I Need Your Help!

As much as I love that spring brings some great things: warmer weather, the end of the school year, green grass, beautiful flowers, etc., I always find that I get super busy this time of year!

Last year, I ended up taking a blogging hiatus around the same time.  I actually wanted to, and I needed it.  This time, my hiatus has been unintentional.  I'm behind on just about everything.

Here's what's been going on lately:

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1. Scott and I had an impromptu getaway last weekend.  A casino opened up in Maryland (not far from the PA border).  I'm not much of a gambler, but it was the perfect idea!  We had a great time!  Our room was beautiful!  We got to sleep in a King-size bed, gamble a little, relax, and eat.  It felt like we were so far away from home, but we were only about an hour away.  It's the perfect idea.  And no, I didn't get any pictures.

2.  I'm working really hard to improve my Celebrating Home business!  I want to promote to Director (one of the leadership positions in the company), and I'm also trying to earn enough points for Scott and me to both go!  Most of the time, I find myself working on my business online, and the next thing I know, I haven't gotten anything else done, and it's time to sleep.

3. Four other teachers and I are singing at our elementary school's PTO Talent Show in May.  It's been fun getting to sing before work.  It puts me in a much better mood.  We're singing "Reflection" from Mulan and "Lollipop" by The Chordettes.

4.  Ok, so this post is called "I Need Your Help!"  Let me tell you why.  First of all, Celebrating Home just released an amazing new product called the Oh La Lamp.

The company has given us a challenge to sell 25 by April 30th.  Not only does this help my business financially, but by reaching this goal, I will earn 1000 points toward that cruise I mentioned above! 

As you can see from the picture, we have three styles: Madison, Emma, and Isabella.  The lamps use a 15 watt night light bulb that you can pick up pretty much anywhere.  The fragrance comes from our Aroma Crystals.  These crystals are NOT wax, so they do not melt.  You just pour them in the lamp, and the light makes them pretty and helps to emit fragrance for 30 days.  When you're done, you simply pour the crystals into the garbage and replace with a new jar.  No fuss!  No mess!  Just long lasting, beautiful fragrance. 

We have 23 scents from which to choose, AND you can even mix and match scents for your own fragrance "recipe"!

I just need 14 more people to order their Ooh La Lamps and crystals to help me reach my goal!!  You can help me by clicking here.  This will take you directly to my party page that features the Ooh La Lamps and Aroma Crystals!  You can order and pay online, and everything will ship right to your door!  PLUS when you order an Ooh La Lamp and a jar of crystals, I will throw in a second jar of Aroma Crystals ABSOLUTELY FREE!  Also, when you order, you can enter my Giveaway below.  As a token of thanks, everyone who orders can enter to win a $5 Gift Card to Starbucks!

Will you please help me??
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Music Monday: Blake Shelton

Since I talked about my favorite Miranda Lambert songs last week, I thought it was only fair that I share my favorite songs from her hubby this week!

Even if you don't like country music, you may know Blake from NBC's The Voice, which I'm actually taking a hiatus from watching this season.

Of course, I LOVE country music, so here are some of my favorite Blake Shelton songs!

"God Gave Me You"


"Honey Bee"

"Boys 'Round Here"

"Sure Be Cool if You Did"

"Doin' What She Likes"

The video for this one is pretty humorous.  :)  Make sure you check that one out!

Overwhelmed

I've confessed this on my blog before, but I'll say it again.  I am a terrible housekeeper.  This is a problem not only because my house is a disaster area, but because I like things to be organized.  I like things to look neat, clean, and pretty.  And it really gets to me when it's not.

The problem is I just get overwhelmed.

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I want to spring clean.  I want to get organized.  I want to--really, I do, but I just don't know where to start.

Here's what happens.  I get the house clean, organized and looking great.  The next thing I know we're sitting stuff down on the table to put away "later", or putting things on the landing to take upstairs the "next time" we go up.  Friends, we bought toilet paper the last time we went on a big grocery shopping trip (almost 2 months ago), and it's STILL sitting on the landing.  (You will be relieved to know that we do still have a supply in the cabinet upstairs....)

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The other problem is that I am a perfectionist.  When Scott is home and we're cleaning, I get frustrated because I want things done a certain way and in a certain place.  If anyone is going to get things organized, I need it to be me.

I know that this is not good.  It gets worse because when I try to tackle the job alone, I get overwhelmed and give up.

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I was putting away some laundry last night, and I was in a near panic-attack because everything is such a mess.  Our closets are a mess, Scott has hangers all over the floor, there are clothes (not mine) everywhere but in the hamper, I was tripping over things while trying to put away the laundry.  (AND WHY DON'T HIS SOCKS EVER MATCH UP!?)  Even typing about it right now, I'm getting worked up again.  I was pretty much in tears over the whole thing.

I honestly, desperately, need to figure out some way to over come this problem.  And then, I seriously, desperately, for my own sanity, need a housekeeper.

PLEASE tell me that there are other people out there who feel this way.  

Music Monday: Miranda Lambert

It's no secret around here that I love country music.  Back in January, I posted about one of my favorite country artists: Carrie Underwood.  Today, let's talk about another country gal I love: Miranda Lambert.

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I love this country couple! (And in case you've been living under a rock, that's Miranda with country hubby, Blake Shelton)

Here are some of my favorite Miranda songs (the first two are my karaoke go-tos)!

"Mama's Broken Heart"




"Fastest Girl in Town"

"The House that Built Me"



"Over You"

"Heart Like Mine"

Is Miranda one of your favorite country artists?  What songs would you add to my list??

Live & Learn Thursday: A Guide to Giving

I am so excited to share with you all that I've been contacted for my first real blogging collaboration!  I was contacted by Treat (a division of Shutterfly), and I was given the opportunity to start creating.  Treat is a company that offers personalized cards and gifts for lots of occasions!

April is a big birthday month in my family, and one of those birthdays is my little brother!  Sometimes, I just don't know what to get that kid.  So this was a fun opportunity! I decided to create a personalized birthday card and mug!

There were many designs and styles to choose from, and there are even some where you can add your own photos for an even MORE personal touch.  You can also choose to have a paper card delivered to your recipient or send a card digitally.  (This card even gave me the option to add a gift card!)

Here's the one I created:

 

This is actually a picture of my brother and I from when we were kids!  Underneath, the text reads "just for you/from your big sister".

So really, ladies, the next big question is: What on earth do you buy for the guy in your life?  Be it a brother, spouse, dad, boyfriend, uncle, grandpa, you name it.  Guys can be hard to shop for.  As I said, I created a mug on Treat, as well.  (Hey, guys like hot beverages, too!)

 

I've also got a few more ideas:

• Gift card to his favorite restaurant: Let's face it.  Most guys like to eat and don't or can't cook.  Why not give him the chance to treat himself?  From good ol' McDonald's to even something fancy.  I'm sure he will be grateful (or at least his stomach will). 
• Video games: Both my brother and my husband spend some good quality time with their PlayStations.  Find out what he's playing and snag up the newest version of the game!
• Clothes: Unless he's super picky, the men in your life often can use some guidance in the area of fashion.  I'm convinced that my dad would still be wearing his sweaters from the 80s if I didn't buy him a new one almost every Christmas. 
  
• A "mix tape": Ok, it might not be 1990-something any more, but this can take the form of a CD or MP3 playlist.  The idea is still the same: take some songs that you love/he loves/are special to both of you and put them all together for him.  It's affordable and meaningful.  It's a win-win!
• Tickets to a sporting event: If the guy you're shopping for is into sports, he will think you're the best person ever if you get him tickets to see his favorite team play! 

I also created a "Gifts for Guys" Board on Pinterest!  Would you like to add pins to my board?  Shoot me an e-mail (or mention it in your comment), and I'll add you to the board!  It would be fun for all of us to come up with some ideas together!  You can check out what I've found so far here.

What are your go-to gifts for the guys in your life?

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Easy Broccoli Cheese Soup

I was on a soup kick last week.  (Hey, it's not really spring-like in PA yet!)  I made my creamy potato soup (again), and the next day I decided that broccoli cheese soup sounded good!

This recipe is super easy, and it literally came printed on a box of Velveeta cheese.

Easy Broccoli Cheese Soup
Ingredients

• 1/4 c. chopped onion
• 2 T butter, divided
• 2 T flour
• 2 1/2 c. milk
• 3/4 lb. (12 oz.) Velveeta cheese product, cut into cubes
• 1 pkg. (10-12 oz) frozen broccoli, chopped
• 1/8 tsp. pepper

1. Cook and stir onion in 1 T. of butter in a saucepan on medium heat until the onion is tender.

2. Add the remaining butter and flour.  Cook for one minute or until hot and bubbly, stirring constantly.

3. Gradually add milk, stirring until well blended.  Bring to a boil, and reduce heat to medium-low.  Simmer for one minute.

4. Add chunks of Velveeta cheese and pepper.

5. Cook until Velveeta is melted and soup is heated through, stirring occasionally.

And there you have it!

I'll be honest, friends, I know that Velveeta is NOT real cheese, and it's probably not the best thing for you.  It just melts so smoothly, and it tastes so good!  The recipe itself does actually mention using Velveeta Light (which is weird because it came on a box of the regular stuff), and I use nonfat milk to make mine.

Anyway, if you're looking for something warm and yummy on a chilly spring day, this is certainly worth a try! :)

I'm not here today!

Hi everyone!

So it might seem like I'm here today, but I'm really not.  (April Fool's!!)

Actually, I'm over on my friend Jenni's blog today!  Jenni blogs from all the way across the pond (and YES, by across the pond, I mean, ENGLAND)!  So stop on over and visit me at Flying on a Rainbow!