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5.02.2011

Giveaway: 50% off Zany Dezines *AWESOME!*

Today is the Grand Re-Opening of Zany Dezines - Amber, the creative genius behind some amazing blog designs has made the move from Blogger to Wordpress and is giving away 50% off any of her packages to celebrate! That's an awesome deal! Amber is a dear bloggy buddy of mine who has done NUMEROUS projects for me - she is always so patient, understanding, and really knows how to capture your vision. She is the brains behind my current blog design! *Thanks Amber!!!*

So head on over to  Zany Dezines & enter to win to a great deal on any one of her packages, open to both blogger & wordpress platform users!!! Giveaway ends on May 6th - so get your entries in while you can!

Thanks for reading - Have a great Monday!

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1.06.2011

DIY - Girls Night Out Kit

January is the start a many things...a New Year, a new resolution, a new attitude, and my newest favorite - New Wedding Shows!
This coming weekend there are 2 big Wedding Expo's in my area so I have invited my Bridesmaids on a Girls Weekend! Wedding Expo by day, Downtown Get Down by Night!
I wanted to Thank them in a way more than just making a card or giving a verbal Thank you for the girls taking the time out of their busy schedule to give me an entire weekend of their time - so I have put together a "Girls Weekend Survival Kit"!

Here's the Breakdown:


Buttons:
I have been looking for Buttons for us to wear while at the Bridal Shows but I just couldn't find any that appealed to me - they, in one word were, BORING! So I decided to go to my local craft store - get some Button Kits & Make my own, here's what I came up with:




Hangover Kits:
Due in large part that we are getting a hotel room downtown for Saturday Night and plan on going out and having a good time with just the girls, I thought a Hangover kit would be the perfect addition to this Girls Weekend Survival Kit!


Kit Includes:
1 pack of Saltine Crackers
2 Hello Kitty Bandaides
1 Lip Smackers
1 Tang Electrolite Drink Mix
1 pkg of Chewable Pepto
1 pkg of Extra Strength Tylenol
1 Hair Tye
1 Make Up Remover Wipe
1 Small pack of Gum
1 Pkg of Drinkin' Mate - Hangover Medicine
(All items were purchased at http://www.minimus.biz/ <- Love this site!)




First Picture shows what is in each kit, the Second Picture is the finished Hangover Kits!



Finished Product:
Other things found inside the bag - a feather boa in their favorite color, which also matches the bag it is in, a pink shot glass that says "Girls Night Out" and a little baggie of 4 Mardi Gras Beads! I purchased Zebra Print tissue paper from Hobby Lobby, the bags from Party City, the Zebra Ribbon from Hobby Lobby and the Name plates on the bags I created myself using Sticker Paper & Scrapbook paper.




My next project is to work on the Address Labels for the Wedding Expo & The Jello Shot stickers! Yep thats how we roll - we are getting together tomorrow (Friday Night) to mix up some Jello Shots for Saturday Night!

Sooo...what do ya think?
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1.01.2011

Review Opportunity - CD Reviewers NEEDED!

I am looking for individuals who enjoy Pop Rock/Alternative Music, bands like New Found Glory, Story of the Year, etc. There is a local band (who is really good!) who has come to me to help promote their music. I am looking for those who would be interested in a new copy of their CD in exchange for a Review of their album on your blog/website! Please comment here with your email address or email me if you are interested in hosting a review for La Bella Charade!!
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12.26.2010

2011 Dream List

With 2011 right around the corner (& boy did it sneak up on me!) I have started thinking about New Year Resolutions - this year my first resolutions is to NOT HAVE RESOLUTIONS but rather a "Dream List". I have never made it a full year completing all (if any) of my New Years Resolutions, that being said by creating a "Dream List" there's not as much pressure to keep up with it and it is going to involve my family more!

I have also decided to create myself monthly reminders to look at my Dream list to help me keep up with it! I am even contemplating making a big list to stick up above my laptop desk for daily reminders!



My 11 in 2011 Dream List
  1. Read 1 book per month!
  2. Take more pictures!
  3. Create a Monthly scrapbook of Jay & our family
  4. Take at least 1 Family outing to the Zoo
  5. Do better with keeping up with the house, right now Chris does most of the housework due to my work load, but I really want to be the "Susie Homemaker" in 2011!
  6. Cook often & eat out less
  7. Work hard for MY future
  8. Work on handling my Stress - I overstress about everything! I want to find a way to de-stress in a healthy way.
  9. Send Birthday cards to all friends & family via snail mail!
  10. Learn a new skill or hobby
  11. Do more time with Jay, even small stuff at home!
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12.13.2010

Need a blog makeover? ::Giveaway::


Head on over to Amber's Life...she is the designer and head honcho at ZanyDezines.com (She is also the one guilty of creating my blog layouts - Present & Past - and she is the creative mind behind Midwest Wickless as well!) She is a pleasure to work with and definitly brings creativity to the table! So head on over to her blog for a chance to win:
  • $10 off a blog design
  • $20 off a blog design
  • $25 off a blog design
  • $5 gift certificate (good for anything)
  • $10 gift certificate (good for anything)
  • 75% off a custom Blog Design
Make sure to tell her that Manic sent you! :) Good luck and I can't wait to see your new blog layout!!

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12.04.2010

Giveaway: Scentsy Midsize Warmer & 3 Scent Bars *Winners Choice*

Just a quick note to my awesome subscribers....Head on over to Cheapskate Mom's blog to enter to win your very own Midsize Warmer & 3 Scent Bars of YOUR CHOICE! That's right! I am giving away yet more Scentsy - just in time for the Holidays! Giveaway ends on December 12th with the winner being announced on the 13th! Make sure to get your entries in now so you have a chance at winning!


Cheapskate Mom is also hosting other giveaways until the 12th so make sure to subscribe to her if you are not already!
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11.26.2010

You're a Mean one...MS GRINCH!



"Grinch, Scrooge, the Anti-Claus, take your pick of titles – I gladly wear them all."
This definitly describes me!


With Thanksgiving over and Christmas season in full force - you can't walk into a retail store without having Christmas Carols forced into your ears - don't get me wrong, I love the idea of getting together with Family and enjoying those who I do not see through out the rest of the year, going to church and celebrating the true Christmas - me & Jesus are tight like that. It's everything else that causes me to "shutter" with ba-hum-bug-ness everytime I hear the words "Holiday, Christmas, or Cheer". I have decided to compile a list of what exactly brings out the Scrooge in me.


6. Eggnog - One word...SICK! Who ever came up the idea of putting alcohol in raw eggs is obviously on drugs! I know eggs are a wonderful source for protein & nutrtion - but I like my eggs scrambled and my alcohol in a diet coke over ice with a little pretty red stirrer stick!

5. Elf - (The movie) - I would consider myself a Will Ferrall fan - but I absolutly HATE Buddy the Elf. I want to put that little green and yellow hat up his Christmas Cheery butt! I don't think I would necessarily feel this way if I didn't have to watch it EVERDAY at work - it plays on loop from the time we open to the time we close. I am so tired of "Hi Dad, I'll call you back in Fiiiive minutes!". Kill me please - death by Elfs enscribed on my gravestone!


4. The Expense - I understand (and secretly enjoy) purchasing gifts for my son & family, but there are also a ton of HIDDEN costs - so you buy a Leapster System for $50, you think you got a great deal! Think again...you have to now purchase wrapping paper ($5), pretty little bows ($5), To/From Tags ($4), Tape ($1.50), Batteries ($10), gas to get to and from the stores ($8), then you donate to a good cause ringing a bell outside of your fav retail establishment ($2) - that same $50 gift has just turned into $87.50! That's just for presents, now you have to decorate a tree, buy pretty little blinking lights to place all around your house, and yard, and inside, and in your car...are you THAT person? I'm not. I do put up a tree for my son & Santa and an advant calendar on our fireplace, maybe some stockings, but I am not the person who decorates my house and then puts my address on the "Neighborhood of Lights Tour". Costs to much for the electric bill!

3. Black Friday - I realize some of you crazy ass' actually enjoy getting up at the butt crack of dawn and standing in line for 6 hours to save $30 on a Digital Picture Frame for your grandparents, but you are the reason why I have to be up to open the store!! I enjoy sleeping in & I tend to get rather cranky when I dont get my 9 hours of sleep - Black Friday shoppers are the DEVIL! Little old ladies getting knocked over for tupperware, people getting shot for Tickle Me Elmo's...it's just insane. Here's food for thought - sleep in on Friday and wait until Monday morning! Cyber Monday is the shiz!


2. The Cold Weather - The thought of having to put on a Coat that makes my hair stand up from static then walk outside with 2 layers of socks, long underwear, and gloves just to scrape ice from the windshield of my car makes me sick. The icy roads (and the idiots who drive on them), the rosey cheeks and frost biten noses, fingers so cold I couldn't make an emergency call on my iPhone if my life depended on it (not really, but it sounds good) makes me wish I lived somewhere like Hawaii - beautiful weather every day of the year. Somehow I know if I moved there I would no longer HATE winter, just strongly detest it. :)

1. Christmas Music - This is defintily my number one reason for hating the holidays. It wouldn't be so bad if the radio stations, stores, doctors offices and every other public location would start playing it 2-3 weeks before Christmas...but NO...they have to play it September 1st and beyond. I haven't even planned out if I am going to bake a pecan or pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving and my head is already getting a migraine from Justin Beiber singing "Silent Night".  I must admit on that note, I will listen to Christmas music ON CHRISTMAS - in the spirit of the Holiday, but frankly, by the time the Holiday rolls around I want to poke my eyes out with sharpened Candy Canes.


Now that is all said & done - please do not throw fruit cake at me! I still believe in Christmas and the true Christian reason behind it, its all this corporate america, spend money, buy gifts etc that I can't stand!

On another (nice) Note.... I want to wish each & every one of you HAPPY HOLIDAYS & A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS! (and I really mean that!!!)

Now for your listening pleasure - A friend on mine emailed this to me:


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Maniacs

Manic Memes I Love

Tuesday:
Thursday: Obviously MARvelous