It's Me... A to Z.

It's been awhile since I wrote a true "get to know me" post, and I've noticed some new followers around here (Hi!) so I thought today was the perfect day.

Last month, I saw a list of favorites, from A to Z, on Tabitha's blog an loved reading through them.  Catching small glimpses in to other blogger's lives is fun for me - it helps me picture them while reading a post.  (Does that make me a little creepy?  Sorry!)

A | animal // Dogs, definitely.  I saw pandas at the San Diego Zoo a few years ago and loved them too, but dogs for every day.  I can't walk by one without asking it's owner if I can cuddle and squeeze pet it.

b | beauty product // Chapstick.  Especially in Chicago winters.  My faves are EOS and Burts Bees.

c | color // Purple, any shade.  Although lately I've been loving coral and mint.

d | drink // Water.  Or Vodka.  They are the same, no?

e | exercise // Lately my jam has been the treadmill.  I rotate between the Couch to 5k program an Jillian Michael's workout.  (See it here)

f | flower // Hydrangea.

g | game // Monopoly!  Or Trivia Crack.

h | human // It's tied with E and A.

i | instrument // I played the flute for ten years when I was younger!

j | job // I used to work at a Ronald McDonald House.  It was the most emotional job I ever had, but also the most fulfilling.

k | karaoke song // Anything Britney or Madonna.

l | lunch // Turkey Sandwich, with dijon mustard, swiss cheese, lettuce and tomato.  Bonus points if it's whole grain bread.

m | movie // I seriously can't pick.  I love different movies for different reasons.  Some of my faves are these.

n | number // Eleven.  Not sure why, it's just the first one that came to mind.  Maybe I should play the lottery tonight with that...

o | object // Does my car count?  I feel super safe in it, and have enough room to tote the kids and all of their stuff around in it.  The four of us, plus the dog can comfortably travel in it - which is not an easy feat!

p | picture // This wedding photo:

q | quote // This:

r | restaurant // I cannot choose.  There are so many options!  If we narrowed it down, I probably could. (Pizza - Lou Malnati's or Aurelios, Steak - Del Frisco's, Italian - Biaggi's, etc etc.)

s | season // Summer or Winter, I love the extremes.

t | trend // Gold everything.

u | underwear // Anything that's comfortable (which is hard to find, by the way)

v | vacation // Ahhh.. St. Thomas, Japan, London.  I feel like this needs to be narrowed down as well!

w | writer // I don't have a favorite.  I like a variety of books.  Chick Lit, Romance, Mystery, etc.

x | x-tra favorite :) // dessert // Creme Brulee, Cheesecake or Cupcakes.  

y | year // 2007.  When we got married, and our lives together really began.

z | zodiac sign // mine... Cancer.

Today I'm linking up with Anne for Wednesday Wishes.  I wish that you each get to spend a little more time with your favorite things this week.  Take time for the good in your life!

Hey Kerri Blog & Blogger Love v.28

Today is a fun day - it's Friday, I have a shopping date with my girls tonight, and Kerri is here to host Blogger Love with me!

Have you met Kerri yet?  She's fun, down to earth, and while I read her blog it feels like I am talking to a friend.  All great qualities in a blogger!  I've asked Kerri some questions, and her answers do not disappoint!

Where can we find you on a typical Saturday morning?

I have such crazy, random and adventurous personality that you never really know where you'll find me though. For some reason though I always wake up on Saturdays with a burst of energy that result in scrubbing down my apartment with the help of two cups of coffee.

What is your favorite meal, and drink of choice?

I'm never one to refuse a big plate of my mom's spaghetti with a side of garlic bread and caesar salad and I'll also always be down for a huge plate of nachos! Beverage wise I'm pretty much strictly water besides my morning coffee but if we're talking about *alcoholic* beverages you can pass me a draft beer or a vodka cran with half water and two lime slices!

You are a self-proclaimed beauty fanatic. What are you three must haves?

Definitely a bronzer because no matter what, my face is alwayyyys lighter than my face and I only use NYC's Sunny bronzer that you can pick up at Walmart for under $3. I have the shortest coarse eyelashes that you will ever see so mascara is pretty much a necessity in my life! Lately, I've been loving l'Oreal's Double Extend mascara that again, you can get at a drugstore. Lastly, chapstick!! Especially now with winter being so bitter cold here - my favorites are either regular Cherry Chapstick or Blistex Lip Medex.

If you could max out your credit card in any store (and not have to pay the bill!) where would you go?

Well my first instinct was to say Target since I can get a bit of everything there but since they are closing their stores here in Canada (tear), I'll go with Winners (think Marshall's). It would definitely have to be one of the stores with a Home Sense attached to it as well though because they have amazingly cute home decor!

Why did you decide to start blogging?

I wish I could remember the exact moment that triggered my desire to start blogging but unfortunately most times I barely remember what I did last week, ha! I somehow stumbled upon Living in Yellow then all of a sudden I was on Anne's blog Love the Here and Now which resulting in me just being just fascinated with the whole concept of lifestyle blogging. The next thing I know I'm playing around with a design, drafting a first post and creating a twitter ... here I am about ten months later still loving it :)

What's the best piece of blogging advice you've ever received?

Don't write and hit publish on a post that you wouldn't want to read yourself.

Follow Kerri here:

Blog || Twitter || Bloglovin' || Instagram || Pinterest 

Now it's time for some Blogger Love!  Link up below and tell us your favorite posts by bloggers other than yourself.  Each week I love reading your recommendations  and finding new blogs to follow!

Here are mine:

Confetti! by Kenji is Here.  It's true - there are ups and downs in life, but there is no reason to stay in the "downs", or create them yourself.  I love Kenji's outlook here, and her call to action!

The Bachelor TV Workout #2  by Eat, Drink and Be Mary.  Two hours for some drama filled "reality" show is a long time, but I can't stop watching.  (#IowaLove).  Mary shares some moves to help get in a workout while watching!  I did these on Monday and didn't feel like I wasted the two whole hours, which is how I usually feel.  

Across Women's Lives by Love the Here and Now.  As a mother to two lil ladies, I am looking forward to this series that Anne is participating in.

10 Years by Notes from a Newlywed.  I mean, this love story is the cutest.  And who doesn't love love, especially with Valentine's Day tomorrow?  

Link up below and find some new to you blogs to read!

An InLinkz Link-up

The Lilac Linnet & Blogger Love v.26

Happy Friday friends!  Today, I'm very excited to share with you both my favorite posts from this week, and Llinos from The Lilac Linnet.  When I first "met" Llinos, I was really excited because she is from Wales - and my Dad's side of the family is (a teeny bit) Welsh.  I have always wanted to know more about that side of me and would love to take my Dad there someday.

Meet Llinos!

Where can we find you on a typical Saturday morning?

Don't look for me too early, because I'll be sleeping on!  But once I've had breakfast I will probably go out for a run and then come home to write a few blog posts or read my book for an hour.  My guinea pigs will be chatting away in the background while I enjoy my coffee.

What is your earliest memory?

I can remember being a toddler in the bath and screaming my head off while my parents desperately tried to clean me!  I have a deep rooted fear of water which still affects me today, but luckily bathtime is a lot less stressful these days.

Can you tell us a bit about the novel you are writing?
I would love to!  I have written 30,000 words of my first draft, and I am so excited.  My novel is about a young duchess who rules a magical land of mystery and mermaids.  She is mourning the death of her father and trying to become a strong leader, but she is haunted by her past and is facing marriage to a stranger.  Can she become the duchess that she was born to be?

You write about life in Wales - which most of your American readers probably haven't been.  What are some unique facts about Wales?

I love meeting American bloggers and readers and I recommend Wales as a destination!  Wales is a beautiful part of the UK, here are some facts:

-We have more castles per square mile than anywhere else in Europe.  

-We have a turbulent history and a wealth of legends including the stories of Arthur and his Knights. 

-We have our own language, and I speak it fluently.  

-Mount Everest is named after a Welshman, Sir George Everest.  

-There is a Welsh speaking community in Patagonia, Argentina.

Have you travelled to the US?  If so, where?  If not, where would you like to visit?

No I haven't!  That's why I enjoy reading US bloggers' blogs so much, it gives me a taste of the American life.  I love city breaks, so I would enjoy any of the famous cities; but I will say Washington DC because I'm a politics geek and I would love to see the Lincoln Memorial.

How do you pronounce your name, Llinos?

This is actually hard to explain... to make the 'll' sound, put your tongue to the back of your top teeth and blow.  Then 'inos' is pronounced 'eenos'.  'Llinos' is Welsh for linnet, hence my blog name. (How many of you tried this?  I don't think I'm saying it right...)

What is the best piece of blogging advice you have received?

It's definitely to write genuinely and authentically.  When you write a blog post which excites you, it's the best!

Follow:

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This week I have quite a few favorite posts by others, so bear with me as they all deserve credit!  Let's get right to it...

"FitBit One Review" by A Diamond with Sapphires.  I have been wanting a FitBit, but honestly was a little overwhelmed with all of the options.  Ashlen did all of the research for me - including features of each model!

"Let's Save the Dogs" by The Daily Tay.  I love dogs.  I love helping dogs.  If I could rescue all of them, I would.  But I can't, so these shirts will help me do something.  20% of the proceeds goes back to help the puppies! Win/win.

"Top 10 Indoor Toddler Activities" by Wife, Mommy, Me.  It's winter.  And although I love winter, my children get a little restless.  Stephanie shares some great activities to do indoors.  Definitely using these soon!

"Ladylike" by Flowers in Your Hair.  Teaching my daughters how to polite doesn't mean that they need to lose their voice.  Nina's post spoke to me, especially since it is such a fine line.

"Blogging 101: Pocket" by Love the Here and Now.  I downloaded this app after Anne's post, and I love it!  I can easily go back and read all of the articles that I didn't have time for during the day.  

My co-host, Llinos and I would love to have you link up with us!  Just share at least one post by a blogger other than yourself, grab the button (here) and link up below!  Check out some of the other links to find new blogs!

An InLinkz Link-up

Knock on Wood!

I knock on wood at least daily, sometimes more.  I'm not sure if it ever really helps prevent things I just "jinxed" by talking about them, but it's a habit that I've gotten in to none the less.  But today we aren't talking about my superstitions - I am introducing you to Amanda, from Knock on Wood - the blog!

You write about moving from Georgia to Missouri for love.  What was the biggest change coming to the Midwest?

The biggest adjustment I had to make was that my family was not readily available to me anymore. I am not able to just hop in the car and go visit my mom whenever I want to, that takes lots of planning and money now. 

The second biggest would have to be that stores, restaurants, and activities are not as close to me (or even here!) as they were in Atlanta. We have to make a special trip to the next town over for Chipolte, Chick-fil-A, Dollar Tree, Old Navy, Barnes and Noble, Dog Parks, Target, and Movie Theaters. #cultureshock

If you could go on an all expense paid shopping spree, which one store would you pick?

TARGET. duh! I mean it would definitely have to be a Super Target so I could get groceries too! But they have clothes, shoes, office supplies, home goods, beauty products, electronics, and pet products all in one place! What’s not to love?

You do blog designs (which are fab!) What is your creative process?  How do you work with your clients? 

So far I have known my clients pretty well, so there wasn’t a whole lot of guessing to be done. But I have developed a preliminary brainstorming from that I have clients fill out and from there I make a mood board to send to them. We make adjustments and changes along the way and my clients can see the design creation in real time with my Blog Design Tester site. I am always available (when not in class) to my clients needs, so they have my email and phone number to reach me. 

PSSSST- Amanda is offering YOU a discount code on her blog designs!  JOYFUL20 gets you 20% off here!

 

What are you going to school for?  What do you hope to do with your degree?

I am majoring in Psychology with a minor in English. However I am thinking of changing my minor, to what? I’m not sure yet, but I will definitely announce my decision once it’s made. Once I’m done with school I want to assist couples in their relationships/marriages. I also want to provide platonic relationship counseling as well. Friends, siblings, adult parent/child relationships are just important as intimate ones.

What is the best piece of advice you could give someone about blogging?

Write about things that you would want to read about. If you wouldn’t click on your post when scrolling through your bloglovin’ feed, don’t post it. Save it for another time or rework it to make it better.

 

Isn't she great?  Go on over and introduce yourself, you won't be disappointed!

 

Facebook  || Twitter || Pinterest || Instagram || Bloglovin'

 

Life as a Llama

Have you met Melissa from The Rambling Llama?  If not, I suggest you hurry over and meet her.  Melissa and I first "met" a few months ago and I was instantly calling her one of my friends.  She's easy to relate to, has funny stories about her two littles, and you can just tell that she is a genuine, sincere person.

I asked her to answer some questions so you could get to know her too!

What's the best, and hardest parts of being a parent to toddlers?

HAHA, Well, I'm sure you can relate that it's a firm combination of best and hard! HA! Well, the best would definitely be the imagination and willingness to learn. Both kids are constantly asking "why" or "what's that". Their sense of wonder is refreshing. I love seeing things through their eyes in that everything is new and fascinating. The hardest part is their desire to be bigger versions of their tiny selves. If my answer to the "why" doesn't satisfy them and they can't find the words to express their frustration, a temper ensues. Patience is a difficult thing to keep as a parent of toddlers, but being their mom is the best thing I could ask for. 

Ready this sweetness about her daughter!

Where can we find you on a Saturday morning?

Usually up and out of bed by 7 AM (thanks, kids). That's about the latest they ever let me "sleep in". When the kids drag me out of bed, I make us all a big batch of scrambled eggs and Chocolate milk. Well, the kids get chocolate milk... I get coffee! Daddy doesn't usually get up until 9:00... sometimes 10:00 so while he's sleeping we (the kids and I) either do a quiet activity or watch Saturday Morning cartoons. Some of our favorites include Sophia The First and Jake & the Neverland Pirates. Our quiet activities are either puzzles or sand art. The kids seem to be more creative than I am!

Quick question - how does he manage to sleep that late, and how can I do the same??

How long have you been blogging?  What's the biggest thing you've learned through blogging?

I technically started blogging in March of this year. I had a different blog called "Crazy Camp Camacho". Google decided to go hay-wire and the blog got deleted around May. I didn't start back up blogging until June of this year with The Rambling Llama. (Thanks to Amanda's help @ Knock on Wood!).
The biggest thing I've learned through blogging is not everyone on the internet is a scary creep. SURE There are the scary creeps out there and we should be wary of people like them, but I've "met" some of what I consider to be my closest friends through blogging. I've learned the blogging community is a tight knit one, and there are so many wonder people out there who are constantly supporting one other, uplifting each other, and praying for anything and everything. It's beautiful really. I've also learned I really enjoy writing.

Cats or dogs?

BOTH.
We have one of each now. Rambo (our cat) we've had for 7 years. I've never been able to pick one or the other and I've always had both in the house ever since I was a kid. Both have really great traits about them, so I guess that's why I like having both around. Need a cuddle and a friendly face? There's the dog to cheer you up! Need a reminder that your lap needed to be warmed by something other than the laptop? There's the cat! 

I think it's safe to say Melissa is now purely a dog person.

What's your best piece of marriage advice?

Communicate with each other. Don't stop talking about the little things that happen during your day. Sure, they may seem tiny and insignificant to you, but to your spouse it may be the most interesting story in the world. (Ok, that might be an exaggeration...) But still... Talking to your spouse about the little things reminds them that you still care to share everything with them. You may even learn something new about them with talks like this. Also, when you go to bed, ALWAYS give each other a hug and a kiss and say "I Love You"... no matter what kind of mood you go to bed in. You may fall asleep angry, but you also fall asleep loved. 

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Go say "hello"!

A Labour of Life

Have you all met Linda at A Labour of Life?  She's a Canadian fashion and lifestyle blogger that always has a fresh spin on everyday life.  Her daily outfits are so fun - her spin on everyday essentials is something to take inspiration from!  I love how she mixes patterns and makes it look great, something that I've always wanted to experiment with.  Then there is this super easy yet fun Halloween costume that she shared with us this year.

Linda's outlook on life really opened my eyes - that we shouldn't wait for the perfect moment, but make any moment perfect ourselves. Go ahead and read her post, it will make more sense after!

 To get to know Linda a little better, I asked her some questions.  Read below to see some great answers!  My favorite is her answer to what American things she wishes she could buy in Canada... that kind of thing fascinates me!

What is your favorite accessory?

Large statement necklaces, I cannot narrow it down more than that because I do have a lot but I love a great necklace and a scarf oh yeah and a great purse... hard to pick a single item but I think I will go with a great necklace.

How do you put an outfit together - is there one piece you always start with?

I usually pick one thing that I really want to wear and work around it, sometimes its a pair of shoes or boots and sometimes a necklace and I will build around that item,  like Monday I had to wear my new leopard booties and I built an outfit around the boots, but other days I have decided to wear a necklace and work around that. So its not always the same thing I work around but there usually is one thing that I get the urge t wear and have to go from there.

(I love the leopard booties, see above!)

 

How many pairs of shoes do you own? (be honest!)

As I hang my head in shame I just passed the 150 mark.. and it would have been a lot higher but when I relocated to Ottawa 7 years ago I left a lot behind.  Don't judge me please I do love my shoes.

(No judgement here... shoes are a girls best friend!)

 

Wine or beer?  Or something else?

This one is tough, I love both.. Beer I have a tendency to lean towards lime beers but I do love my light beers but wine well, we have a wine cellar and vacation around spots where we can visit vineyards so I guess I have to go with WINE.

 

What's one thing from the US that you wish you could get in Canada?

The awesome yogurt flavours you have...sounds silly but you have such a great selection of Greek yogurts.  (Used to be Brown sugar cinnamon pop tarts and Peanut Butter Chocolate pop tarts but we now get those here, yea).   I have a list of grocery items I purchase everytime I am in the states.  Also, I do wish we had tailgate parties like you have in the states, you guys have awesome football and awesome tailgate parties, I love the atmosphere.  Hockey is amazing but we do not have the same party atmosphere.

What's your favorite vacation spot?

I have to go seasonal here,  In the fall I love the Poconos or Williamsburg and in the dead of winter the Mayan Rivieria.

It's Saturday morning.  Where are you/what are you doing?

Saturday Morning you will find me snuggled on the sofa with my cat and my computer, with a gigantic cup of tea.  I love a Saturday with no plans, no expectations and just me time.  I usually try and catch up on blog posts I have missed reading. In the warmer months you will find me outside on the deck, still with computer and tea in hand or floating in the pool.  I am a Saturday homebody.

 

Why do you blog?

I love sharing all the pieces of me, i post outfits during the week, crafts, food and travel on the weekends. I started out blogging because I thought I was being "to vain" posting outfit and shoe pictures on Instagram and blogging was a way to express myself in a forum that I had no idea was so, so very popular and then I got immersed n this world we call blogging and got hooked, now I blog as a way of communicating with new friends and to keep a record of life. I love the relationships that develop with fellow bloggers and that is what most keeps me motivated to continue.

Make sure to check out Linda here:

Bloglovin // Twitter // Blog // Instagram

Seriously, Sarah?

Today I'd like you to meet a blogger I recently found - Sarah at Seriously Sarah?  One of the first things that drew me in was Sarah's weight loss journey.  We connected on MyFitnessPal, and she's been an inspiration ever since - logging in several days in a row, always losing weight and working out!  Sarah lives with Cervical Dystonia but doesn't let that stop her from enjoying life.  Read a little more about her, Q&A style and be sure to check her out!

1. What is your favorite room in your house? Why?

I love my bedroom. It was all mine before I got married, but it's still mostly mine. We went with more gender-neurtral decor, but it still has my clothes and makeup everywhere. It's where I go to read, watch a little Netflix, or just cuddle with my dogs!
 

2. What is your earliest memory?

I don't remember my mom being pregnant with my little brother at all, but I do remember her telling me that when the baby came, I had to move out of my bedroom and down the hall. It was pretty traumatic, I guess. All of my earliest memories surround the birth of my brother (who gets married in July!!!)

 

3. What is your favorite meal, of all time?

I will never say no to Shrimp & Grits. Or a Low Country Boil. Basically shrimp is my favorite!

 

4. What is your drink of choice - alcoholic or non?

I love Le Croix's Coconut flavored water. It tastes like summer!

 

5. What would you spend $1,000,000 on - besides paying off debt or buying a home?

I would go back to school, for sure. I would have a job that I enjoyed, no matter how little it paid.

 

6. Why did you start blogging?

I love to write, and I was already reading a lot of blogs. My husband, who has experience in designing websites, encouraged me to start one. Without his help, I don't think I ever could have gotten it set up!

 

7. What is your must-have beauty item?

Blush. I think that a bright pink blush just brightens up my face, no matter what other make up I am wearing. Currently, I love Tarte's blush in Adored.

 

8. Which store would you max out your credit card at? What would you buy?

Probably Macy's. They have everything from dresses to shoes and purses!

 

9. Who is your favorite celebrity couple?

I don't really know any celebrity couples, to be honest. I really like what I read about Kaley Cuoco and her new husband because when you know, you know!

10. What is your favorite reality tv show?

I haven't watched reality TV in years, but there was that show that Anderson Cooper hosted many years ago where there was a mole among the contestants and they were supposed to figure out who the mole was. I loved that!


Be sure to check out Sarah here - and check out my Q&A on her blog today!:
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