Black Friday Deals

This is my first year going Black Friday shopping and I am very nervous to say the least.  But I have compiled some of the best fashion Black Friday deals I could find.  Feel free to add any to the list in the comments below :)
 
[Black Friday Deals]

LuLu*s Black Friday 2014

Jane

Groopdealz 

Express

Modcloth 
Kohls
Target

Wedding Q+A with Meagan

It's been a minute (since July) since I have done a Bride Q+A Post, but now that our wedding is over I have more time on my hands to continue this amazing series!  I think it's really helpful to other bride-to-be bloggers looking for tips for their weddings!

Today I have Meagan from Beautiful Things stopping by to share her Wedding with you!

When did you get married?
Chris and I got married on June 7th, 2014!
 
How did you meet?
During the summer of 2011 I was a leader for a mission trip to Kenya and Chris was a leader for a mission trip to Brazil, we met during the leader orientation and became friends. After that summer (our lives were forever impacted and changed) I got a job and moved to Atlanta (where Chris happened to live) and we became the best of friends. We started dating a few months later (April 2012) and were engaged in June 2013 (you can read about the proposal here)!

 
What was the one thing you were most passionate about?
 I just really wanted our wedding to be a perfect representation of the two of us, for the reception to be a party and fireworks...I really wanted fireworks!
 
How long did it take you to find your wedding dress? 
Okay so this crazy thing happened and I actually won my wedding dress! You can read about that story here! 

What was your color scheme, and what made you choose it?

Purple + Coral (with some neutral/brown accents). I was apart of Sigma Kappa Sorority in college and one of our colors is purple...so it's always been a fave of mine! I wanted the bridesmaids to alternate colors in their dresses and coral complimented the purple nicely!

What's your best piece of advice for future brides out there?

I have a couple tidbits of advice: people don't RSVP--Crazy right?! You provide the stamp and everything...it gets lost in the junk mail pile I'm convinced. 

People: I need to know how many white chairs to order. So now no matter what the occasion is I always RSVP as soon as possible. pinterest doesn't have to come to life- I pinned lots and lots of things on my wedding board for inspiration. It's impossible to make every single one of them happen! So pick the ones you love, move forward and remember that sometimes it's both easier & cheaper to buy versus the whole DIY approach.) just be you There are tons of trendy ideas and themes out there to choose from. Don't compare yourself to others or try to fit a certain theme. Just do what fits you and your groom's personalities! One of my favorite things about our big day is how many people said that everything about the day matched us perfectly. Trends come and go...be yourself!

To see pictures of our special day...go here

How did you go about planning your honeymoon?

We went to Paris...and it was absolutely amazing...read all about it here.

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Thanks so much Meagan for being a part of my Bride Q+A Series! It was so great to read about your wedding!

  Are you interested in showcasing your wedding on my series?  Email me for more information. ________________________________________________________________ Don't forget to enter the $70 paypal cash giveaway!
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Weekend Recap & A GIVEAWAY!

Hi LOVES! Hope you has a fantastic weekend-- I am co-hosting with Bella @ Bella and the City for our Weekend Recap.  I had a pretty good weekend, kept it pretty low-key.

Friday night the hubby and I went to our friends house and had a little "Friendsgiving."  It was so delicious, I was in a food coma and wanted to pass out around 8:30.  Unfortunately we had to drive home which was so hard when you're that tired.

Saturday, the hubby and I went to the mall to exchange a few of his shirts and ended up running into a few friends so we chatted with them for a while.  There baby was dressed as Santa and he was adorable!  After we exchanged his shirts we were on a search for an ornament that represented that year. {Starting a new tradition!}  We found the perfect one! (pictured below).

Saturday night his friend came over and we BBQ'ed and watched sports, and then it turned into a movie night even though we originally planned to hit the town.  We almost passed out during the movies and it was only 8pm.  I think we are getting more and more lame!

Sunday I met with some girlfriends for Brunch.  We went to Saddle Ranch, and ended up chatting forever and didn't realize we would be there from 1-7:30pm!  Talk about a long day! But we had too much fun!

*Also linking up here and here.

An InLinkz Link-up
I am also co-hosting a GIVEAWAY.

Ashley: Keeping Up With Ashley and Cody --- Ash: The Grits Blog --- Gennie: New Home, New Name, New Adventure --- Lisa: Showered With Design --- Suzanna: One Hoolie Mama --- Angie: Chasing My Halo --- Chelsea: The New Wifestyle --- Trissa: Trissa Marie --- Janelle: Simply Love --- Mae: Endlessly Ever After

One winner will win

$70 paypal cash

1 beautiful handmade calligraphy print made from B Sullivan Calligraphy (see below)

6 months of sidebar ads on Showered with Design

Huge sponsorship opportunity from New Home, New Name, New Adventure

a Rafflecopter giveaway

5 On Friday

Happy Friday! Thank goodness. Can you believe Thanksgiving is less than a week away! Which means there are 4 Fridays until Christmas.  How scary is that?  I can't even wrap my head around it!  Well, I am linking up with April, Darci, Christina, and Natasha
for their 5 on Friday linkup!

[One]
I ordered our Christmas cards two weeks ago, and received them at the beginning of this week.  Please tell me I am not alone on this one.  I was so eager to order them with our wedding photos, as this will be the only year it's somewhat "acceptable" to have our wedding photos on Christmas cards at all! I searched high and low for the cutest, inexpensive cards out there.  Shutterfly ended up being the winner. When we received them in the mail, the first box had about 25 cards damaged due to moisture.  I let them know and they rushed a new set over without question.  Talk about great customer service right thuurrr!

 [Two]
I am so in love with my Birthday gift from the hubby.  He got me these adorable Michael Kors boots that I had been swooning over for quite some time. I ended up having to get a half size bigger, and they finally arrived so of course I am sporting them today :) along with my new fleece lined leggings (so comfy) from Jane!

[Three]
I just purchased a Silhouette Cameo Vinyl printer.  I cannot wait to receive it and create more things for my etsy shop.  Any suggestions let me know!  I'd love to create something for you!

 [Four]
So I keep hearing about snowstorms and -4 degree weather, and here I am in sunny California complaining about the 63 degree weather today.  I think I need to be more Thankful that I am not stuck in the snow.  Prayers out to those who are freezing today!

 [Five]
 I am very excited about celebrating Thanksgiving with the hubby's family this year.  It'll be my first year not home with my parents, and our first year Black Friday Shopping.  I - am - scared - to - death!  Luckily we will be with his parents and brother while shopping so we'll have the support system haha!  The whole shopping with large amounts of people scares the crap out of me.

>>>***Don't forget to follow me via Facebook for the most current updates! ***<<<

  Also linking up with Amanda, Jennie, Rebecca, Leslie, & Amy

Uber vs. Taxi

I'm sure most of you have used a taxi service at least once in your lifetime.   For most, it seems like the convenient thing to do.  I started using Uber about a year ago and always enjoyed the services, yet wasn't quite sure how to compare it to a taxi in terms of pricing.  What I realized this past weekend is how much more inexpensive Uber was versus a Taxi.

We took an Uber from our home to downtown by the beach which is about a 29 mile drive.

It ended up being $41, and we were able to split it amongst the 4 of us.

That included tip!  It was so easy --you get in, you get out, all without the hassle of dealing with the payment once you arrive at your destination.  It automatically does it for you.

On the way home, we just hopped in the nearest taxi thinking it would be the same, give or take a few bucks.  It ended up costing $98, and mind you, that is WITHOUT a tip.  Not to mention the taxi driver was a complete douche bag. (He wouldn't allow us to split the fare, but lied to us about it and charged the first persons card the full amount all while adding in his own tip)

Needless to say, UBER has won me over.  There are so many other great bonuses about uber. Such as, tracking where your driver is located and getting his ETA,  rating your driver, splitting the fare between your friends with a simple tap of a button, AND getting $30 off your first ride using this code: m29g4

It's a win-win! Who doesn't want to try a free ride, what do you have to lose?

Download uber NOW on your smart phone or tablet, and use the code (m29g4) under the promotions tab to make sure you get your $30 off, and when you need it on a night out it'll be ready and waiting for you!

*I was not asked by Uber to write this, or compensated.  This is straight up my 100% opinion based on my personal experience using the service.

 

Mouthwatering Garlic Cheese Toast Recipe

If you're anything like me, then you love the good taste of garlic cheese toast.  Anything with cheese is perfect in my book.  I  stumbled upon this recipe online and put my own twist to it, by using different bread and slicing it in half instead of using Texas Toast.   The husband approves, and I'm sure you will too!  Today I am linking up for Taste of Tuesday with Emily from Martinis and Bikinis and Kate at Green Fashionista.

 

Spread 1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt
dash black pepper
dash paprika

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F

2. Combine all ingredients for the spread in a bowl

3. Smear the spread generously on each side of the Texas toast or on the face of each half of the french loaf.        

4. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until cheese begins to brown and bubble.

5. Makes about 12 slices of toast or two large halves of french bread

Recipe derived from here.

 

Weekend Recap

Hey Shawtyyy.. It's my Birdayyyyyyy! Whoop whoop!
I had the best Birthday weekend!

Friday Night I went to Happy Hour at Fridays with my husband and his friend Kyle.  We had a few beers and snacked and were really eager to go bowling.  So we got a few friends together and met them at the bowling alley.  We didn't put our names in right away because we were waiting on a few people, so we went to the bar and ended up drinking for a few hours before we realized we forgot to put our names in!  Hey-- it allowed us plenty-o-time to get drunky.  So drunk bowling was pretty awesome and I dominated the first game.

Saturday my husband took me to a nice dinner at our favorite restaurant--Mastros.  OH my gosh, if you haven't tried it, you should.  The steaks are always perfect sizzling with butter, and they have delicious mac-n-cheese.    Our server gave me a huge slice of chocolate cake too!  We were so full, we had to take the cake home!  (Hubby gifted me these amazing Michael Kors boots that I've been crushing on for a while) !  

After our amazing dinner, our friends met us at our house to pregame before continuing the festivities.  We went out to Huntington Beach where they have a row of bars to choose from.  We started at one bar, had some snacks and shots and a few cocktails of course, and then continued to a few more bars. We had way too much fun! 

Sunday we snoozed till about 11, and went to the store to grab some things to BBQ and watch football.  I of course bought Bloody Mary mix, and made homemade Bloody Marys while the boys cooked carne asada and had homemade tacos.  I fell in and out of sleep all day.  Lazy Sundays are the best.  My hubby gave my my Birthday card that read "Sealed with my spit!" haha 

 

Monday was my actual birthday and I let my boss know I was going to use a sick day.  A co-worker of mine has the same Birthday as me, so we both went to grab Rainbows, which is a blended drink made with 6 different flavors, all with a lot of alcohol per drink! They are delicious and really hit the spot!

Monday night I had Birthday dinner with my parents (it was also their Wedding Anniversary- 41 years!)  We went to this beautiful restaurant called OC Mining Company on top of the hill that had a breathtaking view.  It was delicious.  We really enjoyed ourselves, and the view of course!

Overall, I had the best Birthday Weekend! I wouldn't change anything! I think 26 is going to be a good year!

An InLinkz Link-up

Holiday Happenings

As you all know, the Holidays are just around the corner!  They are coming faster than I can even keep up with!  I was browsing online for gifts for friends and family.  I found the cutest gift options on Jane.com.  Seriously, they have so many great things right now at unbeatable prices, but you better act quick because the deals are ending fast and they may sell out!
These are just a handful of the selections Jane has right now:

Personalized Monogram Purse | Personalized Pillow Cover | Designer Inspired Boots
Fleece Lined Leggings | Monogram Bracelet | Personalized Mug
Holiday Table Runners | Nail Decals for $1.99! | Holiday Coffee Tumbler

Holiday Gift Guide

'Tis the season for gifting! And ModCloth wants to help you find the perfect presents for everyone on your list with their 2014 Holiday Gift Gift.  There is plently of options to shop for your favorites! Utterly unique and endlessly fab.  Their vast collection of utterly unique gifts is the perfect place to find something to wow your favorite gal pal (or guy)! Plus there is always something fun on sale, be sure to check back often - http://www.modcloth.com/shop/sale.

They also have FREE printable gift tags that are sure to WOW your friends and family!

 

Shop the gifts for gals, guys, pet lovers, and more!

 

**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.


 

Our Wedding Video

Our Wedding Video *highlight* has arrived! (Gosh I cannot wait to get the whole thing!)   Aaaand I may or may not have cried while watching it.  It was like reliving the day all over again and seeing parts we missed out on.  I wish we could replay that day over and over again. { Thankfully we have the whole wedding recap video so we can replay it again }  I am so glad we went through with hiring a professional wedding videographer to capture our special moments.  We toyed with the idea, but it was the last thing we booked.  I am SO glad we did.  Although it was pricey, it was worth every penny!    I hope you enjoy it as much as we did. ( P.S. it's better with the sound )

Lisa & Brock from Plug Wedding Films on Vimeo.

Crazy how we have been married for exactly 4 months now.  Time sure flies! So my tip for all you future brides, enjoy and take it every moment. 

P.S. Today marks 4 months of being married!
 

Weekend Recap

Good Morning! and happy Monday!  I am co-hosting with Bella And The City for our Weekend Recap!  

Friday evening the hubby and I cooked steaks and watched some of our favorite shows we recorded that we were unable to watch during the week.  We took the pups on a walk and kept it simple.

Saturday we woke up bright and early to go on a run.  Mind you, we have not ran in a very long time.  So it was pretty interesting, and I can assure you that I felt like death afterwards. (Not to mention my legs killing me the next day) Boy am I outta shape!   We went to run some errands and of course got me a late lunch before we went out for the evening.  We ended up going to our favorite country bar called The Ranch, and I danced my little booty off and of course had a few cocktails.

I sent my best friend this selfie before we went out:

Sunday the hubs had a baseball lesson to give, so I stayed home and finished unpacking from my Nebraska trip.  No matter what, it always takes me like two weeks to unpack from a trip.  So I have a huge pile of clothes just chillin' in my suitcase.  I will finish it... one day.  Later that night, we went to the Dollar Tree to pick up a few Christmas decorations (btw, they have really stepped up their game!)  We went to grab an early dinner and watched some TV at home with puppy snuggles. We ended up passing out by 9pm, Who does this?!?!   This whole time change has got me thrown off!

>>> P.S. ONE more day to enter the Giveaway!  <<<

An InLinkz Link-up

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Song Of The Week Wednesday

Helene came up with a great idea to have a blog hop for your favorite song of the week.  Music is such a great outlet for me, as I am sure it is for a lot of you too.   I usually would post something Hip Hop/Pop-ish or Country, but I'm gonna go with a song that's been stuck in my head for the past few weeks.   I guess it's genre is more a pop-like.

 

P.S If you have not already entered my hosted GIVEAWAY, you should.

Giveaway !

Who doesn't love a good giveaway? Especially when there is cash involved! I have entered so many giveaways in the past, and have never won one unfortunately, however, it's still fun to try isn't it? With high hopes that -YOU- could be that one lucky winner.

I've teamed up with XO, Katelynn to host a fabulous giveaway and I think you might be interested. I mean that is if you like free $$Cha-Ching and all.  We have collaborated with a large group of wonderful ladies and put together a Giveaway! So make sure to tell your friends and spread the word, you most definitely don't want to miss out!  (P.S. it's my Birthday month, whoop whoop!)

**Pin the below photo for an additional entry** 

 *Giveaway will run from Nov 4, 2014-Nov 11, 2014*

Lisa @ Showered With Design // Katelynn @ XO, Katelynn // Liz @ The Fitness Blondie 
 Emily @ Martinis & Bikinis  //  Brianne @ Being Bracco 

 Karissa @ Karissa and Company // Rebecca @ Renovating Rebecca // Amanda @ As The Wine Cork Turns//
 Anne @ Love The Here & Now  // Justine @ Life As A Baltimore Girl // Just Jessie 

Janessa @ Running on Empty  //Amber @ InDuffinitely Me // Emelia @ Dream Big and Buy The Shoes // 
JC @ Sweet Love and Ginger // Kate @ Green Fashionista //  Brianna @ Sincerely Brianna Leigh

Kelsey @ Random Randts // All The Joys // Molly @ Awfully Big Adventure   
Kelsey @ Blonder Side of Life// Just Georgia Peachy

 Meghan @ Champagne and Suburbs // Amanda @ Knock on Wood //Mary @ Eat Drink and Be Mary

Misty @ Handbags and Handguns //Ericka @ This Crazy Thing Called Life // Nancy @ Sincerely and Sarcastically// Classy & Sassy Mrs. // Keeping Up With Ashley & Cody

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