I am so excited for my 30's.  This decade should be a blast because I'm still young, but I'm older than my 20's which means I'm wiser.   So I put together a list of things I'd like to accomplish in my 30's which means I have 10 years to do them.  I'll update this post everytime I accomplish a new one!

1. Visit World Trade Center Site
2. Visit Montauk, New York
3. Vacation in Chincoteague, Virginia
4. Go Whale Watching
5. Get 10k in my savings fund
6. Get back to 150 lbs or lower
7. Visit a museum
8. Visit Canada
9. Meet someone famous
10. Go on a hike
11. Go on a tropical vacation
12. Build a deck
13. Go horseback riding
14. Get married
15. Learn to change my own oil
16. Learn to change a flat tire
17. Buy myself a really nice purse
18. Visit the 9/11 memorial in Somerset, PA
19. Vacation at Cape May
20. See a Buddhist Monk in person
21. Write another book
22. Cook a turkey
23. Ride on wave runners
24. Visit Colorado
25. Get Reiki done
26. Host a Christmas Cookie swap
27. Get new shutters
28. Visit a new winery
29. Get close with an extended family member
30. Get Lasik

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A Delicious Birthday with Shari's Berries

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August is a fabulous month for me because not only is it my birthday, James' birthday, and Pixie and Grace's birthdays, but my blogiversary is on the 10th.  So this year I celebrated 6 years of blogging.     And thanks to Shari's Berries I had some delicious treats to enjoy!

 First of all, I love Shari's Berries because you can never go wrong with an edible gift.  There's something about the indulgence that just makes it even more enjoyable than any other gift. Everything is always wrapped so nicely.     I got the Dipped Cheesecake Trio and Full Dozen Strawberries.

 The strawberries were absolutely delicious and juicy but my favorite part was the detailed decoration of sprinkles and icing on top.   There was dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate and all 3 kinds were equally delicious.  In fact, in lieu of cake, this is what me and my family dined on for my birthday celebration over the weekend.

 Just look at those sprinkles! YUM!!!

Now I selfishly kept the Cheesecake Trio all to myself.  One was dark chocolate dipped with milk chocolate swizzles, another was dark chocolate dipped with white chocolate shavings, and the other one was dark chocolate dipped with nuts and marshmallows.  I mean these were AMAZING!!!!!  

The Shari's Berries Birthday Collection has so many  awesome items to choose from in a variety of sizes, and quantities.   I feel like this is such a personal gift and it's great for birthdays but there are also plenty of other options for other occassions. Next time you need an idea for family, friends, or even coworkers, be sure to check out the Birthday Collection from Shari's Berries!

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30 Before 30 | How I Did

So a few years back I decided to give myself a 30 Before 30 Challenge where I have to do as many things on my list as possible before I turn 30.  Well, I'm 30 now so let's see how much of those 30 things I accomplished by highlighting some of the best ones! You can see the original list in the original post but here are my proudest accomplishments:

Buy A House - Completed June 2015
I couldn't be more proud of myself for being a homeowner.  My house brings me SO MUCH JOY!

Become Debt Free - Completed April 2015
One of my major goals in life was to become debt free with my credit cards. And I did it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Run a 5K - Complete August 2014
Never in a million years did I think I'd enjoy running enough to participate in a 5k.  Lo and Behold... I did!

Attend Lucky FABB Blog Conference - Completed October 2013
I had always wanted to attend a blog conference and boy am I glad I did.  It changed my life. I made so many new real life friends that I didn't even know existed before and some that I knew online and now I'm close with in person, including my best friend Monica of Jersey Girl Texan Heart!

Embrace Minimalism - Completed August 2013
I always wanted to embrace minimalism and I did.  My life is a lot better thanks to that. I always embraced the KonMari Method and can't even put into words how truly life changing it is.  Google it... read the book... whatever, just trust me.

So I also have a new challenge for my 30's.  It's called the 30 in my 30's challenge and I'll be posting about it later this week so make sure you check it out!!

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How To Create A Routine for Your Dog [featuring Pixie]

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser.  All opinions are mine alone.  #NewBeneful #CollectiveBias

Everyone asks me how I do it when it comes to having basically 2 jobs, a home, a relationship, and 4 dogs.  The secret is having a routine, not just for me but for my dogs.  A routine makes everything go much more smooth because it creates habits that even dogs pick up on.  They know when it's time to eat, sleep, and play.  And I revolve my routine around their routine.  I make sure I give them their regular potty breaks, water, food, and play time.   Dogs can pick up on routines pretty quickly and that means they know what to expect from you and you know what to expect from them.  In the end, everyone's happy. 

Now, Pixie is a model student, I swear.  She is the best when it comes to routine but that's likely because I've always had her on one.  Pixie is such a big member of my wolfpack because she has such personality and as she is the first dog I ever owned, she kind of calls the shots and let's everyone else know what they should be doing.

So today, Pixie is going to help show you how to create a routine just like the one she is on so that you can live a stress-free life without worrying about accidents in the house, feeding times, etc. So without further ado - here's how to create a routine for your pooch.

Potty Breaks

Pixie knows when it's time to go out because her body tells her.  But I know when she needs to go out as well because I figured out the pattern.  It's pretty much common sense.   When you wake up you normally have to go to the bathroom right? Well, so does your dog! So first thing in the morning Pixie goes potty.  Then she goes potty again AFTER she eats.   And sometimes I even try to get her to potty one last time before I leave for work in the morning that way she can hopefully hold it all day until I'm home.   As soon as I get home I let her out.  She then goes out again after dinner and one more time before bed.  Make sure you establish a routine with your dog.  Before and after food is a great time to go.   Also, right before you leave to go somewhere and as soon as you get home.  Then of course some time in the evening, and right before bed.  This will hopefully ensure that there are no accidents in between. 

Play Time

Every dog out there needs interaction with their human.  It's good for them and good for you so it's important to ALWAYS make some time to give them direct attention.   Throwing a ball or playing with their favorite toy is a great idea.  Pixie is obsessed with playing fetch and knows the routine so well that after she eats and gets energy she brings me her favorite stuffed toy and waits for me to toss it into the other room. 

Exercise

Play time is always fun but I also like to walk Pixie to give her proper exercise.  It's nice to get her out of the house and walking on the concrete helps keep her nails shaved down a bit.  Since Pixie gets a great wave of energy about an hour after dinner, that's when we go on our walks.  She has come to expect it so after she rests a bit, she'll get up and come find me and whine until I put her harness and leash on and take her for a walk.  Exercise is good for humans AND pets so even you can benefit from a daily walk!

Sleep

Of course sleep is part of the routine for every human and animal on this planet. It's crucial for your body and mind just as it is for your pets.  For this part of the routine, I let Pixie pick when she wants to sleep and that's how the routine got established.  Pixie goes to sleep as soon as I go to work in the morning, and then when I get home she stays up for a few hours and then is usually done for the night by 8pm.  Then she sleeps all through the night and wakes up again when I do.  When you allow your dog to keep their sleep routine, you are letting them rest and hopefully won't need to worry about a grumpy pooch.  Think of how you get when you don't sleep very well at night.  That's why I let her sleep when she wants to, because that's what she needs.

Food

Feeding your dog on a routine simply involves feeding him or her at the same time each day.  Some dogs eat twice a day and some eat even more than that.   Pixie is such a pro with her food schedule that she anticipates it.  The second my alarm goes off in the morning she knows it means FOOD! 

Speaking of food, Purina's Beneful dry dog food has a new formula and features meat as the #1 ingredient and has no added sugar.  So it's delicious for your dog and satisfying for the owner.  I always put a lot of thought into what I choose to feed my dogs.  They are, after all, a special member of the family with their own personality so by feeding them something they love I know I'm making them happy.  I'm so excited that Beneful reformulated their recipes.  They listened to the feedback of real pet owners and did 2 years of research in order to meet our needs and the needs of our dogs.  Of course the new Beneful recipes still have them same texture and taste that dogs love just with a few more benefits.  Pixie seems to really enjoy and look forward to her Beneful Incredibites Dog Food.  The small kibble is perfect for her since it's meant for small breed dogs.   

Just remember that if you are changing your dog's diet make sure you do it gradually because dogs can be sensitive to the change.  You should always transition by first feeding a mixture of their new and current food.  You can find more information and tips here.

Beneful can be found at mass retails and grocery stores including Target, Walmart, and Regional Grocers like Kroger and Albertsons.  I picked some up at my local Karns grocery store. 

So hopefully Pixie has helped motivate you to ensure that you have a good routine that works for both you and your dog! So tell me, what part of your routine do you want to change since reading this post?  

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How I Save Money Each Month on Dry Cleaning

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I definitely consider myself frugal when it comes to fashion and I try to stretch that out even when it comes to maintenance of my wardrobe.  For instance I make sure everything is organized and tidy so I can always see what options I have and I never have to run out and buy something in a pinch, because I know if I already have it.  

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My Haute™ Brush is Life Right Now

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My hair is such a big ordeal in my life.  It's time consuming to wash it, dry out, style it, etc.  So today I am hoping to help those of you in the same situation as me with your hair.   And the magical tool for that is the Haute™ Brush.  It's perfect for those of us that struggle with frizzy, brittle, hair that gets damaged and dried out from all the heat we use on it.  Flat irons are great but they can really take a toll on your hair. 

Haute™ Brush  combines the straightening benefits of a flat iron with the styling benefits of using a brush.   It's much safer on your hair than a flat iron and uses its patented heated bristle technology to straighten hair and give you a silky smooth finish in a matter of minutes.  It even eliminates static and it detangles and adds volume. 

This is a miracle for me because I feel like doing my hair between a blow dryer, a brush, and a flat iron is like arm day at the gym.  There's so much brushing and flipping and switching hands.  Haute™ Brush  definitely saves me time now because it heats up so quickly and has adjustable temperature controls.  And it detangles and I no longer have to worry about knots in my hair which I swear I normally have like 3 each time I style my hair normally. 

I love the ceramic panel.  It massages my head and feels so good.   It's actually made my hair routine much more of a relaxing time to prepare for the day ahead. 

I'm so impressed with Haute™ Brush  and how silky and shiny it leaves my hair. It goes as hot as 450 degrees and has a great swivel cord and an awesome LCD display.  And if you leave it on for over an hour it automatically turns itself off!  Plus, the Haute™ Brush  comes with a 30-day money back guarantee.  The results speak for themself.   Just look at how awesome it's made my hair.

Definitely invest in a Haute™ Brush and YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!!

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