Mayday, Mayday!

Do you know that Mayday is an emergency code word used internationally as a distress signal?  Separate the two words and they mean May 1st.  So my post today is two-fold.  First of all, it has been a crazy couple of days between my day job, my "fun hobby job", the kid's soccer games and trying to catch every minute of the Royal Wedding ~ I am plain exhausted!

I have been in sales for many years and anyone who is in or has been in sales knows that the end of the month just plain stinks.  Deadlines, sales quotas, last minute orders can really stress you out.  Couple month-end with a Royal Wedding that started at 4:00 a.m. on the East Coast and it makes for one long day.  Now I know I didn't have to get up at 4:00 a.m. and watch the wedding, but I didn't want to miss a thing.  I am so in awe of the beautiful, sweet, loving William and Kate and their Fairytale life.  It was my stress release for the end of the month crazies.  Speaking of Prince William and Princess Catherine, here is their official wedding photo.  It's a beauty.
 
I have to admit that I am happy to see the rainy, dreary month of April come to an end and am looking forward to a bright and magnificent May. 

Happy May Day,
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Less than 10 Hours!

See you in the morning...

Kate Middleton in one of her last photos before her big day.  I am so looking forward to the wedding.  I'm going to set my alarm right now so I don't miss one minute of the pagentry. 
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Eggcellent Fun!

The kids are enjoying their time together in Chicago and this evening they had "Eggcellent Fun" coloring their Easter eggs. 
Much concentration +
A little imagination =

The perfect batch of colored eggs!
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Off to the Windy City

It has become a tradition of ours to spend Easter with my sister and her family in Chicago.  My kids are soooooo excited that they actually woke up a 1/2 hour early for school and were in surprisingly talkative and happy moods for 6:30 a.m.  We have a busy four days planned in the Windy City and our hoping for some nice weather to enjoy the sites and stores downtown. 

I was hoping to take my new camera with me, but since it's on backorder, I had to pick a new one.  As I wait for that one to arrive, I will borrow my sister's camera to get some good shots.  Stay tuned...

Today begins my weekend, hope yours arrives soon!
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Only 8 More Days

I don't know about you, but I am getting really excited that we are down to single digits.  Only 8 more days until the Royal Wedding. 
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SO WHAT! Wednesday

Welcome to my second installment of SO WHAT! Wednesday.  Where do I begin?  This week I am saying SO WHAT if:
  • I've been up since 4:00 a.m. because of a torrential downpour and raging thunderstorm.  April showers bring May flowers, right?
  • I still haven't been able to link my blog to my Facebook Fan page - it's only been a week of trying...grrrr
  • If my family and I are leaving for Chicago tomorrow morning and the only bag that's even packed is my dog's!!!
  • I had buyer's remorse from Sunday's T.J. Maxx splurge and returned the cute sandals I blogged about
  • I am obsessed with the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, I know I'm not alone.
  • I think that the seven course gourmet meal (with two desserts) that my husband and I were invited to last night, was excessive.  I only get 29 points a day on Weight Watchers and Tiramisu counts for 12 of them.  It's all about prioritizing, right?
  • I am going to be dragging at work today, at least I got my SO WHAT! Wednesday post done.
Get "over the hump" today and make it a great day!

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Blog Hop Tuesday!

Looking for some new followers...check out "Hop A Little Tuesday" and join in:

BWS tips button

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Seeing Red Over Pink

A J.Crew ad that shows a top designer painting her young son’s toenails neon pink has some parents and doctors seeing red.

The photo appeared in a feature called "Saturday With Jenna," which was emailed to customers last week and highlights a few of J.Crew president and creative director Jenna Lyons’ favorite products -- including the hot pink Essie nail polish seen on her son, Beckett.

The caption below the picture reads, “Lucky for me I ended up with a boy whose favorite color is pink.  Toenail painting is way more fun in neon.”


Not everyone sees fun in the ad.  What do you think?

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Monday Already?

Weekends are a bit like rainbows; they look good from a distance but disappear when you get up close to them.  ~John Shirley
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New Sandals

Living in Northeast Ohio is really trying my patience.  It's Spring on the calendar but not on the thermometer and my hubby, my kids and I all have cabin fever.  Is it too much to ask for more than two nice days in a row?  Today is cold and very windy, but it didn't stop me from picking up a new pair of sandals at TJ Maxx.  I must admit, I was never much of a "Maxxinista" but I have been converted, thanks to my sister.  Here are my new Franco Sarto sandals:



(and my spring toes courtesy of me! - I decided to forgo the spa pedicure and spend the money on the sandals).


Hope you had a fun weekend!
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"14 More Days until the Royal Wedding"

Prince William to Officially Kiss Kate Middleton at 1:25 in London – or 8:25 a.m. EST and 5:25 a.m. on the West Coast – come April 29th. That's when Kate Middleton and Prince William, surrounded by their immediate families, are officially scheduled on the balcony of Buckingham Palace and expected to kiss – just as the groom's parents, Prince Charles and Princess Diana, did 30 years ago.

If it seems like I'm a little obsessed with the soon-to-be royal couple - well I am.  I just love this real life fairytale!
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You Know You are Beautiful When...

Your Vinyl Portrait Doll looks THIS GOOD.


Meet the Kate Middleton Doll.  The princess-to-be looks stylish – even at 16 inches tall! The Franklin Mint recently unveiled their latest masterpiece: The Kate Middleton engagement doll complete with an Issa-like blue jersey dress and a replica of her sapphire engagement ring. Only 5,000 are being produced worldwide.  To buy: $195 at The Franklin Mint

That's only 3 easy monthly payments of $65!  Only 15 more days until the Royal Wedding.
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SO WHAT! Wednesday


This week I’m saying SO WHAT! if…
  • I abandoned Weight Watchers this week and finally broke into the box of Samoas that have been staring me in the face since Lent started
  • Dancing with the Stars, Brooke Burke is drop dead gorgeous, she makes annoying little pouts with her mouth whenever Tom Burgeron is talking
  • I see the blue light on my dishwasher telling me the dishes are clean, but pretend I don't so my husband can empty it
  • I set my iPhone alarm for a 20 minute "power nap" at 5:30 p.m. - I needed to recharge my batteries!
  • I didn't actually check my daughter's math homework, but signed it anyway...she gets straight A's
  • I can't get my blog to import into Facebook after almost two hours of trying

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I Remember Me

Jennifer Hudson just released her incredible new album "I Remember Me" and I am loving it!




Take a listen!

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Once Upon a Time...

A handsome prince fell in love with a beautiful commoner and after an eight-year fairy tale romance, he proposed to her with his late mother's engagement ring. 


I don't know about you, but I absolutely love a good fairy tale, and when it's real life it's even better.  I remember watching the Royal Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer on July 29th, 1981.  I got caught up in all of the pagentry, the horse drawn carriage, the jewels, the 25 foot train on Princess Diana's veil.  I have always been a huge fan of Princess Diana and have enjoyed watching her legacy live on in her sons.

In honor of the upcoming nuptials of Prince William and Kate Middleton, I will officially begin my "Countdown to the Royal Wedding" taking place on Friday, April 29th at Westminster Abbey.

Only 16 more days!
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No Soup for You!

I went to a lunch meeting today at a small restaurant in a very small town located along the Ohio River. The food there is always very good but today - there was no Soup of the Day.  Much to our surprise "the Soup of the Day Maker was on vacation". 

I love a good quote and that one was one of my all time favorites.  No worries though, we all got salads.
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"Big City Style"

"I was inspired by my Aunt Leigh and her big city Chicago style to create this drawing."




Rising Above

I love Dancing with the Stars in a BIG way!  It's week three and it also happens to be "Personal Stories" week, where the star gets to pick a song that relates to a personal story in their life. My absolute favorite dancer on the show is Maksim Chmerkovskiy.  This year Maks was paired with Kirstie Alley, and to be quite honest I was bummed.  Although, I like Kirstie Alley I didn't think they'd  have a chance to win until I saw her dance the first week ~ she was awesome.

Kirstie and Maks danced a beautiful rumba to the Ukuele version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow.  Her dance was tribute to her mother, who died after being hit by a drunk driver in the early '80s.  She talked about it being a time in her life where she had to overcome tragedy and adversity and to rise above. Her dance was beautiful, but unfortunately Maks' thigh gave out in the very beginning and he practically dropped her.  Despite that mishap they had an amazing and emotional finish and actually received praise from the judges.  Ironically head judge, Len Goodman told them "Dancing is a bit like life. It's about overcoming adversities," "You overcame it. You got up. . . and you came back stronger."

Definitely words to live by.
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Five Simple Rules to Happiness

Ironically, I received these five simple rules to happiness in e-mail from my cousin yesterday – the day I launched BellaBud:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.
No one can go back and make a brand new start.  Anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.
Very fitting post for this blog, don’t you think?  Have a happy Saturday!

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It's official!

Consider this blog live. My hopes are that BellaBed will be a fun, creative outlet for random thoughts, inspirations and all things positive. 

Happy Weekend!
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