My New Store

Hello lovelies.

Last weekend, I decided to go through my garage sale bin and post some items online. I decided to use ShopLocket to post the items (after unsuccessfully using Smashion.) 

Check out my store:

Mel's Big List of Things I Thought I Would Never Do...But Totally Did

I read an article the other day, explaining the fact that we always have certain expectations of what our lives will look like. Things we vow to never do, people we vow to never be like, etc... That got me thinking: what are some things I thought I would never do that didn't go as planned...

{When I first wrote out this list I had paragraph-long explanations under each point. After proof-reading the list I decided to remove all of them. I have never, ever been ashamed of who I am and I have never believed in regret. Every single one of these "mistakes" or unexpected life events made me the person I am and for that, they need no explanation. Instead, I present them in all their glory, the good and the awful, and I ask only that you love me anyway. No regrets. No judgments.}

1. Work retail/spare jobs after law school.

2. Be a smoker.
3. Sing Karaoke.
4. Drink myself sick. 
5. Date a married man. Date the same guy twice. Date someone long-distance.
6. Live in Colorado. And love it.
7. Maintain a blog for this long.
8. Own a home before 30.
9. Hide a keg in my bathtub when my landlord stopped by.
10. Climb a mountain.
11. Stay up for 38 consecutive hours. For work and for play.
12. Sneak out of a bedroom window. Sneak into a bedroom window.
13. Stop biting my nails.
14. Get a ticket for littering.
15. Skip school to go shopping. Skip work to ride motorcycles.
16. Work in finance. And enjoy it.

Chambanachik's Christmas Giveaway Kickoff!

Today is a great day. You might be asking yourself why. Well, I'll tell  you!

Today marks the beginning of twenty-three days worth of Christmas giveaways - hosted by the lovely Erika at Chambanachik! There are 23 different prizes sponsored by 23 different people who own Etsy shops, or run businesses, or just have amazing talent for crafts! Oh, and one of those days is sponsored by me! 

Do you want to know how excellent these prizes are? Well, last year, I won a prize. 
This adorable hand-made clutch and earrings from Ines:

Seriously, the caliber of these prizes is second to none!

The real reason I wanted to make a special post about this, however, is to thank Erika.  I know how much time, tears, and resources she spent to compile this series of wonderful giveaways. She worked extremely hard (all why continuously thanking me and the other sponsors - 'cause she's that selfless!) 

Thank you, Erika, for your generosity of heart and enduring spirit! Your friends and readers truly appreciate it! The rest of you need to head over, like her blog, and stay tuned for some amazing giveaways!

Do you have Swag?

I have participated in Swagbucks for quite some time. Swagbucks is an online program that allows you to earn points or "swagbucks" by doing various tasks. The tasks range from simple, a daily poll question, to more difficult, signing up for various deals. You can also use the Swagbucks search engine in place of Google and earn bucks that way - very easy! None of the tasks take an exorbitant amount of time, but as you'd expect, the more time you invest, the more return you'll get. I typically spend 10 minutes per day and an extra hour per week and have found that to be a reasonable time for me. In fact, last year, I paid for over $100 of my gifts using an Amazon gift card earned exclusively through the Swagbucks program. This year, I am well on my way to doing the same.

This year, I joined the Swagbucks community as a preferred blogger and am able to share many great deals with you! I will not bombard you with information, nor would I do this if I didn't already approve of the process. I do, however, want you to have the opportunity to save money, earn discounts (and FREE stuff!) and have fun using the Swagbucks community!

If you are interested, click this link and sign up. It's free to do so and you will earn 20SB's just for trying it out! For the rest of November (only 6 more days) you will earn an extra 80SB's! That is a total of 100 Swagbucks just for trying their site (which is about 1/4 of the way to a $5 Amazon giftcard!) 

Use this code: NOVEMBERSB to get the extra 80 bucks.

Please feel free to email me with questions, or ask in the comments so everyone can learn more! 

**This is a sponsored post and the above link is an affiliate link which earns me additional bucks. My words are my own and I would not promote a company I didn't truly believe in!**

Winner!

Here is the winner of the Holiday Party Prize Pack giveaway: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congratulations, Nikki! Check your email for more information!

Thank you to everyone who entered!

Giving Thanks!

Today, I am thankful...

...for my husband, who puts up with the special kind of crazy I get around the holidays

...for my job which presents daily challenges and pushes me towards success

...for my family back home, who love and support me from miles away

...for my Colorado family, who are gracious enough to spend their day with us

...for our lovely home, our nice things, and the food on the table

...for this platform where I can say what's on my mind without embarrassment

...for my readers, who keep reading even when I speak my mind ( or forget to for days on end! ) 

I hope y'all have an amazing thanksgiving filled with love, food, and family ( in whatever form that takes! )

Holiday Party Prize Pack: A Giveaway!

As we near the first of the winter holidays (and I surpassed 200 likes on my Facebook blog page!) I wanted to treat my fabulous readers to a little holiday cheer.

Here's what you can win: 

A set of metallic hair bows

The perfect shade of Christmas-green polish
Peppermint Twist Bodycology Lotion
Glitzy earrings & a red sparkly clutch

This prize pack is perfect for a holiday party or mix the items with others for all-winter wear! 
Perfect for yourself or to give as a gift. Or break it up for stocking stuffers!
The contest runs until Black Friday (11/23) at midnight. I will announce the winner on Saturday! 
Simply follow the Rafflecopter to enter. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DIY: Striped Candles

I decided a few weeks ago that I wanted a navy/white theme for decor in the kitchen. Mainly because the kitchen reno just doesn't feel like it will coordinate with brighter colors. I put this very simple tablescape together (if you can even call it that) and wanted to find some navy/white striped candles, inspired by these: 

Source: designsponge.com via Mel on Pinterest

Obviously, the price of these candles was out of the question. I found some at Target, but even those were more expensive than necessary, so I thought I'd make them myself. 

Here is the tutorial of that project:

Supplies: 

Small paintbrush (poly is best!)

Plain white candles

Navy blue acrylic paint

Thin painters tape

Total cost = $5

 Step one: create stripes with painters tape

 Step two: paint white spaces with acrylic paint (I needed two coats!)

Step three: Let dry for at least 4 hours (longer would have been better!)

 Step four: peel off tape

**At this point I noticed that the edges were jagged because the acrylic paint stuck to the tape. If I were to do this again (I probably will in a couple other colors) I would use spray paint for easier application and cleaner lines. 

 I was able, however, to scrape off much of the blue paint that had bled onto the white and once I did, the jaggedness of the lines didn't bother me too much. 

My new tablescape. Simple and clean. 

The project was super-cheap and really easy. With the exception of drying-time, it took less than 30 minutes. As I said, I would probably use different paint next time and let it dry a little longer. I plan on making some gold glitter striped candles for the table when I host Thanksgiving dinner!

A Veterans Day Guest Post

I normally don't post on Sundays, but today is special. Today is Veterans Day and I have a special guest to share with you some great facts, tips, and fun activities that you can use to celebrate this date (and honor our veterans!)

Please give a warm welcome to Courtney from www.militaryvaloan.com: 
______________________________________

What is Veterans Day?

Veterans Day comes around every year on November 11^th. It’s a time for remembrance, gratitude, and honor. But just how did it come about? It dates back nearly 100 years to when President Wilson declared November 11, 1919 as Armistice Day. A year earlier on that date, the United States signed a peace armistice with Germany, marking the end of World War I.  The armistice went into effect at eleven o’clock on the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918, and The United States Congress made it an official holiday in 1938, though many states had already declared it a holiday.  In 1954, Congress changed the name of the holiday from Armistice to Veterans Day, and set it apart as a day to celebrate all American veterans who had served in all wars.  Today, we celebrate a long line of rich history and countless brave men and women who have served throughout the past century to protect the freedom that makes our country unique.

Ideas on How to Celebrate

Make the day more meaningful than just another day off of work. These are some ideas to help the real meaning shine through.

1.       Do some Veterans Day crafts. Help your kids understand what the day is about by spending some quality time together making cute crafts that have Veterans Day tie ins. Think patriotic pinwheels, wreaths, popsicle stick flags, or a string of paper stars to decorate the house. If you’re feeling especially adventurous, try your hand at baking some yummy red white and blue treats! Rice Krispy treats work well, as do cupcakes.

2.       Go to a flag raising ceremony. These events can include reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and singing the National Anthem. It’s a great and easy way to get out of the house and into the spirit of patriotism.

3.       Write a thank you note to a veteran or service member from you and your family. It’s a meaningful way to show gratitude to those who have defended our country’s freedoms and liberties. It may be to your husband or wife, son or daughter, to a friend or to a stranger. A little note goes a long way.

4.       Find a way to be a good friend or neighbor to those who are family members of a deployed military member. This obviously is something to do every day, not exclusively on Veterans Day, but it is a good time to reevaluate what can be done to help these families out. Offer to listen, to babysit if appropriate, to help out with yard care, just get out there and serve.

5.       Have a moment of silence at 11:00am. Remember those who have fought for our country and for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice of giving up their very lives in our behalf. 

This year, November 11^th falls on a Sunday, so Monday November 12^th will be a holiday.

_____________________________________

Courtney writes about VA news for MilitaryVALoan.com, a VA home loan refinance site that helps veterans and their families save money on their VA mortgages. 

Thank you, Courtney, for stopping by! I hope y'all take a moment this Veterans Day to do one of the above things and honor the veterans in your area. Oh, and check out the restaurants in your area. Many of them give free entrees, dessert, or at least a discount to those with active military ID's. 

Fashion Friday: Burgundy Pants Part Deux

A couple weeks ago, I debuted my new burgundy skinny jeans. Well, I've worn them so many times since then. I've practically lived in them. So, I thought I would share another look showing just how versatile they are - the perfect fall staple!

Colorblock blazer - thrifted / Leopard top - thrifted

Burgundy skinnies - d jeans via Ross / Flats - Old Navy

Here are some other ways you could wear colored pants: 

Source: seejaneworkplaylive.blogspot.com via Mel on Pinterest

Source: bittersweetcolours.blogspot.com via Mel on Pinterest

Source: thepinkpeonies.com via Mel on Pinterest

Needless to say, I'm a colored-jeans convert! Hope y'all have a great weekend!

My time with a pessimist

Over the last couple of days I got to spend quite of bit of time with Michelle, a well-adjusted pessimist. Of course in real life (as opposed to blogger life) she's much less of a pessimist and more, well, awesome! We are both recent home-buyers so we thought it would be great to trade off hosting each other at our homes to steal decor ideas from one another. I hosted Tuesday and she hosted me yesterday. I got to meet the pups and the bunnies and she was stuck with just me. 

Of course, we didn't take a single picture. 'Cause we're lame like that. And we got caught up doing house tours, eating yummy snacks (she made an amazing salmon salad in an avocado bowl - I might have to eat lunch at her house everyday) and in talking the day away. Oh, and she brought me house-warming flowers!

It was so much fun! It is always a joy when you meet a blogger friend (you know, one you feel like you've known forever) and then they are every bit as wonderful in person. I am grateful to have the opportunity to develop these friendships here in Colorado and definitely foresee us being lifelong friends! I hope she shares that feeling! 

Seriously. It doesn't get any better than turning blog friends into real friends. Except maybe doing so with salmon salad. 

Vote.

Today, all around the country, people are heading to their nearby polling station to vote. Or perhaps you voted by mail or by absentee (in which case, let's hope your state didn't lose or "forget" about your ballots!) Either way, voting is a vital part of our country's system. It allows the average citizen to speak up and change our country. 

This particular election, we are voting to keep or change our president. The person who directs the economy, our foreign policy, our jobs, and our social programs. He is also our commander-in-chief - my husband's "boss." For any and all of these reasons, it is vitally important that you take 30 minutes out of your day to hit the polls and speak your piece. Or peace.

I also want to encourage you to read up on the local candidates. It is important to make informed decisions on your school board, county positions, judges, police, etc... AND to really read about any state or county laws that you are asked to vote on. I know many states have marriage amendments on the ballot and counties often ask for their community to vote on school district changes, and money allocations for fire, police, etc...My state (Colorado) has an amendment regarding the legalization of marijuana.

These things are important too! How often do you and I get the chance to say, "I don't agree with that" or "yes! I support that change!" Well, here's your chance to make change beyond the representatives who serve on our behalf but in actually decided the laws of your county and state - and actually deciding how your tax dollars are going to be spent.

It doesn't get better than that! 

So please don't walk in to your polling place and check the box for president and walk away. Really look at the other ballot items and make a decision accordingly! Speak up - and do so by voting!

My informal pillowcase study: satin vs. cotton

You're probably wondering how a post about pillowcases could possibly be exciting. It probably isn't, but I'm sharing anyway!

A few years ago I read an an article about how hair-friendly satin pillowcases were. The article touted satin as the best pillow case for cutting down on split ends and leaving your hair shiny & smooth. Ultimately, it was supposed to mean a quicker morning routine and healthier hair. So, I switched out my cotton cases for beautiful chocolate brown satin cases. 

{public domain photo}

And it did what it purported to do. My hair was shinier and I had less flyaways and broken ends. After a 3-month trial, I switched back to cotton to see if I noticed an actual difference. Both options have their pros and cons and I could never decide which I liked better. So for the last three years I've occasionally switched between the two and after my most recent "satin phase" I have finally made up my mind.

Here is what I've found: 

Satin

PROS:

Shinier hair

Fewer split ends

Cooler feel during summer

Look and feel more luxurious

CONS:

Greasy hair after 1 sleep

Greasier skin / more acne

Slippery / Always readjusting

Cotton

PROS:

Greasy hair after 2 or more sleeps
Cozier in fall/winter

CONS:

More hair breakage
Duller-looking hair

Ultimately, for me, the decision hung on the greasy hair and skin. While I liked that I had shinier hair, that was because the satin brought out my hair's oils and I was having to wash my hair more frequently (which defeated the purpose of a quicker morning routine.) It was also storing my skin's oils and I was getting breakouts. At first I couldn't tell if that was the cause or not, but after this more recent round (going from zero white-heads to breakouts all over my chin, neck, and t-zone) I determined that it was the satin cases. I prefer to combat the duller hair and split ends with other techniques: hot oil treatment once per month, not brushing wet hair, decreasing the use of my hot iron and damaging hair binders. On the flip side, I will enjoy a comfortable sleep on my basic, cotton pillowcases and reserve the satin for guests!

Does anyone else use satin pillowcases? Fleece? Other materials? What do you think - share in the comments!

12 in 2012: Month in Review (x2)

Everything has been so crazy 'round these parts that I completely neglected to do my monthly review for September. It occurred to me about 10/20 that I never did the review and decided I'd just review the last 2 months when I did my October review. So, here it is, my goals review for both September and October:

1. Speak up.

(No longer applicable. See previous months.)

2. Spend less.

Almost all of our "extra money" has gone into the house either for supplies or for decorations. As such, I haven't spent much money otherwise - just a few bucks here and there at thrift stores.

3. Spread the Love.

I did pretty good with this one, especially during October. I sent a few little treats to friends and family and cards here and there just to say hi. Obviously, with the holidays coming up it will probably get more active on this front.

4. Snap it.

I have been back-tracking with some photos here and there, to fill in some of the gaps. I am nowhere near the goal, but I still intend, by the end of the year, I will have 365 photos in my album on Facebook. 

5. Spice it Up.

With moving, settling into the house, and Al leaving for NTC, there hasn't been much food exploration. I did make pumpkin chocolate chip bars in October (delicious!!)

6. Sweat.

I always have good intentions, but intentions are not flattening my belly.

7. Stamp It.

I passed the bar! Time to start pricing the tattoo and deciding where to go!

8. See the Sights.

I visited a hot spring with my girlfriend last month. It is about 40 minutes away and is basically a mineral hot spring that feeds into a swimming pool. The weather was so nice we were able to layout and sunbathe in the middle of October!!

I still want to try some local pubs and restaurants, and check out a few other sites. Once Al returns from NTC maybe we can get out there and try a few new things!

9. Style it.

This is going fine. I am continuing my Fashion Friday series and enjoy incorporating my passion for fashion with this beloved blog. Find my fashion inspiration here.

10. Save space.

I have started developing posts regarding my organization and decoration in the new house. Those should ramp up even more over the next few weeks. Stay tuned!

11. Slow down.  12. Sleep more.

Check and check. At least as much as anyone can.