Ugh. Money is the worst, amirite? Kidding…mostly. I did the typical “turn 18, get a credit card, rack up debt buying stupid stuff (mostly food,)” thing. When Tony and I got married, we would use our credit card under the notion that we would “pay it off next paycheck.” We didn’t. And we didn’t. And we didn’t. $5,000 later and we couldn’t.
I know $5,000 isn’t an insurmountable amount of money, but it had us by the throats. So, we buckled down. We budgeted, we sought mentor-ship and counsel, and we paid every single penny of it off in six months. Now, I’m cannot claim to be a money expert, but I am excited about the freedom that this gives us going forward – the freedom to save for new adventures, make smart and long lasting financial decisions, have zero guilt about our spending, and give even more generously.
There’s a story in the Bible about a guy named Moses leading the nation of Israel and wandering in the wilderness for forty years. Check it out in the books of Exodus and Numbers. Basically, God delivers his people from slavery and takes them on a journey to a new home – the “Promised Land.” On the way there, they spent time in the wilderness. They whined, complained, turned from God, didn’t trust Him, and were overall just kind of angry.
I spent a season this year as a whiny, complaining Israelite. I wasn’t satisfied with where I was in my life and I made sure people knew it. In the midst of that season, I felt God say to me – “Ariel, if you can’t learn to be happy wherever I ask you to be – you will never be happy in where I’ve destined you to be.” Ouch. Talk about a Holy Spirit gut punch.
The same week that I decided to choose joy instead of self-inflicted suffering – things in my life started to shift. Incredible and new opportunities rose and I stopped wandering and started walking towards the “promise.” I’m deciding that even if my season is unfavorable, I will choose joy.
We’ve all heard that saying “you get out of it what you decide to put into it.” Well, I’m learning that for my life. I will get out of life as much as I choose to. I can choose to veg out and watch teenie-bopper TV shows (and trust me, I still do that sometimes,) or I can choose to invest time in loved ones, a good edifying book, and time outdoors! I get to choose whether to eat fast food, or plan ahead to cook a decent meal. I choose.
For the first half of this year, I chose poorly (cue the old Knight from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.) I binged a bunch of Netflix shows, spent frivolously, ate ice cream almost every day, and was just overall unmotivated. In January, Tony and I decided to set new goals for this year, and some five year goals as well. Since then I have read seven books, paid off our credit card debt, and lost ten pounds! I started this blog, spend time with friends and family regularly, and am more consistent in spending daily time with Jesus.
I’m not where I want to be, but I’m also not where I was and I’m glad I’ve made it this far. I choose to grow, or I am choosing to wither.
So here’s to 24 – to saving for a magnificent trip to Europe, moving towards my dreams, and choosing to grow closer to Jesus everyday.
SISTER LIVES 