Favorite Target Fitness Finds

In the midst of all the packing for the big move, I realized I needed some more storage bins for organization and easier moving. I was also beginning to get a little stir-crazy, so I headed out to Target in search of some options.

You might be the type of person who can walk inside Target and go only to the section of the item on your list, but friend, I am not. (Unless I have a time limit, but even then, I am prone to wandering.)

I'm sure you'll be surprised to hear that the trip for packing supplies that should have taken maybe 20 minutes turned into about an hour of strolling aimlessly through the store looking at just about everything I didn't need. #noregrets

My mom (who is usually the subject of my talk-while-I-shop calls) was very proud when at the end of the trip I had only purchased two things that were not storage/organization related for the move: a travel size lotion because my skin was burning (thanks, winter) and some jingle bells for next Christmas (am I the only one who buys decor after each holiday in preparation for the next year? It's S O much cheaper!)

Possibly my most reserved trip to date. You can hold your applause.

99% of what I saw I was fine picking up and putting down, but y'all, when did Target start carrying such cute workout gear?! Seriously. My friend Katie shared about one of their tops on her instastory, but I had no idea just how amazing the selection would be. I loved it all and practiced some serious restraint by not buying any of it. That's right. Not a thing. Now you can applaud.

1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  5

To be fair, I am a sucker for any cute gym clothes. Just extra motivation to work out, right? But I usually only find one piece here or there that I like, and TBH, it's never really at Target. I might own a pair of their shorts and a tank, but beyond that, their style just didn't match mine beyond plain black leggings that I can get pretty much anywhere.

1  |  2  |  3  |  4  

As you can see, this year they stepped up their game. And not only is everything super cute, the vast majority is SUPER soft! I'm not sure when exactly, but at some point of my adult life a switch flipped in my brain and the softness and comfort of clothing has begun ranking higher than the look of the clothes themselves. I like to call it adulting.

1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  5

Luckily there are cute soft things our there or I would look like a hot(ter) mess.

For those of us looking for motivation to keep striving for a healthier lifestyle for the new year, or for those who simply want to wear clothes that feel like butter and look amazing, I will meet you in the activewear section at Target and we can spend our Christmas money together ;)

Peace,
Sarah

Read More

Late Night Ramblings

It's a typical Thursday night in my apartment. M has headed home after dinner and a work out. Z is running the length of our space back and forth for no apparent reason. And I am tidying up here and there before it's time to officially call it a night.

It's weird to me that what has become my normal for these past 2.5 years is coming to an end. Sure, my routine has shifted here and there - Michael and I are not longer dating long distance, I now have friends in Connecticut which means I have a (sort of) social life and there are actually things hanging on my apartment walls - but the core of the rhythm is still there.

These are the last few weeks I am going to live on my own. Ever.

In early January I will be making the move back to Ohio that my family has anxiously been waiting these past seven years. From then until our wedding, I will be living with my best friend and former college roommate on the East Side of Cleveland - an area we know and love and where we began our friendship.

Later in January, M will follow to Ohio - returning to his house, soon to be our home. We didn't think his transfer would be so soon and were bracing ourselves for the familiar pangs of distance, but God is generous and our time apart will be short.

It occurred to me tonight, as I was discerning whether to pack a box for the move, that I am actually packing to move into my future home as a married woman- and I can't quite believe it.

I won't be living in the house right away, but the majority of my things (especially furniture) will be headed there, ready to be organized and curated into cozy spaces I will share with my husband in less than 200 days.

Husband.

I'm going to have a husband.

It still doesn't feel real. I don't know if it ever will.

What I did to deserve such a kind, generous man as my partner, I will never know, but I am so incredibly grateful to have him in my life.

Transitions are hard. They take a lot of energy and can stir up a lot of emotions, but they will pass and eventually settle to a new normal - probably very similar to the normal of today. And while I am anxiously awaiting what that new normal of marriage with my best friend will look like, tonight I am going to enjoy the solitude of my one bedroom apartment with a wild cat running back and forth over the hard wood floors.


Peace,
Sarah

Read More

A Little Holiday Shopping

Michael and I had our engagement photos taken this weekend and for the life of me I could not decide on what to wear. It was a super silly, basic problem to have. I can honestly say it was harder than choosing my wedding dress. I think it was because there were more options and combinations and colors, etc. Whatever the reason, and with all of the Pinterest suggestions, it was quite the challenge.

When I finally did decide on our outfits, there were a few finishing pieces I wanted to find, so the Wednesday before Thanksgiving I ventured out for some shopping. I am not a fan of Black Friday and try to avoid it at all costs, but Wednesday was a day off of work, had a lot of the same sales and less of the crowds.

I'll be sure to share the official photos and outfits once we have them, but for now I thought it would be fun to share some of the cute things I stumbled across while browsing. There are so many cute holiday pieces out!

The earring selection this year has been right up my alley. There are a ton of great dainty options along with a few gorgeous statement pieces.

I am a dress girl through and through and LOVE picking a stylish outfit for Christmas day or a holiday party. Pair any of these beauties with a pair of black tights and you have a super chic look. (Plus, I am convinced that dresses with tights are warmer than pants and top.)
And what completes a holiday look better than a beautiful pair of shoes? Whether sparkly, velvet, plaid or plain, there are so many ways to elevate your look.

I sincerely enjoyed browsing through the winter goodies available and hope you get some outfit inspiration if the cold weather is getting you down.

The gloomier the day, the more reason to dress it up!

What's your favorite find this season? I'd love to know!

Peace,
Sarah

Read More

Product Review: Keurig K Select

I can vividly remember being a kid and boldly professing my disdain for the taste of coffee and telling my mom (who drinks at least one pot of super strong black coffee a day) that I would never drink it.

Fast forward 15 or so years and I have turned into a coffee loving adult who needs at least one cup in the morning to make it through the day. Life's funny sometimes.

Because I live by myself, I had only purchased a french press which makes a great cup of coffee, but is a pain to clean. Most mornings I would run out of time and resort to buying coffee on the way to work which adds up.

I've been considering alternatives to save time and money so when I was asked to partner with Keurig to try out their K-Select coffee maker, I jumped at the chance.

I've used Keurig's at friends' houses and even at work when there's an extra k-cup lying around, but didn't know how it would fit into my routine. I'm sure nobody who owns one is surprised when I say, it fit like a glove.

My morning routine is so much simpler now and with a set of reusable K-cups, I've cut out the part of Keurig I was most nervous about - the extra waste. The reusable cups are durable, easy to clean, and make a great cup of coffee. (I find some normal K-cups to be weaker than I prefer). 

My go-to coffee has been Equal Exchanges "Mama Tierra" which supports Catholic Relief Services' partnership with communities in Central America that farm coffee by "helping farmers create democratically run cooperatives, grow more resilient coffee and protect local streams from coffee waste."

Quick coffee. Great cause. Delicious pick-me-up. 

I think it's safe to say that my mornings have been better and brighter ;)

My mug is a few years old from Marshalls, but here are a few other cuties I'm eyeing:

*Thank you so much to Influencer and Keurig for sponsoring this post. 

Read More

Currently September

September is here, school is in full swing and I'm wishing the weather would act like it's fall instead of summer in the desert - scratch that, there's no way it would be this humid in a desert. Bring on that dry heat!

On the bright side, I've never been so grateful for air conditioning. It's rough, kids.

Currently I am laying on my couch in the only part of my apartment with AC writing this month's edition of the Currently Link Up with Anne in Residence. It's keeping my mind off of the heat and on some fond memories and exciting things ahead.

Starting: To wedding plan again. After the stress of booking the venue so much sooner than anticipated, we haven't really done anything wedding-y (unless you count my random pins here and there). I think the shock of that has settled and I'm ready to dive in to more of the fun details and making our day special. Now to decide on a color palette - I like pretty much every one I see.

Buying: A few new back-to-school goodies. While I am no longer a student, I do work at a school and as an end-of-summer treat, found myself aimlessly strolling the women's section of Target which is something I try to avoid for the sake of my wallet. (I mean seriously, have you seen these shoes?!)

Rather than go all out, I decided to pick a few items I knew would compliment those I already own. I couldn't pass up the unique blue of this sweater. It's a great transition from summer to fall and I know I'll wear it multiple ways throughout the year, whether with a scarf in the winter, or over a dress in the spring - plus the color is amazing!

I also ordered these pants, these booties, and this top (for some school spirit). I'll let you know how they turn out!

PS - These flats are IDENTICAL to the ones I got from Madewell last year, for a fraction of the price! And this skirt is a pink version of the one I wore in the A New Day post last year :)

Sharing: Workout adventures with a close group of accountability babes. I am hoping to get more in shape for the big day next June and joined a text chain with a few friends from the BIS Team. It's been fun checking in and seeing how everyone is doing and cheering one another on. I've actually been pretty solid for a little over a month in consistent exercise (5-6 times per week) which feels great! Here's hoping it sticks now that school has started...

Reading: Honestly, nothing right now. I finished Crazy Rich Asians right before the movie came out (book and movie were both amazing) and bought the second in the series but haven't had time to pick it up. I have a pile of about 10 books I'm hoping to read, but haven't made it a priority a past few weeks. I'm sure that will change.

Recording: Each and every memory I can (usually in the form of a photo). Michael and I ventured to Portland, Maine this weekend for a Labor Day getaway and anniversary celebration of the day we met. Here are a few of my favorite snaps from the trip.

What about you, friends? What have your currently's been lately? Any book recs or things to share?

Peace,
Sarah

Read More

From That to This: Watermelon Salad

Summer is coming to an end and I intend to take advantage of every last minute of it. I want to soak up all of the sun, play all of the lawn games, go to all of the farmers markets -

-- and eat ALL of the watermelon!

Elissa shared a picture of a watermelon salad on her Instagram a few weeks ago and I have been eating it non-stop ever since.

It's been a hot minute since I've posted a recipe, so I thought I would share it with you guys. Fair warning, you will become addicted. It's really that good.

Ingredients (Single Serving)

1 cup Watermelon 

2 tbsp Feta Cheese

2 tbsp Balsamic Glaze (or just balsamic)

5-6 Chopped Mint Leaves

Place your watermelon in a bowl, sprinkle on the feta, balsamic and mint and voila! You have a super easy, super delicious and healthy dish. And if you make enough to share, you'll definitely be the hit at a potluck.

What recipes are you loving this summer? Any seemingly odd combinations that you can't stop eating?

Peace,
Sarah

Read More

Currently - August

Hello August!

School will start again in a few short weeks and y'all, I'm not sure I am ready to give up this slow, easy summer flow. I suppose I should just soak it in while it lasts and make sure to do some of the things on my summer bucket list before it's actually gone.

Linking up with Anne in Residence again for another "Currently" update because the blogging bug has caught hold of me again and this is probably my favorite link-up. 

following: lot's of lovely ladies via Instagram such as: Shannon, Nell, Laura, and Katrina. 

Go check out their accounts and show them some love! #followfriday

ordering: nothing at the moment. But I am daydreaming about this embroidered mini skirt, these tassel earrings, and this yellow dress. Oh, and these scalloped booties are so cute!

pinning: ALL the wedding inspo. My wedding board is private (I may or may not have had it for years) but you can follow my other boards HERE. When I'm not pinning wedding things, I pin a lot of interior design for our someday home.

watching: Travelers. A colleague introduced M and me to this show this winter, but I gave up Netflix for Lent and are getting back into it. It's about a group of people from the future who take over current bodies right before they die to try to end certain tragedies that affected the future. Sounds super nerdy, but it's REALLY really good. 

counting: down the hours until Michael is done with work so we can start the drive back to Ohio. We haven't been home since Easter and are both excited to see family and friends along with visiting some potential reception venues and meeting with a few photographers. It's going to be a long short visit.


And there you have it. My "Currently"s for August 2018. What are you up to this month, friends? Any show recommendations or Instagram accounts you can't get enough of?

Peace,
Sarah

Read More