photo by johnivara	via PhotoRee

My Happiness Project for the month of May was to Be Serious About Play.

Here were my goals and here's what I did with achieving them. 

Ways I will do this are:
1. Be goofy
2. Take time to play
3.  Do fun things more often

1. Be goofy.
I have become even more of a comedian for my coworkers which has brought us all even closer .  We  have a lot of inside jokes now and it really helps me enjoy my time in the office more!! 

2.  Take Time to Play.
I am always trying to be productive and get things done but I don't like spending my life rushing through the days and wishing the weeks by.  So now, I spend 15-20 minutes in the morning doing nothing but goofing around with my chihuahuas.  I don't blog or check my phone during that time...I simple relax and enjoy my fun time.  This puts me in a MUCH better mood for the entire day.


3. Do Fun Things More Often.
Every weekend I take it easy now UNLESS I actually have a commitment to take care of.   I now utilize my weeknights to get errands, etc.  done so that me and my boyfriend can enjoy our time together on the weekends.

Check back tomorrow for June's Happiness Project which is to Make Time for Friends!

10 Things I Would Tell My 20 Year Old Self

At 26, I can safely say that I've learned a lot over the past 6 years...so much so that if I could tell myself at age 20, the things I've learned now, I think I would have had a more peaceful 20-year-old mind.
 
So here is what I would tell my 20 year old self:

photo by talios	via PhotoRee

1. Do NOT use your credit cards!!  - Especially not on things that make you feel good during stressful times.   Seriously, just cut those cards up NOW!! 

photo by EricGjerde	via PhotoRee

2. Put $20 into your savings every paycheck - just do it!!  After 6 years, you'll have over $3,000.00.

photo by 8lettersuk	via PhotoRee

3. Stop buying stuff you don't need.  Novelty stuff is silly and you'll end up throwing it away in several years anyways, trust me I know this! ;)

photo by dhammza	via PhotoRee

4. Don't compare your body to anyone elses. You are supposed to be unique, so just embrace it!  

photo by rhurtubia	via PhotoRee

5. Going out to bars is a waste of money and time.  Be more productive with your time and make better memories. 

photo by Jane Rahman	via PhotoRee

6. When it comes to relationships, don't waste time with anyone that isn't worth it.  Whether they are selfish, lazy, or abusive in any way shape or form. 

photo by R26B	via PhotoRee

7. It's okay to not be married already.  You're the smart one at such a young age.

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8.  Only worry about having 1 or 2 close friends.  The rest of them all disappear over the next few years anyways.

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9. Stay out of the sun.   Just do it.

photo by gbierman	via PhotoRee

10. Enjoy every sunset you see, every flower you can smell, and every beautiful scene of nature you witness.  These are the things that throughout life will always give you a few moments of joy and peace. You won't remember them all, but it's okay.

What would you tell yourself?

Official Ask Away Guide to Surviving a Break Up in 5 "Easy" Steps

We've all been there.  Numerous times!  Even if we are the one to break it off.   Break ups make you feel bad no matter what and whether it's guilt, shame, remorse, abandonment, heartbreak...every feeling makes it harder to survive them.  I'm living proof that life goes on after them, and so are most of you!  

So...without further ado....I present to you...

 the OFFICIAL Ask Away Guide to Surviving A Break Up in 5 "Easy" Steps. 

And let's be honest....it's never easy, but if you keep telling yourself it is, it will get easier faster. 

photo by Deadclown	via PhotoRee

1.  Separate Yourself

You need some time to decompress and separate yourself from the world in order to give yourself time to cope.  So for some of us that means isolating ourselves because we can deal with it better alone.  But for other's it means staying close to a friend for support. Make sure it's a friend who supports you but will ensure they hold you accountable for keeping the break up clean and not running back.

2.  Hold Yourself (Or have a friend hold you) Accountable for NOT contacting them
Every break up needs to have the opportunity for each person to get their final thoughts/words out so make sure you let that happen.  After that, let it be known that you need time away to not talk/communicate/see them.  

Then, either hold yourself accountable for doing this or designate a friend you can rely on to hold you accountable.  This means no texting, calling, Facebook stalking or IMing, and no Drive Bys!

3. Remove Reminders of the Relationship from your life

This is best to do about a week after the break up, maybe even sooner.   For me, I do it immediately, but that's just how I work.  Some people aren't ready in that time.  Remove any and all reminders from view.   This means, Clothes, Gifts, pictures, CDs, Facebook updates (hide them from your feed!), ANYTHING that reminds you of them or is theirs or from them.  

4.  Give yourself as fresh a start as possible  
ONce you get that feeling...and you know when you get it.. where you literally sigh a huge sigh of relief and feel ready to move on from the Remorseful/crappy feeling stage - tell yourself it's a new day and a new beginning and make yourself believe it by making everything in your life fresh.    Do this in a few simple ways:
 - Wash your bed sheets so there's no leftover smells on the pillow he slept on
- clean your room, declutter your apartment, scrub your home
- Clean out your car and make it all shiny and dust - free inside , it'll put you in a better mood
- Clean up your desk at work or your work station
- Rearrange your room/apartment/home and redo your closet so you can see ALL your clothes and try some new outfits.

5. pamper yourself and enjoy YOU
Get a manicure or pedicure, get your hair done, go to a spa and get a massage, and schedule regular once a week dinners/drinks with your girlfriends.   Celebrate you and your freedom



Trust me, they all have a big impact on your state of mind!

Barts Cookies - The Best Cookie I've Ever Had

Okay, I have to tell you that I am going through some serious withdrawal and it's all thanks to Bart!!  Before I explain more, let me introduce you to Bart.

His name is Bart Smith and he is the maker of Barts Cookies aka the world's greatest cookies! He started baking cookies for everyone back in college and they made such a big deal out of them that he realized he was onto something.  Bart wears many hats, including an author, and a successful businessman!   So his cookies are great for clients, and even if you are just a regular person, you can find plenty of options to indulge in when it comes to ordering cookies from Bart. 

Bart was kind enough to send me samples of his cookies.  I tried the Milk/Dark Chocolate Chip cookies and the regular milk chocolate chip cookies.  Oh my gosh, DELICIOUS!  It reminds me of cookie dough, but yet it's fully baked, but it's still so chewy yet just firm enough!

I even let my dad try one and he said they are "ass kickin"!   The milk chocolate/dark chocolate chip combination was absolutely amazing and it was something I had never tried before.  I could not believe the quality of these cookies.   They are the perfect size, even the bigger one, but they weren't too overpowering with sweets, yet they were sweet enough that I could have eaten all of my samples in one sitting!  

I highly highly highly recommend you get cookies from Bart as a gift for someone or just to spoil yourself!!!  You will NOT regret it.  You can choose from different chocolate chip flavors, and from the different sizes!!   GO NOW and tell Bart I said Hello! :)

Organized Catch All Kitchen Pantry

Everyone has a pantry in the kitchen that they store a lot of commonly used items in.  For my house, it's flashlights, lightbulbs, candles, vases, and a few other odds and ends.   Since these are all important items I had to make them easily organized so that they would be easy to find and grab in a hurry.

First I separated the items into groups: batteries, tapes, string, light bulbs, candles, flashlights, vases, odds and ends, etc.   Then I found containers big enough for each grouping.  
And finally, I had to find a way to put them on convenient shelves.  I grouped items together.  Vases and string aren't used as often so they went on the top shelf.  The candles went on the next shelf, placed in plastic shoe boxes, with the large candles out by themselves. 

And on the next shelf went light bulbs.  I even stored lightbulbs delicately in a little oval bin so that they can't get banged around and broken!!  Look at how nice and neat that looks!  

Andrews Pet Palace Review & *Giveaway* Ends 5/31

I love my pets but sometimes it's a hassle to have to run the whole way to a specialty pet store to get their supplies.   This is why a website like Andrews Pet Palace is very convenient!  There are so many products for my pets and they are all wonderfully priced.   They get delivered right to your door and you never have to worry about running completely out of something and having to rush to the pet store late at night!

Andrews Pet Palace sent me a 14 pack of Advance Housebreaking Pads by Coastal Pet Products, which is great because with 4 chihuahuas, I am always in need of these.   However, these aren't just any pee pad, they actually turn blue when they get used! It's called Wet Check technology.   it makes it so much easier to know when to change the pad.  These pads were super absorbent even with 4 dogs!

 

And just because you don't have small dogs, doesn't mean you can't take advantage of these.  Big dogs have accidents when left home for an extended period of time, or if they get scared during a storm or during fireworks they can have accidents in the house.   Regardless, these are easy clean up for me and my pets because nothing leaked through, and nothing leaked off the pad.  I am very impressed by how well it contained the puddle!! I highly recommend these for any small or large dog owner, and especially for people with a new puppy!


One winner will get a 30 pack of pads!

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AvoDerm Natural Premium Pet Food Challenge - Progress

I received AvoDerm products for the purpose of this review. This post was made possible by Mom Spark Media. Thoughts are my own. 
In case you don't remember my blog post about it,  I recently signed up for The AvoDerm Challenge.  When you sign up to take the challenge to see your pet's coat become shinier and healthier in six weeks, you also get a $5 coupon that you can use for your first bag!   You will also gain an entry to the sweepstakes to win a year's supply of AvoDerm for your pet! 

It's been a few weeks since I started feeding Rocky AvoDerm and he is loving it so far.  He is normally a picky eater but with this food, he runs right up to his bowl and eats it right away!

One of the first things I've noticed since feeding AvoDerm is that he isn't itching his neck as much and he doesn't like his paws anymore.  Sometimes dogs have allergic reactions to ingredients in their food which can make them lick and scratch themselves.  This is a great sign so far.   Also, my little guy isn't shedding nearly as much as he used to! It's great because I don't end up covered in fur when I leave for work in the morning after I snuggle him goodbye!

I love that his coat is getting shinier and I hope it's show dog-shiny by the end of this 6 weeks!!! 

Be sure to sign up for the challenge and follow Avoderm on Twitter so you can tweet them about your pet's progress!

Also, make sure you like Avoderm on Facebook so you don't miss any updates!

 

 

I received AvoDerm products for the purpose of this review. This post was made possible by Mom Spark Media. Thoughts are my own. 

PooPeePad - Great for Small Dogs!

This site has affiliate links and sponsored content. Read my Disclosure Policy.
PooPeePad is a brand of training pads for dogs that are perfect for anyone that has small dogs or even a large dog that has problems with accidents in the house.  They offer training pads in different designs and sizes.  PooPeePad is a great company that's been around for over 20 years now.  When you buy their pads direct you save money.  They offer free delivery and they'll come in just 1 or 2 days!!   Their pads have sealed edges and tear-resistant top sheets.  There's even leak-proof backing which is not only important for your carpet but for your pet and your hands as well for when you clean them up. Their pads absorb up to twice as much as the leading competitors! 

I received Economy, Quilted, Deluxe, and Super Premium to try out with my pooches. The quilted was a favorite because I love how it absorbed the odor and smell best of all when it came to my dogs using it to "wee wee".  This is great for a multiple dog household.  Economy was great for pretty much anywhere and everywhere and it also did a fine job of absorbing the mess and holding the odor in.  

The deluxe size was very great for long periods of time so all of my pups had room to do their business without worrying about getting their paws messy.  And this also cut down on the chances of accidents off of the pads!   And the Super Premium was fantastic with maximum absorption.  I couldn't believe how much it made it look as if it had been barely used by all 4 dogs!!!

These are great and a must have even if your dog goes to the bathroom outside.  You never know when you might need it "just in case"!   

Organize Your Hair Tools with the Hot Iron Holster

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When it comes to organizing your beauty supplies it can be very overwhelming.   Let's see....women have cosmetics, lotions, facial routine products, hairbrushes, styling products, and styling tools, just to name SOME!  

So when I discovered the Hot Iron Holster I was thrilled! Not only is this a great organizing solution but it also helps with the issue of where to place your flat iron when it's still hot!

The Hot Iron Holster was created by a busy mom who finally came to her breaking point after the umpteenth time her hot curling iron slipped into the sink and her flat iron fell to the floor.   Not only are these safety hazzards, but they make your daily routine tha tmuch more frustrating.   She looked all over online to see if there was something she could use to hold her curling iron.  The only things she found were holders that required a countertop or a wall for mounting.  Since she didn't have a countertop she decided to use her sewing machine and a silicone oven mitt with a hot pad from the kitchen.  She stitched them together and filled it with coins to weigh it down.  It was pretty ugly but it worked.   And that's where the idea for the STYLISH Hot Iron Holster came from! You KNOW this product will work for you because of the way it was developed!

I received a hot pink Hot Iron Holster for review and it's a great addition to my organized beauty and haircare set up!  It's heat resistant and made of 100% silicone and all I had to do was press the flap onto my countertop and it gripped the surface.  If I need to remove it, I just have to lift it up....easy as that!

This was amazing when I needed to do some flat ironing to my hair, then stop and do something else, then do some more ironing.  I could set the hot iron in it and not worry about it burning or melting anything.  The Hot Iron Holster comes in black, white, purple, and pink so you have plenty of options to suit your preferences!

Ladies - THIS IS A MUST HAVE!!!!!

Organizing the Fridge

Well this past week, it was the fridge that needed tackled and let me tell you it was quite a mess.   I had to scrub and scrub to get some of the mess off of the shelves but in the end I made it look very pretty!

The best part was that after cleaning the whole fridge, it was nice to open it up and see the shiny glass.   

I organized like items together on the shelves:
Hot Sauce is all together.
Condiments such as Mayo and Ketchup are all together.
Dressing, marinades, and steak sauce are all in one shelf together.

On the bottom shelf I put large bottles that won't fit anywhere else.

For the top of the fridge, all of the heavy items like the milk gallons go on the right, and the smaller, lighter drinks go on the left.

The cheese drawer is where ALL the cheese goes and the fruits and veggies can now go in separate drawers!! 

Are you cleaning your fridge soon? What's your method? Leave a comment below!

L'Occitane Radiance & Color Care Collection Review

This site has affiliate links and sponsored content. Read my Disclosure Policy.

L'Occitane has an amazing Radiance & Color Care Line for color-treated hair.  It contains 5 essential oils to maintain vibrant hair color naturally.   It's frustrating for me because I know that everytime I wash my hair the color fades a little and I am always trying to ensure it still looks great and vibrant.  Well, now I can.   L'Ocitane Radiance & Color Care contains the oils: Bergamot, Palmarosa, Geranium, Rosemary, and Cedar.  It smells fantastic and made my scalp tingle in a soothing but subtle way.

It's also sulphate free which is important because it won't strip the color as it cleanses your hair.  There's even a UV Screen to protect your hair from the sun, which I always try to do anyways.   I love the texture of both the shampoo and the mask.  and a little went a long way when it came down to how much I needed to use.   The smell stayed in my hair for 2 days and my hair was so shiny and smooth.  I can definitely tell a difference in how hydrated my hair is now!

The mask is truly amazing because it literally just got soaked directly into my hair and it didn't weigh my strands down at all.  I use it once a week in order to protect the color and keep my hair looking and feeling great.   The Shampoo is great because it works itself into a nice lather and it rinsed out easily instead of gunking up my scalp like some products have.

I highly recommend this line for anyone with color-treated hair!

Make a Care Package for the Man in Your Life

Guys are hard enough to buy gifts for, especially when you deal with picky ones (cough::my dad::cough) so next time you need a gift for any man in your life, stop obsessing over what big ticket item you can get for him.   Instead...think small...and cheap....literally.   

Below is a simple guide to help you put together a unique and special care package for the special guy in your life!  

I even included the one I made for my boyfriend, James! He works so hard and is always putting in extra hours at his job and sometimes working part time on the side, and still he never complains or treats me anything less than amazing!   I was trying to think of a way to show him I care but also show him that I want to help him feel his best when he's working hard and have a way to remember that I care about him and appreciate his hard work. 



Step 1. Pick one part of his life like his hobby, his job, or his daily routine.

James works many hours and he works very hard.  I chose to make a care package that would help him when it came to working. 

2.  Make a list of items that pertain to that part of his life.    
Think of items that make him happy, make his life easier, or that he uses on a daily/weekly basis. 
 I chose items that deal with first aid, snacks, health, and feeling comfortable while at work.  

• Shower Wipes - For hot days in the shop or outside 
• Candy - For a simple pick me up and to give him some energy
• Band-aids & Anti-Bac Ointment - Because he is always beating his hands and fingers up and I'm not there to treat them
• Antacid Tablets - For when his stomach is upset and he's on the job
• Hand Sanitizer - Because he and I both like to be as clean as we can be :-)    
  

  

3. Purchase, make, or gather up the items on that list.

I already had some of the items on hand but I also stopped at the Dollar Tree to pick up small versions of some of the items such as band-aids, Ointment, Antacids, and I also bought the candy from there.  


4. Find a convenient way to package and present them to him with a basket, storage bin, tote, etc.  

Since I want him to be able to use his care package during the work day I made sure to get a durable, easy to store box, so I picked up a small plastic bin from the Dollar Tree and chose one with a blue lid to match the blue color of his car.  


5. Add a personal touch.

I included a hand written note card with a sweet message.  I taped it to the inside of the lid so James can read it every time he opens his box.  

Talk about being creative!   What kind of theme would you have for your man's care package gift?
   

My Promise Ring!!

I just had to share!   James, my amazing boyfriend, bought me this Pink Sapphire Promise Ring a couple of weeks ago and I am so in love with it.  

Isn't it just beautiful?    

Did you ever get a promise ring?   Did you blog about it?   Let me see!

You Could Win a Vacation or Modern Home Decor in the #CB2NovogratzBrasilSweepstakes

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of CB2 for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

One of the best parts of owning a home or even renting your own place is getting to decorate.  And when it comes to decorating, I love using modern furniture and decor.  There's something about it that screams luxury, even though if you're smart, you can get it for an affordable price.  Well, CB2 is a community that has affordably priced modern home design items that pay great attention to detail.  Whether it's lamps or coffee tables, or even book ends, you will certainly be able to find something you like. 

And the CB2 and Novogratz Collection  is just amazing!   I pinned some of my favorite items but I just can't get over how modern and stylish everything is.  I love how CB2 combined it's modern style with the bright and unique colors from Novogratz in order to come up with such classy decor!   My favorite product has to be pretty much all of their sectionals and sofas.  I just can not get over how beautiful the colors are especially with striped colors.  And the modern design of the sectional makes it different enough from any other sectional that it will definitely draw attention in your home! The whole collection was inspired by the Novogratz's Brasil home so there's definitely a hint of tropical vacation in each piece!

You all need to head on over to CB2 right now to enter the CB2 and Novogratz Brasil Sweepstakes !!   If you are the lucky winner, you and 3 friends will get an amazing one week stay at the vacation home of CB2 collaborators Bob and Courtney Novogratz in Trancoso, Brazil.     And if you don't win that grand prize you could still be one of ten winners to get a CB2 gift card of $100 AND a personally signed copy of the book "Home by Novogratz".

 

You can enter via cb2.com/sweeps from  May 2nd through June 3rd.  So what are you waiting for? 

Arooga's Wing Night Cruise from The Pride of the Susquehanna *Giveaway* Ends 5/22

This Summer, enjoy the local scenery of the Harrisburg area even at night, by taking a Arooga's Wing Night Cruise on The Pride of the Susquehanna Riverboat!    You can enjoy the sunset on the river while you devour wings from Arooga's! It doesn't get much better than that! There is an Arooga's Wing Night Cruise each month.

The cruises run from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. 

The Pride is handicapped and wheelchair accessible. This cruise is for ages 13 and older. Restrooms are available onboard.

The wing options are as follows :

• All-inclusive of 10 BONELESS wings, veggies, sauce, FREE Yuengling frisbee plate, and a 2 hour cruise ($20.00)
• All-inclusive of 5 BONELESS wings, veggies, sauce, FREE Yuengling frisbee plate, and a 2 hour cruise ($15.00)
• All-inclusive of 10 REGULAR wings, veggies, sauce, FREE Yuengling frisbee plate, and a 2 hour cruise ($22.00)
• All-inclusive of 5 REGULAR wings, veggies, sauce, FREE Yuengling frisbee plate, and a 2 hour cruise ($17.00)
• Just the cruise. Wings not your thing? Take just the cruise. Enjoy the cash bar and the sights ($10.00)

Wing Sauce Options:
Choose from either 5 or 10 wings (or none at all if you just want to enjoy the cruise!), Bleu Cheese or Ranch, and your choice of Aroogas’ legendary sauces:
Hot: Almost Everything - a blend of hot, Cajun, hickory smoked honey BBQ & garlic herb (This sauce was winner at the National Buffalo Wing Festival in 2009!).
Sweet:  Hickory Smoked Honey BBQ - a rich smoked honey BBQ & bees’ honey.
Mild: Mildly Hot sauce - a traditional high flavor, low heat sauce.
Unique: Red Thai - a sweet chili sauce with a mild/medium heat.

Tickets are $10 per person, and then $15-$22 depending on wing choice.  You must be 13 or older to attend. 

To purchase tickets visit: http://shop.harrisburgriverboat.com/Aroogas-Wing-Night_c19.htm
OR
Enter to win 1 free ticket to the June 19th cruise below! (It's super easy!!!)

Here's How to Enter:

1. Like The Harrisburg Riverboat on Facebook here.
2. Leave a comment on this post with your name and email address.


Bonus Entry: (must complete the main entry first)

 **LEAVE A COMMENT FOR EACH BONUS ENTRY YOU COMPLETE**
1. Follow The Harrisburg Riverboat on Twitter here.
2. Sign up for The Harrisburg Riverboat email blast here.(You Get A $2 coupon!)  
3. Tweet the following:  
I entered to win a free ticket to the Arooga's WIng Night Cruise from @Pride_Riverboat and @Ellen_ross1!  http://ow.ly/kPIgY
4.  Share this giveaway on Facebook.

The giveaway will end on Wednesday, May 22nd at 11:59 PM EST and a winner will be chosen via Random.org. 

Mondetta Pitch Jacket Review & *Giveaway* Ends 5/22

  

Mondetta is such a fantastic company and their selection of men's and women's athletic wear is just fabulous.   Everything is of the best quality and will last for a very long time.   Mondetta is one of my favorite brands for athletic apparel. 

Mondetta was started in Winnipeg, Manitoba and comes from the French word for WORLD and the latin suffix for Small - Small World - Mondetta.  The company has grown and become very popular!  Mondetta advocates global harmony in a world undivided with the simple company slogan of "A Sprit of Unification".  

 I received a Pitch Jacket from Mondetta and I chose the USA one. This is such an amazing, luxurious jacket.  It literally made me feel like I was an Olympic Athlete when I put it on!   The craftsmanship behidn it is great.  The Pitch Jacket is a unisex socker jacket that is made of a Polyester bonded jersey material.  It has an elastic rib trimming on the sleeves and the collar.  The pockets were nice and roomy and I love the embroidered Mondetta Logo as well as The other emblems decorating this jacket!

This jacket was great for wearing during a walk or jog, but it was also great for just relaxing and running around town to get stuff done!


Before I let you know about the amazing giveaway from Mondetta, I wanted to let you know that I have a code for you that will give you a 60% off discount:

pitch2013MOND




So.. to the giveaway.. one winner will receive a Pitch Jacket of their choice from Mondetta!

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Organizing: Kitchen Junk Drawer

I have begun organizing and cleaning around the house lately and wait till you see all the different projects it's giving me!  Here's what I did to the kitchen "Things and stuff" drawer!

I started by removing EVERYTHING and sorting into piles of like items: Pens, Pencils, Erasers, Scissors, Paper Clips, White Out, Sharpies, etc.   Then I made sure to pitch everything that was trash and I also tested out each pen and trashed all the ones that were dried out.

Then I wiped down the trays and the inside of the drawer and then began filling each tray compartment with a different type of item.  Overall it took about 45 minutes but let me tell you, the drawer is much lighter and easier to open and shut!!  

I have soooo much more to do in all the different parts of the house, so prepare yourselves!