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How To Help Oklahoma Tornado Victims

May 20, 2013

I hate that I’m writing this right now.

D and I had one of our very favorite photographers shoot our home today, and I was literally brimming with excitement, knowing we were one step closer to sharing photos of our home’s transformation. That was, until about halfway through the shoot when texts, emails, and messages started rolling in.

“Is your family safe?”

“Praying for you and your family.”

“The destruction is horrible. I’m so sorry.”

Honestly, I had no idea what those texts were about. I had been diligently cleaning and styling my home halfway across the country, completely oblivious to the world.

And then I sat down and saw it for myself. My hometown, ravaged by yet another tornado, and it brought me right back to May of 1999. I was living in Oklahoma City when that tornado destroyed miles and miles of homes and lives, and it was one of the most frightening days of my life.

I can’t imagine what my hometown is dealing with right now. (Except I kind of can. It’s absolutely harrowing.) Elementary schools destroyed. Death and destruction everywhere.

You all, I can tell you firsthand that what you’re seeing on your computer and television doesn’t even compare to what is actually going on in Oklahoma right now. Neighborhoods gone, little children aimlessly walking around battered neighborhoods looking for their parents, absolute confusion and chaos.

Please help. Your resources and donations will make a huge difference. Here are some ways to help:

Text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 to the disaster relief fund – this took me about 10 seconds to complete

If you prefer to donate to the Red Cross online, click here.

You can text FOOD to 32333 (the OK Food Bank) to give $10 to help with relief efforts via News 9

The Salvation Army

Feed The Children Disaster Relief

Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief

Disaster Relief of Oklahoma

World Vision

If you are looking for a family member, please visit Safe & Well.

Google Crisis Map

The Penn South Pet Clinic is collecting displaced animals.

Annie’s Ruff House in Norman, OK is taking any dogs displaced by the tornadoes in Moore.

I will update this list as I learn of more ways to help.

God bless Oklahoma.

COMMENTS (13)

Odds and Ends

May 17, 2013

This is going to be a short list, folks. Mama is so sleep deprived this week. (I’m telling you right now, PMS + a couple of childbirths + nearing 40 = WHACKADOODLE. It seems I’m not the only one, either. What gives, you all? Is this happening to you too?)

1. This video of toddlers eating foods is hilarious, and the slow motion is the icing on the cake.

2. Stop what you’re doing and bust out this arm workout from beginning to end. Try not to cry. Hurts so good.

3. 33 meticulous cleaning tricks for the OCD person inside of you. Enough said.

4. Local yogis, I’m still on the hunt for a yoga studio. Looking for zen, not so much “yoga fusion” (aka blaring pop music and headsets). Any recs?

5. I’ve got two articles up at P&G Beauty this week. How to get beachy waves, and 70s-inspired hairstyles. Speaking of, how did your mom wear her hair in the seventies? My mom’s was long, super straight, and she loved to wear it pulled back in a tight ponytail. 70s chic, for sure.

Enjoy your weekend, lovely friends. Get some sleep.

photo credit: Rio de Janiero by Tony Kelly

COMMENTS (15)

Sarah Says Q & A

May 16, 2013

I have this little list…okay, it’s a big list. A huge list. A COLOSSAL LIST of post ideas inspired by your comments on previous posts. Have you ever asked me a question or had a post suggestion, and I responded with an enthusiastic thumbs up? “Yes! That’s a great idea! I’ll get right on it, yes sirree bob.”

Was that question/suggestion and response interchange over 6 months ago? Probably!

You all know I love my lists, but what I love even more is when I can cross items off my list. It’s time to get cracking. However, many of the topics could be much more easily addressed in a video format opposed to a lengthy blog post. So! I’m toying with the idea of some quick videos for some of the subject matter.

Most of the topics are focused on beauty and style, but I’m open to other subjects. I’ve got a good head start, but anything you care to add to the list? (Or feel the need to remind me since I might have absentmindedly skipped over it the first time? Uh, sorry about that.) Let me know!

COMMENTS (17)

How To Use Feedly

May 15, 2013

As many of you know, Google Reader is finito as of July 1, 2013. Sadness! You all know how much I adored the next button, right?

When presented with a conundrum like this, you can choose two different routes. Remain in complete denial until POOF, your RSS feeder has completely disappeared, taking with it all of those precious saved posts and general bloggy bits of goodness OR you can prepare yourself before you wreck yo self. I’m sure it’s no surprise that I, Sarah, Queen of the List-Making and Type A-ness, chose the latter.

So! I asked around and the two RSS readers I heard about the most were Feedly and Bloglovin. I ultimately chose to use Feedly as my RSS reader because I really love the simple, clean interface, and frankly, the term “bloglovin” bugs me. Priorities, people.

Now that I feel relatively confident with how Feedly works, I’m here to get you all set straight, if need be.

First, let me start off by saying that my first visit to Feedly wasn’t so great. After importing my feeds from Google Reader (to import your google reader feeds over to feedly, simply login to feedly using your google account), I do believe it looked a bit like this.

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