lifestyle, travel

Small Town Big Beach

The motto, “Small town, big beach”, suits Gulf Shores, Alabama perfectly!  The town is perfectly balanced in family friendly restaurants and adorable and colorful beach houses lining the shore, only about 50 feet from the Ocean.  But if you’re looking for something a little more commercial there’s also plenty of things to do other than the beach!

If you’re looking for a fun place to spend time with your family and get an awesome meal, visit The Hangout!  The surfer themed restaurant has a gigantic sand pit, live music, and an hourly foam party.  There are plenty of photo opportunities and interactive experiences such as a “wish wall”, where you are able to write down a wish and place it into a slot on the wall, and a large collection of toys such as vintage PEZ machines and Rubber Duckies. I can assure you, it is a memorable experience for people of all ages.  I was excited to jump into the gigantic pit of foam and have a blast with my family.  Surprisingly, the fun doesn’t stop there!  Visiting The Hangout is a dining experience! A DJ plays music while an MC encourages people to dance on the tables of the restaurant!  When a storm blew in, the DJ was quick on his feet and began playing songs such as “It’s raining men” to lighten the mood.  Overall, my experience at The Hangout was absolutely awesome, not to mention their adorable apparel in the gift shop!  If you ever find yourself in Gulf Shores, Alabama, make sure to check out The Hangout!!Processed with VSCO with c1 preset

Gulf Shores is home to plenty of adventures such as parasailing and the adorable Dauphin Island, located about an hour away from Gulf Shores.  Dauphin Island is home to the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, a museum/aquarium devoted to the preservation of sea life, and a military base from the Civil War.  It takes a ferry ride to get to the island, but in my opinion, it’s totally worth it!  It was definitely one of the hilights of my trip.

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If you’re looking for a great beach trip that’s fun for the entire family, visit Gulf Shores, Alabama!  From great restaurants to exciting activities to white sand beaches, Gulf Shores is a great place to be!

 

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Fashion, Reviews

Abella Eyewear

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Use Code: PRESLEYREDD for 30% off your ENTIRE order!

Hey everyone!  If you’re like me, you are constantly on the search for a new deal.  This summer, I wanted to find some cute new sunnies.  Recently, I’ve seen ad after ad on Instagram for Abella Eyewear, an eyewear company founded in 2018.  The first ever ad I saw for this company was their request for Brand Ambassadors.  After reviewing the benefits, I was thrilled to see the deals I would receive!  After being accepted into the ambassador program, I was told that if I simply posted a shoutout of the Abella Eyewear website on my Instagram story, I would receive a pair of free sunglasses (shipping not included).  Of course, I accepted this offer and quickly followed the instructions.  Only minutes later, I received a coupon for a free pair of sunglasses.  Though the styles were limited, I was excited about the reward that I’d received.  I quickly decided on the style, “Astley” in Pink and Gold.  After receiving an order conformation email, I was informed that the order would go through a “processing time” of 3-5 days.  I did not question this at first, however, after 15 days without my order being shipped, I became weary of the legitimacy of the website.  I emailed the company several times in which they responded,

“Thank you for reaching out to us and we value your feedback. We source our shades from a number of high-quality distribution partners and orders are shipped directly from them. This means shipping times can vary”.

I’m not sure why this was the site’s reasoning because on the About Us page, the owners clearly state that, “all inventory is managed and distributed from Jacksonville, Florida”.  Thankfully, after several emails back and forth with customer service, my order was prioritized and finally shipped.  On May 27, almost a month after their order, my sunglasses arrived.

Though the shipping time was brutal, I would like to add that the sunglasses are GREAT quality.  They came in a nice case and a soft drawstring bag and seem to be well made.  I am satisfied with the sunglasses, and I will be looking forward to wearing them on beach trips and other summer endeavors.  However, DO NOT purchase a pair unless you have plenty of time to wait on their arrival.  I am very thankful for the customer service team at Abella Eyewear as well as the quality products that they produce, but their shipping time is something to be improved upon.

*UPDATE: in an email received 06/06/18, the company stated that they are decreasing their shipping time. “We’ve moved our stock to the USA. This means instead of shipping some items direct from factory, we now have the capabilities to do what most large brands do. We’ll be storing pallets of products in Jacksonville for quick shipment to our customers in the USA and Canada. If you live outside of North America, we have plans in the pipes so stay tuned”. Hopefully there is some accuracy to this claim because if so, I see the product becoming VERY successful!  Hopefully this further convinces you to purchase a pair!

If you are interested in purchasing a pair of these adorable sunnies for yourself, use my code: PRESLEYREDD for 50% off of your entire order!

Use Code: PRESLEYREDD for 30% off!

This is a great deal, I can assure you!

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Check out Abella Eyewear HERE!

If you’re interested in the Sunglasses above, click HERE! (the color is Pink and Gold)

Enjoy your sun-filled summer! – PresleyRedd

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lifestyle

Tips and Tricks About Moving

Let’s face it…moving to a new place as a teen feels like the end of the world.  Believe me, I know, I’ve done it seven times! And it’s sad to say that it really doesn’t get easier.  For advice, coping mechanisms, and ways to make your overall experience better, read on:

When you first find out that you are going to move, it may leave you scared and maybe even a little bit depressed.  This is normal.  The idea of packing up and leaving your school, friends, and overall surroundings should bring to light a new anxiety, but it will pass.

  • My first tip to you is to Look on the Bright Side: though moving is without a doubt scary and stressful, it brings about a whole new scene.  You will get to experience new scenery, new culture, new customs, and maybe even a new way of life.  I know that without my moving experience I would not be as cultured as I am today.  Because of my lifestyle, I have travelled to places and seen things in my short 16 years of life that many may never get to see.  I am very grateful for that!

Starting at a new school is tough.  Even the transition from middle school to high school is scary for kids who have lived in one place their entire life.  I moved to Montana the summer of my 8th grade year and began my first year of high school in a state almost two thousand miles away from all of my friends.  I. Was. Terrified.  But, I got through it and grew into the person I am now.

  • Finding Friends in a New School:
    • As scary as the thought may seem, put yourself out there!  Join clubs and sports and after school activites.  Almost all schools offer at least one thing of interest.  Through joining an activity that you enjoy, you will meet like-minded people!  This can result in fast friendships and if anything, something to talk about.
    • If you get the opportunity, find familiar faces throughout your classes.  If you see a person that you have more than one class with, say hey, Ask for help on homework, or just smile! Even if the interaction doesn’t turn into a lifelong friendship, having friendly faces in the hallway makes the days go by a whole lot faster.
    • If I’ve learned anything about meeting new people, it’s that kindness is magnetic! Make your best effort to be genuinely kind to those around you.  Give compliments, smile, and be genuine, it WILL pay off.

Coping with the fact that you are moving is one of the hardest things to do.  If you’re anything like me, a whole bunch of tears will be shed!  But, acceptance makes for less sorrow.

  • Dealing with The Move
    • For me, moving in high school was unbearable.  The thought of leaving all of my friends and starting at a new high school as a junior sounded like torture.  So, for a while I denyed it.  But after a while I realised that denial was leading to missed opportunity.  This caused an epiphone and a new outlook.  For the remainder of my time in Montana, I spent every extra minute of my time with friends.  This helped me to not only build deeper relationships, it allowed me peace in knowing that no matter where I was, I had friends somewhere that loved me.
    • When in doubt, cry it out.  We often don’t let ourselves show emotion about things like this.  Though usually the moving process is inevitable, it is okay to let yourself be sad about it.  It is a sad time!

Though moving can be hard, it really does have its perks.  When you’re down, be optimistic!! If you told me eight months ago how happy I would be today, I would not have believed it for a second.  Things changed for me in the best way, and I know in my heart that everything went according to God’s plan.  Sometimes it’s hard to see the bigger picture, but it will one day open up for you and you will see that the path in which your headed is the best thing possible for you.  The silver lining always reveals itself at the strangest time.

I hope these tips helped you! If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment or personally contact me here.  I would love to hear from you! XX

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lifestyle

Concert Cravings

If you know me, you know that I LOVE concerts. I love seeing the passion of performers doing exactly what they’re meant to do. This past weekend I was lucky enough to see COIN in concert, I was awestruck. Participating in the exhilarating performance of Talk Too Much was the best part of the night. It’s an amazing feeling when you’re able to jump and dance and sing in a room filled with fans of an artist I love.

Finding your passion is the most exhilarating feeling. When I see an artist get into a performance, it makes me think about how much music has impacted my life. Playing and listening to music is one of the only things that truly calms me down and makes me feel purely myself. When you know what you love, do more of it. It will make you an overall happier person.

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lifestyle

Love Yourself First

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Happy Valentine’s Day, y’all! I’m writing this message as a personal plea to Love Yourself First!

Around this time last year, a friend and I were sulking together—relishing in the fact that we would be single for Valentine’s Day.  We saw how pitiful we were acting and decided that instead of giving in to the Hallmark Holiday that is Valentine’s Day, we would celebrate “Galentine’s Day”—a day devoted to friendship and self-love.

 The creator of the holiday, Leslie Knope, from the television series, Parks and Recreations, describes Galentine’s Day as a holiday for “Ladies celebrating ladies. It’s like Lilith Fair, minus the angst. Plus frittatas”.

Spending Galentine’s Day with my best friend was immensely more fun than spending it consumed in the stresses of buying material goods that represent an overcommercialized view of love.  In reality, we must love ourselves before being able to truly accept the love of others.

To love ourselves is to accept our flaws, and ignore the criticism of others.  Your self-worth is not defined by the surface of your personality.  You go so much deeper than people are willing to dive in to…all of us do.  Criticisms are based off of a small amount of knowledge that again, does not define a person.  The criteria that others put in place for you is not the guide in which to live your life.  Be a confident and strong individual, and do not conform to what others expect you to be.

Valentine’s Day is a holiday meant to spread love and kindness, but it has turned into a commercialized monster.  Love is shown in many other ways than through monetary value.  Instead of focusing on the stress of Valentine’s Day, focus on yourself.  Find ways to love yourself and find your self-worth, rather than spending time and money on a holiday that should be celebrated every day.  We should not need a holiday to tell us when to express love.  Show love when you feel the need rather than when a holiday tells you it is a requirement.  Love others, and learn to love yourself.

~ ♡ Presley

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lifestyle

Be Present for Friends in Need

IMG_7003.jpgOne of the hardest things for me is knowing that someone is hurting, but not knowing why or how to help.  I find myself poking and prodding until the person eventually explodes, which is obviously not the right way to handle things.  How can we empathize with someone if we don’t know what’s going on in their lives?  How can we be present and lend a helping hand?

First of all, it is important to not overstep.  Even with close friends and loved ones, we need to accept that sometimes, it’s just not our business.  Constantly pushing a person to spill out their obstacles almost always results in anger and even damage to relationships.  It’s okay if you don’t have all the details—you can still be there for that person.

Giving love and support is sometimes more powerful than advice.  Telling a person that you love and care about them is often all it takes to provide comfort and security.  It is hard, especially for me, when it seems almost impossible to console someone due to a situation that you have no control of.  This is when offering your support and time is the best thing to do.  Ranting and/or getting things out in the open is a great way to blow off steam, and it makes anyone feel better to get something off their chest.

When all else fails, be present.  Being there for someone, whether it be in person, on the phone, or even over text, giving up small amount of your time and energy to listen or console a person is the best thing to do.

Isaiah 41:10 says:

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

All will be well when you have trust in the Lord.

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lifestyle

Live for the NOW

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Hi everyone! I hope you’ve had a fantastic few weeks!  For a while now I’ve been stressed about the future—where will I go to college? what will I do when I get there? what’s the plan after that?!

As a high school student, I am constantly pressured to make life altering decisions that I am much to indecisive to commit to.  As an eighth grader I was told to choose a “career path” that enforced elective classes that would prepare a student for their college major.  How and why does a school system expect kids to know the outline of their life at fourteen years old?!

We are put under so much pressure to decide our future, but I think its high time that we live for the now.  Living in the moment is an easy way to impact your mental state.  Now, I’m not saying to completely block out the future.  Consider how your decisions now will impact your life later, but if you have the chance to spend time with people you love, or go do things you won’t always have the opportunity to do, please go out and do it!  Youth is fleeting and the cacoon of high school doesn’t last forever.

“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment.  Fools stand on their island of opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other land; there is no other life but this.” —Henry David Thoreau

Enjoy doing what you love with people you love, and stress will melt away.  Live for the now, and don’t stress too hard for the future, everything always seems to work itself out.

Spend your week enjoying the little things, and find sunshine in every day life.  Take a moment to slow down in this already fast paced world.  Sit and ponder and laugh and love.  Life is short, keep a steady pace and enjoy the simple things before life gets in the way.

P.S. if you see a colorful wall, don’t be afraid to go and take pictures in front of it—it’s the little things that radiate joy.

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