Real Talk with Sara Ellen: Long Distance Relationships (SPOILER ALERT! We're Engaged!!)

So for the last year and a half any time I tell someone about my relationship with Pete it opens the flood gates for the same questions; "How do you guys do it?" "Isn't it hard?" "Don't you miss him?" Let me start off by answering these three questions for you guys:

1. With a lot of work. (I'll get into that later in the post...)
2. It's hard as hell.
3. And yes. I miss him very much.

Long distance relationships are not easy and they are not for everyone but when you find that person that you just can't live without you do whatever it takes to be with them; flying back and forth across the world just to see one another, moving to a country where you don't know anyone just because it means you're finally on the same continent, letter, post cards, FaceTime, WhatsApp, you name it - we've done it, but the fact of the matter is there isn't a thing in the world I wouldn't do for Pete. 

I've had so many people ask me how he proposed over the last few days I figured I'd share our story with all of you guys so here it goes...

Pete flew up for this past weekend and I decided to make the most of it and planned a trip for two to the Rocky Mountains!

On Saturday we took a trip to the Athabasca Falls, after to staring at the thunderous falls for a while we made our way down to the river bank, one of my favourite places in Jasper National Park. We snuggled on a rock being that obnoxious PDA riddled couple just staring at our gorgeous surroundings and talking...

After a bit Pete asked me to stay on the rock he wanted to get a photo of me with the beautiful scenery in the background...

When I turned around to stand up he was down on one knee with a ring. I was in such shock I couldn't even get up off my knees, I just knelt there crying and smiling while Pete proposed. We were both shaking so hard we sat down just holding each other and smiling until our legs steady themselves enough to make it back to the car.

We're planning to get married in August 2015 and I have no idea how to plan a wedding! If you have any tips or resources for a bride-to-be please leave them in the comments below!

9 Tips for a Long Distance Relationship That Rocks!

1. Always set a date. Doesn't matter how long you have to wait between visits, whether its 2 weeks or 2 months, having a countdown makes the time apart a lot easier.
2. Communicate. I'm not talking about texting each other all day every day, I'm talking about being open and honest with each other, especially when it's hard. You can't kiss and make up so you have to make every word count.
3. Jealousy. Jealousy is a part of all relationships but especially when there's a great distance between you and your partner. Jealousy is a natural emotion, it shows you care but it's how you deal with jealousy that will make or break your situation. Before flying off the rails at your partner first pinpoint what it is that's making you jealous, is in't something your partner is doing or is it an insecurity in yourself? Either way discuss this with your partner, your relationship won't survive the distance if you can't trust one another.
4. Snail Mail. Call me old fashion but there's nothing I love more than when the mail man has a package for me! Send each other things the good ol' fashion way, they don't have to be expensive gifts; send a love letter, a postcard and little trinket you saw that reminded you of them. When I went back to Ireland last summer I sent Pete a postcard from every town I went to, he still has them all to this day!
5. Be Positive. Being apart from your partner is not easy but if you focus on all of the things standing in your way you'll wind up miserable, focus on the positive. Pete and I realized that the distance between makes us appreciate every moment we have together; holding hands while we walk down the street isn't just something we do out of habit, we do it because we spend 90% of our time wishing we could.
6.  Stop Listening to All the Haters! People will tell you that you're wasting your time, that it'll never work, why don't you find someone closer. All I can say is that you don't need that kind of negativity in your life! Your friends and family are meant to support you; and yes, your relationship may not work but not every proximal relationship works out either, they should celebrate your highs and pick you up at your lows.
7. Don't Be Afraid to Get a Little Bit Dirty. I really hope Pete's family isn't reading this, if you guys are please feel free to skip to tip #8... Being intimate with one another is an extremely important part of every relationship with the distance you've got to get a little bit more creative. Send each other sexy text messages and teasing photos, keep your partner on their toes...
8. Get to Know Each Others Friends & Family. You guys are part of a team and one day (hopefully soon) it won't be YOUR life and THEIR life, it'll be BOTH of your lives. Make an effort to get to know one another friends and families, or as I like to joke with Pete I'm worming my way into his family.
9. Have a Foreseeable End.  Talk about your future, where you guys plan on ending up, what kind of timeline you guys have for these goals. 

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At Home Facial: Skin Pampering While You Study

Sorry for the quiet spell on the blog last week but I'm still learning how to be a student again! How do people balance work, school and the rest of life?! But I've snuck away from my text book, made a hot chocolate (there may be more than a smidge of Bailey's in it...) and curled up with my lap top to bring you this weeks addition of shenanigans.

While time is short I've had to figure out how to keep my skin from showing all the long nights and early mornings of late, but who has time for a proper facial these days, certainly not me, I'm lucky if I find the time to brush my hair and clean my teeth these days. So here is my at home facial that I do while studying, but any of you lovelies with a busy life can put this routine to use!

Step 1. Remove any make up.

I am currently on the last legs of my Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil that you may have seen in my Evening skin care routine post, but this is a quick and easy way to remove your make up from the day. I then use Bioderma Sensibio Micelle Solution to make sure every last stitch of make up and grime is gone!

Step 2. Clay Mask Time!

Any time I put this mask on I feel slightly racist, can anyone say black face? Awkward social aspects aside, Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask is seriously the bomb, it draws all the gunk from the week out of my skin; that being said it can sometimes result in little blemishes so I tend to do this mask a day or two before my day off from work so that if I get a blemish I can treat it with B. Kamins Blemish Gel and be back to work and no one is any the wiser! While this mask is drying hit the textbooks for the next 20-30 minutes!

Step 3. Cleanse, Cleanse and then Cleanse Some More...

Using a warm damp muslin cloth, gently remove the charcoal mask and then massage a generous amount of Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel (which is so amazing it got its very own post right here!) into the skin. Next comes my favourite part: Clarisonic time!

Step 4. Another Mask? Another Mask!

 Collagen sheet masks were my gateway drug to all other skin care, let's be honest. This is where I pop on a sheet mask, what I use varies from week to week depending on my skin needs for that week, for some of my favourites check out this post. Once I've popped on one of these bad boys I usually return to my desk to study for the next 45 minutes- 1 hour while my skin absorbs all the serum-y goodness.

After the full face sheet mask I like to use a separate eye mask (all these late nights of memorizing are no friend to my already shady under eyes!) and let that guy buck while I study; I found the bit that goes on top of my eye irritated my sensitive eyes so I trimmed it so that it fits the under eye and outer corner only and I can leave these guys on until they dry out now. 

Step 5. Concentrated Goodness

Here is where the serums come in; two drops of Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Serum and two drops of Tarte's Maracuja Oil patted into the skin and then BACK TO THE BOOKS!

Step 6. Lock It All In

Alright, so you've made it through an evening of studying and now it's bed time, but you can't let all your hard work go to waste, you got to lock that stuff down! Instead of slapping a thick night cream on I like to use a sleeping pack; equally hydrating but light weight and enhances all the goodness we've spent the last couple hours infusing our skin with. And don't forget your trusty night cream!

Any of you lovelies have any good tips for studying? Or juggling school, life and work? Let's here them!

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