Liquid Goodness

Being a girl from the South, while I'd like to think I'm not too terribly demanding, I'll be honest...there are three things in my world that must be spot on:

My cowgirl boots.

My country music.

And my sweet tea. 

...specifically the kind that's served in mason jar form...

...and from a convenient, non-tea-bag-steeping, squeezy bottle. 

(Is it just me or is steeping tea bags the most obnoxious thing ever?!)...

 Enter: Crystal Light Liquid. 

That's right party people...no more powdery mess, no steeping of tea bags (Can I get an amen?!) , 

0 calories, all liquid goodness, and comes in 6 genius flavors:

iced tea | peach bellini | pomtini | strawberry lemonade | mango passionfruit | blueberry raspberry

While I'd usually have fresh iced tea set out for my parties, I tested out the new Crystal Light Liquid at our recent housewarming party and needless to say, it was a HUGE hit! Some might call it lazy, but I call it efficient. (Hey, I had a LOT to do in a little bit of time so boiling and steeping tea bags was not in the plans.) Fortunately, a few drops of this stuff hit the spot and helped get the party started!

I'm still anxious to run out and pick up the peach bellini and pomtini flavors and give em' a test drive but until then, I know the iced tea Crystal Light Liquid will be making a regular appearance in my kitchen, my purse and even my desk drawer.

Do I think the iced tea flavor is every Southern girl's dream? Absolutely. Stuff is UH-DIC-TING and adds just the perfect amount of flavoring to spice up that boring ol' glass of water!

Now that you know mine...what's your party planning, time-saving secret?!   For a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card leave an answer in the comments below! 

Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b) Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the
following unique term in your tweet message: ""#SweepstakesEntry""; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post"
c) Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 5/14 - 6/4.
Be sure to visit the Crystal Light page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!

Weekend To-Do's

one. Rescue drowning mouse from community pool - check!
two. Work outside on a sunny Friday afternoon- check!
three. Find & purchase adorable "LOVE" bracelet - check!
four. Make feet really happy with new bow flips - check!
five. Consume one too many"Ridgeback Ales" at a local brewery - check!
six. Take one too many photos of Miss Oakley - check!
seven. Enjoy my very first Furmother's Day - check!

And finally...

eight. Surround myself with the most beautiful and important women in my life - check...check...check!

I hope y'all had an equally fantastic mouse-saving, pool-going, ale-drinking, puppy-kissing, momma-loving weekend!

 

Saw it. Pinned it. Did it. - DIY Bow Holder

Today...TODAY...just might be my favorite post I've written in a while. 

For several reasons:

A) It's Thursday...who doesn't love themselves a good Friday eve?

2.) After a month(plus)-long break, Saw it. Pinned it. Did it. is officially back in action!

D) This week's project is a special little gem for my nieces...TRIPLET nieces...in case you forgot. #proudaunt

So last weekend, since my sissy-in-law is locked up on hospital bedrest, a few of us went over to their house and helped put together the nursery! 

PROOF

Working hard? Or hardly working? I'll let you be the judge...

Well...baby daddy has his crap together so the cribs and furniture were all set up and ready to go. It was the rest of our jobs to fold/hang clothes and put everything in it's designated spot so the day those tiny little chicklets come home from the hospital, their room is set and ready to go! 

When the time came to put their cajillion hair bows away, we quickly realized they had no where to hang them! 

Now what's a baby girl's nursery without a bow holder?

Exactly...

So I took matters into my own hands and in 5 simple steps, you can too!

original inspiration

Here's what you'll need:

Glassless frame (any size...mine was 16x20...I think?) | 1.5 inch thick ribbon (any flavor) | hair bows...LOTS of 'em

Not pictured: Hot glue gun, scissors, triplet neices

Step 1-2: measure your ribbon and cut enough strands to spread across your frame. I spaced mine out about an inch and a half away from each other.

Step 3: hot glue those puppies onto the back of your frame, making sure they're evenly laid out and stretched as tight as possible to see that the ribbons don't sag.

Step 4: Apply 'said' hair bows to ribbons!

Step 5: Stand back and give yourself a high-five for totally rocking this Pinterest project!

You know the drill! Link up below and add our button in your post today!

Quick Reminder (& A Belly Full of Babies!)

Hola friends! So I took a quick break from working...you know...because working from home is so ungodly terrible...to remind you all that the one, the ONLY Saw it. Pinned it. Did it. link up will be BACK up tomorrow morning!! Be sure to take all your pictures tonight and get your posts ready for tomorrow morning!

 

I'm so excited to share my project with you all! It may or may not involve something for my nieces, who, by the way...are 30 weeks today and just growing (& moving around) like crazy!! My sister-in-law is such a trooper y'all and is hanging in there like nobody's business!

We went and visited her up at the hospital on Saturday night and I swear those little nuggets were having a dance party up in that tummy of hers!



  Is there anything better than a belly full of triplets?? I think NOT!

 

(Sorry...totally went off on a rabbit trail there. Can you tell I'm anxious to meet those little girls?!)

So anywho...just in case you have nothing better to do with your day or need inspiration for the linkup tomorrow, here are a few of my favorite SPD projects I've completed in the past:

Paleo Cookie Dough

Fiesta Themed Baby Shower

Guacamole Salsa

Tissue Paper Garland

 

Copycat Outfit

Long Distance BFF Mugs

 

New to these parts and not sure what the heck I'm talking about?

So every Thursday my co-host, Katie, and I host a weekly linkup where you get to show off your latest Pinterest creations! All we ask is that you include the button we created (above), as well as the original pin from where you got your inspiration from and show us what you come up with! Whether it's a recipe you've been wanting to try, a craft of some sort, a new hairstyle, a fashion idea, etc...it's time we get to tackling those Pinterest boards! Yes?!

 

Oh ....and Katie and I decided if ALL of you out there in blogworld don't participate, we're unfollowing all of your blogs effective immediately. See you all tomorrow!! ;)

Day 1 @ The New Gig (+ What I Wore)

So. Yesterday was my first day at the new gig and in honor of that, I thought I'd give you all a little inside scoop!

First of all-let's just say taking a new job was quite possibly one of the biggest/toughest/scariest decisions of my life. No joke. It is NOT easy leaving a very, very stable company you've been with for 4 years for a start up company that hasn't even been around a few months. But then again...it's not everyday you're given an opportunity to get in with a company at its infant stages and being 26 and childless, Beau and I just felt it was the right thing for me, for us, to do. So...I took the leap!

That being said, my new position is with a healthcare software company here in Houston and I'll be working as the Social Media Analyst! Right up my alley? I think YES! And the best part?! As of now, I'm working from home 3 days a week and am in the office the other 2. Also right up my alley? Definitely a YES!

My favorite new co-worker has fur and four legs... :)

Anywho...some of you may or may know that though I loved many things about my "old" job (which is still so weird for me to say!) the one thing I got burnt out on BIG time was the fact that I had to wear solid black suits, plain Jane shirts, plain jane jewelry, NO perfume, panty hose (yep-panty hose) and closed toe black heels.

If you're thinking to yourself "YUCK!"...you're right.

Don't get me wrong...I own enough black suits to stock the Limited, and sure, it was SO nice not having to figure out what I was going to wear each and every day but after a while, it got so mundane and I felt like my appearance just got more and more sloppy.

When I read through my new company's handbook and saw the dress code was "business casual" I instantly shrieked in excitement and then immediately turned to panic mode because I had no idea what the hay "business casual" even meant!

A few shopping trips and a tornado of a bedroom later...I was set for my very first day as a Social Media Analyst!

White Top (mine was a little different than the peplum pictured above) - The Limited

Tan slacks - The Limited

Coral cardi - Old Navy

Tan peeptoes - Kohl's

Bow earrings - Kate Spade

Wedding ring - from the husby

Gold watch - Betsey Johnson

Turquoise bracelets - old

Leopard iPhone case - from Katie

BFF Bangle - Kate Spade

Life Planner (mine is the pink/green succulent design...a little different than pictured above)- Erin Condren

This was the best #OOTD pic I could do at 7am...forgive me...

So there we have it! So far-I'm very excited, anxious and thankful for my new journey! A HUGE thank you to everyone who has been so incredibly supportive during this new "adventure" in our lives! It is appreciated more than you know!

Jewelry That Tells A Story

A necklace, is a necklace, is a necklace.

But what a regular necklace is not is a Living Locket.

I was introduced to the Living Lockets from Origami Owl about a month ago and let me tell you...mine hasn't been back in my jewelry box since the day it was delivered to my doorstep!

So what's this "Living Locket" I speak of and are "lockets" really making a come back?

To answer the first part of that question, Living Lockets tell a story. You start by picking out charms that have meaning to you. Next, you choose your favorite locket and chain. Finally, you get to add personality with a handstamped metal plate or even dangles.

To answer the second part of that question, YES! Lockets are totally making a come back and I couldn't be more excited.

To be perfectly honest, when I first sat down to design mine, it was completely different than what you see in the above photo. It was silver, with initials, a cowboy boot and even a laptop (for my obvious love of blogging and social media...ha!). Then I switched a few charms out, decided I really wanted to give this whole gold trend a try, switched out my charms again and FINALLY came up with my masterpiece!

So what does my Living Locket mean to me?

I chose the gold "Love" plate because, well, I just love it. No really...I love love. I love what love stands for. I love what love has to offer. And most importantly, I love knowing what it feels like to love and to be loved. (Whoa. That was a LOT of "love"!)

As for the charms, they each have their own meanings too:

• The cross represents my faith in Christ.
• The gold rhinestone heart represents...you guessed it...more love.
• The diamond rhinestone represents April; the month I was born and the year I married my Beau Beau.
• The red rhinestone represents January; mom, brother, Beau and Oakley's birth month and also the anniversary month of my dad's passing.
• And finally, my absolute favorite part of the locket...the topaz rhinestone; dad's birth month.

Putting all these charms together meant SO incredibly much to me! Who would have thought I could be so emotional about a necklace?! ;) But no...really...it represents family and I know darn good and well that without mine, I'd be nowhere.

It's funny to see people look at my necklace and kind of tilt their head trying to figure out what it is. Eventually they'll ask what it all means, which then gives me the opportunity to explain my Living Locket, which also just so happens to be my story.

I'm excited about these little things! You can continue to add to your locket throughout the years by adding more charms and they make incredible gifts. (Psst! Mother's Day is May 12!)

If you need any help whatsoever designing your necklace, Holly with Origami Owl is YOUR GIRL! She's THE sweetest and such a huge help! Don't hesitate to contact her with any questions! 
***
On a second note...thank you EVERYONE for the overwhelming amount of birthday love I received yesterday!! From tweets, to blog posts to blog comments and emails...you all really know how to make a girl feel special on her 27th birthday! Love y'all!! xoxo

Dear 27

Dear 27,

This morning I woke up one whole year older. It's amazing how SO many things can change in just one single year. I don't know about you but me? I like change.

This time last year, Beau and I were living in our tiny one bedroom townhome smack dab in the middle of Houston. It was just the two of us in our little box and a few dead animals on the walls.

This year I woke up in our new home that lies many, many miles away from the big city. I rolled out of the coziest of king size beds, with my husband by my side and our sweet puppy at our feet. I climbed into my bathtub (aka: my new form of heaven) and soaked up my very first few minutes of being 27 years old.

Beau, who usually sleeps in several hours past me, came strolling into the bathroom in nothing less than a pair of red, white and blue boxers (you're welcome for the visual), with a steaming mug of THE best Texas Pecan coffee in his hands as he quietly serenaded me with his very raspy, very sleepy version of "Happy Birthday". It was then that I knew 27 was going to rock my damn socks off.

This morning as I drove off for my morning commute I was greeted with the most beautiful sunrise over the east and all of a sudden I felt overcome with a huge sense of gratefulness.

Grateful for life.
Grateful for love.
Grateful for another year to live a life of love.

So 27, I think it's safe to say we're going to get along real well. I already like where we've been but even more so, I like where we're headed.

Sincerely,

The Birthday Girl

Calling Closet Soap Fans!

Just when you thought trashy reality TV was the only thing left to watch anymore (wait? Is that just me?)

[crickets]

Anyways...what I'm trying to say here is move over Teen Mom, Kardashians and The Real Housewives of Whatever City...the soaps are BACK!

Oh yes-it's true!

The highly-anticipated return of the two long-running ABC daytime dramas, and your guilty pleasure, “All My Children” and “One Life to Live,” will take place April 29 (ahem...TODAY!) when new episodes of the shows debut online, courtesy of The Online Network. Closet soap fans (AKA: YOU!) will be able to view the latest episodes via the free service Hulu.com and Hulu Plus! In addition, the iTunes store will offer both series via iPhone, iPod Touch, Apple TV and Mac and PC.

Not only are ALL the original cast members back, but there are quite a few new cast members, too!

Starting TODAY, like I said, you will be able to view the latest episodes of both dramas via Hulu.com ...wait for it...FOR FREE! If you have a Hulu Plus subscription, or would like to get one for less than $8/month, you can view the episodes there, too! (For a FREE trial week of Hulu Plus, go here.) But just wait! In addition to All My Children and One Life to Live, you will have access to ANY tv series included in the Hulu library! Ahem...Glee, Parks & Rec, Nashville...you get mah point!

I know. I know. It feels like Christmas, doesn't it?! Soaps are back, yes, but the main thing I'm most excited about is being able to watch them on Hulu. For free. On your computer. Anywhere in the world! (AKA: while you're "working"). (Kidding about that last part...maybe...)  ;) No but really...I'm NOT a movie person and as many road trips as we take, it will be nice to watch something I actually like and be able to watch it on my own time from the convenience of my laptop.

As if I didn't just totally rock your world...I have but ONE more thing for ya...

...a GIVEAWAY party people!!

Who: Maybe you!?
What: a FREE one-year subscription to Hulu Plus AND a chance at the Grand Prize, a Roku!
When: Enter RIGHT NOW!
Why: Because who doesn't like winning cool stuff?!
How: Simply leave a comment in the comments section answering the following question...

Why are YOU excited to start watching soaps on Hulu?!
Sweepstakes Rules:
No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b: Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: "#SweepstakesEntry"; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
c: Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d: For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 4/29/2013-5/26/2013

Be sure to visit the sponsor's brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers reviews and find more chances to win!

Many Celebrations & A Leap



3 reasons I'm sippin' on the bubbly this week:

First things, first...Beau and I celebrated our two year wedding anniversary over the weekend and though it was plain and simple, it was exactly what we needed. (And I am still in absolute SHOCK that it's been two years already!) At our first anniversary, we decided we would take a trip every year and I vowed I would put my wedding dress back on (because who doesn't love wearing their wedding dress around the house?) Well...things change, 12-week old puppies take over your life and injured shoulders make putting on a wedding dress less than exciting. So-no trip this year and no wedding dress...[insert teeny sad face]...but we did indulge in a fabulous dinner, incredible drinks, yummy desserts, a couple of movies (even though I fell asleep #typical), took Oakley on extra long walks and just enjoyed our time together celebrating two years of Mr. and Mrs. Howard. :) Sometimes it's all about the simple things in life y'all, however I DID get ten types of crazy by going slingless to dinner. There's just something so un-sexy about a big, black arm sling... ;)

If I look completely uncomfortable in the picture above, it's because without a sling on my left arm, I was...



I'm a lucky, lucky girl to call him mine! :)

Second, and quite possibly the best news of all...I do NOT have to have surgery on my shoulder! The doctor said it is healing GREAT but it's very, very weak and extremely tight to the point that I can barely even lift it. A few weeks of physical therapy are in my near future and then hopefully I'll be back to my old self in NO time. Oh-and I'm also SLING-FREE! Thank goodness...it was getting hard to coordinate that stupid thing with my outfits... (And thank ALL of you for your sweet thoughts and prayers! They definitely worked!)

The third, and the most exciting/bittersweet, celebration in my life right now comes in the form of a new career! Some of you may or may not know that for the past 4 years, I have poured every ounce of my heart and soul into my current job. I have been able to fulfill my passion for health and wellness in so many ways possible that it's still a little surprising to me that I'm taking this leap. However, I have been presented with an incredible opportunity with a brand new company to fulfill the other half of my passion, which is marketing and social media. There comes a point in time where you have to do what's best for you and right now, I am 100% sure that this is what is best for me, my career and my family. It's also not everyday you're given opportunities like the one I have been given and I don't ever want to live a life of "what if's" so I'm taking the leap. And it's a huge, bullfrog-sized leap of faith but I know it's the right one. I am forever grateful for my current (soon to be "old") job for the knowledge I have gained, the books I've read (which is over 100!) the people I have met, the experiences I've experienced, and for the skills I've learned but as hard of a decision as it was, I have to close one chapter and start a new one in this so called "Book of  Life" I'm writing.

I stumbled across this quote the night before I accepted my new position and it spoke to me in a way that no other quote has ever spoken to me before. I hope it does the same for you.

To my friends, family and co-workers: thank you for your undying love and support during these past few days. The overwhelming amount of love and encouragement is appreciated more than you all will ever, EVER, know. I am very grateful that God has surround me with such good company. I love you all!

[Wipes tears of happiness.]

So there we have it. Two wonderful, incredible, sometimes challenging but always fun years of marriage, no shoulder surgery (heck to the yes) and my big leap of faith!

Even our baby bird is celebrating with us! :)

Gotta start 'em early on the booze, right? ;)

Raw Week Update & My New BFF

Oh hey there! Happy THIRD day of raw week for any of you ballsy enough to join me on my raw food journey!! That's right...this officially means after today I can cross off #9 on my 30 Before 30 list. Whoop whoop!!

That being said, I wanted to give you all an update as to how this whole "raw" thing is going!

But before we get started, my child insisted she make (yet another) appearance on the blog:

She's a real diva, I tell ya...

Okay...so first things first...let me get a few housekeeping questions out of the way:

NO-I am not starving. (Surprisingly enough!) I'm naturally hungry during feeding times (AKA: breakfast, lunch, dinner and few snacks between each) but it's really nothing out of the ordinary. Half of the meals I have prepared for myself, I end up not eating all of them. It's weird. Yes.

NO-I don't have any cravings. None. At all. If/when I get a little sweet tooth, dehydrated figs and raw almond butter have been my go-to lifesavers. PS-do NOT even doubt dehydrated figs for a second. Trust me...I sneered my nose at them the first time I heard of them too and am no obsessed. OB-SESSED. If you EVER in your life loved Fig Newtons...you will LOVE me for introducing dehydrated figs into your life.

NO-my husband is NOT doing it with me. Upon approaching him about the weeklong raw food diet, he basically gave me a go to hell look and politely told me "No thanks, babe. I'll fend for myself." So-fend for himself he has! Frozen pizzas, Taco Bell, Whatburger...you name it. I think he's really loving this raw diet thing, while I on the other hand, am cringing every time he puts another greasy fry into his arteries. (Back to clean eating for him next week! Sorry, babes!)

NO-I haven't had to cook ALL week long and it feels AMAZING!!! I feel like I've gained an extra 2+ hours every night by not having to prep, cook and clean dinner. Don't get me wrong...dinner always has been and always will be my favorite meal of the day because I feel like it closes out the day for a family in a positive way but not having to deal with pots, pans, seasonings, dishes, cutting boards and the physical action of cooking food has been very freeing for me. Emphasis on "VERY" and "FREEING".

In case you're wondering, here's what my eating plan has looked like for the past couple of days and honestly, really, truthfully...I've NEVER felt better. EVER.

Work bag loaded down with food | breakfast day 1 | lunch day 1 | lunch day 2

I secretly hope I can continue eating a raw diet for breakfast and lunch during the week. Why the heck not!?

In other news...Kacie B (from the Bachelor for any of you hiding under a rock) is now my BFF.

Yep. It happened.

I mean...she may still be a little starstruck by my presence, which is completely understandable, but I'm considering us gal pals...for sure. ;) 

It all started with a blog comment. 

Then continued with a few exchanged emails.

To Twitter friends.

And now she's starting her very own blog next week! (Link to come soon...I'm pretending I may or may not have had an inkling to do with it...)

PS-Kacie...girl's night on Smonday? Yes? ;) Ok.

So there we go. Raw day #3 is in session and my new BFF is Kacie B. I will TAKE it. ;) Happy hump day lover pants!