How Pinteresting!

I'm pretty sure there should be support groups for those *ahem* addicted to Pinterest..  I swear I'm on that site daily.. You know it's become a problem when, now instead of searching Google for a recipe or highly reviewed product.. or even a "how to".. I now search Pinterest.. yup that's right folks, you heard it here first.. Pinterest as replaced Google for me.. now don't get me wrong I still am a die hard Google fan.. I mean hello? My blog is on Blogger. But here's the thing if I am looking for a tutorial on how to on, I don't know.. " how not to kill houseplants".. not saying I've done that but let's just pretend that I've been known to kill a houseplant or two. I search Pinterest.. I find not only the blog post or site but many other useful information that could prevent any future houseplant casualties.. I've learned how to do minor HTML coding, I've learned how to curl my hair proper... I've found countless recipes, ahh-mazing fashion and just honest to goodness dreaming.... Are you looking for the best drugstore eyeliner? Bam! Pinterest. Are you looking for artwork for a baby's room? Pinterest it... yeah that's right, I made it a verb... So really in all honesty it's a practical help not a colossal waist of time.. see what I did there? Basically I'm all for whatever justifies my minor addiction that we call Pinterest.. This is just a few of what I've been finding in the candy land of Pinterest if you would like you can follow along here. 

Mama Got A Makeover: The Blog Salon...

You know those shows like What Not To Wear ... where they take a tired woman who's making due with what she's wearing and how's she doing her hair.... then they take her and give her an amazing makeover? Yeah... I'm like one of those women... only for my blog....

I first discovered Ashley at The Blog Salon about 6 months ago and I was instantly impressed! Her professional and yet extremely talented designs are nothing more than art... It's a scary feeling trusting (trust issues) someone else with your blog.. It's a big deal, it needs to reflect you, be professional and yet awesome... From the moment I first had communication with Ashley she instantly put me at ease... she's like the "blog whisperer"... Plus I have to mention she's currently getting her Masters in Design, while still rocking at her day job as a high school teacher! #rockstarstatus

One of the selling points for me was the method of inspiration,  Ashley suggests starting with a Pinterest board! It was like someone was speaking my language, creating a new look for my blog and using my favorite waste of time? Sold!! I collected all the most inspiring photos as a visual buffet for Ashley to get a pretty good idea what I was wanting... I gave her all my details and sat back and waited while the magic happened...  Picture an impatient girl sitting next to a phone waiting for a boy to call... I must have checked my email at least 20 times in one day... I'm not very good at waiting or being cool for that matter... Ashley then emailed me two proofs to choose from, both were gorgeous! I could hardly contain my excitement! Let me just say that having to decide between two amazing designs is not easy... It was like trying to choose between two amazing pair of shoes and you can only have one! Such a good problem to have... After choosing a design and doing minor tweaks this is the final product! I am sure you can tell that I am beyond thrilled with the final result.

The Blog Salon offers a variety of services from Blog Design, Brand Identity to Business Card Design. It's really a fantastic one stop shop that I feel I can go back for any of my other blogging/branding needs... So if your blog design is feeling a little desperate for a makeover like mine was, head on over to The Blog Salon check out all that Ashley could do for you. I promise you won't be sorry! As bloggers we usually have about 3 seconds to capture the attention of our readers, might as well make those 3 seconds memorable!

*This is a sponsored post by The Blog Salon, the opinions expressed are completely my own.

Just a little giddy...

I have the extreme honor of having my blog mentioned on Coffee Beans & Bobby Pins Friday Five! Amy of Coffee Beans & Bobby Pins listed my blog and my Feel the burn: Week 1 post, on a blog link share! Basically really fantastic way of networking and getting introduced to some pretty fabulous bloggers!!

 I have to say I feel so honored and slightly giddy inside... Thanks Amy! I appreciate it... if you haven't checked out her blog and all the other fabulous ones she listed, you should! She does a new "link up" from Friday - Wednesday and then list's the top five on Friday! Check her out, you wont be sorry! In the meantime, I'll be over here trying to be cool and failing miserably... time to get my jaw off the floor... OMG...

Gold Stars & Pep Talks....

Top- Joppa

Jeans- AE

Shoes- Bass

Sunglasses-HM

Have you ever been so busy that you're not sure what to start first? It's like ADD on steroids sometimes... I read on Pinterest once "if a man wants to know what's going on in a woman's mind, just open up 250 tabs on your Internet browser and just bounce around all of them." Haha.. so true... Us ladies are are like the ultimate multi-taskers... Right now, my "real job" has entered it's busiest season... I'm also the wedding coordinator for a friend that is getting married on Saturday and 2 weekends ago my mom was in town... and it doesn't stop there! But I will... because any further it will sound a bit like whining... unless of course wine is involved, in which then I'm totally OK with that...

So now, here I am with this little conversation in my head... "I've got to get an outfit post up on the blog, it's been like ages and my readers are going to think I've disappeared .. How the heck can I squeeze in time for a little photo shoot?.. not to mention writing"... and then the little voice says, "other bloggers do this everyday... if you can't do this then I guess your not cut out to be a blogger..."  To which I say... total crap... I've got other words for that but my mom reads this and well.. ya know...

 Life happens, and I happen to be in one of the busiest times right now, so what? I'm a toughie... made out of more than just red hair and hazel eyes...  and I know that this is what I'm meant to do.. so little voice in my head.... you can go to hell... just sayin...that's my little pep talk...

I think it's really easy to look at others with the perception that they've somehow tapped into their superpowers and have endless amounts of energy and can always get everything done... Well, I'm not one of those people...  It's bare your soul Monday over here folks... To me, it creates all of these unrealistic expectations... Ahhh the pressure! 

It's a lot what we do, as bloggers, as women, as people... on a daily basis if we are not congratulating ourselves for the little accomplishments then I think we should all go back to 1st grade when everything is celebrated... Gold stars all around! .. Cue my Oprah impersonation... "you get a gold star and you get a gold star and you get a gold star!" As, for a style tip... take it easy on yourself... If your like me and fighting feeling overwhelmed don't add to it with unrealistic expectations... just be you... and slap on some lip gloss, curl your hair, pour yourself a drink... and breathe... then maybe watch a little YouTube... because nothing says "coping" like a cat falling into a bathtub...

Links à la Mode!!!

OMG...sorry/not sorry for my freak out moment... Seriously so honored to be featured in the weeks Links a la Mode! There are some wicked fabulous bloggers out there that I am just giddy to be included with them! IFB (Independent Fashion Bloggers) is an amazing resource for all fashion bloggers out there and I am just so thankful to apart of! So with out further adieu this is the roundup of their favorite 20 links this week! Enjoy!

World Click

Does it matter where you blog from? I say this as I've lived in four cities during my blogging career, and to tell the truth, it kind of does, but it also kind of doesn't. This week Style Bazaar asks that question to a few bloggers about their experiences with blogging and location. We also travel around to Australia to check out their MBFW, how Man Repeller got us thinking about Japan (again), about how female politicians across the globe relate to fashion (should they?) and where you can get globally conscious accessories. As always it's a mixed bag, so enjoy!

Links à la Mode: April 18th

1. Anna Lou Eliott: 3 ways to wear white: for day, night and work
2. Attire Club: What We Can Learn From Superheroes
3. Cosmolawitan: Dove: Empowering Women With Its Ad Campaigns
4. Dressed up on a cloudy day: How to Combine Colors : Analogous Colors
5. Fashion is Evolution: 4 Tips for Pushing Yourself to Achieve Your Creative Goals
6. Fashion Moriarty: Are female politicians reduced to what they wear?
7. Hey Mishka: 5 Globally Conscious Festive Accessories For Summer
8. HH Designs: Glamping: My Overall Lack of Roughing It...
9. Lara Lizard: Test : Are you the cutest creature of the social media?
10. Incognito: On how Man Repeller got me thinking about fashion in Japan
11. Modestelle: Mercedes Benz Australia Review 2013-2014
12. Mis Papelicos: My 6 Easy Steps to Happiness
13. Nothing to wear: The Rookie Department: Hair Styling For Beginners
14. Runway to Style: 7 Style Guidelines To Look Your Best at Prom and More
15. Style Bazaar: Blogging: How important is your location?
16. The Curatorial: Vale Jewelry: Algorithms and Delicate Jewelry
17. Undercover Dress Up: Interview with lolita icon Emilka P.
18. We Are Ready Made: Irreverent Youth
19. Wild Beauty World: War Paint
20. Youth Savage: Fashion Blogging vs. the World

  SPONSOR: Sale @ Shopbop: Timo Weiland, Rebel, Star Mela, Beth Richards, Hunter, Voltaire Zadig, Mugler, Ulla Johnson, Jill Stuart, Superga, & L'Wren Scott

Deep Moments: Blogging...

"Tell the negative committee that meets in your head to sit down and shut up..."- Ann Bradford

Blogging... it's an interesting concept... you write about things that you  love.. or things you are excited about potentially sharing your heart to the world... being validated for the things you find interesting is the one of the  most gratifying feelings...  Here is what it is not...  it's not the Peace that lives in my heart.. it doesn't smile at me and tell me  "you look pretty" even when I know, I threw this outfit together in a fit of frustration trying to get the "perfect" look for a photo-shoot... because I'm 5 days behind on posting something...oh those crazy high expectations can get you every time!. Nope... it's none of that... and most importantly...it's not what makes me into the person I am...  Listening to the positive voice in your head is hands down the best thing you do for your overall look... it's the best accessory and knowing  who you are makes every outfit work... instead of staring blankly into the closet saying "I have nothing to wear" and letting it ruin your day... and even though I know there are days when it gets hard to remember the awesomeness that we are... think about this... If we really knew, like deep deep down inside, just how incredible we are... what amazing things would happen? Just start to wonder...

Deep moments brought to you by a conversation in the car with my hubs... thanks babe...love you forever...

IFB project#87