What to Wear for Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day...you either love it or you love to hate it.  It'll be here before you know it, regardless of what your plans are or your relationship status is.  I put together a few favorite outfit ideas for different things you may have going on for February 14th...a surprise date, casual evening ordering in, girls night out, or Galentine's get together.

1.  Surprise date night.  He made the reservations and just informed you a few hours before.  Instead of frantically searching the closed, just know that you can't go wrong with a ruffled LBD, velvet bootie, and red lip.

2.  Girls night out.  Flirty floral with badass leather is one of my favorite combinations for wherever the night may take you!

3.  Night in.  Fancy dinner reservations?  No, thanks...Cozy up in a cute sweater and comfortable denim for watching chick flicks with your SO or ordering pizza with your best girls.

4.  Galentine's get together.  This casual outfit could be worn for weekend brunch, bowling, hitting up the dive bars, seeing your favorite band, or out for Mexican food with the girls.

♥ always
Allison

Resolutions and Goals for 2018

Happy 2018, everyone!  A new year, a fresh start, right?  Up until a few days into 2018, I had no set resolutions or goals for this year.  I had a few ideas that had crossed my mind, but nothing that I was really setting out to achieve.  After the go-go-go of the holidays, hosting a New Year's Eve party, and so on, I took a little time to decompress and jot down goals for 2018.

My first, I was going to attempt dairy free 3 days a week.  After 11 days into the new year, I'm pretty sure this is my first day without dairy so far (until I just remembered that I added a splash of milk in my eggs this morning, so I'm back at the beginning).  So, I'm going to aim for dairy free 1x a week until the end of the month, then possibly bump it up to 2 in February...January can sorta be a trial month, right?

In the past, I have considered the whole Dry January thing but never ended up partaking.  It's supposed to be good for your health, weight, cleansing, give you more energy, and all these other benefits that I don't know without Googling (also since I've hit my 30's, I can get some absolutely TERRIBLE think I'm legit going to die hangovers and thought it might be nice to have a month without losing those battles) I decided to attempt this month, but the weekends are a little difficult for me.  I had a few drinks last Saturday so I cheated the whole dry MONTH, but figure significantly cutting back and a few drinks one night a week can't really harm anything.

Also, since we're talking about liquids, a resolution is to DRINK MORE WATER.

For Christmas, I received a Cricut machine so made a set goal of how much I would like to sell per month through crafting.

Another goal is to COOK a meal a week.  Like actually find a Pinterest recipe, go to the store, get the ingredients, and make dinner rather than grabbing a Boca Burger out of the freezer, tossing that in the microwave, adding it to greens and calling it a night.  On Monday, I made some Creamy Tortellini Soup and it was SO GOOD.  Here's the recipe I based the soup off of:  Creamy Tortellini Soup

While we're on the topic of food, another goal is fewer carbs, fried food, and reduce sugar intake.  Sugar is a big pitfall for me...I love sweets but find that when I reduce eating them, the craving goes away.  Focusing on upping fruits and lowering cookies.

I always say I would like to read more so I'm aiming for 1 book a month.  :)

And lastly, but probably most importantly:  Be more present.  Put technology down for a bit.  Spend time with my boyfriend, watching a show or movie, and not look at my phone every few minutes.  Learn to take a break from social media.  Stop getting caught in the black hole that is Instagram and Facebook, scrolling mindlessly for who knows how long through things that don't even really matter...and by doing this, I hope to find the time to accomplish all the things that do matter.

Here's to 2018!  What are your goals and resolutions for this year?

♥ always
Allison

37 Simple Ways to Spread Kindness

It's officially December 1st which means the holiday season is in full swing.  While it's a magical, happy, wonderful time of year for many, the holidays can also be hard, bittersweet, and even sad for others, and some may even experience feelings from both sides.  I do feel during the holiday season, people are kinder to others and act happier in general, but it never hurts to spread a little extra kindness whether it's to strangers on the streets or being kind to yourself.  A little something can go a long way and you never know who's day you will brighten by a small deed.  After all, kind is cool, right!?

1.  Compliment yourself.  Our biggest critics are ourselves and we can be negative about us on the daily.  Find something you truly love about you and own it.  Spreading kindness onto others begins with the kindness within.
2.  Hold the door for someone.
3.  Call your parents just because (or grandparents or siblings or anyone else that you love).
4.  Pay it forward (pay for the person behind you in the drive-thru, whether it's their whole order or just a coffee, burger, partial payment.  Anything unexpected will brighten someone's day).
5.  Compliment a stranger
6.  Donate an item(s) that you don't use
7.  Support a local business
8.  Pick up a piece of littered trash from anywhere
9.  Leave an anonymous happy note or inspirational quote for someone to find
10.  Bake cookies to share at work
11.  Rake leaves or shovel snow for a neighbor
12.  Buy a bouquet of flowers for someone (a friend, significant other, sibling, parent, cousin, aunt, even yourself...It's a-okay to brighten your own day).
13.  Donate $5 to your favorite charity
14.  Let someone go ahead of you at checkout
15.  Help a friend in need
16.  Volunteer for an hour at a local organization
17.  Plant a tree or buy a cute new house plant
18.  Unplug devices when not in use
19.  Organize a family meal and appreciate being together
20.  Disconnect from your phone and computer for an hour (or longer)
21.  Stop and look around while you're outside to actually appreciate nature
22.  Donate school supplies to children in underprivileged homes
23.  Offer to read or play games with someone elderly or at a nursing home
24. Apologize for something you've done, whether its something big or small
25. Treat a friend to dinner
26. Ask a loved one about their day
27. Turn off the faucet while brushing teeth, scrubbing dishes, shaving, or take a shorter shower
28. Make one change for yourself that will make you a better person
29. Take food to a neighbor
30.  Bring a hostess a little gift as a thank you for opening their homes and getting everyone together.
31. Recycle any items possible
32.  Help someone older with the internet or learn Facebook.  (After all, my mom has been on the book for years and still has a million questions about it ;) )
33.  Leave a small gift for your mailman/woman.  A box of chocolates, hot cocoa mix with a holiday mug, a gift card
34.  Make homemade gifts to share this season
35.  Invite the girls over for a night of sugar cookie decorating or gingerbread house building
36.  Give blankets, coats, scarves, gloves, socks, mittens to those in need
37.  Continue doing good deeds and spreading kindness through 2018

What acts of kindness will you be practicing this holiday season?

♥ always
Allison

8 Things to do for Valentine's Day

Don't get me wrong, I love love, but Valentine's Day has never been especially special to me.  If you love someone, you love them 365 days a year not just that one day, February 14th to be exact, that Hallmark threw out there for everyone to be all lovey dovey gushy about their significant other.  I guess there's some religious history to it, but we have a tendency to forget that part.  Cutesy hearts, love notes, and the day after Valentine's Day when all the candy goes on sale are all great things.  I've just never felt it to be necessary to get all dressed up, go out to an over priced restaurant and pay an arm and a leg for a dozen roses on a specific day.  Well, also partly because I don't even like roses, but if fancy dinners and roses are your thing, that's awesome.  Ignore the rest of this post.  If you're more anti-Valentine's Day like me, here are 8 things to do for Valentine's Day that aren't the average "Valentine's Day" dates.  Whether you're with a significant other, single, or celebrating with Galenine's, there's an option for everyone

1.  Go to a museum
2.  Buy wines.  Buy cheeses.  Make the ultimate cheese board and have a date night in.
3.  Binge watch classic love movies - Casablanca, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Gone with the Wind
4.  Get creative in the kitchen.  That saved recipe you've been dying to try?  Create it.  If it fails, pizza delivery is only a phone call away.
5.  Single(s)?  Treat yourselves to manicures and pedicures.
6.  Map out your next travel adventure.
7.  Go the old school game night route with board and card games.
8.  Fuel your artistic side with a craft or coloring night.

This year, I'm planning on going with option #2.  I'm curious, what are your Valentine's plans?

always allison

A new direction.
Back in 2013 (which OMG, I didn't realize it was that long ago) when I started my blog, Sparkles and Flamingos, I wanted to do "fashion".  As the time passed, I realized that there is SO much more to my life than fashion.  There's family, relationships, traveling, thrifting, foods, fitness, work, crafting, living LIFE for crying out loud.  Yes, I may still be fashionable (I don't know, maybe not), but I don't have to be obsessed.  After a while, "Sparkles and Flamingos" didn't feel like me anymore.  The name reminds me more of "Palm Springs socialite drenched in diamonds sipping bubbly on the reg" rather than "Midwestern gal styling a thrifted $2 blouse enjoying a vodka water on the weekend".  I stressed because when a title doesn't fit a "theme" and lifestyle, it just doesn't work.  "Rules" and "ways" of blogging got the best of me and I felt like I was doing it all wrong.  In the end, it seemed pointless and like more of a "chore" to blog than something fun that I enjoyed.  Being overly critical on myself, I figured if I wasn't satisfied with how the blog was, who would read it anyways?  It's funny how the internet can get into your head like that ;)

Well, acquaintances would randomly ask me if I was still doing the blog thing.  After a reluctant "yeahhh" with a shoulder shrug type thing, I was floored by the fact that people actually did take the time to look at it.  This would lead me to open up a Sparkles and Flamingos window while the insecurities mentioned in the first paragraph built up enough to leave me staring at this scary blank page.  What should I post about this time?  What type of post would people care about?  Is this dumb?  Am I wasting my time?  I would leave my blog tab open for days at a time hoping it would inspire me to "get around to it" only to be defeated by the computer shutting down and bye-bye blog tab.  ::Phew, off the hook::...kidding...sorta.

Fast forward (reallyyy fast because time seems to FLY by) to the now and let me introduce you to "Always Allison".  Here you'll find me being me, like always.  "Who is Allison?" you might ask.  Well, let me introduce myself.  Hi!  I'm Allison, 30 years old, born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri.  My dog-hter is a rescue monster-like little dog.  I'm a part owner of my family's business, Style Your Space, and recently became a Fair Trade Partner selling handcrafted jewelry with Threads Worldwide.  I'm at the gym 5 times a week, practice yoga, and don't eat much meat (I've actually attempted practicing a pescetarian diet since January 3rd).  Thrift shopping is a favorite hobby, shiny shoes are a weakness, and my brain typically has a million tabs open.  I love tacos, a good vodka drink, and supporting local.

This is where the transition from Sparkles and Flamingos to Always Allison comes in.  Don't get me wrong, I'm still a HUGE flamingo enthusiast and have a deep love for all things sparkly.  But my "fashion" related blog isn't just fashion anymore...it's...waittt for it...this really cool thing called LIFESTYLE.  Change is good.  What I hope to share with you include thrifting hauls, styling ideas, fair trade companies, shopping local, recipes, stories, travel adventures, things that were really good, situations that may have not gone my way, feelings, inspiration, music, anything, and overall a little bit of me.

Even if no one is reads this, this is why I'm blogging.  To express creativity.  To share these things with you.  To document these times.  To inspire.  And more.  And maybe if you don't relate to me, my posts, my writing or expression, maybe someone somewhere out there does, and that's a pretty cool and amazing thing.

So anyways, I hope you're not too torn up about the name change and that you'll follow along on this new direction.

♥ always
Allison