Good Things/Random Wednesday!

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Source: totallyloveit.com via Belinda on Pinterest

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Source: peaceloveandwolfpack.tumblr.com via Kelsey on Pinterest

Source: janecoslick.blogspot.com via Kaylee on Pinterest

Source:

polyvore.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

Source: refinery29.com via Lindsay on Pinterest

Source: someecards.com via Cassie on Pinterest

Source: store.heliotropehome.com via Cassie on Pinterest

From top to Bottom:

1. I am going to try this hairstyle... it may take LOTS of trying but I will get it!
2. What a great reminder and perfect color combo
3. Who wouldn't want a porch swing like that?
4. Sequins.... that is all
5. Champs Lemonade ... DUH Totally making for the beach!
6. HATE when someone does that!
7. Paper Straws are awesome and these are $1.99 for 144 straws.... YES PLEASE!

Long Live Summer A Shutterfly Photo Contest

We LOVE Shutterfly in the Balch Family and have used their services A LOT! Not only do they have great prices and high quality on their prints... their holiday cards are AWESOME and their photo books are SO FUN! I have made several photo books and have them sitting on our coffee table. They are the PERFECT way to organized and show off your pictures from different events or to just collect your memories. 

I wanted to make sure you guys knew about the photo contest they have going on right now!

The details are below and if you enter and win you could win a variety of prizes! Who doesn't like a cool prize?!

Make sure you go LIKE their Facebook page to enter to win!

Long Live Summer – Facebook Photo Contest details - 7/9 – 8/12 Multi-week summer themed photo sweepstakes with instant win prizes.

Win a trip for four to The Bahamas and a professional photo shoot so you’ll remember your vacation forever. All you need to do is upload your favorite photo and caption based on the theme of the week. Get a gift from Shutterfly just for entering! You can enter at any point during the 5-week sweepstakes period.

PHOTO THEMES

• Week 1(7/9): Americana

• Week 2 (7/16): Great Outdoors

• Week 3 (7/23): Water Fun

• Week 4 (7/30): Sports & Activities

• Week 5 (8/6): Parties & Celebrations

PRIZES

• Instant win prizes just for submitting a photo!

• Weekly prizes (contestants can enter one time/week)

• Weekly featured photos: up to 5 weekly entries will be selected from the gallery and featured on the Facebook fan page and awarded a $500 gift card on Shutterfly and a copy of the new Lonely Planet travel photography book.

• Grand prize: trip for 4 to Bahamas, 4 nights, family photo shoot

• Shutterfly Sweepstakes - Official Rules

Pics Galore!

LEO

Source: charmco.com via Julia on Pinterest

Horoscope for a Hot Body!

A co-worked and I found this article on our lunch the other day and it was somewhat interesting to read. The  Leo description is pretty close to how I feel and I thought you guys might want to read it. I am not really into all of this stuff normally but when it has to do with this it is interesting to read I think.

Leo (July 23 - August 22)

Body Issues

Leo ladies are proud mamas and rarely admit to worrying about their weight… but often stress in secret. You need to be adored as much as you need oxygen. The worst affliction you can imagine is a broken heart. Your spine is sensitive, so sit in an ergonomic chair and don’t abuse yourself by wearing stilettos every day. 

Food

You expect the royal treatment when it comes to food. Fine fare, good companionship and elegant surroundings make your heart go pitter-patter. Avoid overly spicy foods and red meat – they can give you heartburn. Green leafy veggies like kale and spinach give your body the iron it craves. 

Exercise

You love being bathed in the light of the sun. Getting outside as close to sunrise as possible soothes your soul and shapes your body. Running, power-walking or biking are perfect early-morning Leo activities. Yoga on an outdoor deck relieves a painful spine. Just make sure to wear adequate SPF.

Erin Condren Love

Yesterday a BRIGHT delightful package came in the mail for me and one of my co-workers!

It is like CHRISTMAS!

LOVE the colors!

MAKE EVERY DAY A HAPPY DAY!

Please Spread The Word

Source: crushculdesac.tumblr.com via Michelle on Pinterest

I wanted to ask you guys to consider helping out a family who's adopted son is in Channing's CCDC class. They unexpectedly but excitedly found out that they are being given his bio sister this coming Monday. They found out July 9th and have about a week to try and prepare for this sweet baby girl.

She is 13 months old and his mom asked if I had anything they could use and if I knew of anyone who might have some stuff. Clothing is major because they have all little boy stuff right now for her older brother. Anything from 12 months and up would be a GREAT help to them. 

If you are interested in helping please e-mail me and we can figure out a way to get it to them. I work in Dallas so if you are close we could try and meet but if you are so inclined to help and are out of town and want to send something I can get you an address.

Thank you for even considering helping this sweet family. 

T T In The Potty

Source: smallfriendly.com via Alivia on Pinterest

OK I am NOT bragging and I am by NO MEANS an expert but I thought I would at least let you guys know how our potty training has been going. I guess I should also preface this with... we did NOT push it and we did not use any specific method and it seems to be working for us... but every family and every kiddo is different. 

At Christmas Channing asked her FunCole (my brother & her uncle) for a big girl potty. At Christmas she was about 18 months old and had shown interest in the whole potty experience but had not yet gone on the actual potty. It at that time was all about questions... 'what you doing, you going TT, go potty'? etc etc etc. Christmas day she did use it and every few days she continued to use is and then seemed to loose interest here and there. Then a couple of months ago she started going every night before her bath. She continued going in her bath too... then she started telling me when she was about to go TT in her bath. I realized this was a good thing because it meant that she was figuring out what it felt like when she needed to go. Then a few weeks later she started telling me she wanted to get out of her bath to go on her potty! Making progress people making progress!!!

Then on the weekends the requests to go TT in the potty started increasing and then during the evenings at home during the week. Then last Tuesday evening she started telling me A LOT when and if she needed to go. The 4th of July we were going to the lake and I thought for sure she would just go in her diaper all day knowing there would be a lot going on. Well she surprised us all by requesting to use the potty ALL day with no wetting her diaper.... even during her nap. So Thursday morning she wanted to go FIRST THING when she woke up and continued all morning with some training pants on. So, I decided to take her to Target and let her pick out BIG GIRL PANTIES and test our luck. This was hard for me in a couple of ways. One, it is one of the last 'baby' things to go and that makes me sad (dont get me wrong I am not sad about dirty diapers being gone and the expense being gone but you get my point). The 2nd reason was because I had a sneaky feeling she would choose a 'character' ie Minnie Mouse (the winner) or Dora or something else. If you know me I am not a huge fan of character stuff but I have learned that sometimes letting it go is way worth it! I also said I didn't like CRAZY kid toys before I had Channing.... oh my how the times have changed... eating my words now :) .

She only had maybe 3 accidents since last Tuesday and has done SO well. Yesterday was her first day back at CCDC since last Tuesday and it was rough. We all think she was very nervous about going on the 'new' potty's at school and having her teachers take her instead of it just being me. BUT, today has been so much better. She has still wanted to go on the potty and I don't think she has had any accidents. 

So I guess the thing that seemed to work/be working for us is kind of letting her decide when she was ready and giving her all the tools and knowledge we could about the whole thing. This was one thing as a first time parent I just couldn't figure out and kept wondering how in the world I would potty train her. It stressed me out a little but in the end this was all VERY stress free for us as a whole family!

I will say for a while when she would go I would give her a fruit snack or oreo... but girlfriend has a SWEET tooth and she didn't want to go potty she just wanted the 'treat' and then would ask ALL THE TIME for candy or a cookie haha.... rewards weren't working for us so I just decided to stop that. She is also obsessed with chapstick and I thought that might work as a reward but she gets too CRAZY over 'LIPS' as she calls it and often eats a good bit of it... so I decided not to go there either haha. Just waiting it out worked for us just fine. 

If you are not a mom I am sorry if this is TOTALLY boring to you... If you are I hope that this helps a bit. We are still feeling out what works as far as panties or pull-ups because of number 2 situations... but I am not worrying about it. It will all work out in time. I keep telling people she basically potty trained herself... I guess she kind of did... Thanks sweet girl!

Swell Caroline

I wanted to share one of the cutest online shops with you guys!

Swell Caroline

You have probably seen their darling jewelry pinned on Pinterest! I finally made my first purchase there and cannot wait to get it in the mail! I just think ALL of their stuff is SO cute. And it ALL looks so chic and classy!

 

I mean look at their AMAZING monogrammed charm on this chunky necklace.... TO DIE FOR!

 

 

 

And the cutest EVER monogram stud earrings! Preppy chic in every sense of the word! I just LOVE them!

And they have more than JUST monogrammed stuff.... Check out these amazing earrings only $25!

 

I keep seeing these BIG chunky chain link necklaces everywhere and they have the cutest ones and very affordable too!

 

They also have the acrylic jewelry as well that we keep seeing everywhere.... The color options are endless!

I have to say my FAVE is the HUGE monogram necklace! LOVE IT!

I love them SO much that I was chosen as a Swell Ambassador! I would love for you guys to go check them out and keep them in mind for your next jewelry purchase or gift purchases!

You can click on any picture or link in this blog to head on over to their website or you could always click on their button on my blog to be taken directly to their site! Have fun browsing.... I am betting that you will certainly want to buy something.... ENJOY!

If you guys sign up for an account with them or decide to order something PLEASE use this code 77385 when signing up or checking out so they know that I referred you! Happy Monday!

High Wired

 

I wanted to introduce you guys to a REALLY cute Etsy  shop 

HIGH WIRED CUSTOM TEES !

The owner of the shop is the cutest TWIN mom and you would never know she had twins. This girl is totally into fitness and healthy eating. You guys should see some of the AWESOME recipes she posts on Instagram!

 

If you are into working out aren't you always on the lookout for CUTE new work out gear? 

I think her tanks are SO cute and I thought that you guys would love them too! Not only are they affordable but they are cute and can totally be customized to what you want them to say! I am thinking... 'Act like a lady... Run like a BOSS' ! 

 

Please take the time to go check out her shop on Etsy.... I am all about SAHM's doing something to make some extra dough while taking care of their kiddos full time! Let me tell ya that is a demanding job for sure!!