11 Websites You Need to Bookmark

Bookmarks by gracey featuring tech accessories

I have a lot of pages bookmarked for inspiration, random cool stuff, post ideas, etc. But I'm saving those for my revamped Lovely Links series (coming soon). These are websites you really really should bookmark, most of them are pretty useful in real life.

1. Chandoo.org. I was looking for some office/receptionist/personal assistant jobs recently, and EVERY one of them required that you be proficient in Excel. This has the basics, formulas, charts, and everything else you need to know. You can do a lot more with Excel than I ever thought, and it's really complicated if you don't know how to use it.

2. Allrecipes.com. Good if you are looking for a recipe or need inspiration for recipes with a specific ingredient(s). You can save recipes you like, post recipes, and even make a shopping list. This works well if you have a smart phone, because you can pull up the app while you're shopping and see what you need. I'm stuck with my dinosaur of a Blackberry and don't have that luxury, but take advantage if you have a smart phone!

3. Lookbook is great if you need some fashion inspiration. There was a girl that I found on Lookbook and I absolutely adored her style, but I cannot for the life of me remember her name. I want to say she lives in Italy, but I don't remember for sure. I'd know her if I saw her, so I'm going to go searching after this post is finished! Lesson learned: make sure you add looks that you like to a collection. Oh you can also add your pictures and looks to Lookbook as well.

4. Spreeder.com. This is a website designed to help you improve how fast you read. I haven't tried it yet but I will this week and see if there is any improvement.

5. Yogameditationhome.com is a free website with a crap ton of yoga videos. You can select your age, level, health issues, etc. AND you can favorite videos so you don't have to search for them every time. There is probably somewhere that offers yoga classes near you, and I don't know about you, but I don't want to dish out the money and be self conscious the whole time because I'm new at this.

6. Instructables.com teaches you how to make things (with you know, instructions). Learn to knit, because why not?

7. Documentaryaddict.com. I use this site when I need a break from watching House, or I'm just bored and want to watch something really interesting. You can search by category, newest, top rated, and more. Seriously, when you're bored or have time to kill, watch a documentary.

9. Ted.com. If you're not feeling the documentaries, watch/listen to a TED Talk. You can also filter by category and such. All of the talks they have turn out to be really interesting, even if I have no interest in the subject they are talking about. You really will get sucked in.

10. Wolframalpha.com helps you with anything related to math. I JUST used this a few minutes ago because for some reason I was talking about physics with my mom and I couldn't remember the quadratic formula. Now I do!

11. Polyvore.com. If these were in order of importance to me, this would be at the top. It's SO necessary for bloggers (specifically fashion and beauty bloggers). You can create really cool pictures for your blog, and even import your own pictures if it doesn't have what you are looking for (using the Polyvore Clipper).


Well now you have some sites to sift through, I just cured your boredom. You're welcome. What necessary websites do you have bookmarked? Have you ever been on any of these?

Lovely Links

I usually used to do these on Fridays to kick off the weekend, but I figured I'd do one on a Monday to kick off the week!

Having trouble picking the best nail shape for you? Beautylish guides you through, square, oval, squoval, round, etc., and how to get your desired nail shape!

If you also live in the Holy City that is Charleston, SC, then you're lucky like me. If you don't already have 4th of July plans, here is a calendar of events going on around the lowcountry.

Speaking of this national holiday, not sure what to wear? Here are some subtle and chic ways to wear red, white, and blue without going all out.

Again, if you're going to be out for the 4th, make sure to wear plenty of SPF that's right for your skin!

I'm sure you all have a favorite band or artist that you never get tired of no matter what. Well mine happens to be Fleetwood Mac/Stevie Nicks. Watch her evolution of style (I LOVE #21) and steal it too. You can find Stevie Nicks-esque items on Etsy, Gypsy Moon, Jolly Chic, and get some more inspiration from Pinterest. She's the goddess of bohemian style and I love it. (I'll be doing a Stevie Nicks/Fleetwood Mac inspired post soon, I've just decided).

Note: If and when I have kids, I WILL be decorating and doodling on my kid(s)'s lunch bags like this. So cool!

Never read/seen the Harry Potter movies? Here are some Harry Potter words and names pictured by people who have never seen or read them. These are actually pretty hilarious.

And just for shits and giggles to kick off a good week, here's some adorable motivation to get you through the week! If he can do it, so can you. Hang in there!

Lovely Links Halloween Edition

Halloween is quickly approaching! I'm almost done with my costume, I just need to find a shirt to wear (I'm going as an alien by the way). Here are some helpful links to inspire you and help you prepare!

Having trouble getting into the Halloween spirit? Here are 8 ways to help you out.

21 Gross Halloween Recipes if you are throwing a party!

Transform your house into a spooky haunted house.

Another fun party idea: throw a pumpkin carving party!

Check out these awesome Halloween makeup tutorials: Audrey Hepburn, mermaid, alien, Nicki Minaj, and Maleficent.

Well that's it for now. I have all of next week off from work so hopefully I'll get some good posts in! Hope you all have a great rest of the week :)

Lovely Links

Hello! Sorry I've been kind of busy with some last minute summer work before school starts and I've been slacking on my posting! I'm going to try my hardest to post every other day during the school year but sometimes I do get behind. So sorry in advance for that! It's Friday again, which means link time!

I'm a bit too scared of needles to do it, but have you ever gotten acupuncture?

Are you shy? Here are some tips to overcome your shyness so you can face the new school year a new person!

Ever been a bridesmaid? Here's what your bridesmaid dress color may have said about you!

The Gloss shows us how to wear all one color without looking crazy.

If you have trouble sleeping, try these tricks to help you fall asleep.

If you managed to get your hands on the Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Palette, Keiko Lynn shows us how to wear the brighter colors in the palette!

Elle Sees shows us how to recover from a vacation!

That's it for this week! I have some reviews coming up from Korres and 100% Pure that I'm excited to post!

Also don't forget to enter the giveaway! It ends in 3 days!

Sites to Help You Go Green

Going green has been a bit difficult for me. I'm on day 2 of being a successful vegetarian (well pescetarian technically since I still eat fish). It's harder than I thought not to eat meat. Not because I crave it when I can't have it, I'm just so used to not having to filter what I eat that I'll slip up and not even realize until later that night when I go over in my head if I did good or not.

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I've found some great sites that are helping, though.

Joining Eco Emi is going to help alot, so that I can get introduced to more brands and learn more about going green. They have a lot of info on their site about why you should go green, and brands and sites that they love.

I discovered No More Dirty Looks last night, and it's a very cool site! It's written by Siobhan O'Connor and Alexandra Spunt. The blog actually came from their book, No More Dirty Looks: The Truth About Your Beauty Products and Ultimate Guide to Safe and Clean Cosmetics, which I will definitely be picking up!

Sephora has a "Natural" tab you can click while shopping. Also they have created their own natural seal, so that you know when you are buying something that is high in vitamins, antioxidants, and other good things and also low in GMO's, parabens, and other bad things.

Etsy has a bath and beauty section where you can find TONS of beauty products that are eco friendly. I can't speak for all of them, but most of the products are free of harsh chemicals and don't test on animals.

If you have a blog or a website, make it carbon neutral! It's so easy!

Upurea has all of your green beauty needs all in one site! If you are just starting out like me, this is a great way to find new brands that will fit your green needs.

Of course, TOMS has to be on this list! Everything about these shoes is great, they are eco friendly (and have vegan versions too!), they are comfy, and when you buy a pair of TOMS they give a pair to a child in need! I'm buying my first pair for back to school :)

I will be making a list of my favorite natural and green brands (once I test them and find out at least). So that may take a while. Some brands that claim to be natural aren't actually very natural at all *cough* Neutrogena Naturlas *cough*. It's important to read the ingredients.

That's about it for now! Do you have any favorite green brands? Do you make an effort to go green? Have you ever tried being a vegetarian?

Lovely Links

That time of the week again. Time for some linkage!

A bit of a history lesson, 7 things women invented first from All Women Stalk.

Snooki seems to be doing it all these days. Partying, writing a book, designing slippers, and launching a perfume!

I don't need more reminders that I'm going back to school soon, but this DIY notebook paper tee is super cute!

College fashion has a rundown on the fall 2011 fashion trends for back to school!

It's no shock that Kate Middleton made it on the list, but here are 5 people that made it on Vanity Fair's best dressed list.

The Beauty Department does a breakdown of the different kind of eye brushes.

That's all for this week. One last thing, I hit 200 followers :D I'm so excited, you all are awesome!

Lovely Links

I'm finally jumping on the link roundup bandwagon. Here are some cool/interesting/odd/funny/etc. articles I've found this week!

The Huffington Post presents, bizarre alcohol combinations! Most sound pretty freaking weird, but the Skittle infused vodka sounds pretty interesting.

Ew, 10 icky facts about bedbugs from Refinery29. I never knew they were so widespread!

Senior pictures are coming up (for those of us still in high school), and Beautylish provides great tips on how to look good in HD

Something I'm still trying to master, Keiko Lynn has a great tutorial for winged liner!

From All Women Stalk, 9 bags to style up you LBD. The last 4 on the list are my FAVORITES. So pretty!

Also from All Women Stalk, 8 Great Summer Diet Snacks. My favorite is lemon ice, my friend and I used to make it all the time using Crystal Lite!

Just in case anybody else is having a Shark Week party (and by party I mean my boyfriend is coming over to do shark activities with me when he gets back from Florida), here are some shark cupcake ideas, a shark bowl party drink recipe, and a shark fin ice tray to keep those drinks cold!

Have you ever eaten sea urchin? Seems pretty odd to me.

These 8 makeup tips you haven't heard before, are actually ones I haven't heard before! The deodorant trick sounds pretty interesting!

Nothing is worse than when your boobies hurt! Find out possible habits that could be making them hurt!

Well that's it for this week. I hope you all have a great weekend! Also don't forget to let me know if you've ever eaten sea urchin, because I'm quite intrigued. Also don't forget to enter my giveaway :)

Easter Inspiration

Hello loves! I have to go to work in about an hour, but I thought I would do a quick Easter inspiration post!

Photos:

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Love this blog! Check out Jim's Pancakes if you haven't already seen it!

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Links and other:

Peep Sushi?! Definitely gonna make some this weekend. Thanks Lauren Conrad!

If you have children or a little sibling, take them to see Hop!

Martha Stewart of course provides us with a list of Everything Easter! Seriously, over 50 ideas!

Well, my boyfriend is coming over tonight to dye eggs with my Mom and I, which should be fun! I'm going to my boyfriend's aunt's house for lunch, then going to my aunt's house for dinner. And of course before all of that my mom is going to hide the eggs for me to find (I'm such a little kid).

*Update* - My stepdad died today :( They took him off the ventilator yesterday and he was breathing on his own but his kidneys and liver shut down. They also found out he had cancer on his liver. So, not the happy Easter I was expecting, but it will give me a chance to hang out with my mom and have a good cry with her. RIP Gary

What are your plans for Easter? Do you look for eggs too? Have a happy Easter everyone and let me know how it was!