$300 One Of A Kind Upcycled Vintate Ring and Pendant {Celebrate You Valentine's Day Giveaway} #VDAYCelebrateYOU

Today is Valentine's Day! Let's Celebrate YOU with this awesome giveaway hosted by Full Price? Never!

I've teamed up with some giveaway loving bloggers to bring you the chance to win this one of a kind collection of jewelry!

A Pendant and a Ring {chain not included}! Perfect for a night out on the town!

About the prize: This unique collection of jewelry features a new process to "upcycle" Vintage Jewelry. While still keeping their original charm, they are transformed into a modern look! Both pieces feature vintage rein stones, and the ring has an adjustable size stainless steel band. This is a one of a kind set that will make you sparkle!

About the Sponsor: Morgann Hill Designs is industry known for their upscale wedding decor, custom created flowers, furniture, jewelry and more! Recognized for their signature rustic chic collection... A clever blend of California chic with delightful hints of Southern influences ~ their designs are the perfect compliment to numerous styled weddings including Rustic, Country, Shabby, Vintage Inspired, Woodland, Garden, Barn, Farm, DIY, Backyard Chic, Eco Friendly, Natural, Elegant, Enchanted Whimsy, just about any eclectic style!

Check out Morgann Hill Designs:

Shop, Blog, Facebook & Twitter

Giveaway open to to those in the Continental US only aged 18+. Please fill out the form below to enter.

GOOD LUCK!


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How I met your Father - Valentines 2012

I love the idea of this blog hop so I HAD to join in.

To my Children,

Its always asked at some point in life by a child,

"How Did you and daddy meet?"

You may not have asked it yet or you may have already, but in case you. May ever wonder, let me tell you how I met your father, the most amazing guy on the planet.

It's funny because I didn't meet him first. Your gramma did.

Gramma met daddy in a chat room when we lived in Alaska. I was around 16 years old. Gramma had just gotten a webtv so we had some access to the Internet. It was nothing fancy but something was better than nothing. She went into this chat room called new2talkcity because in fact she was new. There she met some people that were really nice. One of those was your daddy. Gramma and daddy talked ALOT. He confided in gramma about Branden and the crap he had to go through with Branden's egg donor.

At some point gramma showed daddy my picture. He told gramma that I was a very beautiful girl. Gramma told daddy that she would allow us to talk we. I turned 18. I wonder if she knew something that we didn't. I would say hi to him here and there when I would go in the chat room but it was never anything serious. It was always just a hey how are you, oh ok type thing.

After I turned 18 and as it got towards the end of my high school years I had talked to daddy a bit more. Again, nothing exciting. I got him to give gramma his phone number and I called him right away just to mess with him.

When I got him on the phone for the first time, it was then that I first felt my heart skip a beat. The butterflies I felt in my tummy when I was dialing his number was something else I had never experienced. When I finally heard him say hello, I thought I was going to faint. I don't know why because like I said, we never had serious conversations. Just a passing hello now and then.

It was at the moment that I knew this was some thing more. I just didn't know what.

In June of 2000 your daddy and I talked on the phone for hours at a time for a week straight. He would rush home from work and call me. It would be 1030 at night for him (730 for me) but he called regardless and we would talk for hours.

His voice made me melt. As much as I tried to hide it, gramma knew when I had talked to him because she said my face would be glowing. She told me I was in love.

I looked at her like she was nuts. How could I be in love with someone whom I had never met.

She was right though. My heart was pulling for him.

I had casually mentioned how it would be awesome to come visit him for a week or so and that I was going to save up some money to come over the summer.

A couple days later, I had a phone call from a local travel agent saying I had as plane ticket to come pick up.

Gramma was not thrilled. She made sure she had phone numbers fr a police department and nearby relatives. I had strict orders to call her everyday. Of I was to miss a day, police would be coming to his door.

I left Alaska July 6, 2000 to the arms of your daddy. I was so scared to get off that airplane. I was almost the last person to get off. My heart was racing. Here I am. 18 years old. Leaving Alaska alone to fly half way across the united states to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to meet a man I met online. Was I NUTS? My friends thought so.

I was scared I wouldn't know who to look for. But the moment I stepped off the airplane and met his gaze, I just knew.

There in that airport with a single red rose and a teddy bear was a stunning man. The man who I knew I was meant to be with forever. The Internet brought us together and people have tried to tear us apart, but they have been unsuccessful. July marks 12 years with one another. Needless to say that short visit has yet to end.

This morning, valentines day 2012, your daddy gave me a ring that says he wants me to be his wife.



Daddy STILL makes my heart flutter. He still makes me smile and laugh as the first day I met him. While our time together hasn't been all roses, my love for him is strong.

Courtney & Vanessa, I hope one day you find a man that treats you like a queen. That makes you smile every day and always makes your heart skip a beat. That's what love is.

Branden, I hope you grow into an amazing man that knows how to make a woman smile and feel amazing.

One day, when you want to know how daddy met mommy, I hope this story makes you smile and feel all warm with love. I know that's how I feel every day. I am so thankful for him and you.

Best Thing Ever

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a technology junkie.

I'd be lying if I tried to deny my addiction to my iPhone from the very first day I got it in January of 2011.

That iPhone and I have an amazing relationship. It is never out of my possession. Except for one day I left it at home and I suffered the wrath of my boyfriend posting hilariously funny status updates on my Facebook because I was dumb enough to forget it at home while I spent 8 hours at work.

My Facebook friends got quite a laugh that day.

I have never left it behind since then though.

My boyfriend would always make a comment about how I never put the thing down. I blamed him for buying it for me. Then told him hush it cause I paid the phone bill. Both valid reasons right?

A lot of the posts on this blog have been made from that trusty iPhone. <3

My newest obsession...

The iPad I am typing this blog post from!!!

I a happy girl. I have wanted one of these things since they came out. But in my current state with finances, I could never justify the purchase.

Well, for the first time in 4 years, I got my income taxes. Before they had been garnished for student loans. But I consolidated them and got on a repayment plan that is based on my income which cleared up the garnishment real quick.

I was stoked.

Filed my taxes. Got a pretty penny back. Paid some bills that where slightly behind and payed off a couple things and people, and decided I deserved to spoil myself. I have been under a lot of stress the past few years and I felt (the boyfriend agreed) that I deserved to be spoiled. So I bought an iPad.

I was nice and also purchased one for the boyfriend. I got him addicted to his own iPhone so I wasn't about to share my iPad, so I got him his own so I didn't have to share. LOL see how nice I am?

So now all of us have an I something. We are all addicted.

Apple is amazing.

Waiting for review

I have a few products here waiting for me to write a review on them. I apologize for the delay and I will be working on these on Tuesday.

A couple of things happened. My laptop cord has bit the bullet. I have bought 8 ,Illinois cords for it, it seems. I have ordered another. PLUS a new battery as that is probably why my cord keeps going. I am waiting for them to appear in my mailbox. Plus this whole week I have had some GOD awful tummy bug which seems to have passed thankfully.

So, it's hard to type up reviews on my iPhone. But, I have a new toy that is helpful and easier. But it deserves a post all on its own.

Thanks to the companies of these products for being patient.

Reviews coming up include;
Loveable Labels
Shakeology
BellyFull from the HopeFull company

Be on the lookout.

History Channel

Guest Post by Heriberto Fuentes
My brother has recently become very interested in the history of America, and has started watching the History Channel every now and then. Usually he is only interested in watching sports on tv. He will watch every football or baseball game, regardless of who is playing. He heard that there was going to be a special on tv that was a behind the scenes look at the White House and how it works. He could not remember what time or day it was coming on. He went to http://www.DirectStarTV.com/ find a listing of when the special was coming on. He was able to find it and set it up to record. I asked him why he did not just watch it when it came on. He said that it was on at the same time as the Monday Night Football game and he was not going to miss that. I am glad to see that he is more interested in history and learning more about America, but it sounds like sports are still his priority.

Book Review: Iris & The Dragonflies

I recently got the opportunity to review this young adult book. I had intentions of reading this with my 9 year old daughter but once I started reading, I got interested in it all on my own.
Iris & the Dragonflies is a great book about a young girl that has the amazing ability to speak with dragonflies. The dragonflies have long awaited for Iris to speak with them because they are more than just dragonflies.
Iris gets to visit her grandmother in Ireland where she hears all sorts of incredible stories about the dragonflies and iris learns that she has some special abilities of her own.
Come read about Iris' adventures with the dragonflies and how they attempt to protect the earth. This book is definitely a page turner. You and your young reader will be unable to put this book down.
The author of this book has done a great job of portraying this fictional enchanting story about a little girl and her love for dragonflies. Rosemary has an amazing ability with words.
I was compensated with a copy of this book for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own and not of others.

Need a Moment

I know I have been MIA for a few days and for that I apologize.

I have some personal issues going on with myself that I am working on.

I know I have quite a few reviews to do. I promise I will get to those ASAP. I appreciate the patience.

<3

Getting Help

I sucked up my pride and went to the doctor this week.

I knew I needed help but I never like to ask.

I am one of those people that think they can take on the world alone and have no troubles doing it.

In reality, I can't.

I am a hot. mess.

A few years ago my doctor in Milwaukee diagnosed me with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), severe depression with post suicidal tendencies (I can't believe I just admitted that), and anxiety.

See, in 2004-2005 (I think) the boy and I had some problems. We split up for a year. Eventually after many fights, we made up and continued with our relationship.

But, things never went back to normal. I still hold resentment towards home for everything. Sometimes I question myself if I am really right for him or if he is right for me. But I love him, so I ignore my thoughts and resentment and keep trucking.

It's not enough. I am under an debilitating amount of stress that I can't shake my depression nor my anxiety.

Now, I am speaking with a doctor again who genuinely seems concerned and I now have an appointment to speak with a psychologist. I was recommended one in Milwaukee but I never went because I didn't want to be one of "those" people.

Well, now I am. And I need to be.

My first appointment is Wednesday. I am anxious. And I know I will have a major anxiety attack before hand. But I need to do this. I can do this. I WILL do this.

I will bounce back.

My theme song right now is Pink's "I'm a Hazard to Myself"

My life song is Simple Plan's "Welcome to my Life"

They are so fitting.

Mom Blogger Weight Loss Challenge; Day 1 #FM4L

Like I stated a week or so ago, I am participating in Dustin Maher's Mommy Blogger Weight loss Challenge. I am SO thankful for Dustin to do this for us Mom bloggers because without having accountability like this, I am a slacker. I major slacker. I have absolutely NO motivation what so ever!

For 21 days, I am participating in this challenge. Every month on the 1st of the month, a new challenge will start. I will continue to do this challenge every month until I am 100% happy with myself.

I will ROCK this.

During the 21 days, I will be exercising, drinking lots of water, eating HEALTHY, and avoiding LOTS of sweets. (which is hard when they put yesterdays bakery in the break room at work)

I have to do this for myself. Not anyone else. I need to make ME better. I need to make that ugly woman above become the beauty I know is inside of me.

I need your support. I can't do this alone.

I have not taken before measurements as I dont have a measuring tape.

Starting Weight: 286
Goal after 21 days: 271