Moving Announcement with Basic Invite - Truly Custom Invitations

I’ve partnered with Basic Invite to share more about their products. While this is a sponsored post, all thoughts + opinions are my honest own!

The day has finally come for us to share our big news! We’re moving… to Florida! After nearly nine months of research, planning and pro + coning our hearts out we decided to make the sunshine state our new home! We couldn’t be more excited for this next step in our life together + will be sharing all about our move, decor + design, and all things DIY over at Let’s Staj Home - our YouTube + Blog!

While we’ve been spending time decluttering + packing, we’ve also been savoring + looking for all the small ways to celebrate and share this exciting time with friends and family! Though we can’t be in person to celebrate, there’s something so special about getting exciting news in the mail + that’s where Basic Invite comes in! Despite the unassuming name, Basic Invites invitations are far from basic + it’s been a joy working with them as we craft our own moving announcements!

While we’re still figuring out our exact change of address, we’re already dreaming up our stationary! We wanted our announcements to mimic our housing palette + elements (something we talk a ton about over at Let’s Staj Home). So far these are some of our favorites:

With over 180 colors to choose from, finding our palette was a breeze! Honestly there were so many versions of all of these we’ve loved in various combos of our color palette it’s so hard finalizing. One thing I love about Basic invite is your ability to order a printed sample of the invite, announcement or really any piece of customized stationary before ordering! You can ensure everything is just right + make adjustments if you want to before ordering! I definitely love this in our situation as we’re still waiting for our exact address, but, want to get an idea of how the announcements will actually look!

Basic Invites not only offers essentials for anyone moving + wanting to celebrate with change of addresses or home warming events but any other type of stationary you’d need for any event! Heading into this time of year we have LOTS of birthdays to celebrate so I’m also excited to have all their amazing birthday card options right online! We know things are different right now - birthday parties are a little more FaceTime + Zoom than real face time, but these sweet birthday invitation cards make those virtual moments that much more special. Whether you’re celebrating a little one’s exciting day or a 60 years young milestone, Basic Invite has options for you!

While Cody hasn’t popped the question just yet, looking into their wedding stationary has us so inspired and in love with how highly customizable each piece is. Beyond the 180 different color options I mentioned with our moving announcements, they also have over 40 different envelope color options to choose from making customization for the beginning parts of your big day truly possible! Another bonus with envelopes? They’re peal and seal so no paper cuts or icky taste when it comes time to send off invites to our many guests! As a creative + visually driven person, these (many) options make Basic Invite an exciting no-brainer of convenience, stunning design + personalization to the highest degree.

Even though we aren’t to the point of choosing details like our save the dates or invites, I can already tell you I’m leaning towards these stunning clear options! So simple + timeless with the fun and fresh impact of the clear is just so lovely! You can even keep any foil colors like gold, silver or rose gold continued to the outside of your envelopes for the perfect, classy look!

Until I can start dreaming up even more about our wedding, I'll be spending spare time between packing boxes + searching on Zillow tweaking our Announcements to be just right! If you’re interested in using Basic Invite for your next stationary needs, be sure to use code 15FF51 to get 15% off your order!

Looking to keep in touch? Be sure to check out Basic Invite across social platforms on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram!

FALL 2020 Modcloth Picks

The Best At-Home Harry Potter Inspired Recipes

(Vegetarian) Shepards Pie

This is my absolute favorite go-to for a home cooked meal feel. Literally, this tastes like Mrs. Weasley put all her cooking brilliance and love in, just for you! I make this whenever I’m craving or whenever we need to clear out the fridge as tons of the ingredients are bits and pieces you may have left over throughout! If you’re not keen on veggies but know you need to get them, this is an excellent meal for you!

Bangers & Mash

While there isn’t a recipe for this one since it’s literally any sausage/brat of choice and mashed potatoes of choice, it is still worthy of being included as one of Cody’s favorites! Super easy to throw together and if you’re already making Shepards Pie, you can use the mashed potatoes on both dishes!

Pumpkin Pasties

Ok, these are my actual favorite. They taste like fall in a bite and given that they’re the perfect mix of savory and sweet without loads of sugar, they can function as a dessert, breakfast bite or something in between (aka the perfect pastry). I crave these especially when I’m missing fall and they’re super fun to make and take only a little prep time. While you don’t have to cut them into pumpkins, I do just because I think it’s precious (and I love pumpkins), it can be fun! If you don’t have a pumpkin cookie cutter, circles to be folded in half (like empanadas) works brilliantly as well!

Inspired Baked Goods

While we got all of our special baked goods from Sweet Dee’s - a wonderful local bakery - you are probably going to want to be creating your own special goods at home! I’ve added in some of my favorite pins from across the internet of wonderful guides to create your own versions of these many magical inspired treats!

Pumpkin Pasty Pancakes

Ok so I might have taken my love for Pumpkin Pasty to the next level with these pancakes BUT it was so worth it. These are delicious in every way and must be tried if you’re a pumpkin lover! TIP: use cinnamon sugar butter on these - it’s literally that much better.

A Traditional(ish) English Breakfast

We put together this spread with elements of a traditional English Breakfast (something I am very on board with now by the way). We included: fried eggs, toast, bacon (and fakon aka veggie bacon), sausage, and baked beans. We also included pumpkin pasties and pancakes for our sweet tooth but everything was absolutely delicious - including our butterbeer iced coffee (iced coffee + creamer to taste plus butterbeer syrup)

Harry Potter Inspired Candy & Bar Trolley

Whether it’s from being safe at home for a bit too long, our plans to visit the Wizarding World being canceled or some new & budding projects calling for some Harry Potter fun, we wanted to celebrate Harry’s birthday this year with a bang! The best way to start? Making our own version of the Hogwarts Express Trolley! Fit with all the candy you could think of - Wizard inspired takes on Muggle candy - and plenty of Muggle booze (giggle water?) I’d say we did a pretty good job! Overall, creating this Trolley cart was super fun and really doable predominantly with things you already have! Below I’m sharing some behind the scenes of setting it up, tips on sourcing materials for it (and direct links to purchase some of the same items we did online) and of course links to our HP inspired cocktails!

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Anything from the trolley dears? ✨ ⁣ Putting this at-home trolley together was SO much fun! While we added the traditional treats & sweets 🍭 we also added on our favorite Harry Potter inspired cocktails! 🍻 (Blog Post on those coming tonight!) On the blog I’m sharing how we did it plus some tips on creating one of your own! ⚡️🍭✨ ⁣ What’s your favorite Wizard (or Muggle) treat? 🍭🍭🍭

A post shared by Cara | Social Media Consultant (@acaracollective) on Jul 24, 2020 at 12:11pm PDT

The Cart + Containers

For the cart we actually just repurposed our current bar cart! While we grabbed ours at a local vintage market, you can purchase a cart basically anywhere and at a ton of different price points! I’ve included a few below that I think are a great mix of price and style (and would look good all the time) candy trolley or otherwise!

As for the candy containers, we only had to purchase a few larger candy dishes to pull this off! If I could do it again, I would purchase glass apothecary jars (as linked below) because you really can use them for so many things and they’re absolutely beautiful! As for the jars we repurposed, some were old candles others were old jam jars. We’re really big on saving + repurposing anything we can these days and it certainly paid off on this project!

The Candy + Booze

Now of course - the important part(s)! As for the candy we mostly got Muggle candy as Wizards candy wasn’t really available at most of our local stores (and buying from the park was super expensive). Thankfully we were able to find candies we love - lemon drops (Dubledore’s favorite), Red Hots, Green Rock Candy (Acid Pops), Butterscotch Candies, Bertie Bot’s Every Flavor Beans, Gummi Worms, Licorice (Wands) and a mix of Whoppers + Bridge Mix (Dragons Eggs) to complete our cart! All of these and more are available online and can be customized to whatever you wish! Getting creative here is the fun part!

As for the booze, we actually on displayed those which we used in the HP Inspired Cocktails (we have loads more - we love trying out cocktails from around the world + different time periods) You can find the HP Inspired Cocktails here - including Butterbeer, Amortentia (Love Potion), Chocolate Frog and Pumpkin Pasty.

The Baked Goods

Lastly we of course have to mention the plethora of baked goods we added on! All from our local bakery - Sweet Dee’s - as part of their yearly celebration of the Boy Who Lived! We purchased a mixed box and couldn’t be happier. Don’t live in Arizona? No worries! Many if not all of these are easily made at home with your own magic! I’ve linked pins below to amazing recipes that will surely bring you those delicious & festive tastes and treats at home!

The 14 Best Lessons I've Learned from my Dad

Today we’re celebrating my dad’s birthday and I figured the best way to celebrate someone goes far beyond wishing them well but sharing with other why they’re just so wonderful. I can easily say I got the luckiest of all with my dad. It hasn’t always been ideal or easy but he’s never not put my brother and I first and that kind of sacrifice isn’t something any parent has to do let alone is inclined to. We’ve had some of the best times together from playing in the summers outside to teaching my all about baseball and softball. There’s a lot I love about my dad but I think the thing I love most is his kind heart and wisdom. He’s taught me some of my most important lessons that I still try to follow and live by. Today, I’m sharing 14 of the most important!

Teaching yourself how to do or make things is both important and rewarding! Growing up my dad was always making things - benches, shelves and swings for us to play on. He was also always teaching himself new things about landscaping, home improvement and often would see a project and make it a reality. When I was little I saw this as a little annoying sometimes - we always helped take on our near acre of yard work - but now that I’m older I realize my sense of Do It Yourself wouldn’t have happened without this. While it can be important to outsource like for safety or practicality, learning to enjoy doing things yourself or teaching your self a new skill is important and incredibly rewarding!

There is reward in hard work. If you know me you know I’m your typical type-A grinder. My work ethic is often something I’m complimented on and in all fairness it isn’t always great or ideal - I’ve been burnt out, tied my self worth to how hard I can work and more but, there is reward in working hard towards something and I absolutely learned this from my dad. From pushing me to practice for my spelling tests I wasn’t very good at to working over and over to improve my swing, hard work - to date- has paid off and I’m thankful to have been raised by someone who supported and pushed for the importance of resilience.

It is ok and important to take mental health days. My first mental health day I took was in second or third grade. Despite growing up in a tough-love home my dad ALWAYS knew when to prioritize my mental health. It was no means normal back in the 2000’s to keep your kid home for a sick day to get through a mental health episode and probably still isn’t now. Thankfully, because he made sure I was accommodated for as a child I never questioned taking them later in life as I got older or supporting friends, peers and colleagues when they needed one or many. If you’re still not sure if these are important, I promise you they are.

The best music is from the 50’s - 70’s. I grew up raised on the classics & the greats - Beatles, Stones, Dylan, Hendrix, Grateful Dead, Elton John, Queen, and so so many more. To me, these eras in music are so much more than the best sounds and lyrics but pieces of my childhood. I’m thankful my dad has really good taste in music - I hope I’ve been able to have half as good a taste and share that with my kids!

There is power in vulnerability. There are a few times in my life my dad has been really open with me- maybe not always on purpose - but those times were very impressionable. Those times were some of the first times I was really seeing my dad as a person all on his own, a person just like me. The difference between our parents as people and parents can be really hard to understand, after all, that’s really what we know them as our whole lives. Either way, in understanding that those moments of vulnerability let me see him really, I started realizing trusting our vulnerability with people allows them to really see us when it matters and that is incredibly important in self growth and deepening relationships with those who matter.

Once a hard ass isn’t always a hard ass. If you know me you know I can be quite to the point with pretty high expectations of myself and others. A lot of this came from how I was raised and it certainly isn’t all perfect but it is what it is. Dad raised us with pretty strict expectations - not in the typical ways - having to look a certain way, making our beds perfectly or anything like that. We were raised strict in the way of manners, common courtesy, prioritizing kindness and working hard in sports, school and the like. At certain parts of my life I definitely would have said my dad was a hard ass. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized things change and you’re not always good or bad or something in between - just doing your best and who you are can always change.

Sharing isn’t always caring While I wouldn’t say I have a totally gossipy family - the kind where everything is a big mess with petty drama and constant chaos, I can’t say everyone really understood what it meant to keep some things private for the sake of people or relationships. This was something my dad was always vocal about - keeping some things, the important things, private. Some news, complications or struggles don’t need to be shared amongst siblings, parents, children. Now, to be clear this isn’t the hush hush mess that’s kept families in unhealthy situations- it’s super important to talk about things enabling that! Rather, petty drama with children, spouses and the like. Growing up in that - seeing how blind it left people to reality - I’ver certainly learned how important it is to keep things between the people involved and not twisted rumors throughout the family.

You should try something multiple times before you can make a decision on it. This piece of wisdom came from my hatred of carrots - to this day I still won’t eat them- but essentially he would always tell me you have to try it 12 times just to be sure. While I think this was a random number to get me to eat my veggies, it’s something that’s proved true at least in terms of hobbies and food! If it weren’t for this rule I wouldn’t like half the veggies I do now and some other things. Still using this to try to like beer but… TBD there.

Work hard, play hard. When we were growing up, we spent summer days not at camps helping around the yard clearing trees, landscaping and more. It was HARD work- like honestly exhausting work that makes me pretty set on never owning tons and tons of land to maintain. After these long, hot days of work we always ended them running in the sprinkler or with the slip-n-slide. A pretty childish version of work hard, play hard but it kinda stuck. Not to say I’m way more work hard and play kinda now, but the idea at least is a good one.

Common courtesy might not be common but it should be something you have. This might just be from our good ole Midwest/Southern values but common courtesy was a huge thing growing up. Saying please, thank you, excuse me. Holding the door for others or letting someone check out before you at the store. These small things are something - amongst others- I don’t think a ton of people posses now but I’m thankful they’re something made important in my life. I’d always rather be the person who waved or smiled or held the door than the one who didn’t.

Learn to let things go. To this day I am the worst at letting things go but wow has my dad forever always said - let it go. Typically this was the small stuff - silly childish arguments with my brother or some mean girl at school- but it plays out more importantly especially as you get older. There’s a lot of stuff to sweat - I think right now more than ever we all know that. For the stuff you can let go - do. It weighs on your heart and typically only ends up hurting you so if you can, letting it go lets go of burdens you have no need to carry.

Hate is a strong word (and heavy on your heart) When we were little there weren’t a lot of words we got in trouble for using, but if we said hate - that was a no go. Not even “I hate carrots” or something silly like that. No matter how big or small, hate was a bad word. A bad word for you and the thing, place or person you were using it against. Similar to letting things go, hatred weighs on your heart. I never really understood this saying until I got older but essentially, hatred is heavy. To dislike something so much - no matter how much you ought to - it really just hurts you, not the thing you dislike.

Don’t f*ck with Ouija boards. A special thing between my dad and I is our love of horror movies and other spooky or scary things. I watched my first R rated scary movie with my dad so we both have a pretty big love for all things spooky. That being said, spooky things in real life are a no-go. Will I watch a movie about an exorcism- yes. Would I ever mess with that sort of evil? Oh HELL no. Here’s why. My dad grew up all around the Southern United States - the Carolinas, Virginia, Kentucky - and given that some of that was during the start to Satanic Panic, I kinda get his story. More or less, back then it was pretty common for people to have ouija boards- it would be nestled next to your other games like Monopoly. Well, one day at church my dads pastor did a bit on Satanic Panic and how important it was if you owned a ouija board to go home immediately and burn it. Naturally, that’s what my grandma did. According to my dad they got home, took it out to the end of their drive way and burned it. Now, to be clear my dad isn’t superstitious. In fact he’s one of the most logical and fact-based people I know. But, to this day he swears he heard screams and voices come out of that thing while it burned. From the first time hearing that story until now, I’ve never touched one, never lived in a home with one (I seriously refused to live with people that messed with that stuff) and don’t plan that to change any time soon!

Don’t half ass things. Whether it’s your lunch, a project for school or work, a hobby or something else - don’t half ass it. In a world full of people who cut corners be the person who goes above and beyond. Not only will you get the satisfaction of doing something amazing - yes, even your sandwich can be amazing- you also know the work you’re doing is thought out and not done carelessly. Additionally- at least from my experience - if you don’t half ass things you will find parts of life in schooling or work where your version of half assing is everyone’s normal so you can feel like you’re doing less when in reality you’re doing just fine.

How to Make Minnie Ears for Disney

In this time at home after our most recent trip to Disneyland I decided I want to teach myself how to make these cute ears! Since then, I’ve tried about four or five different methods and found one I personally like. Plus, I feel like the method I show you is the easiest to replicate regardless of how advanced your crafting skills are which is always my goal with DIY! For this tutorial, I’ll be sharing the newest ears I’m making: Hades!

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Sharing a step by step guide on how to create your very own Minnie Mouse Ears! This has been my absolute favorite craft while we’ve been home & hope you enjoy! All instructions and links to suggested supplies can be found at www.acaracollective.com/acc-blog/how-to-make-minnie-ears-for-disney Feel free to leave any questions below!

A post shared by Cara Lentz ✨ (@acaracollective) on Apr 8, 2020 at 12:26pm PDT

Above I’ve shared the IGTV video I created to visualize this process. Below I am sharing step by step with links to tools and materials to purchase if you decide to try this out!

ONE

Gather all your materials for making the ears! This includes:

• Fabric: Sequin, Knit, or really any kind you can imagine! If you’re just starting out I recommend a knit to make it a bit easier! Additionally, one yard will totally be enough- for me, one yard typically can make at least four pairs of ears!

• Headband: I have purchased these and am currently loving these! If you plan on making ears with more surface area, I recommend trying a wider headband!

• Needle & Thread/ Sewing Machine: I personally sew mine by hand because I have the time now and am not mass producing (yet!) BUT if you have a sewing machine it would make things go much faster!

• Hot Glue Gun & Glue: I personally use the Michaels crafts glue gun and also recommend this one! Be sure to have lots of glue gun sticks on hand (I’ve run out mid project and it was a mess!)

• Foam Board of Up-Cycled Box Cardboard: I have bought this foam board and find it is a tad too thick for my desired look. However, I’ve been up-cycling my various cardboard boxes from the mail (like a USPS box) and have found those work perfectly!

• Batting: I use this kind or this kind but truly any batting will work. I don’t recommend getting straight up foam but if you do, get a firm one and skip the cardboard insert.

• Fabric Fuze or Stiffening Spray: You might not necessarily need these but if you want a more firm ear or want a cleaner glue on the front, be sure to use these!

• Templates: You can either trace ears you have for a rough idea OR you can find my template here including dimensions of what I cut!

• Scissors: Be sure to use fabric scissors when possible on fabric (and fabric only!) but if not, opt for the sharpest scissors you have.

• Extras: From felt to glitter paint or charms for the middle of your bow, you can customize any plain pair of ears to be something a little extra special! Sky’s the limit so get creative!

TWO

Taking your templates, trace out your patterns on the fabric and cut! A great tip for the ears fabric is to place them on a piece of fabric that is double the needed length and fold it in half (shown in video) to be able to cut both pieces at once! Be sure to also take the smaller template to trace on the cardboard and cut that out as well setting aside. Using the same smaller template, cut out four batting inserts - two per each side (a front and back)

THREE

Once all your fabric pieces are cut out, sew them together. Be sure to leave the bottom of the ears open so you can insert cardboard and batting. For the bow, be sure to leave a bit at the edge available to flip inside out before finishing the seam.

FOUR

For the ears, place the cardboard insert inside then place each piece of batting (two per ear) on each side of the ear. Once filled, be sure to sew up the bottom. Repeat for other ear and set aside when completed.

FIVE

For the bow, seal the final seam of the rectangle piece. Taking the thin and short piece (1.5x4 in) take hot glue and place near each side folding the fabric in to create a clean edge on both sides. Accordion fold the rectangle bow piece as desired and tie or sew the middle point to keep the bow together. Once tied, place a dollop of glue on the decided back of the bow and place the thin piece, continuously wrapping around until you reach the back again. Cut off any excess fabric and set aside for another pair.

SIX

If you plan on adding extras to your ears, like I’ve done for these Hades ears, be sure to do that before gluing to the headband. Once done, place on headband without glueing to ensure they are evenly apart and, if using a sating headband, mark on the top the middle of the ear so finding its place is much easier when gluing.

SEVEN

Take your hot glue gun and apply to the bottom of the ear (where it attaches to the headband) towards the back (as shown in video) and place. Be sure to hold. Repeat on other side and once firm, flip to show the back of ears. Apply another layer of glue as shown to secure the ears to the headband and let firm.

EIGHT

Once ears are glued, glue the bow into the middle of the headband. Once initial glue is dried, flip to back and secure as you did with each ear.

NINE

Flip ears back to the front and place a small amount of hot glue on each ear where the bow touches to keep the bow up and not drooping.

TEN

If you want your ears to be more stiff, place in shallow box and spray with Stiffening Spray. If not, make any necessary touch ups, let rest and you are done!

I hope you found this tutorial and instructions helpful! If you’re looking for some inspiration for ears, I’ve created a Pinterest board here for you to check out!

Spring Training Outfit Round Up

Spring training IS about the baseball - one of my favorite seasons - but it’s also about the cute outfits, just sayin! I’ve rounded up my faves from Etsy! Click through to shop or head over to LikeToKnowIt to shop directly!

Galentines Day Ideas Round Up

Galentines is upon us so naturally I’ve been spending all my time on Pinterest seeing all the AMAZING ways to celebrate with your gal pals! I’ve rounded up some of my favorite ideas right here from Brunch to Movie night, these pins got you covered! Make sure to click through for more info, tips & more!

Brunch

Movie Night/Sleepover

Pizza Party

Photoshoot

Get Baking

DIY It

Bad & Boozey

Valentines Home Decor Refresh

I don’t know about you but after the holidays when everything is put away and your home gets back to “normal” things can feel a little sad and bare. While we haven’t gone full send like we do during the fall or holidays, we have decorated here and there to make things a little more festive for the month of love! I’ve linked everything below & on the Like To Know It App to make shopping that much easier!

Valentines Day Outfit Inspo

Valentines Sweet Charcuterie Board

One of my favorite things in the whole wide world is charcuterie boards! No matter the theme for making them they’re the perfect way to up your snack game, customize to the occasion and any dietary needs! For valentines day I put together something extra fun (and extra pink) I hope you’ll love!

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To build this board, I started in the candy aisle (duh!) Valentines has so many fun, colorful options in heart shapes and is in so many ways the second Halloween (or first?) I’ve linked everything I snagged below including Valentine’s M&M’s, Hershey’s, Conversation Hearts, and JuJu Hearts!

My favorite little sweet treat I made are these pink, heart shaped mini rice treats! To make these I mixed up rice treats per usual - rice cereal, marshmallows and lots of butter - and added red food dye to the mixture. I recommend doing this with the butter so it goes in more evenly and you don’t get any streaks or paler pieces! Once mixed, press it into a baking dish or cookie sheet with raised edges and chill until set. Once set, take a small (or whatever size you’d like) cookie cutter and cut them into your hearts!

I added drizzled chocolate and sprinkles - or even dipped chocolate with sprinkles for added Valentines flare! Get creative with these & its even more fun!

For the other rice treats, I made them the same way but instead of dying them left them plane & cut into larger squares. If you don’t feel like making these but still want the added Valentines fun of chocolate and sprinkles or candy, head to the store or order pre-made Rice Krispie Treats online. All you have to do from there is unwrap, dip in chocolate and decorate to your liking!

To make the pretzel rods & mini chocolate dipped & drizzled pretzels all you need to do is take a piece of wax paper and place on whatever cookie sheet or large tray/plate you’d like! Place the pretzels out evenly and make sure they’re not connected or else the chocolate will keep them together! Once placed, melt your chocolate - I used milk and white - and drizzle over or dip them in, using a spoon to add on additional where empty spots may have been. Once done, you can use candies or sprinkles to decorate to your liking! I personally recommend using smaller sprinkles - the large hearts were super cute but could be a little to much to chew on when we tried them out!

Ingredients:

Tips for Creating Your Board:

Charcuterie boards can be so intimidating! I remember looking at the ones on Pinterest and thinking I could NEVER make one that beautiful but honestly, it’s something anyone can do! Here are my tips for making it happen!

1. Start by laying out your biggest bits! For this board, the rice treats, pretzels rods and strawberries were the biggest pieces! I laid them on one at a time in a way I thought looked nice! I check the look of things by looking at the board from the top and various sides!

2. Figure out your fillers! Fillers typically are smaller pieces - mini pretzels, M&M’s, JuJu Hearts, etc. Once you’ve got these figured out you can slowly begin to place these in to fill in the gaps! I suggest placing them around the board so any side can access that bite without having to reach across the entire board!

3. Adjust as needed! Even though things can start looking good, they can also move or mess up! Don’t fret- just squeeze things around and see what you like!

Valentines Lingerie & Lounge Favorites

Valentines Gift Guides - Significant Others

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JORD (pronounced Yode) is the maker of Cody’s Apple Band that he’s loving! We’ve both picked out a few different watches & bands we love! Currently, I’m running a giveaway for you to win a $100 gift card with JORD - to enter, just follow this link here & submit your information! The winner will be emailed directly & all entries will receive a 10% off coupon as well simply for entering!

Wooden Wrist Watch

Valentines Gift Guides - Fur Babies, Besties & Little Ones

Valentines Day comes up FAST and with so many different people (or fur babies) to show love to I made sure to round up some of our favorite gifts or new ideas I’ve come across I hope you’ll love!

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A Cara Collective Ultimate List of Valentines Movies

Holidays are some of my favorite times to watch a ton of films & Valentines is no different! I’ve rounded up the ultimate list to fuel your VDay binge!

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Pride & Prejudice (2005)

La La Land (2016)

The Notebook (2004)

Romeo & Juliet (1996)

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

Magic Mike (2012)

Love & Basketball (2000)

When Harry Met Sally (1989)

Valentine’s Day (2010)

About Time (2013)

When in Rome (2010)

50 First Dates (2004)

Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

(500) Days of Summer (2009)

Walk the Line (2005)

Titanic (1997)

Love Actually (2003)

I Hate Valentine’s Day (2009)

Sleepless in Seattle (2004)

Say Anything

Dirty Dancing

Brokeback Mountain

You’ve Got Mail

Bridget Jone’s Diary

My Best Friend’s Wedding

Sixteen Candles

As Good As It Gets

Pretty Woman

The Vow

My Bloody Valentine

Notting Hill

P.S. I Love You

Serendipity

Leap Year

Made of Honor

The Last Song

He’s Just Not That Into You

No Strings Attached

Love and Other Drugs

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before

Crazy Rich Asains

The Big Sick

Her

Singin In The Rain

The Princess Bride

Up

Moulin Rouge

Hitch

A Walk to Remember

The Ugly Truth

One Day

The Specktacular Now

Silver Linings Playbook

Carol

Call Me By Your Name

Can’t Buy Me Love

Isn’t It Romantic

Return to Me

Becasue I Said So

Forever My Girl

Crazy Stupid Love

Southside With You

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Brooklyn

Blue Valentine

Cassablanca

Moonlight

New Years Eve Outfit Inspo

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Come have a drink with me while I share some of my favorite glittery, sequin looks for ringing in the new decade 🥂 Pieces linked on @liketoknow.it at http://liketk.it/2IwaK

A post shared by Cara Lentz ✨ (@acaracollective) on Dec 26, 2019 at 11:15am PST

Stocking Stuffers Gift Guide

It’s that time of year again (seriously - barely a week away!) to spread all the cheer! I’m sharing my top picks for stocking stuffers right here! All photos link to the website and/or products mentioned!

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Personalized Mug: These mugs from Anthro are ON SALE and incredibly cute! There is even a matching coaster (also on sale) for the perfect set for anyone! 

Facial Roller: This is one of a handful of items I can honestly say I use everyday and is the perfect amount of self care luxury! It comes in the cutest little roller kit with a headband & instructions with personalized wrapping options making these the perfect stocking stuffer for anyone in love with skin care or the person in need of a lil TLC & self care in their life! You can save 30% off with my code CARA30

Harper & Co. Hair Accessories: From their beautiful pearl clips to their amazing bow (or non-bow) scrunchies, these are the move for any hair-lover on your list! With scrunchies back in, these have hands down been the most popular stocking stuffer I’ve seen anywhere! Plus - you can support a local biz & amazing mama!

Basically anything from Bath & Body Works: Since I can remember, every stocking came with lotions, sprays, body wash and more from B&BW! I typically go for the vanilla bean (OMG yum!) but there are TONS of amazing seasonal fragrances I can guarantee everyone will love! When in doubt, a candle is another good option! We’ve been loving the peppermint chocolate!

ASOS Pearl Headband : This is the one headband I literally can’t stop wearing & I get so.many.compliments. It is unreal! It is a genuinely comfortable headband (a major bonus since I typically get headaches from these) It can dress anything up or be the perfect special touch to feel extra fab!

best electric toothbrush

Smile Brilliant Toothbrush & Teeth Whitening Kits: Having worked with Smile Brilliant for a good six months, I can tell you these products work and are absolutely amazing. From my experience, most people are looking to whiten their smile & this kit is THE BEST! If you’re like my family who is gifted new toothbrushes by Santa every Christmas Day, maybe he can upgrade this year with the BEST toothbrush I’ve ever used! You can save 20% off both products with my code 20acaracollective

Blue Light Blocking Glasses: While I purchased these for myself about 6 months ago, I have worn these nearly every day and am pretty sure my eyes are better for it! In a time where most of us spend a lot of our days looking at a screen, it’s essential to protect our eyes from strain and long term damage by wearing blue light blocking glasses! With tons of stylish options for all tastes this is both a fun & practical stocking stuffer!

Candy: The perfect way to personalize & top off the stockings is with everyone’s favorite candies! For Cody this is anything Reece’s and for me I love the classic Hershey’s Krackle, Mr. Goodbar & Hershey’s!

Twenty Three Lessons I Learned Before Turning Twenty Three

Earlier this year I came across Taylor Swift’s “30 Things I Learned Before Turning 30” article in Elle Magazine and I’ve had it on my mind ever since. With it being my own birthday today, I wanted to share 23 things I’ve learned before 23 in a similar fashion, and hopefully this little list of mine can hold at least half as much wisdom & inspiration with you as hers did with me!

ONE

Busy IS a decision. Growing up I certainly did all sorts of things but come high school and especially college I was always doing something. Whether that be studying for perfect grades, attending (later running) meetings, working on some new passion project, participating in events & seminars - I was (and am) almost always busy. Initially after college I though busy was a badge of honor - like being able to say “I’m just so busy” made me extra special or as amazing as I’d hoped to be. The matter of the fact here is that being busy isn’t really all that special at all and as you get older you’ll come to find most of us are. What’s important here is that your busy is fulfilling & purposeful - not just something you mention to seem whatever it is you think being busy esteems you to be. There’s no shame in being busy, but really taking time to figure out if that busy is serving you & those/what you love matters.

TWO

You ARE entitled to your sick days. I really don’t give a damn what anyone has to say about this otherwise - I’m calling BS on anyone who says you aren’t. The culture & expectation many of us were raised in to stick it out at the office or school if we’re sick (physical, mental, etc) is a bunch of Boomer/Bootstrap BS that needs! to! go! If you’ve earned sick time - take it! Use those precious hours to take care of yourself, do something exciting, etc. No one will ever be on their death bed wishing that wouldn’t have taken their EARNED time off but I can guarantee they’ll regret missing out on time that could have been spent outside the office.

THREE

Not everyone will like you. Whether it be peers, friends, co-workers, etc - not everyone will like you and this (though hard to understand at a younger age IMO) is totally ok! You - nor anyone - is meant to be for EVERYONE. Our Lord & Savior Jenna Kutcher talks about the concept of “repelling” a lot and as much as it applies to business it also should and does apply to all other aspects of our lives! Repelling means making it easier to find those & connect with those we attract. If and when you can - focus on that. That’s where all the good stuff is anyways.

FOUR

NEVER stop learning. I don’t care if you’re one of those people who swears they hate school or learning - you need to keep growing that brain of yours! That can mean learning or developing skills (graphic design, a musical instrument, hobbies, crafts, etc.), traveling, reading, writing, or really just about anything that challenges you or invites you into a new smidge of understanding yourself, this world & those you share it with. For me, I have always loved school and academics especially and when I was done college and moved into my first “real” job I struggled. My brain felt like mush & like I wasn’t doing anything meaningful with it (something I considered to be incredibly brilliant if I do say so myself) so I made a switch. I decided to learn graphic design, social media analytic analysis and more. THIS got me through some of the toughest times in that job and propelled me into what I’m doing now. NEVER. STOP. LEARNING.

FIVE

A bad day IS NOT equal to a bad life. While I haven’t talked about this much on here, I think this is one of the most important lessons I’ve learned in my whole life so here I am. A little over two years ago I survived the mass shooting in Las Vegas at the Route 91 Country Music festival alongside one of my best friends & mom. While I find no need to give you a play by play, in the moment I was calm & the true trauma of it all didn’t hit me until almost 6 months later when my dad and I got stranded on the side of the mountains in Northern California. In that moment - and many other moments of trauma, panic attacks, anxiety attacks and more - I found myself thinking I had this bad, difficult life. Carrying the burden of surviving - not making enough of myself in the memory of those who can’t - feeling stupid and silly for how I had flashbacks at the slightest loud noise. What I came to understand through a very difficult trauma is that having a bad day will never mean you have a bad life. Never.

SIX

Pick your battles. Growing up my mom said this all.the.time. and I HATED it. I don’t know it I hated it because it didn’t really work for my inquisitive, confrontational personality or if because I knew when I was older I would agree with her - but I hated it. Now that I’m older, I can tell you she was right. As much as I love arguing & debating - going one to one with people on just about anything - it’s freaking exhausting and drains energy in way you just don’t need. Plus, it can really weigh on your relationships. Learning to pick your battles helps you prioritize relationships and learn to fight for the important stuff.

SEVEN

It’s no one’s job but your own to put yourself first.I’m probably the worst about putting myself first in certain ways but I have also been in certain situations - friendships, collaborations, family experiences, and so on where I decided to put me first and it was something I had to decide to do. It sure isn’t always comfortable - in fact, it usually is awfully uncomfortable - but you’re in charge of this & that’s damn important.

EIGHT

If you have an opinion, be educated. Now more than ever it seems like just about everyone has an opinion about something or another. As someone with both educational, personal and professional experiences in government, politics, and related fields I couldn’t say how important it is to be educated and informed on what you have an opinion on. I don’t care if you’ve never read an article a day in your life or have never spoken to someone affected by what you have an opinion on - you need to. You MUST educate yourself and make sure whatever opinions you decide to put out there - online, over dinner, etc. are informed & educated ones.

NINE

You don’t have to finish just because you start. Growing up I was always told you have to finish what you start. I know to some extent this is to give a human the concept of commitment, follow through, etc. but as an adult there have been many times this mindset was incredibly toxic. Whether it was staying friends with someone for too long, staying in leadership of an organization that was mostly BS, or sticking out a program not meant for me - I killed myself because I didn’t want to quit. In reality, “quitting” ended up being the best thing I did for myself.

TEN

Be nice to your skin. I never had any skin issues growing up outside of some sports related acne in the summers from softball but as soon as I moved to Arizona & got off Birth Control my skin freaked!out! I had to totally do a 180 and give a shit about when/how/with what I took care of my skin with. You don’t have to have every million dollar product but finding what works for you through trial & error, help from a dermatologist or recos from a trusted source take this stuff seriously!

ELEVEN

Realize your shit & work on it. We all have trauma & shit we need to work on. Bad habits, childhood issues, family issues - the list goes on. While we all can acknowledge this aspect of the human experience, we also need to acknowledge how important it is to work on it. Don’t get me wrong - a lot of resources are not available to all and to even have the option to work through many of these things is a privileged- but if this a privilege you are afforded and/or can provide to others - do the most with it! Seek counseling and/or therapy & encouraging & normalizing it with those you know!

TWELVE

Relationships aren’t forever but they’re important. Having graduated college & in some ways who I was during college there have been friendships, romantic relationships, etc. that have changed a lot. Maybe we don’t talk anymore due to space - figurative or literal - but those relationships are fundamentally different than they were. At some points it’s been hard to not feel like a failure or unsure about leaving things different in the past - maybe I wasn’t trying hard enough to stay in touch, maybe this person was more important than I’ve let them be currently. Despite all the uncertainty I am sure that in coming into adulthood your relationships with everyone will change. If you don’t want them to, it’s on you to figure it out but the changes shouldn’t be a bad thing. Those college friendships were important when they were & its ok if they’re not the same now.

THIRTEEN

No one knows what they’re doing. The biggest scam of our lives is that we’re told or assume growing up that adults know everything - have all the answers, know the recipe to happiness & success. But truth is no one knows what the fuck they’re doing & we’re all just chilling on a planet going day to day hoping our educated decisions & shots in the dark make our lives ok! Don’t ever feel bad about not knowing what you’re doing - no one does.

FOURTEEN

It always has - and always will - take a village. I absolutely hate that our culture has come to expect everyone can do everything on their own. The idea of pulling yourself up by your bootstraps & self-made whatever is a load of BS. It takes a village! To learn, to grow, to love ourselves and others. In your life you will need a caregiver, a mentor, a friend, a lover - the list goes on. We were not made to do anything alone or by ourselves. Ask & seek help - offer & give help.

FIFTEEN

Not every loss is a loss. This lesson I learned a pretty painful way while in college after a stressful & emotional month or so of higher ups kicking out a ton of people from my sorority. While I’m not here to drop tea on that (maybe another time?) I can say I learned not every loss is a loss. I had a friend or two who was kicked out and it hurt at first. Like really freaking hurt. But looking back it allowed them to spend their time differently, find what they loved and do some pretty kick ass things. Additionally in that situation there were people who really needed - for one way or another - to not be apart of things and in some situations I really think it ended up benefiting the larger whole. If this explanation doesn’t work for you, think of it as closed doors sometimes bringing you to much better open ones!

SIXTEEN

If it won’t matter in five years, don’t let it matter longer than 5 minutes. I got this advice as a freshman in college from a much wiser graduating senior and it’s stuck ever since. I am someone who dwells - hard core - on all sorts of things. What ifs, whys, etc. and this really works as my mental check to have an appropriate amount of time in my head, thinking and feeling but also knowing when it’s time to move on. If you struggle with similar things I recommend implementing this as a mantra of sorts.

SEVENTEEN

Life is a whole lot of grey. Whether it’s because I’m a type 1 or just because it’s how I’ve always been wired, I really often look at life & its complexities in black and white. Very recently certain life situations, relationships and experiences have pushed me to realize there is a lot of grey in our experience as a human. While this has been terrifying its also helped me have a little more grace with myself and others - past & present - and is something I think is really important & came just in time for year 23!

EIGHTEEN

Travel, travel, travel. While I realize this is something that is not always accessible to everyone & I do hold my experiences as a privileged I can’t say enough how important it is to travel. To travel with people, by yourself, as often as possible, to places unlike your own. In college I visited over 12 different countries and in the US have traveled to over 25 states. In all of these travels I’ve learned incredibly valuable lessons, like how to put snow chains on your tires, the kindness of (most) strangers, the reality of life for all sorts of people from the wealthy to college students abroad to refugees escaping hell. I know for a fact those times traveling - the good, bad and especially the ugly - have made me a better, more knowledgeable and kinder person.

NINETEEN

Apologizing for something doesn’t take anything away from you. This one right here is from T Swizzle and damn this is some wisdom. I am a stubborn, stubborn person and apologizing to me (also highly competitive) for a lot of my life felt like some concession that hurt me. Looking back, it’s kinda dumb and immature to think that way. Ever since reading this tidbit from Taylor I’ve put it into perspective and while I don’t have hard, factual data I would venture to guess I am even more likely to apologize now than I have been my whole life. I can speak from experience this is very true and in fact, not a single apology has taken any thing from me yet.

TWENTY

Celebrate what excites you. If you’re stoked for something coming up - talk about it, make a countdown calendar, be excited! I think a lot of people believe growing up means not finding & expressing joy about what excites us and thats some sad, cold, heatless BS.

TWENTY ONE

Clothing sizes are a scam. Having worked in retail for one of the largest retail companies in the world with in house & out of house brands I can tell you sizing is bullshit and should, in no way, determine how you value yourself or others. If you wear a 12 at one store but a 8 at another and maybe a 16 somewhere else - rock it sister. Worrying about this is a waste of your time & joy.

TWENTY TWO

Listen to Podcasts. I really did not get the appeal of podcasts until this year because I thought they were something stuffy adults did but honestly they’re awesome and really help you remember that out there is someone who loves what you love, can answer the questions you’re dying to have answered and teaches you something new! My personal favorites are Lore, Goal Digger & My Favorite Murder.

TWENTY THREE

Just GO FOR IT. I mean - make a plan, get the education & details - but freaking do it! This year I decided in July I wanted to really start taking blogging, content creating & learning all I can about social media seriously. I sat down for about a week straight every night making the plans - how I’d finance things, how I’d launch, what I’d do, etc. - and come later on in the summer I made it happen. I started trying to put as much as I could into what I did and did things super out of my comfort zone. I still have so much to learn, accomplish and do but at the end of it, I know I’m happier having done the damn thing & failed or messed up a time or two than to still be wondering what if.

23 Things I've Learned Before Turning 23

Earlier this year I came across Taylor Swift’s “30 Things I Learned Before Turning 30” article in Elle Magazine and I’ve had it on my mind ever since. With it being my own birthday today, I wanted to share 23 things I’ve learned before 23 in a similar fashion, and hopefully this little list of mine can hold at least half as much wisdom & inspiration with you as hers did with me!

---

Busy IS a decision. Growing up I certainly did all sorts of things but come high school and especially college I was always doing something. Whether that be studying for perfect grades, attending (later running) meetings, working on some new passion project, participating in events & seminars - I was (and am) almost always busy. Initially after college I though busy was a badge of honor - like being able to say “I’m just so busy” made me extra special or as amazing as I’d hoped to be. The matter of the fact here is that being busy isn’t really all that special at all and as you get older you’ll come to find most of us are. What’s important here is that your busy is fulfilling & purposeful - not just something you mention to seem whatever it is you think being busy esteems you to be. There’s no shame in being busy, but really taking time to figure out if that busy is serving you & those/what you love matters.

You ARE entitled to your sick days. I really don’t give a damn what anyone has to say about this otherwise - I’m calling BS on anyone who says you aren’t. The culture & expectation many of us were raised in to stick it out at the office or school if we’re sick (physical, mental, etc) is a bunch of Boomer/Bootstrap BS that needs! to! go! If you’ve earned sick time - take it! Use those precious hours to take care of yourself, do something exciting, etc. No one will ever be on their death bed wishing that wouldn’t have taken their EARNED time off but I can guarantee they’ll regret missing out on time that could have been spent outside the office.

Not everyone will like you. Whether it be peers, friends, co-workers, etc - not everyone will like you and this (though hard to understand at a younger age IMO) is totally ok! You - nor anyone - is meant to be for EVERYONE. Our Lord & Savior Jenna Kutcher talks about the concept of “repelling” a lot and as much as it applies to business it also should and does apply to all other aspects of our lives! Repelling means making it easier to find those & connect with those we attract. If and when you can - focus on that. That’s where all the good stuff is anyways.

NEVER stop learning. I don’t care if you’re one of those people who swears they hate school or learning - you need to keep growing that brain of yours! That can mean learning or developing skills (graphic design, a musical instrument, hobbies, crafts, etc.), traveling, reading, writing, or really just about anything that challenges you or invites you into a new smidge of understanding yourself, this world & those you share it with. For me, I have always loved school and academics especially and when I was done college and moved into my first “real” job I struggled. My brain felt like mush & like I wasn’t doing anything meaningful with it (something I considered to be incredibly brilliant if I do say so myself) so I made a switch. I decided to learn graphic design, social media analytic analysis and more. THIS got me through some of the toughest times in that job and propelled me into what I’m doing now. NEVER. STOP. LEARNING.

A bad day IS NOT equal to a bad life. While I haven’t talked about this much on here, I think this is one of the most important lessons I’ve learned in my whole life so here I am. A little over two years ago I survived the mass shooting in Las Vegas at the Route 91 Country Music festival alongside one of my best friends & mom. While I find no need to give you a play by play, in the moment I was calm & the true trauma of it all didn’t hit me until almost 6 months later when my dad and I got stranded on the side of the mountains in Northern California. In that moment - and many other moments of trauma, panic attacks, anxiety attacks and more - I found myself thinking I had this bad, difficult life. Carrying the burden of surviving - not making enough of myself in the memory of those who can’t - feeling stupid and silly for how I had flashbacks at the slightest loud noise. What I came to understand through a very difficult trauma is that having a bad day will never mean you have a bad life. Never.

Pick your battles. Growing up my mom said this all.the.time. and I HATED it. I don’t know it I hated it because it didn’t really work for my inquisitive, confrontational personality or if because I knew when I was older I would agree with her - but I hated it. Now that I’m older, I can tell you she was right. As much as I love arguing & debating - going one to one with people on just about anything - it’s freaking exhausting and drains energy in way you just don’t need. Plus, it can really weigh on your relationships. Learning to pick your battles helps you prioritize relationships and learn to fight for the important stuff.

It’s no one’s job but your own to put yourself first.I’m probably the worst about putting myself first in certain ways but I have also been in certain situations - friendships, collaborations, family experiences, and so on where I decided to put me first and it was something I had to decide to do. It sure isn’t always comfortable - in fact, it usually is awfully uncomfortable - but you’re in charge of this & that’s damn important.

If you have an opinion, be educated. Now more than ever it seems like just about everyone has an opinion about something or another. As someone with both educational, personal and professional experiences in government, politics, and related fields I couldn’t say how important it is to be educated and informed on what you have an opinion on. I don’t care if you’ve never read an article a day in your life or have never spoken to someone affected by what you have an opinion on - you need to. You MUST educate yourself and make sure whatever opinions you decide to put out there - online, over dinner, etc. are informed & educated ones.

You don’t have to finish just because you start. Growing up I was always told you have to finish what you start. I know to some extent this is to give a human the concept of commitment, follow through, etc. but as an adult there have been many times this mindset was incredibly toxic. Whether it was staying friends with someone for too long, staying in leadership of an organization that was mostly BS, or sticking out a program not meant for me - I killed myself because I didn’t want to quit. In reality, “quitting” ended up being the best thing I did for myself.

Be nice to your skin. I never had any skin issues growing up outside of some sports related acne in the summers from softball but as soon as I moved to Arizona & got off Birth Control my skin freaked!out! I had to totally do a 180 and give a shit about when/how/with what I took care of my skin with. You don’t have to have every million dollar product but finding what works for you through trial & error, help from a dermatologist or recos from a trusted source take this stuff seriously!

Realize your shit & work on it. We all have trauma & shit we need to work on. Bad habits, childhood issues, family issues - the list goes on. While we all can acknowledge this aspect of the human experience, we also need to acknowledge how important it is to work on it. Don’t get me wrong - a lot of resources are not available to all and to even have the option to work through many of these things is a privileged- but if this a privilege you are afforded and/or can provide to others - do the most with it! Seek counseling and/or therapy & encouraging & normalizing it with those you know!

Relationships aren’t forever but they’re important. Having graduated college & in some ways who I was during college there have been friendships, romantic relationships, etc. that have changed a lot. Maybe we don’t talk anymore due to space - figurative or literal - but those relationships are fundamentally different than they were. At some points it’s been hard to not feel like a failure or unsure about leaving things different in the past - maybe I wasn’t trying hard enough to stay in touch, maybe this person was more important than I’ve let them be currently. Despite all the uncertainty I am sure that in coming into adulthood your relationships with everyone will change. If you don’t want them to, it’s on you to figure it out but the changes shouldn’t be a bad thing. Those college friendships were important when they were & its ok if they’re not the same now.

No one knows what they’re doing. The biggest scam of our lives is that we’re told or assume growing up that adults know everything - have all the answers, know the recipe to happiness & success. But truth is no one knows what the fuck they’re doing & we’re all just chilling on a planet going day to day hoping our educated decisions & shots in the dark make our lives ok! Don’t ever feel bad about not knowing what you’re doing - no one does.

It always has - and always will - take a village. I absolutely hate that our culture has come to expect everyone can do everything on their own. The idea of pulling yourself up by your bootstraps & self-made whatever is a load of BS. It takes a village! To learn, to grow, to love ourselves and others. In your life you will need a caregiver, a mentor, a friend, a lover - the list goes on. We were not made to do anything alone or by ourselves. Ask & seek help - offer & give help.

Not every loss is a loss. This lesson I learned a pretty painful way while in college after a stressful & emotional month or so of higher ups kicking out a ton of people from my sorority. While I’m not here to drop tea on that (maybe another time?) I can say I learned not every loss is a loss. I had a friend or two who was kicked out and it hurt at first. Like really freaking hurt. But looking back it allowed them to spend their time differently, find what they loved and do some pretty kick ass things. Additionally in that situation there were people who really needed - for one way or another - to not be apart of things and in some situations I really think it ended up benefiting the larger whole. If this explanation doesn’t work for you, think of it as closed doors sometimes bringing you to much better open ones!

If it won’t matter in five years, don’t let it matter longer than 5 minutes. I got this advice as a freshman in college from a much wiser graduating senior and it’s stuck ever since. I am someone who dwells - hard core - on all sorts of things. What ifs, whys, etc. and this really works as my mental check to have an appropriate amount of time in my head, thinking and feeling but also knowing when it’s time to move on. If you struggle with similar things I recommend implementing this as a mantra of sorts.

Life is a whole lot of grey. Whether it’s because I’m a type 1 or just because it’s how I’ve always been wired, I really often look at life & its complexities in black and white. Very recently certain life situations, relationships and experiences have pushed me to realize there is a lot of grey in our experience as a human. While this has been terrifying its also helped me have a little more grace with myself and others - past & present - and is something I think is really important & came just in time for year 23!

Travel, travel, travel. While I realize this is something that is not always accessible to everyone & I do hold my experiences as a privileged I can’t say enough how important it is to travel. To travel with people, by yourself, as often as possible, to places unlike your own. In college I visited over 12 different countries and in the US have traveled to over 25 states. In all of these travels I’ve learned incredibly valuable lessons, like how to put snow chains on your tires, the kindness of (most) strangers, the reality of life for all sorts of people from the wealthy to college students abroad to refugees escaping hell. I know for a fact those times traveling - the good, bad and especially the ugly - have made me a better, more knowledgeable and kinder person.

Apologizing for something doesn’t take anything away from you. This one right here is from T Swizzle and damn this is some wisdom. I am a stubborn, stubborn person and apologizing to me (also highly competitive) for a lot of my life felt like some concession that hurt me. Looking back, it’s kinda dumb and immature to think that way. Ever since reading this tidbit from Taylor I’ve put it into perspective and while I don’t have hard, factual data I would venture to guess I am even more likely to apologize now than I have been my whole life. I can speak from experience this is very true and in fact, not a single apology has taken any thing from me yet.

Celebrate what excites you. If you’re stoked for something coming up - talk about it, make a countdown calendar, be excited! I think a lot of people believe growing up means not finding & expressing joy about what excites us and thats some sad, cold, heatless BS.

Clothing sizes are a scam. Having worked in retail for one of the largest retail companies in the world with in house & out of house brands I can tell you sizing is bullshit and should, in no way, determine how you value yourself or others. If you wear a 12 at one store but a 8 at another and maybe a 16 somewhere else - rock it sister. Worrying about this is a waste of your time & joy.

Listen to Podcasts. I really did not get the appeal of podcasts until this year because I thought they were something stuffy adults did but honestly they’re awesome and really help you remember that out there is someone who loves what you love, can answer the questions you’re dying to have answered and teaches you something new! My personal favorites are Lore, Goal Digger & My Favorite Murder.

Just GO FOR IT. I mean - make a plan, get the education & details - but freaking do it! This year I decided in July I wanted to really start taking blogging, content creating & learning all I can about social media seriously. I sat down for about a week straight every night making the plans - how I’d finance things, how I’d launch, what I’d do, etc. - and come later on in the summer I made it happen. I started trying to put as much as I could into what I did and did things super out of my comfort zone. I still have so much to learn, accomplish and do but at the end of it, I know I’m happier having done the damn thing & failed or messed up a time or two than to still be wondering what if.

Holiday Playlist 2019

The most wonderful time of the year calls for the most wonderful playlist of cheerful & seasonal tunes! Sharing my favorites with you! (full disclosure: I will never make a playlist, mixtape or burned CD as good as my Dad)