Being defeated is only a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent.

I came across this quote the other day on a random article on MSN. Yes, that still exists.

It really made me think about the state of what I'm feeling about this blog. I have been showing up here rarely and many times it's just a bunch of fluff. I've been thinking about what it means for this blog and for me with regards to what I'm putting into this blog.

I've wondered from time to time if it might be the end of this blog. I mean, I can barely form a sentence that people might actually want to read. Is it worth it to agonize over writing a post?

But. I'm not ready to give up. This hiatus will be just that. A little break, a little breath. I need to get my game plan together, maybe spruce things up, get a few pictures taken and smell some flowers while I'm at it. We could all use a little time to get out of our winter funk.

I might pop back in when least expected. I might pull out a genius (haha) post that could spill some life back into this blog. I might not come back for even a little more time.

I just know I am not giving up on this blog. Just feeling a little defeated with real life and trying to mange my time. I will be back and this still will be my outlet for writing. I am confident that this blog will still become what I always wanted from it. I am not making this permanent. 

If I Were A Royal

If you haven't heard, there is a new set of Royals in town. The new show on E, The Royals. I love reading all about the royals and I was one of the crazy ones that got up at 5 am the day of William & Kate's wedding just so I could watch it. I am actively watching to see if their new bundle of joy will be a boy or girl. Let's just say, I like to keep up with the royals.

And like any girl, I've spent a few moments picturing, dreaming just what it would be like to be a princess, to be a royal. Let's discuss my life as a royal.

Paparazzi everywhere.

//Hats. Fascinators. All hanging in a row and ready to accessorize my extensive closet. Speaking of which, my closet would be full of the most classic of clothes. I know I could pull this hat off.

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//Garden Parties would happen more than once a year. And the obligatory "I have a margarita!" picture must be taken of everyone.

//My bedroom would have this. Just for the sole purpose of reading. Not so much sleeping. I mean, I would have a room big enough for 2 beds so why not?

//I would shower in this every day. Fully equipped with built in shower radio and adjustable temperature.

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//Princess Lily. Enough said.

//The palace would host a carnival every year for a month. The royals need to let loose once in awhile and mingle with the public. Plus, there would be a palace in ever country for the orphanages. Channeling my inner Mia, The Princess Diaries.

//Crown wearing would be mandatory at least once or twice a week. Any of these would do for me. Or all of them since I am royalty. And think of the fun hairstyles I would get to have for these.

//Wine would be served at every meal. Even breakfast. We could make it work.

//I would still blog and it would be about all my royal escapades and royal outfits. Think of the sponsored posts I would get being a royal.

 //I would be Kate Middleton. "She's beauty and she's grace.."

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What would be your plans if you suddenly found yourself a member of the royal family?

Lazy Healthy

As much as I hate to admit that I am aging past the age of 27 and getting closer to 30, doesn't mean it isn't happening. It also means I have to pay a little bit more attention to my health than in previous years. It has also shown me just how lazy I have been with my health.

Put me next to a few other people and you might consider me a healthy person. But I am more of a "lazy" healthy person than an active one. I was able to stay in shape because my job required me to walk at least 8 miles a day. I barely worked out, might participate in an active challenge here or there but it was never part of my lifestyle or routine. Lazy healthy.

I eat healthy because I do not indulge in snacks or chips. They just aren't something I grew up with and like. Sugar tends to hurt my stomach so I avoid too much of it if I can. My eating habits aren't bad but they aren't great. I love roasted broccoli but fruits and vegetables aren't a regular part of my meals. Lazy healthy.

The past week, I have experienced a weird bug. I could diagnose it as many things but I know one thing, I am not getting any younger and just being "lazy" healthy isn't cutting it anymore. Wine is my vice along with worrying all too much. It is what led to what I can assume was an acidic stomach for the past week. Trust me when I say, it is no joke.

Since my metabolism has also gone rogue, I have seen a few extra pounds creep up since I switched my job. Definitely not loving this. This is why in the past 2 months I have taken control of my workouts and made exercise a part of my lifestyle. I have been running at least 2 miles a day, mixed in with Zumba, HIIT routines and off days.

My meals are getting better, with the exception of this past week. But it is an area I could improve upon. Lack of planning leads to poor eating habits and that is the case with our house. We do not have a  consistent grocery shopping schedule and I do not put my lunches together the night before. In the morning I am just trying not to be late for work I grab something. Usually not the most healthy option in my fridge.

This past week, my body reminded me I'm not getting any younger and my health is important. I was barely off the couch when I got home for work and my poor husband had to suffer through mediocre meals and listen to me complain. I have to take measures to eat healthier and stress less. The way I have felt the past week is not something I want to experience on a regular basis. It's time to get this body back and shape and maybe, just maybe, acknowledge I'm not getting any younger.


How do you stay healthy? Are you actively healthy? Please share some healthy meals with me!

Your Wedding Day Theme with Wedding Paper Divas

“I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Wedding Paper Divas. I received a product and a promotional item to thank me for participating.”

In the beginning stages of wedding planning, brides aren't always exactly sure where to start. It can seem like there is an overwhelming list of tasks to tackle in a short amount of time. There is one task every bride should start their wedding planning checklist with.

A theme. It sets the tone for the whole day and many events leading up to the big day. Bridesmaids may throw a themed shower or bachelorette party. It can be a rustic wedding in a barn, a modern wedding like I chose, dazzled with black & fuchsia, or perhaps even a beach wedding. Whichever theme you choose, your stationary should match. Luckily, Wedding Paper Divas makes it a little bit easier when shopping around for your wedding stationary.

Picking my wedding invitations wasn't the easiest part of my wedding process. I had an idea of what I wanted just not sure how it would look when it was all put together. Did I want the pocket invitations? Was a ribbon tied around the way to go? Was I willing to pay a little more for a different piece of paper?That is why I loved getting samples of wedding invitations before I made my decision. Wedding Paper Divas has introduced their Wedding Sample Kit that really lets the bride see what their paper style is, ink color and a few other examples.

You are able to see and feel the different types of paper they offer for your stationary. It takes a lot of the guess work out of choosing a paper. I know I was more than confused trying to picture exactly what my wedding invitation paper would look like. It's great to be able to hold the actual paper in your hand. No more head rolling trying to choose white matter, pearl white, double thick... It can also help to see which one might fit your rustic theme wedding better.

My favorite part of this sample kit? The font & ink color samples. As we know, computers can show colors & fonts differently than what you might see in person. When choosing my invitations, I was trying to make the decision to add a touch of pink font for our reception information, but ultimately chose not to because I wasn't sure what pink I would get. It's great to see the color right there. The font is also important to see which fonts to pair together. I know I chose a more modern font, very similar to Peoni Pro, to match the black and fuschia, modern invitation I had chosen. Where a romantic bride might choose the Belluccia.

It was really important to me as a bride, that my wedding reflected who we were as a couple and Wedding Paper Divas really lets you personalize invitations that match your theme & you. They allow you to be able to make an informed decision with their sample kit and really know what you will be getting before you place your order for over 100 invitations and watch the mailbox for days waiting to see them in person.

Wedding Paper Divas provides all the stationary to make being a bride or bridesmaid, a breeze. From Bridal shower invitations to coordinating Thank You cards, you are able to really customize your stationary to bring the theme of your event together.

How did you choose your wedding theme?

Inspiration

What happens to a blog when the writer loses inspiration?

Sitting down to this blank space and writing has its rewards. I can bare my soul some days. Crack jokes other days. And sprinkle in some memories along the way.When we started 2015, I really wanted to focus a lot more on this space. I sat down with my calendar to plan out some posts and scoured Pinterest for some post ideas. There was every indication that I would show up here more than twice a week most weeks. But this is what happened.

See all those posts? There they are. Half done sitting in my drafts. It seems I start a post but I am just missing something to finish them. I am missing that inspiration. That spark.

Inspiration is what makes me show up here most days. I want to write so other people can enjoy my writing and I can connect with my readers. These posts are great topics, topics other bloggers give you to write about when you aren't sure what to write. But they aren't even cutting it for me.

Without that inspiration, my fingers don't flow. They aren't able to write the words that are needed to showcase my feelings. To move these posts from drafts to actually live. The emotion and excitement hasn't been flowing a lot around this blog.

What am I telling you this for? Because this post I was one I didn't have planned for today. I was just inspired to write about how uninspired I have been. Funny how that works. Some of my best posts are the reactions to my every day life. Whether it be a quote, song or situation I am in.

Basically, I will be cooking up my own inspiration in the next coming weeks. Somehow, some way I will make this space feel exciting again. 

Any ideas, thoughts on finding inspiration when it comes to blogging?

Currently | March

You want to hear about my March so far. All 5 days of it. It's been pretty exciting.

dreaming. Of warm weather. And pretty flowers. And everything that is coming up this year. Many exciting times for our friends and I am so excited to share in them all.

BOUQS Bouquet

planning. A special baby shower for a special little boy. Balloons & streamers & cake, oh my! Ok, maybe not quite but it's been fun planning this for my best friend and her soon to be bundle of joy.

making. Not really making much these days. Craft wise or kitchen wise. I think I need to get back my dinner game. Our dinners have been lacking the past month or so...sorry husband. My crafts might kick up in the couple for the special events happening. Stay tuned.

baking. Nothing. Nada. But there are a few things I wish I could bake if I had a snow day today. Which didn't happen. At least I got a little organizing done in our spare room. I am taking some advice from Stephanie and trying to declutter. Including the VHS tapes.

watching. Hart of Dixie. Can not get enough of this show. I am not sure what I will do when I am all caught up on Netflix and have to wait every week like everyone else. It has even gone to the level of listening to the Hart of Dixie playlist of Spotify.

Linking up with Anne & Jenna

How's your March so far?

February Spending Freeze: Recap

We have made it through No Spend February. Barely. Was it a perfect month? Not in the slightest. Did we cut back our spending from previous months? Definitely.

Now, for the money spent words of shame.

Powerball Tickets-Silly? Yup. But when your office has an office pool and you would be the only one saying no, you lose willpower.

Flowers-Brian forego the spending rule to be a super sweet husband on Valentine's Day. Not a total loss..

Wine-Turns out, giving up wine isn't quite as easy as I had hoped.

Eating Out-Brian did grab a few lunches this month at McDonalds, grocery store, etc. Each time I felt the need to remind him of our freeze ;) We also did end up grabbing Chik Fil A this past Saturday. But technically, was it even still February then?

Netflix/Redbox-Giving up Netflix wasn't even thought about. One of the expenses we didn't even consider an expense. This is a good example of why we needed this month to analyze our finances.

Groceries-We can't go without food but we did realize how much we actually spend on groceries. It's the average of a family of 4. Seeing as we are not one, we need to now figure out how we can fix this.

Target Run-After 3 months, I went back to Target to return a pair of shoes. Since I spent under the amount I had just returned, I do not count this as a cost. Plus, my purchases included cat food, chili beans, upholstery cleaner and chicken. Nothing fun there, folks.

Even though this month wasn't the complete freeze that we wanted it to be, I know I have adjusted my habits. I realize how much useless stuff I spend money on. Amazon is my weakness. Especially with Prime.

As mentioned, we did see how much we actually spend on groceries. This month we did much better than January & December, which shows meal planning does have its benefits. There is a still a lot we need to do so we can save on groceries. This means figuring out a few meatless meals and utilizing coupons when necessary.

Overall, I am still glad that we did this the past month. We had a few slip ups, yes, but we realized how much we could be saving by planning ahead and making a budget for the things we just can't give up. Like wine and the occasional lunches.