Some Things & #backthatazzup

Friday, 21 June 2013

Yesterday I finally took the plunge and got my hairz did. It's been a hot minute since these roots have gotten to bathe in bleach which means I'm feeling like a new woman today.

Exhibit A:

Dress: Sugar Love Boutique (most comfortable and flattering dress ever, PS)

If only the humidity in Florida right now wasn't making it nearly impossible for me to actually leave my hair down. I ended up resembling Diana Ross after this morning's walk with the dogs. Cute.

I managed to avoid purchasing any magical hair washing unicorns and I managed to not avoid taking down 3 glasses of wine. Unfortunately I had a serious first world problem yesterday when I went to the gas station to pick up my norm hair appointment essentials, aka Chardonnay, and the damn place didn't have any Chardonnay. DAFUQ? I had to settle with Pinot Grigio which, if I'm being totally honest here, wasn't so bad.


In other news, Kimye named their kid North and I'm just beside myself. Do I laugh it off and give them props for their witty sense of humor or feel horribly bad for this kid who will forever be known by a direction on a compass? I just don't know. Here's to hoping the kid has a better cry face than her mama...

Yikes.


Oh and if you live under a rock, I suppose you are unaware that Vine was put to rest yesterday when Instagram released the update of their app which now has a video option. Yep, sucks to be the dude sitting high and proud over in the Vine offices, thinking he's got it made. Might wanna bust out the Ramen, pal.

And now it's time for #backthatazzup... AKA arguably the best day of the week. Not that I'm biased or anything.

This week's song is brought to you by my homegirl Miley. I don't really want to chat about the music video that was released to this song... aside from saying that I want the shades she's wearing in it. Other than that, let's just not discuss. She's still my bestie, duh.

Gimme demz!

It's #backthatazzup Friday!

The purpose: To start our weekend with some fantastic jams.

The station that inspired it: "Back That Azz Up" on Pandora Radio.

The rules: Link your jams up and have a jam sesh with all of us!

Happy Friday!
Grab a button, pick your jam, link up and let's get this weekend started off on the right foot!

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Rehearsal and Performance

Thursday, 20 June 2013

I am so proud of Kayla. So proud of her during rehearsals and during the Snow White play - wardrobe malfunction and all.

I had no idea what to expect out of this whole experience. I had no idea what to expect from Kayla. Rehearsing for a play was new for both of us. It was a whirlwind week ... but so fun!

Rehearsals on Tue and Wed were 2 hrs. Rehearsal on Thur was 4 hrs with 1/2 hr snack break. On Fri they were there for 4 hrs with a 1/2 snack break and then immediately performed the play. They were there from 2:30 until 7:45: whew!

I was the only parent who stayed for the rehearsals. Everyone else dropped their kids off and left. Yes, I can be a bit of a 'helicopter mom' at times. As I said, we've never done this before so I didn't know what to expect from Kayla.This was a new environment and new adults and kids that she would be with. Several questions went through my mind.

Would she listen and pay attention?
Would she follow directions?
Would she be impulsive and run around instead of sitting still?
Would she focus?
Would she talk and disrupt?
What would she do during the times her group wasn't actively involved in rehearsals (when they weren't on stage).
Would she get bored and decide to wander off?

I have to say - she blew my fears out of the water.

Not to say that my fears weren't valid. Case in point: This week she is at Vacation Bible School. On the 2nd day she told me she ran away and they chased her. Yes, one of the adults confirmed her story. Another volunteer took her to the bathroom and then she bolted. Ran for the steps and went up the balcony in the sanctuary and hid. Testing boundaries? I have no idea; she's not usually such a runner anymore.

So I stayed throughout most of the rehearsals to keep an eye on her and intercede if I needed to. Which I didn't. The 2nd day I went out of the gym where they were rehearsing and sat in the lounge area. She only opened the door once with Kelly running after her telling her that her mother was sitting right out there. Kayla only wanted her water though; she didn't realize I had left her bottle inside.

During their 4-hr rehearsal on the third day I waited until after they had their snack break before I went to get myself something to eat. She had been doing so well sitting in the theater all that time. Most of the time it wasn't her group's turn to rehearse so they had to sit in the theater chairs quietly watching ... and waiting ... and waiting. She did so great. She stayed in her seat. She was quiet. She was captivated by the acting going on on the stage.

Just one little snag when I left to get something to eat and came back to find her still sitting in the seat when her group was on stage rehearsing. When I asked why she wasn't up there I was told because she wanted to be on stage sitting next to Snow White. Sigh ...

She re-enacted scenes at home. She quoted other characters' lines. Seriously, I was surprised when we were driving home and, unprompted, she said the turtle's line, "What's the hurry? Wait for me?" (Pause) and then continued on, "Slow and steady wins the race." And she remembered every word.

She learned her cues, and hand motions, and the group song.

During the performance she had a wardrobe malfunction. The frog foot came off her shoe. I was so proud of her for staying in character and continuing on with the scene instead of getting up and going to find someone to fix it (which I can imagine her doing). She didn't yell out that the foot came off, she didn't yell out that she needed help. She just held it up so we could see that it came off.

And I admit it took every bit of this 'helicopter mom' to keep my butt in my seat! Because I wanted to help. I wanted to quietly walk up to the front of that stage and fix the foot for her...because I wanted to make sure she stayed seated. We hadn't talked about what to do in a situation like that. But somehow, she just knew. She knew to remain seated with her cast mates.

She took off the huge frog gloves and attempted to fix it herself. It came off again, the second time she was on stage. Thankfully, the last time she was on stage she was without the frog feet so they wouldn't have to distract her anymore.

Here is Kayla's first acting gig:

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

And with a clearer picture, here she is during the group song. She doesn't take after me as I would lip-synch! She's a bit off in her timing, but she did it. And if you listen closely you can hear Kayla's voice singing. Singing along like everyone else. So proud of her.

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

I have a feeling there will be more plays in her future!

 

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My Bloglovin Conspiracy Theory

So, unless you aren't an avid blogger and/or blog reader, or if you live under a rock, you may not have heard that Google Reader is getting the boot from the interwebz.

What is Google Reader? The hell if I know but as soon as this shit surfaced everyone and their mom was shoving their Bloglovin link down everyone's throats, proclaiming it is the only way to really stay connected with said blog.

And then my GFC number started dropping (gasp) and shit got real.

Well, here's the deal. I'm convinced this whole thing is a total conspiracy.
My theory? Someone behind Bloglovin is responsible for Google Reader's demise because never in my blogging life have I seen so many people harp on something so much. The tweets, the Facebook spam, the posts. People have lost their shit over this and are convinced that GFC is now going away. Which it's not, by the way. So really, it's just this thing that most of us never utilized to begin with that is making everyone all nuts.

Just look, if you go to Bloglovin right now there's a big old, bright blue notification to get everyone to switch their readers over...

Way to go, Bloglovin. Someone, somewhere, paid someone off to bring Google Reader to dust, I just know it. Solid scheme you've got going on here, Bloglovin, but I'm on to you. Can't get much passed this girl, no you can not.


Here's the thing, I've never used any type of reader to read blogs. Ever.
Sorry if that bursts a few bubbles but it's the truth. My current "unread" count on Bloglovin is over 2,000, if we're being honest here. I just can't get in to using a reader, and I've tried, I really have but that's just not my style, I suppose.

The truth of it is, some days I only get around to reading a handful of blogs and those are the blogs that stand out in my head not on a reader. They're the blogs that stay fresh in my head because the content draws me to them. I want to type their link in my browser and read what they've written for the day.

And because I'm a visual learner and like a good example, let me take a moment to explain to you how Whitney Reader works...

Exhibit A: This Chick

Can't even get enough of her. If I only read 5 blogs in one day, her's has to be one of them because I know I'm going to be entertained. It was only recently that I really got addicted to her blog but I'm hooked harder than a fish on a line now and I can't get enough. So much so that I actually sat down and went through about 50 of her old posts the other day just because her content is so. spot. on.

I'm pretty sure I found Sarah somewhere on the Twitz, probably being retweeted for one of her brilliant posts. Either way, Whitney Reader finds a lot of new blogging obsessions through Twitter. 

The other way Whitney Reader works is by having a blog roll on my sidebar...

Exhibit B:

When I find blogs that I get hooked on, I add them to my blog roll to remind me to visit them. It works for me and makes me feel organized on days when I've got time to do a lot of reading. Plus, it's fun to show love to some of my favorites! I've found so many kick ass blogs from other people's blog rolls so I like to think that maybe some of my new readers will get click happy and click on over to some of my buds.

If you know me at all, you know how important I think blog rolls can be. I feel like they're kind of like a you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours kind of thing... funny thing about my back... Jay kay. Really though, when I see my blog on someone else's blog roll, it absolutely makes my day. And I realize that sentence probably makes me sound like a real loser but it is what it is.

Do I follow people on GFC and Bloglovin? Of course and I'll never stop. I will always show my support for bloggers I love and obviously I am forever appreciative for those who add me to their readers as well. As much as we all say "oh, it's just a number", I think we all know it's nice to see that number rise and so I will never stop showing my support in that fashion. Yaheard?

Anywhoodles, that's my Bloglovin conspiracy theory and also the Whitney Reader explanation. You know, because I know all of you were curious. Or something.

I think I'm done rambling for the day.
Over and out.

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Skyrockets in Flight (woooh)

Wednesday, 19 June 2013

Can we talk about the Fourth of July for a second?

Yes yes, I know it's the day of independence and I'm absolutely thankful for the freedom I have being an American, but with that awesome freedom comes some pretty great times. 

Fourth of July might just be one of my very favorite holidays, mainly because of the memories I have to relate to it. My first few years out of high school, the fourth was a time when I got to see all of my friends who had moved away to college. We'd all come back in town, pack up our cars, and head to the beach to witness one of the most epic fireworks shows put on by one of our friends whose dad was in demolition.

These shows always got a little tricky because the boys would be the ones lighting the whatever-it-is-you-light to make the fireworks go BOOM and they always lit them with cigars. Safe, I know. Well, one year, one of the morons guys put the whatever-it-is-you-light in the tube upside down and it almost took out the whole crowd. You've never seen a group of barely 20 year old's run so fast in your life until you've seen a firework ignite and rocket right at them as they're casually chilling on a sea wall.  

Keep in mind, these fireworks are highly illegal for personal use here in the sunshine state and, well, it was also quite the adventure when the beach patrol would come chasing after the boys to confiscate said illegal fireworks. I hang with many law abiding citizens, clearly. Pretty sure we already knew that though.

Fun fact: I once chipped a tooth on a beer bottle one of those summers on Fourth of July. Sand + clumsy and partially drunk Whit + glass beer bottle = bad combination. For the record. Luckily I didn't eff up my tooth too bad and I'm still hanging with the evidence, which is a little chip on the back of one of my top teeth. 

Ooops.

Awesomely festive tank via The Shine Project

Fourth of July is also one of my favorites because there's usually hot dogs on the grill, cold beer in the coolers, and lifelong friends all continuing to add memories to our never ending mental scrapbooks. That combination alone is truly one of my absolute favorites and one of the reasons I always look forward to this holiday.

Getting a day or two off of work isn't so bad either... 

And don't give me the hot dog schpeal, it'll never change my pure adoration for said concoction. 

This year? Well, this year I'm hoping to continue some of my most favorite traditions... sans chipping any teeth or taking cover from angry fireworks that haven't been properly lit. 

Hot dogs on the grill, ice cold brews, great company and memories I'll never forget. 

Dammit, I love 'Merricaaa and I love celebrating it.

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Blog Advice Giveaway!

Tuesday, 18 June 2013

Heyyooo. Today I've got something really friggen cool for those of you who do blog and it's actually being brought to you by my genius bestie, Erin.

You all know I'm not exactly the biggest fan of huge giveaways and I rarely participate in them but I couldn't pass this one up, and not because it's my bestie's idea, but because it's actually an amazing opportunity for bloggers!

Have you been looking for blog advice but don't know where exactly you should be looking?

Are you a brand new blogger just starting out and find yourself needing some guidance?

Has blogging been a part of your life for a while but you'd like a little help in where to turn to next?

Do you simply just want to grow your blog?

Well then you've come to the right place my friend because this giveaway has your name written all over it!

Erin rounded up a group of ladies who have been around the ballpark a time or two when it comes to blogging in order to put this one of a kind giveaway together. We all have some tips, tricks, advice, and guidance that we'd love to shell out in order to help you grow into the best blogger you can be. Whether this be through a Skype session, a back and forth email exchange, a blog critique, a Q&A session, a phone call, a personal jet to pick you up for a private meeting, etc - we're covering all the bases.

All you need to do to enter is check out the participating bloggers, see what awesome package they're offering as a prize, and get to entering the Rafflecopter. And the best part about this giveaway?

THERE WILL BE FIVE WINNERS!

Each randomly selected winner will be paired up with three of the participating bloggers as well as with Erin.

Therefore each winner will receive four separate blog advice prizes! We're splitting up the prizes so that one winner isn't bombarded with sixteen different sets of opinions and sixteen different sets of ideas on advice. Because that might get a little chaotic and like they say..."nobody got time for that".

Are you excited? We hope so because we certainly are! Let's get this thing started shall we?

Without further adieu, here are the sixteen ladies who have teamed up to put together the "Blog Advice Giveaway".

Erin at Two Thirds Hazel

What you'll win: Each of the five winners will be able to email Erin at any point until the end of eternity (like farther than to infinity and beyond) to ask questions and seek advice.

Brandi at Mama Laughlin

Brandi is offering a phone call or email where you will receive tips from her

on how to grow your blog using the social media form of Pinterest.

You will receive a back and forth Q&A session with Ashley via email 

providing you with the answers you've been looking for on anything blog related.

Mandy at House of Rose

Your blog will be reviewed by Mandy (and her husband!) via recorded screen capture video 

and then they will offer tips on how you can improve. 

Check out an example of this one of a kind opportunity here.

Erin at Living In Yellow

Erin is offering a one hour blogging consultation (done via video chat or phone call)

which will provide you with Q&A, tips and advice.

Whitney at I Wore Yoga Pants

Whitney will provide you with a back and forth Q&A session

giving you the answers you've been looking for on anything blog related.

"Prefer the phone? Let's chat! What about a fun Skype session? Sure! 

Or a good ole email is fine by me too! 

Sky is the limit. Well, I guess in this case-technology is. 

I will take a thorough look at your blog and do my best to answer any questions!"

Raven at Don't Quote the Raven

You will receive a Q&A session via email. 

Anything you ask, Raven will answer...in detail!

Aunie at Aunie Sauce

You will receive a Q&A email session with advice catered to your blog

providing you with a ton of advice and numerous tips to help you grow.

Taylor will visit and review your blog, providing you with an email containing

advice customary to you and your blog.

Stephanie at Beautiful Mess

Receive a three-post editing session:

Pick three of your upcoming blog posts. Send your drafts to Stephanie for her to proofread, 

edit and make suggestions as to how you can easily make your writing more personable, 

appealing, humorous and overall, just more fun to read!

Shanna at Because Shanna Said So

Shanna will answer your top five questions whether this be anything from 

sponsorships, social media, tips to grow and/or how to monetize your blog.

Niki at Glossy Blonde

Two weeks of email consulting during which Niki will answer any questions 

you have about blogging and/or building your brand.

Chelsea at Olive and Ivy

An email with personalized advice and tips catered directly to your blog, 

or a Skype session, or a back and forth Q&A session, etc. Whichever you prefer! 

If you are unsure of what to ask a blog critique can also be given.

Jessica at Jessica Who

 With Jessica you will receive a Q&A session via unlimited emails.

Yes, you read that right...unlimited!

Michelle at The Vintage Apple

You will receive a back and forth Q&A session with Michelle via email 

providing you with the answers you've been looking for on anything blog related 

so that you have the knowledge and tools to grow.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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