Showing posts with label life as a mom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life as a mom. Show all posts

too cool for drool


It's time for a giveaway hop!!!!
The TOO COOL FOR DROOL hop is hosted by

Be sure to check out all the other blogs in the hop! You'll see that super fun linky at the bottom of the post ;)

This loop of giveaways is all about preschool kiddos & their moms!!!

So I am giving away a $15 gift card to TARGET
and
an engravable charm from Stella & Dot!!!!

With the rate my 3 year old is growing, I know how frequently I have to buy new clothes for him....needless to say, SHOES! And Target has such cute & affordable gear!

Stella & Dot, with their cute engravables, is such a chic & stylish way to wear your "heart on your neck" or wrist....or whatever ;)

So the winner will have their choice of our engravable circle charm or ID tag, engraved with whatever they want! 
(There are some character limitations, please be advised)

Here are some ideas:







Contest ends on September 15th

Winner will have the choice of our ID tag in silver or gold, OR our engravable disc charm in silver or gold. 





a Rafflecopter giveaway


LEGAL Stuff: 18 years of age or older to enter. US Only! Read Instructions carefully because rules vary from contest to contest. Make sure to provide a correct email address so we can reach you if you win. You have 48 hours to respond once contacted. Giveaway bloggers are not responsible for sponsors/bloggers that do not fulfill their prizes or for any product failure or harm caused thereby.In most cases, shipping of prizes is the responsibility of the the sponsors who will be sending prizes to you directly. Your prize should arrive within 30 days, let us know if it doesn’t and we will TRY TO HELP OUT! The writer of this giveaway received a sample for this review. Compensation was not provided. Opinions expressed are the blog’s own. This Giveaway is not affiliated with, associated with or promoted by Facebook. Happy Entering!

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a little q&a

I have been getting more emails lately about being a Stella & Dot stylist, so I thought I'd take it to the blog. (I'm also hosting an informative yet super casual event via Facebook next week. If you're interested, send me an email so I can get you the details!)

I am 34 weeks pregnant, mom to an adorable toddler, and wife to one amazing guy. I also work full time as a purchasing manager (3 days from home, 2 from the office)....so why on earth would I want to add to my already full plate???

Easy. The style is irresistible, and if "mama ain't happy...." ;) I have been with Stella & Dot for 2 years now. It was a huge thing for me to join a direct selling company....the stigma that comes with direct sales is not one I really wanted to have to deal with. A few bad apples, in my opinion, had ruined the entire bunch - - in this instance, one direct sales company being a "scheme", to me meant that all direct sales were a "scheme".

For anyone considering any position with a direct sales company, keep this in mind: pyramid schemes are illegal. Just because a company is "direct sales" does not mean it's a pyramid. I had to get that through my head when I was researching Stella & Dot.

Some of the top questions I have been asked regarding Stella & Dot:
1. What is the initial investment? I normally reply with, "what's your interest level?" We offer 3 different starter kit options: $199, $499, & $699. All of them provide you with a business in a box: everything you need to get your business off the ground. If this is more of a hobby option for you, then stick with the $199 kit. If you are looking to perhaps make a career change, then go for the $699 kit.
2. Do you actually make money with this? Um, YES. From the first day you sign on, you make 25% commissions on all of your sales. There is a potential of making 30% and even 35% commissions. Everything is laid out for you, and really user friendly. If you decide to "build a team" by sponsoring others that love the brand, then you'll build on your earnings and make even more. The potential to earn a living is definitely there - - - but like with working out, you get what you put into it!
3. How many hours do I have to work? You don't have to do anything you don't want to do. This is your business. You would set your hours, and you would be the only one keeping YOU accountable. You could do a trunk show a month (average about $250 commissions), or you could do 4 trunk shows a month (average about $1000 commissions). I like to suggest to those asking me, evaluate your goals & needs. That will determine how much you "have to work". To be honest, this doesn't feel like work to me. I thoroughly enjoy working this business! Isn't that the best job? To work somewhere that you look forward to "working"???



With all that said, there are sporadic sign up specials that our corporate office offers throughout the year. One was literally just launched yesterday: an extra $100 in product credit to all new stylists. If you are even the least bit intrigued by this company, shoot me an email and let's discuss your hesitations / questions / concerns.



new year, new you, new me

I love that every year is the chance to start a new 365 page book (with the occasional extra page thrown in every 4 years).

While this post is on the 14th of the month - not the first - I'd still like to take the time to relish in the fact that it is a NEW year.

We rung in the New Year with our 'chosen family' - a term we so lovingly use to refer to our friends. A night of pajamas & games & babies. Gone are the years of those glamorous New Year's Eve events.....

Wait. When did that ever happen???

So to make it official, I'm sharing with YOU my 10 goals for the year....

1. A monthly date night with my MattyB
2. A promotion with my company (I've been thisclose for 6 months....it's going to happen!)
3. De-cluttering my house - - why on earth do we have 6 suitcases when we really only ever use 2???
4. Standing up for myself & my family of 3 - if you are poison to us, sorry but you're "outta here"
5. Potty training Mr. Beau.....ugh, kinda dreading this one!
6. Praying MORE - my first step was getting this book - I'm ashamed to admit my prayer life is lacking
7. Ridding my house of processed food - - MattyB & I did this back in 2011 & it was amazing. Between then & now, we of course have backslidden & now it's time to crack the whip!
8. Saying 'no' to more of the things that really don't matter, and 'yes' to more of the things that do! (Amen?)
9. Getting happy & positive - such a weird one, I know, but am I the only one that finds that it takes a million nice things/compliments to elicit happiness and one negative person/comment to steal all the joy?
10. Running again. I miss it. I miss the medals. It's time.

Have a tip? Word of encouragement? Want to share yours??
Please leave a comment & do so!
Happy New Year! Make it your BEST yet!!!
xo


POPSUGAR must have box....

I succumbed & indulged with a box this month. I don't know why I am so addicted to box subscriptions....probably because my love of surprises, and gifts!

So here, goes....the December installment!





To hold my champs!








Will probably be gifting these.... 







I haven't tried this yet - but I'll report back. 
I'm addicted to my Covergirl Lash Blast, so this should be interesting!















Truth be told, I'm really excited about these!!
I am such a fan of nail art. Especially when it lasts longer than polish!







The bracelet is cute.
I'll pair it with my others :)





And I'm really excited for this too! I LOVE gift wrapping!



Don't miss out on January's box! Check out more information HERE.

tuesday's fashion....and an important sale!

Florida weather is totally cray-cray. Yesterday is chilly & windy, in the 70's in my neck of the woods. Today it's rainy & windy & OH SO HUMID, and in the 80's....but by Thanksgiving, it will be in the 40's!!!!

SAY WHAT!?!

Insane.

So today, I'm trying out a Florida winter look ;) actually, I really just wanted to wear a scarf.

(The top is from PINK. I'm seriously addicted to their clothing line.)





Bracelets: Renegade, Phoebe, Moxie, & Nikita
all by Stella & Dot



Also, you do not want to miss this! Sale items are reduced an additional 25% off!!! Holler baller!



These are a few of the items you can get at a ridiculously low price....




The Dakota necklace $79 $35.55





(this price is ridiculous!!! And there is a matching necklace!!!)



Olivia Bib necklace $118 $66.38


Seriously, go browse through the sale. It's a "don't wanna miss" kind of sale ;) There are a few charms on there too!

spottin' style in a glossy

I had 2 seconds on the potty the other day to breeze through the December issue of InStyle....TMI? sorry.

I spotted our Zora necklace!!! Woohoo!!! How many social selling companies do you know that are featured in magazines!? 

Are you a mom? When do you find time to get your reading done? 



celebrating the big 3 oh

On the 8th of November I started a new decade. My thirties. Based on that day, they are off to a great start!

Although, if you ever hear the term "Code Green" in Target....beware. It means "child is stuck in a shopping cart". At least that was the case for me on my birthday. Bitty Beau decided he wanted to see if his arm fit through the seat railings. It definitely did...and then didn't want to be pulled out. After a crowd of employees gathered around us, and after the attention of all nearby shoppers was gained, the toddler's arm was safely pulled out of the rails. "Happy Birthday"!

I had previously told MattyB that I did NOT want to celebrate my birthday. I have been in such a funk over the idea of turning thirty, no thanks to some drama that's also looming over our lives.

Regardless, luckily for me, Matthew did not listen & took great effort in planning a spectacular evening!

We started the evening (Beau free) with dinner at Iavarones. I've never been there, but had heard so many great things. Who doesn't love Italian eateries by the mob?



The food, drinks, & ambiance were great!

Flirtini Martini....thought I'd try something new (ya know, had to steer clear of my normal Cosmo...)


The company wasn't so bad either ;)





I was eye balling their Tiramisu for dessert, but MattyB said we had to split because we had dessert plans elsewhere.

I coerced him to spill his guts - and my hunch was correct - we had a reservation at the Melting Pot!!! Yummo!!!

So upon arriving to The Melting Pot, Matthew gives his name, and then "bless his heart" the hostess spills the beans about "oh the rest of your party is here!".
I. KNEW. IT!

Sure enough, he had arranged for my girlfriends to all be there to celebrate :)


Apparently we couldn't all look at the right camera, at the same time. 


For not having wanted to celebrate this birthday, I am so thankful that Matthew planned this all. It was such a fun evening!



Now here's to hoping this decade is the BEST yet!

the big 3 oh

Today is the day I turn 30. Yikes!

When did this happen? Am I now 'officially' an adult? Part of me still feels like that scared, shy 16 year old. 

Regardless, here's 30 reasons why I think my thirties will totally trump my twenties.....

1. No more school - as much as I LOVED learning (yes, totally a nerd over here) - I detested the whole process. Absolutely, an unnecessary stress. 

2. I am in better shape than I was in my twenties....with the exception of age 20, 25, & 28. 

3. I am married to the love of my life - no more of the Rachel & Ross saga!



4. Carrying over the 'marriage' thing - we are past the first 5 years of marriage! (That first year was awful!)

5. The fear of childbirth has been overcome! Now it's on to the "forgetting" part. 

6. Did I mention I have the cutest toddler ever? :)  




7. I have a job I like, that pays the bills, & allows me to work from home. 


9. I get to work from home to spend time with this little man. 

10. We no longer have a dog. Sorry, sounds heartless, but that dog was a ton more work than a child. It's okay for you to not to agree

11. I've learned the importance of TRUE relationships....the ones where it's a 2 way street, you give & take, they give & take....and it's heartfelt. 

12. I've learned how some people will just not like you - they feel justified in their mind - and that's okay....but I've learned the importance of standing up for myself & not allowing them to treat me like dirt. 

13. Shorter hair is MUCH better for me.

14. Realizing that all those non-existent spring breaks or summer vacations were worth my while. 


15. I take more pictures. Instagram & Drop Box are my must haves!!! 

16. I spend much more time in growing my relationship with Christ. (Check out Beth Moore if you're looking for some amazing studies!!!)

17. Finding that amazing mascara that is only $7.99 a tube versus the $25 / $30 per tube price I was paying! 

18. I have some awesome friendships.

19. It's now totally "okay" for me to be in bed by 9pm. I'm old, right!?!?!


20. I understand the whole "leading by example" thing.

21. I've learned that "comparison is the thief of joy"

22. This will be the decade that I finally compete in a race farther than a 5K (that virtual 10K I competed in doesn't count)


23. It's now socially acceptable for me to go to Target in yoga pants, a ball cap, and not a stitch of makeup on, with my toddler in tow. 

24. I'm thismuch closer to retiring. 

25. This will be the decade that I get to travel to Hawaii (if I say it, I have to do it, right!?)

26. I no longer have to pretend that I like shopping at Forever 21....or H&M. Sorry, but I don't. 

27. I'm heading in to this decade with more confidence than I have ever possessed before. (Not in a "conceited" or "I'm better than you, mentality"....but in a "I know who I am" mindset.)

28. I've realized how important my parents are to me, and how blessed I am that their marriage has survived all these years.

29. My perspective on life & what's important is more where it should be....and my focus isn't glued to stressing over things I can not change.

30. While I am not wanting to celebrate this birthday, because frankly, let's face it - I don't want to be old....I am excited over what is to come. It's all about perspective, right?