Favorite Things + Giveaway!

{Harry Potter Funko Pops, The Sticker Alley Bookmarks, Barnes & Noble Mug,

Charlotte Russe Criss-Cross Flats & Look Human Sweater}

As soon as I heard that Harry Potter Funko Pops were coming out, I knew I had to my hands on them! I got Harry first, but then the very next day went to Barnes & Noble to get Hermione, Ron, and Dumbledore. Maybe one day I'll add Snape to my collection. The other two Funko Pops I really want are Rapunzel and Mulan. 

How can I not be obsessed with these magnetic bookmarks when they're just so stinking cute?! They make not reading anymore because you have to go to sleep a little bit better. 

♥ A few fun links:

♥ 9 foreign words that should be in your vocabulary. Nefelibata is my favorite!

♥ Is bookstagram losing its shine?

♥ 30 ways to improve your blog.

♥ When you don't feel like blogging.

♥ 7 fall beauty trends to try now.

♥ Why counting calories works for me (but not for everyone).

♥ Traveling soon? 6 things you should take out of our suitcase.

♥ The curse of the overactive mind!

♥ Copywriting your images.

♥ Inspiring podcasts for blogging and creativity.

♥ Sponsor friends:

• Who wants a boring bookmark when you can have one that's made out of wood? Cogworks makes beautiful wooden bookmarks in New Hampshire. My favorite is the black walnut tree bookmark!
• Wow, this holographic nail wrap looks so cool! If you've been wanting to make some extra money or be your own boss, you should consider being a Jamberry Nails independent consultant. 

♥ Swap friends: Artwork by JM, Seasons With Allie, Betharose & Sashi's.

♥ Fashion faves: colorblock dress, metallic sweater, merlot cardigan (love this!), jersey trapeze dress, cranberry polka dot tights, chunky heel booties, and blue tasseled loafers.


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You can do a lot with $1. Buy a sandwich at a fast food joint, pay for parking, or even better invest in yourself. Gamal Acree, founder of K O T F W and Start Now Society, has written a self-help book to help you turn your passion into wealth by investing in yourself and your ideas.

"Do you love what you are doing with your life, your time, and your energy? If you are not satisfied with where you are in life and what you're doing with your life, then change it."

Enter to win $50 to Amazon by purchasing Gamal Acree's book, Turning Your Passion Into Wealth, for .99 cents. Once you read it, Gamal would love for you to leave a review. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Blog Break

Hello, wonderful blog friends!

I've been blogging on Sincerely, Sara for almost four years and haven't taken much of a break. A day here, two days there, but not a real break. I did take a week off in May (with amazing bloggers to guest post), but it's been a busy summer, so I feel like I need a small break. 

I'm taking this week off (without guest posts) to recharge. I'll be back on August 31st. 

But don't worry, I won't be entirely missing from social media: 

You can follow me on Instagram and Twitter!

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Review: Teabox

**I received a box of Teabox for free. All opinions are my own.** 

Remember when I reviewed Tea Box Express? Well, I wanted to test out another tea subscription and just as I was thinking about it Teabox reached out to me. So, how are these two different and what is Teabox all about?

Tea Box Express is a cute subscription box that has both tea and goodies (like cookies, snacks, and small home accessories), whereas Teabox is a personalized tea subscription service that sends tea to you based on your preferences. It's a tea program that's for people who really, really love tea.  

If you are a classic tea lover who doesn't want all the bells and whistles, this is the box for you. Just tea all the time! My box came with three teas (Teabox Special Spring Darjeeling White, Runglee Rungliot Classic Spring Darjeeling Black, and Selim Hill Classic Spring Darjeeling Green) and a Teabox Ideal Teaspoon. All of the teas I received were light, flavorful, and delicious. 

Like a tea you get? You can buy all of them on their website! 

Teabox | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

What's your favorite tea?

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Inspired By: Best Selling Books

I've been adding books to my to-read list on Goodreads far too much this summer. Can't books stop coming out so that I can catch up on the ones that have already been released? All of the books in this post are on my reading list, except for Station Eleven because I've already devoured it. 

Never Always Sometimes

{Click for item info}

Written by Adi Alsaid, this novel is about best friends Dave and Julia who were determined to never be cliché high school kids, so much so that they wrote their own Never List of everything they vowed they’d never, ever do in high school. They discover that by skipping the clichés, they’ve actually been missing out on high school, so Julia suggests they do every Never on the list. 

The perfect high school attire: casual and cute! Put on a striped dress, a simple watch, and orange lace flats. Or leopard print sunglasses, a blue tee, distressed jeans, and blue printed sneakers. 

Add to your Goodreads

The Marriage of Opposites

Written by Alice Hoffman, The Marriage of Opposites is a forbidden love story based on a true story about the extraordinary woman who gave birth to painter Camille Pissarro; the Father of Impressionism. Rachael dreams of life in Paris, but is married off to a widower. When her husband dies suddenly and his handsome, much younger nephew, Fréderick, arrives from France to settle the estate, Rachel begins a passionate love affair that sparks a scandal. 

Because Rachel dreams of traveling, throw on a top with license plates, green lace shorts, nude pointed flats, and a feather cuff. Or to look more like the ethereal cover, put on a white flowy dress, a beige beanie, a feather necklace, and nude wedges. 

Add to your Goodreads

Reawakened

Written by Colleen Houck, seventeen-year-old Lilliana Young enters the Metropolitan Museum of Art one morning during spring break, the last thing she expects to find is a live Egyptian prince with godlike powers, who has been reawakened after a thousand years of mummification. And she really can't imagine being chosen to aid him in an epic quest that will lead them across the globe.

How gorgeous is this cover?! Go for a dark and Egyptian-inspired look by wearing an off-the-shoulder printed dress, blue necklace, green druzy ring, and eye-print flats. Or put on black sunglasses, blue printed camisole, jeans, dainty rings, and nude shooties. 

Add to your Goodreads

Station Eleven

Written by Emily St. John Mandel, Station Eleven is set in the eerie days of civilization's collapse. Kirsten is an actress with the Traveling Symphony. Together, this small troupe moves between the settlements of an altered world, performing Shakespeare and music for scattered communities of survivors. But the group encounters a violent prophet who digs graves for anyone who dares to leave.

It's tough when the world has ended (no Internet, no running water, no AC), but that doesn't mean you can't be stylish. Wear tough but comfortable clothing: a chambray shirt, flare jeans, a world map watch, and ankle boots. Or a navy scalloped-edge top, distressed jean shorts, a pale kimono, printed sneakers, and a necklace with a Shakespeare quote. 

This is the Novel Tea Book Club pick for September and it's so good!

Add to your Goodreads

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Say hello to my new sponsor, Cogsworks! They make wooden bookmarks!

Cogworks makes stylish wooden bookmarks. Each bookmark is carefully made in New Hampshire at their woodworking shop. Choose your perfect bookmark from an extensive selection of designs and woods from around the world. 

Cogsworks | Twitter 

What book are you excited to read next?

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Bookworm Wishlist

Hey there, fellow bookworm friends! I love how books bring people together through the acts of sharing books, talking about books, taking pictures of books (and then sharing them on Instagram), and just generally loving books. Talking to other book nerds, even if they read different genres than me, is always a highlight of my day. I always discover new books to read and it's fascinating which book got someone into reading. Isn't it amazing how books have touched people's lives?

My book nerd wishlist:

♥ Library Print -- What a beautiful print!

♥ Love For Books Earrings -- #truth

♥ Books Are Magic Sweater -- I couldn't resist, so I bought this. 

♥ Fountain Pen Paper Weight -- The coolest paper weights I've ever seen. 

♥ Fashionista Bookworm Phone Case -- How I wish I looked while I read haha!

♥ Hand Stamped Spoon -- Perfect for any bookworm.

♥ Bookworm Phone Case -- So pretty. 

♥ Poe Paper Doll -- These paper dolls are so awesome!

♥ I'd Rather Be At Hogwarts Mug -- NEED THIS!

♥ Book Nerd Soy Candles -- Who doesn't need more candles?

What's on your book nerd wishlist?
What book got you interested in reading?

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Outfit: Snap. Click. Selfie! (with QTee)

I'm not a professional photographer, but I love photography. I could browse Instagram for hours, especially the #newyork_instagram tag and the #bookstagram tag. QTee asked if I wanted to review a shirt and when I saw this cute camera tee I couldn't resist. 

The best thing about QTee is that everything is customizable: you can change the color of the fabric and you can change the colors on the design or wording. Since I'm not a fan of white shirts (messy eater here!), I picked a dark gray tee and changed the colors to go from light purple to blue to teal. Customizing is free, so you can change anything on the site to be however you want! Genius, right?QTee has a ton (literally) of graphic tees, shoes, sweatpants, hats, totes, and more, and it's ALL customizable. 

Shop | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Cardigan: Target | Tee: ℅ QTee | Jeans: American Eagle | Flats: Aeropostale

Watch: ℅ Jord | Gold Bangle: Bauble Bar | Rebel Bangle: Ban.do

What's your favorite Instagram tag?

Would you try QTee?

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Life Lately {Summertime}

Whoa, can you believe summer is almost over?! These few months have gone by so fast. Has it been the same for you? I feel like I haven't even gotten a chance to fully enjoy summer yet! Although to be honest I am excited for fall. 

Good things about this summer: lots of relaxing, hanging out with my friends, getting tons of reading done, having fun at work events, going to a blogger preview for the Container Store, and getting a new car, despite the circumstances. 

Meh things about this summer: getting into a minor car accident, not going into NYC as often as I wanted, and sweating like a pig because my brother's car doesn't have air conditioning. 

What have you been up to this summer?

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Sponsor Spotlight: Simply Chic Jewelry

Have you ever come across a shop on Etsy and felt like the pieces were made for you? For me, one of those shops is Simply Chic Jewelry! I'm seriously in love with every piece of jewelry being sold in Rachael's shop. I've always liked simple, classic, minimalist but colorful jewelry, and Simply Chic Jewelry fits the bill.  

The best part is Rachael makes all of the jewelry by hand and is always coming up with cool, fresh ideas (like these gemstone rings and these thin stacked rings). Because it's all handcrafted she has no problem customizing the jewelry. I was able to get this beautiful druzy ring with a cobalt stone and silver wire instead of the gold it showed online. If you're a fan of elegant jewelry, I would recommend this shop.

Shop | Facebook | Instagram

What's your favorite jewelry style?

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Inspired By: The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

Based on the 1960s TV show, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (a show my dad used to watch when he was a kid!) takes place in the 1960s during the Cold War, a CIA agent Napolean Solo and KGB agent Illya Kuryakin are forced to work together on a mission to stop a mysterious international criminal organization and their only lead is the daughter of a vanished German scientist.

The movie comes out in the U.S. tomorrow. 

Napolean Solo

{Click here for item info}

Napolean (Henry Cavill) is a CIA agent who must work on a mission with a KGB agent, despite the fact that they're countries aren't getting along. As you can see Napolean dresses very sharply, so get inspiration from him and throw on a bright blue blazer, a white sleeveless blouse, dark wash jeans, and white pointed flats. For a feminine look, wear a blue dress with a black blazer and strappy black heels. 

Illya Kuryakin

Illya (Armie Hammer) is a KGB agent who teams up with an American agent on a joint mission. Look cool and dress up in a red dress, brown jacket, fringe crossbody bag, and strappy brown heels. Or put on a hooded brown jacket, navy top, gray jeans, red watch, and blue sneakers.

Gaby Teller

Gaby (Alicia Vikander) is the daughter of a German scientist who has disappeared and she's the key to infiltrating a criminal organization that the two spies want to stop. It's the summer of wearing white, so put on a white tank, distressed jeans, a baseball cap, and pale green flats. Or for a bit of color wear a white floppy hat, blue floral dress, feather cuff, and lilac heels.

Victoria Vinciguerra

Victoria (Elizabeth Debicki) is head of an international criminal organization that is bent on destabilizing the balance of power through nuclear weapons and technology. Classy but a bad ass, Victoria dresses in sleek clothes. Put on a white blouse under a black vest, black jeans, an ear cuff, and black pumps. Or wear a black V-neck dress, drop earrings, black eyeliner, and snakeprint wedges.

Will you be seeing this film?

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Four Podcasts To Listen To

We all know about Serial, but there are so many other fantastic podcasts out there in every genre you can imagine (crime, self-help, lifestyle, and more) that I feel like I haven't even scratched the surface of what's out there. Lately, I've been tired of listening to the radio and hearing the same three songs over and over, so I started listening to podcasts and it's made the short journey to work so much better. 

Mystery Show

On Mystery Show Starlee Kine solves eccentric and unique mini mysteries, such as if a video rent really existed or who previously owned a belt buckle or how tall Jake Gyllenhaal really is. Starlee solves these mysteries with one rule: The mystery can't be solved by going on the internet. She has to talk to people and use her "unorthodox methods."  This podcast is just too fun for words. 

Welcome to Night Vale

A small dessert town called Night Vale is not your ordinary town. Strange things happen there, strange people and things call it home, the interns always die, and no two days are ever the same. Welcome to Night Vale is community updates told by radio host Cecil. If you like the unusual (and if you liked the show Eureka) and the strangely supernatural, then this is the podcast for you. 

Breakfast for Dinner

Two cool people (Nicole and Dago) talk about culture, TV, fashion, politics, breakfast, sports and more on Breakfast for Dinner. These two crazy kids in Austin, TX are hilarious and just so fun to listen to and you automatically feel like you're friends with them. And it makes me happy that I got to meet Nicole back in January. 

Criminal

Criminal is a podcast about crime, but in every facet of it from people who've done wrong to people who've been wronged to people who help solve crimes, and much more. If you miss Serial, then give this podcast a listen. It's dark, creepy, but absolutely fascinating. 

Podcasts I want to start listening to: Happier with Gretchen Rubin, Invisibilia, Boss Girl Creative, Call Your Girlfriend, WTF, The Allusionist, and The Truth. (Thanks to Megan for some of these recommendations!)

What are your favorite podcasts?

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Outfit: Good Reads

As an avid reader, I love the website Goodreads! I think it's fun keeping track of the books I've read, the books I want to read, and seeing what books my friends are reading. But way before I joined Goodreads, I used to keep track of what I read in a hardcover pink journal that I think I still have somewhere. So when my friend, Avra, gave me this wonderful book lover's journal it reminded me of that pink one I used to use. 

What I love about this journal is that it's not only for keeping track of the books I read, but has unique sections, like my favorite places to read, a literary superlatives page, pages full of best book lists, and even a page for me to list the best and worst movie adaptations. I can't wait to fill these pages!

Also, how freaking cute is this mug?!

Top: Modcloth | Necklace: DIY | Jeans: American Eagle | Sandals: ℅ Yellowbox 

Ring: Brandy Melville | Journal: Barnes & Noble (gift) | Mug: Barnes & Noble

Do you use Goodreads?
(We should be friends if you do!)

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