In the fall of 2020, I moved to a brand new studio in midtown Oklahoma City for work and it’s been such a positive change in my day-to-day life. I thought I would give you a virtual tour of my home away from home, designed by my talented interior designer (and husband), Dustin Dorr.
photos by Nina and B photography
I can’t believe we’ve been in our current house for two years already, so I figured it was high time to give you a little peek into our cozy little home. (Especially since you witnessed the entire Newport Beach renovation a few years back! A very different vibe in this one, as you soon shall see.)
One of the biggest advantages of moving to Oklahoma from Newport Beach is the cost of housing. To say you can get a lot more for your money is a huge understatement. So, how did we end up in a home that is actually smaller in size than our Newport Beach house? Well, why don’t you sit back and I’ll tell you a little story.
When we moved to Oklahoma in August of 2014, we rented a condo for the interim while we searched for a house to purchase. Well, within one hour of the moving truck (carrying 12,000 pounds of our belongings) pulled up to the rental, we found out it had black mold and was deemed unlivable.
Hmmm. We had a situation, to say the least. The moving company (yeah, the same one that managed to damage just about ALL OF OUR BELONGINGS and whose owner is now in prison for tax evasion) gave us 24 hours to find a new place to unload our stuff. Long story short, our family of four ended up in a small, first-floor apartment nestled right next to a major highway AND underneath the apartment of a presumed stripper/night owl/not quite sure. (Fun times! The kids were so impressed with Oklahoma City and all it had to offer!)
We spent a couple of (very uncomfortable) months in that apartment, all while trying to find the perfect house, WHICH MOST OF YOU KNOW CAN BE QUITE A PROCESS WITH THE INTERIOR DESIGNER HUSBAND. As you’ve witnessed from past posts, we prefer to find a place with good bones that we can renovate ourselves, but we simply didn’t have time for that. We wanted out of that apartment so badly, which made the search even more difficult because we needed to find something essentially move-in ready that met our standards. (Which I swear isn’t that much! Simple! Clean lines! Just not a horrible renovation, please!)
All to say, we put an offer on our current home within 12 hours of it being listed. It was almost perfect. Located in a historic neighborhood, clinker brick, built in the 1920s, yet completely (and tastefully!) renovated a few years prior by the previous owner. And although not as large as we had hoped for a long-term home (1700 sq ft…remember, it’s Oklahoma where a plentitude of space actually exists), it charmed us to pieces.
Recently, Emily of Nina and B Photography shot our family for a local publication (if you are looking for a photographer, stop the search because SHE’S THE ONE), and did a wonderful job of capturing the character of our home. I thought I would share with you all, even though a few rooms weren’t photographed. (Namely, our master suite which comprises the entirety of the second floor, and is, arguably, the best spot in the house. Photos to come at a later date on that one.)
Hope you enjoy!
1. The Amazon Echo takes precedence this Friday. Do you have one? Do you love it? What about the Echo Dot? Do I need to ask for one for Christmas? I am so intrigued. (Also, what about the Instapot, people?)
2. The Kirby Jenner Instagram account makes me laugh so hard.
3. This lady needs to meditate. Or maybe medicate.
4. In case you missed it, I posted our home tour yesterday.
5. I really should do some sort of gift guide, but for my fellow green beauty lovers, a gift subscription to Beauty Heroes or Petit Vour is tops in my book. I’m always giddy the day they arrive in the mail.
6. Need soothing? These weirdly satisfying baking videos might do the trick.
7. Bowls of goodness. I want to eat these every night of my life.
8. A bright spot resulting from Trump’s election. How wonderful.
9. How to dress ethically for a holiday party. Really love some of these brands. (My personal favorite as of late is Amour Vert. Have purchased many items and they are all sublime.)
10. Dad jokes are the best.
11. I will be attending the Women’s March on Washington this January. Meet the activists leading the charge.
Happy Friday to you all! We’re all about Christmas this weekend – getting our tree and house decorated. Love this time of year.
image credit: the earth’s gems
1. I am over the moon with our home photos shot by Jessie Webster. Full home tour coming in July, finally!
2. I just caved and bought Ballet Beautiful thanks to Roxanna and Rebecca. I’ll let you know how it goes. (Great list of the best workout videos here. Good stuff on the Whoorl Facebook page, peeps.)
3. Want to drink all of these over the Fourth.
4. Bored with your long hair? Look no further than Rachel’s post!
5. Ingenious way to cover dark circles and undereye puffiness.
6. Bam. 10 easy ways to refresh your look.
7. 5 things you should consider before cutting a pixie. Considering how long I hemmed and hawed over it, I’m an expert. Also, 4 ways to control your hair during the dog days of summer. Ugh, sweat.
Happy weekend!
Whatever happened to having taste?
Love that these interns took selfies with all 100 senators.
What I eat in a day, down to the hour. #becauseyoulikedetails
Have you heard of the Scandinavian Sleep Method?
The brand-new Merit Solo Shadows are one-and-done superheroes. Wearing all my Merit faves here.
Why are we still taking our husbands’ last names? Confession: I really wish I would have kept mine.
Black fall/winter bag secured. (The leather feels like butter. Beyond soft.)
Totally on board with this study on heat and aggression as I’m nearly homicidal in the current 100+ temps.
You need to buy these ballet flats before they sell out. #inwhoorlwetrust
Metallica at midlife: less booze, more tofu. I love every bit of it.
Recently listed lots of great stuff in my Poshmark Closet. Give them a good home.
Happy Friday! Wishing you a wonderful weekend.
image credit: viatolila
I am legitimately becoming a skin tool person. Rollers, massagers, gua sha, red light therapy, hair removal, microcurrent devices…friends, I’m trying it all. (Did you read my post on my favorite devices? I mean, someone has to do it and report back, right?)
However, I feel the need to get down to the nitty-gritty in regards to my usage of these devices. Bottom line – I AM A LAZY PERSON. And if too many steps and/or time is involved, I’m not going to do it. Oh how I wish I could overcome this issue, but y’all, it’s not happening.
Case in point – do I think the NuFACE devices work for toning and tightening? 100% yes. Did I continue to take the time to put the primer gel on my face, do my routine, wash the primer off, and then continue with my skincare routine after several months? Um, not so much. Which really is unfortunate because NuFACE works incredibly well when you are consistent with it.
I am not proud of my inconsistent ways…I mean, it’s not that difficult or time-consuming…so don’t let me deter you from the NuFACE! But I finally had a little check-in with myself and my personal hang-up was having to apply a conductor gel and/or primer. If I can use devices on my bare skin and/or after finishing my skincare routine, I’m game! ALL IN.
So! That means I’m much more apt to use skin rollers. I love skin rollers! You can use them anytime, without any fuss, and they really do boost circulation in the skin, release loads of tension, and create a more contoured-looking face.
My first run-in with a skin roller was one I bought on Amazon. Well, it was cheap for a reason…it irritated my face and then the metal started flaking off. Gross. I knew it was time to up the ante.
Enter ReFa beauty rollers. Established in Japan in 2009 (the skin mecca!), these rollers are the best out there because they are constructed impeccably AND the create a mild (solar-powered!) microcurrent that doesn’t require a conductive gel or primer. I have two rollers, the ReFa CARAT and the ReFa 4 CARAT.
Let’s look at both tools.
The ReFa CARAT Face Skincare Tool is an innovative 360° massage roller that helps to tone and tighten the whole body with two rolling balls. Coated in platinum to care for even the most delicate skin, the waterproof tool imitates the deep kneading motions of professional aestheticians, squeezing gently to create a firmer and smoother skin texture.
A small solar panel within the handle uses light to generate a mild microcurrent, increasing the power and effectiveness of the treatment, but it’s mild enough that you don’t need a conductor gel or primer. (Lazybones rejoice!) Suitable for use all over the body, including on the jawline, waist, thighs, and neck, the reusable tool will help you to create tighter, firmer, and more youthful-looking skin.
I love this roller. It works so well on my face, chiseling my cheekbones and releasing tons of tension in my jaw and forehead, but also brings so much blood flow to stubborn areas around my body. I use the roller all the time on my waist, the underneath of my arms, and my hips and thighs. (Boosted circulation means boosted collagen.)
The best way to explain the boost in circulation would be to compare it to a long run or walk. You know when you are on a walk/run and your thighs start to itch from all the blood flow? That’s exactly what this roller does within mere minutes. Those areas get all tingly and I know good things are happening. My skin has definitely become smoother in appearance.
The ReFa 4 CARAT Electronic Roller (seen in the first photo) is a unique massage tool that has been expertly designed to mimic esthetician hand movements for an at-home salon experience with superior results. Developed with premium Japanese craftsmanship, the handheld device features four multi-angled rollers that have been meticulously calibrated to recreate a ‘double kneading’ effect that stimulates the skin and alleviates tension with continuous rolling and gentle squeezing motions.
Platinum-coated for minimum skin sensitivity, each multi-faceted roller delivers 360° coverage from all angles, while a built-in solar panel generates a mild microcurrent to help activate cellular circulation. As a result, skin feels firmer and taut with continued use.
This roller can be used on many body parts, but I find it’s a little large for my face.
My thoughts? While the 4 CARAT is super unique with the 4 multi-angled rollers, I definitely reach for the CARAT more often. It works effectively on my face and my body, and it seems to knead and massage the skin even deeper than the 4 CARAT. I wasn’t expecting this at all, as I assumed the larger one would create a deeper stimulation of my skin and muscles, but actually the CARAT grips and kneads more intensely than its larger counterpart – even on arms, hips, and thighs.
So I would recommend the CARAT for its versatility, ease of use, and effectiveness.
I’m super excited to announce that you can get 20% off the ReFa tools with the code SARAH20.
That’s a fantastic discount!
If you are wanting to take the plunge into beauty rolling, this is a great place to start. As always, hit me up with any questions in the comments!