Samantha K Schmidt

I'm a huge fan of bargain hunting. Most of the things in my closet came from my favorite bargain store, Marshall's. They have amazing brands like Ralph Lauren, Jessica Simpson, and Cynthia Rowley. Sometimes I even have to ban myself from the store because I can't go in without finding an amazing deal. During my most recent visit I found the steal of a lifetime. I've been trying to find a pair of sunglasses to replace a pair of Betsey Johnson's I broke last summer. I was spinning the cart near the register absentmindedly when suddenly my eyes spotted the most beautiful of all sites; a pair of classic Ray Bans rimmed in gold. The price wasn't what I was expecting to spend on a "window shopping" kind of day, but I couldn't resist the deal. For a mere $70 I am now the proud owner of the most perfect sunnies. It may seem like a lot for sunglasses, but I have a serious love for Ray Bans. Plus, they can last a lifetime if you take good care of them. (I st

After I graduated college I went through a really rough time. I couldn't find a job. I broke up with my boyfriend of 2 years, and all my friends seemed to have abandoned me. I was going through a serious bout of depression. After taking some photos for an audition one day, something hit me. It was like a smack in the face. Something I had been ignoring for the past 3 years. I had gained more than 30 pounds. My BMI teetering on the edge of overweight. After months of moping around, my eyes had finally opened. I knew that if I didn't get my life on track my genetics would kick in and I would be stuck with the plagues of my family: obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. So I decided to change my life entirely. I won't say I lost weight in a completely healthy way, but I can say that over the past few years I have found a middle ground between obsessive overeating and obsessive under eating. Today I have a pretty healthy lifestyle, and I thought I would sh

The school year is almost over, and I'm finally worn out. I don't always get excited to go to work in the morning, but my blues are usually lessened by my students' smiling faces. Except for today. I'm finally over all the "work." I am ready for the summer fun, but I know a week into it the summertime sadness will begin. I'll be bored and lonely since all my friends have year round jobs. So to minimize this depression I've decided to make a fun to-do list. 1. Theme Park Hop : This is a summer time staple, but typically I stick with the mouse. This year I actually want to stay at Universal Studies and take in the magic of Harry Potter as well as the nightlife. 2. Solo Vacation : I thrive on traveling alone. It gives me a sense of independence, and it's an opportunity to challenge myself to try new things. 3. Write : I'll admit this is kind of like work, but it's fun work. I really want to complete more of the book that I'm writ

I've been lacking inspiration a lot lately. When I started this blog I was full of great ideas. My first few weeks of posts were right on target. Since then I've had some hits and some misses. My biggest problem has been turning my ideas into posts. I have a list of ideas that I could be blogging about, but every time I try to type the words it comes out as a jumbled mess. I've never been one to talk about something I didn't feel educated about. So when it comes to blog posts I never feel like my opinion is good enough. Maybe I'm just going through an insecure stage, but I'm lacking a lot of the motivation I had early on. I can't seem to find the spark to get writing.  Fellow bloggers, what motivates you? Where do you find inspiration?

This is possibly the most hodgepodge Pinterest favorites ever, but they might just be my favorite... favorites. Favorite Sunnies I am OBSESSED with round sunnies. The sad part is I can't find them anywhere! I saw one pair on Ebay, but they were $2 and came from China. If you have any less shady finds (no pun intended) please comment below!   Favorite Pop Favorite color pop that is. I was searching for long flowy pants (a current trend crush) and came across these. I love the bright color with the neutral top. Plus the shape makes her legs look killer long.   Favorite Nest If there's a name for this décor style please inform me, but for now I'm calling it romantic meets woodlands. I love how the natural meets the classic with dark wood and soft white pieces.   Favorite Pout I'm loving this vampy look. It's definitely something I want to recreate.   Favorite Veganism This shirt was too cute to ignore. I know my fellow animal lover

Mother's Day is almost here, and the last minute shoppers are taking over. Stay away from the masses and plan something different for Mom this year. After all she already has a bag like that. She really doesn't need another pair of earrings. And that photo collage... just no. Instead of buying something that she may never use, here are a few ideas to take Mom on a fun day trip. At least she will be able to keep the memories forever. Spa Day : Put the gift certificate down! Pick up the phone and schedule the treatments yourself. Make the day for two or just for Mom. Either way make it personal.     Casino : If Mom is feeling a little lucky take her out to the casino. Here in Florida she can cruise the seas playing blackjack or spend the night at the Hard Rock. Research your area to find the best options.       Theme Park : Whether she's a thrill-seeker or a queen there's something for every Mom at the theme park.       Beach : Load up the

Sometimes I like to imagine myself sitting under the Eiffel Tower sipping a café au lait, a fresh baguette in my bag. There's something about the Parisian lifestyle that calms my soul. Maybe it's the beauty. Maybe it's the amour. Or maybe... it's the food. French food is the ultimate comfort food in my book, and my favorite comfort is macarons. I tried my first macaron a few years back and it was love at first bite. Ever since I've been smitten for these tasty treats. I was looking for a little luxurious comfort yesterday and decided to pick up a box of macarons from one of my favorite places Le Macaron. I love Le Macaron because it's authentic and everything is natural. This time I decided to try out a few different flavors and thought I'd share them with you. If you've never tried a true French Macaron this is a great guide for the beginner. 1. Colombian Coffee  I love coffee flavored anything, so I had to grab 4 of these guys. They have a ri