My Happiness Project - February - Remember Love - COMPLETE!

Thursday, February 28, 2013


photo by schablonivia PhotoRee

My Happiness Project for the month of February was to Remember Love. Since I'm single, I made this about my friends, family, and myself.
Here were my goals and here's what I did with achieving them. 

1. Not complain or act irritated with anyone. Staying positive, which I mastered in January, has really helped with this.   No matter what frustrating things my friends might have been doing in their lives, I stayed as a support system for them and remained very understanding.  After all, that's how I would want them to be for me. 


2.  Show others I love them.
I randomly told my friends why I love them and thanked them for being such a good friend.  For Valentine's Day, I spent a night out with my one best friend, and went to dinner with the other.  They truly appreciated it.  Also, for Valentine's Day I sent my grandmother flowers and a card, and my mom, dad, and brother individual cards that came in the mail for them to open!


3. Give compliments.
I made sure to always give compliments to coworkers and friends, whether it is about their hair, outfit, or just something they did in life that's a great accomplishment. 

All in all, I think I brightened a lot of people's days and it definitely helped me keep up with my positive attitude goal!


Check back tomorrow for March's Happiness Project which is to Aim Higher!  

A Dainty Chic Bracelet


The Christy Love Bracelet from Wickedly Mod is beautiful and chic! You can have it engraved with whatever you want and even pick out the charm and the colored beads for this bracelet.  Perfect gift for someone or even for yourself! 

Why Threesome Friendships are ALWAYS Uneven

Tuesday, February 26, 2013


photo by itzpapalotlvia PhotoRee

Okay, maybe I should have said ALMOST always uneven in the title, but still, it seems like in almost every situation, a threesome friendship is uneven.  A threesome friendship is where 3 girls are inseparable.  They are somewhat rare these days, because like I said, there are a lot of complications.

Here are some reasons why they don't work out:

1.  Two of the Three have been friends Longer - This is where loyalty may come into play and if things ever go sour, the two friends that have known each other the longest might have each other's back moreso than the third friend.  Also, the two that know each other the best usually stick together more so in any situation. 

2.  Gossip within the Group - It always ends up that once girls start gossiping about each other, secrets begin and perhaps friend 1 will tell friend 2 what friend 3 said about her.

3.  3 is an odd number.  It's hard for 3 people to fit into situations where it's only meant for 2 people, whether it be partnering up at a fitness class, or seating on a bus for a trip to New York, it's just easier for jealousy to be avoided when a situation is geared more towards 3 people, or there's only 2 people in the group. 

How you can avoid these situations:
1.  Diversify your selection of friends - Look for friends from different places in your life, like a gym friend, a friend at work, a friend in your neighborhood or apartment complex, etc.  This way you always have friends everywhere you go and they are all separate from each other.

2.  Don't Gossip - Just don't gossip about either friend to the other one and you'll never have to worry about being dragged into drama!

Have you ever been in a threesome friendship that ended with complications?

Like Peppers and Hot Sauce? Check out Pex Peppers!


If you are a fan of hot sauce, peppers, and anything spicey, you NEED to check out my friend's page who makes the best hot sauce ever! This blog is actually sponsored by Pex Peppers so show them love! Everyone who has tried Pex Peppers is now a huge fan and raves about these sauces!

Pictured above is HornetBOMB which will cost you $9 and contains Habaneros, Vinegar, Buckwheat Honey, and Lime Juice. You can spice up any food with it with as much or as little as you would like!

And if you like something that is not only hot but also tangy and sweet, check out Flamin' Danger!

Show my friend some love by checkin out his page and purchasing some hot sauce. It makes a great gift!

Taos Footwear Review & *Giveaway* Ends 3/1

Friday, February 22, 2013

Taos Footwear is a brand that stands behind the idea (quite literally) that women shouldn't have to sacrifice comfort OR style when it comes to footwear.   That's why they offer a large selection of boots, shoes, and sandals that are not only comfortable for your feet, but very stylish. 






I received the Trophy Sandal from Taos Footwear.  It's made of full grain leather and has such a comfortable footbed.  I couldn't even feel that I was walking or standing in them.  Aside from being comfortable and flexible, these sandals look amazing with a variety of outfits and colors and are going to be my main summer sandal this year!

One winner will receive the Trophy sandal from Taos Footwear!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Pawbox Review

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Pawbox is a great way to keep you and your pet's life exciting with new toys and samples each month, all delivered in an adorable box.  For $10 a month you can get a handful of goodies and samples as well as coupons for the future!





Inside my February's Pawbox was:
Natural Balance Dog Food Roll:   It's great for giving your dog a healthy coat and great skin.  They are great to cut up for training treats and excellant for travelling, when you can reward your pooch for good behavior.  My pups thoroughly enjoyed this little treat!

Feelgood Treats:  They are crunchy and small and great for training or just a treat here and there each day.  Made from all natural organic ingredients, ythey are wheat, gluten, and preservative free so they won't give your dog any skin or coat problems.

Silver Lining Supplement: No need to worry about allergies with this stuff because it helps keep your dog's skin and coat gorgeous and it's very easy for them to consume.  Mine barely even noticed.

I Love My Dog Heart Magnet:  I brought this to work and hung it on my cabinet so everyone can see how crazy I am over my dogs!

Toy of the month: An adorable Cheetah Print Plush Bone with a squeaker in it.  This is Pixie's new favorite toy!

Oh and Grace protected this box with such honor!

Airing Your Relationship Drama on Social Media

Recently,  I discussed with some people the whole idea of if it's okay or totally wrong to post your relationship drama on Facebook and Twitter.  
Basically - the answer is no.  No matter how you look at it. 
And I broke it down into these easy reasons why:


photo by lumaxartvia PhotoRee

1. No one wants to hear it!
If you want someone to know, send them a text or call them.  Gush to your girlfriend, but don't post it for everyone to see.  It just brings bad energy to your timeline and it looks like a cry for help, whether you mean it that way or not.

2.  It drags other people into the drama.
So your man's cousin is on your Facebook...and he blabs to his mom, who calls your boyfriend's mom and now all of a sudden it's a family affair.  This leaves you AND your man embarassed and this is a lesson that can easily be learned by reading this blog post, and NEVER doing it!!

3.  It adds fuel to the fire.
Not only will you now have to resolve your relationship drama, but now you'll have to hope your man can calm down enough to forgive you for airing your dirty laundry! 


HOW TO STOP YOURSELF:
Think ahead
Ask yourself what good can come out of you doing this?  Is it going to make you feel THAT MUCH better in the long run? Probably not.  And how would you feel if he did it to you?

Take 3 deep breathes before hitting submit.
Sure, type that status up, but before you hit submit..... Read it, and then take 3 deep breathes... then click the X and immediately close your browser. 

*Giveaway* 2 Tickets to Pawsabilities March 9 & 10 - Ends 3/3




Let's be honest - you all know how crazy I am about my doggies, so obviously I jump at any opportunity to attend a dog-related event.  Well, every year for the past 5 years I've attended PawsAbilities which benefits the Susquehanna Service Dogs!

At Pawsabilities you will find vendors with healthy baked goods for your pooch as well as clothing and toys, Doggie Olympics, a treat baking contest, a pet parade, and much more!  It's so fun even if you don't participate in the games.  

This year PawsAbilities is on March 9th & 10th from 9am - 4pm at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg.

To purchase tickets visit http://www.keystonehumanservices.org/ecomm/store.php?crn=224
OR
Enter to win 2 free tickets to Pawsabilities (It's super easy!!!)




Here's How to Enter:

1. Like Susquehanna Service Dogs on Facebook here.
2. Leave a comment on this post with your name and email address.


Bonus Entries: (must complete the main entry first)
Leave a comment for each bonus entry you complete
1. Follow Susquehanna Service Dogs on Twitter here.

2. Tweet "I want to win 2 free tickets to Pawsabilities from @SSDogs and @Ellen_ross1 http://ow.ly/hEvht"
3. Post a link to this giveaway on Facebook
 
The giveaway will end on Sunday, March 3rd 11:59 pm EST a winner will be chosen via Random.org.  I will announce a winner on Thursday.

Week 3 on Nutrisystem

Tuesday, February 19, 2013


Well, it's been 2 weeks now since I started Nutrisystem and I must say I am quite pleased with the results! My body seems to be very used to the food and also my new eating habits of healthy snacks throughout the day.  There was not one day this past week that I was starving.  In fact there were times I had to remember to eat a snack!

I am loving my daily planner and being able to fill out my food log online.  It's fun to see the calorie intake and I'm proud to say that I haven't been cheating! 
Well, it was my first week on Nutrisystem and it was definitely an adjustment for me. I must say I thoroughly enjoy the Daily Planner they sent me, which lets me log everything I eat and help gives me a guideline what to eat and when. 

I've been exercising 5-6 days out of the week and I have curbed my late night snacking.  As I said in last week's post, my day usually goes like this:
-Nutrisystem Breakfast
-Nutrisystem Protein Shake (Chocolate is my favorite!)
-PowerFuel as a snack - Almonds

-Nutrisystem Lunch
-PowerFuel - usually string cheese

-SmartCarb afternoon snack - Banana or clementines

-Nutrisystem Dinner
-SmartCarb- whole weat roll

-Nutrisystem Dessert

The frozen desserts are so amazing.  I was thrilled to be able to eat a Red Velvet Whoopie Pie as a dessert.  Even though it was a small portion, it was still filling and very satisfying.  My favorite dinner is still Ravioli and having a roll with it helps fill me up.
I've mastered the challenge of drinking 64 oz. of water each day.  My body has adjusted so I'm not in the bathroom every 20 minutes!

Grocery shopping for healthy snacks is a breeze and I love my options from their easy to print grocery guide!

Since starting Nutrisystem I lost 5 pounds!! That means 2.5 pounds a week.  I am so excited and so proud of myself!!

On to week 3!




Want to lose weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem? Join today by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visiting http://www.nutrisystem.com/nsblog.

Disclosure: Nutrisystem has provided me with their program free of charge for participating in the Nutrisystem Nation Blogging Program. There is no other monetary compensation and  all opinions are my own.

Bootights Review & *Giveaway* Ends 2/22

Friday, February 15, 2013


Bootights are a genius idea!! They are an all-in-one combining socks and tights, made especially for boots.  now you can wear a cute pair of tights underneath a skirt or dress, and you can keep your feet comfortable with the socks on the end of Bootights.  The waistband won't roll or give you an awkward look and you can even select whether you have an ankle or midcalf sock.  The control top of the tights is very beneficial and comfortable.


I received a pair of Bootights and let me tell you it's my new excuse to wear long skirts in the cold weather.  The sock part was so comfortable and had great arch support and I really liked that the socks didn't snag on anything. I love all the different patterns that Bootights come in and the fact that you can take off your boots and not be embarassed of what's on underneath. 

One reader will win a pair of Bootights of their own!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

PetCakes - A Great Way to Treat Your Pet

Thursday, February 14, 2013

PetCakes are an amazing way to spoil your pet and show them how much they mean to you. No need to worry about buying junky treats from the pet store, because PetCakes are made from organic ingredients and are easy to bake. It's basically a cake mix that is corn,wheat, soy, and preservative free so it won't irritate your dog or cat's fur or skin.  All the ingredients in their mixes are made from human grade ingredients, which is more than I can say for a lot of pet food companies.



The pups ate it before I could take a picture
I received A Pet pan in the shape of a bone, and also Carob & Pizza flavored mixes as well as a Cheese Nip Flavor for cats.  The best part is, I just had to use a microwave to make this!! It was super easy to follow the directions and mix everything together.  It took only 2.5 minutes to cook and I was so amazed at how it looked when it was done!

This is a great idea for cakes for your pet's birthdays or other special events! 


Also, PetCakes is running a Youtube video contest from January 24-March 24 where you can submit a video and win a year's supply of PetCakes if you have the most views!! You can find more information here!

Week 2 on Nutrisystem


Well, it's been 2 weeks now since I started Nutrisystem and I must say I am quite pleased with the results! My body seems to be very used to the food and also my new eating habits of healthy snacks throughout the day.  There was not one day this past week that I was starving.  In fact there were times I had to remember to eat a snack!

I am loving my daily planner and being able to fill out my food log online.  It's fun to see the calorie intake and I'm proud to say that I haven't been cheating! 
Well, it was my first week on Nutrisystem and it was definitely an adjustment for me. I must say I thoroughly enjoy the Daily Planner they sent me, which lets me log everything I eat and help gives me a guideline what to eat and when. 

I've been exercising 5-6 days out of the week and I have curbed my late night snacking.  As I said in last week's post, my day usually goes like this:
-Nutrisystem Breakfast
-Nutrisystem Protein Shake (Chocolate is my favorite!)
-PowerFuel as a snack - Almonds

-Nutrisystem Lunch
-PowerFuel - usually string cheese

-SmartCarb afternoon snack - Banana or clementines

-Nutrisystem Dinner
-SmartCarb- whole weat roll

-Nutrisystem Dessert

The frozen desserts are so amazing.  I was thrilled to be able to eat a Red Velvet Whoopie Pie as a dessert.  Even though it was a small portion, it was still filling and very satisfying.  My favorite dinner is still Ravioli and having a roll with it helps fill me up.
I've mastered the challenge of drinking 64 oz. of water each day.  My body has adjusted so I'm not in the bathroom every 20 minutes!

Grocery shopping for healthy snacks is a breeze and I love my options from their easy to print grocery guide!

Since starting Nutrisystem I lost 5 pounds!! That means 2.5 pounds a week.  I am so excited and so proud of myself!!

On to week 3!




Want to lose weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem? Join today by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visiting http://www.nutrisystem.com/nsblog.

Disclosure: Nutrisystem has provided me with their program free of charge for participating in the Nutrisystem Nation Blogging Program. There is no other monetary compensation and  all opinions are my own.

Ask Away in the Press this week!

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

In case you have missed me posting these links on Facebook and Twitter, Ask Away has been on a local news station and in two guest posts for two different organizations this week.
Check out my input on some tips for Valentine's Day for guys (There's video):


Also,
Check out my guest post on the Susquehanna Service Dog's Blog here:
http://susquehannaservicedogs.blogspot.com/2013/02/join-fun-at-pawsabilities.html
And stay tuned for a giveaway for tickets to PawsAbilities!

And finally, here is a great article about dealing with issues in the workplace, posted over at YAFCA.
http://yafca.org/effectively-dealing-with-issues-in-the-workplace/

Why It’s Okay to Talk to Several People at a Time

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

First of all, let me clear up what the title of this blog post means.  I am not teling you to start dating multiple people at a time, or sleeping with more than one person at a time.  I am simply saying that when it comes to this generations favorite way of communication – Texting/calling/Facebooking – it’s okay to casually “talk to” multiple guys.   

photo by Ella (green is beautiful?)via PhotoRee

Obviously, this is my opinion but all too often I’ve noticed friends of mine talking to a guy, and they become so focused on him that they make excuses for everything he does, because in their mind, how are they supposed to know that there are better things out there or that it’s possible for people to treat them better? 

Scenario 1: Say the first guy greets you every morning with a Good Morning text…. Seems like he may be genuinely interested in you……the second guy barely makes an attempt to chat with you at all and you have to be the one to initiate the convos.
Benefit – This should make you come to the realization that: If person one enjoys talking to you so much that he willingly contacts you on a regular basis, what is person two’s excuse?  Granted, not every situation will hold true to this, but sometimes when you have a selection of 5 people you regularly talk to, it’s easy to see who the slackers are.

 Scenario 2:The first guy can hold conversations with you about interesting things or current events and he actually asks you how you are doing or how your day was, and then when you respond, he keeps the conversation going.  The second guy does simple small talk but doesn’t seem concerned about your bad day at work, and only holds a conversation when he can make flirty/sexual references to you.
Benefit – You deserve a guy that is respectful to you and genuinely interested in you, not one that is flaky, and only wants to talk dirty to you.  

Scenario 3:The first guy ends up asking you if you want to get together for dinner sometime while the second guy never even brings up hanging out and you have to initiate the idea of it. 
 Benefit – You ARE good enough to warrant someone asking you to hangout so why aren’t they?


These are just a few reasons, and I hope you get what I mean !:) 

Week 1 on Nutrisystem #NSNation

Friday, February 8, 2013


Well, it was my first week on Nutrisystem and it was definitely an adjustment for me. I must say I thoroughly enjoy the Daily Planner they sent me, which lets me log everything I eat and help gives me a guideline what to eat and when. 

The main thing I've learned so far is that it's okay to snack throughout the day as long as it's healthy.  There are SmartCarbs, PowerFuel, and Vegetables that I can choose from and so far I have been doing a great job trying several different healthy snacks. 

My day usually goes like this:
-Nutrisystem Breakfast
-Nutrisystem Protein Shake (Which are amazing and very filling without the typical Protein shake after taste!)

-PowerFuel as a snack - Almonds

-Nutrisystem Lunch
-PowerFuel - usually string cheese

-SmartCarb afternoon snack - Banana or clementines

-Nutrisystem Dinner
-SmartCarb- whole weat roll

-Nutrisystem Dessert

My first week I had ravioli and risotto as my dinners and I must say they were delicious and filling and I couldn't even tell I was eating "diet foods".  The lunches I had so far were pasta and baked potatoes and they were very filling and helped me during the day at work. 

A major thing I need to work on is drinking more water and lucky for me, Nutrisystem included a huge water bottle that I am to drink 2 bottles of daily which would equal out to 8 glasses of water.  This makes it so much easier for me. 

But my favorite part of this all is the awesome grocery guide from the Nutrisystem website that breaks down what kind of foods I can get as SmartCarbs and PowerFuels and even veggies so it gives me a lot of options and tells me the correct portion! 

While it's difficult to adjust to not eating super filling junk foods, I am definitely seeing a change in my body and I feel much healthier.  Oh, and I lost 2 lbs in one week!! Yep, 7 days and 2 lbs! I am so friggin excited!  On to week 2!




Want to lose weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem? Join today by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visiting http://www.nutrisystem.com/nsblog.

Disclosure: Nutrisystem has provided me with their program free of charge for participating in the Nutrisystem Nation Blogging Program. There is no other monetary compensation and  all opinions are my own,

Introducing Wink Shapewear - The Key to Your Wardrobe

Thursday, February 7, 2013


No wardrobe is complete without shapewear, in a variety of colors and styles, especially.  Shapewear can help you look great in those pieces of your wardrobe that you feel you never look quite perfect in, whether your stomach is sticking out too much or your muffin top peeks through.  That's why I'm thrilled to introduce Ask Away's newest sponsor, Wink Shapewear! But Wink doesn't just have the stuff that goes underneath, it even has a selection of clothing like tank tops and blouses that will look great on you.  It's essential to have shapewear that you love so that you can utilize and wear every shirt or pair of pants in your closet.  Check back each week when I highlight some great must-have items from Wink!

3 Reasons Why You Should NOT Share Your "Number" with Your Partner

Tuesday, February 5, 2013


photo by DerrickTvia PhotoRee

"How many people have you slept with before me?"

Even the strongest relationships can develop crippling problems from sharing this intimate detail.  Maybe this is just my opinion (but after all, it is MY blog isn't it) but here are my top reasons why you shouldn't share that information.  


1.  It's No One Else's Business
Really, it's not.  It's something you did and it's your business.   The only other person that you should really tell would be your doctor but they obviously wouldn't repeat it, by law!

2.  It Can Cause Jealous/Unsettling Thoughts
Maybe it's because you can't change it, but once you know that number, it will torture you.   Especially if it's higher than your own.  You'll wonder who the people were, and how good they were.  And let's be honest, NO ONE likes to envision their partner with anyone else, but that's the only image that can really come from sharing this detail now isn't it.  

3.  It Shouldn't Matter 
It's literally just a number.  It's not a list of people that are better than you.  It's something from the past, and there's no way you can change it. As long as you and your partner are clean and in a committed relationship, the past and the number of partners you each have had, shouldn't matter and should never be shared.

So basically, the best answer when asked that question is "I'm sorry, that's something I don't feel comfortable sharing with anyone else, regardless of what my number is."  And if they keep pushing then remember "It shouldn't matter."  


Sara Gallo Doll Shoe Jewelry Review

Monday, February 4, 2013

Sara Gallo is an amazing designer of jewelry and what really makes her unique is that one of her jewelry lines is Doll Shoe Jewelry, which is made of...you guessed it...doll shoes!!!! 


I received a Doll Shoe Bracelet and a Flapper Girl Doll Shoe Necklace.  The colors are very vibrant and when all the shoes are together it looks like a crazy unique piece of art.  Let me tell you that wearing Doll Shoe Jewelry got me a lot of compliments especially because it's so unique, but still fashionable.

When it comes to fashion, I always like finding unique pieces of jewelry and will draw attention but still look appropriate with my outfit.

It's so cool how such an awesome piece of statement jewelry can come together from something as simple as a doll's shoe!!   I love the fanned out look they have on the necklace and the chain is super cool for a statement piece!!

Definitely check out Sara's jewelry!

My Happiness Project - February - Remember Love

Friday, February 1, 2013

My Happiness Project goal for February is to Remember Love. Since I am single I am changing this from love in a relationship to love in friendships and with family. 

Ways I will do this are:
1. Not complain or act irritated with anyone
2. Show others I love them
3. Give compliments


1. Not complain or act irritated with anyone. Sometimes, and yes I'll admit it, I get annoyed when a call comes through from my parents when I'm in the middle of something. I should remember how lucky I am to have family members alive and well enough to call me.

2.  Show others I love them.
Whether it's texting them a random I love you or telling them in person, I will tell all of the people close to me that I love them and they mean a lot to me!

3. Give compliments.
I will give more compliments than ever before to those I love to make them feel as good as they make me feel.


Check back at the end of the month to see how I reached my goal!