August Budget

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. I flew to Cleveland after my trip to Poland and have been spending as much time with friends and family as possible before I head back to Berkeley tomorrow. I do have updates and posts to share and they should be up ASAP.  I've definitely realized blogging is a habit. Once you skip posting for a few days it takes some motivation to get back into the swing of things.  Well, I am back! And to start off, I'm linking up with Fran over at Franish to share my August budget. I was a lot better at staying on track this month and am really excited about some of my new purchases/gifts.  Because I spent the majority of the month finishing my...

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A quick sorry

Sooo a thunderstorm knocked out the wifi where I'm staying in Poland and thus I haven't had access to post or read other blogs or articles! It's hard writing posts via my phone and I'm not going to skip exploring to haul up in a cafe during the day to write haha. Thus, you may not hear from me until the end of this week/beginning of next. Just wanted to let you know I'm still around and am sorry for the absence! Thanks for understanding! Peace, Sa...

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A Rustic Crochet

I know, I know, it's been ages since I shared an outfit post and you all have been anxiously waiting and chomping at the bit. Right? (Yeah, riiight.)  I bought this top from Nordstrom Rack last fall (I think...) and have been in love ever since. The rust color is one of my favorites, but I do not have much of it in my closet. I also love the intricate pattern that gives it something extra but doesn't scream "look at me!".  I paired it with my olive shorts (last seen here) because the only other options were jeans and ended up loving the color combination. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I am so happy with the purchase of these shorts. A little step outside...

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Cinque Terre Part 2: Manarola

More from my trip to Cinque Terre. I really am trying my hardest to catch up on travel posts because  1) I don't want to put up a post of my summer trip months later  2) I have friends and family nagging me to share photos (here's lookin' at you mom!) and  3) I do really love looking at the photos and revisiting my experiences through them.  Corny, I know, but that's me folks. The second of the 5 Lands that I visited was Manarola which had, in my opinion, the best view and was most accessible to anyone of any age.  Often when I travel I have thoughts of "oh, my grandma would really love this" but then have to remind myself that she's not as...

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Simple Thoughts vol. 4

Sorry for the delay in posting this week's Simple Thoughts. I actually had the draft typed and ready to go early (what what!), but the internet decided not to work after a thunderstorm yesterday and thus I could not post. All is well though, I read a good, old-fashioned book and relaxed rather than let the lack of wifi get me down. Y'all should try it. It was great :) On another note, this is my 50th post on SimplySarah! Thanks so much for reading. It means a lot to see a steady flow of readers that is continually growing! You are the best! My host family had a dinner party on Saturday for a group of about 20 people, so instead of going away for the weekend I decided to stay close to...

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The Countdown vol. 2

5, 4, 3, 2, 1 - BLAST OFF! Sorry, I couldn't resist. Did anyone else dream of being an astronaut as a kid or was I alone? Anywhoo, here is this week's countdown (technically last week's but I forgot to post it - whoops). 5. Like many of you, I am a huge fan of Kendra Scott's jewelry. I find her pieces very unique and fun and many of them have the ability to transition from flirty to fancy very easily. However, I also find many of the pieces very large and I am personally more drawn to delicate, small jewelry. The "Elisa" necklace is a perfect compromise and it comes in a variety of gorgeous colors! 4. How pretty is this sea-green clutch from Lu Lu's? I love the shape's resemblance...

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Cinque Terre Part 1: Vernazza

After a great time in Santa Stefano, I was very excited to plan out my next Italian weekend getaway. As I was skimming through Pinterest, I stumbled upon a vacation destination I had marked on my bucket list, Cinque Terre. "Hmmm, I wonder where that is in relation to Chiavari," I thought to myself... Well friends, Cinque Terre is only a 50 min train ride from Chiavari! I know, I couldn't believe my luck either! Once I realized this, it was set. The next trip would be to the "5 Lands" (what the name translates to in English). Cinque Terre is a group of five, small fishing villages on the coast the Italian Riviera. The villages are connected via train and hiking trails, but if driving,...

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