Introducing: Warby Parker's Half Decade Collection!

Today is a special day for all you glasses wearers, like me!

"Why?" you might be asking...  Well, let me tell you!

Warby Parker is celebrating its five year anniversary by introducing its Half Decade Collection!

Warby Parker is a really cool company that offers men's and women's prescription glasses and sunglasses that you can try at home before you buy - all for free.  Yup.  You read that right.  You can pick out five (five!) pairs of frames that you fancy, and test them out at home for five days.  Once you figure out which pair is the winner, you mail back the five testers (again, for FREE!), and head over to WarbyParker.com to buy the specs you love, with your prescription.

So easy.  So fun.

There are tons of frame designs and colors to choose from, and prices start from only $95.  And as a certified glasses wearer, I can't get over what a great price that is!

But believe it or not, that's not the coolest part about Warby Parker.  When you buy a pair of glasses, Warby Parker contributes to monthly donations that go to a non-profit group that offers basic eye exams and sells glasses at super low prices to those who need them!  Buy a pair, give a pair.  How awesome is that??

If you want to read more about this amazing community involvement, check it out here.

But back to the reason to celebrate!!

Warby Parker has been working, helping others, supplying glasses, and expanding their company since 2010!  Five years and going strong!

They even had a little parade in Manhattan, with Benny Safdie and Josh Safdie (I'm a little jealous I couldn't be there...).

Check out more from the parade here!

The Half Decade Collection is an awesome set of frames re-released from their first ever collection. These frames come in a limited-edition spectrum of Warby Parker's signature blue (my favorite color!) and are engraved with a 5 on the temple tip.
 

Here are a few of the frames from the collection. How cute!!!???!

 

Each pair comes in a super neat box, inscribed with the names of every frame offered to date.

The entire Half Decade Collection is adorbs, but I have to admit, I'm quite smitten over the "Wiloughby" and "Roosevelt" frames - they're so unique (I love that blue!), but I can still picture them with any outfit.

 

I also can't get over the monacle!!!  Too cool!!  I mean, seriously...  I kind of want one...  And why don't people wear monacles anymore...  Can we bring that back?  I'd totally rock one...

 

Since these are just a few frame designs from the Half Decade Collection, you MUST check out the rest at Warby Parker online, or in stores!

I'm so happy for Warby Parker and the awesome things they're doing and can't wait for their 10 year anniversary and Decade Collection!!!!  ; )

Don't forget to check out WarbyParker.com and let me know what your favorite style from the Half Decade Collection is!
 

See you (with awesome glasses) soon!

♥Sara

Disclaimer: I was contacted by Warby Parker to help announce this collection, but all opinions are my own!  Photos from Warby Parker.

Sara's Simple Pleasures: Water Bottles

I was eyeing a similar glass bottle online, but I got this one for $10, $20 cheaper than the glass one!  By Contigo, the Tranquil Water Bottle is great – it’s made from durable BPA-free plastic with a pretty silicone grip.  The cap comes off for easy drinking, and the entire top comes off so you can add ice or fruit!  It’s also dishwasher safe, good for people who actually have dishwashers…

 

 

It comes in a few colors – I have the blush color (pictured above).  But seriously, I already drink a lot of water, but now I’m excited to get my hydration on with this little beaut!

And it’s so easy to tote along.  I can slip it in my purse, or just carry it by the built-in handle on the cap.  So easy.

 

It might sound kind of strange, but having a pretty water bottle makes it fun to drink out of throughout the day!

Do you guys have a favorite water bottle you tote along throughout your work day, or on trips?

Until next time,

♥Sara

 

Photo from Contigo

100 Happy Days — Week 1

Well, I sure picked a hard week to start the 100 Happy Days challenge! But that's the challenge, right? to find something that makes you happy even though you're stressed out the door, have an extra heavy work load, and a dead treadmill....

Day 1: home. 

After a crazy long day, coming home and crawling into bed was pure happiness.

Day 2: a letter from a friend I hadn't heard from in a very long time!

It was wonderful to find such a sweet note in the mail, and to know that she was ok.

Day 3: having awesome texts waiting for me when I get off work. 

Sara "attexts" me all the time. I can always count on her to make me laugh. 

Day 4: signs of spring.

Winter is still my favorite season, but I'm looking forward to sunny days and milder weather.

Day 5: reading.

With another long day crossed off the calendar, my bed and a book were an excellent way to unwind.

Day 6: SUSHI!!

Sara and I spent Saturday shopping, laughing, shopping, drinking coffee, shopping, getting more coffee, and finally capped off the day with sushi. The perfect Saturday? Indeed. 

Day 7: protein plate for lunch.

Think of it as a DIY Starbucks Protein Box.....minus the box.

On to week two!!

— Courtney —

What Gets Me Through My Week

So, sitting in an office all day isn’t exactly my idea of a fun time. And having just recently come from a retail environment, it’s actually really boring. Like… stare at the floor and try not to fall asleep on the keyboard boring.  But a job is a job, and I’ve gotta do what I’ve gotta do, right? Sure.

But for as long as I can remember, I’ve tried to incorporate fun things, big or small, into the days or weeks, or even months, to get me through the monotony of my daily chores. Something as small as eating a cupcake when I get home can certainly help my day move along a bit quicker. It’s like a reward for the hard work you put in, a little light at the end of the tunnel.

These are a few things that I tend to look forward to that maybe you can too.

Girls’ Night Out (or in). Meeting after work one night to get dinner, or going out for coffee on a Sunday afternoon is one of my favorite things. You can vent about your day or week, laugh, eat and drink, laugh some more, and see your besties. You don’t have to go out, though. Stay in! Watch a movie, order take out, and wear sweatpants! Win.

TV night. Sooo… I guess every night is TV night for me… But, I particularly look forward to seeing new episodes of my favorite shows every week.

Mom hugs. Yes.

Baseball games. I love baseball and going to games. I go to a lot of games with my dad, so it’s nice to catch up and watch a game together.

 

Weekends. I think we can all agree, two days off to do whatever you want is definitely something to look forward to every week.

New toys. If I get a new purse, cell phone case, book, notebook, shirt, snack – whatever – I look forward to using it! Going home for the evening, putting on those pajama pants (I like stretchy pants, can you tell?) and relaxing with your new toy. Simple. Relaxing. Something to look forward to.

 

There are plenty more things that come about that I look forward to, but those are just a few things that I could think of.

 

What kind of stuff do you look forward to to help get you through your day?

 

♥Sara

 

Pictures by Courtney and Sara.

Sara Is: February 2014

Drinking: Simply Lemonade with Raspberry. I love this stuff. The office where I work always has these in stock in the kitchen, so it's been my go-to drink when I want something with flavor. The regular lemonade is great too! You can find it at your local grocery store. I've also seen them at Target.

 

Eating: Nothing in particular for the month, BUT at this exact moment, as I type this, I'm enjoying a Ferrero Rocher. I don't know how I didn't realize it sooner, but these things are filled with Nutella. It reminds me of a Nutella Kit-Kat, and that's pretty amazing.

Listening to: Brandon Heath. The man's voice is velvet. Just do us all a favor and go listen to him, if you haven't been already. You're welcome. 

Loving: Snow. We had the biggest snow of the year mid-February, which resulted in a couple of snow days (which was great since I pulled out my back and being horizontal was really the only comfortable position to be in).

Bonus! I'm also loving this commercial. Boots and pants and boots and pants and boots and pants and boots and pants...
 

Not loving: Snow. Being stuck inside gets to you after a little, and slippery roads are one of my worst fears.

 

Wanting: The Muku Shutter Remote. For $40.00 (which seems pretty reasonable to me), you get a tiny bluetooth remote that can snap photos on your iPhone or Android phone up to 30ft. away. Perfect for selfies or spy photos... I really see this coming in handy for taking pictures, as I can be a little shaky sometimes (or all the time). I definitely see this in my future, so I'll be sure to let you know about it if it ever becomes mine!

 

Watching: The Winter Olympics. Yup... I love the Winter Olympics. I feel like a lot of people aren't into it (who doesn't love a good curling match?), but I am not one of those people. I've always enjoyed watching skiing, snowboarding, and hockey the most, but even figure skating is interesting to watch. Bash them all you want, I'd like to see you get on the rink and try your hand at a triple axel (I know I couldn't do it).

Wearing: Scarves. I went through a scarf phase about a year ago, and then kind of cut back, but the scarves are back! When I can wear black, black, and more black without being boring by just adding a fun scarf, I'm a happy camper.

What are you guys into right now?
 

♥Sara


Snow photo by Sara, other photos found online. I'm not affiliated with any of the companies or products. I'm just a fan. :)

Courtney's Top 5: Healthy Snacks

1. Skinny Cow Heavenly Crisp: Think giant Kit-Kat that's all delicious and waistline friendly. Available in chocolate, peanut butter, and raspberry. I'm all about the peanut butter!

2. Boom Chicka Pop: Popcorn, sunflower oil, sea salt — that's it!!! No preservatives, no fake stuff, no greasy gross-ness. Just fluffy, perfectly salted popcorn ready whenever the craving strikes. 

3. Tribe Zest Lemon Hummus: The lemon really brightens up the natural flavor of the hummus. Add a generous dollop to make your raw veggies wayyyy more exciting!

4. Skinny Cow Divine Filled Chocolate: Anytime you can put cow and skinny together and make it yummy, it's a good thing. You get three chocolate in each pouch! And not skimpy, tiny chocolates — three large scrumptious chocolates with filling in every bite! Available in carmel and peanut butter, both are a satisfying treat. 

5. VitaTops Deep Chocolate Muffin Tops: Healthy chocolate cake. Nothing more needs to be said. 

— Courtney —

I'm not affiliated with any of the companies or products. I just like food. :)

Sara's Simple Pleasures: Planners

Today's simple pleasure is truly a simple one, so don't judge me...

 

Having a pretty planner to jot down events, my work schedule, blog posts, etc. Now, I very openly admit that I don't really have much of a life, but I still like to use a planner for whatever I do have going on.

I got this Lilly Pulitzer planner and I love it!

 

 

I love the bright colors and how it's organized (and it comes with stickers!).

 

Planning and organization. Sigh. I love it. I just can't help myself.

 

What's your simple pleasure?

♥Sara

Photos by Sara. I'm not affiliated with any of the companies or products. I'm just a fan. :)

My (Extended) Weekend in Photos

I had a five-day weekend, because of snow and Presidents' Day, and was stuck in the house for a couple of days, but here some photos I took when I could.

The weekend started early with snow days on Thursday and Friday.

So what else does a girl do when she's stuck inside the house? She bakes 4 cans of cinnamon rolls.

It was nice to get out of the house and get some errands out of the way (and of course get a macchiato).

I picked up these Huggable Hangers. I've been meaning to pick these up, but never got around to it. Oh. My. Gosh. I love them. I need tons more, but my closet is slowly coming together.

Blog meeting! 

Hope your weekend was great!

❤️Sara

Snow Day!

SNOWWWWWWWW DAYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!

Can you tell I'm excited?

I spent my snow day watching the Olympics and knitting my sweater (more on that in the future!) . . .

I did do a little work, so I wasn't totally unproductive. But that's not entertaining, so I didn't take pictures. 

I needed a last minute Valentine Gift, so I whipped up this little trivet. Thank you, Wild Olive, for your incredibly easy tutorial!

The finished product! I had a great little stash of fat quarters that I bought from The Quilter's Haven in Menominee, MI. Their fabrics are outstanding in quality, and they were perfect for this project!

So my snow day consisted of Olympians and crafting, with lots of eating in between. 

How did you spend your snow day?

 - Courtney

All photos taken by Courtney and Sara and edited with Afterlight and Instagram.

Sara Is: December 2013

Can y'all believe it's the end of December already?? Not just that, it's the end of the YEAR! Crazy! I always say I can't believe how the time has flown by, but wow. 2014 already.

Here's what I've been to into the last month.

Drinking: Water. Boring, right? I don't know why, but I've been drinking tons of water everyday lately. And even on days when I can't get a lot of water in me, I make up for it as soon as I can. I love this 24 oz. tumbler I got from Starbucks. If I can get two to three of these in me everyday, I'm good.

 

Eating: Sugar. Yeaahhh.... C'mon, it's Christmas time. Time for cookies and brownies and ginormous Rice Krispies treats. Am I proud of this sugar consumption? Not necessarily, but I have to keep up with tradition...

Listening to: "Holding on for Life" by Broken Bells. James Mercer and Brian "Danger Mouse" Burton. This is the single from their new album, "After the Disco", that comes out in February. They have an alternative sound. I'm bad at describing things, so you can listen to it on iTunes.

Loving: Stud earrings. I'm really digging stud earrings over dangles and hoops. A fun stud paired with a smaller, more simple one in my second hole, and I'm set.

 

Not loving: The weather. You guys. It was 70 degrees a couple of days ago. And a week or two before that, it was snowing. What's going on? I LOVE the 70 degree weather, don't get me wrong, but not as I'm wrapping Christmas gifts (which I wasn't really doing because I just finished that stuff a few minutes ago).

Reading: "Deadly: A Pretty Little Liars Novel" by Sara Shepard. Don't judge me here, but these are actually pretty interesting novels. I mean, who doesn't like a good teenage murder/stalker story?

Wanting: A black cable knit sweater. Like this one. I have the light brown one and I love it. They're on sale for only $20, so grab them while you can! I may or may not have just ordered the black one......

 

Wearing: Essie's "Shearling Darling". Have I told you how much I love this nail polish? Because I do. It's like a deep red/maroon that looks black in low lighting and brown in other lighting and red in other lighting. It's amazing. I don't know how long it'll be available since it's part of the winter collection, but I might have to pick up another bottle just in case.

 

What are you guys into right now?
 

♥Sara


Photos taken by Sara and edited with A Beautiful Mess. I'm not affiliated with any of the companies or products. I'm just a fan. :)

Courtney Is: Loving Winter

Most people don't like winter. It's a time of extra clothing, chilly wind, chapped lips, and grey skies. Not me. I LOVE winter! 

I love the crunch of the frozen ground beneath my favorite pair of boots.

I love mittens. 

I love naked trees.

I love being ushered into the coffee shop by a frigid wind, then wrapping my frozen fingers around my gingerbread latte.

I love winter skies with leaden clouds that randomly sprinkle snow.

I love sweaters, Christmas, and cookies.

I love winter.

What's your favorite season?

♥ Courtney

All photos taken by Courtney.

November: Concerts, Coffee, and Leaves

What were some highlights for you in November?

Sara and kicked off the month by attending Toby Mac's Hits Deep Tour. It was such a fun evening!

Artists that performed were Jamie Grace (above), Colton Dixon, Capital Kings, 

Chris August, Mandisa . . .

. . . Brandon Heath — one of my favorites!  . . .

. . . and Toby Mac & the Diverse City Band. 

It was an evening full of dance-until-you-drop music and confetti cannons! You cannot have a bad evening when confetti cannons are involved — trust me on this.

We got to meet Brandon Heath, Jamie Grace, and Mandisa after the show.
An unexpected and awesome way to end the night!

Gingerbread Lattes have returned! Yummy to drink, and pretty to look at!
What's your favorite winter drink?

We put our Christmas tree up. I know it was early! But Thanksgiving was late this year, and I wanted to enjoy my tree! 

Meet Hector, guardian of the candy canes. He has a pretty mean 'stache.

Fall brought some gorgeous shades of red this year . . .

. . . as well as some beautiful photo opportunities. 

I had a lovely Thanksgiving, and a November full of fun times.

How about you?

♥ Courtney

All photos taken by Courtney on the iPhone and edited with Instagram.