What's WRONG with Me?!?!

Yo.

So I think I have this condition... and I think it's called getting soft. Or growing up. Or something. Whatever it is, I'm torn between a love for it and a hatred of it.

Here's the dealio. So the other day, I was sitting on the bus and people watching (and, yeah, okay... I was people listening, too). This thought popped into my head:

"OOOH!!! I could do a blog post called, 'The Five Types of People You Meet on the Bus!!' That would be an awesome post!" 

I started thinking of all these different categories into which I could lump these perfect strangers. Then... I realized something - these people were perfect strangers. How in the world could I categorize people I had made no effort to know? I would be basing those categories on judgments and assumptions. Those judgments and assumptions could be spot on, but they would more than likely be totally and completely wrong. You see, lately I've been thinking (which usually leads to nothing but trouble), and I've realized something that may not come as a shock to you, but it certainly did to me:

Every single person we see or meet has a story. Has a life. Has problems. Has struggles. 

Is it really fair of me, then, to lump these people into categories for the sake of a funny blog post? No. It's not. 

So maybe I've gone soft. Maybe I'm growing up. I love it because I think I'm a much nicer person than I was five years ago. I hate it because it means no funny bus blog posts. ;)

It's Enough.

Happy Tuesday!

I have to admit - part of the reason I was out of the blogging world for so long was because I didn't feel like my life was enough. I didn't have enough exciting things to write about, I didn't have enough money to go out and buy trendy clothes (for myself or Elsie), I didn't have enough time to make myself look presentable enough to appear in photos on the blog.

We live in a small, simple house in a less-than-stellar neighborhood. Our house is full of hand-me-down and garage sale furniture. My wardrobe is made up entirely of clothing found on clearance racks. We have one car and I ride the bus most days. My life isn't exciting - I go to school, work, then come home and take care of Elsie. I work out and I do my photography. Somehow, even though I'm satisfied with where I am in life, it just didn't seem like enough to blog about.

I know how blessed I am. I know that I am incredibly lucky to have a home, clothing, food, and a family that loves me. I think sometimes I just get a little overwhelmed by Blogworld's emphasis on things. Possessions. Money. What the latest and greatest trends and products are. What sorts of happiness your money can buy.

What we need to remember is that, even if we don't have much money, even if we can't afford to splurge on things like makeup, clothing, or nail polish, our lives are enough. We are enough. 

So... I won't have any exciting trips, cute new clothes, fabulous new jewelry, or awesome new gadgets to blog about any time soon. What I will have, though, is moments with my daughter and husband, little everyday occurrences, and an overload of cute baby pictures (didn't think you'd get out of that one, did you?!).

Thanks for following my journey over the past couple of years. Thanks for helping me remember that I am enough. 

Please, oh Please....

Share your favorite blogs with me. I am finally trying to get back into this blogging thing, and I'd really like to network a little bit, find more blogs, you know - that whole thing.

As payment for your fave blogs, you can look on my sidebar and see a few of the blogs that I enjoy. I will also direct you

here.

here.

and

here.

Getting Back in the Groove

Hi. 

Remember me? I used to blog every day. Then I got pregnant. Then I had a baby. Now you're lucky to hear from me more than once or twice a week.

I'm working on it. I'm not trying to be a witch with a capital B if I don't respond to your comments. Actually, I just went through and wiped my inbox. I just looked at the little thing up in the corner that said, "1 out of 495" and I freaked. I deleted almost EVERYTHING. So don't be hurt or offended, please. I just couldn't take the heat.

This all brings me to my next point. I am going to try to get back into the whole blogging groove. Elsie and I have (more or less) figured out a schedule, and I figured out that I really miss blogging. I needed that time away to figure out this new little human who hangs out with me all day. I needed the time to sort out my own emotions (still a work in progress - these hormones suck). Unfortunately, that did not leave much time (or motivation) to respond to emails.

Starting this week or next, though, I want to be better about blogging. Elsie and Mike will ALWAYS be my number one priority, but I'd like to give this blog more attention. I'd like to network a little bit more and I'd like to get to know YOU better.

So... The first ten people to comment on this post with the link to one blog that may be a little less well known that you think I'd enjoy will get a little spot on my sidebar fo' free. Just make sure you're not a "no-reply blogger" so that I can email you. Please and thanks.

If I....

Planned a Midwest blogger weekend for this summer, would you come? I'm thinking Kansas City. Anyone? If you are in the Midwest or know another blogger who is, let me know if there is interest and we will get this thing planned!


Note how excited this makes me.

Sunday Confessions Link Up

Happy Sunday!!! 

You all know how it goes - think up something juicy and share it with the world (the blogging world, that is). Link up and find some other awesome bloggers while you're at it!
  <center> <a href="http://itsalyx.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7148/6701442513_4c7153a301.jpg" width="200" height="200" /></a></center> 1-5. I'm over it, and have been for a while (blogging, that is). This constant posting of staged outfit photos to make it look like you're always perfectly put together, these mushy love posts, the pictures of your "oh so exciting life" - I'm sick of it all. I'm sick of the giveaways, the fight for followers, the popularity contest... It is ridiculous.

I started my blog when we moved to Europe as a way to update my family and friends on my life. When did it turn into *actually* considering giving someone $150 of my hard-earned money just to get more people to like my blog? When did it turn into me wishing that I had hundreds of dollars of extra money just laying around to do giveaways to stores that I would never dream of stepping into? Why did I suddenly start to care how many followers I had?

Here's the deal, folks. Starting in January, I'm getting rid of it (sponsorship, not the blog... HA!). There is no reason for me to have sponsorship on this blog (at least not until I'm done working outside of the home full-time). Right now I don't have the time or energy (or desire) to make blogging my "job." I don't want to feel bad if I blog once a week instead of five times. I don't want to charge people money to put their pretty faces on my sidebar if I can't promise them my dedication to getting their blog noticed. I don't want to be part of this popularity contest.

My blog is mine. And right now, that's what I want. I don't want to feel obligated to share my space. I don't want to spend lots of money to get people to like me. I don't think that's a wise investment for me right now. I am working my butt off to save money for this baby, and when I come home, sometimes the last thing I want to do is try to think of a way to make my life seem interesting.

FACT: My life is boring. I work 40+ hours a week. I sleep about 60 hours a week (what, baby is tired!). I eat food. I drink milk, water, and Coke 0. I work out sometimes. I shower 5-6 times a week. I wash my hair 2-3 times a week. I pay my bills, student loans, and mortgage. I try to find the time to spend quality time with my husband. After all of that, I blog. Maybe when I have more time I will be a better, more exciting blogger, but right now, I am me, and I have other commitments.

I'm not going anywhere, believe me - I just won't be tied down to the blog or feel obligated to post something every day. I may still have giveaways, I may still feature bloggers. It's just that I refuse to punish myself for living my life instead of trying to make myself seem totally awesome, hip, and perfect in an online world.

Whew. Sorry for that novel - now it's your turn - what do you have to confess? 

5 Things Bloggers Talk about in Emails. A Vacation to China.

Happy Monday!! 

Let's all cross our fingers that this week flies by, okay? Okay.

So here's the deal. I'm horrible at answering emails lately. But occasionally, I'll be okay about it and successfully have a conversation with one of you. I would like to present you all with a list of Things Bloggers Talk about in Emails. Names of bloggers involved in these emails have been withheld, because I don't want them to shoot me in the face when you all tell me how ridiculous we are.

1. Blogging Biker Gangs. Or something like that. It'd actually be a bicycle gang with spandex and geeky helmets and ridiculous shoes (the words "saddle sores" may have been in this conversation as well), but a bike gang is a bike gang, right?

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2. Having blog dates via skype. Not just Skype chatting, but taking a laptop to a restaurant while skyping a bloggy friend, and having a dinner date. Totally normal thing to do, right?

3. Reasons to get pregnant. This list is endless and full of absolutely ridiculous things. Apparently there are a lot of silly reasons to reproduce.

4. Books. Obviously. I realize that this isn't exactly ridiculous, but it might be ridiculous how often books just creep into conversations. Which leads me to remind you - we are still accepting book suggestions for October book club!

5. Exotic animals you'd like to pet. Maybe I'm just friends with weirdos (or I'm the weird one, which is more likely), but somehow, email conversations often get turned to exotic animals. Whether it's the ones I'd like to someday ride (ahem - elephant and kangaroo) or someday pet (tiger and koala bear), it's always a good conversation.

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Do you email other bloggers? What sorts of crazy things do you talk about? 

Maybe you talk about your travels, who you are, where you came from, where you want to go? Well, I don't think it's any secret that I'd like to go to China someday, but I definitely don't have the cash for a spur-of-the-moment vacation as I'm sure is the case with many of us, so I'd like to treat you to an imaginary, all-expenses paid vacation, courtesy of Natasha. Close your eyes and use that imagination!
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Hello adventurers! This is Natasha from the Picablocks. Thanks Alyx for having me today!

I'm a graduate-to-be from Malaysia, and I blog blocks - blocks of pictures, blocks of life. Photos are what drove me to establish this blog, and I think they are what keeps me writing.  Though I share mostly about photography on my little blog, today I want to talk about a Chinese festival - the Mid-Autumn Festival.

This festival, also known as the mooncake festival is celebrated by Asian countries. We celebrate it in Autumn, on the 15th of Ba Yue (August). But, like any other Chinese festival, the date of mooncake festival changes every year on the standard calendar. This year it's on the 30th of September.

To this day, how do the Chinese celebrate the day?

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At night children place candles inside specially made craft lanterns and run around the town in parades. 

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Mid-autumn festival is a day to spend with family. That night, the family gathers and we eat moon cakes, play with lanterns, and admire the moon. During the mooncake festival, the moon is the roundest and biggest of the whole year. It symbolizes this reunion. 

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We eat moon cakes. They are of all sorts of shapes and tastes.

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There are also huge lantern parades and exhibitions from different Chinese organizations. 

The Mooncake festival is a traditional chinese festival that preserves our culture, but the average Chinese people love it because of its warmth. It's that day that families and friends reunite, sit down, and talk about happy things while looking at the moon. 

It literally tops my favorite 5 festivals of all time!

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Have you guys ever been to a traditional festival in another country? I think it's amazing to step back and take a look at all of the different cultures around us. 

If you haven't already, you can stop by Natasha's blog to say hello! Don't forget to enter this giveaway - she's generously giving one lucky reader $50!! 

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WIWW. Einstein Invented the Lightbulb. Living Real Life.

Linking up here. 

top and sweater: Ross leggings: f21 shoes: Walmart necklace: gift

Happy Hump Day!!! 

So I really wanted to tell this funny story about my dad and Einstein, but he told me I'd be out of the will if I blogged about it, so that "dadism" will just have to be left out. It's too bad, really, because it's a pretty funny one. 

Anyway. 

I have to tell you guys something about blogging. It's something I'm sure you all know, but I want to take a minute to say it anyway.

I don't want you guys to leave comments telling me I'm awesome - this post is not me fishing for compliments - I don't want them. I just want you guys to know how I've been feeling lately - why my posts have been lacking in real content and feeling lately.

You see, I got caught up in it - the race for followers, wishing I took exotic trips and had lots of money to host giveaways, hosted link-ups where hundreds of people stayed up until midnight to get their link onto my blog first - I felt inadequate. I got discouraged. I began to look at my own life and think that I was boring, that the things that I do are not good enough. 

Then do you know what happened? I got a slap in the face. Mike (wonderful blogging husband that he is) could tell something was up and asked me about it. I complained to him, telling him about all those bloggers whose blogs make me feel like crap about myself, and do you know what he said (more or less)? 

Blogging isn't life. 

You see, the thing about blogging is this - we share what we think other people will like about us. We pick and choose what the rest of the world sees. 

You know what? I don't have hundreds of dollars to go travel. I don't have 5,000 followers. I don't have extra money laying around to do giveaways. I haven't come up with a genius blog-growing link-up. I also don't have a pet tiger, but if I did, I'd sing this song to it: 

In real life, though, I'm blessed. I have a loving family, I have a roof over my head, clothes on my back, a full-time job, and food to eat. I have a real life, and I'm living it. If I don't have a blog post up every day, it's not the end of the world. If someone else has better pictures, better clothes, gets to go on cool trips, or more money, good for them. 

We all have different lives and different opportunities. You know what that means, though? It means that we all have different struggles. We all feel inferior at times - it's not just me, and it's not just you. It's all of us. 

So. If you start to forget that blogging isn't life, take a step back, and go live your real life. It'll make you feel better. 

Favorite Things Friday

Hiiii guys!! 

First of all, I just wanted to say a huge thank you to all of you who left me book recommendations! I definitely made a folder in my email called "BOOKS" and put them all in there. I'm pretty stoked to start reading some of them!!

Second of all... Thank goodness it's Friday. This week has been a rough one for me, and not just because I spent half of it crawling on the floor with censored boobage.

Anyway, onto my favorite things. The theme this week? YOU!!! 

1. I love the comments you leave. I know that I haven't really had the time to respond to each one lately (I'm slowly working through my inbox...), but I do read them, and they always brighten my day.

2. I love how genuine you all are. Really. I love that you guys keep it real. I love how kind and supportive you all are, and I love that I get to interact with you all on a regular basis.

3. I love that you accept me for who I am. I know I'm weird - no one has to tell me that. I can be a little off-the-wall and slightly ridiculous, but I know that I can share that with you all through the blog, because you're not here to judge (or if you are, you're really good about keeping it a secret).

4. I love that I consider you my "friends." People who aren't members of the blogging community may scoff when I tell them about my "blog friends," but I don't care. I've gotten to know and love so many of you over the past [almost] year, and I feel like we really are friends.

5. I love how supportive you are. In everything. Whether it's good or bad, happy or sad, you guys are there with kind (and genuine) words of encouragement and advice. It may not seem like much, but it does mean a lot to have that support group here. Sheesh, now I sound like we're in an AA meeting.

Sorry for the mush. I just felt like you guys needed to know how much I love and appreciate each of you. Even if you're a lurker - I love that you lurk. I lurk, too. Actually, give me someone who doesn't occasionally lurk, and I will be amazed.

That's all. 

The Latest, yo.

HI!!!! 

Last night I met a blogger. Her name is Emily, and she's awesome. And you know what?! We were horrible bloggers, because we didn't get a single picture together. Oops. Ummm... just take my word for it - she is cool. And you should meet her, too - virtually. 

Anyway.nYou guys, I feel like I have been slammed with design work lately.

So... here's a few of my latest designs. I highly recommend checking them all out, but if you just picked one... I'd go with the first. It's amazing (I'm so humble). And involved lots of extras, which involved the coding ninja working his butt off.

There's a slideshow feature, custom signatures, and a grid of the contributors. I'm glad my husband can do cool stuff and help me out when I need it - he's awesome. That slideshow never would have happened without him. Or me going bald from ripping my hair out. 

I did a redesign of Ali's blog, and it was so fun - she wanted something fairy-tale-esque, and I think this works! If you want to have baby fever... stop by and see the design in action.

 For DB I strived to keep it classy and simple, but not girly. He wanted neutrals that would compliment his food photos rather than distract. If you need good recipes, check him out.

 For Megan's design, I wanted to put her blog title into pictures by using the words. Yeah... that made sense in my head. Anyway, she wanted purple and grey for a color scheme, and I think it turned out great - not too boring and blah, but not too overwhelmingly purple, either.  She has an adorable pup, so if you want to look at cute animals, head over there!

If you are interested in a design, stop by my design page. I am currently working on a couple of projects, but the wait shouldn't be long!

Blah. Blah. Blah.

Blah. 


That's kind of how I'm feeling. If you want to read a non-blah post, you can find one of my guest posts here. You can also find my BBN post on Bad Words in Blogging over here. You may wanna keep this window open and read to the end, though... just sayin. :)

I'm giving away a custom business card design here.

Now that I'm working full time, I don't really have time to answer every single comment that you guys leave and visit all of your blogs.

Basically, I'm choosing to only respond to important comments, but still make the effort to come visit your blogs, because, let's face it - reading your blogs is a heck of a lot more enjoyable than answering emails. So... if I don't reply to every comment you leave, please know that I still appreciate them, and I lurve you all.

In other news, thanks for all of the well-wishes yesterday! Let me tell ya - orientation was sooo exciting. I mean, those 80s videos just really got me excited. How could this hair not give you the warm and fuzzies?

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On a serious note, I'm pretty sure I'll really enjoy my job. And that's the last you'll hear about that, unless I have stupid funny stories (which I'm sure I will, so scratch that last statement.

In other news, I'm planning on doing my little home tour vlog on Thursday. Wooo!! It's finally at a point where I feel that it's presentable enough.

If your name is Amanda C., you won this giveaway. Contact me to claim your prize, yo!!
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And... finally, I have a little end of the month treat for you guys!

I know it's almost time for school to start, and a lot of people are either students or teachers. What better way to celebrate going back than with a $25 gift card to Starbucks and a gift basket to Bath and Body works? I mean, I'm not a student or a teacher, and I'd love to have both. But alas, I cannot have them. You're in luck, though, because Libby is giving away both of the aforementioned things, and you can enter!

Use rafflecopter to enter below!!
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Favorite Things Friday

Howdy, Friends!! 


So... I'm thinking that this is going to be a pretty short post. Mostly because I'm behind on some design work, dead tired, hungry, and grumpy. So... yes, it will be short and sweet.

Favorite Things Friday: Recent Events Edition

1. The home inspection went well! There are really only a few minor things that need fixing. DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS?!?! In about a month, I will finally have my own space again for the first time in a looonnngggg time. And for the first time ever if we're talking about actually owning a home. So happy.

2. I have a second interview. I guess today's interview went well because I'm meeting with the VP of the department in a week and a half or so. I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high, because I don't want to be disappointed if something doesn't work out.

3. Seeing one of my besties and former roomies for the first time in more than a year. I was a dumb-face and didn't get a pic of us together, but here's an oldie but goodie.

4. Learning more about couponing from my SIL. It sounds dorky, but I am so stoked to be learning more ways to save money!!

5. Having the BEST blog readers ever. Seriously, you guys - I cannot thank you enough for all of the support and love you give me. I never would have guessed when I started blogging about 9-10 months ago that I would love the community this much. I'm so grateful to have met all of you - you've made the bad days more bearable and the good days and events even better. I love you all.

Now I'm done being a sap. 

And... I decided to do a Q&A vlog session where I answer your ridiculous questions. They don't have to be ridiculous, but ridiculous is fun. So... if you have a silly question, or something that you've just been dying to know, leave it in the comments section (if you wanna ask anonymously, just make yourself anon in the comments section). If you don't want to watch a vlog... don't leave a question.

But... I like looking like an idiot on camera for you guys, so ask away. :)

Linking this post up with the beautiful Ashley

Once upon a time... I was an angel.

Yo. I'm guest posting here today. Read my post, then stay and check her blog out, because she is super awesome.

Before I get to the main point of this post, I have a very important question for you!

The facts:

SPONSORSHIP OPTIONS WILL CHANGE AND PRICES WILL RAISE IN AUGUST.

My blog has 700+ followers via GFC, Bloglovin, and RSS.

My blog has 550+ followers through social media networks such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

I had over 18,000 pageviews during the month of May, with 3,500+ unique visitors.

I average 600+ page views per day and 30 comments per post.

I have the following ads available for July:

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Details can be found here.

Anyway. Once upon a time, I was an angel.

No, I was not an angel in one of those Christmas pageants. I was never cute, blonde, or curly enough for that role. I'd probably end up being one of the oxen or something.

I was also never one of Charlie's angels, even though it's pretty obvious that I would be awesome at it.

What I was (and still am, actually) is a blog angel. I bet you're wondering what that means. It means that I follow someone's blog, help them out, show them bloggy love, stuff like that. I can't tell you whose angel I am, because that would just not be cool. I can tell you, though, that it's been pretty awesome.

I have no idea who my angel is. Angel, are you out there???


I have to admit, though, it's been pretty tough. I don't really know what more I can do as a bloggy angel that will not be like me standing on the rooftops saying, "[insert name here], I AM YOUR ANGEL!!!" So for now it's been consistent blog reading and commenting, the occasional social media shout out, etc. etc. If anyone has any ideas as to how I could be a better angel, let me know (just don't tell me to wear a halo, because that'll mess up my hurrrr).

If you're interested in being a blog angel, I think Rosie and Kaitlyn are planning on doing this again. But I'm not sure. Just ask Rosie.

Finally, if you are some big-wig Hollywood person casting for the next group of angels for Charlie... PICK ME!!

I Have Socks. And They Have Been Sufficiently Rocked.

Happy 500 Follower Giveaway Day to you
Happy 500 Follower Giveaway Day to you
Happy 500 Follower Giveaway Day dear Awesome Readers, 
Happy 500 Follower Giveaway Day to you!!!!!!!

In case you hadn't already guessed, today is Day One of the 500 Follower Giveaway! This giveaway is to thank you for being there and being awesome for so long. You all rock my socks. Anyway, I broke the giveaway down into two days - one group of prizes is available today, and the other will go up on Wednesday. 


Before I let you kids go crazy, I have something IMPORTANT to tell you. There will be ONE WINNER who takes all of these prizes, UNLESS that winner is international. If that is the case, the international winner will take the prizes that are not captioned with the words "US only," and a person who lives in the United States will be chosen for the non-international prizes.

This giveaway is open for one week and is powered by Rafflecopter. 

blog//facebook//twitter//instagram

(US only)
blog//etsy//pinterest

blog//facebook//twitter//pinterest

blog//bloglovin//twitter//facebook

blog//BlogLovin//Facebook//Instagram

(US only)

facebook//bloglovin//pinterest//twitter



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Are You a Blogging Outcast?

Happy Monday, people! 

Holy moly, guacamole!! Today is going to be the busiest day of my life. I don't plan on having any time to answer your emails or even look at my computer, so if you're expecting some sort of urgent response, you probably will not get it until tonight at like, midnight my time. Which really isn't that late if you're in the states, so you can just ignore this whole paragraph. 

Anyway. While I'm moving out of the apartment and attempting to drive 45 minutes to Frankfurt with a full-size mattress strapped onto a volkswagen golf, you are probably having a grand old time reading blogs and looking for laughs. Am I right? Psh. Of course I am, I don't even know why I asked. 

OKAY. TO THE POINT. I don't know how you've put up with me the last 2 paragraphs, because I already want to punch myself in the face. So anyway (for real this time) I have something hilarious for you today. I actually wish I could take credit, but I can't, because I'm not a thief or a plagiarist. See that totally awesome girl to your left? The awkward one? Right under the header that says, "Blog of the month?" That's Jennie. And she is freaking hilarious. I was in tears from laughing while I read this (granted, it was 4 am and I was a little loopy, but... it'll still make you chuckle, even if you're an emotionless prick). Okay, I will shut up now and let you read. You're welcome. 

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I am a blogging outcast. Stephenie Meyer could probably write a four book/five movie series on why I will never be totally accepted into the same blogosphere as Rockstar Diaries or Daybook, but I'll keep it down to twenty reasons just so your brain doesn't turn into a vegetable.

Ready, go:

1. I don't own anything from Anthropologie or J. Crew.

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2. What's worse is that I've never stepped foot in a J. Crew store in all of my days.

3. Most of my clothes are from Target. In fact I will have you know that my entire outfit today down to mahh undies is from there. Basically I recycle all money they give me ever back into their store. Also I think they should pay me for all of the advertising I give them. Seriously...it's like once a week.

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4. I have a Coach bag. Apparently this is fashion suicide or so I've heard because Coach is the "poor person's designer". Well spotted, guys. I'm poor and you're just gonna have to convince Target to pay me for my two solid years of weekly advertising or just get used to the idea that I can't afford ten kajillion dollar bags.

5. My top knots suck.

6. Wearing thrifted things kind of just grosses me out. Like I can't use toilets because people's bare butts have been on them, so yeah...... In my world I am the only person that ever uses my toilets and also no one has ever has tried on my clothes before I bought them. This rules out thrift stores based on principle alone.

7. If I had it my way, all of my clothes would be turquoise and red. What are these things called "neutrals" that you can supposedly wear with everything because I do not understand.

8. I have a personal vendetta against heels. {the shoes, not the body part}

9. I'm a Mormon and I don't have a "Believe" page linking to lds.org.

10. I sold out and wrote a sponsored post for a company this week. Apparently my dignity is worth less than $10, because that's how much they paid me to write it.

11. I don't have a husband.

12. If I did have a husband, he would not be called Husband or Hubs....probably just his real name or something.

13. I don't like Regina Spektor or Ingrid Michaelson. Please don't hate me.

14. I have better things to do than drink out of a mason jar, yo.

15. Instagram is all but a distant dream.

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16. I reject hipsters as being real people.

17. My blog has a Facebook fan page with like 14 fans. And the only updates that ever go on there are things like "Why do I even have a Facebook fan page? No one even knows." It's like an empty cave in there where all your missing socks vacation to after they disappear from your washing machine.

18. I don't take pictures of my food. I just eat it.

19. I don't have a photography business on the side.

20. And if I did have a photography business, it wouldn't be called "Jennifer Ann Photography". I just Googled that and like twelve hundred websites came up. Way to be creative, photographic visionaries.

And that, New Adventurer's, is why the blogging universe rejects me and will continue to reject me until someone takes pity and buys me an iPhone. I have no more words.

Actually, just so we're clear about the Stephenie Meyer thing, here are the four books:

1. Edward wants to drink Bella's blood and so he watches her in her room while she sleeps because he equates that with love.

2. His lips are as cold and smooth as marble. {this alone equates to like 1/3 of the book. seriously, it's like every other sentence.}

3. They don't have sex because he wants to get married at 17 years old. But really he's like 107, so it's okay.

4. They get married and have sex finally and then she gets knocked up likethat with his clearly superior vampire sperm.

5. She has a vampire baby with the stupidest name ever and then her ex-boyfriend falls in love with her infant daughter.

6. The king vampire guys decide they don't like the Cullens anymore, so they come to Washington for a huge fight and then everyone just stands around a field for like 200 pages and looks at each other angrily and talks about their feelings.

BAM. Now where's my $750,000 advance, HarperCollins?? I need a new non-Coach bag.
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See? I told you she was awesome. Now go to her blog. Because there is more funny stuff there. :)

Sunday Confessions Link Up

Hola!! 


It's that time again... Grab a button and link up!

<center><a href="http://itsalyx.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7148/6701442513_4c7153a301.jpg" width="200" height="200" /></a></center>

1. I do not feel like blogging today. Really. So... you'll be lucky if I make it to five confessions. Sometimes you just have those days, and today is one of them. Actually, yesterday was, too. The only reason you got a post was because I wrote it a couple months ago and just saved it for a rainy day (or, ya know, a day where blogging is the last thing I want to do).

2. Along with not feeling like blogging... I also don't feel like emailing. Maybe I will later today, but not right now. I'm calling in sick to blogland.

3. I'm afraid that my blog will be really lame once we move back to the states. I know that my blog probably won't really change that much, but I'm afraid no one will want to read once I'm back home and back to my mundane life.

4. I'm frickin' stressed. There, I said it. Our landlord is being a douche and trying his hardest to rip us off. I'm terrified that we're going to lose our $1000 deposit on the place, and we really need that for a car. We have fought tooth and nail, but aren't sure what's going to happen, and I'm freaking out. Like, seriously. I'm probably going to have a breakdown here pretty soon because I generally just let things build up until I can't take it anymore. I have the feeling that the straw that will break the camel's back is coming soon (yes, I just made myself a camel).

5. I sometimes forget to wear deodorant. So frickin' sue me - it happens. Usually it's when I've pressed snooze 50 times and literally only have time to brush my teeth and throw some clothes on. I will never forgo the tooth brushing for deodorant, sorry.

Changes. Bikes. Cats. Nephews. Homework. Etc.

Yooooooo. 


If you haven't already, you should go check out (and join!) the Better Blogger Network. I'm one of their bloggers, and it's a pretty awesome place to network and find great new blogs to read!


So. Starting next month, there's going to be some pretty huge changes around these parts. In no particular order, they are: 


- we're going to be spending a whole lot of time with these. AKA I'm going to be getting my butt back into shape and making Husband come with me.

- I'm accepting sponsors again. Heaven help me, I decided to start sponsorship again. I have ONE feature spot, THREE medium, and TWO small left. Let me know if you want one. Don't worry, though - my blog will not be taken over by guest posts - it is my blog, and it will stay that way.

- we're going to be homeless and car-less. We have no idea where we're going to live. We thought we'd be moving to Buffalo, NY, but now we may not have to, so we're in the middle of a waiting game. 


- I'm going to be doing a whole lot of this. I have a feeling that grad school is going to kick my butt.

- I'm going to spend time with this guy. Hopefully he remembers me.

- and this guy. I will cry if he hates me/ doesn't know who I am.

- we will be sleeping on a bed big enough for two giants. Halle-freaking-lujah. I think I would have died if I had to sleep on a double any longer.

- a new blog design and some new bloggy features. When life changes come... so do blog changes.

So... I don't know if you caught on, but we're going home. It's about a month and a half earlier than we were supposed to, but we had some problems with our plane tickets, and I'm kind of really upset about it. I've avoided the topic here because we had some big travel plans that got thrown out the window with the news that we were headed home early, and it was really disappointing to me.

It's also hard for me because I have spent a total of almost five years of my life living in Germany, and I can see myself here for five more (only maybe with real jobs and not an 800 EUR a month salary). I am so torn, because I love it here so much, but I know that there are better things for us in the United States right now.

Basically... it's really bittersweet, and my poor little heart is kinda breaking. Mostly because I'm gonna miss the schnitzel. Okay, that was a lie - it's because I'm a big wimp. 

Happy 6 Months to my Blog!

Happy Blogiversary to ME!!! 

Wow. It's been Six months since I started this blog. I had a "blog" before from a couple years ago, but it had like, 3 posts and no followers. I decided to give it another go and created this little gem. 

I thought I'd show you how it's "grown up" over the months before anything else...

As you can see, it took some name changes and learning about designing to get to where it is now, but I think I'm happy with it. 

I can tell you what I've learned about myself in the past 6 months. 

1. I love to write, and I have a very unique writing style. I used to be really self-conscious about it, especially in my upper level English classes. Other people were using huge words and trying to sound as intelligent as possible, and then here I was - writing the way I talk, translating my exact self onto the paper. I've grown to love my writing style now, though, because it's different. It's not better, and it's not worse - it's different. 

2. I LOVE to do design. Oh my gosh. Seriously. I never would have learned Photoshop and other Adobe products without this blog. I love it so much that it's hard for me to step away from the computer while I'm working on a blog design. I'm in the middle of a blog right now for someone who just went on a 3 week trip, and it's killing me to just leave her blog there unfinished! 

3. I love the friendships that I have made. There are so many wonderful people out there, and I'm so glad that I've "met" all of you through this blog. I'm glad for the Skype "double" dates that we have with Ali and her husband. I'm glad for the real-life game nights that we have had with Daryl and her husband. I'm glad for all of the wonderful emails that I get from readers on a daily basis, and the friendships that have stemmed from those. 

4. I have a weird thing about lists of five. Never would have known that if I didn't start blogging. 

5. I apparently have lots of other weird things that I do. Most of which have been made public on the blog. 

I can give you links to my 5 most popular posts.

1. Sunday Confessions from December 2011

2. Our Engagement Story

3. Favorite Things Friday from January 2012

4. Wedding Mishap of the Century

5. WIWW, SOPA & PIPA

And finally... I can tell you all THANK YOU. 

Thank you for finding my blog. Thank you for reading my blog. Thank you for following my blog. Thank you, thank you, thank you!! 

Oh, and we all know that since you follow my blog, you're obviously awesome, so thank you for being awesome. 


PS: You can still enter your awesome self in the giveaway here.