Five on Friday: Hair, Lists & Christmas

Five on Friday: Hair, Lists & Christmas

Friday, November 8, 2013

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Happy Friday friends!

I'm still loving my hair and how dark it is. It's amazing what a little color in your life can do, right?

I recently discovered how to make lists on twitter and it's saving me so much time!! Seriously. I don't feel so overwhelmed now if I don't get to look at it for a day or two. I wish Instagram had this feature.

I'm happy that Halloween is over. I didn't decorate at all for Halloween, but I'm so excited for Christmas and will probably start decorating soon!

I recently upgraded to the paid version of PicMonkey. Not sure why I waited so long, but I'm so glad I finally did it. Love, love, love having endless options!

Also, I'm loving this article by Diana Stone, this other article about marriage that was floating around social media and THIS blog post from Courtney. I really needed these 3 articles this week to put my mind into perspective. I've been off for a few weeks and am just starting to feel like myself again.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

 

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8 Must Haves for Attending a Blog Conference

8 Must Haves for Attending a Blog Conference

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

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These are my 8 must have items if you are attending a conference or thinking about attending a conference.

(1) Paper & (2) Pen

There is a reason I put this first. I bought a cute little notebook from Target that I still use for all things blog related.  I took so many great notes throughout the day that I still look back on for reminders. I wanted to make sure I was getting all of the speakers tips down as they were speaking, as well as anything else I wanted to jot down throughout the day. Also, it's all in one place so I can easily find it.

The personalized pen I got with my business cards and I LOVE it!  

(3) Business Cards

I invested in these and I'm so glad I did. I went through VistaPrint and also got the pen pictured above. They also have tons of other products that you can customize. They both match my blog design, which I highly recommend. . That way when people go and visit your blog or site, they will easily relate to it cause they have seen it before. It was so great to exchange these with the other ladies I met. After getting home, I could review them, go visit their blog and/or go follow them on their social media outlets. I even wrote a few notes on them as people were giving them to me. If something stood out in our conversation or we had something in common, I jotted that down on the card for reference later.

(4) Electronics i.e. iPad and/or iPhone

I'm so glad I decided to bring my iPad along. I actually ended up using this more throughout the day than my iPhone, which was great because the battery lasts so much longer. I didn't use my iPhone as much, which meant that my iPhone stayed pretty well charged. I can't go anywhere without my phone (mostly for child/babysitter reasons), but I keep a digital calendar and I also used this to take a few pictures of things, since I didn't bring an actual camera. I could keep it in my pocket at all times and was pretty covered throughout the day.

I used my iPad mostly to take some photos of slides from the various speakers slideshows. If I felt like there was just too much information to write down, then I would snap a picture of the slide for later use.

(5) Chargers

I actually bring these everywhere with me anyways, but I would say especially to a conference. I personally didn't need them, but I did have a couple people who borrowed mine and were in need of them. 

(6) Calendar or Planner

Like I said above. I do keep a digital calendar in my phone, but I need, need, need my handwritten calendar for further planning and notes. There is just nothing like it. Visit Erin Condren for a planner like the one shown above. I love how I can customize it to show my life and personality.

(7) Cute & Comfortable Outfit

I knew it was going to be a long day, so I went with business casual pants, a dressy tee, and a cardigan with flats. It's an outfit that I actually wear to work. I felt good in what I was wearing and I am so glad I brought a cardigan as I was constantly hot/cold. Also, I am glad I wore flats. There is nothing worse than hurting feet while you're trying to mingle and make conversation.

(8) Confidence

I was terrified at first to put myself out there, but you know what? So was everyone else. And if they aren't they are a liar. Everyone is in the same boat. Everyone is putting themselves out there. Be confident in your brand and in yourself. There is no one else out there like you.

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Music Monday {Vol. 13}

Music Monday {Vol. 13}

Monday, November 4, 2013

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Music Monday is back!

I am so loving this song right now by Thomas Rhett.



"It Goes Like This"

Happy Monday friends!

365 Photoaday Challenge {September 2013}

365 Photoaday Challenge {September 2013}

Thursday, October 31, 2013

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This is an Instagram re-cap of the photoaday challenge that I have been doing since the beginning of the year. Please note, this does not include other photos that I post or videos. You can find me over on Instagram @MrsMamaD

#day244 #sept1 Out to lunch @ Crave. It's sad, but we couldn't do it without the iPad. #lifesaver #photoaday365



#day245 #sept2 Trying to get back on track with potty training and its not working. #undiesfail #photoaday365



#day246 #sept3 First day in Early Pre School class room. New cubby. Full time. All day. Every day. #holdme #growingup #photoaday365



#day247 #sept4 Homemade taco salad with all the fixings. Which isn't a whole lot cause I'm a picky eater. #yum #photoaday365



#day248 #sept5 Just passed out next to her boyfriend Mickey Mouse. #photoaday365



#day249 #sept6 Aqua-Doodle after bath. Cleanest form of entertainment. #toddlerfun #photoaday365



#day250 #sept7 DQ date with the little. #yum #icecream #photoaday365



#day251 #sept8 DQ everyday. PBP. #photoaday365



#day252 #sept9 Had to fill this out for a book that they are putting together at school. #photoaday365



#day253 #sept10 Surgery day. Ended up staying overnight. #funtimes #gallbladderssuck #photoaday365



#day254 #sept11 Getting ready to leave. He was being camera shy. #orhewasjustcrabby #inpain #photoaday365



#day255 #sept12 Cheesy chicken in the crockpot over noodles. So EASY & delicious! It will be on the blog this week. #food #photoaday365



#day256 #sept13 Love getting needed clearance items at my fave store. #happyplace #haileysnewbed #photoaday365



#day257 #sept14 Big girl bed in full effect. Woohoo!! #photoaday365



#Day258 #sept15 Left: This is how we feel about today's Viking loss. Boo! Right: this is how we feel about a bath & haircut for Tony today. Yay! #photoaday365



#day259 #sept16 "Look, Mom, we're holding hands." She sure does love her pups. #tony #puppylove #photoaday365



#day260 #sept17 Puckett is such a snuggler. #puppylove #photoaday365



#day261 #sept18 I picked her up from school and they had her hair in the cutest little top knot. #cutie #photoaday365



#day262 #sept19 I've made some delish dishes this week. #yum #photoaday365



#day263 #sept20 Picked up our 5K race packet today. All set for tomorrow morning. #photoaday365 #5K



#day264 #sept21 Before and after our Vikings 5k. #fitness #vikings #dfam #photoaday365



#day265 #sept22 Aldi does it again. Love and obsessed. #carbs #photoaday365



#day266 #sept23 Love my new business cards! Shout out to @howsweetthisis #bbcready #photoaday365



#day267 #sept24 Hailey made a bus. Love seeing her little art projects come to life. #newclassroom #newteachers #newfriends #photoaday365



#day268 #sept25 Hailey's Halloween costume is coming together quite nicely. #halloween #photoaday365



#day269 #sept26 My arm hurts from my flu shot. Wah!! #photoaday365 #wimp



#day270 #sept27 Of course I have the regular version for my ears and the radio version for Hailey ears. #workwork #photoaday365



#day271 #sept28 While visiting friends, Hailey was hanging out with Lucy the pup. #twopeasinapod #doglover #photoaday365



#day272 #sept29 Reading a book, sitting in her chair at the top of the stairs waiting for Daddy to come back up. #daddysgirl #passtime #shelovesherbooks #photoaday365



#day273 #sept30 Go big or go home, right? #pointsonpointsonpoints #illtakeit #ffb #photoaday365



Happy Thursday friends!!

Currently: October 2013

Currently: October 2013

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

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Excited: For Falen and Paul's Halloween party on Friday night! Woohoo! Mama needs a night out!

Worried: Not really about anything at the moment. I'm just being impatient with life.

Reading: Only blogs at the moment. Trying to catch up.

Creating: This blog post. Hey, at least I'm blogging, right?

Loving:  My new dark hair! You would know that though already if you follow me on Instagram!

Hating: The weather. It's just dreary and rainy and cold.

Wondering: About our credit score and house/loan stuff. Again, just me being impatient.

Eating: Pretzel sticks at my desk for my afternoon snack.

Drinking: A coke.

Craving: Nothing at the moment which is unheard of.

Hoping: That Hailey's Halloween costume will finally come together. I found orange leggings yesterday after searching high and low for them. Can't wait for tomorrow!

Watching on TV: So much!! See this post HERE. I've also added the Blacklist to my long list of shows per a recommendation from a friend and I LOVE it!!! I also love James Spader. He plays such a good bad-good guy.



Listening to: MyTalk 107.1 - Yes, I've become THAT person who loves talk radio. Especially celeb trash talk.

Wearing: Nothing fancy today. Gray dress pants from JCP and a navy blue shirt from Kohls. Work attire.

Looking forward to: A great night with friends, a few adult beverages and my friend, Paul's, buffalo chicken dip on Friday night. See also what I'm Excited for.

Feeling: Tired, but motivated.

Weather: Rainy and chilly. No snow yet though.

Wanting: To get all caught up on blogging.

Needing: A million $. Haha. Doesn't everyone?

Thinking: I have so much to blog and catch up on, but struggling with finding time lately.

Enjoying: My coke. See also what I'm drinking.

My Little Goblin

My Little Goblin

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

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Linking up with Darci from The Good Life Blog.



Here is my little goblin in one of her Halloween PJ's. Don't mind the horrible lighting. It was right before bed last night that I snapped this.



Happy Halloween everyone!

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Hard Stuff

Hard Stuff

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

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Sorry friends for my week long blog break. I know BBC taught me not to apologize, so I'm just going to go with it. I'm almost finished with my BBCMPLS re-cap post, too. It will be up this week. I hope.

Everyone is entitled to a break once in awhile right? It wasn't intentional. I was just focusing on life and my loved ones.

Last Tuesday afternoon I got word from my parents that my cousin, Nicole, had went into labor the night before and gave birth to her baby boy at just 22 weeks along. My heart immediately dropped to the pit of my stomach. I was so sick for her.



She just got married in April, this was her first pregnancy, and she was devasted. She had GIVEN BIRTH to him. They heard him cry. He lived for 1 hour and 16 minutes. His name was Brayden Alexander.



They told us all on Wednesday that on Thursday they were going to have a little burial service in Onalaska for him. That is where her Husband, Alex, is from. Alex's Dad is also a funeral director, which came in very handy for two young parents that were going through something so hard and had no clue on what to do.

Because my Dad would be driving my Grandma and Aunt Jamie down, I coordinated with him to ride along for the day. Nicole and I have been through everything together. Cousins are the best. They are not only family, but they are your friends, too.



I knew I had to be there for her and I'm so glad I went. I know it meant a lot to her and even her parents (my Aunt & Uncle) told me how happy they were to see me. It was a very long day, both emotionally and physically. I needed a few days and the weekend to re-coup and focus on my family. It's just another example of how fragile life is and how fast things can change.

Please pray for Nicole and Al as they continue to grieve and hopefully someday try again. Also, please hug and kiss your loved ones and tell them you love them.

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Five on Friday {10.11.2013}

Five on Friday {10.11.2013}

Friday, October 11, 2013

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Linking up with Darci from The Good Life Blog.

First off, will you please say a prayer for Wayne's Green Gramma. She's back in the hospital again, for the second time. The first time was back at the end of August. She is having some heart issues that we thought were resolved, but apparently not. She's got plans to move back here to MN within the next couple months and I can't wait to have her back! She will still be 2 hours away, but it will be tons better than having her in AZ. In the meantime please pray for her. Thanks loves.

Wayne starts back on his weight-loss program again on Monday. At the end of his program and about the same time his gallbladder started acting up (middle of August) Bouari changed their name to Soza and decided to go a different advertising route. So we said OK, he focused on dealing with his gallbladder issues, we had the State Fair, his surgery and recovery and well, now they want to start up again. So here we go. He ended at 298 (just under his first goal of 300) and now is starting back at 306. His new goal is to get down to 270 by December 10th a/k/a Jingleball. If you want to catch up start HERE and HERE.

Speaking of Jingleball, this year is going be HUGE and they are announcing artists today! I'm so pumped!! This will be my 6th Jingleball!!

I am so excited that H&M opened in Ridgedale (a local mall close to me). So convenient. Also, a Kate Spade is opening in the Galleria and Madewell is opening in the Mall of America. Although Madewell is way too expensive for my tastes as far as clothes go, it's still pretty exciting. And I'm excited to go check out the Kate Spade store, even if I don't buy anything.

Since last Friday, I have worked out 3 times. Last Saturday (Zumba), last Sunday (Core) and yesterday(HIIT). I missed out on Tuesday's Insanity class cause Wayne had to be at WE Day even earlier then I would be getting up, so it didn't work out, but I am still proud of myself. I could've just not gotten up on Thursday and went back to my old ways. But I didn't and I'm determined to make this a real habit.