Giveaway winner!!

Congratulations to Leslie at Life in its Ordinary Form for winning my Ruffles with Love giveaway!! 

Leslie will be able to choose her favorite workout tank from Vanessa's Ruffles with Love Etsy shop. 

Congrats Leslie! I hope you enjoy your shirt!

Monday motivation

Don't ever forget...

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My first-ever giveaway just ended and I'm so excited to announce the winner tomorrow! Thanks again to Vanessa from Ruffles with Love for agreeing to do this giveaway with me. 

I'm at the beach this week with Michael's family, so if anyone is interested in doing a guest post for me one day, please email me and let me know!! 

Giveaway ends soon!!

Just a reminder that my Ruffles with Love giveaway ends tonight at midnight!! 

Enter here for your chance to win an adorable workout tank from Vanessa's awesome Etsy store. 

What better motivation to work out than one of these fun, inspirational tanks??

Thursday's thoughts

Sometimes I just need a little reminder:


Don't dwell on memories; appreciate them for what they are, and for the person they've helped you become.


I tend to dwell on things for longer than I should — an awkward encounter, the outcome of a conversation and what I should have said instead, etc.

Sometimes it helps to take a second to acknowledge whatever it is I'm stuck on that's bothering me at the moment, breathe in, then let it go.

...........

{in other news}

Don't forget to enter my Ruffles with Love giveaway! It ends Sunday night, so you still have plenty of time to try to score an awesome workout tank! 

Wishful Wednesday

This week, I'm wishing for 

this bauble from Kate Spade

this Lilly agenda

this Viva la Juicy perfume

this Essie Punchy Pink nail color

and I'm happy to say I just ordered this pretty little guy from JewelIQ, and I can't wait to get it!

{JewelIQ is a great site for jewelry — everything is always under $25, including shipping!} 

I'm dying for these pieces next. 

Summer reading suggestions

I need help with my summer reading!

I just started this book by Jodi Picoult and her daughter, and I'm having a really hard time getting into it. I think it's for a younger audience, which may be the problem. Has anyone else read this yet? 

Let me first say that I LOVE everything by Emily Giffin, so I am eagerly awaiting this book. I may even start reading it before I'm done with Between the Lines. 

I'm dying to get my hands on this book. Emily, you are my hero.

What else is out right now that I should read?

Also, don't forget to enter my Ruffles with Love giveaway!!

I apologize if anyone was having trouble entering before. Rafflecopter and I were having it out, but I'm happy to say the problem is now solved! 

Monday motivation

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Don't forget to enter my Ruffles with Love giveaway!!! 

Ruffles with Love GIVEAWAY!!

I've been dying to do a giveaway for the longest time, and when I passed 100 followers, I figured it was the perfect opportunity to celebrate.

I reached out to Vanessa from the Ruffles with Love Etsy store after coming across some of her shirts on Pinterest. In fact, when I pinned two of her shirts on my fitness board, I was overwhelmed with how many people liked and repinned these shirts. I knew they would be perfect for a giveaway. 

The shirt I chose

Another one of my favorites. 

One of my very first blog posts was about how fun, bright workout clothes inspire me to exercise. The bright neon colors of Vanessa's shirts have that same effect on me. Not to mention, the sayings are both motivational and inspirational. 

Ruffles with Love has a workout tank for everyone — there are even 50 Shades of Grey-inspired tanks! They're super affordable, would make great gifts, and who doesn't love an adorable bow?

I love the way the tank fits, too. I chose a size small and it's perfect — not too long, too short, or too tight. Also, the bow is removable so there's no need to worry about it falling off in the wash.

The winner will get to choose whichever tank they want from the Ruffles with Love Etsy store. Good luck everyone!!

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway here!.

The giveaway will begin at 12:01 AM EST on Monday, July 23rd and end at 12:01 AM EST on Monday, July 30th. The winner will be announced on Tuesday, July 31st. Valid for U.S. residents only. 

Snack attack

My go-to snack as of lately: 

A 6 oz serving of Chobani Non-Fat Yogurt with a handful of Special K Protein Plus. 

YUM. 

I'll be the first to admit: I'm weird about yogurt. I go through phases with eating yogurt, and I'm one of those people who literally take forever to eat it. I'm not sure if it's a texture thing or what, but it's weird I know. My favorite flavors of Chobani so far? Blueberry, peach, and apple cinnamon. 

What I like about this snack: I don't think I could eat this whole serving of yogurt by itself, so by adding the cereal in, it gives the yogurt a little something more and also makes it more filling. Also, I'm a big fan of eating cereal for a snack, but honestly, this Special K Protein Plus cereal kind of sucks by itself. By adding the cereal to the yogurt not only do you get a ton of protein, but you're also adding fiber as well. 

Nutrition facts for Chobani (peach flavor): 

Serving Size 6oz 

Calories 140

Calories From Fat 0

Total Fat 0g 0%

Saturated Fat 0g 0%

Trans Fat 0g 

Total Carbs 20g 7%

Dietary Fiber less than 1g 4%

Sugars 19g 

Protein 14g 28%

Vitamin A 2%

Vitamin C 2%

Vitamin D3 

Calcium 20%

Iron 0%

Nutrition facts for Special K Protein Plus: 

Serving Size 3/4 cup

Calories 100 

Calories from Fat 30

Total Fat 3g 5%

Saturated Fat 0.5g 2%

Cholesterol 0mg 0%

Sodium 110mg 5%

Total Carbohydrates 14g 5%

Dietary Fiber 5g

Sugars 2g

Protein 10g

Vitamin A 15% 

Vitamin C 35%

Calcium 4%

Iron 45%

What's your favorite snack lately?

Outfit inspirations

I've been obsessing over all of Blair's outfits lately, and it has me seriously craving a whole new wardrobe. 

I love the way she pairs bright, fun colors with elegant pieces here

and is a mixed-pattern maven here.

Love, love, love.

In the spirit of bright colors and mixed patterns, here are more outfit inspirations via my Obsessions board on Pinterest. 

Where do you go for outfit inspiration?

Monday motivation

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A Blogger PSA

I'm stealing the idea of this post from Leslie because I first saw it on her blog, and I think it's so important for all of my blogging friends to know about. 

The first part of this Blogger PSA? 

The "noreply-comment@blogger.com" emails. 

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For me, one of the most rewarding parts of blogging is reading and responding to comments from all of you, and like Leslie said in her post, it breaks my heart when I can't respond to your comments because of this silly Blogger setting. 

So here's what you need to do to connect your email address with your Blogger account: 

1. Go to your Blogger profile. (This is the page where your picture is on the left-hand side and it lists your blog as well as the blogs you follow.)

2. Click on the orange "Edit Profile" button in the top right-hand corner. 

3. Under "Privacy," check the box that says "Show my email address."

4. In the "Identity" section, type your email address. (I created a new email address in Gmail for my blog account so I could keep my other email address private.)

5. Click "Save Profile" at the bottom of the page. 

If you don't already have this setting turned on, I strongly suggest that you do. It really helps networking and communication within the blogging world! 

And next...

I'll show you how to turn off the super annoying word verification that appears after you submit your comments on certain blogs. 

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 Because seriously, what letters are even used in that first word? I spend so much time guessing which letters are which that sometimes I just end up frustrated with a headache from squinting at my computer screen for so long. (I may be exaggerating slightly here.)

I understand that this is a precautionary method against spam, but in the seven months that I've been blogging, I've only had to delete one comment from my blog. Maybe I've just been lucky in that sense, but still, these word verifications are a pain and a half. 

So here's how to fix it: 

1. Go to the Blogger dashboard. 

2. In the left-hand column, click on the "Settings" tab. Then click on "Posts and comments."

3. Under the "Show word verification" tab, choose "No." 

4. Click on "Save settings." 

And there it is folks! I hope this post was helpful to some of you, and I also hope it helps in being able to respond to more comments on your blogs, therefore making you new blogging friends.

Congrats Marilyn & Scott!

A week ago today, Marilyn, one of my best friends, got engaged!

Scott proposed during a walk on the beach on the Fourth of July.

Isn't her ring so beautiful?? 

I'm so happy for you two Mare, and I can't wait to be there for you throughout all the planning and festivities! Wooooo!!!! 

Things We Can't Stand Tuesday

Today, Elizabeth and I are hosting our own link up! 


We're calling it Things We Can't Stand Tuesday.

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Here are the things Elizabeth and I can't stand:

• Outdated magazines in doctor's offices
• Crocs
• Elisabeth Hasselbeck from The View
• Mint ice cream
• Family Guy
• Unpainted toenails
• Plastic wrappers on CDs and DVDs
• People who seek out compliments
• Baby corn
• Kristen Stewart
• Relish
• Full denim outfits
• Misuse of suppose/supposed or use/used
• Abercrombie & Fitch "Fierce" cologne
• Tom Cruise

Now it's your turn! What are the things you can't stand?

Monday motivation

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Favorite things: Weekend edition

one:

getting to spend the day with my wonderful parents.

     

two:
all of these

three:

leah and i's outfits from last night

{on me: a navy and white striped dress from TJ with a yellow eyelet skirt layered over it}

{on leah: purple J.Crew shorts and a black strapless top}

Things We Can't Stand Tuesday

Today, Elizabeth and I are hosting our own link up! 

We're calling it Things We Can't Stand Tuesday. 

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Here are the things Elizabeth and I can't stand: 

• The sound of packing tape stretching across a box 
• The texture of scratchy carpet rubbing against your hands or feet
• When people leave only the bread ends in the bag
• Coffee breath
• Chalk
• When people put their cigarette butts in a beer bottle
• Mariah Carey
• Lindsay Lohan 
• When you can't find the end of clear tape
• When you wake up right before your alarm
• When people leave a whole length or more between them and the person in front of them when stopped at a light
• Cheap toilet paper
• Any ketchup other than Heinz 
• Any orange juice other than Simply Orange
• Packaged deli meats

P.S. A few months ago, Leslie did a post called "Just Can't Do It," which inspired the last few items on my list. 

Now it's your turn! What are the things you can't stand? Link up with us and share your answers!!

Monday motivation

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