Love. Shop. Save.

Things I think are Ridic

2011-05-19T10:42:00.000-07:00

1. That I have heard of two (TWO) 18-year-olds getting engaged this week. REALLY? 18? This is not 1954. It's 2011. Be a kid a little bit longer. K?

2. That this stuff has so much sugar/calories/carbs in it. I don't like you unsweet, I like you sweet. From CFA.

3. That some people can not seem to call/text/e-mail me back within a reasonable time! Like 20 minutes?! Is that so much to ask? Haha. Just kidding. More like a day. But, really. I KNOW you're online or you have your phone. Message me back, yo.

4. That it used to cost me $13.xx to fill up my car when I graduated high school eight years ago. And I thought that it was expensive. Silly little girl.

5. That people can't communicate worth BEANS. I've met with a slew of people that can't communicate at all this week. If you can't hold a 10 minute meeting with me, you need some help.

6. That when people meet me in person they look at me like I'm supposed to be older. More experienced. Whatever. I'm 25. I've been on my game since I was in elementary school. Please don't underestimate me.

7. When people say they don't have enough "time." Reminds me of this quote... “Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michaelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.”

First Vlog!!!

2011-04-25T16:08:00.000-07:00

So, I'm going out on a limb here and I filmed my very first vlog...on our iPad! Wooot! I love candles and I decided I'd love to do a vlog of some of my current favorites.

Going to warn you -- our smoke detector was dying and makes a beep every now and then throughout the video.

I chat it up -- 10 minutes worth of talking about accents, smoke detectors and candles. Ha. That's my randomness in a nutshell!

Wee Bit of Me Wednesday + Blog Absence

2011-04-20T18:38:00.000-07:00

So I have been absent for about a week. Why? Whirlwind of a million events, that's why! I was in Pittsburgh on Thursday for work. I spoke in the southern part of WV about couponing on Saturday. It's just been NUTS! Back with one of my favorite days of the week...We Bit of Me Wednesday! I love these little questionarres.

{one} how often do you do laundry?
Seriously like 3-4 times a week. As SOON as one of our bags gets enough for a load, it goes in the washer. We rarely have any dirty clothes/towels. I'm BIG on laundry!
{two} what is your favorite type of cookie?

Chocolate chip. My grandma's are the best.

{three} what would you do with an extra $2000 per month?
I'd save $1,000 and take $1,000 for either home renovations or vacations.
{four} what was/is your favorite subject in school?
English. 'Cause I'm cool like that.
{five} have you ever ridden in a hot air balloon?
No but I'd LOVE to!

{six} what was your high school mascot?
Hawks.

{seven} if you had the chance to go into space, would you?

No. I'd be petrified.

{eight} how often do you go dancing?
Everyday. In my house! Haha. Seriously, I dance around all the time.

{nine} would you rather drive or fly?
Depends. If I don't want to make stops along the way, fly. It's so much faster and I love to see airports (dork). I do like to discover new things on the road, too.

{ten} have you ever been caught re-gifting?
Not *yet*. Haha. I have regifted. Not gonna lie.

Wee Bit Wednesday

2011-04-13T18:40:00.000-07:00

{one} have you ever fainted?
I've been close...I was thirteen and extremely sick with the flu. My mom took me to the doctor and I nearly fainted in his office because I was so overheated.

{two} what is your favorite casino game?
I love penny machines! I'm so cheap and I HATE spending my hard earned money! I love this little penguin game at the casino we occasionally go to!

{three} do you have a good sense of direction?

Oh my goodness, YES! I can find my way out of anywhere. I can direct from the backseat! Haha...I once got my dad out of some terrible traffic...in the dark...from the backseat...with a little map. And I was thirteen!

{four} laptop or desktop?
Laptop/iPad!

{five} what is your go-to hair style when having a bad hair day?
I get some dry shampoo in my hair and I twist my hair into a bun. I either put a fun headband on or get a cute flower in my hair!

{six} do you read the newspaper on a daily basis?
For the most part! I'll read both newspapers that are delivered to work!
{seven} do you have a favorite celebrity chef?
I (WE) love Robert Irvine!
{eight} what tv show would you like to make a guest appearance on?
Extreme Couponing! Haha! I'm not THAT crazy with a hoarding-like obsession. But, I am a HUGE couponer!
{nine} do you have satellite radio in your car?
Nope, I just use my iPhone.
{ten} what was the last movie that made you cry?
Love and Other Drugs! It was an interesting movie to say the least. But, it was so so sad!

Tasty Tuesday!

2011-04-12T18:17:00.000-07:00

No recipes this Tasty Tuesday -- instead, I'm going to share some yummy things I LOVE!!!

These VitaTops are amazing! I love the chocolate flavor! I put them in my toaster and toast them twice. YUMMMM! They are a little pricey, but they can be found on sale. If I could just find a coupon!

Oat Revolution oatmeal. The maple-brown sugar is SO good. I love this in the morning or if I need a warm pick-me up. Sometimes, I'll even have it for lunch if it's cold and rainy out.

Mangoes! Oh my goodness...I could eat mangoes all day, every day. They are so yummy! I found out that Pampered Chef has a mango slicer. I think I need one!

What foods/recipes are you loving these days?

It's the Little Things

2011-04-12T14:13:00.000-07:00

It's the little things in life, folks. I'm not going to focus this blog post on the little things I love...but the little things I love to do for my hubby instead. I spoil him and he spoils me.

He never expects any of this and I think that's what makes it so enjoyable to do.

*I ALWAYS lay out his "comfy clothes" at the bottom of the bed in the morning. He wears a police uniform five days a week for about 9 hours. A 25lb gun belt tends to get heavy. He likes that he has something comfortable to put on as soon as he gets in the door.

* I buy him little surprises. Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, Pretzel M&M's or a new shirt or shorts from TJ Maxx (his favorite store).

* I text him randomly throughout the day. He often has hectic/stressful days, so I hope a nice message from me will brighten his day a little.

* I'll make him a surprise snack or drink if he's watching one of "his" shows in the back...like American Pickers or Pawn Stars.

* I rub his feet after a long day.

* I'll put a clean towel on the sink if I know he's going to get a shower.

He loves the little things and I enjoy making his day a little brighter. He works some long hours sometimes, so it's good to give him a little pampering. He does it for me -- daily! He deserves some extra attention, too.

What do you do for your guy?

DC Weekend

2011-04-11T13:58:00.000-07:00

The hubs and my mom and dad went to DC for a long weekend. It's only about 3.5 hours away, so it's nice and close. It is my parent's 19th wedding anniversary today! So, we went for their anniversary and our *almost* anniversary.

We stayed at the Gaylord National Hotel. Amazing.

Here is a view of the water show. We stayed on the 11th floor and had such an awesome view of the entire place.

We went to some Smithsonians (LOVE Air & Space) and also to the Cherry Blossom Festival Parade. My parents surprised us with tickets to it. So sweet.

We also ate at some really great restaurants like McCormick and Schmicks and Ketchup.

And, I went to this awesome store called Charming Charlie! We don't have these in WV! I'd never been to one...what a cute accessories store!

It was such a good weekend and made me look forward to some upcoming trips:

A few weekend/business/wedding-type things for the rest of this month.

Disney in May/June.

Columbus for Thirty-One conference in July.

I LOVE traveling!

Flashback Friday

2011-04-08T17:58:00.000-07:00

Who loved Sweet Valley as much as I did?! I was a ridiculous bookworm growing up! Seriously.

I got a bunch of Sweet Valley books from one of my older cousins and I thought they were SO cool. I started reading them and immediately loved them. I wanted sisters like Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield!

I started off with Sweet Valley Kids.

Then Sweet Valley Twins (I had some of the SUPER old school ones),

Who could forget the awesome Unicorn Club?!

Then Sweet Valley High

And finally Sweet Valley University

I was super pumped when the TV show came out.

Fashion Friday

2011-04-08T02:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday, Ya'll!

Today, We will be discussing FASHION. One of my favorite things in the world.

I've been totally loving me some Emily Maynard fashion from the Bachelor. It's also amazing that we are both from the same town in WV. My husband and SIL actually remember her brother.

Number one, I LOVE her bracelets! The girl can definitely stack them up. They are so gorgeous though and a great mix of high end/ affordable pieces.

Love this casual look.

I can't wait to see more from her and her outfits!

What I'm Playing Thursday

2011-04-07T15:55:00.000-07:00

So, I'm totally loving all these FUN blog link ups! :)

I've heard SO many good songs lately!

First...is Blake Shelton's Honey Bee. Just how cute is this song? Love it!

I'm also totally loving Lady A's Home is Where The Heart Is. I'm a 120% WV girl and this gives me chills. Plus, I live RIGHT below the Mason-Dixon line. Loves!

Wee Bit of Me Wednesday

2011-04-06T19:14:00.000-07:00

{one} what is one food that, as an adult you love, but as a child you said you’d never touch?Olives! I love olives.
{two} did you go to college? if yes, what was your major?Yes! I have a BS in Public Relations with an emphasis in English and a MS in Integrated Marketing Communications.
{three} what’s the most wild animal you’ve seen in real life (not counting the zoo)?I've seen a bear along the road. I've also seen dolphins in the ocean.
{four} have you ever been to a fortune teller?Nope. I don't believe in them.
{five} can you juggle?No.
{six} hardwood floors or carpet?Hardwood! I can't wait to replace some of our carpet!
{seven} is it called “soda” or “pop”?It is POP. For sure!
{eight} what was your first car?I STILL have her! A 2003 Dodge Neon. I will likely keep her for another year or two. We've been through a lot together. She was my HS graduation present.
{nine} what is the most decadent dessert you’ve ever eaten?Cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory or this AWESOME molten lava cake in Disney.
{ten} how often do you rearrange your furniture?Not often. I love the set up of the majority of our rooms.

Tasty Tuesday!

2011-04-05T11:53:00.000-07:00

Wooot! Happy Tuesday. One day closer to the weekend.

I'm going to start doing Tasty Tuesdays (cause A. I love food and B. I love good recipes)!

I'm going to feature allrecipes.com today and a couple of really awesome appetizers I LOVE from them.

Double Tomato Bruschetta

*This is SOOOO yummy and I get asked to make it ALL the time*

Ingredients
6 roma (plum) tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, packed in oil
3 cloves minced garlic
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup fresh basil, stems removed
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 French baguette
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Directions
Preheat the oven on broiler setting.
In a large bowl, combine the roma tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, basil, salt, and pepper. Allow the mixture to sit for 10 minutes.
Cut the baguette into 3/4-inch slices. On a baking sheet, arrange the baguette slices in a single layer. Broil for 1 to 2 minutes, until slightly brown.
Divide the tomato mixture evenly over the baguette slices. Top the slices with mozzarella cheese.
Broil for 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.

Sugar Coated Pecans

*These are TO. DIE. FOR. YUMMMM.*

Ingredients

1 egg white
1 tablespoon water
1 pound pecan halves
1 cup white sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Grease one baking sheet.
In a mixing bowl, whip together the egg white and water until frothy. In a separate bowl, mix together sugar, salt, and cinnamon.
Add pecans to egg whites, stir to coat the nuts evenly. Remove the nuts, and toss them in the sugar mixture until coated. Spread the nuts out on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake at 250 degrees F (120 degrees C) for 1 hour. Stir every 15 minutes.

Favorite Foods

2011-04-04T17:24:00.000-07:00

Favorite breakfast food: Starbucks Oatmeal -- with ALL the toppings!

Favorite cereal: Life Cinnamon

Favorite type of food to eat everyday: Cheese, fruits and crackers

Favorite home-cooked meal: Spaghetti

Favorite fast food and order: Chick-fil-A Chargrill Sandwich

Favorite greasy fast food order: McDonald's French Fries (EMBARRASING)

Favorite soup: Baked potato soup

Favorite salad/salad dressing: Tomato/Mozzarella Salad

Favorite fruit: Mango

Favorite vegetable: Corn on the Cob

Favorite appetizer: Quesadillas! This is actually dinner for me a lot of the time.

Favorite side dish: French Fries

Favorite chips: Baked Lays BBQ

Favorite cookie: Chocolate Chip

Favorite donut: Donut Holes!

Favorite Little Debbie snack: Nutty Bar

Favorite dessert: Cupcakes

Favorite ice cream flavor: Ben & Jerry's Milk and Cookies

Favorite candy bar: Reeses Eggs (totally different than the regular kind)

Favorite candy: Pretzel M&Ms!

You Say It's Your Birthday (Link Up)

2011-04-04T13:16:00.000-07:00

Michelle over at A Little Bit of This & That created this fun link up about birthdays!

I was born September 12, 1985 in Morgantown, WV.

I am a Virgo.

Birthstone is Sapphire.

I weighed a whopping 6lbs 15oz and I was 21 inches long. Skinny minnie.

My sweet momma had a hard hard labor with me. But, she tells me I was worth it (ha)!

I wanted to do this post because everyone teases me in my family that my birthdays are a month-long celebration. Well, they're pretty much right.

I think that I have had a little shin-dig for all 25 years of my life. Some have been bigger than others, but I always manage to stretch out my birthday for a couple weeks. Dinner with friends, dinner with coworkers, dinner with my family, dinner with hubby's family. Lunch date with church group. Ya know, the usual.

I normally spend all my birthdays in WV with my friends and family. Tom and I usually go somewhere over Labor Day weekend since it's the week before my special day.

I always get REALLY fun presents too! Jewelry, fun things for the ktichen, great decorations, gourmet goodies. The normal things I love but never buy for myself. My family is sooooo good to me. Tom always has the cutest little ideas too. Last year, he got me an awesome coupon folder. I LOVE it!

If I could spend my birthday ANYWHERE, it would be NASHVILLE. For SURE!

I've visited Nashville a good 10-12 times in my life and it is one of my FAVORITE cities. I'd definitely stay at Opryland Hotel. My all-time favorite hotel...

This is one of the most gorgeous hotels in the world!

It has 2,881 total guest rooms!

They have such fun restaurants, shopping and nightclubs, too! The hubby and I timed it once and it took TWENTY minutes to walk from one side of the hotel to the other!

For breakfast, I'd want to go to the Loveless Cafe. Best Biscuits EVER, ya'll! Seriously. SERIOUSLY! It's an old motel turned restaurant and it is sooooo yummy. Best home cookin.'

I'd love to go to the Neely's for Dinner. I've not been there. But, I've had some friends that have and they LOVED it.

Can you tell I like good yummy cookin' (and not chain restaurants too much)?!

For some good times...we'd hit Broadway. Tootsies, The Stage and then hop over to the Wildhorse Saloon!

That would be my ideal birthday! Trust me, I'd have some big hair to go along with it! :)

Carrie Underwood + Steven Tyler

2011-04-04T11:09:00.000-07:00

How amazing was Carrie Underwood and Steven Tyler's performance at the ACMAs?!

I'm a BIG BIG Country music fan and just love Carrie. My hubs is a more rock fan...but I do love Aerosmith. Walk this Way is probably one of my favorites.

She killed it! I love her pink extensions too! Fun!

Shine Project

2011-04-03T16:54:00.000-07:00

I saw this awesome picture over at The Shine Project. I love it (& everything The Shine Project stands for)!

My MiO

2011-04-03T16:41:00.000-07:00

I'm a huge Crystal Light fan! But, then I saw this magical stuff in the Sunday paper in the coupon insert (Yes, I would be looking in the Sunday Paper! OF COURSE)!

I bought it in Peach Tea. I drank. I loved.

So, then I went back and bought Strawberry Watermelon and Peach Mango. I will definitely say Peach Mango was ma fave. How yummy!

Here's why I love it: It has 24 (TWENTY-FOUR) servings in it! There's a small opening that easily fits into any water bottle and it squirts out in the desired amount. You can determine the intensity of your drink flavor. And, there's not a yucky powder residue when you pour it in your bottle.

Oh, and it's about $3.50 ($2.50 with a coupon).

Try it. You'll be sold!

The best April Fools EVER

2011-04-01T09:51:00.000-07:00

The time that I fake sabatoged our honeymoon...aka the best April Fools EVER!!!

Last April, T and I were in HUGE wedding planning mode. We had just finished paying off our honeymoon to Disney World. Everything was taken care of...flight, hotel, meal plan, tickets, etc.

Ha.

So, we were in the kitchen and I got real quiet/scared acting. Our conversation went something like this:

Me: Babe, I got some really bad news today. I hate to have to tell you this.

Tom: (silence + crazy scared face).

Me: It's about the honeymoon.

Tom: Phew. I thought you were going to say someone died.

Me: No, but it's bad. Disney called me today and they are doing major construction on our hotel. They don't have a room for us now. I had them look into other options and there's a huge cheerleading (?) convention going on that week and there's no place to put us. The same thing happened to a bunch of other people.

Tom: Omg. What? What are we going to do? Can we stay outside the park? They HAVE to compensate us. Call them back. Something has to happen.

Me: (still very casual). I know, I know. I just kept thinking about and it after I got off the phone. And, then I thought...wow...this would be an awesome April Fool's joke to play on Tom.

Tom: (waves hands) Woah. Woah. WHAT? Are you kidding me?! You are kidding, right?

Me: Haha. Yes. April Fools!!!

Tom: You turd! You seriously had me going! I was so scared! (comes over and slaps my arm). Don't ever do that to me again!

Haha! I'll never forget the look on his face.

Favorite Appetizer Recipe!

2011-04-01T04:40:00.000-07:00

This is one of my FAVORITE (if not THE favorite) appetizer recipe!

Annie's Fruit Salsa and Cinnamon Chips.

Yum.

Ingredients

2 kiwis, peeled and diced
2 Golden Delicious apples - peeled, cored and diced
8 ounces raspberries
1 pound strawberries
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 tablespoon brown sugar
3 tablespoons fruit preserves, any flavor
10 (10 inch) flour tortillas
butter flavored cooking spray
2 tablespoons cinnamon sugar

Directions

In a large bowl, thoroughly mix kiwis, Golden Delicious apples, raspberries, strawberries, white sugar, brown sugar and fruit preserves. Cover and chill in the refrigerator at least 15 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Coat one side of each flour tortilla with butter flavored cooking spray. Cut into wedges and arrange in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Sprinkle wedges with desired amount of cinnamon sugar. Spray again with cooking spray.
Bake in the preheated oven 8 to 10 minutes. Repeat with any remaining tortilla wedges. Allow to cool approximately 15 minutes. Serve with chilled fruit mixture.

A bit about moi.

2011-03-31T09:42:00.000-07:00

I'm basically using this blog as a journal for things I love, things about my life and my random quirks. I like to jot down my current faves, what I'm into at the moment, etc. So, here's a little bit about me. This isn't going to be an autobiography. No. It's more about my randomness that my husband so lovingly accepts.

...I like things to be right. Straight. Set. Perfect. All the time. This scares me about being a mother in a few years. I'm fairly certain my child will not always have an appreciation for order. Unless he/she is totally like me and comes out of the womb organizing things.

...I have a no-shoe policy in my house and I get cranky pants when people wear shoes in my house. Especially if it's raining or snowing. I want to keep ma carpets clean, ya'll.

...I'm overly hard on myself when I make mistakes. I get mad. And sulk. And whine. It's not pretty.

...I will decorate/pizazz anything. Just give me a hot glue gun, rhinestones, ribbon, etc. I'm your girl.

...I love to plan. I'm a big planner.

...My mind goes constantly. Hence, I sleep 8-9 hours a night. Girl needs her rest, yo!

... I'm a smart little cookie. But, I'm terrible (TERRIBLE) at math.

...I quote Mean Girls. A lot.

...I have a Kindle and I read a lot. I'd like to say I read respectable books and things that will enrich my mind. Um, that's what I did for 6.5 years of undergrad and graduate school. Seriously, peeps. It's time for Shopaholic and other fluff!

... I'm funny. It's a quality I definitely know I have. I am a quick thinker and I'll just blurt out what ever pops in my head.

...The UPS lady stops at my house practically everyday delivering Thirty-One goodies. It's an awesome second job. Loves.

...I'm a coffee junkie and I will likely wear out my Keurig in the next 1.5 years.

...I ~~eat~~ snack most of my meals. I don't like HUGE meals. They make me feel gross. Give me some pretzels and cheese. Kthanks.

...I visit my mom, grandma and dad every day. That's what's important, folks.

...I call myself a wine drinker but I really mean that I drink a $6 bottle of Barefoot.

... Sometimes I laugh so hard and so much that not only do I snort, but I basically hyperventilate until I'm gasping for air. This causes Tom to burst into hysterics as well. It's quite entertaining. I seriously need to video it.

...Tom is my best friend. I love him like woah. We really have the best time together. There's nothing like it. (Aw.)

2011-03-30T18:48:00.000-07:00

{one} if you won a trip to Disneyland/world, who would you take with you?Tom. We are Disney FREAKS! We're actually going back to Disney World for our one year anniversary. Love it! I'd take my parents too, if possible.
{two} when was the last time you listened to a CD?Not too long ago. I have an old school Eagles CD that I listen to every now and then. It skips and everything. Classy.
{three} what spice/seasoning is your favorite?BASIL. I looooove me some basil.
{four} if you were in a band, what kind of music would you play?I would totally be a twangy country star. With big hair. And rhinestones. Everywhere.
{five} if you could have personally witnessed one historical event, which one would it be?Oh wow. The birth of Jesus. Wouldn't that be amazing to have witnessed?
{six} if you could go back to school, what would you study?Nothing! I'm super happy with my choice of degrees!
{seven} if you could go to one sporting event, all expenses paid, which one would you see?The Super Bowl. Or, the Final 4.
{eight} do you drive an automatic or a manual?Automatic. I've never even attempted a manual.
{nine} are you comfortable speaking in front of people?Yes. I could speak in front of 500 people and be fine. I have zero stage fright. I just...go.
{ten} have you ever experienced an earthquake?Nope… thank God!

You Scream! We Scream!

2011-03-29T10:35:00.000-07:00

So, as a child (or at 25), a trip to my grandmas usually consisted (consists) of milk and cookies. Yes, I STILL put three (or four) cookies on a napkin, pop them in the microwave for about 10 seconds and then dunk them in a big glass of a milk. And, I purposely dunk them a little longer than most would. This way, little bits of cookies fall off into the milk. You know you've done this before, too! Don't lie.

The hubs and I went to the grocery store last night and he ~~dashed~~ wandered into the ice cream aisle. We were watching Dancing With The Stars and he figured that it would be necessary to have ice cream. See why I married him?

He found a new Ben & Jerry's that neither of us had seen before. Milk and Cookies?! Instantly, I went back to going into my grandma's after a long day of third grade (multiplication was HARD) and dropping my backpack at the smell of fresh baked cookies. Her house STILL smells like that.

I told him to buy it. I wanted to say, "BUY THEM ALL!!!" But, I no longer have the metabolism that I did at the precious age of 8.

We brought it home and I'm fairly certain I had more than him. He shares well. I also may or may not have had the rest for lunch today. Whoops.

What's your favorite ice cream?

New shoes

2011-03-28T10:54:00.000-07:00

LOVE THESE SHOES! I got them over the weekend and they are SO cute and actually quite comfortable (for a 5inch heel). They are perfect for all the floral prints that are out right now. They look fantastic with a wide leg jean.

Kohl's! Cheap, cheap deal! Plus, I had a scratch-off that gave me 20% off! Score!

A few of my favorite things

2011-03-24T10:32:00.000-07:00

Favorite time of day: When I hear Tom run up the stairs when he gets home from work.

Favorite season: We JUST had this discussion! All of them really! Spring for all the freshness, Summer for lazy days, Fall for my birthday and cozy clothes and Winter for Christmas/snowy days.

Favorite month: May for our anniversary, September for my birthday and December for Christmas.

Favorite holiday: Christmas :)

Favorite subject in school: English/Writing...all the way from elementary through grad school.

Favorite channel: TLC, Food, E! and TBS.

Favorite color: Pink. Though, I love black and blue, too.

Favorite song: American Honey

Favorite movie: Pretty Woman, Legally Blonde

Favorite celebrity: I love Reese Witherspoon.

Favorite kind of music: I really love a little bit of everything

Favorite TV show: Bachelor, Full House, Saved By The Bell, Pretty Little Liars,

Favorite thing to do: Spend time with Tom, my family, read, watch TV & movies and travel.

Favorite place in the world: Home.

Favorite hobby: Scoring deals.

Favorite kind of animal: dogs

Favorite place to live: West Virginia.

Favorite place to vacation: Disney or Nashville

Favorite restaurant: Cheesecake Factory or Starbucks...ha.

Favorite food: Crab legs.

Favorite thing to cook: Baking is more my thing.

Favorite drink: Coffee.

Favorite chore: Organizing or cleaning with Clorox wipes.

Favorite makeup: Mary Kay Foundation primer. My face would be a mess without it!

Favorite hair products: Dry Shampoo and Bed Head products. Oh, and Fekkai Glossing Cream.

Favorite lotion: Victoria's Secret Pink or Bath and Body Works (love Secret Wonderland)!

Favorite perfume: Juicy Couture.

Favorite blogger: Any girly, decorating, fun

Favorite thing to blog about: anything and everything!

Favorite books: "girly" books :)

Favorite verse: Proverbs 31

Favorite thing to wear: Dark jeans, a cute tank or tee and a cardi. And jewelry. Lots of jewelry. Oh, and cute shoes.

Favorite kind of day: Out to coffee with the hubs, shopping, game night at mom and dad's, snacks and a good movie.

Favorite memory: Marrying my best guy.

New dry shampoo and some other randoms.

2011-03-23T10:52:00.000-07:00

So I know a few weeks ago I gushed about my love for Tresemee Dry shampoo. I still LOVE it, but my can went berserk on me last night. It just died on me.

So, I headed to Tarjay to get more...I can't have my second day hair without it. So, I was looking through the aisles and found the Suave now makes dry shampoo too. Really, Suave? That's what I was thinking too. So, I bought it. All $2.79 of it.

I brought it home and did a little test run. I'm one of those girls that always has to do a test run on things to make sure I really like it.

I LOVE IT! Dare I say I like it more than Tresemee? It smells better. It's cheaper. I'm excited to see what I really end up thinking when my hair is way nasty.

These earrings from Forever 21 are CRAZY pretty in person. For $1.50, I'll take them. Yes, please!

This dress is $12.40! Of course, it's from F21. Isn't it adorable? I think I need it for the Miranda Lambert concert I'm going to this weekend. And Disney World in May. And for just fun lunch dates and shopping over the summer. I have a feeling I'll be living in maxi dresses this summer.

Happy Lately For March

2011-03-21T11:33:00.000-07:00

Here's What I'm Loving for March:

Cake balls! Yum! I made some the other day and they were amazing.
Dry Shampoo. Best stuff ever invented for my hair!
Our iPad that's on its way! *YAY*
Island Colada Candle from B&BW.
Super soft V-Neck T-shirts from Old Navy.
STILL Febreeze vacuum bags.
Real Housewives of Orange County! Glad they're back!

Fun Stuff Friday!

2011-03-04T10:18:00.000-08:00

Faves Post

2011-03-01T10:57:00.000-08:00

Some current favorites of the moment:

Perfume:

I loooooove Juicy Couture perfume. It is amazing. It smells so fresh and clean. Gorgeous bottle, too! I'm a big perfume switcher, but I seem to always turn to this!

Starbucks Drink:

Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate. Don't tell me the calories. I don't want to know! This is usually an after church stop with my hubby. It is amazing! If you like sweet/salty it is PERFECT! So yummy. I asked the barista and apparently it will be gone once they run out of the salt. Really?! I will bring my salt in my purse if necessary, bud.

Jewelry:

Forever 21! Best stuff ever! I find the best jewelry here. Cheap, fashionable and so so wearable.

Skincare:

Mary Kay Timewise. My name is Shalane and I have some fine lines. There. I said it. Ack! I discovered them about a year ago...this stuff has worked wonders. Love you, MK!

How Do You Do It?

2011-02-28T12:20:00.000-08:00

I often am asked, "How do you do it?" I also get, "Do you sleep?" Yes, I sleep! In fact, I sleep a lot -- like 8 hours a night. I need it. Or I'd be cranky pants.

I do A LOT in one day. By no means am I a mother of four and am running like a crazy person to soccer, ballet and band. I've already determined I'm not playing that rat race of a game when I'm a mom. Sorry, kid. Pick one activity a season! That's another story.

I have a lot going on! I work full-time as a marketing director, I am on my merry way to becoming a Thirty-One Director, I visit my family, I hang out with my hubby, I teach a coupon class from time to time. Busy lady!

So, here are some tips that make my life WAY easier. I've found since I started using my little system, I rarely forget something that needs done, taken care of or addressed.

Meet my iPhone. She's a bit beat up...I'm due for a new one! But, she's a super trooper!

The notepad and the calendar are my big buddies! Each night, I make a list for what all I need to do for the next day in my notepad. It works great! I can delete and add to it throughout the day, too.. I always know where it is...it's not going to get lost in the shuffle and can be sure I'll be looking at it throughout the day.

Another feature I use on my iPhone is the calendar. It's not the most advanced, but I always set reminders for things and it allows me to have two alerts. So, if I have a meeting or something needs done at a certain time, I always have it alert me the day before and then the day of. Love that little thing!

Then, I have my Thirty-One All-in-One organizer. She's a beaut. It's the best thing for making sure all my bills/important documents are sent out on time. I use this to collect all my mail each month. Then, each Sunday/Monday, I take the bills/things that need addressed and put them in the mesh pocket on the side. Genius! I have stamps, pens and address labels here too. It makes it so easy for bill-paying. I pay a lot of my bills online, but I don't have them automatically withdrawn. So, I still request the actual paper bill. Once the month is over, I move all the mail from my All-in-One organizer that I want to keep into a bigger filing system. Works perfect!

So there's so tips to how I keep super-organized.

Oh, and did I mention that I am CONSTANTLY doing laundry, picking up, putting things away, cleaning out, etc? Yes, that makes a big difference too!

Dry, Dry Baby

2011-02-27T08:43:00.000-08:00

About six months ago, I discovered the gloriousness (is that a word?) of dry shampoo. Before I tell you about my lurve for this stuff, let's have a little background discussion of my hair.

I have a lot (A LOT) of hair! So much hair that it is impossible for me to wash it in the morning, dry and style it before I go to work. I wash it at night and then straighten, style and poof the heck out of it in the morning.

Oh yes, I have a poof too. I'm proud of my poof.

Anyway, my hair is essentially a pain in the rear sometimes. I have a love/hate relationship with it. I spend a lot of time styling it, and I want it to last more than a day.

Enter: dry shampoo. It will change your life (or at least your hair routine). I've used Oscar Blandi in both powder and spray form from Sephora. It's pricey. But then, I found Tresemee at Target! Score! Double the size for over half the price! Holla!

It smells super fresh and makes my hair last a day longer.

Try it! You will love it!

Happy Lately for February

2011-02-26T10:47:00.000-08:00

Here are some things that are making me crazy-happy lately!

Jewelry from Forever 21 -- Not my picture from above...but that's pretty much what my jewelry tray looks like at the moment. I'm pretty sure it only cost $20 to outfit a whole new jewelry wardrobe for spring.
Shows with TK -- We are addicted to the Bachelor! Come on Emily!!! She's our WV girl. Restaurant Impossible and Chopped are up there too.
Annie's Cheddar Bunnies. Devilish little Bernie. That's the bunny's name. No lie.
Watching my Thirty-One girls soar with sales! Wooot wooot!
Saying, "Woot woot."
Crystal Light.
Ginger Ale.
Blue Moon with an orange slice. It's Tom's fault that I even like the taste of beer.
Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate from Starbucks (this is why I need to drink Crystal Light).

I'm Officially A Wife.

2011-02-06T11:03:00.000-08:00

Yes, I've been married now for nearly nine months. But, today was when I fell in love with a vacuum cleaner bag. This must certainly confirm that I am indeed a wife!

TK bought Febreeze vaccum cleaner bags last week at WalMart and I LOVE them!

I'm one of those girls that LOVES the look of nicely vacuumed carpet --complete with lines! These bags make vacuuming even better! They leave a pleasant Febreez-y smell and the whole house seems that much cleaner. I'm totally okay with the false hope of a spotless house. Febreeze helps with that!

Happy Lately List!

2011-02-03T12:05:00.000-08:00

(we heart it)

A Happy Lately List:

Snuggling with my best hubby when it's super cold out!
My Keurig milk frother. Great Christmas present.
Loading my calendar with Thirty-One parties.
Sharing the Thirty-One dream with ladies.
Having text wars with my best sister-in-law.
Visiting my parents and grandma.
Reading girly blogs.
Decorating for Valentine's Day!

So What Wednesday

2011-02-02T15:27:00.000-08:00

So What if I...

Sometimes only have a cup of coffee or a sweet tea from the Chick until dinner.
Would really prefer to just have snack food for most meals.
Wake up at 5:45 every day but don't get out of bed 'til 7? My internal clock just wakes me up. It's ridiculous.
Leave clothes in the dryer that desperately need folded for a couple days.
Put towels in the washer before company comes over so they're not hanging on the shower bar?
Love trash TV like Real Housewives and Teen Mom?

Fresh Start

2011-01-12T09:00:00.000-08:00

I admit it. I'm horrible at blogging. I'd like to remember more of my life, what takes place, etc. I'd like to have a good record of things that have occurred. But, I'm terrible at taking pictures too. Gah.

Perhaps I can use this as a spot for random thoughts, current happenings and things that make me happy.

After all, I am a pretty random person. Just ask my husband.

And, I love (LOVE) to write. Since I'm done with graduate school (hello, I have been for a year now), I need to work my brain.

Here's to the start of a new blog (for the 1,000 time).