HAIR TRANSITION: Summer to Fall

So, i'm back and officially a MRS! Ah, that is definitely going to take some time to get used to saying. While we are on the topic of change, notice anything different? I finally did it! After 10 years of growing my hair out - I donated 10 inches and went for the chop the day after the wedding! I'm so happy that I was able to transition into Fall (and this new part of my life) with such a great new look to kick off my honeymoon. 

My honeymoon all of Europe was an adventure to say the least! From Spain to France, Italy, and then Greece - my hair was on a rollercoaster and i'm pretty sure it hated me. You know as well as I do, that you have to keep your go-to items on hand since the hotel products are so unpredictable! I always used my own face moisturizer, body wash, and of course hair care! I kept the CLEAR SCALP & HAIR product line on hand. It was seriously my savior. When you are visiting as many countries as we did, with the water and air changing so often it's crucial for hair health to use products with hydrating. CLEAR really focuses on the scalp, for strong beautiful hair. For years, I had been told that the ends of your hair are the most important, so this philosophy shifts the paradigm of how women see their hair care. After trying the line, I have to say that I am a fan!

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Guilty Pleasures

DRESS: F21 - SIMILAR HERE - $40   //   BELT: FIORE - SIMILAR HERE - $58   //   HEELS: LC BY LAUREN CONRAD FOR KOHLS - SIMILAR HERE  - $175   //   NECKLACE & EARRINGS: ROCKSBOX (Enter promo code simplysabrinaxoxo at checkout for your first month free!)

My guilty pleasures: 1) Millionaire Matchmaker, 2) Cookie Dough Ice Cream, 3) Online Shopping. Let's be real, one of these is a much bigger issue than the others. I've been shopping online since high school and it's become a bit of a routine for me. First, check the new arrival sections of my favorite online boutiques. Second, add everything to my cart. Third, remove almost everything I just put in because my order total similar to a month's mortgage. Fourth, spend 40 minutes checking online for coupons. Fifth, and finally - order just enough to get free shipping and call it a night. 

I was so stoked when I found out that Groupon was now offering coupons! A one stop shop for all of my fashion, beauty, and top store coupons in one place will streamline my online shopping process will be amazing. Instead of going to RetailMeNot, Dealigg, DealCatcher, and then any sites on the front page of Google, everything you need is in an easy to navigate website that you know and love. Groupon Coupons features top brands like Sephora, Forever 21, Macys, J.Crew, and so many others. Check it out, I know you will love it!

Linking up with Style To Inspire // How I Fall // MIMM  // Let It Shine //  Mix It Mondays // Manic Monday // Visible Monday

This post was sponsored by Groupon. Thank you for backing the brands that support Simply Sabrina!

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PLANNING FOR YOUR FIRST HOME: My Dream Closet Sneak Peek!

A Sneak-Peek of my current closet // full post coming soon!

It's such an exciting time to be twenty-five. Now only is it time to settle down and get married to the man of my dreams, but it's also time to buy our first house! A little home, just for us! Buying a home is one of the most challenging things for a young adult to do so I wanted to share some of the tips that I've learned along the way.

Hammer Out The Basics
The first thing that you need to do is have The Talk. Yes, it's the one your thinking of. The "where is this going" talk. Are we looking into a house or a condo? Is this our 3 year, 5 year, or 10 year home? How many bedrooms/bathrooms do we need? And most importantly, where do we want to live? Location, location, location. These are all basics that you should talk out before you even think about the fun stuff like granite countertops or hardwood floors.

Make A List, Then Remake It.
You watch HGTV - House Hunters, Property Brothers, the whole shebang. But when it comes to owning your own home you [and your partner] need to decide on what your non-negotiable and would-be-nice items are. For us, we had the obvious: open floor plan, upgraded kitchen, large master suite. However, the things that were uniquely important to us were things like: being close to a major interstate, having a large driveway, and having a unique entertaining space. Things like a "man-cave" and "cloffice" were on our would-be-nice list.

Start Early, Get Preapproved, Ask for Help
Home ownership is a challenge, so take help where you can get it. Your parents, friends, or co-workers may be able to recommend a good real estate agent to assist with your search. Additionally, you will need to get preapproved from a lender. Of course, this means how much can you afford? Million dollar question. Capital One has some great resources to help you figure out the answer to that particular question and many more on their new Home Loans Online Neighborhood.

This post was sponsored by Capital One and I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls. As always, the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

LAYERING BANGLES WITH ALEX & ANI

BANGLES: c/o ALEX & ANI in Quill Feather Wrap, Snake Coil Wrap, & Love Wrap   //   TANK: H&M - SIMILAR HERE - $18   //   BLACK JEANS: ZARA - SIMILAR HERE - $40   //   SEQUIN CROP JACKET: H&M - SAME HERE - $30   //   CROSSBODY PURSE: c/o VERA BRADLEY - SAME HERE - $128

I'll never forget my first Alex & Ani bracelets. It was my 19th birthday and I went to visit my sister in Boston. She introduced me to this amazing little jewelry boutique on Newbury Street, Alex & Ani. We walked into this cute little shop with beautiful symbols all over the walls and eloquently written explanations about what they stood for. My sister told me to pick out one of their signature bracelets for my birthday. I spent over an hour in the store and ultimately ended up choosing two because I sincerely couldn't pick my favorite. Thanks sis!

Fast forward a number of years, and here we are. I was so excited to collaborate with Alex and Ani and introduce a new group of ladies to this incredible brand. Alex and Ani creates eco-conscious jewelry that is manufactured in America with sustainable materials. The brand promotes mindfulness as each symbol is a representation of a greater concept. I chose the Quill Feather Wrap, Snake Coil Wrap, & Love Wrap because I felt like they represented essential moments in my life this year. Love was an easy pick because of my upcoming nuptials this year. The snake coil embraces change, as this year is monumental for me with our new home, and of course, my new husband. Lastly, I chose the quill feather which represents a pure heart, which the ancient Egyptians believed weighed as "light as a feather"

These are my favorite bracelets to stack for a delicate gold look! Which symbols would you pick?

The items in the post were provided by the EEAN network + Alex & Ani. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that help keep Simply Sabrina's doors open.

This post is linked up to: Spotlight //  Thoughts For Thursday // Look What I Got // What I Wore To Work // Treat Yourself // WIWT

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LEOPARD + NAVY

TOP: H&M - SIMILAR HERE - $15   //   LEOPARD SCARF: GIFTED - SIMILAR HERE - $19   //   PAIGE DENIM JEANS: c/o ZAPPOS.COM - SAME HERE - $169    //   BOOTIES: c/o ZAPPOS.COM - MORE STYLES HERE   //  BRACELET: J.CREW - SIMILAR HERE - $88   //   CUFF: GIFTED - SIMILAR STYLES HERE    //  TORY BURCH BAG: c/o SHOPBOP - SAME HERE - $575, MORE CAMEL TOTES HERE

Hope you all had a fabulous weekend. If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I was in Miami this weekend attending one of my childhood best friend's wedding! It was the most incredible wedding, full of love and laughter and not to mention - gorgeous. I felt like I spent the entire weekend inside of a Pinterest board! Now, it's back to the grind for me with lots of new posts and partnerships coming your way!

This post is linked up to:  Style Elixir  // Trend Spin // Walking In Memphis In High Heels // Tremendous Tuesday  // Celebrate Southern  // Confident Twosday  //  All about You 

This post is linked-up with What I Wore  //  Tucker Up  //  Random Wednesday  //  Style Me Wednesday  //  Mid Week Muse  //  Style Me Weekly

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WINTER WARDROBE pt. 2 // FREEBIRD & PAIGE DENIM

PAIGE DENIM: c/o ZAPPOS - SAME HERE - $169   //   FREEBIRD BOLO BOOTS: c/o ZAPPOS - SAME HERE - $275

So, it's been about a month since I received these amazing jeans & boots from Zappos, and the only thing that's changed is that I am even more obsessed with them. Paige Denim has a reputation and it's well deserved - you can feel the quality of the jean to the touch. As someone who rarely wears jeans, I think investing in one quality pair makes a lot of sense. There is longitivtiy in the brand and when you break the numbers down, it really is worth it. Not to mention, Zappos has an extraordinary shipping/return policy. I got my order within 2 days of placing it! 

The Freebird Bolo boots were the perfect pair for me. The dual zipper detail is actually really unique because I can adjust the fit of the boot - zipped up all the way for a more snug, sleek look and zipped down for a relaxed fit. Being as small as I am, a heel is a must. I loved the stacked heel on this boot because it gave me height without the discomfort of feeling like I was in heels all day. Perfection.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.