Blog Award – Sweet

I was given this award by Krystle over at Pictures & Plane Tickets...awhile ago and I’m sad to report it’s taken me WAY too much time to thank her and pass it along. So Krystle, I love you!! Thank you!!

The Liebster Award is given to blogs with less than 200 followers and is passed from Blogger to Blogger, each hand-picked by the previous recipient. It is a fun a way to get the word out about newer blogs and it allows the bloggers to “Pay It Forward” by nominating some of their favorite blogs.

So without further ado… I’m Giving this Award to:

Mila from Lofty Appetite 

Mila’s blog is Eclectic to say the least. This blog cover’s everything from book reviews, to meal ideas to The Bachelorette!!! If you want a variety check this girl out.

Sarah from Beauty Vigilante

Want a blog that has real unedited photos of the makeup on our shelves? Then check out Sarah! I love her fresh and fun ideas and I’m so glad there is no airbrushing!!

Danica from Good Heart

I love Danica’s approach to fresh photography, clean layouts and great articles!!

Clean Eating Haul

How do I eat clean? I’ve been getting asked this a lot. First I want to tell you that I probably don’t do it the “right” way and I don’t eat clean 100% of the time. I do what is best for my family. It get’s easier every week we do it and the changes I’ve seen really are a testament to why we are doing this. One of the hardest things to do is to purge out the artificial sugar from your body…can’t tell you how much I craved cupcakes, candies, etc.. and couldn’t control how much I ate of them.  Now I don’t have a problem saying no or just having a bite or two if it’s a special occasion (like I said…I’m not 100% because it’s just not viable for me)

My weekly haul usually consists of:

- Fresh Fruit (and lottttsss of it!) I like Berries, Apples, Banana’s, Lemon’s, Kiwi, Mango, Watermelon and Limes.

What I make with them: Smoothies (LOTS of smoothies), Snack Bowls that I can take with me to work, “Banana Splits”, Fruit Salads etc.

- Veggies – Peppers, carrots, Corn, Onions and Lettuce. I buy Green Beans, Peas and Broccoli either frozen or in a can since Wes isn’t a huge fan.

What I make – Stir Fry, Veggie Chips, Snack Bowls – I haven’t ventured out too much with veggies.

Protein – We eat  a lot of protein. We eat beef, chicken, pork, almonds, nuts and beans.

What I make – Grilled Lemon Chicken, Roasted Red Pepper Chicken, Basil Garlic Pork Chops, Peppered Stir Fry, Strawberry and Almond Chicken etc… The sky is the limit.

-Misc. Items – I like to buy whole wheat english muffins, whole wheat or granola cereal, Hagen dais ice cream, “Simply” Drinks, organic eggs and Milk.

Wes and I don’t eat out throughout the week so all of this food lasts us through breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. We usually spend $55-75 a week depending on sales.

My rule of thumb is to buy 80% Fresh Ingredients (fruit, veggies, meats) and then the other things I buy have to have less than 5  healthier ingredients that I can pronounce.

The hardest part of Clean Eating is keeping the menu fresh. So if you eat clean or have a great clean recipe I’d love to have it.

How to: Save a Dark Photo!

You have taken your photos and then you open them up and they are took dark.

You swear, get mad and then are overcome with a tinge of sadness (is this only me?). Never fear!! You can fix those pictures, it may not be perfect BUT it can be done. I’ll show you how (no photoshop or lightroom needed).

Example A: dark and under exposed photo

Pretty bad – You can’t even tell who I am. First step head over to PicMonkey an upload your photo. Then follow these steps:

1. Click on Exposure
- Move the Brightness Slider to about 35
- Move the Highlight Bar to about 5
- Move the Shadows Bar to about 7

2. Click on Colors
- Move Saturation into the Negative to about -8

3. Click on the Effect Tab (looks like Chemistry Bottle)
- Click on Tint
- Move the Tint Color to a light Peach (There is a color bar you can move       around)
- Then slide the Fade Bar to about 75%
- Change the Dropdown box from Normal to Screen

Last Step….

Add Tranquil Effect on the photo and fade to about 75% or until you get a good look.

Final Product:

an awesome vintage looking photo… Taking OH NO to YAY!!

Your other options is to turn your photo Black and White, then go back to the Exposure tab and move the Brightness, Highlights and Shadows until your happy. Black and White can fix almost anything

Random Advice

How many times have you been searching for an answer to a question that has been lingering in your mind for awhile? Then the answers comes out of nowhere?

When I mean out of nowhere I mean NOWHERE. For example – I had a wide awakening last night and I wasn’t sure how I was going to deal with it, how could I put so much time and energy into something that could be gone in a snap. Then today I was watching Let’s Make A Deal (it’s great daytime TV) and a movie trailer came on (don’t ask for the movie…I don’t remember) but this person said: “In the end everything will be alright, if it’s not alright…then it’s not the end.”

So instead of overreacting over getting worked up over something I can’t have control over, I’m going to go with the tide instead of fighting it.

Please tell me I’m not the only one who gets life advice from a movie trailer…or fortune cookie

To: All Women

You work hard, don’t forget to play hard. You have a purpose, you just may not know what yet. We are strong. Being your own best friend isn’t ever a bad thing. Take on your problems, not the worlds. Rise to the occasion…big or small. A new adventure isn’t a new life, just an enhanced one.

Have you ever had an Epiphany? I have one big work event a year, usually I end up overdoing it to say the least. I treat it as it’s my event and if it isn’t perfect it’s my fault. Well as they say getting older comes wisdom (or something like that) so I decided to be and Indian this year and I can’t tell you how much MORE enjoyable this event was. I looked at it through different colored glasses and helped when needed, took the initiative when needed but also stepped back when I wasn’t needed. The event was amazing, I got to see it from a whole new perspective and I’m happy to report my stress level went down.

So, this made me think, what else do I make into a bigger deal than it needs to be? Is this what it’s like to grow up because I’m not going to lie, it is amazing and I am loving it.

Things I’ve Decided

I have decided I am not a Fashion Blogger. I’m too “plain jane”

I have decided my blog will no longer reflect or try to be a fashion blog.

I have decided I will still post certain outfits but it won’t be everyday.

I have decided that I want to be me and my real voice will be heard.

I have decided that if you continue to read once I re-vamp I’ll love you even more.

I have decided that if you don’t comment…I’ll be sad, since I love to talk.

Stay Tuned….

3 Things Successful People Do

Lately I’ve been running around like a chicken with my head chopped off. I am currently working 4 different types of jobs. Don’t get me wrong, I love to be busy and I love have different options throughout my day BUT one thing is certain; my life is spinning out of control. I look at every opportunity and take even if it means I’ll have to miss family time or me time, this needs to change.

So I started re-searching some of the business people who I admire and I tried to analyze what they do and how I can adapt it to myself.

1. Work S.M.A.R.T – Meaning I need Specific Measurable Attainable Relevent and Timely Goals. As much as you may love to do something, if it isn’t doesn’t put you where you want to be in a reasonable amount of time with full effort, it’s time to redesign what you are doing in your life.

2. Work outside my comfort zone. When are you really ready for that one opportunity you are waiting for? The answer is never. You have to take the opportunity in front of you and work the parts you know to your best ability and then work on figuring out the rest as you go.

3. Maintain Balance. This is the hardest one for me right now, maintaining a balance. What is a balance, what do I want to balance?  It’s time for me to put pen to paper and figure out my balance…for all parties involved sake.