Hodgepodge this Wednesday

1.April showers bring May flowers or so the saying goes. Are you blooming where you're planted as we begin the month of May? I don’t garden but I am moving this weekend to a house with a huge yard. I could try my hand at it soon. 

 2. On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being no big deal, and 10 being full scale panic, rank your fear of spiders. Hmm, probably a 5. I spent many years growing up in the country so you just get used to them.

 3. May is National Salad Month (who knew???)...besides lettuce, what are two must-have ingredients in your favorite salad? Cheese and croutons 

 4. I mentioned on my blog last week that my Daughter1 will be moving to Washington State after she is married. Of the following sites in the Northwest, which would you most like to see in person-Crater Lake (Oregon), Seattle (Washington), Vancouver (British Columbia), San Juan Islands (Washington), Mt. Rainer (Washington) Oregon Coast (Oregon), Mt. St. Helens (Washington), or Olympic National Park (Washington) San Juan Islands and Mt St. Helens are the only two places listed I haven’t seen. I love the Pacific Northwest! I went on a girls trip through Oregon a few years ago and it was amazing! We started in Northern California and drove through the forests of Oregon and then up along the coast and went wine tasting too. I flew out of Portland back home. 

 5. This coming weekend marks the 140th running of the Kentucky Derby...when did you last race (literally or figuratively) to cross a finish line? I don’t run so it wouldn’t be literally. LOL. In order to have an answer, I would say my race for time against moving out deadline. We packed solid this past weekend and still have so much more to do. We did go recently to the horse races ( if you read last week’s post) and had a blast!! 

 6. What is something little you love? I love love love my sweet little Chihuahua mix puppy Jax! I LOVE going home and playing with him.

Jax loves work from home days. 

 I also love sweet tea. That’s a little something right? 

 7. Would you say you are more of a visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learner? Elaborate. I really am a little of all. Visual more than anything though. I’ve learned a lot as a corporate trainer on knowing my audience and making sure they connect to what I’m teaching. I always have handouts and slides. I can relate next to being a kinesthetic learner because doing it is the best way to remember and learn something. Audio works as well but you have to pay attention to tones, etc on the subject. I may need to hear it twice before I feel like I ‘know’ it.

 8. Insert your own random thought here. Tomorrow is last workday in office this week and then its Go time for the move. We sign the lease tomorrow, clean the house and move our clothes Thursday, and Friday the movers show up. We actually have until May 10 to be out of the apartment which is great so we can get everything out and cleaned. Wish us luck. So far our marriage is still intact. Hahaha!   I’m exhausted from packing and excited to see Jax’s reaction when we put him in his own back yard.

Lets be Friends Blog Hop

Hey ya'all! I'm a host for this fun blog hop. I've participated a few times on this because the gals are just too sweet! <---Start Html--->

Welcome to the Let's Be Friends Blog Hop!

A blog hop is a set time frame for current or aspiring bloggers to find new blogs and quality content. It is a great way to make new friends and find inspiration! It is also a fabulous way to promote your own blog and posts.

Dear Friends,

What a day to celebrate! This is the 63rd week of the Let's Be Friends blog hop! Thanks for joining us on this special day. Chelsee and Tiffany are extremely delighted to see the way this hop has grown and love to see your faces each week! It is crazy that we have been doing this for 60 weeks! 

Join us every Tuesday at 7am (MST). This blog hop focuses on content. LINK UP YOUR FAVORITE POST from last week in this fun content-sharing blog hop! I love the idea of blog hopping, but I love the idea of reading posts and quality content on new blogs I've never been to even more. Instead of simply linking up your blog button, you are now able to link up your favorite post you recently wrote. Have a delicious recipe to share, DIY tutorial, or heartfelt post? Share it with us! All hosts and co-hosts put up some unique and fun content from the past week. Make sure to check them out. P.S.- you may still link up your blog button and blog name, but it is encouraged to link up your favorite post instead. You will get more page views and interest if you do so! Some of the most successful blog hops I have participate in focus on content rather than just exchanging follows. You never know who will become a loyal follower or pin that delicious new recipe you posted!

The BEST part of this blog hop? Each week there will be a WINNER! That's right, each week we will choose one lucky blog to feature from the previous week's hop. This hop receives thousands of page views every week, so your blog will have the chance to be center stage for free. You must follow all the hosts and co-hosts in order to win. Only those who link up a specific post are eligible to be featured! *You must follow all the hosts and co-hosts in order to win.

The last exciting change is that the co-host spots will now be available to all sponsors of  The Dwelling Tree or Southern Beauty Guide. If you are interested in co-hosting the blog hop, email Tiffany or Chelsee about sponsorship opportunities and how to co-host the weekly hop!

There are a couple of great giveaways going on right now at Southern Beauty Guide and The Dwelling Tree. Go check them out! :)

Let's Be Friend's Blog Hop Guidelines

1. Link up your favorite post from your week.

2. Follow your hosts and co-hosts.

3. Grab the button and post it on your blog so we can share the love.

4. Visit 3 other blogs and follow them along!

5. Tweet about this blog hop, using #letsbefriends

6. Pin the button on pinterest so we can spread the news! 

<a <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">href</span>="<a <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">href</span>="http://www.<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">thedwellingtree</span>.com" target="_blank"><<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">img</span> <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">src</span>="<a <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">href</span>="http://s1243.<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">photobucket</span>.com/user/<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">tiffanycutcliff</span>/media/<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">BlogHopButtonFinal</span>_zps99116d5e.<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">png</span>.html" target="_blank"><<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">img</span> <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">src</span>="http://i1243.<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">photobucket</span>.com/albums/gg553/<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">tiffanycutcliff</span>/<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">BlogHopButtonFinal</span>_zps99116d5e.<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">png</span>" border="0" alt=" photo <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">BlogHopButtonFinal</span>_zps99116d5e.<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">png</span>"/></a>" border="0" alt=" photo <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">BlogHopButtonFinal</span>_zps99116d5e.<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">png</span>"/></a>

***Once a week, one blog will be chosen to be the featured blogger from the previous blog hop. 

Meet your hosts: 

The Dwelling Tree: Blog, Bloglovin'

Southern Beauty Guide: Blog, Bloglovin'

 and your co-hosts:

Holli @ Holli's Hoots and Hollers

Niki @ My Life Remixing
Katie @ A Worker at Home

Christine @ Life with a Side of Coffee

Filiz @ Light and Sweet

***This weeks featured post from last week's hop:

Source

Vintage Zest

How To: Make Cute Pinterest Cover Boards!

Hello! This is Chelsee this week. I hope that you all continue to linkup your posts each week because I must say that they are all very interesting to read! This week's winner did a tutorial which was one that I found to be super interesting and helpful. As someone that uses Pinterest a ton it intrigued me to no end once I saw the title of this post in the linkup! To be honest I was hooked at the word Pinterest. 

Diane from the Vintage Zest is super amazing when it comes to "how to" posts. I found this post to be super helpful and I can't wait to customize my own Pinterest Cover boards! I find that this is something I feel will appeal to all bloggers and as I know most use Pinterest as one of their social media accounts in blogging. 

I personally love making pictures match my blog design and customize them to where they are easily recognizable. This guide makes it where anyone can accomplish this! Make sure you all head over and check out this post!

Keep posting awesome content! You make it so fun for us to read all your posts! If you can, please link up a specific post. It makes it easier for us to come and visit! 

*Remember YOU can be next weeks winner! :)

An InLinkz Link-up

<--END HTML-->

Part 2 Antique Week- Warrenton/La Grange/Roundtop

I've been so crazy packing and working, my plan for breaking up my posts on antique week wasn't meant to be dragged on for so long ( like this sentence ). I still have to do one more post about it so I don't completely overwhelm with y'all pictures. It's just that I had so much fun and I was excited so I took tons of pics with my phone.

Warning now, lots and lots of pictures. It's funny that I've read on a few blogs that people don't like seeing tons of pictures. I on the other hand , LOVE seeing other peoples pictures.  Oh well, it's what's happening today! 

This was back porch of cabin where we stayed. I brought blow-up mattress and slept in the living room. 

Not something you see everyday in ones yard: very large gorilla that still had Mardi gras beads and mask. 

This was my friends booth inside Zapp Hall.  Awesomeness!

First day there, I got a boot on my truck for parking. I was in the vendor lot where I was supposed to be but it was all word of mouth. One guy said park here and I'll tell so-and-so but then forgot to and then this. Mr.  So- and-so was super nice and removed it promptly once he knew who I was with.  My truck was jealous of me wearing boots everyday I guess. 

I had to take pic of sign of 2 places we would be at. 

Very elaborate booths y'all! This one brought a boat and an airstream if you look closely. 

We went to a blogger block party Friday night and someone took this picture of myself, Debbie and Jennifer. 

Yep I bought that metal wine sign!

This is courthouse on the square of LaGrange. 

Gorgeous rainbow after a quick spring hailstorm earlier. 

That's it for today's post but I will wrap it up next week. Have a great weekend y'all! Do something fun but he careful. 

My Hodgepodge

1. April 22nd is Earth Day. Are you inspired by nature? In what way?
I am very inspired by nature. I love just looking out the window and looking at the trees the lovely flowers that are blooming, rocks along the lakes, so many things. My mom lives in Montana and is surrounded by a natural forest that is breathtaking. I love going to the beach and being surrounded by driftwood, sea moss, shells.
2. Down to earth, four corners of the earth, move heaven and earth, not have an earthly chance, or salt of the earth...which earthly idiom have you most recently encountered? Explain.
I think i'm pretty much Down to Earth. I grew up in the city, raised in the country and have wonderful old-fashioned family and friends that keep each other grounded. My grandma always said " don't forget where ya came from"! Meaning don't get too fancy and think you're above anybody.
I would move heaven and earth for my husband and closest friends and family.
3. Share one piece of advice you might give a newly engaged couple.
well, I am a newly engaged bride and we received a lot of advice leading up to the day and on the day. I would say the best advice is to truly make each other our priority and not to go to bed angry.
4. When did you last engage someone to perform a job, task, service, home repair, or improvement? On a scale of 1-10 (ten being the best) how would you rate their work and/or your satisfaction with the job or service provided?
I had my uncle take my dresser to repair because it was falling apart and he built me a brand new one from scratch. Its so beautiful and special. I blogged about it so I know there is a picture somewhere. He gets a 10+.
Last year when I moved in with Todd, the movers ruined my leather couch and scraped it and tore the backside of it. I cried and would rate them a minus 1.
5. When did you last find yourself engaged in small talk? Are you awkward or an expert or somewhere in between?
I am a corporate trainer for US and Canada for my company. I have people call me everyday that I've never met and so i'm pretty good with small talk. I guess i'd say i'm an expert since I get paid to stand up in front of people and talk /train them.
6. What was the last historic place you visited?
I was in La Grange, Texas just a few weeks ago for Antique week. You might be familiar with the famous "Chicken Ranch".
7. The world would be a better place if we just_listened closer and smiled more.

8. Insert your own random thought here.
Almost 2 weeks ago my sister-in-laws brother lost his home and a dog to a fire. He, his wife, 2 teenage kids and other dog are currently living in a hotel room . I'm amazed how people are so generous and giving when they don't know the people affected. I've had friends raise cash, gift cards, furniture, household items, you name it, for me to pass on to my friends.  They will be OK and have great attitude that its just stuff.  There are good people everywhere, everyday.
Be a blessing to someone. Say HI to a stranger, put your phone down and look people in the eye, smile.

Oh Craigslist - I love you/ I hate you

Is it Friday yet? No? Shoot! I have to share with you what a fantastic sport my husband is. Like he is amazing that he didn't come home and kill me yesterday. 

Ok so you know we're moving in a few weeks and we want to get a shed to place in backyard. I thought if we find one now , we can put in backyard early at house and then we can immediately put stuff in it on moving day. I started perusing Craigslist on Sunday night and came across a nice size shed FOR FREE. 

I emailed the owner and asked if it was available and he replied yes. I didn't see that until yesterday morning.  I mentioned  to Todd about what I found and he was good with it. 

The owner was very bossy and wanted to know if we could pick up by noon and he lived in Allen which is kinda far from where we live. Todd had work appointment and then I met up with him in Dallas during lunch break so we could switch vehicles. I have a pickup and Todd drives small SUV. 

When Todd got there ( around 12:45), the shed was at farthest end of the pasture. He walked around it and realized that it was in bad shape and missing all doors. One whole side had crumpled and was damaged. The owner stated in the ad to use shed for storage or to scrap it for metal. Todd started taking it apart and quickly came to conclusion that there was way too many screws and bolts and his exact quote was " Humpty Dumpty wouldn't be  put back together". So now Todd felt like he had to finish the tear down so he loaded up all the pieces and stacked my truck high. I went online and found a few scrap metal places and sent them to him to drop off the metal.  Poor thing, when he drove to the closest scrap yard it was 4:35 and a guy came out and said " sorry we close at 4:30". Todd replied back " look at all this. Please help a brother out, I can't take this home". Lol! The guy was nice and helped him unload it all and paid him 10$. 

The bottom line is that the owner of shed basically got free labor to haul his crap off the land. Todd said he was a young cocky guy and said Oh yeah lots of money in the scrap metal. UM no dude- with all the hours lost taking it apart and gasoline spent driving out there- 10$ doesn't cover it!  My friend suggested reporting the guy on Craigslist because it was such false advertising.  It's too late now so not going to bother but Todd is going to be weary of my great finds! 

This is what the owner posted :

Todd left the floor behind . 

This is really what it looked like: 

 Sweet hubby lost half of day and he was not mad at me at all. He knew I had good intentions.  Win some- lose some! 

Pretty Little Beauty Swap

Hey y'all! How was your Easter weekend? Seriously mine was so crazy busy and fun! Friday I went to see Rob Thomas in concert at Winstar casino in Oklahoma. It's only a few hours away and it went by quickly because my friend and I were getting caught up.  The concert was incredible!! It was acoustic and he called it an Intimate Performance. I just can't stop thinking about it and that means something.  

Saturday morning, Todd and I continued packing. We got a lot done but so much more to go. We have to pack every day after work.  Later that evening, we met our friends Di and David and went to Lone Star Park horse races in Grand Prairie.  That was my first time there for the races and it was soooo much fun! I didn't win much but I didn't lose all I had either so I was happy. My friends won 18$ so they were happy. lol. The bets were 2$ so you can play for hours and only spend 10 bucks. Only complaint is that we had box seats so it was indoors but people are allowed to smoke.  I was stinky when I got home but it was worth it! 

Yesterday we went to church and then had nice lunch with my in laws. I love them like crazy and had great visit. I ate too much and went home and took a nap.  We didn't pack yesterday so it was a lazy day with Jax. 

I signed up a few weeks ago for a beauty swap over at Chelsee's blog Southern Beauty Guide.  I thought it would be fun and nice to meet new bloggers.  Who doesn't love getting makeup in the mail? I received my  package on Saturday and loved my stuff. 

I got some BB cream, some lipgloss, lip liner , liquid eyeliner ( my fave) and some mascara.  Thanks Angie!  Love it! 

 

It's fun to do swaps here and there. Now that I'm moving, back to a tighter budget so glad I did this swap now. 

Happy Monday! 

Happy Easter weekend

Have a Blessed weekend Y'all!