A Day Late & A Dollar Short But We Have a Winner!

Howdy doody party people!!

Good things goin' on today:

1. Obviously...it's our favorite day of the week.

(Hint: Starts with "Fri" ends with "day")

2. It's pay day.
(AKA: the only day I'm ever excited about looking at my bank account)

3. I got my hurr did last night.


...and 4. I picked up some brand new makeup. It's amazing what a few highlights and a new foundation can do for your day. Thanks to Kristen's recommendations, I went with MAC, if any of you were wondering...

So far, I likey!

Moving on...

Apparently I promised to announce my giveaway winner yesterday and totally failed to do so (whooooops!) I've really gotta work on not making anymore promises on this here blog-o' mine. I obviously got a little excited about posting pics of mine and Katie's "blacation".

Anywho-I'm gonna go ahead and say that I'll post the rest of our trip on Monday (because I know you're all just chomping at the bit...) but no promises. 

Today let's go ahead and announce the winner of one of these personalized hanging blocks from the adorable Lonestar Accessories. What do ya say?

Drum roll pllleeeeease.

Ruthie Hart...COME ON DOWN!!!

(Could I possibly be the next Bob Barker? I think yes.)



PS-if you don't follow this child, get there! Not only is she a Texan (which already makes her FAB) but her, her husband and her adorable pup, Ernie, are the cutest lil fam in the whole wide [blog] world! (Besides Beau and myself...duh.) One of these days I'm gonna drive my happy butt to Austin and meet her...whether she likes it or not!

Congratulations, Ruthie! I'm anxious to see what your sign will look like!! Shoot me an email and I'll put you in touch with the lovely ladies at Lonestar Accessories!

My Blacation

Well hey there!! I'm back! Didya miss me?! 

(You're supposed to say yes...)


PS: bloggers + vacation = blacation
Clever. I know.

Let me just tell you one thing...mine and Katie's mini-vacay/blogger meet up was by far one of the best things I've ever done. I cannot even begin to explain the rush of emotions I felt right before I met her and Billy at the airport!! Words cannot describe it.

Our 1st legit picture together. None other than a fuzzy iPhone pic...

Looking back, it's kind of weird to know I was so nervous/anxious to meet them because the second I hugged her and introduced myself to her husband, I felt like I had known them my entire life.

As for our husbands...lets just say they were texting each other and talking "tuxedos" by the time we left...

Hands down, the craziest feeling in the world. It was almost like they were just long lost friends we hadn't seen in a while. But they weren't.

They were, indeed, complete strangers.

Katie was 100% everything I had imagined. Witty, gorgeous, super tan, bright blue eyes (DUH) but a white,  and rather girly version of Lil' Wayne. Sister is a rapper, y'all. Two words:

"Ghetto Cowboy"


(I have a video for proof...)

Billhead (aka: Ray J), on the other hand, is a mini-Google, for lack of better words. From the maps and geography to the random ass facts he throws out, this kid knows everything. And by "everything" I mean "everything you pretty much don't need to know". Not just that, but he suffers from a serious case of word vomit. I don't know where the kid comes up with the stuff he says...hence his new name.

What do you say we get to the good stuff already?

I hope you prepared yourself for picture overload...

***

At the airport.

My husband's intense fear of flying leads to borderline alcoholism. No joke.

***
When we got to their condo, we were not surpised ONE BIT to see "Ohio State" t-shirts laid
across our beds. Gray for Beau, pink for me! So thoughtful! ;)

Beau especially loved his and wore it for 2 days straight.

***

The next morning, Katie scheduled a boat tour of Naples!

Uhhh hey. When can we move in?

The family of dolphins may have been my favorite part!

Later that night we took naps, heated up a pot of coffee (because that's what 20-somethings do before they go out) and headed to dinner and a casino for the night.

The second day we were there, the weather was PER-FECT. We, without a doubt, hit up the pool.
It was SO nice to enjoy some springtime weather while everyone at home was freezing their butts off!

Later that night we got all dolled up for dinner @ Mangrove Cafe

What's a night out without a pit stop at the ice cream shop?

The rest of the night was spent at a local bar called "Zookies". Don't ask.
We're not all too sure why it's called that either or better yet, what happened when we were there.

Here's what I DO know...

There were LARGE glasses of wine poured.
There was a little rapping.
A little dancing.
A little bit of Katie talking smack to the chick hitting on our men.
An old man who insisted on snapping photos of us.
And then there were lobsters...

What? You don't have lobster as drunk food?

All of that followed by sloshed FaceTiming session with Holly, Carolyn & Kristin, a round of drinking games and Beau & I falling asleep to Katie's outburst of Tourette's. (Homegirl has issues...)

Tomorrow I'll post the second half of our trip.

...And then go home, cry myself to sleep and seriously consider moving to Ohio to be closer to my newfound sister. ;*(

I have definitely met a friend for life, y'all. 

South Carolina Meets Texas

Hey y'all! I'm Lindsey aka The Bargain Blonde and how does skipping over the "I'm so excited to be guest posting blah, blah, blah" biz-naz sound? Not to say that I'm not excited because I'm pumped, I just hate the cliche guest blogging intros.

Moving right along ...

I'm here to talk about my experience meeting Beth @ SweetBef's Blog IRL (in real life) for the first time. She's actually now one of my best bishes and I had no reservations about meeting her because we had become some close before actually meeting.

However, my IRL friends all thought (& still think) I'm a complete whack job for being "friends" with people "off the Internet". They truly think I'm certifiable, but I'm done trying to explain the amazing blogging community to them.

So this is Beth, my saucy little gingy ...

We met via blogging obvs but we really started to bond because we are both single, late twenty-somethings living in the South (aka OLD MAIDS) and we have the same inappropriate humor. We had so many similarities, so the next logical step was for her to fly down from South Carolina to Texas for my birthday last August and stay with me, right?

Logical or not, that is what happened. In fact, before we met IRL in August, we had already booked a trip to New Orleans for October. I actually ended up coming home in a wheelchair after our little NOLA trip, but we'll get to that in a second. Our first meeting went a little something like so:

Beth flew in to Texas on my birthday and after I picked her up from the airport, we immediately went to lunch and had a few ice cold bevys:

After lunch, we took a nap before getting ready to

go out for my birthday dinner and (more) drinks:

We took all of two pictures together over the entire weekend which was an epic fail on our part, but there is this little diddy. I know you're jealous you aren't the ones cuddled up next to this fox:

This freak is nothing compared to the freaks we encountered during our NOLA trip, which you can read all about here. I highly recommend you take a look see at that post so that you can find out why I was wheeled home in a wheelchair by airport personnel. It's a goodie.

Both times we met IRL, we had so much fun and we remain best friends to this day. I highly recommend that if any of you become besties with any bloggers that you do your best to meet them IRL! The friendships you make in the blogging world are some of the best you'll ever make. On that note, I know that Steph and Katie are having a ridiculous time in Florida and I can't wait until they get back so we can read all about their fab vacay.

I hope you enjoyed this post and if you ever want to read more of what I have to say, come visit me at The Bargain Blonde. Thanks for having me Steph!

Naples Sneak Peek & A Washington Blate

So I'm not "technically" back but while I'm tucked away in my lush room at the Ritz for a work conference (rough job, ay?) missing the husby like cray cray on this beautiful LOVE day (aka: my absolutely favorite holiday EVER)...I thought I'd just pop in to say:

Ok-not really. 

Just wanted to tell all you lovers that whether you're single, engaged, married, divorced or none of the above (whatever that means?) I sure do hope you have the sweetest Valentine's Day ever! (We did really see this on the beach one day and needless to say, Beau is now in the dog house. Where the hell were my hot pink wooden cut out letters when HE popped the question??!!)

Anyhoo-I hope your day is as full as love as my heart is for this guy (obvi):

...and of course...this girl...

Seriously. Love does not even begin to explain it.
Big fat blogger love-fest is my only way of putting it.
(In a complete NON-lesbianic way, of course)

...but more on our trip later...(promise)

For today, you're in for a real treat. No lie.
***

Hey all you Beautiful Mess lovers! I'm Raven from A Momma's Desires and Pacifiers. Don't ya'll just love Stephanie? Talk about a total girls girl AND a total guys girl. I know for sure if we lived in the same 'hood, we would totally be homies.

While Steph is away with the beautiful Katie galavanting around the Florida beaches, she asked me to share a story of me meeting a blogger for the first time. I have only met one blogger so far (so far...wink wink) but that one time was a pretty awesome experience. See, I met up with the gorgeous Sabrina from Sabrina Says. And it wasn't just a coffee blate. No, she stayed two nights and three days with me.

(that's me on the left, Sabrina on the right)

Guys, we had so much fun. And we didn't even really do anything. I have two young kids so it wasn't like we could go out on the town partying 'til the wee hours of the morning, so instead, we stayed home and partied 'til the wee hours of the morning. Drinking wine, playing Pictionary with my family (yes, she met my entire family almost when she came to stay with me) and just visiting. Talking. Staying up late on the couch after everyone went to bed, sipping on our wine and watching funny youtube videos. Coffee and bagels in the morning. Lounging, playing with my kids. It was so fun and so easy, which to me, is the ultimate sign of a successful friendship. Things just being easy.

We did go out by ourselves one afternoon, to go "shopping." Which ended up with us planting our bums at the mexican restaurant at the mall and indulging in some cocktails and chips and salsa.



Her visit was over the Holidays, so Santa was in town. It was my genius idea for us to get our photo taken with him. BAD IDEA. If you want to know exactly why it was a bad idea, you can read more HERE. Let's just say that I don't believe in Santa anymore.


After that...experience with Ol' Kringle, we decided we should probably head home but then decided it would suite us better to grab just one more cocktail.

Who knows about those defining words? Just. one. more. If is ever just one more? Not if you're these two bad bishes. :)


We had a blast. I loved every minute of Miss Sabrina and I hope she feels the same! And anyone else out there who wants to come visit me? Door is always open. If you look like a psychopath, I may not open it, but if you are as pretty as Sabrina, I'll whip that bitch open with drink in hand waiting for you! And if you really want, I could possibly be naked...

PinkLouLou Comes to Texas

Hello Ladies!

For all of you who dont know me, Im Kristen!!

See thats ME!

Im a twenty somethin' who can usually be found with a vodka soda in hand, spending QT with my best friends, my pups Tugger and Lilly and my boo Christopher! I'm in LOVE with all things pink, bulldogs, summertime and a boy who stole my heart and moved to NOLA then Dallas. You can find me here most days spilling my guts about all my favorite new things, traveling and my long distance relationship!

 All and all, I keep it real which is why Steph fell in love with me so many years ago! I could go into our relationship but you ladies would be here all day. Basically she's me in another body which makes her the coolest person Ive ever met!

While Steph is off lounging the beaches of Naples with her new bloggy BF, Im here to tell you the story of my bloggy BF, Allie or as some of you may know her PinkLouLou!

I started blogging in February of 2010 and absolutely LOVED it! Shortly after, I began reading other blogs and quickly found faves that became daily reads. In May I came across this very PINK blog written by a Carrie Underwood obsessed ADPi! Immediately I was hooked! I began reading through her blog and instantly felt like we had SO much in common. I had never commented on a blog post because to be honest I thought it was totally CREEPSTER to comment on some random person's blog when I had know clue who they were. Clearly I was new in the blog world!!

On June 1st Allie wrote this post and I absolutely felt her pain. I had so many times before wondered if I had made a mistake in walking away from my college love. I had felt like just maybe I shouldve tried harder, shouldve been more forgiving and understanding, and more than anything I wondered if Id ever find someone who I absolutely LOVED with all my heart the way I loved him. All of these doubts left me wondering if I had made a HUGE mistake. After reading her post I knew I had to comment. I too had felt just as she was feeling and I needed her to know that there were others just like her who have experienced the same thing. I wanted her to know that in time things would be better and that God ALWAYS knows what he is doing. So I thought long and hard about what I would write. I didnt want to be creepy or write too much so I ended up leaving her this simple comment:

"I found your blog randomly, liked your style and started following it. I feel for you. Trust in God for he will ease the pain. I really hope everything turns out perfect for you and Im sure in time it will! "

A few days later she commented back with this:

"Hi Kristin! I tried to email you but couldn't find your email, so here I am! Thank you so much for your sweet blog comment-it's amazing how much sweet little comments can really be so supportive. I have definitely been having a hard time, but I am just continuing to pray. I know He holds the desires of my heart in His hand, and has such a bigger plan for me. It's so neat how little comments can be so supportive. I look forward to reading your blog!!"

and then immediately replied back with this:

"I spelled your name wrong. I am not awake from the nap I just took, ha! So sorry dear!"

haha! I literally laughed out loud! Shortly after we began emailing way too much and in no time we were sharing our life stories and heartaches. To be honest I have no clue how it happened but we exchanged phone numbers and one Friday night as I was waiting for the girls to finish getting ready and after a couple vodka sodas I decided I wanted to chat with Miss Allie, SO I CALLED HER! ha! She probably thought I was a nutcase but she answered and we chatted for a bit! Since then we've spoke at least once a week, most of the time much more often and became the best of friends!

Then in October on a random Thursday night, I was out drinking with the girls when Lo asked me why Allie hadnt come to Texas yet. I really didnt have an answer for her, so we decided right then that she must come ASAP! So there we sat at a bar, completely intoxicated, looking at flight info. It just so happened that there was a flight coming in from Lexington Saturday morning and would be leaving Monday night. Just as fate would have it Allie called while we were looking for her flight so I asked her if she'd like to come Texas in 36 hours! She was game so the next morning we booked her flight with my miles and that Saturday at 7AM I met my BFF for the first time!!

You can read all about our weekend here. It was so much fun and I have no doubt that we will be BFs forever!

Heres a short recap in photos:

{Picking her up at 6AM}

{Lunch at Rainforest Cafe}

{I took my BF Kristen with me just in case she was a weirdo! Luckily she wasnt!!}

{Shopping at the Galleria}

 {We took her out to a country bar!}

{Friends}

{She made lots of new friends.}

{We consumed A LOT of vodka in true Kristen style.}

{We took pics on a BIG Texas truck.}

{Drunken Kisses}

{Lunch at my favorite Mexican restaurant}

{Bloggie BFFs}

And that our story!! I hope Stephanie is experiencing as great of a first bloggie BFF experience as I did!! I can only imagine the shenanigans Allie and I wouldve been in if we were VACAYING in Florida!!!

Lucky bitches!

Bawstin Meets Texas

Hi y'all! I feel like I can say the word y'all now because I DID travel to Texas and all to meet some fabulous bloggers. Unfortunately not miss Stephy, though that little meet-up needs to be happening soon! I'm talking about meeting up with these two amazing, adorable, hilarious, fantastic girls:

Sabrina from Sabrina Says and Shalyn from So Shay!! EEEEK! Looking at this picture just makes me squeal with excitement! So anyway, when I started my blog, Young and Fabulous, in my old job's little cubicle, I literally just thought it was going to be me typing my day to day activities which could include anything from eating dry cereal, to going out dancing with my friends, to idolizing Lil Wayne. What I didn't know was that the first week of September I'd be clicking "book flight" on Travelocity to go down to Austin, Texas later that month to visit these biddies!

And also while there, we got the pleasure to meet up with Jenni!! From Story of my Life!! :-) 

It was one HUGE blate!

I feel like I should let you all know that first of all, I'm afraid of flying, especially alone. I don't know how I managed to get on that plane by myself. Perhaps it was the fact that I was sitting next to two old hippies that were going to a big concert in Austin, or the fact that I knew I was going to be greeted in the airport by two girls who were sweet as pie, also which I've never met.

My boyfriend, Kurt, stalked their blogs for days, reading through every post in order to trust that they were in fact, real people, and not slimy men who wanted to pick me up at the airport and bring me to a dark cave by the Mexican border. So since you might be wondering, was it awkward? Not one tiny bit. We clicked instantly. We constantly had stuff to talk about. We talked until the wee hours of the morning, went dancing, shopping, out to eat, and talked about life, love and LAUGHTER!

I didn't want to leave these two amazing girls. I remember sitting on the plane as it was taking off back to Boston. I wanted to cry because it hurt my little heart that these girls lived so far from me. Sabrina, across the country in Washington, and Shay, halfway across the country in Texas!

But the best part about this whole experience is the memories I made with these girls. And even though they live far away from me, I know for a FACT that it wasn't the last time we will get together. Soon enough! I can feel it! Anyway, this is my advice to you. If you have a close connection with a blogger, don't even second guess yourself about meeting them. DO IT. It will open your eyes to a new world, new people, and new experiences! There are so many more amazing girls I can't wait to meet and I'm happy to say nothing will stop me! Not even if I have to get on a tiny 4-seater plane! (Ok that might stop me...but you get it!)

One of the best experiences of my entire life!