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15 Types of Friends

types of friends
As I've gotten older (hey, 25 years of friendships counts for something) I've realized that a "friend" can mean a lot of things. I often became hurt because certain friends weren't living up to my expectations. I used to expect every "friend" to have every quality that I wanted and needed. They had to be trustworthy, fun, loyal, dependable, etc. etc..  But the truth is, not everyone is perfect. And not everyone is going to fit the perfect mold of a "friend". And that's ok. It's ok to have friends for different reasons. It's ok that the friend that you call when you need advice is not the same friend that you call when you want to try that new pizza place. There are different types of friends. We all know them. We all love them. Maybe we just love some more than others. 

The Childhood Friend - If you met her today you probably wouldn't form a relationship. You've grown in different directions since you were younger but you've never grown apart. You've been friends with her for years and that's important to you. 

The Online Friend - Ok so you've never actually met her in real life.. but you swear you would totally hang out if you did. She knows you better than some of your real-life friends do! 

The Big Mouth Friend - You love her but you also know her well enough to not trust her with a secret.

The Party Friend - The party don't start 'till she walks in! You may not call her your BFF but she sure is fun to be around.

The Silver Lining Friend - No matter what's happening in life, she always finds the positive aspects and points them out to you. She lifts you up. 

The Motherly Friend - We all love our mamas but they can't be with us all the time. Good thing you have this friend. 

The Needy Friend - You didn't answer her text within 30 minutes?!?! Gasp! Be prepared for some damage control.

The Slutty Friend - Oh you love her so much but there's no way in hell you'd leave her alone with your man.. especially drunk.

The Ride or Die Friend - Picking up and moving to a different country? Ruining your ex-boyfriend's new car? Whatever it is, she's down. 

The Jealous Friend - Oh you have other friends besides her? How dare you! 

The No-Judgement Friend - You can tell her anything. You can talk freely. You can totally be yourself. You can trust her. 

The Bitch Friend - She's brutally honest and you do NOT want to be on her shit-list. She's definitely the girl that you want with you if a cat fight ever breaks out. 

The Broke Friend - You love her to death but your wallet does not. 

The Dramatic Friend - Her drama can be pretty entertaining.. as long as it doesn't involve you. 

The Long Distance Friend - She moved away and you miss her dearly. You don't talk as often anymore but when you do, you pick up right where you left off. Which type of friend are you? I'm sure I missed a few! P.S. Hey FRIENDS, these may or may not be based on personal experiences. Don't be THAT friend and automatically assume this is about YOU! ;)

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Jessica is a writer, marketing & public relations specialist, and  the blogger behind Jessica Who?. At her home on the web you'll find a little sarcasm, a love of photography & fashion and most importantly, a new friend. She's a Texas girl her followed her heart to an island (a really awesome Hawaiian island).

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Best Beauty Splurges

Find out what the Best Beauty Splurges for 2013 are right now! Splurging on pricey beauty products isn't something I do often, even though I wish I could. But I do make sure I invest in beauty by splurging on items that will help me year round. This investment will not only help my skin, hair and nails look radiant now, but it just might make me look younger and healthier when I'm much much older. So without further adieu, here are the Best Beauty Splurges as chosen by the ladies of Stuff I Love Blog
Splurge #1: The very first item I chose is the Birchbox. I invested in the Birchbox last year and now I don't know what I would do without it simply because it has introduced me to so many amazing products that I may have never discovered without it. At just $10 a month, it is the cheapest and the best beauty box out there. It is delivered straight to your front door each month with new and exciting products for you to try. It has become a thing of excitement for me because I look forward to finding the little brown box in my mailbox. I think of it as a little pick-me-up and it's been well worth the money. Click here to sign up!


Splurge #2: The next beauty splurge is the Clarisonic. I received a Clarisonic as a pre-wedding gift from my mom last year and I adore it! The Clarisonic is able to remove dirt and grime that regular soap just can't get. After just one use, I noticed my skin felt softer and even looked healthier. Over time, my pores appeared smaller and my skin just looked more radiant, which is exactly what I wanted for my big day. This may sound like a plug, but do not be fooled by imitators. There are so many Clarisonic wannabes out there that you may think they do the same thing, but they don't. The bristles on their brushes aren't as soft and the brush heads do not move the same way. I know this may sound cliche, but there is a reason why everyone wants to copy the Clarisonic - it works! There's currently three different versions of the Clarisonic available and the prices range from $119 to $195. It may be a big investment up front, but it's well worth it. 
Tip: To make your brushes last longer than the recommend 3 months, clean them with antibacterial soap and warm water after each use and dry well by placing the brush head over a clean towel and turning the Clarisonic on. This helps remove all water from the brush head and keep it nice and clean. Click here to shop now!
  

Splurge #3: If someone would have told me two years ago that I would be addicted to face oils and serums, I wouldn't have believed them. If you're anything like me, you may have thought that oils for your face wet not a good idea, especially if you're prone to breakouts. But that's not really true. What a really good face oil does is actually give your skin the nutrients it needs to not only look better, but to actually be healthier. I know, shocking right? My only issue with face oils is I love them too much. I love them so much it literally hurts my wallet, but it is worth your money. I have tried all of the face oils you see below and I love them all equally, for different reasons because not all face oils are created equally. The beauty of face oils is in their ingredients. For instance, each face oil/serum may contain ingredients to target specific beauty issues like firm skin, dry skin, acne prone skin, aging skins, skin around your eyes, etc. I highly recommend you try any of the serums you see below and if you decide to shop around, here's a little word of advice: read the ingredients label. If the first or even second ingredient in the face oil/serum is water, then do not waste your money. A good face oil that's worth your hard earned dollars will not be watered down. Instead, it will be condensed with amazing, natural ingredients.
  

Splurge #4: The next splurge is a new discovery from our favorite source: Birchbox. Let us introduce you to Number 4. Sounds like something out of James Bond right? And rightfully so. The amazing Number 4 Hair Revival Kit works so well you may actually rediscover the beauty of your own hair. The kit includes Number 4 Clarifying shampoo, which uses botanical ingredients to strip away everything you don't want in your hair (like chlorine, mineral deposits, and product residue) and leaves behind everything you do want in your hair (like your new highlights). Your hair will finally be really clean and it will leave it looking and feeling soft and healthy. This amazing kit also includes a hair Masque and a Prep & Protect Spray, which have soy proteins in them to help restore your hair from the inside out. The Protect & Spray can be used after each shampoo (just spray it in and comb through), but to save product, you may want to only do the hair mask once a week. Last but not least is the Repair Oil, which actually helps protect your hair from harmful UV rays and actually reduces drying time. Just put a dab on your hands and circulate throughout your hair, brush, and then style as usual. The Number 4 Hair Revival Kit is $58 and is sold exclusively through Birchbox. It may be pricier than your normal shampoo and conditioning products, but this splurge is worth it. Your hair will thank you. Click here to buy!

Splurge #5: Our last, but certainly not least beauty splurge is Deborah Lippmann nail lacquer. The reason we chose Deborah Lippmann as the best of the best is because it just is. If you're a lover of nail polish and have given yourself a lot of manicures over the years, then you know that not all polishes are created equal. Some are too runny. Some are too thin. Some are clumpy. Some peel right off, while others seem to take hours to dry. The bottom line is, you can't go wrong with Deborah Lippmann nail lacquer. The polish goes on smooth, dries quick, doesn't chip easily, comes in a multitude of amazing colors and won't break the bank. Each polish sells for about $16, making it one of the cheapest beauty splurges! Click here to buy.

Trisha and Jessica are cousins, South Florida natives and the blogging duo behind Stuff I Love Blog. These ladies strive to help consumers cut out the clutter in their lives by introducing them to amazing products that have been tried and tested. Need to know if that new brand you're considering buying is worth your money? Better check with these gals first!

Our (and America's) Newest Crush



Regardless of last night's randomness, there is one thing that is for sure. This lovely lady solidified her spot in our hearts forever. 

And, then all over again when she gave this interview afterwards. 

Congrats Jennifer!

10 Trends to Look for in 2013

According to Lucky Magazine's article, "10 Trends We Can't Wait to Wear in 2013", these will be 2013's hottest trends. 

Here's what I think..

stripes trend 2013
1. Bold Stripes. The black and white version is a little too jailbird-ish to me, but vertical stripes can be slimming-- and I'm all for that.

ruffles trend 2013
2. Romantic Ruffles. Lucky referred to this trend as "feline, flirty, and frilly". I personally refer to ruffles as annoying.

blazers trend 2013
3. The New Le Smoking. Clearly I'm not a fashion expert because I had no idea what the hell "le smoking" referred to. For those of you who don't know, here you go. Anyway, hasn't this been trendy for a while now? I love blazers! 

flats trend 2013
4. Fancy Flats. Oh I am SO excited about this one! I think I've been rocking this one since 2008-ish even if it wasn't stylish. Stilettos may be sexier but flats definitely win when it comes to comfort.

drop waist dress trend 2013
5. The Drop-Waist Dress. I'm a bit pissed off about this one. It's meant for incredibly tiny stick-figure-ish people unless you wear a baggy version... which looks like a potato sack.

sunglasses trend 2013
6. Crazy Shades. I've already seen some of this out and about.. and I just can't take it seriously. Someone tell me.. Is this a joke?

chokers trend 2013
7. Chokers. I'm pretty excited about this one. I rocked chokers in the '90's and now that I've got a bit more style sense under my belt, I'm excited to do it again!

color leather trend 2013
8. Bright Leather. This one can get a bit tricky in my opinion. And expensive. If real leather isn't used, it's likely that you'll end up looking like you're dressed in a cheap costume. Fashionistas, beware.

budoir trend 2013
9. Boudoir Beautiful. Think 50 Shades of Grey.. on the runway. This sexy look has been around for forever and you may see it around even more in 2013.

bermudas trend 2013
10. Baggy Bermudas. Whether you like the look of these boyish shorts or not, you have to admit that they sure do look comfy. Think boyfriend jeans.. but shorts.

So what do you think? Which of these trends will you try next year? 

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Jessica is a writer, marketing & public relations specialist, and  the blogger behind Jessica Who?. At her home on the web you'll find a little sarcasm, a love of photography & fashion and most importantly, a new friend. She's a Texas girl her followed her heart to an island (a really awesome Hawaiian island). 

Take Off Your Emotional Clothes + Sing!

Artwork via Pinterest via Andrew Murphy

Today I want to discuss something that I think is important: what makes you feel aliveA while back I blogged about Osho and his book, Courage: The Joy of Living Dangerously. I think about the message from that book all of the time. Being fully present, being okay with uncertainty, and disturbing people to make them think. Yes! I feel that so much. That all rocked me and kicked me in the shins like, "wake up!" Live the life that you want, for the love of god, or whoever. I think we get caught up in thinking about the results, how quickly the things we want are going to happen, how trying something new needs to be part of a plan, how it's all going to look for others.

I read this quote by a famous acting teacher back when I was in school: Take off your emotional clothes & sing. I love that! It's like, "just do it!" Forget about everything else. Strip away what's holding you back and belt out a Flo Rida song in the front seat with the windows down (I am obsessed with Flo, for real). Or shimmy around in a sexy belly dancing outfit (kind of what I do every Tuesday). It is so liberating to express how you feel in the moment, and I think it's as simple as, begin. It's too overwhelming to think I need to have this all figured out and squared away right from the beginning. Ask yourself, what makes me feel alive? For me, it was going full-force into my blog, and figuring out how I can help people. I've always known that writing, teaching, and leading was going to be what my life was all about, but I wasn't sure what that looked like. I certainly had an idea, which is why I started making YouTube videos, offering leadership consulting--or creative guiding as I like to call it, because it jives more with how I roll-- and, why I want to teach writing classes and publish my work as well.

So, what makes your heart sing? How can you take the first step towards that?

Why don't you:
  • Think about that class or hobby you always wanted to do or start. Let that swirl around in your head. Then ask someone to help you start it. Or set aside time to do some research. Then begin.
  • If a thought occurs to you, like maybe, "hey, this song is awesome, I should dance to it" then just get up and start dancing, wherever you are. Maybe you record it because you look really hot. Maybe you don't. Regardless you'll feel really good afterward. 
  • If someone is doing what you want to be doing, hit them up and ask them how they're doing it. Ask them to help you begin. Then begin.

Fel is a writer & teacher and the blogger behind Fel's Got Swag. She's a creative soul with a passion for life and helping others find their inspiration. Her blog features interviews, creative questions, videos and ideas that will make you not only think, but get up and take action toward living the life you want. 

15 Ways to Stay Married for 15 Years




I've been married for a long time and my marriage is nearly perfect so...

KIDDING.

Jared and I have been married for a little over 2 years and our marriage is far from perfect. That's why these next tips are not coming from me. Lydia Netzer posted this list in April. I somehow stumbled upon it and I've gone back to it several times since then. I love it. Not because I agree with all of it (because I don't), but because it's real, it's funny, it's unexpected. I mean how many people tell you to go to bed mad? Anyway, I've listed each tip below and included my thoughts on each- but head over to Lydia's blog for detailed descriptions and reasoning behind each tip. If you don't learn something, you'll at least laugh.

1. Go to bed mad. I don't necessarily agree with this but I do think it's needed sometimes. When there's an argument you don't have to fix it at that exact moment. I struggle with that. I constantly feel the need to fix things and can't stand any tension. Sometimes it's just best to leave things alone until things calm down and everyone has time to think.

2. Laugh if you can. Always laugh. What's the point of anything if you're not having fun? Even in the toughest situations, laughter can make things not seem as bad. On one of our first dates, I broke the cooler at the beach so we lost our food for a picnic. Then, it started pouring rain on us. I could have cried. He could have yelled at me. But we laughed. It was one of the best dates we've ever had.

3. Don't criticize. Ever. Well obviously this is a hard one. Most of us don't think before we speak (especially around people that we love and are comfortable around) and end up blurting out when something is bothering us. While I do think that you should be open about something bothering you, I think that words need to be chosen carefully.

4. Be the mirror. Lydia wrote "Be a mirror that reflects something positive..". He values your opinion. He'll believe what you say. If you're constantly nagging and telling him there's something wrong with him, he's going to believe it. Tell him he's sexy. Tell him he's strong. Tell him he makes you happy. When he sees you, he'll start to see those positive things too.

5. Be proud and brag. This is easy for me because I am in fact proud of my husband. Besides the major accomplishments in his life, I'm proud of the little things that he does too. And I like to brag. Like I did here. I'll often post a facebook status or send a text to his parents bragging about something that he did that made me so proud. It used to bother him.. I think he wasn't used to the attention. But now, I can see how much he appreciates it.

6. Do your own thing. You're into blogging and he's into hunting. That's fine. It's ok to have different hobbies and it's ok if your spouse doesn't love something that you love. I love how Lydia said that her husband would say she is the "best writer since the dawn of time" because Jared would probably say the same thing about me, even though I guarantee he rarely reads anything that I write. But the point is that he supports me and the things that I love.. even if he doesn't love the same things. Anyway, how fun would your relationship be if you two like all of the exact same things?

7. Have kids. I would revise this one to "have kids or own a dog" or something like that... The original post listed this because kids tame you and don't let you get as crazy as you may without them. I think our dog did that though... and maybe older age too :)

8. Get really good at sex. I mean you're going to be having sex with the same person for the rest of your life. You might as well perfect the art, right?

9. Move. I agree with this. Keep things interesting. Even if you can't move homes, travel. See your spouse in a different light, in different cities, in a different setting. You might see him in ways you hadn't before.

10. Stop thinking temporarily. I'm getting better at this. I admit that at the beginning of our marriage I was worried at the slightest disagreement. We would disagree about something minor and I would think "oh crap.. what if this impacts our marriage? what if he leaves me because of this?". Stop. Don't think like that. Marriage is forever. Through the good and the (really really) bad, it will be easier knowing that your marriage will stay together, no matter what.

11. Do not put yourself in trouble's way. Delete your exes from your life. That guy at work who flirts with you? Stay away. That slutty single girlfriend that you have? Maybe getting trashed with her at a bar isn't a good idea. I'm not saying that all of these things are required for a healthy marriage. I am saying that if you smell trouble, stay away. Why make things harder than they could be?

12. Make a husband pact with your friends. He's going to piss you off and there are going to be days when you say things about him that you don't mean. You need at least one friend that understand that. She'll listen and agree when you bitch about him and then once you make up, she'll act like it never happened.

13. Bitch to his mother, not yours. I don't quite understand this one yet. Maybe I'm just not at that level with my mother in-law yet. I don't feel comfortable bitching to anyone about my husband really, not even my own mom.. I don't ever want him to be seen in a negative light.

14. Be loyal. You're a team. It's you two against the world. Make your partner feel that way. One of the most comforting things in the world to me is knowing that no matter what kind of craziness life brings, Jared will be by my side.

15. Trust the person you married. "If it all goes to seed, it's going to hurt either way. Better to have gone into it full throttle. Full throttle marriage is a thrilling ride." She's right. Sometimes it is harder to be loved than to love. Remember that he made a commitment too. He said those same vows. You expect him to trust you so it's only fair for you to trust him. How can you expect to love with your whole heart if you still have it guarded? Trust him.

Like I said, I'm not an expert on marriage. And I do think that all marriages are different which means that different things will work for different marriages. Here are some things that I would add to this list.

Do at least one thing together everyday. Jared and I eat dinner with each other and go to bed together every single night unless there's some weird circumstance. It might seem silly or small but it really makes a difference. It's at least one thing that I can count on happening everyday. It's when we can fill each other in on our day. These are my favorite times of the day.

Don't expect your spouse to read your mind. I am still learning to do this. Remember when I told you about our first Valentine's Day together? That's a perfect example. Instead of being direct with Jared about my Valentine's Day expectations, I told him I didn't want to celebrate it. So we did just that-- didn't celebrate Valentine's Day... and I was upset. It sounds pretty ridiculous now that I'm talking about it. How could I be mad at him for doing exactly what I said I wanted? What a girl-like thing for me to do, huh? He can't read your mind just like you can't read his. Be direct. You'll be surprised at how many times his response will be "ok, no problem. why didn't you just tell me?". Simple as that.

Find each other's strengths and weaknesses. And then, work with it! This goes back to what I said earlier about being a team. Birds freak me the eff out. And bugs TERRIFY me. It may sound crazy to other people but Jared knows how much it freaks me out. Anytime a bird or bug is near me, he comes to my rescue. Jared is introverted. He hates forced conversation and will often not be the first one to speak in a group setting. Because of this, I always try to take the initiative when we're around people that he's not comfortable with yet. These are just examples of how we've learned to work together- as a team.

Let's also note that although this list is called "15 Ways to Stay Married for 15 Years", I'm planning on our marriage lasting a lot longer than that ;)

What would you add to this list?


Jessica is a writer, marketing & public relations specialist, and  the blogger behind Jessica Who?. At her home on the web you'll find a little sarcasm, a love of photography & fashion and most importantly, a new friend. She's a Texas girl her followed her heart to an island (a really awesome Hawaiian island). 

Happy (early) Valentine's Day!



We love a good reason to celebrate. And, we're terrible at keeping secrets (see evidence here). Our Valentine's day gift to you... 3 days early! 

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February Style Crush: Sandy a la mode




We're beside ourselves with excitement this morning as we announce our February Style Crush. Our fondness for this fine lady has been kept no secret, so we're thrilled to honor her with the title of Style Crush. Sandy of Sandy a la mode has delighted us with so many great looks. Let's take a look back at her great style.

PS - if you pop over to her sweet little blog tomorrow, you could find something really exciting...