Be Nice.

I'm going old school on my peeps today.  Back to the basics, if you will.

Listen, it's like your momma always told you, "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."  Plain and simple.  Without going into details, I'm just going to say that if you are the type of person that has to pick on someone else just to make yourself feel better - then shame on you.    

I'm a very observant person and I see and hear things and I take it all in {and then turn around and blog it all out}.  Seriously though, I'm a firm believer in karma and I think it should be expected that if you treat people mean or disrespectful - you're going to get it back.  Maybe not today, but it's coming for you.  I'm just sayin.

I've had a few conversations with friends this week about this very same thing and it makes me so angry.  "Simply Being Nice" is something that I preach to my children all the time and I'm proud to say that they even go so far as to, step in and stick up for friends that are being teased or picked on.  It's common sense really..

Just Be Nice,

So What! Wednesday

Back for another week of So What! Wednesday?  Thanks for stopping by!  This week, I am saying So What! if:

• I am overly excited about a new blog design!  I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve...waiting for the big reveal.  I am working with my dear, sweet cyber friend Emily over at Blogaholic Designs on a fresh, new, pretty design.
• I haven't turned on the news in like three weeks.  Seriously, I've been listening to music every morning instead of my normal early local news and then the Today Show.  I can't even have it on for more than five minutes at a time without having to mute it so my 9 year old doesn't hear something inappropriate or traumatizing.
• I use four different mascaras on my eyelashes...I have yet to find one that does all that I require for fab lashes.  
• I eat the same thing for breakfast everyday. Everyday.  One hard-boiled egg and 2 turkey sausage patties.  Can you say "creature of habit"? 
• I enjoyed the Kid's Choice Awards just as much as my kids did.  Seriously loved it and cast my own votes in each category.

• I think Kristen Stewart is one of the worst actresses on the planet.  Zero personality and awkwardly uncomfortable in her own skin.
• Have not even begun to prepare for our trip to Chicago to spend Easter with my sister and we're leaving tomorrow {freak out moment happening right now}.
• I am still recovering from the Kid Rock Concert on Monday night.  I never quite catch up on my zzzzzzzzzz's.
• I'm going to b!tch about Facebook again.  REALLY with the "Rate these Places", "Close Friend Suggestions", and "Suggested Posts"?  I'm pretty confident that I can pick and choose who and what I want to follow based on my own personal preferences.  Thanks, but no thanks, Facebook.
• I am not watching Dancing with the Stars for the first time EVER because I want to focus solely on "The Voice".  I love that show and am so happy with the addition of Shakira and Usher, this season too!  

• I'm blogging when I should be in bed trying to catch up on those zzzzzzzzzzzzzz's that evade me.

Well, that's all she wrote.  Dish your So Whats! over at Life After I "Dew".  You'll be glad you did.

Happy "Over the Hump" Day,

Don't Judge

Ha!  I say this for two reasons...well, one because you shouldn't judge.  And two because sometimes, you'd be surprised at the outcome.

So, I'm not really a big Kid Rock fan {I reserve all of my ridiculous musician-obsession for my heart, John Mayer} however, my husband's friend asked us to go see Kid Rock with him on MONDAY night [yes, a Monday night].  At first I did my usual 'eye roll' {insert judgement here} but then I got to thinking... My sister is a ridiculously huge Kid Rock fan and my BFF's have all seen him in concert.  Everyone had the same sentiment, Kid Rock puts on a great show.

Hmmm, what else do I have to do on a Monday night?  "I'm in!" At the last minute, we found out we had an extra ticket so we started making calls. Dana? Beth? Rae Ann?  First come, first served.  Rae Ann was the winner!  As it turns out though, WE ALL WON.

First of all, Kid Rock truly does put on a great show - a fantastic, high-energy show.  I was impressed!  Second, Rae Ann was definitely worth the price of admission.  You see, she LOVES Rock n' Roll.  Actually, it's been her mantra for years.  Anyone who knows her, knows she will scream, shout, dance and steal your tambourine if you let her.

We had an awesome time last night and I'm glad I set my judgement aside and rocked it out!  Here are some pictures from our view.

Rock and Roll,

Palm Sunday Reflecting

It's no secret that I sell and I absolutely adore Thirty-One Gifts.  Well did you know that the company’s name comes from Proverbs 31, which celebrates hard-working women who are compassionate, gracious and inspiring to their families and the people around them?

That's truly one of my favorite things about Thirty-One Gifts.  Today, being Palm Sunday seemed like a good day to reflect on that.

Happy Sunday,

So What! Wednesday

So What! Wednesday, already?  Sure is.  Today I'm saying So What! if:

• I don't put up Easter decorations.  I really don't have many anyway, but I don't because we spend Easter in Chicago with my sister and we don't really do much entertaining this time of year.
• I think it's RUDE with a capital 'R' that my brother-in-law's wife invited family over for Easter dinner from 6:00-8:00 p.m. with a hard "BOOT out the door" at 8:00 p.m.  Because, and I quote "we don't want people here all night."  Um yeah...I feel so welcomed.  We didn't receive that invite because as I mentioned, we'll be out of town.  It's a good thing too.  Let's just leave it at that.
• I think it's dumb to invite people over for Easter Dinner at 6:00 p.m.  I mean what are they supposed to do all day until then?  We eat early on Sundays and on Holidays in our family, so to me, 6:00 p.m. on a holiday is well...coffee and dessert.  Maybe that's just me.
• I haven't hopped on the Candy Crush bandwagon.  I may be missing out, I'm not sure.  I have definitely received my fair share of invites to play over the last week.  I hear it's addiciting and let's face it friends...one thing I.do.not.need is another addiction.  To my family friends who play it and love it - crush on!

• I've decided to stay with Blogger as my blogging platform.  I'm just getting my groove back and I don't want to take time to learn something new and what appears to be a little less user friendly.
• The kids and I drove 50 minutes to Pittsburgh on Sunday to shop for clothing at some of the same stores we have in my home town.  There is no sales tax on clothing in Pennsylvania and girlfriend had 40% off Friends and Family at the Gap.  Score!  Besides, my little man is growing fast and basically needed a whole new spring/summer wardrobe.  Totally worth the drive.
• If I spent hours [and I mean hours] organizing my YouTube channel, yesterday.  Since Google seems to be taking over the world, YouTube is incorporated into my Google Profile and things needed to be cleaned up and organized.  My OCD tendencies get the best of me in every facet of my life.  Even YouTube...check out my channel here [it's a work in progress].

If you have something you are saying So What! to...dish over at Life After I "Dew", you'll be glad you did.

Happy "Over the Hump" Day,

Follow Along

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Security Blanket

Well, today I start my week out with a dead laptop.  WTH!  Yes, my laptop decided to bite the dust on Saturday and I am beside myself, to say the very least.  Now, I AM fortunate because I do have an iPad and a work laptop (which I had to go fetch AT WORK on Sunday).  BUT, my personal laptop is my security blanket.  My husband calls my iPhone my "binky", so I'm pretttty sure my laptop is my "security blanket".  Judging by the Wikipedia definition {a security blanket is an item used to provide psychological comfort}, I would say that reference is spot-on!

Funny thing is [well not really] I was going to start looking for a new laptop last week because we have plans for my old bit-the-dust laptop.  Well, fast forward to Sunday and BOOM! Time to start shopping for a new laptop stat.  So, that's just what I did and I've decided on an HP Envy.  It's all cued up and ready for me to:

I'll be back in business soon, very soon - I hope.  Now let's just pray my data is recoverable (God knows I back that puppy up for days).  BTW, it pays to work for an IT company and have Computer Geniuses at your pretty-polished fingertips! ;)  

Make Monday Matter,

Silent Sunday

Currently...

Currently I am...

Listening to:  Phillip Phillps, The World from the Side of the Moon.  Seriously, one of my favorite CDs evah!  I have never even watched American Idol, but I am a huge Phillip2 fan.  I'm always shuffling between Phillip2 and my boys Mumford & Sons.  I love their Grammy award album of the year, Babel.  Love. Love. Love.  'nuff said.

Watching:  Nothing really.  I haven't watched much TV in months, with the exception of Full House reruns with the kiddos.  If I'm lucky I'll catch a few episodes of Castle each month.  That show seriously is one of my absolute favs.

Reading:  Teach Yourself WordPress in 10 Minutes.  Exciting, I know.  I'm debating whether to move my blog to WordPress or to stay here on good old Blogger.  Currently the book is not swaying me in one direction or the other. [fellow bloggers...thoughts??]  Oh and I'm reading my favorite blogs, daily...Life After I "Dew", First Name Smith, WobiSobi and A Pretty Penny - total awesomeness.

Melting Over:  The fact that my daughter got a lead role in her Performing Art School's first Theater Production.  I am so proud of her!  Oh and I'm kinda melting over this picture of my little man sleeping in the car.  I LOVE sleeping children pics!

Annoyed by:  FACEBOOK.  Crazy posts in my news feed, pictures of battered animals, airing of dirty laundry, group messages.  Uggggghhh.  I'm also annoyed by the fact that my beloved iPhone just randomly powers itself off.  Luckily I'm all over my phone and I notice it pretty quickly {crisis averted}.

Wearing:  Wedge Heels, Tom's on the weekend, and my favorite Gap jeans whenever I possibly can.

Shopping for:  A new black watch.  Like I need another watch, I know.  I actually do though.  A black watch would complete my collection.

Excited About:  Officially winning Thirty-One's Leadership Incentive Trip to the Hard Rock Casino and Resort in the Dominican Republic!  I will be heading there in September of this year and couldn't be more excited.  So blessed!

Obsessed with:  Taking pictures with my iPhone and of course...Instagram.  OMG.  Seriously, obsessed.  I love it. Come follow me here.

Laughing at:  Kristen from First Name Smith's hilarious posts about Kim Kardashian.  Let's just say, she doesn't mince words.  I heart Kristen!  Oh AND this video of my sister-in-law and I during what should have been an instructional video on how to do beach waves in my hair.  Bahahaha...Apparently she just watched the movie 21 Jump Street.

  That's a wrap,

So What! Wednesday

Welcome to another week of So What! Wednesday.  I missed last week, so I have some making up to do.  This week, I am saying So What if:

• I am sick of Facebook, like seriously sick of it.  It used to be filled with updates from friends and pictures of their kids, but now it's a great big sounding board {aka bitchfest} and a landing page for creepy pictures.  Some days I wonder why I bother.
• I won't give up Facebook because I do like staying connected to my family, my close friends and my Thirty-One business (guess that's why I bother).
• I feel bad when I "leave a group conversation" on Facebook.  I respond, and then I leave - it's what I do.  I don't mean to be rude, but I just don't appreciate my inbox getting filled up with a ton of responses from people I don't even know.
• My daughter and her friend spoke in British accents all weekend long and.I.joined.them {so hard not to}.  I swear - I just love the sound of a British accent.

• I am currently blogging, working my Thirty-One business, and updating quotes for my day job all at the same time.  That's actually a record for me because 'two things at a time' is usually my limit, but girlfriend is in the zone!
• I can't seem to place a Thirty-One party order for a hostess without adding something for myself.  Really people...you have no idea how much Thirty-One I own and it's NEVER enough.  I just added this awesome new Inside-Out Bag to my collection (1/2 off this month - how could I pass it up?)

• I actually teared up last night missing my sweet little buddy, Darwin (refer to Monday's post).  Why am I such a sap??  But I mean seriously, look at the cuteness that is his face.

• My son and I think we are cutting albums when we are driving in the car.  We blast the radio and sing all the top hits like it's our job!  He really makes me proud because he knows every word to every top 20 hit of today [uh, like mother like son].

Well friends, that's all she wrote.  Head over to :Life After I "Dew" and tell us what you're saying So What! to this week.

Happy "Over the Hump" Day,

Perfectly Petless :(

For the first time in 13 years, I am completely petless and it sucks.  As many of you know, I lost my beloved Lab, Remi in August of 2012 and have really never gotten over her being gone.  I miss her face every day.

We also have had a pet Guinea Pig, Darwin.  Cutest little face you ever did see.  I had to say goodbye Darwin over the weekend...he went to live with a new family.  Long story short, his presence in our house was wreaking havoc on my husband's allergies and asthma.  The final straw (literally) came when he had a full blown asthma attack last Wednesday, after he unknowingly came into contact with the hay we feed Darwin.  So, yeah...time to go, little buddy...

Luckily, I have a friend who was happy to take Darwin and give him a new home, complete with three little kids who will love and enjoy him. {sniff sniff}  I took my last trip to the Pet Store on Friday to pick up a few things to send Darwin off with.  I literally cried walking through the aisles of Petsmart thinking that I had no reason to go back after that trip.

So, what is it about pets that we grow so attached to them.??  I believe it's their sweet innocence and loyal companionship.  They're just happy to have you around and other than food and companionship, they really don't expect much more from their humans.

“Our perfect companions never have fewer than four feet.” 

― Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette

Hug your pet(s),