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

Sara Is: August 2014

It's the end of August, guys. Cray. The past couple of months haven't been super exciting, but there have been a few niceties here and there.

 

 

Drinking: Starbucks’ Caramel Iced Coffee VIAs. Since I don’t get to Starbucks as much as I used to, I’ve really been enjoying the convenience of using these at home. A box of 6 packets is about $6, more or less, but it’s actually cheaper than buying 6 grande or venti iced coffees in the store. And since you add your own water and milk, it’s exactly how you want it, which to me is a win. I've seen a lot of coupons for them as well in the weekly paper, and popping out at Target.

 

Eating: Altoids Arctic Peppermint mints. Well, I wouldn’t consider them a snack, but these little mints really pack quite a punch. They’re really great after meals, plus they open your sinuses in an instant. Not exactly their number 1 selling point, I'm sure, but still good.

 

Listening to: Ingrid Michaelson - Lights Out.

 

Loving: Slow-motion video on the iPhone 5s. Don’t judge me, but it’s hilarious. I don’t know why, but it’s hilarious.

 

Not loving: Technology. I guess that kind of contradicts my love for slow-motion video, huh? But when the internet at your house is down, and Final Cut Pro doesn’t work at the office, and you can’t find the right DVD to burn a file onto, it gets kind of old. Let’s just go back to dial up and VCRs, huh?

 

(Okay, so let’s not…)

 

 

Watching: Deadliest Catch. Yup. Love it. I’ve been watching Deadliest Catch for years now, and while I missed last season, this season is reeling me in (Heh. Get it? Reel? Fishing? Okay...). I can’t really say exactly what it is that keeps me so entertained, but I love it. I’m especially fond of the F/V Northwestern and F/V Cape Caution.

 

 

Wearing: Dresses and skirts. It’s been pretty hot and humid lately, so pants just really aren’t cutting it. Comfy, casual dresses from Target are really nice, and I’ve been especially loving dresses and skirts from the Loft. They’re cute and comfortable, and the best thing about them??? They have pockets!!!!!! Talk about a girl’s best friend.

 

What about you guys? Anything exciting from August you want to share?

 

♥Sara

 

 

Pictures from here, here, and here

Happy Fourth of July!

Hope you have a lovely weekend with friends, family, fireworks, and food (how about that alliteration, huh?)!!!!

 

Be safe out there and enjoy your long weekend!

 

❤️ The Blue Typewriter

 

What's In My Purse + Giveaway! [CLOSED!]

Admission time… I have a guilty pleasure. Have you ever seen those “What’s in my purse?” videos on YouTube? Yeah… I don’t know what it is, but I love watching them. I think as a girl, it’s just programmed into my brain to wonder what other girls carry in their purses – even though it’s pretty much the same things that I carry.

I have the Harper Tassel Tote from Francesca's; I'm not 100% sure it's available online anymore, but I've also seen it in stores, so it could still be around. It’s a pretty big bag, but it’s not bulky and it’s really comfortable to carry.

So I guess it’s pretty much just the basics.

Wallet. I’ve been using a credit card wallet I got from Target, like this one, instead of a big wallet. Saves space.

Glasses case. I always wear contacts, but I need to have my glasses and some contact solution with me, in case one of my contacts gets dry or falls out.

Umbrella. I really only carry that with me when it’s supposed to rain, but I forgot to take it out the other day, so I thought I’d leave it in there. Why not.

Makeup case. Pretty self-explanatory. Touch up makeup, portable eyelash curler (this thing is great for my stubborn, straight lases!), extra set of keys, girly stuff, hair ties, medications, the usual. Sometimes, I’ll just grab my powder compact if I want to travel lighter.

Keys. To you know, get in and out of places that are locked.

Lip gloss and chapstick. My Burt’s Bees Pomegranate lip balm is usually all I use, but I do like to have the Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie with me. It’s nice to have in case I need a little color.

Notebook and pen. Always carry a pen and paper with you. Always.

Gum. I’m kind of addicted to mint gums.

Bobby pins. The spiral ones. They’re amazing.

Hand sanitizer and lotion. Again, pretty self-explanatory.

Mirror. It came with a Sephora gift card I got as a gift. I like having a mirror on me, in case I eat spinach for lunch or something and I can’t get to a bathroom.

Work ID. I need to prove my identification and stuff to get into the building. It’s like a safety thing, or something.

Earbuds. You never know when you’ll need these puppies.

Portable phone charger. This is definitely a must-have. I can’t always get to a wall or car charger, and we all know the lovely battery life of an iPhone. My dad gave me this one a while ago, but you can find them online.

Cell phone. I forgot to include this because, well, I was using it to take the picture. It’s always on me though.

Food. I also forgot to include a snack in the picture. I always like to have a snack on me. Crackers, trail mix, a protein bar – anything that’s quick and easy to eat when I’m at a stand-still on I-95 on my way home from work. Applesauce pouches are a new favorite of mine. Childish? Maybe a little. Convenient, healthy, and delicious? DEFINITELY.

There are definitely days when I switch to a smaller purse and carry only my wallet, phone, and keys, but usually, this is the stuff I always have on me.

So now here’s the fun part – tell us what’s in your purse and you could win!

One lucky winner will get this wallet/clutch from Target, a Burt's Bees Replenishing lip balm with pomegranate oil, and a $5 Starbucks gift card!

Here's how you can win!

Leave a comment telling us what you carry in your purse! Something unique, something you must have with you, whatever!

Here are some other ways to gain extra entries!

• Follow our blog and leave a comment saying you're a follower!
• Follow our blog on bloglovin' and leave a comment saying you're a follower!
• Follow us on Twitter (@BlueTypewriter), tweet/re-tweet about our giveaway, and leave a comment saying you shared it!
•  Earn another entry by liking us on Facebook and leaving us a comment about it!
• Follow us on Instagram (@BlueTypewriter) and comment letting us know you followed!

• PLEASE BE SURE TO LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENTS FOR EACH!

Anyone can enter, and I'll randomly pick a winner and announce it in this post on Tuesday, April 1, so be sure to come back and check if you're a winner!

Good luck and thanks for reading!

♥Sara

Pictures by Sara and edited with Afterlight, Whitagram, and A Beautiful Mess. I’m not affiliated with any of the companies or products mentioned, I’m just a fan. I purchased all of the products myself.

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!

Congratulations to Instagram user @giiiveaway_time for winning our first blog giveaway!!!!!! Please email thebluetypewriterblog@gmail.com by Wednesday, April 9 to claim your prize!!!

 

Sara's Spring Wishlist

 

 

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7

 

What are some of your spring must-haves?

 

♥Sara

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. :)

Homemade Vanilla Milk

Okay. Ready for a delicious hug in a mug?

It's super simple. So simple, it's actually kind of ridiculous.

All you need is milk, vanilla extract, and sugar (honey instead of sugar will work too!). Whipped cream and marshmallows are highly recommended, but not necessary.

Heat your milk in a saucepan. Add a splash of vanilla and a couple of spoonfuls of sugar (I'm just going to say add as much vanilla and sugar you want, to taste. I prefer sweeter, but that's just me.). Wisk until the sugar is dissolved. Boom. Done.

Pour into a big mug and top with whipped cream and/or marshmallows! I didn't have any marshmallows. Sad face.

Enjoy! Seriously though. A mug of this before bed, or on a cold day and whoa. It's like being wrapped up in a soft blanket with a fluffy puppy while wearing your favorite fuzzy robe.

❤️Sara

Photos taken by Sara and edited with Afterlight. 

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

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

 

Whether you're spending your Valentine's Day with your boyfriend, the bestie, family, or that cute boy you're following around the book store (We won't tell), we hope your day is great!

 

 

How are you spending your Valentine's Day?

 

♥ Courtney and Sara

 

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. :)

Chocolate Hazelnut Chex Mix

Every year, there's some type of work shindig that requires me to bring food of some sort, and of course I lean toward the dessert side of things. I usually make this Chex Mix "Puppy Chow" or "Muddy Buddies", but this time I put a different spin on it.

I saw this YouTube video and instantly knew I had to make this. I mean, it has Nutella in it. Need I say more?

Here's what you'll need:
- 9 cups rice Chex cereal (You could also use corn and/or chocolate Chex)
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup Nutella
- 1/4 cup butter or margarine
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Here's what you do:

1. Measure your cereal and put it aside in a big bowl.

2. Melt your chocolate chips, Nutella, and butter until smooth. You can microwave it in 30 second increments, or use a double boiler, like I did. Once everything is melted, stir in the vanilla.

3. Pour the mixture over your cereal and gently stir it together until everything is evenly coated. Be careful not to break up the cereal! My chocolate mixture wasn't smooth like it's been when I've made this before, but it still coated the cereal just fine.

4. After it's all coated with chocolate, pour it into a large zip lock bag, add the powdered sugar, seal the bag (this part is very important!), and shake to your heart's content!

After everything is coated with the powdered sugar, I usually pour the mixture out on some wax paper to let it cool down and to get some of the moisture out.

 

And voila! You're done!

 

This was the first time I've used Nutella instead of peanut butter, and I couldn't really taste a difference, but it was still delicious! Seriously, you'll be lucky if you don't eat it all before you take it to your party.

 

Enjoy!

 

 If you make this, show me! Post your pictures on Instagram and hashtag it #BTPuppyChow so I can see!

Until next time,
♥Sara



All photos by Sara and edited with Afterlight and A Beautiful Mess.