Beautiful Bridget Designs

She FINALLY has a blog!

2011-06-27T21:57:00.000-05:00

I have been waiting patiently for my daughter to have the desire to start her own blog and it has FINALLY happened! Why have I been so excited? Because she absolutely loves to write and I thought what better way for her to express herself than through a blog? Meet Emily...

Please stop her to check it out and say hi, her blog is If You Give a Girl a Blog and she would love to hear from you!

TWEET IT - iPads vs iPhones (Too Funny, Had To Share!)

2011-05-03T08:10:00.001-05:00

Who's Ready?

2011-04-28T01:21:00.001-05:00

So who's ready for summer? I know I am....

[images courtesy of pinterest]

Wonderful Easter Weekend

2011-04-24T17:39:00.000-05:00

Happy Easter everyone!! This has been a FANTASTIC weekend so far :) On Saturday I got together with all of my besties and hung out at Red Velvet and had bubble tea and cupcakes (yum yum!) It was me, Mandypants, Amy, Lydia, Lillian, Liz, Tiffany and a friend of hers....we had SUCH a blast! Thank you Elsie for letting us hang out and have a fun time :)

[above photos stolen from here]

Afterwards, the girls and I colored Easter eggs...even after the kiddies are grown and on their own I will STILL color eggs at Easter...so much fun!

Sunday morning everyone woke up to lots of candy and Nacho Libre (this is a tradition for the kids, they love to watch this movie on Easter because of the reference of having a certain bodily function problem on "Easters" lol!

Later today we'll sit down for Easter dinner....I don't have any pictures to share since it hasn't happened yet but we'll be having a Honey Baked Easter this year...Honey baked Ham, Honey Baked Turkey Breast, Sweet Potato Casserole, Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole, Potatoes Au Gratin, Stuffing and Gravy, Cranberry Salad, and homemade Carrot Cake for dessert (thank you honey!) Now mind you, I will be having SMALL portions of everything as I'm diabetic but I will enjoy those itty bitty portions immensely!!

I hope you all are having an equally wonderful Easter weekend as well and please don't forget the TRUE meaning of Easter...He lives!

Going Mediterrean

2011-04-18T00:34:00.000-05:00

Well I am FINALLY on the road to recovery after having one heck of a flu/cold. One thing I did a lot of while laid out on the couch was watch TV...one show in particular was Dr. Oz. What really interested me was his show on following a Mediterrean diet and of how incredibly healthy it is. So I thought "why not, I've tried everything else under the sun...". I am doing some research on the Mediterrean way of eating and checking to see which books to buy to teach me the proper way to change over to this way of eating. I realize it can't just be a diet but be something I follow for the rest if my life so I want to do it right. Dr. Oz said something that really hit home....we should make our healthy veggies and greens our main course and make the meat the side dish....just think of all the wonderfully nutritious foods we would eat if we looked at our dinner plates that way?

If you or someone you know follows the Mediterrean way of eating please let me know your experiences with it and any tips and tricks that you can offer :). I'm excited!! Here's one book I'm thinking of getting and some photos of all the wonderful foods I would be eating.....

Okay, so who's with me? I would LOVE to have anyone interested do this along with me, it would be a big help to me and I would love to help motivate someone as well! I'm going to get the books I need to do this so if anyone is interested just let me know, it's time to change our lives! I'll be back to post more about it as soon as possible :)

Have a happy week, much love to everyone!

The Surprise of a Lifetime!

2011-04-07T16:35:00.000-05:00

I saw the following video this morning and just had to share, it is so cute/funny! Here is the story as told on their website so that you have an idea of what the video is about before you watch it....

I’ve been planning out this moment for 2.5 years and it’s finally here!!! I took 4 home pregnancy tests that were all positive and was ready to tell Gary. The only problem was figuring out how to hide the cameras and get him to come sit down without giving away the surprise, before I could start recording. We were driving home and he said “as soon as I get home, I’m going to soak in the tub” I thought PERFECT! That gives me at least 30 minutes to get all set up.

I found the gifts I had wrapped for him 2.5 years ago and hid them under the couch, I set the cameras up, I placed the sticky note that said “WE ARE PREGNANT” in the inside cover of the 40 Week Journal … all I needed was Gary!

He called for me and when I came in I said “you aren’t going to put on another one of those stripe shirts are you?” (I actually love the stripe shirts on him, but didn’t want him to wear it in the video lol) He said “why can’t I wear my stripe shirt?” “Because you’ve been wearing them too often” “OK, well pick something out for me” So my go-to thing for him is always the black t-shirt and jeans, the question was, will he put the jeans on if we are just going to be laying around the house. I put some gel in his hair and we were ready to go. Except one thing…. he wouldn’t put his pants on. “It’s too hot” So now what! Should I just start the video with him wearing his briefs??? That won’t work because I won’t really be able to share it with anyone. So I guess I will just follow him around the house, hoping he puts his pants on.

He heads to the kitchen “I’m STARVING!” He pours himself a bowl of cereal and I wait. UGH MORE WAITING!!! I want to tell him NOW! I’m thinking, put the dumb bowl down, go put your pants on and let me tell you we are having a baby!!!

He finishes his cereal, grabs his computer and says “I’m going to work downstairs”. Pants are upstairs and he is heading downstairs. UGH!!! He’s never gonna put these pants on. So I go upstairs and get the pants. I come down and say “I have a surprise, but it involves going outside, so you need to put your pants on” “It’s cold outside, can we do it later?” “No, we have to do it now, but the first part is inside, so just put the pants on and come upstairs”

We head upstairs, I tell him to close his eyes, he sits down on the couch and I turn both cameras on. He is still clueless because I said that I had found a gift for him that I bought a really long time ago and forgot to give it to him. He’s expecting a very simple gift. We call them trinkets. It’s when we give a gift with no special occasion. He has no clue he’s about to find out that our lives are going to change! Forever!!

ABC's and All That...

2011-04-06T11:51:00.003-05:00

It looks like everyone is playing the ABC tag game today so I figured I would play along too and let everyone get to know me a little better :) Okay, so here goes.....

A= Available - Only to the hubs :)
B= Best Friend - Miss Mandypants
C= Cake or pie - Coconut Cream Pie :)
D= Drink of choice - Coke Zero baby!
E= Essential item you use everyday - My crochet hooks!
F= Favorite color - Yellow and Lime Green
G= Gummy bears or worms - Hmmmm.....worms I guess
H= Hometown - Las Vegas NV
I= Indulgences - Online shopping, Chinese food.
J= January or February - Feb cause it's the month of luvvvvvvv <3
K= Kids and Names - Mandy and Emily
L= Life is incomplete without? - My family. I've been so blessed to be married to such a wonderful hubby and have the best kids in the world, they are my life.
M= Marriage date - March 2nd.
N= Number of siblings - My brother Bill who I miss dearly, I haven't seen him in 10 years.
O= Oranges or apples - Orange if it's fresh, apple if it's in a pie lol ;)
P= Phobias or Fears - Oh geez...spiders, heights, not being liked...
Q= Favorite Quote - "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. [Matthew 7:12]"
R= Reason to smile - Family and friends.
S= Season - Autumn
T= Tag 3 or 4 people - I tag everyone that reads this. That means YOU! *wink*
U= Unknown fact about me - I did so well in the 1st grade that the teacher and principle decided to let me skip 2nd grade and put me right into 3rd grade :)
V= Vegetable you don't like - raw carrots (love them cooked though)
W= Worst habit - Eating when bored (apparently I'm bored quite often!)
X= X-rays - When I broke my arm when I was 6 yrs old
Y= Your favorite food - Definitely Chinese
Z= Zodiac Sign - Capricorn.

Everyone that reads this is tagged! If you decide to do this tag on your blog, please leave a comment with a link! I would love to get to know you all a little more. :]

California Girls, Thelma & Louise Style!

2011-04-05T08:30:00.003-05:00

When the hubs and I were early in our marriage and our first child Mandypants (MissIndie) was just a baby, we lived in Las Vegas and used to take trips to California all the time. Specifically Disneyland, San Francisco, LA and San Diego. We had hardly any money at all but we would just drop everything on the spur of the moment and go have fun :)

Well, while talking with Mandy a few nights ago I found out that California has really been weighing heavy on her heart, that she wants to go there so badly. She was pretty devastated when I told her she has already been to Disneyland, Hollywood, Beverly Hills and San Francisco (of course she can't remember any of it because she was just a little one).

So after much discussion (and MUCH excitement), Mandy and I decided that in September we are going to road trip to California, Thelma & Louise-style! [minus the tragic ending, of course] Just the two of us, driving cross country and stopping at every little shop we can!

There are so many awesome things we are looking forward to seeing in Hollywood! [Among those are celebrities......she's planning on "accidentally" running into Johnny Depp and I'm planning on spending the day with Jake Gyllenhaal....haha *wink*]

#1 is definitely the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Marilyn Monroe's star is definitely a must see...she is pure magic!

We're going to spend a day at the beach and do some shopping on the Boardwalk. *squeal*

And we're totally hitting up Melrose Avenue for some shopping and random picture taking. :]

After spending a few days in Hollywood/LA/Beverly Hills we're going to drive to Anaheim, where we're going to meet up with the hubs and my youngest to spend a day at Disneyland. Then it's off to Las Vegas for a day or two of fun and then back home!

We're sooooo so so excited!! We've been dreaming of taking a trip like this for so long, and it's finally becoming a reality! :] There are so many things to plan...music mixes for the road (that one's on you Mandy, just don't forget my 80's mix!), car rentals, hotels to stay at, gotta get an extra battery and memory card for my Big Girl Camera, deciding which clothes to pack...we're going to end up having 30 different lists going by the time this trip gets here, haha.

Oh, and we're going to need some help from all of our awesome blog friends. If you live in the Hollywood / LA / Beverly Hills area, or have visited there before, can you please recommend places to see/eat/stay? You know, like places that are 'must-see' for first-time California travelers? Thanks so much lovies!!

XO, kimmiecakes & mandypants

[all images found via Pinterest + Google]

According to a 3 year old.....

2011-03-29T22:03:00.000-05:00

I love watching YouTube videos, some of the things that parents are able to capture on video is amazing! I thought this was just adorable and had to share :)

Do you have any fun YouTube videos to share? I would love to see them!

Whoa! A New Post?!

2011-03-24T19:39:00.000-05:00

Yep. A new post :) Finally! I bet everyone thought I had fallen off the face of the earth? Nope, just busy busy and every time I tried to put up a quick blog post my mind would totally draw a blank on what to blog about! Well, I'm still kinda drawing a blank BUT I've been doing a little photography and thought I would share that with you all. Now, it's no where near impressive yet but I think it's a little better than my first attempt lol :) I've learned a little more about how to work my camera and how to edit to bring out the true color and clarity, and I also had my good friend AmySchmamey create a professional watermark for me (thanks Amy!) so once everything is put together the final result is not too shabby :) These are photos of the big Magnolia tree in my side yard, this year it bloomed REALLY pretty :) Let me know what you think :)

The weekend is almost here, what are your plans? Me, flea markets and thrifting (hopefully!)

Holy Crap! Are You Kidding Me?!

2011-02-21T23:17:00.000-06:00

I am in SHOCK at the difference in how my photos look with my new lens (yes, I broke down and bought a 50mm f/1.8) and my photos are SO much clearer and have attitude now (yay!) As you can see, I made quiche tonight…spinach onion feta quiche to be exact! And it was yuuuummmmmyyyyy too! So here are some photos using my new lens and a walkthrough of this yummy quiche (recipe to follow).

So here are some of the ingredients (hello feta!)

You’ll need:

1 medium onion, diced 6 oz. package fresh baby spinach

2 large eggs 2 large egg whites

1/2 c all purpose flour 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt pinch cayenne pepper

1 1/3 c milk 1/2 c feta cheese

Cooked bacon (optional)

Preheat your oven to 400F and lightly grease a 10 inch quiche pan or pie plate :)

In a medium frying pan, cook your diced onion with a bit of olive oil over medium-high heat until translucent and tender (this is where I add in the cooked bacon). Add in the fresh spinach and cook until just wilted. Set aside to cool for a few minutes.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together your eggs, flour, baking powder and salt. Whisk in the milk (I just LOVE glass bottle milk, if you haven’t tried it yet I apologize but get your *&% to the store and get some!), then stir in the spinach mixture.

Pour your quiche mix into your prepared pan, sprinkle with the feta cheese and back for 25 minutes or until the center is set and the edges are nice and brown. Let it set for 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving. This is the yummy end result……

ENJOY!!!

Technorati Tags: quiche,canon rebel,50mm f/1.8,lens,cooking,eggs,spinach,feta cheese,yummy

Oh it's THAT day?

2011-02-14T15:14:00.000-06:00

Yup, it is! Happy Valentine's Day! Love you all :)

Weekly Obsessions

2011-01-30T18:19:00.000-06:00

Happy end of weekend everyone! Not much going on here, just waiting for a massive ice/snow storm that is predicted to hit sometime Monday evening/Tuesday morning. I don't know about you but I am SO ready for warmer weather...we had a few days of it and it was so lovely outside :) Come on summer!! We have plans to head to either Galveston TX or Gulf Shores AL for some beach time in March...hopefully warmer weather will be poking it's head out by then so we can enjoy the beaches!

Okay, so here are some things I am totally in love with right now and thought I would share with you all....

I love my Harajuku Lovers "Baby" Fragrance, it smells of Vanilla, White Peach, Pink Plumeria, Glowing Amber....SO yummy! There are other scents in the Harajuku Lovers line to choose from also! This is Gwen Stefani's line of perfumes and I heart them dearly :)

I am also totally in love with Bath & Body Works Spa Aromatherapy line. Mandypants (Missindie) got me a bottle of the body lotion for Christmas and I was instantly hooked....as soon as they had a sale I bought a few bottles of every scent! My personal fave? ALL OF THEM! They are THAT good!! The lotions makes my skin SO soft and the scent stays with you all day :)

What are some of your fave things? I'd love to hear about them and if you decide to try the perfumes or lotions above, lemme know whatcha think ;)

Have a GREAT week and stay safe!
xo.

My Addiction

2011-01-28T17:56:00.002-06:00

Right before Christmas I became seriously addicted to something that I knew one day might be the death of me....ONLINE SHOPPING. It consumes me in ways I can't explain....I think about it constantly (well, not really but I do think about it alot). Now we're not talking QVC type shopping (although I did buy my first QVC item at Christmas) but just shopping for things like books, movies, shoes, clothes, etc. My main problem? AMAZON. They have everything under the sun and I just can't help myself :) Here's a sneak peek at what's arrived lately:

(Okay, I've been on a bit of a vampire kick lately and have been trying to get as much in as possible so I decided to buy the first season of these two series....I'm not holding out hope for the second one but the reviews weren't too bad so I'm keeping my fingers crossed....)

(I also love Stephen King (mainly his older stuff) so I thought I would try out this series as it also got really good reviews....)

(If you haven't seen or read The Stand yet, PLEASE make sure you do soon. IMO, it's his best piece to date :)

(The hubs got me a Mac for Christmas so I had to get a few cases to protect it (my house gets pretty dusty for some reason). A hard shell case in aqua and a soft shell "Paris" case to put it in. Aren't they cute?)

(Had to get a case for my Kindle too, it's such a thin fragile thing and I couldn't stop worrying about dropping it so thank you Amazon for the new red case :)

(And lastly I picked up the second season of Mad Men. I haven't started this season yet but got season one at Christmas time and went ahead and bought season two so that I could get free shipping on my Amazon order :)

I really LOVE to shop on Amazon not only because they have tons to choose from but also because everything for the most part is super inexpensive and if you shop right you can get free shipping on every order. They also ship pretty fast so it seems as if I have something waiting in my mailbox every day (I LOVE getting mail, it makes me happy :)

So that's about it. I am off to pop in a movie, I just have to decide which one sounds better ;) Any suggestions?

un·in·spired

2011-01-25T23:46:00.001-06:00

un·in·spired/ˌəninˈspī(ə)rd/Adjective

1. Lacking in imagination or originality: "repetitive and uninspired poetry".

2. (of a person) Not filled with excitement.

That's all :(

Will You Be Mine?

2011-01-24T16:38:00.000-06:00

It's getting closer and closer to the most romantic time of year, Valentine's Day.

(most photos courtesy of weheartit, the zombie pic dedicated to my zombie-lovin' friend Biscuit :)

What special things do you do for Valentine's Day? This year I think I will turn the tables a bit and treat the hubs to a special day....he always goes all out with the flowers, candy, special dinner, etc. This year is gonna be all about HIM :)

Is There Snow Where You Are?

2011-01-22T17:54:00.002-06:00

Took some photos with my new Canon Rebel today....I love outdoor shots and want so badly to be able to capture the beauty that God has blessed us with but I have ALOT to learn if I ever hope to be a decent photographer :( Anyhoo, I hope you enjoy the few shots that turned out halfway decent :)

See? Not so good......BUT, I know with alot of practice and alot of reading I will learn the correct way to use this thing and eventually will be able to capture the beauty I see in so many other photographers' work.

Well, I hope your weekend is going well :) Me, I need a nap in the worst way but have too much to do (oh well, maybe tomorrow....) Btw, if you're a photographer, please feel free to leave a comment with helpful tips on getting the perfect photos...I need all the help I can get lol!

Zombies? Vampires? Red Dead? Oh My!

2011-01-05T21:33:00.001-06:00

"This is the way the world ends - not with a bang or a whimper, but with zombies breaking down the back door."

The hubs got me a Kindle for Christmas and I have been searching through Amazon for some good books to read. I love a good zombie or vampire read (yes, total Twilight and Walking Dead fan here!) and so I decided to start a new book called Hollowland by Amanda Hocking....OMG is it ever good!!

I have never read anything by Amanda Hocking and am always a little leary of the first time I read a new author but she has definitely NOT let me down. This book has it all! Lots of zombie action? Yes. A fantastic storyline? Definitely.

From the reviews: The horrors the characters face are ghastly and shocking, it'll leave your heart thumping like crazy, but the story is also heart wrenching and sad with so much depth of emotion. The novel throws you right into the action...every chapter takes you on a roller coaster ride of full of ups and downs; and the constant question of what's going to happen next? It's virtually impossible to put this book down.

Between reading this and watching the hubs play the Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare game I got him for Christmas, I am totally getting my fill of zombie action :) Now if they would just bring The Walking Dead back (come on October!!).....

So when I'm finished with this I will be starting the first book in another series by Amanda Hocking, this one titled "My Blood Approves". This is the first book in a 4 book series...

This one will probably be the typical "Twilight" storyline but since I love the Twilight series I figure what the hell, I'll probably like this too :) Girl meets nice guy, likes guy. Then girl meets guy's "darker" brother, can barely breathe when he's around...even though he can't stand the sight of her, she's drawn to him. And the best part? They're vampires. Yep, new Twilight-like series but the reviews promise one thing....this is better than Twilight. We shall see......

So what are you reading right now? I need to build my Kindle library and would love some suggestions :)

Put Mad Dog In Da Mix!

2011-01-04T08:53:00.001-06:00

I have a crazy love for Orange Julius. I've loved is since I was a kid, it's SO good.

Photo credit: PaulMayne.org

I took my girlies to the mall yesterday for some shopping and grabbed an OJ as we were leaving. While I was enjoying it I decided to look up the recipe on my phone so I could make it at home. I found the recipe on this guy's blog and read through the comments to see how everyone thought his version of the recipe tasted...I just had to share some of the comments, they're hilarious! Here are a few:

Paul Mayne says:
Warning: don’t eat an entire batch in one sitting yourself. As much as you will be tempted, you WILL feel ill.
JULIE says:
LOVE IT!!!
KYOKA SHANEE says:
WORD…..
A SISTA BE PUTTIN MAD DOG IN DA MIX TA KICK IT IN DA CRIB WID MY BABY DADDY..
HOLLA BACK
Tom Daley says:
Huh?
Twista says:
I just wanna Holla Back at my sista Kyoka. Dis drinks da bomb with Mad Dog. Yo, check it, when I wants to get my swerve on, I holla at my woman “WOMAN! You better get your ghetto butt in da kitchen and make me my orange julius!” That’s what I’m talkin bout.
OUT!
Tom Daley says:
Oh. Well why didn’t she just say so?
Kyoka Shanee says:
Thanks for the props my brotha. But if my man was to holla at me like dat – he be wearin that OJ and dat would be the end of his appreciatin my DD’s!!
WORD…
Tom Daley says:
I agree with Kyoka. A man should treat his woman right, and give her all the respect she is due.
Twista says:
Look here Uncle Tom. You ain’t one of them fruit pickers r u?
Tom Daley says:
You should learn to appreciate a woman, Mr. Twista.
The fact that you are incapable of carrying on a normal conversation without stooping to slurs against a man’s masculinity speaks volumes about you – not about me.
How easy it is for people to say and do things online whereas they would not consider such behavior in polite society.
Twista says:
Huh?
Kyoka Shanee says:
I been sniffin up the wrong tree for a good man like you – dat knos how to treat a fine lady like myself. Where u at?
Tom Daley says:
Thank you for the kind words, Kyoka. I am in Texas (though I never heard the expression “that’s so Utah of you). How about you?
Kyoka Shanee says:
Well shut my mouth! I been stayin wit my baby daddy at his Grammas crib in Oklahoma – we almost neabors!! I been thinkin bout checkin out the seen in Dallas – you kno, getin my carreer goin and all. I shood look u up. You like kids?

Bwahahahaha!! Love it! Oh, and for anyone interested, here's the recipe (if you've never had an Orange Julius you need to get your butt out and get one or make this at home, fo sho!):

Photo credit: PaulMayne.org

6 oz. frozen orange juice concentrate
1 cup milk
1 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
8-9 ice cubes
1. Combine all ingredients except ice cubes in blender.
2. Blend for about 1-2 minutes, adding ice cubes one at a time.

Suggestion: Use 1/4 cup regular sugar and 1/4 powdered sugar to make it creamier, it’s fantastic!

Cause My Daddy Taught Me Good

2011-01-02T20:55:00.000-06:00

Thanks ALOT Mandypants for getting me hooked on this damn video, appreciate it!

A Chuck, a Patty and 2011

2011-01-01T00:00:00.000-06:00

Peppermint Patty: It's been a great year, Chuck. You'll have to admit that. What you do think, Chuck, would be good rules for living in the New Year?

Charlie Brown : Keep the ball low, don’t leave your crayons in the sun, use dental floss every day, don’t spill the shoe polish, always knock before entering, don’t let the ants get in the sugar, never volunteer to be a program chairman, always get your first serve in, and feed your dog whenever he’s hungry.

Peppermint Patty : Will those rules give me a better life, Chuck?

Charlie Brown : A better life....and a fat dog :)

Happy New Year everyone!!

11 Goals for 2011

2010-12-30T22:07:00.000-06:00

I can't believe this year is almost over and 2011 is upon us! Where did it go?! It seems like 2010 went by so fast, but when I really think of everything that went on this past year it was a long full year and I'm glad it's almost over with.

I have been going over some things I want to work on/change about myself and life in general and this is what I've come up with, my "11 Goals for '11" list:

1. Lose weight! I have GOT to get a grip on my diabetes and the best way to do that is to get this weight off! I've got my plan all lined up and have been praying about it, I am faithful that this year will be a year of getting it off.

2. Exercise more. Actually, exercise period, because I don't exercise AT ALL as of now :( My job means that I sit all the time which sucks...I need to not only get my butt outta the chair and on the treadmill but also do all of the little things like parking far from the entrances at stores, take the stairs instead of the elevator, dance around the livingroom like a crazy person when no one is watching...every little bit helps!

3. Be a better friend. This past year has been a year of work work work and no play and I have had no friend time at all. I have been so neglectful of my relationships with others and feel terrible about that...I am just drained from working so much and need some girl time, ya know?

4. Learn a new craft. I know how to do quite a bit craft-wise but I want to find something that I can learn from scratch and master, there's always such a feeling of accomplishment when you make something fantastic with your own hands :)

5. Learn more about photography. I got a new Canon Rebel XS for Christmas and am jazzed about learning everything there is to know about taking awesome photos!

6. Find a new house? Yes, this is more of a question I ask myself than of a goal. We have been talking about buying a new home and I'm really struggling with whether or not I am ready for such a commitment. I'm the kind of person that needs something "new" every 3-5 years and if we settle down and buy a home it will mean I don't get to change when I feel the need arise...

7. Redecorate the interior. I am tired of the current "theme" inside my house and would like to do some serious redecorating :) Something colorful and vintage..."lived in" maybe? Not sure yet but I feel the need for sure.

8. More reading. I love books! I haven't been reading enough lately and have to get back into it, there's nothing in this world better than burying yourself in a good book and letting the outside world drift away....

9. Spend more time outside. Maybe I'll try my hand at gardening or will spend some time fishing at the lake...definitely take some time to get out with my camera and shoot some of the gorgeous scenery and changing of the seasons.

10. More travel. We didn't travel much last year which is a huge bummer, I love roadtrips! So one goal this year is to pack up the fam and hit the road...I know we are definitely taking a trip to Galveston for Spring break and I am SO excited as it's been a yearly tradition for us and we haven't done it since Galveston was wiped out by the hurricane a few years ago :(

11. And finally, make myself more of a priority. I'm always so worried about everyone and everything around me that I kind of ignore myself and my own needs, they just seem so unimportant to me. But I do need to think more of myself what makes me personally happy so it will definitely be a goal to work on :)

So there you have it...11 things I am promising myself that I will wholeheartedly work on. What are your goals? Leave a comment with your blog address, I would love to see what you will be striving toward in the New Year! Happy 2011!!

xo.
Kim

What Christmas Means to Me

2010-12-24T16:47:00.000-06:00

This is my favorite time of year. When I was a kid it was always so exciting to get together with all of my family to open gifts and celebrate the holidays. We would all gather at my grandparents house and it was wall to wall gifts, I'm not exaggerating. And even though that was super fun, the best part was watching my grandma, mom and aunt busily working away in the kitchen baking pies, making fudge and Christmas dinner. Oh the smells that would come out of that kitchen....and when the family would gather around the table and everyone was together for that one special time of year, there was not a gift in the world that was better than that.

There are so many things that hold special places in my heart and now that I'm an adult and mom, it's my job to make each Christmas just as memorable and special for my kids so that one day when they're grown themselves, they will remember all of the things that made their Christmases so special for them.

Merry Christmas everyone, I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!

Oh No She Didn't!

2010-12-21T07:10:00.000-06:00

OH YES SHE DID!! SHE RE-DESIGNED ME BLOG!!

This is Amy.

She is one of my best friends :) I've known Amy for years now, we met in church choir WAAAYYYYYY back in like 2003 or something. She is a great Mommy, one heck of an awesome photographer, a crocheter, a designer....pretty much one AWESOME chick!

I asked Ames if she could take on the huge task of redesigning my blog recently as in my opinion it was old, ugly, outdated, pretty much a disaster I was tired of looking at. And just look at what she did! Now I have this nice clean TWO column blog (it was a three column before and was so cluttered it made me ill just to look at it!) and really feel this blog is more ME. If you don't know Amy yet then you really need to stop by and check her out, she's pure awesomeness!!

THANK YOU AMY FOR ALL YOU DO AND FOR BEING SUCH A WONDERFUL FRIEND! I LOVE YA!!

Thief In The Night

2010-12-18T10:08:00.002-06:00

Every year the family and I go to alot of trouble to decorate our house and yard for both Halloween and Christmas. Lots of lights, yard decorations, blow-ups...you name it.

Two years ago we bought a 12 ft. Frankenstein who lasted ONE day in our yard before he was stolen in the middle of the night. This year we had six big blow-up ornaments hanging in our tree...we had had them in the tree last year without incident...someone stole two of them a few weeks ago. Now I never would have thought this person/people would come back to steal more of them but guess what I woke up to this morning? Yep. Two more gone.

Now I live in a great neighborhood in a great part of town but I am the end house on a busy street so we get alot of traffic. It hurt when someone stole our Frankenstein because he was brand new and expensive. But it REALLY hurts to have decorations stolen at Christmas. Who does that? We decorate for our kids and so that others can enjoy them, and my youngest daughter spent two hours blowing those ornaments up with a bicycle pump. It's not the blow-ups themselves that matter, it feels like someone has stolen part of our Christmas and I just feel so violated :(

My husband says to just let it go, that maybe whoever stole the ornaments couldn't afford to buy blow-ups of their own...I hope that's the case because whoever can steal from someone else at Christmas....well, MERRY CHRISTMAS to them!

Curioser and Curiouser....

2010-12-12T21:42:00.001-06:00

Wanna know something specific about me? My thoughts, opinions, favorite color, things I like and dislike? All you have to do is ask...and don't be shy, I will answer honestly.......

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.formspring.me/beautifuletsy"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;http://www.formspring.me/beautifuletsy&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

Finally....A Decision!!!!

2010-12-11T02:29:00.002-06:00

Okay, so I posted recently about taking better care of myself and starting a diet and I have FINALLY made a decision (thank you for all of the wonderful suggestions!)

Weight Watchers just came out with a new PointsPlus program that is absolutely INcredible! I've already been to a meeting and have purchased the new deluxe kit, pedometer, journals and food/snacks and am so excited to get started! And the best thing is that I found out there is an iPad app for paying members! I have been on this thing for days now, playing around and checking out the various features :). VERY COOL! Here's a sneak peek:

This thing has everything from a food tracker, exercise tracker, recipes, shopping list, points calculator, weight tracker, success stories....I even have it on my iPhone and whenever I update it on my iPad it updates the iPhone as well!

So please keep me in your prayers, I will be starting on the 23rd (the day after my birthday, I am not waiting until January 1st!) and I will report my weekly weight losses or gains (gotta keep it real, I'm accepting the fact that each week may not be a loss). Thanks in advance for your support and prayers!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

So Thankful.....

2010-11-26T05:55:00.000-06:00

I realize this was a bit late BUT it was a busy day and then I consumed lots of turkey and goodies and then passed out from the turkey induced coma.....

Anyhoo, it was a wonderful day spent with the family and it really made me thankful for so many things, I thought I would jump on the bandwagon and share with you what I am so thankful for!

1. My wonderful family of course :)

The hubs, Mandy and Emmy

Me and Mandypants

My wonderful Momma

My brother and his beautiful family

2. The beautiful city and state that I live in.

3. Wonderful friends who put up with my craziness with forgiving hearts.

4. The air I breathe and good health (thank you Heavenly Father). Here are a few more things I am thankful for....

Okay, I said I wasn't gonna do this but I am off to do a little Black Friday shopping :) Have a great weekend!!

Oh Em Gee, TGI (Almost) F!

2010-11-18T06:00:00.000-06:00

I am working hard to get to Friday. Why? Because no matter what work needs to be done, I am taking a day off, grabbing some Starbucks and doing some major Christmas shopping, then out to lunch at Chili's with my oldest, hitting Charley's flea market, Michaels and Hobby Lobby, and hopefully ending the day with some Orange Leaf (unless the lines are too long). It's sure to be a LONG tiring day but will be so worth it, I feel like I haven't had a day off in ages and need some "me" time :)

What are your plans for the week/weekend? I'll be back to post on Saturday with photos of our shopping day (hopefully, if I can talk Miss Mandy into bringing her new Canon along for the ride...if not then it's downtown on Sunday afternoon for and artsy photo shoot and fun time :) Have a great week!

I've Got a Case of the Mondays

2010-11-16T02:37:00.005-06:00

DIET. God, how I HATE that word. And what's worse it that it's the holiday season which is typically the worst time of the year for someone who is trying to lose weight and make life changes. At least for me it is. The hubby tells me I should just wait until after the holidays to start making these life changes but that's precisely the problem....last year my life was exactly the same way....I put off dieting until January 1st and then spent the entire year NOT following my plan and beating myself up for it. I'd just tell myself "it's okay, I'll start again on Monday". What do I have to show for it? Nothing but a bad attitude toward dieting and not wanting to do it at all....well, I DO want to do it but the task at hand seems so HUGE that I tell myself that I just don't have it in me. Well that's just not gonna fly any longer and I'm getting more angry with MYSELF for not being stronger and sticking to the goals I set in place in the first place. I don't want to wait until the new year, that's just another excuse to put off what I know needs to be done. It's important. And I'm important right? I tell myself all the time that I'm not but dammit, I am. My husband loves me unconditionally and so do my kids, my Mom and the rest of my family love me, why do I have such a hard time loving myself? Why can't I set a goal and stick to it?! I guess because I'm human and not perfect, not even close. I have to get myself together, I have to set a better example for my children. And I need to feel good about myself, I need to love the body God gave me and respect it.

I'd like to make a commitment to myself to find a diet that works and that I can stick to and work into my life. And I feel that I need to be held accountable to someone, anyone other than myself and my immediate family. I feel afraid to do it here because of my failure in the past but I think it's something I really need to do, to put myself out there AND BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. So that's what I'm going to do and I'd like to ask anyone who is reading this to give suggestions on what you may have done in the past or are doing now that has worked for you...I'm completely open to suggestion and welcome all of the ideas and support that I can get. Once I settle on a plan (and I'm NOT waiting until the new year or a Monday to start) then I will share each week on my blog, both successes AND failures (because I know it won't be perfect but I won't beat myself up about it if I do slip, I'll just get right back on!)

Thanks for listening to my rant and for just being there for me, I really appreciate it and can't wait to hear from you!

A Friendly Stranger

2010-11-11T05:00:00.002-06:00

Yesterday was an epic STRESSFUL BUSY day. From the moment I woke up until almost midnight, everything and everyone that could possibly take time out of my day did. Don't get me wrong, I love being busy doing something whether it be work or play but yesterday was seriously stressful. Not to mention the fact that I have been sick for over a week with the worst case of sinusitis that I have ever had (well, except for 2 years ago when it turned into pneumonia) but this feels pretty darn close :(

My teenage daughter (who fell down the stairs at school 3 weeks ago) was running to the front of the class to turn a paper in, tripped over her own feet and face/shoulder planted into the teacher's desk (this is a big desk that is bolted to the floor so it did NOT give way when she plowed into it!) and she now sports some nice bruising for her efforts....this is not a normally clumsy kid, I think she is just at that stage where the latest growth spurt has caused her some trouble getting used to her longer legs and bigger feet :)

The holidays are starting and I am so behind on work that I can't find the time to do ANY Christmas shopping what so ever :( And I just know that if things go the way they did last year, I will be working straight through the holidays and waiting until the LAST MINUTE to do my shopping and decorating :( If I could just figure out a way to NOT have to sleep or to add 6 extra hours to each day then I think I would be good.....

Okay, so you're probably asking yourself if there is a point to any of my rambling right? Or if I'm just crazy? Haha, I would be asking the same thing! But there is a point, I have a wonderful story to share with you. Through all of my crazy day yesterday I had something truly beautiful happen at the end of the day.....

My daughter Mandy and I stopped working long enough to go through the drive-thru to grab a bite to eat. We were tired, moody, hungry, etc and just wanted to get the food and get home. As I pulled up to the window to pay, the drive-thru girl leaned out and handed me a piece of paper and pointed forward, mumbling something I didn't quite hear. I thought she was telling me to pull forward to pay and was confused about why she would be handing me a piece of paper....it was very odd. So I glanced down at the paper right as she was repeating herself and this is what the paper said:

Hi! We may not know each other, but I paid for your order. Hopefully, it put a smile on your face and maybe you'll feel like doing it for someone else someday! I heard someone share their story on a local Christian radio station recently, I know they would love to hear from you too :) Have a wonderful day! Sincerely, A Friendly Stranger

I've always been a believer of sharing your blessings with others and doing anonymous acts of kindness for others as much as I can, that's how God wants us to treat each other. I can't begin to describe the overwhelming feeling of love and thankfulness that I felt when I read that piece of paper...to have someone do a random act of kindness for ME....this person who knew nothing about who was in the car behind them, took time out of THEIR busy day to perform such a kind act for me at the end of one of the most stressful days of my life. What a wonderful thing love and kindness is, I can't wait to pay it forward!

Time To Get Real

2010-11-09T03:53:00.001-06:00

I know I've been away for awhile and feel terrible about that...I have missed all of the wonderful people in the blog world and promise not to stay away for so long ever again ;)

This past month has been busy with all of the normal things that life has to bring...kids in school, work work work, being uber sick with some kind of icky cold/sinus/crud thing, trying to enjoy the Fall colors and cooler temps, birthdays, holidays, etc...enough to make me want to grab my favorite PJ's and a pillow and hide in bed!

I've been spending a lot of time reflecting over things that have happened in my life, both good and bad, relationship wise and otherwise, and thankfully have been able to talk about my thoughts and feelings with my oldest (she's a GREAT listener and equally as good at giving advice). I'm not the perfect person, in fact I have a lot of flaws in which I'm tackling one step at a time, but it feels so good to be working on them and realize the things that bothered me in the past were never important and I NEVER should have let those things influence my reactions in life. Case in point: I have low self-esteem and let it be the driving factor in almost every aspect of my life....this is a daily battle for me and something I REALLY am struggling to get through. I've had issues with low self-esteem getting in the way of relationships with boyfriends early in life, then my marriage, friendships, etc.... I'm really trying to work on this because I realize that a relationship with someone, whether it be a close relationship or a casual one, is much more important than any issue you have with yourself.

SOOOO...... I have made a promise to myself to really work on my self-esteem and attitude....to not put myself down all the time, to let others in who are just trying to care about me, to be mindful of the feelings of those around me and to not be so damn critical of everything and everyone. Negativity is a horrible attitude to have, it's like poison and doesn't belong anywhere in life. I only want to be positive and loving toward myself and others :)

Does this type of thing ever affect you?

A Theme Park, A Birthday and The Tall Man

2010-10-13T17:59:00.001-05:00

We FINALLY took a day off today and went to Silver Dollar City in Branson. If you've never been there it is the best (in my opinion) theme park around, it has all the fun of a major theme park but is set in the 1800's....it's really cool! I took a few photos while we were there, they aren't the greatest as I took them on my phone but it gives you a little idea of how quaint and homey it is there (and the shopping is fantastic!)

Inside the bakery...look at the size of those dough balls!

The little church (with weddings and real church services!)

All decorated for Autumn

Huck Finn's Treehouse

How real does this guy look?

And this is Tiny.....who happens to be over 7 feet tall!!!

So needless to say it was a great day....we got to go to all of our favorite shops, bought two new pieces of artwork for the house and lots of other goodies, ate at our favorite places....and just relaxed and had FUN :)

What's YOUR favorite theme park?

Xoxo,
Kim

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Soft and Buttery....

2010-10-02T18:58:00.008-05:00

Boy do I feel like a bad friend :( It's been WAY too long since I last blogged but I have a good excuse, I really do. I have been working NON-STOP with my business and on my "goals" list (more about THAT later, I'm pretty excited to share ;)

So with the loveliness of Autumn starting I have found that I am on a serious leather kick. Not just leather but the soft "buttery" kind. I am a total purse freak and found the CUTEST vintage 1970's bag on Etsy a few weeks ago :)

This little gem will get me through the next few months until I get my annual Christmas bag from the hubster....wanna see what's on my Christmas wishlist?

Coach Legacy GIGI in Whiskey

Oryany Gwen Vintage Convertible Tote

I know right?! Aren't they gorgeous?? Personally I am more partial to the Coach bag but would LOVE to open one of my Christmas gifts this year to find either of them so I'm keeping my fingers crossed :) I'm also hoping to get a pair of authentic moccasins (I had a pair when I was a younger that I bought on a road trip at this huge teepee shop on a reservation, it was pretty awesome!) and new Toms (either cords or burlap), not sure of the color yet but I am leaning towards red or yellow :) So what's on your Christmas wishlist this year?

And So It Begins....

2010-09-12T16:16:00.002-05:00

Today is the first day of NFL Football and officially kicks off the beginning of Autumn in my book :). I'm a HUGE Steelers fan and they have won their first game (yay!) so I think they're in for a great season :).

Spent the whole day yesterday shopping with my girlies and had a blast, we went to the mall and hit Old Navy for tons of clothes, got new iPhone cases (no more Otterboxes!), then ran over to Target for more shopping and ended with Starbucks where they just came out with Toffee Mocha Frappucinos (yummmmmm!).

Here are a few pics from our day along with a few reasons why Autumn is my favorite time of year (apple spice cider, monster mash, pumpkin pie and bread, Halloween, falling leaves, cooler temps, and holy SNAP they came out with Pumpkin Pie Pop Tarts!)

What is your favorite time of the year? What plans do you have for the upcoming week? Me, work and hopefully some early holiday shopping :)

Xoxoxoxoxo,
Kim

Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Old Chicago Style

2010-09-10T22:45:00.003-05:00

As you can see by my recent lack of blog posting, I have been EXTREMELY busy lately and haven't had much time to do anything other than work work work. The last time I was able to actually get out and do something was a few weeks ago when I tore myself away long enough to enjoy lunch with the fam at Old Chicago and it seems like an eternity ago! Here are a few pics from that day.......

My carazy man.....

Miss Mandypants.......

My sweetiepants Emily....

And me, not the most flattering pic but it will do ;)

I was hoping to get out and do some much needed shopping today but it just didn't happen so tomorrow I am officially declaring it MY day to get away from it all and have some FUN! What plans do you have for tomorrow?

Xoxoxoxoxo,
Kim

Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Thelma and Louise

2010-08-21T03:32:00.005-05:00

Alot of my blog friends already know this but for those of you who don't, Mandy of MissIndie is not only my oldest daughter but she's also my bestie....the Harry to my Ron, the Blair to my Serena, the Thelma to my Louise ;) We have ALOT of fun adventures together...we love going thrift shopping, craft shopping, clothes shopping (notice a theme here?), out for lunch, coffee, bubble tea...you name it we do it...we have a BLAST together. She's one of the sweetest and most honest people I know and I am so blessed to have her....if you haven't gotten the chance to get to know her, you should stop by her blog to say "hi" and see what she's all about, she's a pretty awesome chickie!

I love ya girlie, thank you for so many wonderful memories and for many more to come!

Randomness...

2010-08-19T05:29:00.000-05:00

It's 4:30am, I'm laying in bed WIDE AWAKE and am totally feeling a little random so I thought I'd share a few of my favorite pics from WeHeartIt, one of the best sites on the 'net for awesome photos...

So what are your plans for today? Me, I'm getting my youngest ready to start the new school year and am trying to decide if I should cut my hair short again.....hmmmmmm.......

Have a loverly Thursday!

xoxo.
Kimmie

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

I Challenge You!

2010-08-14T09:00:00.000-05:00

That's right, I challenge YOU....to do Elsie's "4 Simple Goals" with me ;) There are a few things that have been on my mind lately to change so what better time to set those goals than right here right now? Okay, so here goes:

1. Home is Where the Heart Is..... I want to buy my first home :) The hubby and I have been working extremely hard this year to pay off all of our credit cards and should be completely debt free within the next few months....along with that we've been saving everything we can and are building up a really sweet nest egg so that we have a nice down payment SO with any luck we will be making our purchase sometime within the next 6 months or so (yay!)

2. Shape Up or Ship Out..... For those of you that don't know me personally, I am a Type 2 Diabetic. When I first found out I was very diligent in making sure I did all the right things to keep my blood glucose numbers down but life (and my own laziness) has gotten in the way and I've done some backsliding to my old lifestyle. SO...I'm making it a goal to take care of ME and to make sure that I eat right, walk alot, lose some weight and monitor myself to make sure I get myself healthy again. I know I can do it!

3. On the Road Again..... I absolutely LOVE to travel. I've been to most states in the USA and have also been to Ireland, England, Wales and France. I miss everything about Europe, the friends I made, the things I got to do and see....I left my heart and soul in Paris :( My goal is to get myself back and re-create the trip from start to finish...what fun that would be!

4. Crafty Like a Fox..... Those who know me know I am a pretty crafty person. I've always been that way, even since I was a little girl and used to sit and watch my Mom on her sewing machine making me cute little crafty outfits (love you Mom!) I remember when I was little and Xanadu came out, I took some old dresses and redesigned them to look just like the dresses Olivia Newton-John wore and would pair them with creamy leg warmers and heels and dance and sing all around the downstairs pretending to be her (yes, cheesy I know). But fashion and crafting have always been in my blood so this goal is all about learning some NEW crafts (your suggestions would be MUCH apprectiated lol!)

Most photos credit of I Heart It!

Alright loves, tell me all about your goals....what new things are on YOUR horizon?

Love love!

All Things Alan....

2010-08-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite actors of all time is Alan Rickman. Not only is he a feast for the eyes *SAWOON* but he is also one talented guy (which began even BEFORE Harry Potter was born :)

He was perfect as the evil Sheriff of Nottingham.....

Even better as Colonel Brandon.....

But of course one of his most memorable characters is Professor Snape :)

All images courtesy of the internet :)

I just had to blog a little about Alan, I've been seriously craving some Sense and Sensibility lately!

And So Are The Days....

2010-08-10T15:45:00.006-05:00

Sigh. It seems that there once again is blog drama with certain people and lots of finger pointing going on. THESE ARE BLOGS PEOPLE, JUST BLOGS. Why some take them oh so personally I will never know or understand but they do. Some people like to have fun uplifting happy blogs, others like to be "real' and "say it like they think it is". Regardless, not any one person's blog is better than the next, we are all just equal...some with unique thoughts and some that like to be like the people they look up to. NO ONE deserves to be criticized by what they like or don't like, period. I for one LOVE all of the uplifting blogs I read...who cares if some blogs are similar to others? I like seeing what makes other people HAPPY. Why? Because for the most part I am a happy positive person. I've said it before and I'll say it again...if you like a blog then follow it and read it, if you don't find it interesting then you have the choice to move on :) But DON'T take it upon yourself to tear other people apart, it's not nice nor is it productive. It only starts lots of drama and fighting between others in the blog world and then one side makes up untrue stories to try to make the other side look bad....people talk about others behind their backs, a few in particulr who don't even know the whole story and history but insert themselves into the situation anyway just to talk smack about innocent people on Twitter....aren't we all adults here? "Can't we all just get along?!" C'mon people, is it really worth it? I understand that some people feel the need to have lots of drama in their lives but for reallzzzzz.....

Okay, so onward to the positivity cause that's what THIS blog is all about :) I'm about to head out to do some much needed shopping cause I have been severely overworked lately and have not had much fun. We've been talking alot lately of buying our first home and I have been eyeing a few places in Ozark in the neighborhood my sister lives in....

It's the cutest neighborhood and everyone there is just as nice as can be :) It has that "out in the country" feel but still holds the closeness of a neighborhood. AND, it's close to our church which is always a huge bonus :) Owning a home there and being so close to family would really be a blessing! This is why I love Missouri so much:

Isn't it loverly? I really am blessed to be able to live in a place where I get to experience every aspect of God's beauty. So tell me a little about where you live....what do you like most about it? Has it been as sweltering hot there as it has been here? I tell ya, I am SO ready for cooler weather! Well, I'm off to do a little shopping, you all have a wonderful rest of the day and remember to be YOU and that you are loved just the way YOU are! You are loved and you are awesome!

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO......(and then some!)

Style Crush Sunday

2010-08-08T19:00:00.009-05:00

I don't do Style Crushes often because I'm not really into the whole "crush" thing like some of the other blogs out there....BUT, having said that, I really feel this girl is deserving of a "crush"....

I have TOTALLY been on a Nia Vardalos kick lately. Remember "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"? Or maybe you saw her in "My Life in Ruins" or "I Hate Valentine's Day" (my personal fave)? That's the lovely Nia :) I choose one of her movies at least 4 times a week to watch while I am doing my daily crocheting and filling baby prop orders. She's a pretty amazing actress, not to mention director, screen writer and producer. AND, I just LOVE her sense of style and humor, if you haven't seen her movies or haven't had a chance to become a fan then you MUST!

Pretty phenomenal right? That's exactly what makes her my favorite actress :) Who's your favorite actress or who's style are you really into? What plans do you have for the week? Me, just more of the usual....but I will try to throw some fun into the mix somewhere too by hopefully either fitting in a road trip or some much needed shopping for something other than yarn ;) Have a wonderful week, hugs and kisses to each and every one of you :)

xoxo,

When The Going Gets Tough....

2010-07-26T15:23:00.001-05:00

The hubby got me a new coffee mug to add to my ginormous mug collection and it pretty much says it all (no pun intended ;)

So I know it's only the end of July but I am just DYING for Autumn to get here! And Hobby Lobby isn't helping matters, they like to put the Fall and Winter decorations up early...

Pumpkins and scarecrows make me SO happy, what's your favorite season? Tell me all about it :)

xoxo.
Kimmie

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Randomness....

2010-07-20T04:36:00.001-05:00

It's after 4 in the morning and I am FINALLY getting myself to bed after a long night of work! So much for pulling an all-nighter, apparently my mind knows what that means but my body is clueless because I can barely keep my eyes open :(. Oh well, I guess work will just have to wait until the morning....

I leave you all with some pretty cool iPhone shots I took the other day when the sky turned beautiful shades of orange, pink and purple...not your typical sunset, I just wish I could have captured it's true beauty....

And here's a shot of me ;)

Have a good night/morning everyone, that's it for me :)

xoxoxoxo...…
Kimmie

You're A Wiiiinnnnnnnneeeerrrrrrr!!!

2010-07-18T00:08:00.005-05:00

Yay! I finally had a chance to choose the winners for the ElsieCake Giveaway....actually, my youngest chose the names out of a hat so congratulations to the following bloggers AND thank you to all who entered...if you didn't win don't worry, I will be having another giveaway soon that will be the shizzzzzzzzzzz ;)

The 1st Place winner of the ElsieCake original art prints and hairbows is....Campfire Chic!!

Campfire Chic said: I'm your newest follower, I'm really excited. How did I not know about your blog?! It's wonderful! I really want to go camping at least one more time this summer. I'm looking into open sites as I read your blog ;)

The 2nd Place winner of the one of a kind MissIndie Orange Slacker Beanie is.....Mariana!!

Mariana said: I am a follower :D what an amazing giveaway! so exciteddddd! The one thing I really wanna do is have bubble tea! yuuummmerrrs! Following your facebook :) wee! Amazing giveaway I can hardly wait! Following facebook -photo props- how cute! :)

The 3rd Place winner of the Tikikiki original art prints is....Tiphaniefaith!!

Tiphaniefaith said: I'm a follower! :) The one thing I want to do most this summer is buy a bicycle. It's at the top of my list! I want to pack a picnic lunch in the little basket I carry on the front and ride along a quiet country road. :) I also tweeted about the giveaway! And I blogged about it here -- www.tiphaniefaith.typepad.com. Thanks so much for the chance at an awesome giveaway! :)

The 4th Place winner of the Cat's Eye Glasses and RVA plush pins is.....Elycia!!

Elcya said: awesome giveaway! you are so sweet :) i'm following. this summer i'm going to swim...a lot. :)

The 5th Place winner of the boombox earrings and polaroid necklace is.....Ella!!

Ella said: This summer...I want to sell lots and lots of goodies at my next crafts fair :) following this blog. Following both pages on facebook! tweeted. http://twitter.com/ellaanachronism/status/18126188929

I'm so excited for each of you! Be sure to email me with your address (click on the email box on the right). And for those that participated, THANK YOU SO MUCH!! Happy Sunday loves!!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo!!!!

Something Old, Something New....

2010-07-15T14:03:00.007-05:00

Recycled. Reclaimed. Repurposed. Reused. No matter what you call it, taking something that is old and making something new and unique is a wonderful thing! Take a look at some of the beautifully creative things that others have come up with to make that old piece new (and you can click on each picture to get a better look at them!).....

So what project are you currently working on? Are you making anything new out of something old? If so, I would LOVE to see it ;) Happy Thursday!!

Oh, and don't forget to enter my current giveaway which ends at midnight tonight:

The winners will be chosen July 15th :) So you wanna know how to enter this huge giveaway huh? Here's how:

1. Follow this blog for an entry...

2. What's the one thing you want to do the most this summer? Tell me for an extra entry!

3. Follow me on FaceBook HERE and HERE for another 5 entries!

4. Tweet the following about this giveaway to earn TEN extra entries:
Holy Cute! It's An ElsieCake Giveaway on the @beautiful_etsy Blog! http://beautifulbridgetdesigns.blogspot.com/

5. Blog about the giveaway and leave a link here for five extra entries

Want TEN additional entries? Buy something from either of my shops and receive ten additional entries per item!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/beautifulbridget
http://www.etsy.com/shop/BeautifulPhotoProps

It's An ELSIECAKE Giveaway!

2010-07-07T19:04:00.015-05:00

That's right, I'm having an Elsie Flannigan inspired giveaway :) There are so many awesome things in this giveaway I can hardly contain myself! Elsie is a local artist, designer and owner of RedVelvetArt.com. She's such a sweet girl and makes THE most adorable things! I just love her stuff...SO...I've decided to give away some Elsie things along with items from a few other highly talented artists (including MissIndie and Tikikiki) and will choose FIVE lucky winners!

The GRAND PRIZE WINNER will receive.....

This 8x10 original Elsie Flannigan print.

This 5x7 Red Velvet Art print.

These adorable hair bows from the Red Velvet Art shop!

The SECOND PLACE WINNER will receive.....

This original Slacker Beanie Hat in Orange by MissIndie
(as seen on Elsie :)

This awesome piece can be found in MissIndie's shop HERE

How adorable does Elsie look in this slacker beanie? Be sure to enter to win this gorgeous hat!

The THIRD PLACE WINNER will receive.....

Super fun artwork by Tikikiki!

The FOURTH PLACE WINNER will receive.....

These awesome cat's eye glasses, RVA dinosaur plushie pin and cupcake plushie pin from RedVelvetArt.com!

The FIFTH PLACE WINNER will receive.....

Super cute perler boombox earrings and a polaroid heart perler necklace!

Coffee Talk

2010-07-07T17:25:00.000-05:00

It has been crazy hot and humid lately and I have been hitting the local Starbucks like mad...I just love their passion tea and caramel frappuccino's!

So while I was there a few days ago I couldn't help myself and had to buy the newest coffee mug, it reminds me so much of the 70's and rollerskating!

I'm working on a very special surprise and will have it up on the blog sometime either tonight or tomorrow morning at the latest so be sure to check back, it's gonna be the shiz!

xoxo.
Kimmie

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Heck Yes! Top 50!

2010-06-22T16:50:00.010-05:00

I was totally floored this morning when I opened my inbox to see an email from Jennifer Genova, the Editorial Assistant of Babble Magazine, letting me know that me and my Beautiful Bridget shop have been named as one of Etsy's Top 50 Moms! <---click to see the feature :)

I am SO honored to have been selected, thank you Etsy and Babble Magazine!

There are alot of wonderful articles for all of the moms that were selected, if you have a chance please stop by to check out all of these great Etsy Moms!

Coffee Dates & Road Trips

2010-06-06T04:14:00.000-05:00

I finally got the chance to get out of the house and have some ME time today and so I went on a coffee date with Miss Mandy and bought the new Starbucks tumbler I've had my eye on.

I love this thing! I'm sure this will be used on a daily basis...hello Cinnamon Dolce!

Okay, so I have been feeling in desparate need of a road trip lately and thought...how cool would it be to road trip down historic Route 66 and stop in some of the cute little flea markets to shop?

I would need this:

To take me down this:

To see things like this:

Yep, I'm definitely feeling a road trip is in order :). Do you like to travel? If so, what are your favorite places to visit?

P.S. I've got a sweet little giveaway coming up that involves some cute items from Elsie Flannigan's Red Velvet Art shop so stay tuned ;)

xoxo.
Kimmie

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It's My Bag Baby!

2010-06-03T17:14:00.011-05:00

Everyone has at least one addiction, some good and some bad. I have a few, but one of my biggest (and best!) addictions is PURSES! I absolutely LOVE them! Purses, hobo bags, clutches, wristlets...a woman can NEVER have too many purses ;)

On my quest to find the PERFECT bag, I came across this gorgeous gorgeous COACH BAG and have fallen in love *swoon* It's called "The Gigi".....ahhhhhh loveeeeeee.....

I'm SO sad that it has been discontinued but will continue searching until I find the perfect deal on it! I have to have this bag!!

I also L.O.V.E. Burberry bags! If I ever hit the lottery (which is the only way I will be able to afford one!), I want to go on a Burberry shopping spree! So much loveliness! *double swoon*

Here are a few more of my favorites that can be found on Etsy (each picture is clickable so if you see something you like, click on the pic!)

What's YOUR fave addiction?

XoXo,

Alice & Johnny

2010-06-01T23:01:00.000-05:00

My wonderful hubby surprised me with Alice in Wonderland today, I absolutely loved seeing this in the theater but think I will enjoy it much more now that I can watch it over and over :)

There's just this wonderful magic that happens whenever Tim Burton and Johnny Depp get together...pure magic!

I loved him in Sweeney Todd, adored him in Pirates of the Caribbean...what's not to love about Johnny Depp?

What's your favorite Depp and/or Burton film?

xoxo.
Kimmie

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I've Been a Bad, Bad Girl.....

2010-05-31T13:34:00.000-05:00

....and haven't been blogging as much as I should. Life has been full of alot of busy busy things and I am barely finding time to sleep much less blog (why oh why do we have to sleep, just think of how much more we could get done in a day if sleep wasn't a necessity!)

I have decided I am making it my goal to post a new blog at LEAST every other day but will try to post daily....the hard part for me is finding something fresh and new to blog about that is both interesting AND fun for those who read my blog and hasn't been done before. I want to try to set it apart a little from what alot of other blogs blog about...not because I think there is anything wrong with that (I enjoy reading so many blogs!) but because I hope to be a little different somewhere along the way...

So.....to kick things off, here is my first official "this girl needs to blog more" post: What's In My Phone?

I know the whole "what's in my bag" has been done over and over but thanks to a suggestion from a special fellow blogger I thought it would be fun to do a blog about what's in my phone :)

Plus, since I got this thing my purse size has drastically changed so there's not much "in my bag" to blog about ;)

I have to admit that since I got my iPhone I have been crazy addicted to apps...camera apps, travel apps, game apps, banking apps....I just love em! I have my phone set up so that I can run every aspect of my life and business with it and often wonder how I ever did without it.

I thought it would be fun to share a few of my most favorite apps...

HD Camera
Hipstamatic
VintageMaker
ShakeItPhoto
(I'm totally addicted to photo apps!)

Etsy Addict

Shopping is a MUST!

aNote & MoesNotes

Traveling apps come in really handy too!

DoodleJump

Glee

Can't live without Movies, Music & Books!

I would love to hear about other apps that you're in love with and if you have any questions about the apps I use, feel free to ask!

---> ALSO, be sure to check out Miss Jamie's Most Awesome GiveAway found HERE :)

Happy Memorial Day!

Love to you!

Wanna Go For a Walk?

2010-05-17T17:10:00.000-05:00

The weather was so lovely today (and it finally stopped raining!) so Miss Mandy and I decided to go for a walk through the neighborhood :). Here's a little bit of what we saw....

(all photos taken with my phone using the HD camera app)

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day also! Is there anything special happening in your life? I would love to hear about it :)

xoxo.
Kimmie

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Oh Snap!

2010-05-14T16:16:00.001-05:00

Holy schmokes, look what my daughter Emily just won!!

Party time!!! Congrats Emmy!!

xoxo.
Kimmie

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Saturday Fun

2010-05-08T22:38:00.002-05:00

Is it possible to have fun and be disappointed at the same time? The answer is YES! Let me explain....

We decided to take a little road trip to Joplin to check out their outdoor flea market...

The flea market was a total bust....it was more like a big yard sale with nothing interesting to buy so we decided to drive around and check out the town....

We found this cute train to play around on....

Had a great lunch and decided to head home.....

So all in all it was a pretty good day, i was disappointed about not getting to shop but once home I got to relax and enjoy what I love doing the most....

Hope you all had a great Saturday too!!

xoxo.
Kimmie

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You Say It's Your Birthday....

2010-05-07T21:28:00.011-05:00

Today is a very special day....my Emily's 12th birthday!

She's the baby of the family and I love her so much, we planned a very special day for her and so did her friends :). Her besties surprised her with a bunch of goodies and decorated her locker...we surprised her with a huge balloon-o-gram and rose...

....then she came home to the house totally decorated, a big cake, lots of presents and her favorite dinner.

Thank you Gramma, Uncle Bill, Aunt Michelle and Aunt Patty for the wonderful gifts!

And thank you sissy for all of the awesome nail polish and nail art goodies!

She thought the iPod stereo was her big gift...

But as you can see by the look on her face it wasn't...

The BIG surprise was the professional keyboard she's been wanting :)

We finished the night with this wonderful movie I bought for the hubby a few days ago:

I initially didn't want to watch it....but I did and guess what? I love this movie!! If you haven't seen it yet, you definitely must!!

I don't know who had more fun today, the birthday girl or the mom who got to experience all of the wonderful expressions on her beautiful daughters' face :)

Happy Birthday Emmy, I love you!!

xoxo.

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Get Lost!

2010-05-06T00:33:00.003-05:00

That's right, get Lost! THE SERIES I MEAN!! It's one of the best shows in the history of TV (opinions may vary) and I love it! The problem is....I made it through the first season and a few episodes of the second season, then missed an episode or two (for reasons I can't remember) and since I didn't want to miss any of it I decided to catch up on it later. WELL....fast forward to 5+ years later and I STILL haven't watched an episode ....but that's all about to change because my wonderful hubby surprised me with ALL 5 SEASONS of Lost on DVD today!! How wonderful is he right?!
I am so incredibly thrilled and can't wait to get started, I love everyone on the show but Sawyer is my absolute favorite (can you blame me, he's such a hottie!).....

Are you a fan of the show? If so, who's your fave?

Xoxoxoxo :)

A New Adventure....

2010-04-23T19:49:00.027-05:00

Hello lovelies, how is everyone on this fine Friday? I have been hard at work on my new shop (oh geeze, have I taken on more than I can handle?!) and so I would like to give you all a little peek into the world of Beautiful Photo Props....

These are some of the FUN things I've been working on, they are great for professional photography sessions or just to dress up your new little one :) Of course, I am still creating new exciting things for my Beautiful Bridget shop as well, here's a peek at some of the latest with more great things coming soon....

So I'm keeping pretty busy these days which is a good thing....it's better to be busy than to not have anything to do at all :) What's keeping YOU all busy? I love to hear from you all so let me know :)

And a special WELCOME to everyone visiting from LA's blog FRECKLED NEST, it's so good to meet you! Good luck in the giveaway, my fingers are crossed for each one of you!

THIS WEEK'S SPECIAL (good in BOTH shops): 10% off and FREE shipping, just mention "Freckled Nest" :)

xoxo,

And the Winner Is....

2010-04-22T23:39:00.004-05:00

Carrie Lynn!

Congratulations to Carrie Lynn, you have won the Mood Bag!

Carrie is a full-time social work student and wife of one year, a part-time actress and craftaholic and is the writer of the lovely blog Apple Inspired. Thank you so much for participating, I'm so excited for you!

And congratulations to the winner of Project Runway, I won't name any names yet for those who haven't had a chance to watch the finale yet but it was an amazing show!

I wish everyone a wonderful Friday and also a wonderful weekend, I plan on getting caught up on orders, doing some house cleaning and hopefully going to see a movie :) And I'm super excited for Monday....my first trip to Nonna's (thanks for turning me onto this Mandy!) and an afternoon of flea marketing :)

What are YOUR plans for this weekend?

I'm in the "Mood" for a Giveaway!!!

2010-04-16T00:07:00.005-05:00

All right designers, it's time to get your very own Mood bag!

That's right, this week I'm giving away a brand new extra large Black and Gold Solid Mood Designer Fabrics Tote Bag straight from New York City :) Be the envy of all your friends when you strut your stuff carrying your Mood tote!

The winner will be chosen at the conclusion of next week's Project Runway finale :) So you wanna know how to enter the giveaway huh? Here's how:

1. Follow my blog for an entry...
2. Visit my shop and leave a comment here telling me what you'd like to see me add to the shop: www.etsy.com/shop/beautifulbridget
3. Follow me on FaceBook for another entry
4. Tweet about this giveaway, each tweet earns an extra entry (be sure to include @beautiful_etsy in the tweet so I can count them)
5. Blog about the giveaway and leave a link here for two extra entries

Want TEN additional entries? Buy something from either of my shops and receive ten additional entries per item!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/beautifulbridget
http://www.etsy.com/shop/BeautifulPhotoProps

Well there you go :) Good luck, I can't wait to see who the lucky winner is!

butterflies and pyrex.

2010-04-14T08:53:00.003-05:00

heyhey dolls!

I'm Mandy from Miss Indie and I am so exciteddd to be a guest blogger on Beautiful Bridget's blog!

today I want to share a few of my favorite things.

butterflies + pyrex = love.

I love all of the dreamy colors and designs.

so cuteee!

I think it would be so cute to decorate a kitchen all in vintage dishware and butterflies.

and definitely a SMEG fridge.

in mint.

boo. yah.

what are some of your favorite things?

XO. mandy

Smile Therapy...and a Girl Crush :)

2010-04-07T00:00:00.002-05:00

Okay, so Miss Indie (my crafty little daughter and fellow blog queen) and I have totally been on an Ally McBeal kick for the past week, watching non-stop episodes while we crochet late into the night. Have you seen this show? If not, you need to watch it!! Seriously, I forgot how funny this show was back in the day! Missy got Season One for me for Christmas and since we were on a Glee and Gossip Girl kick at the time, we had to put this one on the back burner for awhile. Well, we finally got to it and DAMN, it is so GOOD! WE ARE TOTAL "ALLY" GROUPIES NOW!! Fish-isms, The Whip, dancing babies, The Biscuit, Dip Chin, Dancing Twins, Unisex....it has it all....

The adorable Ally herself (totally the girl crush of the week)...

The one and only Biscuit...Don't forget the Fish....

Ally's true love Billy....

....who is married to Georgia :(
Then there's Elaine, the office tramp....
And Renee, Ally's best friend and roommate....

Throw in a dancing baby, the Unisex bathroom and alot of office hoopla and you have the perfect show!

So what's YOUR fave TV show of past or present? Do share!! Love to you all ;)

xo.

We Have a Winner!!

2010-04-06T00:24:00.007-05:00

Thank you SO much to everyone who entered into the giveaway :) I wish I had something to give to each person but I promise to do another giveaway very soon!

And now, for the lucky winner which was randomly drawn by the random name selector:

Yay! Congratulations to Erica Leigh!!

Thanks again for participating, be watching for my email and/or contact me with your shipping info so I can get your items out to you :)

xoxo,

Last Chance to Sign Up!

2010-04-04T00:28:00.003-05:00

I choose the lucky winner tomorrow night (Easter Sunday) so be sure to enter while you still can!

Here are the details in case you missed the initial blog about the giveaway:

One lucky winner will win all of the these lovely items:

A handmade camera case...

A cute handmade braided headband from Red Velvet Art....

A vintage Scrabble stamping set...

This sweet little pin-on patch...

An original Beautiful Bridget Slouch Beanie....

A handmade case for your iPod or iPhone...

And these rockin' arm warmers...

The winner will be chosen Easter Sunday :) So you wanna know how to enter this huge giveaway huh? Here's how:

1. Follow my blog for an entry...
2. Visit my shop and leave a comment here telling me what your favorite item is: www.etsy.com/shop/beautifulbridget
3. Follow me on FaceBook for another entry
4. Tweet about this giveaway, each tweet earns an extra entry (be sure to include @beautiful_etsy in the tweet so I can count them)
5. Blog about the giveaway and leave a link here for two extra entries

Want TEN additional entries? Buy something from either of my shop and receive ten additional entries per item!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/beautifulbridget
http://www.etsy.com/shop/BeautifulPhotoProps

Well there you go :) Good luck, I can't wait to see who the lucky winner is!

xoxo.
Kimmie

Color Me Green

2010-04-02T18:59:00.001-05:00

I totally love the color green. It has to be the loveliest color in the color spectrum. I heart it, truly I do :)

Find this hat and others like it here.

What color makes you happy?

xoxo.
Kimmie

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It's Giveaway Time!!

2010-03-28T17:32:00.004-05:00

Heck yes, it's time to give away some goodies!! One lucky winner will win all of the these lovely items:

A handmade camera case...

A cute handmade braided headband from Red Velvet Art....

A vintage Scrabble stamping set...

This sweet little pin-on patch...

An original Beautiful Bridget Slouch Beanie....

A handmade case for your iPod or iPhone...

And these rockin' arm warmers...

The winner will be chosen Easter Sunday :) So you wanna know how to enter this huge giveaway huh? Here's how:

1. Follow my blog for an entry...
2. Visit my shop and leave a comment here telling me what your favorite item is: www.etsy.com/shop/beautifulbridget
3. Follow me on FaceBook for another entry
4. Tweet about this giveaway, each tweet earns an extra entry (be sure to include @beautiful_etsy in the tweet so I can count them)
5. Blog about the giveaway and leave a link here for two extra entries

Want TEN additional entries? Buy something from either of my shop and receive ten additional entries per item!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/beautifulbridget
http://www.etsy.com/shop/BeautifulPhotoProps

Well there you go :) Good luck, I can't wait to see who the lucky winner is!

xoxo.
Kimmie

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Thrifting and the Past...

2010-03-25T18:58:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was a wonderful day filled with hitting the local flea markets and having lunch with the family. While I was at one particular flea market I came across the exact same elephant cookie jar we had when I was a kid.

It really brought back some good memories, like when I used to fill his hat (the lid) with cookies and take them to my mom as gifts (I know, I was a cute kid ;)

So it got me to thinking of my favorite things from my childhood and I thought I would share a few of these with you....

Like my Easy Bake Oven...

And my passion for leg warmers and roller skating (darned if I didn't break my arm learning how to skate too!)

I loved my paper dolls so much...they sure don't make them like this anymore :(

One of my absolute favorite things was when the Popsicle Man would come...no matter where you were or what you were doing, when you heard that familiar song you dropped everything and ran to the nearest parent or grandparent begging for a dollar :)

So you could buy one of these...yummmm....

And what childhood wasn't complete without a cute little vintage record player...

To play your favorite Disney records on?

Ahhhh, the memories. It sure makes me wish I would have held onto my toys...

What were your favorite things when you were a kid?

xoxo.
Kimmie

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Ickkk...a diet...

2010-03-23T01:18:00.001-05:00

Well, I have been trying to take better care of myself lately and eat healthier because I know I always feel better physically and mentally when I put good foods in my body. Let me tell you though, it has NOT been easy! Why oh why do certain foods not matter until AFTER you aren't allowed to eat them, then suddenly you crave them more than anything? Ugh, curse you foodstuffs!!

So rather than eat, I have been playing around on the 'net and found these funny pics to share with you...enjoy ;)

So are any of you struggling with eating only the good stuff? Have any tips you wanna share? If so, please share :)

xoxo.
Kimmie

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It's Almost Time...

2010-03-15T01:23:00.000-05:00

It's been awhile and I am just itching to do a giveaway! So, keep watching the blog because in a day or two I will be putting up the details on how you can win lots of goodies (yay!)

xoxo.
Kimmie

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Color Me Yellow

2010-03-11T20:36:00.000-06:00

Yellow is one of my absolute favorite colors, it totally makes me think of Spring and everything that comes with it :)

Here are some fun yellow things to enjoy, what's your favorite color?

xoxo.
Kimmie

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