music monday :: on and on

I've been listening to On and On lately... they are a Chicago-based indie/pop/electronic band that put out their debut album, "Give In", last year. I love any band that has a girl in it, so that's awesome. But they have a really good sense of how to channel their energy into music worth listening to. Their single, "Ghosts," is one of the tracks on their new record that showcases them the best. Echoing vocals, keyboard synth, and sometimes subtle/sometimes harsh electronic guitar sets them apart. They have something unique and cool going on, and I hope to see them in person sometime. I find that not all their songs sound the same; there is an element in every one that makes a track stand out to me. Check them out!

featured :: makeup to try

If you're a girl, then it's pretty likely that you understand the concept of the bottomless makeup bag. One day you take a look and you have twelve eyeshadows from high school and the same blush from when you were 13. I try to make it a priority to clean out my makeup stash and replace my products with new ones... who wants to put old makeup on, anyway?! 

For the past year or so, I've been using Laura Mercier mineral foundation. I used to have oily, acne prone skin in high school, and my mom always bought me MAC liquid foundation. But I figured out the liquid was clogging up my pores and making me even more acne prone, so I switched to mineral foundation. That has worked well for me the past few years. However, I wanted to attempt to switch back to liquid just to see how it would feel now that I'm an adult and my skin has changed. 

I made a trip to Target and got a few things. First, I started with Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse.

I had read some good things about this foundation and I was hoping it would live up to the hype. I tried it out as soon as I got home, and I was pleasantly surprised. It goes on smoothly and if you apply it right (more on that below), it doesn't look cakey. For my oil-prone skin, I set it with a bit of powder I already had on hand (Bare Minerals finishing powder). To get an even better finish, I use Burts Bees toner, Aveeno moisturizer, and E.L.F. face primer. These all really help the foundation not to streak or add too much buildup.

To apply the foundation, I also bought the E.L.F. Small Stippling Brush.

 This brush works well for wet and dry foundation, which is awesome. Truthfully, I didn't know how to use a stippling brush at first. But E.L.F. has a great video tutorial on their website to show you how. To apply my liquid foundation, I put a bit on the back of my hand (not too much-- otherwise I get carried away). You can always build up, so use a light hand. I dip the brush into a tiny bit of foundation and apply it to my face in a dabbing motion. To add more coverage, I use the typical sweeping or circular motion later. I find that dabbing gives a good base and blends really well.

I also wanted to try my hand at contouring, so I bought Maybelline SuperStay Concealer:

I've read that they key to this is to use a concealer that is two shades darker than your natural. I went with one just a bit darker than my skin tone, as I don't want to be super dramatic. I just wanted to see if I could create some definition. I still need to try again, but the first time I did it, I felt like I could see a difference! I think I may add more the second time around. To apply, I felt where my cheekbones were with my fingers, then added three dots of concealer right below. I blended that in a line and made sure it didn't get smeared all over my cheeks. Then I added blush on the apples of my cheeks to finish.

I would definitely recommended these three products to anyone who is looking to try new makeup without breaking the bank. I have long believed that because a product cost more, it is better quality. For some things, this is true. But the makeup industry has come a long way in terms of quality, and I think there are some great options out there for $7 that work just as well as $25.

Happy makeup-ing! 

* all images via google.

show recap :: needtobreathe

On Monday, I went to yet another Needtobreathe show. These dudes have been through a lot in the past year or so. They are pretty open about the fact that after 14 years, a couple of them were not getting along and things were headed south, just as they were finishing their latest album. Long story short, they worked it out and their fans have never been so relieved. Their current album, "Rivers in the Wasteland", reflects that crazy time in life. 

We saw them at the ever faithful Fillmore in Silver Spring (those chandeliers!). This venue holds a lot of people but remains personal no matter where you are. We always choose to go up to the balcony and lean on the railing-- usually a perfect spot because you are right above the stage looking down at everything. This time, though, they put seats right below for people who wanted to pay $20 to sit. Except they didn't sit-- they stood and blocked everything for those of us who were above them. Way to blow $20, people. ;)

These two (Alan Powell; Caitlin Nicol-Thomas) were promoting their movie and music from the movie. I thought it was kind of weird that they did that... but the music sounded good and the chick is a heck of a fiddle player. It's called "The Song" and it'll be in theaters if you want to check it out.

Then, the real openers. The Oh Hellos. I have liked them for a while now, but hadn't seen them. They are a brother and sister duo, but add in a lot of people for bigger shows. And good Lord, can they jam. It was almost a better moment for me than Needtobreathe, dare I say. They had a lot going on but every single person had energy and their music is just incredibly written. When they get into it, you feel it.

Needtobreathe! (You can see the $20 seat people as promised.) They had a Native American setup which I was kind of confused about, since that wasn't really the theme of the album. But then again, maybe it was and I just didn't get it. That's not to say it wasn't cool! Teepees are always cool.

They always do a little acoustic action together, which I love. I loved it even more because my favorite long haired dude, Seth, was finally in my line of sight... he had been blocked the whole time by the floating heads in front of me.

An encore jam is always welcome. Overall, I came away from this one thinking that their last tour was better. I know, I know. Laura already yelled at me for that. :) At one point she looked over at me and said, "You look so bored!" I wasn't bored-- just taking it all in and honestly, trying to figure out if their new performance tactics were something I liked or not. They had a lot of random rock jamming in between songs, when I kind of just wanted to hear their music without the showy stuff. They are so good that their music speaks for itself-- I didn't think they needed to add one extra thing in. At one point they totally lost me when they added "Float On" by Modest Mouse to the end of one of their songs... and I hate "Float On." I was disappointed that they threw it in there. It happened early on, so maybe it just made me feel weird about the rest of it. That's just a matter of preference, I suppose. But I didn't sing along at all, which is weird for me. Overall, their music is always incredible, so that wasn't so much of an issue. I definitely enjoy their album "The Reckoning" more than "Rivers". And their tour for "Reckoning" left me feeling amazing-- this one just didn't live up to it for me. They really are insanely talented musicians and writers, and that did not go unnoticed. I think for me personally, this one just couldn't match up to the last tour. Laura is already calling me crazy, so you don't have to. ;)

If they come to a venue near you, don't hesitate to see them! It's an amazing experience!

currently :: news, music, and other things

Today I woke up excited because it's a typical fall day: rain pattering the windowpanes, pumpkin coffee, candles burning. I can see the tree outside my front door is no longer green, but red and withered. And best of all, I don't have to spend this day anywhere but at home, drinking it all in. 

That's because [drumroll please!] I finally got a new job! This has been a long time coming. I've been job hunting since April, been on countless interviews, and landed a job that I hope will be a positive career change. My current job turned out to be a mess-- a failed project that resulted in transferring to a temp project an hour away doing work I have no interest in. I found myself in the middle of it thinking, "How did this happen?" I came into it a year ago thinking it would be a great career move. The thing is, you just never know. It's all a giant leap of faith. And I'm getting ready to do it again, praying that this isn't the wrong decision. I'll be doing admissions work for an international education company. I'm excited to get into a new field and support education. It's a step away from what I've been doing for the past few years, but I think I need a change!

Now, on to the fun stuff! I have the perfect album for autumn listening: "Honey" by The Red Headed Indian. It came out two days ago and one of the big reasons I know about it is because my friends from Civilian (PS - listen to them too) love this girl to pieces. Once you hear her stuff, I think you'll see why. To me, she's a glorious blend of A Fine Frenzy and Eisley, but she very much does her own thing. She's unique in her own way... and I want her voice!

You can download the album for free here. I know I'm going to be listening to this on repeat, and I hope you will too!

recap :: audrey assad show

I spent last night at a tiny theater in Leesburg, VA seeing Audrey Assad's farewell show. She starting a new project called LEVV and will not be playing any of her old music from here on out. As sad as that is, I am excited to see what else she comes up with. Her music has been a huge influence on me, especially in the past few months of struggling to find employment and being stressed out constantly. Her voice, piano skills and lyrics have made me feel better on more than one occasion.

Not going to lie, I kind of fell in love with her bass player. My roommate makes fun of me all the time because at every single show that I go to, I pick out a new guy to love. It's no secret that I'm drawn to musicians! ;)

And because it was a late night, we needed sugar on the way home. Bring on the milkshakes! (And if it's past 1 AM, chicken nuggets are tradition. Just FYI.)

Life updates are coming this week, by the way... I have good news and a lot happening. Can't wait to share with you :)

blog revamp & currently

Having started Life Into Words almost exactly a year ago, I decided it was time for a refresh. Veronika of By the Shore made it so easy to change it up! I definitely recommend her work. Hope you guys like it as much as I do!

Last weekend, my roommate Laura and I went to Dunkin Donuts. The lady accidentally added something extra to our bill and threw in two extra doughnuts for us to make up for it! Of course, I chose pumpkin and it was the best decision ever. Pumpkin doughnut + blueberry iced coffee = happy Sarah.

Sunday was a crazy busy day because I was helping to throw my honorary sister Jude's bridal shower! I have known her family for almost 10 years (!!) because I became good friends with her sister Cait back in college. It was a really random thing-- Cait came to visit a mutual friend; we literally hung out one day and have been best friends ever since. The shower was outside at their parent's house and so beautiful. Perfect autumn weather, lanterns in the trees, fresh flowers on the tables, the dreamy, folksy playlist I made humming in the background. It turned out really nice and Jude loved it. I can't wait to see her get married in October!

So, I was starving last night after work. I was having a debate with myself all the way home, thinking, "I should just cook something and save money, right? But do I even have anything to eat at home? Whatever, I should just make a sandwich. That would be the smart thing to do." Well... here's how that went:

And I have zero regrets. :) Leftovers for lunch today!

I'm looking forward to the weekend... I've been trying to put more emphasis on relaxing, but somehow life gets the best of me. I just can't say no to hanging out with good friends! It always results in exhaustion, but the best kind. I'll take it!

what they wore :: sweater weather!

You guys, there has been a definite chill in the air as of late. I get up in the morning and notice that the sun no longer shines and I can't go outside without a little more protection. I'm not complaining because fall is the best! Pumpkin everything, comfy clothes, boots are back, changing landscapes, curling up with a mug of hot tea, bonfires. 

Just like my obsession with fall, I have a slight obsession with cable knit. I got an email from Kate Spade Saturday introducing their new line of cable knit sweaters, and my heart skipped a beat. Nothing screams fall and winter more than cozy cotton sweaters! Well, cotton for me-- I can't wear wool because I'm 90% sure I'm allergic. Le sigh.

So, in honor of sweater weather, I wanted to share two of my favorite pieces that I recently bought. If you hurry, you can get them too!

image via jcrewfactory

This sweater is in the clearance section of J Crew Factory's website right now, and you better believe I snatched it up! I chose the oatmeal color. I got it yesterday in the mail and was so surprised at how soft it was and how well it fit. Super excited to start wearing it in the colder weather! If you like it, get yours while they last! There are limited sizes right now and I expect it to sell out completely.

image via hm.com

I found this mustard beauty on H&M's website. I haven't gotten it in the mail yet, but I can't wait. This is totally autumn to me. Plus, my wardrobe tends to be on the muted side with a lot of blacks and grays, so this color will be a lovely addition.

Both of these websites have a lot more where this came from, so check them out! Where have you gotten your favorite sweaters? Be sure to leave a comment!

tuesday things.

Hey friends! The blog is undergoing some changes, so this week will be sporadic in terms of posts. Yesterday I was busy cleaning out my entire closet in my quest to become more of a minimalist (donating two trash bags worth of things... how did I end up with so much stuff?!) and going on a job interview. Enjoy some tunes for the week :)

Happy Tuesday!

obsession.

As you all know by now, I'm pretty obsessed with music. It's the one constant thing in my life that never gets old. Like everyone, I have favorite artists and records and styles that I prefer. But at the top of that list is always live performances. Sure, a ton of musicians sound good when you're listening to them in your car, but there is something so special about witnessing their talent in front of your own eyes. YouTube has become a great resource for this if you can't make it to a certain show. Today I'm showcasing some of my favorite live performances! 

Ed Sheeran's work never wears out. Watching him do what he does makes my heart so overjoyed.

I've shared this one before, but since this is the topic, I have to share it again :)

This girl gets me every time. Not sure how it's possible to make me feel happy and sad all at once, but she gets it done.

A huge talent. She's flawless.

One of the best things I've ever seen. These guys are awesome.

Take some time to search around the web for live performances of your favorite artist! I guarantee you'll find something you've never seen before :)

featured :: Dollar Shave Club

image via Dollar Shave Club

Have you guys heard about Dollar Shave Club? I first became aware of it when my Facebook friends kept liking their page. In the beginning I thought it was only for dudes, but a couple of my female friends have paid attention to it as well! After looking into it, I really liked their ideas and the concept of their brand. The premise of DSC is to give you great quality razors at a low price, delivered to your door. While I was skeptical about some hidden fee that actually makes it way more expensive than buying razors at your local Target, I found that they really do attempt to lower costs. All you have to do is select a razor, pay a low monthly fee ($1, $6, or $9 depending on the blade you choose), and they get sent to you! Sounds pretty great to me!

DSC's big thing is "we pride ourselves on helping people NOT have to 'squeeze' too much use out of their razors by providing great razors that are shipped right to your door for as low as a buck a month." In honor of this concept, I wanted to share some of the best and worst things to "squeeze the most out of":

Good things to squeeze the most out of:

- Toothpaste tubes. My roommate makes fun of me because the tube looks so flat and empty by the end... but I am always convinced there's some left!

- Your dog. I mean, gently. But dogs are great for cuddling, duh!

- Stress balls. Obviously. Work can get stressful. So can life. Get yourself a stress ball, stat!

- Oranges, lemons and limes. Juicing is a craze, but it's a good one.

- Your wet hair. Ladies, have you heard of the whole thing about using a t-shirt to dry your hair instead of a towel to prevent frizz? And that you should wring it out by squeezing instead of rubbing your head? Give it a try!

Bad things to squeeze the most out of:

- Babies. Well, you could do it gently, like your dog. But they generally don't like being tightly squeezed!

- Balloons. I can't even tell you the amount of terror I feel when a balloon pops. This happened to me recently when I was holding one. I'm still traumatized.

- Those plastic packages of brownie mix. I always think I can squeeze them open by popping the air out of them. You know where that gets you? Brownie mix all over your clean kitchen.

- People's hands. It hurts. And will prevent people from being your friend.

- Your bank account, of course. You don't want that dollar amount to say $0, do you?! (Which is why you should join Dollar Shave Club and save!!)

DSC also makes a great gift-- you could give a membership to a friend or family member for any birthday or holiday! Side note: I'm also thinking about using this shave butter on my legs. I bet it feels amazing. If you're looking for a way to save money and still use a high quality product, take a few minutes to check out Dollar Shave Club and give it a try!

** this post was not compensated and all opinions are my own.

weekend recap :: ed sheeran

This past weekend was a busy but fun one. I had bought Ed Sheeran tickets at Merriweather for my friend Brooke's birthday a couple of months ago. Not only do I love his latest album, he is an extreme talent. There are not many people that can play a huge show with only themselves, a guitar, and looping equipment and still be entertaining. 

Brooke and I have a special place in our hearts for Ed because we play "Give Me Love" at open mic nights and really love it. It's a fun song to sing and one that showcases everything he can do. Brooke took a video of the entire song when he performed it and it was eight minutes long, filled with self-harmonizing vocals and looping and guitar drumbeats and insanity.

Another entertainment factor of the evening was the thunderstorm we got caught in. We knew it was going to rain, so we opted for chairs instead of a blanket and brought our umbrellas. Which proved to be pretty ineffective against the sideways rain, wind, and hail. (Yes, HAIL.) It was before the opener, though, so it didn't slow us down! Brooke was making fun of me because I kept saying, "We're doing GREAT!" I was just trying to convince us that we could make it through and prayed the rain would stop. 

Sorry for the crappy quality. Honestly, this is one of the only shows where I didn't take 20+ pictures. I spent it listening and marveling and admiring. Ed is a really accomplished musician and even though a lot of people see him at just a radio hit kind of guy, his new album has some fantastic material and the way he can do every single thing himself as a one man show is pretty amazing to watch. As a musician, I really enjoyed it. I recommend seeing him if you get the chance!

a sick day.

Sometimes I feel it's necessary to take a sick day when you're not actually ill. My body wasn't ill, but my heart felt like it. It's been rough times the past few months with a job in limbo and struggling to find another. I also hadn't slept much this past week and felt exhausted.

So today I woke up around 10, which is late for me but was so glorious. My friend Brooke has been helping me get through this hard time, and she encouraged me to start journaling again. I used to write every day and it's been at least a year since I really started up again. But writing is a very therapeutic thing for me, so I should be doing it. I had finished off a journal a couple of months ago, so I headed to Target for a new one and some new pens (they motivate me more). I found a journal that's super appropriate for me since I have horrible eyesight :) and those Inkjoy commercials got to me! And of course, I had to pick up my first pumpkin spice of the season! (I'm not boycotting because of the "it's so bad for you" trend, just so we're clear.)

I came home and put on some new Audrey Assad music-- they way she writes really speaks to me. This song has been getting me lately:

You liberate me / from my own noise and my own chaos /

from the chains of a lesser law / You set me free...

Those words are so close to my heart right now. My noise and my chaos have been overwhelming me for months. How do you get out of feeling like that? It's not the easiest thing. So, long story short, journaling, praying, and writing some music for the first time in a long time has helped me feel so much better already. I needed a reminder that I don't have to feel lost, and that I shouldn't wander away from God. After all, He knows me better than anyone ever could.