What All The Best Dressed Fridges Are Wearing

In addition to my gazillionty business cards and my hand crafted pendants I wanted a way to stand out at BlogHer.

(The color actually matches my logo, the pink here is just a sign of my poor photography skills...)

I think my super adorable post card sized magnets ought to do the trick!

These magnets came from BuildASign.com. They were a total please to work with and my magnets arrived super quick! There's a whole family of companies working together to meet your personal and professional printing needs from banners to yard signs to car magnets.

If you're going to be at BlogHer (or maybe if you're already there) make sure you find me! I have a magnet just for you! (All of the best dressed blogger fridges will be wearing them...)

Bandit Signs

Thank you to Build A Sign for providing me with these magnets for BlogHer. 

Grilling Really Is Happiness

This week that pretty new grill got it's first workout. I confess to being pretty average when it comes to grilling. I possess no special skills or inclinations. That doesn't mean I don't love grilled food. That's why I'm grateful for the inspiration provided by this week's photography assignment.


After successfully testing everything out I was ready to make some of my first meals on the grill. It was also time to practice this week's lesson: photographing food on the grill.

So I Like Flip Flops...

I like flip flops a lot. I wear them almost all summer long. Flip flops are comfortable and in many cases they can be cute. But let's face it. Flip flops are never going to be the height of style and sophistication.

That's why I need a shoetervention. Really, I like shoes. I like them a lot. I see cute shoes all the time that I think about buying. Sometimes I actually even buy them. But they sit in my closet collecting dust while I rock the flip flops.

OK, and if I'm totally honest I would have to confess my overall style could use some help. But if you'll be at BlogHer look down...that's where the help is needed most of all!

In writing this post, I'm entering the Microsoft Windows Style Makeover sweepstakes for a chance to win a head to toe makeover!

{Twitter Party} Save Your Summer Memories With Gallery Direct

Can you believe it's almost August? Summer is nearly gone and it feels like it just started! Before you say a final goodbye to summer there's a Twitter Party with my friends at Gallery Direct.

Five lucky winners will receive $200 to spend on the art of their choice at Gallery Direct. Just RSVP here and tweet with us on Monday, July 30 at 10pm ET.

Don't forget to visit Gallery Direct before the party and pick out your favorite art in case you win. Just make sure you have some time...it's hard to stop browsing all of the amazing art!

Good Luck

Disclosure: I'm a Gallery Direct Ambasador

Tumblr Bunnies

Sometimes your friends photobomb you with bunnies from Tumblr. And sometimes you just have to share them on your blog.

Taking Better Product Photos

If you're a blogger chances are at some point you're going to need to take product photos. (You could use stock photos, but those are boring!) That's why in week three of the #SoFabU Photography Course sponsored by Sears we're working on our product photography. 

This week was super exciting-I was able to purchase a new grill from Sears! I was so busy taking photos of the grills the last time I was there I didn't pick one out. I went shopping this week with no idea about my purchase. My best friend was with me and helped me pick out this mocha brown grill. Because it matched my deck pillows. Seriously. (I did look up reviews and  it had great reviews, too. I'm not completely superficial like that.)

Custom Dresses From eShakti...And A Discount

UPDATE: eShakti renewed the code. You can now save 10% on everything until August 31 with  AM22Y F!

I was thrilled with the chance to order a dress from eShakti and try out their custom styling options. How many times have you looked for a dress and found one that was perfect...except it wasn't? The sleeves were too long, the neck was too low, the hem was too short... I've definitely been there. As a matter of fact I was there when I first started looking on the eShakti website.

I feel in love with this lace dress. Except I don't like wearing necks that are that high. And sleevless dresses with that cut do nothing for my shoulders. 

Luckily I was able to go on the eShakti website and customize my dress! You can order from set sizes or use your exact measurements. Then it gets really fun. Depending on the dress and the options available you can change the length, the neckline and the sleeves. How cool is that? 

I was able to change the neckline to a wide scoop and add an inset cap sleeve-making the perfect dress just for me!

I'm hoping to wear this dress at BlogHer so I'll update with pictures of me actually in the dress and all dolled up in a few weeks. I just wanted to share at least one pictures now so that you could see the customizations. Pretty cool, huh?

But that's not all. I have something even cooler to share...10% off! eShakti is having a really awesome sale right now. 100 of their dresses are up to 40% off. You can use code AM22Y F to get 10% off. That's even on the sale dresses! The code is good through July 31st and can be used on anything except items in the overstock category. (Don't forget to sign up for their emails-they'll send you a $20 code to use, too!)

eShakti provided me with a dress for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own. And I'm pretty sure you'll agree-my dress is awesome! 

Sometimes Things Get Busy

I had the best of intentions. I was going to write at least one blog post a day until BlogHer. I was doing really well. And then this week happened. This week was crazy.

There was some stuff going on personally that took a fair amount of time away from a computer. There were also a lot fairly cool things going on in blog world. Just not stuff you could actually see here.

I had already hosted one small Twitter Party before. This week I was co-host for a huge party. I think the final count was 100 RSVPs and we started trending! That was a lot of fun and something I hope I get the chance to do again soon. I've also been working behind the scenes on two new blog campaigns. This is something completely new to me and I'm loving the challenge. I'm also learning a ton. 

Now all of that would have kept me busy enough, but I've also become a part time jewelry maker. Last month I hosted a giveaway for blog pendants. I thought it would be a cool way to make some new friends at BlogHer. (It also gave me an excuse to order new craft supplies after I had promised myself I wouldn't buy any new craft supplies.) What I didn't expect was to have so many people want to buy a pendant from me. I'm now making blog pendants as fast as I can! 

I also have my photography class going on now, getting ready for BlogHer, and my actual day job! Things are super busy, but they're also super fun! (Even if they're keeping me from posting here every day!) 

Sharing A Reason To Smile

Last week I shared the Arm & Hammer Spinbrush Spin Into Action project from Champions for Kids. We're on a mission to give children a reason to smile!

That's why I went shopping to purchase oral care supplies to donate for this month's SIMPLE Service Project. You can view the entire shopping trip to start my donation in my Google+ story. It's important that children have the tools needed for proper dental care. Tooth decay is one of the most common diseases of early childhood. 

My Journey To Better In Store Photography

If you read my blog with any regularity you might have noticed I will sometimes link to a Google + Album. That means I'm working on a campaign that requires a "path to purchase" photo story. (It gives the brands insight into the shopping process of their consumers.)

Normally when I am doing a path to purchase album I'm using my phone and not paying too much attention to photo composition or lighting. Of course that means when I get home to actually put together my album I'm not happy at all with my photos.

When we were asked to take photos at Sears as a part of our #SoFabU photography course I knew I was in for a challenge. First of all-I was going to have to summon up the courage to take in my real camera and not try to sneak around like a secret agent. Secondly, I was going to have to really think about what I was photographing: paying attention to lighting, backgrounds and composition, all while shopping!



It wasn't as hard as I thought. The beauty of a digital camera is the ability to delete. I just took lots of pictures at all sorts of angles and worried about sorting out the good from the bad when I got home. That's not to say I wasn't thoughtful in the process. I took pictures of things as they caught my eye and tried to keep background clutter to a minimum.

You can see all of my photos (minus the ones I deleted when I got home) in the Flickr slideshow above. I've also picked out a few of my favorites. What do you think?

Get Your Guest Bathroom Guest-Ready

Does your summer mean lots of travel and lots of guest? Is your bathroom guest-ready? Never fear...

Kleenex hand towels to the rescue! Here are a few handy tips to make sure your guests feel like they're staying at a luxury resort. (OK, maybe not a luxury resort...but at least make your guests feel comfortable and welcome in your guest bath!)

Protection From My Klutziness With OtterBox

I love my iPad. I've also been terrified I was going to break it from pretty much the second I took it out of the box. You see, I'm a klutz. I drop things things a lot. And if it's really expensive I'm pretty much twice as likely to break it.

That's why I'm super glad to have the OtterBox Defender Case for my iPad. It has a polycarbonate case that snaps together surrounded by a silicone shell.

Wordless Wednesday

So remember when I talked about my obsession with online subscription shopping? Well...this all showed up at my door today. I'm obviously still afflicted...

I Have A Bunch Of Business Cards And They're All Super Cute!

Have you ever done an involuntary squeal of delight upon opening your mail? Yeah, me neither. 

Well, actually, I can't say that anymore.

You'd think I'd be past the whole, "ZOMG! These are so cute!" when it comes to business cards. I mean, this is my fifth set. But seriously, how freaking cute are these cards?
I've been warned against novelty shapes and I have hundreds of normal cards. But these-these are my favorites!
So here's the deal...at BlogHer you can ask for cute, cuter or cutest if you need a business card from me.
(And I promise not to get too upset if I see you throwing them like a Frisbee. I kind of want to use them like a little Frisbee, too!)

Spin Into Action To Help Them Smile!

I'm so happy to have participated in three previous SIMPLE Service Projects with Champions for Kids. I love the concept of using small steps to make an impact as "one of millions". 

This month's SIMPLE Service Project is sponsored by Arm & Hammer Spinbrush. Did you know that 19% of children between the ages of 2 and 19 have untreated cavities? Children living in poverty suffer from twice as much tooth decay as their peers. Those who have oral disease can face both physical pain and embarrassment about their smiles.

Proper brushing and flossing is the first line of defense in fighting tooth decay. Of course that means all children need access to the basic necessities like toothbrushes, dental floss and toothpaste. 

Wii Win Bundle Giveaway

 Mom of One and Having Fun, Loves 2 Read, Giveaway Bandit, There's a Contest for That, As The Bunny Hops and other great bloggers teamed up to bring you this amazing giveaway!
One lucky winner will be receiving a Super Mario Brothers Wii Bundle and some other great games! There's a little bit of something in this giveaway for everyone!

Black Wii Console with Super Mario Brothers and CD - Includes Controller and Nunchuck
ARV $150
Built-in Wi-Fi Access For Easy Connection To Internet
Netflix instant streaming functionality allows for thousands of movies, TV shows, cartoons and more right on your TV
New Super Mario Bros. Wii offers a 1-4 player, cooperative or competitive experience

The awesome games we are including:

Drawsome! Tablet: Includes 2 games/1 Featuring Smurfs ARV $60

Disney Sing It: Pop Hits: ARV $30

SpongeBob Boating Bash: ARV $20

Babys First Steps: ARV $20

Xtreme Fit Interactive Gaming System - NOT a Wii Game but it's Great for Mom and Dad ARV $75

OVER $300 in Prizes!

Thanks to Missi Rose's Coupon Spot, Mommy Samples, Divine Deal Diva, Coupons and Friends, Sisters Saving CentsWhat's Up?! and all other bloggers for participating in this event!

{Tutorial} Duct Tape Tardis Tech Case

I can't claim to be a Whovian, but my friend Mandy is. That's why I thought she might like this Tardis tech case for her Kindle Fire. (My regular, not even a little bit on fire Kindle is filling in for the photos...)

How To Sharpen An Eyeliner Without Breaking The Tip

This is one of my favorite tips (no pun intended) because it's so easy! How many times have you tried to sharpen a pencil style eyeliner only to have the tip keep breaking off? There's an easy solution. Freeze it! Just put your eyeliner in the freezer for about an hour and the tip will be hard enough for your to sharpen without breaking!

Once You Book Your Ticket...

...you should remember to turn off your price alerts. Because seriously, it doesn't matter if it's only five dollars. Getting an email telling you that you overpaid for your plane ticket sucks.
Of course if you leave them on an email like is just around the corner and all is right with the world again.

Happy Fourth of July!

Source: gingersnapcrafts.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: thegunnysack.com via Amy on Pinterest

My Nomination Is a #GoodCall

As a member of the Social Fabric community I was given the chance to nominate a deserving member for an awesome prize. I thought about this for days because it was a hard decision. There are a lot of really cool people in the community and the list of who I'd like to nominate was long.

But then it hit me. Or tweeted me, as the case may be. That's why I'm nominating April Decheine to win a Good Call iG1. April blogs over at April's Cooking And Lifestyle Show. What I love about April is just how active she is in the community. She's constantly in the forums providing feedback and supporting other members. And the woman is a syndicating machine! If you follow the #CBias tag on Twitter you can't help but see her there tweeting out everyone's blog and sharing content. When you're not the biggest blogger in the world having your content shared by others is a gift.

And of course if that wasn't enough...she's a friend to bunnies! How can you beat that? Make sure you check out April's blog and her awesome YouTube channel, too!
So what exactly is it that I'm nominating April to win? It's a really cool iPhone docking station. (It works with Droids, too, via Bluetooth.) It basically turns your smart phone into a land line.
Am I making sense? Probably not...I'll just let this video explain it all...


Good luck, April! You totally deserve this!

Keep In Touch With Good Call

Twitter   Facebook  Pinterest  YouTube

I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This content was created for Collective Bias™ and GoFusion but is a non-compensated post.  #CBias #SocialFabric 

An Obsession With Subscription Shopping

Until last month I had no idea what I was missing...
I had certainly heard about subscription memberships where you get a box of this or that every month for a relatively low price. It seemed kind of cool-and I totally like getting packages in the mail. But I had managed to resist up until that point.

And then this happened. Well, actually a Klout perk happened. You see, Klout was offering users a bonus item at Little Black Bag equal to the value of their Klout score. My Klout score is usually floating around in the 50s so I was guaranteed an item valued at least that in my bag. Little Black Bags are $55 by the time you figure in shipping. It seemed a little pricey so I ignored it for a while. Then I get a "last chance" email and I decided to go for it. Why not, right? I didn't have to keep it up for month after month if I didn't like it. I could get my one bag, my free item, then cancel my membership.

I took the style quiz and then decided on this BCBGeneration clutch. (I was thinking it could be a great dress bag for BlogHer parties.) Love it. It's totally adorable! It also has a suggested retail price of $78. Now I have to admit I wouldn't have paid $78 for this bag, but it is making me feel like I'm getting my money's worth.

There are a few things that make Little Black Bag different from the other subscription services. In most the entire box is either a mystery or completely known. With Little Black Bag you pick the first item and the other items are a surprise. From the time you open your bag you have 7 days to trade with everyone else for items you might want.

This owl chalkboard wall decal started life as a bottle of nail polish. I think there was a time when it was a bangle and a necklace.

The long beaded necklace from Zad was in my bag at the start. I did make a few attempts to trade it, but it actually grew on me the longer it stayed in my bag. 

And about that perk from Klout... I had a different pair of Betsey Johnson sunglasses in my bag as my Klout bonus. I traded them for this pair, which I thought would suit me better. And I've been wearing them pretty much non-stop since they arrived. Love them.

I'm really excited about Little Black Bag. I actually have my July bag open as we speak, trading away. (The trading is pretty addictive. You can ship your bag at any time but I kept my bag open the entire seven days just to see what would happen.)

So I decided fine, one splurge on a Little Black Bag a month is OK. I can swing that. Of course that was before I got my Julep Maven box this weekend. Someone told me my toes were cute today. Now I can't wait to get my next box from Julep, too! 

Please, no one tell me how awesome BirchBox and ShoeDazzle are...I'm a weak girl. I like this too much. I'm bound to give in!

I received a bonus in my first Little Black Bag thanks to a Klout Perk. The link used is my personal referral link, but I wouldn't steer you wrong...not my style! I'm also a Julep VIP Blogger, as disclosed in the linked post. 

And Then I Fell In Love With My Nails Again...

I just received my first box from Julep and I'm already in love. First of all...how cute is the packaging? I'm a sucker for cute packaging. (And bonus points for not being wasteful. The ribbon goes in my ribbon stash for a future project, the crinkle paper gets saved to use as gift basket fill, everything else gets recycled.)