Thursday, January 31, 2013

Riddley Riddley Ree, Is There Something New You See?

Surprise! Notice any new colors, buttons, designs and cute fonts? I really can't thank the lady behind the design enough for making my blog page spectacular! Meet Chelsee! She blogs over at Southern Beauty Guide and she has some real web designing talent! 
 
 
 She literally designed this page in a few days and it came out quite perfect! I am in love with my new button and how all the colors and details tie into each other!
 
 
 
Notice the new signature as well?
 
 
I am just in awe of how well she took my ideas and mastered exactly what I had in mind! She has a background in designing websites and took my blog on as a project to explore the blogger design world. Didn't she do an excellent job? She is very easy to contact, a sweet nice woman and very easy to work with. I literally sent her a million emails and texts. I also sent pictures to her of signature ideas, blog design ideas and button ideas. She really incorporated all of my ideas into one and came up with what you see here.
If you have an idea for a signature, blog design, button, headers or just about anything contact her!
She is up for the challenge and will get back with you immediately. As a new bloggy friend and a guinea pig for blogger designs I absolutely love Chelsee!
Thanks again girl! I am obsessed with blogging and now obsessed with my design!


Wednesday, January 30, 2013

3 Hops And A Little Love

Happy Hump Day!
Today I have decided to do a little blog hopping and join forces with some pretty amazing ladies!
I have added two new buttons in addition to the regular WILW button.
"Keep Calm and Party On" and "Followers To Friends".

About Followers To Friends:
 
 
 
 


About Keep Calm and Party On:
This link up party is for all bloggers who would like to work on networking with other blogs as well as growing their Social Media following.
Each week we will change which form of Social Media that we focus on. They include Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and Google+.
What if you don’t have one of these accounts but would like to participate?
Easy, just link up your Blog instead! We want to connect with you even if you don’t use all forms of Social Media that we do!
How do you participate?
First, follow your Host and Co-hosts (there are 5).
 
If you haven't join in on these Wednesday linky parties button up now and get to making some new friends!
 
Ok onto the best part of this post, "What I'm Loving Wednesday!"
 
If you haven't started following Daily Therapy on Instagram. Do it. Inspiring. Motivational. Happy.
Everything about it is a positive!
 
Sephora's Fresh Sugar lip balm. AMAZEballs! It leaves your lips feeling soft and smooth all day long!
 
Is this not the cutest idea you have ever seen? This could lift anyone's spirits in about 2.5 seconds! Who doesn't like donuts and come on man the saying is pretty cute!
 
Can you say brilliant? Adult capri suns! Bag o' (vodka) lemonade - perfect for the beach! Best idea ever. Pure stinkin genius. Freeze it first and take to beach and squeeze to make it slushy--this way it won't get watered down!
 
Pretty much how I feel every day. Don't even ask. It is a avoided subject within our household. Don't discuss work.
 
What's not to love? Seriously drooling right now!
 
Found this little item through Erin @ Living In Yellow. Discount code given. Score. Love it.
 
Okay ladies, no joke this is a magic eraser! I have these dark acne scars on my chin, dark circles under my eyes, freckles on my nose and occasional bumps on my forehead. One swipe across each area and a blending in with the brush and your skin is flawless. Stunning. Don't believe me, go pick it up today and tell me all about how right I am :) Your welcome.
 
 
What blog hops are you joining up with today? What loves are in your life at the moment?
Have a great day and keep smiling!
XO
 
 
 

 



Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Ain't Nobody Got Time Foe Dat?!?!?

 
Have you ever noticed something to ever just stick around for awhile? 
Well this catchy little phrase has swept the office at my company for the last ehhh two weeks?
Ever since the Sweet Brown video went viral our little "clique" at the office crack up every time we here "Ain't Nobody Got Time Foe Dat!"
 
How many times has someone asked or told you to do something and you thought to yourself
"Ain't Nobody Got Time Foe Dat?!??"
Well this happens to me ALLLLL the time! Yesterday was one of THE WORST days I have ever had in my life at the office.
It just seemed like the hours were snailing by and everyone and their mama needed something. I just couldn't focus. Randomly losing my train of thought. Staring at the computer screen wondering what I was supposed to do next. I my bloggy friends, was on the train to La La Land and not returning anytime soon! 
And wow, making it to lunch just about drove me bonkers. It took me one whole hour to eat this tiny pathetic excuse of a lunch. Who knew oral surgery could cause this much pain!

 
 
My HR manager even walked by put her hands up to her mouth and started reenacting a squirrel eating a nut. My tiny bites did make me laugh inside.
 As usual the next four hours were like hearing nails on a chalkboard.
Let's just say I popped an extra pain pill and laughed hysterically at my desk over nothing.
Thank you CVS and the docs at Indiana Oral Surgical Center for filling that prescription.
Do you ever have those moments where you laugh to yourself and someone walks by looking at you like you are a complete idiot. Um yea, I would be the idiot. They say "what's up with you?" And you just respond "Oh nothinggggg" with that goober stupid grin. Hand raised in the air, yep that girl is me! Oh well, we aren't all perfect little ladies. Especially after a weekend of getting three wisdom teeth removed. Bahhhh the pain!!!!
So the next time I receive an email, quote, phone call, a page or someone asking me a question regarding work I may or may not just stand up and start singing "Ain't Nobody Got Time Foe Dat" while I do my crazy lady gotta get down dance!
I'll blame it on the overdose of medication later.
 
You might be able to tell by the randomness of today's post that I have already taken my morning medication. I hope to have made you laughed because just hearing "Ain't Nobody Got Time Foe Dat" is once again making me smile and repeat the words to the song over and over.
Thank you Sweet Brown.
 
Click here to watch the video, you too will laugh hysterically and hopefully do the crazy lady dance with me. You can thank me later for singing this song into the wee hours of the night, because you WILL still have this song stuck in your head then.




Toodles and Happy Tuesday!


XO
 



Monday, January 28, 2013

Don't Miss Out!


Just a little reminder that if you haven't linked up with Meg over at Life Of Meg for the V-day gift swap, GO NOW! Thursday is the deadline to sign up! It is my first gift swap link up and I am ecstatic! I already have one bloggy friend Stephanie who I have exchanged info with. Check her out over at Diary Of Debutante! Her little gift basket is all ready to go! How exciting to become closer friends with a fellow blogger and receive a package of your own!



About Be My Valentine:

Sign-up, get matched w/ a buddy, shop for a valentine care package, and swap via mail!

1) Interested? Must be a [Life of Meg] follower to be eligible.

2) Leave a comment below that includes your first name and e-mail address.

3) Also in your comment leave at least 5-10 "favorites" of yours.

Example: Brooke's Faves

- Candy/Snacks: Dove chocolate, coffee anything, chocolate covered anything, Reisens, Whitmans, Funyuns, Munchos and Combos

- Magazines: Glamour, Real Simple, US, People and Allure

- Colors: Black, grey, pink, cream and teal

- Hobbies: Baking, cooking, dancing, shopping, blogging, scrapbooking and painting nails

-Girly things: Nail polish, lip gloss, lip balm, home decor, face masks, candles and air freshener plug ins

4) Meg will send your buddy's e-mail address to you via your provided e-mail address. You then can exchange mailing address information once you're in contact.

5) Shop for your valentine goodies {price max: $15-20} and send your buddy's valentine by February 6th.

Sign-up closes January 31st @ Noon (CST)!


Spread the word about the [Life of Meg] Be My Valentine gift swap! We want as many people as possible to join us in spreading the love! The picture above is for your use in a post or on your sidebar. Please add a link directly to this blog post so that your friends can easily join us in the fun!




Monday Madness: GBU Edition

Oh Monday, we meet again.
Can you feel the vibe in the air? Not a good one perhaps.
Only for one reason and that's not because it is the start to another work week, I had my wisdom teeth surgically
Friday and I am still recovering.
This brings us to the main topics of the GBU (good, bad and ugly).


The Good...(there are a few)
Fondue dinner night. My mom and I went to the store and bought some food and dessert to make fondue. Even though my gums were sore and I was in the middle of dozing off asleep it turned out to be an awesome dinner and man was I stuffed. Shrimp, steak, strawberries, rice krispie squares, bananas, chocolate and angel food cake!! (please keep in mind all of these meals took a VERY long time to eat! )









While resting up on the couch, Madison made me dinner and brought it to me. Isn't she the sweetest thing?
Beef manhattan and green beans!

Also, the day of my surgery I got to pick whatever I wanted to eat. Of course I chose my favorite place, Panera Bread! Greek salad and broccoli cheese soup with a bagette! On the side, ice cream from my sisters work, Baskin Robbins dacquiri ice!



The bad...The pharmacist put me on Hyrdrocodene. I cannot sleep. I stayed up both nights this weekend until 4:30 am. I am super relaxed and very drowsy but cannot sleep. It's like I had an energizer battery installed in my back, I just keep going and going and going! Plus, I feel like my entire body is itching. Giving the meds one more day and then I am calling it quits!
Source

The Ugly...this picture I took of myself post surgery. I have even worse pictures but this shows the face of a worn out, tired, highly medicated, in pain girl! I apologize now for the crappy cell phone photo!

How was your weekend? Join up with Kate and Kati for the Monday GBU!


XO

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Sunday Funday!!!


Well good morning loves! I just adore Sundays. It happens to be my favorite day of the week until I realize that tomorrow begins another hectic work week. But until that anxiety moment sets in I am for the first time linking up with two lovely ladies Ashley and Neely for this weeks Sunday Social!! The two ladies post random questions and we get to post our answers. Sounds easy right? If you haven't linked up try it now! More followers=more bloggy friends=happiness. Grab the button and link up today!
Sunday Social
Here are the questions:
What is your ideal way to relax: Reading blog posts from fellow bloggers, checking out pics on Instagram, sitting on the front porch with a cup of coffee and laying on the couch getting caught up with my DVR shows.

Where is your favorite place to be: On vacation, anywhere but Indy! I love to travel and wish to do it more.

Who do you consider your biggest role model: Aside from my mom, fellow bloggers, I have learned so much from you guys! The good days and the bad days have taught me so much. I hope my blog becomes as big as most of yours!

What does your life look like in 3 years? HOPEFULLY rocking the Social Media world with my blog, hitting the lottery, paying off all debt, having a stacked savings account and have sold my house.

If you could go back and change one decision what would it be? I would have pursued a different career. I would make a great PR. Love photography and cooking so maybe a career in that area?

What is your biggest accomplishment in life thus far? Having my daughter. Everything I do is for her. She is my rock, my inspiration and my world. I can't imagine life without her.

What about you????

Well that wraps up my first ever link up with the Sunday Social! Catch ya back here next week!

Next week's questions:
These are all about 2s!
 
1. If you were stuck on an island what are the two material items you would want to have?
2. What are two TV shows you'd watch over and over
3. If your house was on fire what two things aside from family, pets, etc would you grab?
4. What are your two most favorite articles of clothing?
5. What two movies that you saw in the past year would you recommend to us?
6. What are your two biggest guilty pleasures?
Happy Sunday Funday!
XO






Friday, January 25, 2013

Be My Valentine: Gift Swap!!!

Can you believe that Valentine's Day is right around the corner? 
 I am linking up with the lovely Meg for a V-day gift swap! This will be my first gift swap! I am very excited to participate in such a loving kind linkup!
How would you like to receive a gift basket full of great items from a fellow blogger and in return do the same for them?
Paying it forward always feels very rewarding!
 

.:: About Be My Valentine ::.
Sign-up, get matched w/ a buddy, shop for a valentine care package, and swap via mail!
1) Interested? Must be a [Life of Meg] follower to be eligible.


2) Leave a comment below that includes your first name and e-mail address.


3) Also in your comment leave at least 5-10 "favorites" of yours.

Example: Brooke's Faves
- Candy/Snacks:
Dove chocolate, coffee anything, chocolate covered anything, Reisens, Whitmans, Funyuns, Munchos and Combos

- Magazines:
Glamour, Real Simple, US, People and Allure

- Colors:
Black, grey, pink, cream and teal

- Hobbies:
Baking, cooking, dancing, shopping, blogging, scrapbooking and painting nails

- Girly things:
Nail polish, lip gloss, lip balm, home decor, face masks, candles and air freshener plug ins


4) Meg will send your buddy's e-mail address to you via your provided e-mail address. You then can exchange mailing address information once you're in contact.


5) Shop for your valentine goodies {price max: $15-20} and send your buddy's valentine by February 6th.

Sign-up closes Tuesday, January 31st @ Noon (CST)!
 
Spread the word about the [Life of Meg] Be My Valentine gift swap! We want as many people as possible to join us in spreading the love! The picture above is for your use in a post or on your sidebar. Please add a link directly to this blog post so that your friends can easily join us in the fun!
 

High Five For Friday!!!

As all of you may know if you live on planet Earth, own a calendar or have looked down at your cell phone this morning, IT'S FRIDAY!!!
Now it's not just a typical Friday morning for this girl. I am actually writing from HOME. I.am.off.of.work. This is EPIC!
Now, I would love to share with you the adventures of how I purchased the winning lottery ticket or how I stumbled across a buried treasure but unfortunately this is not the case.
I am having surgery today. Wah wah. Oral surgery that is. Put to sleep. No food or drinks after midnight. What?!?!? No Starbucks on the way? Kill me now.
It's only going to be that whole I'm going to drool on my shirt,  have a numb face for hours, talk like I have a broken jaw and look like a chipmunk for the next three days kinda thing. Yea, this girl has to experience that wonderful moment...me, myself and I. Hooray! NOT.

Ok enough of the negative, poor me story.....let's get started on the positive! TGIF! Today I am linking up as usual with Lauren to bring you the five highlights of my week, H54F (High Five For Friday).

1. I booked our vacation! We are using the vacation time to celebrate mine and Madison's birthdays, they are 5 days apart. The hotel room was booked for 4 days and 5 nights and is completely free (gotta love those perks!). Oceanfront. Balcony. Myrtle Beach. 84 average high weather. 20 pools. 2 water parks. An amusement 1 mile away. Need I say more?

2. I became a sponsor of Chelsee's Southern Beauty Guide blog. I am learning more and more tips daily to improve my blog, posts and layout. I can't wait to expand my horizons.

3. More of the wedding pictures are being posted to FB by Eric Wilson the photographer. I am thrilled every time I see a new "sneak peek".

4. Madison's dance instructor a couple of weeks ago emailed me with an itemized price list of Madison's dance recital costume. The email I received she would owe $313.71 for her costume or she would not be able to participate in the dance recital. I freaked, I cannot pay that amount at this time. So bummed and down in the dumps that I could not make this happen, I decided we would just have to skip it this year. Well, Wednesday night I received an updated email with an apology stating that the instructor had sent me the incorrect pricing and that it would now only be $98.71. What a relief! Now $98 I can swing but $317, I'm afraid not. I am grateful the instructor caught the mistake!

5. I've received four new followers this week and my blog seems to come up in conversation among friends. I am grateful for the people who stop and take the time to also enjoy what I love. Thank you to the blog community and all of the others who read my posts!




As always, I hope you enjoyed the post! Have a great weekend!



Thursday, January 24, 2013

WOW...It changed my way of thinking forever!

Have you ever just sat in your living room, in your office or in your car and just had that moment. You cry. You feel depressed. You are sad. Surrounded by a world of confusion and chaos. Trapped in your own thoughts and feeling like no one will understand.
Well, for some reason on Monday morning I was that person.
I simply got out of bed, sat down on the couch and sobbed, like a baby.
I had experienced nothing.
I hadn't went to work and had a rough day.
All my bills were paid and my fridge was fully stocked.
But for some reason (No not from PMSing, for all those who may be wondering) I was sad.
This seems to happen to me every once in awhile. No explanation what so ever.
So this year in my long list of New Years resolutions I decided to try and find the positive in every negative. I try to find something uplifting and motivating to keep my mind from wondering from the greatness life has to offer.
So for some reason on that very day I made a cup of coffee and sat on my couch, while wiping the tears and feeling the strange sadness in my heart I googled "Feeling sad for no reason". As if God had sent the message straight to me I found this little (but sort of long) note of inspiration, motivation and reasoning.

"Stop feeling sad for no reason. Stop placing all of your happiness into whether or not your crush will text you back. Stop feeling a vague sense of melancholy, something that you aren’t able to pinpoint but you know is there.
I woke up today feeling that quiet sense of melancholy. The steps I took on the way to the bathroom felt heavy and when I looked at myself in the mirror, I could see myself cringing. This doesn’t happen very often, I don’t usually meet the day with a “Screw you!” kind of attitude but when I do, I get angry. How is it possible to feel so crappy at 8:30 in the morning? Actually wait, how is it possible to feel great at 8:30 in the morning? This is dumb though. These feelings aren’t real. I’m choosing to be in a sour mood. When there’s nothing there to make me feel sad, it’s quite clear that I’m the reason. I’m the one who’s making myself feel miserable. And since I’m the one who got me there, I can also be the one who gets me out.
For those of us who don’t have chemical imbalances but are rather just prone to feeling a boatload of emotions, we have to learn not to indulge every thought we have. It’s difficult though. With people who suffer from analysis paralysis and melancholia, it’s like we’re constantly betraying ourselves.
We get upset over minute things and then get upset over the fact that we’re upset. We get sad that the amazing person we went on a date with last week hasn’t asked us to go on another one, and then we get angry at ourselves for giving the person so much power. We choose the things that control us. We give our phone a lot of power. We get bummed out about text messages and phone calls and, oh my god, it shows that they read my text but haven’t responded back! We give the Internet a lot of power. When someone doesn’t follow us back on Twitter or write on our Facebook wall, we fall into a spiral of grief. Why?
We need to start figuring out what emotions are legitimate and which ones are bogus. If you’re feeling things every minute of every day, some posers are bound to sneak in through the back door of your brain. These posers are meant to veer you off track and get you upset for no reason, but they don’t come from a genuine place. They’re as fake as a Prada bag on Canal Street. We don’t like to admit it but sometimes we like falling into ruts for no reason. It reminds us that we’re alive and that SOMETHING is happening to us. Who cares if it’s good or bad?! I’m sad and it’s better than nothing!
Except it’s not better. In fact it’s a lot worse. All of those times you feel this vague sense of sadness, all of those times you let the posers in, add up to something major in the end. So we have to stop indulging every emotion we have. We have to realize we have control over these Monica “JUST ONE OF THEM DAYS” kinds of moods. Because they’re so not real. Seriously. Screw Monica for giving vague sadness some power! Not a month goes by that someone doesn’t post that video on their Facebook with the caption: “Sing it, Monica. Just one of them days…” Give yourself more credit than that. You know what I did this morning when I felt myself going into Monica territory? I stopped the “Just one of them days” bus and danced to some Rolling Stones. Now I’m all better. Don’t let your emotions punk you. Chances are you’re feeling something that’s not even there."

This little note was brought to us by "The Thought Catalog".
I am in high hopes that if you ever need words of encouragement that you can always come back to today's post to find your smile again, feel the warmth in your heart and to have a better day after reading it. It change my mood immediately. It re-guided my heart, mind and soul down a more positive path. I am ever so grateful that I stumbled upon this and that it changed my day for the better. I hope you too gain something from it.
 
WOW: 
 
Have you read something that changed your way of thinking, improved your mood or helped to brighten your day? Please share if so! I would love to gather some daily readings of WOW.
 
If you are still reading, I thank you. I know this post was lengthy but it came from the heart and was intended to show you that there will always be a light at the end of the tunnel. Don't give up!
 
XO



Wednesday, January 23, 2013

 
Want to know what is fabulous about Wednesday? Everything! We are half way through the school/work week, anytime we link up with the fabulous Jamie we have an excuse to cyber stalk Pinterest and it seems like most Wednesday posts are pretty positive.
Positivity, the only thing I am trying to surround myself with these days! If you are a party pooper, debbie downer or a scrooge then get lost. I might stress out sometimes but for the most part I have started out this year in a new light and I already feel like I am headed down the right path. Especially with all my bloggy friends supporting me! Love all you peeps!
Did I mention I just became a sponsor for one of my favorite reads? Yep her name is Chelsee over at Southern Beauty Guide. If you haven't started following her, GO NOW! I couldn't be more excited to contribute to her page and get my blog some additional exposure!  I am working on some new pages and on the search for a new blog look. Have any suggestions for a blog design or a site I could check out? Please share! I hope to keep all of you intrigued and wanting more!

Since I have been in bridesmaid mode this weekend and still trying to get back into the groove of things I thought I would just stick to my Pinterest loves this week and save all my other loves for later!
 
I'm loving...these yarn covered bottles! I couldn't guarantee that I would be patient enough to sit and finish this project! Although I have many great pinned DIY projects, I never seem to complete a craft. My mother received all of that special thing we call patience, I on the other hand did not.
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I'm loving...This card! The website let's you enter the dates so they can print the correct amount of days. For the site click here
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I'm loving...these shoes. Although I would never last a blink of an eye in them they are super cute and colorful.
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I'm loving...How true this statement is! How many times do you start typing and the screen changes, suggestions come up and you stop typing to watch how ridiculously fast Google attempts to find the #1 search result? It's a little outrageous don't you think?

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I'm loving...COFFEE! I have to have coffee every morning or else this girl is asleep in five seconds flat! There is something about waking up in the morning and having a warm cup of coffee to begin your day. Love all of these expressions related to coffee.
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I'm loving...Amaretto soaked, chocolate covered cherries! Can we say yes please! I love cherries, chocolate and amaretto so these would be heavenly! I am looking up the recipe as I write this!
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I'm loving...This letter to a neighbor. I would die if this letter was written and left to me. The letter explains why I laughed hysterically and why you will be also. Someone had a lot of time on their hands and a sense of humor. Gotta love it.
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I'm loving...Monster spray. When kids have nightmares spray it under the bed, in their shoes, all the places monsters might hide. They will love it.
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I'm loving...that anytime it is under 32 degrees outside you can make ice bubbles! And well, today was a high of 17!
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I'm loving...How true this statement is! I intend on getting one outfit out to wear and the next thing I know my entire closet is dumped onto my bed. Every girls problem!
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I'm loving...Random acts of kindness! For example: Leave a sweet note for the mail man thanking him for his daily deliveries. You never know how a small gesture can make a huge impact in someone's life!
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What are you loving? Button up and share your loves!
 
 
XO