It’s Friday Ya’ll!

Happy Friday Ya’ll!

I’m linking up with Fabulous but Evil and her “Nail Files” partay…..

This is Essie “Trophy Wife”
LOL!  I totally didn’t know that was the name…but trophy wife I am not!

I just had to share some photos of my goofy boy!  He’s been so much fun lately!
Ya know because I am one crazy Mama!

I also got my 2nd Citrus Lane box in yesterday…..

I love getting surprises in the mail!  This month’s theme was bath time & here’s what we got :

If you want to join Citrus Lane it’s so much fun!  Every month you get a box specifically designed for your child.  Sign up HERE.  And Take 20% off the cost of your subscription with code 20TODAY.

Aren’t these cookies the cutest!  They are from a place called Jrae’s and are SOOOOOO good!
Have a great weekend!!!




Top 5 Blog Posts People Love to Read

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about blogging.  What we post, why we post, what draws in the most readers.  This particular post is my opinion and it doesn’t mean it’s true or works….or whatever….it’s just thoughts I ‘ve had.

These are things I think people like to read about and also things that draw in the most traffic to your blog:

1.  “HOW TO” POSTS

I love to read tutorials and “how to’s” on how to do things.  Whether it be crafts or hairstyles…people not only want to see pictures, they want to know HOW to get it done.  For example: Kate over at The Small Things Blog started posting about hairstyles and tutorials.  Her blog has not been around long, but I’ve watched it jump from a meager 100-something followers to over 12K followers in what seems like overnight. 

Thanks to Pinterest, we now have a great tool to showcase our “how to” and tutorial posts.  People gravitated towards her blog because it was something they could relate to and something they could possibly do themselves. 

Now, I do have to say that just because you see a hairstyle/hair color on someone it DOESN’T mean it’s right for you….trust me I know this!  But they are fun to look at and get inspiration from!

2. PICTURE & VIDEO POSTS

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again.  People are very “visual”.  I love to read good writing as well, don’t get me wrong.  But when you get down to the nitty gritty people want to “connect” and by seeing photos and videos of the person they are reading about really helps connects the author to their audience.

3.  GIVEAWAYS & REVIEWS

Who doesn’t love a good giveaway?  I do!  It’s fun for you and your readers.  It increases your traffic, especially when you promote via Twitter and Facebook.  When I do a giveaway or a review I really try to think of things that belong on my particular blog.  I wouldn’t be doing a review or giveaway for video gamers because it’s just not something I’m into.  Think of things YOU like and want to share.  It never hurts to contact a company directly, I mean the worst they can say is “No” right? I’ve sent out so many emails requesting giveaways or review sponsorship….and some say no…some say yes.  You never know unless you give it a shot!  Everyone LOVES free stuff! 

4.  LINK UPS

Link ups are a great way to meet other bloggers and promote your own as well.  As you may recall from yesterday’s post I recently participated in a coffee mug swap.  By participating in this link up it gives me a chance to put my blog out there on someone else’s website and I get to read about bloggers I would have never found otherwise.  It also increases YOUR traffic because they will click on your linkup and lead them to your site.  It’s also a lot of fun 🙂

5.  ASK QUESTIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS, & TIPS

By asking questions or getting recommendations, and tips from other bloggers it draws your audience in.  It allows readers to participate in a conversation.  It also allows you to respond to them!  (Please go and connect your email to your Blogger acct! It makes it so much easier to respond to comments!) By engaging in issues/asking questions/or whatever it may be it makes you seem more personable and approachable.  I’m not just a blogger, I’m an actual person…with feelings and opinions too.  Keep that in mind and try to be kind folks 😉  Even if you don’t necessarily agree it’s always good to put a voice out there and you never know who you may help or influence!

Whelp….that’s it for today! 

I thoroughly enjoy blogging and everything it has brought to my life.  I feel like it’s a blessing and so many good things have come from it and I hope you enjoy it too!  I’ve been blogging since 2006 and that’s a long time in bloggy land.  My blog has never “hit it big”, but I do enjoy it.  Blogging should never feel like work and it should be something you enjoy.  I can truly say I enjoy it.  And if you don’t have a blog….it’s never to late to start!

I’ll leave you with my sugar booger and his new shades 🙂

It’s FRIDAY tomorrow peeps!
Put a smile on it! 🙂

Coffee Mug Swap Update+Birchbox

I participated in a coffee mug swap over at Suzels Says
My partner was Lori and she did a GREAT job at picking me out the perfect coffee mug 🙂
I LOVE IT!!!
Thank you Lori!!!

 Here is a look at April’s Birchbox :

This months box was “okay” I definitely liked last month a lot better…..regardless the box is ALWAYS worth more than the $10 you pay.  I used some of the Befine cleanser last night & it definitely scrubs well.

 Have a great day yuns!



Some Randomness about ME.

I received this award from Melissa over at Bless this Nest
THANK YOU!!!
Its the Versatile Blogger Award!

7 Random Facts about me:

1. I love to shop on Ebay.  I am always looking for a good bargain.  If I see something in the store I’ll immediately look for it on sale online.
 
2. I hate it when people smack food or breathe too loud.  I know. Freakishly stupid and probably things people can’t help.  I annoy my twin sister when I crunch ice.  Sometimes I do it just BECAUSE!!! Har har har!!!

3. I often imagine what it would be like to have a little girl…and lately that thought has been popping up more in my mind.  Although I would love to give Connor a sibling (boy or girl) the time just isn’t right yet.  I want to give Connor a great quality of life and in order to do that we have to plan accordingly.  We are big PLANNERS can you tell?  We like to be prepared.

4. We’ve been looking at buying a bigger house with a separate office and extra bedroom.  But I don’t know if I want to take that step or if it’s worth it.  I don’t want to be house poor. We do, however, need to decorate and finally make the home we DO have a “home” and I think we will be just fine 🙂

Decorating tips and advice welcome!!!

5. Several people have asked before what my drink of choice is at Starbucks – it’s an iced caramel macchiatto.  By the way Dr. Oz recommends you drink 3 cups of coffee a day and it does wonders to prevent cancer! *wink* *wink*  Just don’t add whole milk, sugar, and all that whip….it’s naughty.

6. I cannot stop thinking about when our next trip will be.  Will it be here in the US or overseas again?  I think I have officially caught the travel bug.

7. I am on meds for anxiety.  I often feel like I can never keep up and it overwhelms me.  I love blogging, but sometimes I just feel so stupefied by everything & start comparing and that is the LAST thing I need in my life.  So I blog for me, myself, and my family.  That.is.it.  I love reading all your blogs…when I have a chance to catch up!  My blog friends and readers mean so much to me and I love hearing all your voices every day!  OCD issues…..I got em!

I would like to nominate these wonderful blogs for this award:

I don’t know who to nominate-I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

Whoever wants to join in on the fun just go for it 🙂  I love to read about your randomness!

The rules for this award are as followed:
Nominate 15 Fellow Bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award

Add an image of the Versatile Blogger Award

Thank the blogger who nominated you in a post with a link to their site.

Share 7 completely random facts about yourself.

Include this set of rules.

Inform each nominated blogger of their nomination.

Weekend Wrap Up

Hope ya’ll had a great weekend!
We are back to the daily grind today. 
This is the way we roll….look at Connor stuffing his face back there???
We pretty much just stayed around the house because we had some thunderstorms roll in and our allergies have been AWFUL!  Ugh…I hate allergies!  No- your eyes do not decieve you.  Those are NOT Starbucks cups.  Terence likes to try out local coffee joints, so we did try one and it’s pretty good! 
I cleaned the house up a little bit and Terence did some grilling 🙂

 I made cupcakes and used some extra green sprinkles I had left over from Connor’s party.  Naughty-since we are trying to watch our waistlines.

 We visited the Old Navy scary people…..

And Connor wanted to ride the doggy…uhm no.  Hence the screaming and whaling when we took him away from there….

 His a pretty good kid though 😉

We also went to an outdoor store that sells trampolines and wooden play houses.  The cutest store!  Connor was so funny on the trampoline and LOVED it!  He played so hard and was so tired afterwards. 

 Pancakes on Sunday morning

 Watching How to Train your Dragon…AGAIN.

 Connor also like to give kisses to everything and everyone.  So he made me makeout with his Woody doll!  Sorry Woody I’m taken 😉

Have a great Monday!




Starbucks Posse Spotlight : Melissa

Melissa is also a self professed “Starbucks-a-holic”
(To add this button just right click and save to desktop 🙂
Isn’t she as cute as can be???

From Melissa’s blog:

“I am a crazy, busy & silly Mother of 3 children. Pearson is 7, Mackenzie is 6, and Killian is 4. I married my soul mate, Clay, in August of 2010 and he loves my 3 as if they were his own. I guess you could say he married all of us 🙂 We couldn’t be happier and we are extremely blessed.”

Glad to have you as part of the posse Melissa and you can read more about her life HERE!

I also have a great review and recipe about Country Crock on my review site HERE!