Button Button Get Your Button

A new dawn has come to my corner of the blogoshphere and at the risk of sounding like I am tooting my own horn; I am going to tell you about it.

I have created a button.

All by myself.

For free.


I am no graphic artist nor do I have any knowledge of HTML gibberish. However; many YouTube videos and Google searches have proven that with the internet and a little grit, all things are possible.

I wanted a button for my blog and I wanted to make it myself. I toyed with the idea of buying some fancy Adobe program and YIKES... who knew they were so expensive? That statement alone testifies to my true cluelessness.

Then I discovered what I'm sure many bloggers discovered ages ago, Pixlr. And now I'm forever changed.

If you are not sure what a button is, you are in the exact same boat I was in 3 months ago. Yes, we can journey quite far in 3 months.

Don't feel bad, I will tell you. It is a little picture representing a website that when clicked, takes you to that site. (Kind of like when you click a photo on Pinterest.)

I have lots of them in my sidebar for sites I really like/visit often.

So now, if you are a blogger, you can feel free to grab my sacred little homemade code and plaster that baby anywhere you like.

It may not be fancy or dynamic. It may violate some laws of design that I have never heard of. And in all honesty, it may not even work. But it is my precious and I'm proud of it.






 Sidenote: If you are a blogger, how do you do your design? Do you DIY? What programs do you use? Do you want to be my mentor!? (JK... but not really.)


UPDATE: I couldn't leave well enough alone and revised it one more time. Here is the finished product!

Enough Said

Trying a Post From My iPhone

Trying a little post from the ole cell phone. This will probably be my main mode of blogging for now because IT'S MOVING WEEK!

Moving adventures for the weekend included getting up at 5AM, holding our first yard sale where in a stroke of genius I offered someone 3 picture frames for a dollar or 25 cents each (she took them for the 25c), and Andrew dumpster diving at the liquor store with his dad for more boxes. Isn't that always the problem... MORE BOXES PLEASE!

We are taking a rest to watch The Bachelorette tonight. T-6 days. This time next week all those pesky boxes will be opened. Surreal.

InstaFriday and we move in 8 DAYS!

Here is a quickie week in pictures. I only have 4 boring pictures for you. Let's just say things are CRAZY around here gearing up for the big move. To be honest, that is probably all I will talk aboout for the next 8 days. 8 DAYS!

Whew.

Can I just say I love you and can't wait to FINALLY blog about life in New Orleans... the whole reason I started this thing in the first place. Thanks for listening to me ramble about the anticipation for three solid months. You are real troopers.

Here is a snapshot of what this week has been like:



1. Still sporting last weeks nails. Makes me feel like a little girl again.

2. All the lovely cookware I WONT be taking to New Orleans. Dern.

3. I tried to make this look dreamy. It just turned out blurry. Oh well, kitchen appliances in boxes never were that glamorous. (I just had to sing "Glamorous" in my head to remember how to spell it... the flossy flossy)

4. Scraped up change from the bottom of my purse to buy these $1.07 red shades. I'm getting so risky in my fashion choices. If for nothing else they will look cute cheering on the DAWGS!

HAPPY FRIDAY Y'ALL! Here's to one last weekend in Valdosta!

Linking up as always with the lovely bloggers at Life Rearranged.

My Favorite Things!

So I’m really thrilled that I am finally prepared for Carolyn’s new link party: My Favorite Things Thursdays! For some reason it was really hard for me to think of my favorite things off the top of my head so I just started noticing what things I use on a daily basis that I feel like I can’t live without (or really wouldn’t want to live without!)

For starters, I really love love LOVE my Camelbak 24oz water bottle. I definitely get a gold star when it comes to water consumption. I kid you not; I have refilled this thing 3-5x per day for the past 2 years. No lie. It has held up beautifully and saved me a bundle on bottled water… not to mention reduced my carbon footprint. Maybe I should get a green star instead.

I also love my Keurig. My in-laws gave it to me for Christmas last year. They totally read my mind because it was the one Christmas present I really wanted but didn’t ask for. Hooray! It is perfect for me because I am the only person in my home who drinks coffee and I only drink 1 cup per day (er… most days). I find that although K Cups are pricier than bags of coffee (and of course I insist on Starbucks which are probably the priciest K Cups around) it works for me because I am not wasting coffee like I did when I brewed in my traditional coffee maker.

And for me, no cup of coffee would be complete without my Stevia all natural sweetener by Kal. I am extremely fortunate that my stepdad owns a health food store so I can stock up on this stuff for free. It took me a while to adjust to the taste of Stevia after being a die-hard Splenda addict but now I can’t even tell the difference.  If you have any questions about Stevia and/or natural and artificial sweeteners just leave a comment. I have some really good resources to point you to!

Last but not least, the only non-food related item is my go-to summer scent, Fan di Fendi by Fendi. My very hip aunt is a VP with Macy’s and gets to do all sorts of cool fashion related things and try all kinds of new products. I am often the beneficiary of said products, namely perfumes, which happen to be one of my favorite things! She gave me this one (along with a Dior eye concealer, score) around April and it has quickly become one of my favorite fragrances. It is so summery and light. My all time favorite ever is Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel but Fendi has pulled in a close second and has definitely been a nice summer alternative. 

If you are still reading at this point, I owe you a debt of gratitude. I never thought I could write so much about 4 silly little luxuries that make daily living more enjoyable but alas… I’ve never really been at a loss for words. Maybe next time I’ll scale it down.

Don’t forget to click over to Silly Happy Sweet and see what other bloggers are linking up!

And because I am very THANKFUL for these tiny things that make life nice, I am linking up with Ryan for Thankful Thursday as well!

The Creole Cottage

Good Wednesday to you all! Last week I discovered what I think is going to be a gem of a shopping experience in New Orleans. It's a local interiors shop called The Creole Cottage. It is owned by a mother-daughter duo who take old pieces of furniture and upcycle them to new chic life and then sell them at reasonable prices. Yes!

(I'm loving this fence headboard... click on the picture to see it and other great items in The Creole Cottage online shop)


Needless to say, I am planning to drop by asap. Nothing like looking forward to a shopping experience to escape the stresses of moving.

On that note I better get back to tying up loose ends at work and emotionally eating Oreos.

Speaking of food... I went really light on the grocery shopping this week knowing we needed to use up what we already had, so I am looking forward to an enviable lunch of frozen broccoli and pecans at my desk, yum!

I truly hope your lunch plans are half as good as mine.

Linking up with Simple Design... because everyone needs to know about this.

In 10 Days

We are moving to New Orleans in 10 days.
In 10 days I am leaving a stable career-enhancing job with benefits.
In 10 days Andrew is going to be a full time student.
In 10 days we will be 6 hours from the nearest family member.
In 10 days we are leaving a 3/2 home for a 2/1.
In 10 days we won’t have a definite source of income.

Deep breath.

People have done crazier things and made bigger sacrifices and adjustments. When I stare in the face of these realities I feel somewhat weak for crying over them 5 times this weekend. I feel a little selfish that most of my worries are material. I get a pang of hypocrisy that I appear to be handling it all so well. I get a sense of guilt over my struggle. We chose to do this. Any trouble with it is ours to swallow… right?

And there is always the lingering thought, what if it turns out like last time?

I want to be writing this post, telling you all about how faithful the Lord has been to me in all these things. How He has quieted my soul, taken my heavy load and delivered peace.

He has indeed been faithful. The problem is not His faithfulness, it’s mine. I have certainly been running on the fumes of emotion the past few weeks and they are running me ragged. I haven’t been drinking deep from the well of living water. I haven’t been waiting, resting, and seeking Him.

I somehow always allow this to happen when change comes. Things get busy, chaotic, important, or urgent and I somehow shift my power source from Him to myself. Like deep down the autopilot is still Charlotte and not Christ in me. Such is the battle of the flesh, I suppose. Will it be this way the rest of my earthly days?

I’m praying about it. I’m praying that my ever inward turned eyes would fix their gaze on Jesus and others in order to get a little perspective. That I might prioritize my need for Him above my need for sleep, exercise, cute hair.

He is with us now, He was with us the first time, and He is already there preparing the way. I’m marking my words because I know He who began something in me and in Andrew WILL be faithful until it is complete.

Giveaway Video Announcement + InstaFriday

CONGRATS TO THE WINNER! 

Here is a little video of the drawing so you know I'm being ethical about the whole thing.  Just scroll to the bottom to see who the winner is if you don't want to watch the video. I wouldn't blame you if you skipped it... I'm severely squeaky.

Whew, now that that's over here is my InstaFriday love for ya. If you saw my last post you know I might not be back on the scene for several days because we have a lot of traveling and packing going on right now. I hope you all have a marvelous weekend and again, THANK YOU all so much for participating in my giveaway! And thank you Silly Happy Sweet for making it possible! It's been a blast! Love you ALL.

1. made an amazing salad, hubby grilled the chick

2. hosted a giveaway (did I tell you that already?)

3. Coyacan double date night

4.Wet n Wild RefreshMint + Sally Hansen Salon Effects Polish Strips

5. other 1/2 of Coyacan double date

6.-10. just trying to get a good one with the BFF :)

And congrats again to Stasia of Our Life on a Budget! She writes a great blog so click on over and check her out!

Also Linking up here:

 

Just Can't do it All

I really wanted to have a fantastic post for you today about one of my favorite things for Carolyn’s new linky party “My Favorite Things Thursdays” but it just didn’t happen. Hopefully I will be ready next week.

Right now I am kind of just keeping my head above water. I decided it would be alright for Andrew and I to totally max ourselves out by adding as much friend and family time as possible to packing and finishing up our jobs.

I still feel that way. I think traveling to five different towns over the next five days will be worth it to spend time with the ones we love before we move many states away, even if it leaves us exhausted. But what I also feel is that something’s gotta give and right now it’s blogging.

I can’t wait to announce the winner of the giveaway! I am blown away by your comments and so humbled and thankful that you take time from your busy lives to read my little words. I will still be announcing the winner tomorrow. However, I might be away for a few days so that I can be fully present with my flesh and blood people. I know you understand and I love you for that.

Take a sec and head over to Silly Happy Sweet to check out tons of product reviews/favorite things from around the blogosphere… it’s sure to please!

Weekend Recap and a BIG Surprise!

Good Afternoon! I’m linking up today with my new, very cool, very hilarious blog friend Molly for YOLOMONDAYS! In case you were wondering, YOLO stands for You Only Live Once. This is my chance to tell you guys about anything I want and share it with other bloggers which is basically what I do everyday anyway. YOWZA! If you have a sec, check out Molly's stylish closet and buy something in support of her upcoming mission trip to Kenya.

Also, I have a VERY exciting surprise I will share at the end… so stay tuned!

I hope you all had a great weekend. We sure did. My daddy and stepmom Nancy hosted a BBQ for all of our family as kind of a going away party of sorts. This was very cool for me because it is not often that we are all together. The Donaldson’s weren’t able to make it which was sad (we missed y’all) but both my parents, both step parents, all of my siblings, and my grandma were there. Fun and fabulous food was had by all!

My weekend ended with a bang last night. My adorable friend Staci gashed her leg on a broken piece of glass while taking out the trash. The girl ended up having to get 5 stitches. Who knew trash could be so dangerous? I had the honor of going to the ER with her while her hubby (and my hubby) played video games took care of their three kids. We really made the most of it and laughed and talked the entire time. I took a bazillion pictures of the experience including the actual stitching. What on Earth possessed me to do that I will never know? It just seemed right at the time.

We encountered a man in the ER who brought in his wife because she was epileptic and about to have a grand mal seizure. He was having such a hard time because he was trying to take care of his wife and their 8 month old baby. It was heartbreaking to watch. Staci and I tried to help with the baby but fortunately they were whisked away to a room. I know this is a little odd but if you have a minute could you just pray for this family? I don’t know their names but I know they are going through a difficult time right now. Thanks.

Ok time for the exciting news… I’m going to host my first GIVEAWAY! My friend Carolyn of Silly Happy Sweet generously included a little something extra with the necklace I ordered and said I could do with it as I pleased. She is so kind! Since I love you all so much and appreciate you visiting my blog, I have decided to give it away to one lucky reader! I don’t know what it is yet but it is bound to be a super stylish handmade accessory that ANY of you would love and since my blog is read by about 5-7 people daily, the odds are definitely in your favor. Get excited! I will be posting the details this week so keep checking back and have yourself a great Monday!

First Handmade Jewelry Purchase!

Hey Guys! I just purchased this necklace from my blog friend Carolyn's shop Silly Happy Sweet. Isn't is great? I can't wait to show it off once I get it. Expect a full blog report! Until then, check out her shop and while you're at it check out her blog too!

Photo by ShutterChic Photography

Week of the Fourth in Pictures!

It's that time again! Here is what I have been up to this week.

1. One of my BFF's and former college roomate, Kathryn, came down from Atlanta to visit and we got together with Katie for a girls night!

2. We face timed our other BFF, Faren in Nashville (rising country music star) and she didn't want to be seen. She is practicing for paparazzi.

3. Wet n' Wild 99 cent Mega Last nail polish in Refresh Mint and Club Havana

4. Fourth of July Party at work.

5. Surprise trip to Auburn. Waking up Caleb upon arrival!

And as always, linking up with Jeanett. Have an amazing weekend!

NOLA Update and Thankful Thursday!

Well folks the time is nearing. We are moving into our new apartment at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in exactly 23 days. It doesn’t seem real. We are slowly packing up our house even though I continue to decorate it. The way I figure, 3 weeks is long enough to enjoy what we see around us every day.

We are cramming in family and friend time left and right. We took a spontaneous trip to Auburn to see Andrew’s side for the fourth. And by spontaneous I mean we had just ordered an appetizer at Cheddar’s Tuesday night when we decided it would be fun to surprise the Donaldsons. So we got the check, ate the onion rings, got in the car and drove to Auburn with nothing more than the clothes we were wearing.

I know it sounds ridiculous but it was absolutely worth it. We won’t be able to do that in 23 days. We won’t be able to do that when we have children. Carpe Diem, right?

We are planning a yard sale for July 21^st and I am 100% clueless. I have never held a yard sale nor have I been to one. I know I’m missing out but they are always so darn early in the morning. However, we have lots of nice things that we no longer need or use and we volunteered to sell lots of Scott and Sarah’s nice things that they no longer use. If you have ANY tips, links, or resources you could share about yard saling share them GENEROUSLY with me. Don’t assume I already know something. I don’t.

Speaking of Scott and Sarah… they left for NOLA on Monday!!! They are all settled in to their apartment and are adjusting to life in a new city. Please keep them in your prayers as they begin seminary life. I am really going to miss them over the next few weeks. Our friendship grew by leaps and bounds in the short time we spent together in Valdosta. Getting to know them has been one of the coolest acts of God in my life. If you don’t know why, just read this post.

I’m linking up with Ryan @The Ramblings of Mrs. Hargrave for Thankful Thursdays. All I can really say is “What am I not thankful for these days?” Things are pretty good right now. But this week in particular I’m thankful for that little spontaneity that allowed us precious time with family. I’m thankful for taking a nap with my nephew yesterday. I’m thankful for pulling over on the side of the road to watch fireworks on the drive home. And I’m thankful that my mother-in-law saves everything so this little munchkin can dress up in her mommy’s old dance costumes.

I Made a Pillow

Warning: this is not a tutorial. Please, no one learn to sew from me. 

I sewed a pillow and honestly the events leading up to the birth of this pillow were kind of magical.

To begin with, I really wanted to learn to sew and a few months ago my sweet mother-in-law gifted me her old sewing machine from when Andrew and his sisters were growing up. 

She got it serviced from head to toe so it would be in tip-top shape for me to learn. It sews beautifully (as far as I know).

Meanwhile, I really wanted new bedding for our guest bed but in the event of moving to New Orleans that went way to the bottom of the priority list.

Yesterday I went to Hobby Lobby to scope out the fabric scraps so that I could get one to practice sewing. I found a great scrap for $2.70. I repeat, two dollars and seventy cents.

I might not have purchased this fabric for $10 but for $2.70 I decided I liked it and it would make a great practice pillow.

The colors in the fabric really didn’t go with anything in our house.  

So the guestroom. Oh that dern guestroom.The bed had a girlie pink and green pastel quilt and big green euro pillows and I had just been over it for a while. Remember this embarassing picture?

What I really wanted was white bedding with funky colorful pillows. Akin to this...

And then BAM. It hit me. I could just turn the quilt over (backwards) so that its perfectly WHITE underside would show.

I could use my cheapo fabric that didn't go with anything else in our house to make a pillow.

And the bedding of my desires (sort of) would be mine. For $2.70.

Is this what Martha Stewart feels like?

I flipped my quilt, sewed up the pillow, and just as if my fairy godmother of craftiness had sprinkled me with pixie dust, I achieved a satisfactory look for my guest room and accomplished my first real sewing job. 

I feel so proud, the only word that keeps going through my mind is "booya."