My Life in Numbers

3 days until our Livermore wine trolley adventure!

10 days until my niece's boho birthday bash!

43 days until Jarad turns 30!

45 days until I throw Jarad the best birthday party ever!

53 days until our three year anniversary!

66 days until we see Alton Brown live!

261 days until our Hawaiian vacation!!!

In case the exclamation points didn't give it away, I'm pretty excited about the upcoming months. Here's to hoping they're better than January, February, and the first half of March! 

I'm Lucky To Be This Tired

I'm constantly tired and I'm constantly wallowing in a puddle of self pity for being sooo busy and sooo tired all the time. Recently, I have experienced a change of heart. I've realized that I'm LUCKY to be this tired.

I'm lucky to have friends that want to hang out with me.

I'm lucky to have a job that allows me to pay my bills.

I'm lucky to have nieces that want to play with me.

I'm lucky to have a dog that won't leave me alone when I'm trying to sleep.

I'm lucky to have a boyfriend that ensures I take advantage of my free time.

I'm lucky to have a family that loves me and wants to see me all the time.

I'm lucky that people choose me to make cupcakes for their most cherished days.

I'm lucky to be alive.

Next time you're feeling tired and like you're at the end of your rope - just remember - you're LUCKY.

Project Lead Kindly // 2016 Prengancy Shelter Hop

As bloggers, we use a lot of words. We have realized that WORDS are POWERFUL and we have decided to use our words for good and spread a message about a great cause...

Today, I wanted to introduce you to Project Lead Kindly and their 2016 Pregnancy Shelter Hop.

Project Lead Kindly is a nonprofit organization that assists mothers & children affected by domestic violence and homelessness. They are also on a mission to encourage, inspire, and remind everyone that we ALL have the potential to serve & "lead kindly," no matter our circumstances. Each year, Project Lead Kindly provides a BIG service project to the community. Last year, they organized a children's book drive.This year, we are raising money for Project Lead Kindly's 2016 Pregnancy Shelter Hop. We will be assisting 5 different shelters throughout California that house homeless, pregnant mothers and their children. We will be donating newborn necessities to:Harvest Home, Precious Life Shelter, Casa Teresa, Angels Way Maternity Home, and Elizabeth House. We will also be throwing two events to assist the mothers serviced by Elizabeth House & Angels Way Maternity Home.

How you can help!

While the events are local to California, we wanted to find some way for the amazingly supportive online community to help out! We've set up a GoFundMe with a goal to raise $1000 for Project Lead Kindly:

www.GoFundMe.com/PLKshelterhop

All funds donated will go to Project Lead Kindly & help:

1) provide these necessary items for the mothers & their babies at all 5 shelters, 2) throw the events for the mothers from Elizabeth House & Angels Way, 3) help spread the Lead Kindly message (the reminder that ALL have the potential to do good and to be an example to others, no matter what trials they face) to these women who need to be encouraged & reminded of their worth & potential and that they are cared for!

Please consider donating even $1 to the cause. Every little bit helps. In addition to donating, if you want to share the cause with us, please:

1) take the image below

2) share it in your own blog post and social media

3) encourage others to join our initiative & donate!

You can also email projectleadkindly@gmail.com your blog post link so they can share it with others!

And if you don't have a blog, but simply want to share the cause, we encourage you to take the image & share it on social media! We have a goal of $1000, and if we all use our words together, we can reach it!

We also wanted to include a fun giveaway as a thank you for your support! This giveaway is sponsored by the bloggers and not Project Lead Kindly directly.

The prizes:

Raewyn will be giving away a $25 Starbucks gift card and ad space on Be a Warrior Queen.

Pam will be offering ad space on Hodge Podge Moments

Emilie and Laura will be offering ad space on Burke Does

Check out our giveaway hosts:

Be a Warrior Queen // Mamas Plus Coffee // Hodge Podge Moments // Coastie Couple // Coffee n Ink // Wandering Forevermore // Ramblings of a Fake Redhead // The Dahlia Scene // Motherhood Through My Eyes // The Blushing Mama // The Motherhood Journey // Burke Does // The Petite Mrs // Absolute Mommy // And Then Life

How to enter:

Bloggers Leading Kindly Giveaway Thank you so much for leading kindly with us!

#AlohaBaecationBody

I've said it a million times and I know I will say it a million more.

I need to lose weight. 

I would be lying if I said that vanity wasn't part of the reason I feel this way. More importantly though, I need to be healthy.

Years ago, after a bad break-up, I let myself go for awhile. I slept way more than anybody should. I stayed up until all hours of the early morning, went to work at 5 am, got off between 10 am and noon, ate fast food for lunch and then went home and slept until my dad got home at 6:30 pm. During this time, I set myself and my body up for failure. I formed terrible habits. I ate like crap. The only exercise I got was walking around Target with a shopping cart. I gained weight. Weight that I haven't really let go of. No pun intended, this weight is heavy. There is no excuse for me to be harboring this food baby any longer.

My family is going to Hawaii in December and I am determined to feel confident in a bikini. I want to fully enjoy my time with my family and not worry about how I look. I want to lose the weight for my self esteem. For my ever dwindling closet. For my body. For myself.

I'm a deadline person. I can't just say "I want to lose 10 pounds" because I will never do it. I need to say "I want to lose 10 pounds before I got to Hawaii in December." This allows me to picture an end goal. It allows me to see the reward. I can physically cross days off on the calendar. Hence the hash tag, #AlohaBaecationBody.

I'm never going to be the girl that doesn't love to eat. I love trying new restaurants. I love eating french fries and milk shakes with my mom like when I was a kid. I love going to my dad's favorite hot wing place with him. I love surprising my nieces with those frosting cookies from the grocery. But just because I love food, doesn't mean that I can't love my body too. I took the plunge and purchased Cassey Ho's 28 day PIIT program. I'm hoping that since I spent actual money on a program that I will stick with it. The exercises seem fun and she looks smokin' after creating/completing the program!

I can't wait to see where I am in 28 days. It's all mental for me and I'm so ready.

Starbucks and Bad Customer Service

Buckle up, you guys. It's going to be a ranty ride.

I visited the Holy Land of Starbucks on Wednesday morning and received some of the WORST service. My experience went a little like this:

I walk up to the counter smiling as per usual because COFFEE.
Employee: "What are you getting?"
Me: (-_____-) "I'll have a grande iced caramel macchiato with one pump of vanilla and an egg and cheddar breakfast sandwich, please."
Employee: "Receipt?"

I'm sorry, WHAT? She didn't say hi. What are you getting? How about "what can I get for you?" or "what are you having today?" She didn't tell me my total. She didn't say thank you. SHE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING. I don't care if you're having a bad day. Suck it up and smile. As a barista, you have the power to make or break someone's day. YOU set the tone for their day. I'm sorry if you hate your job or spilled your Cheerios this morning, but Lord have mercy, be nice to people. It's literally your job.

My boyfriend and I always talk about how all the Starbucks we go to have terrible customer service. Not just in the same town either, we've lived in multiple places! They are't that personable. They aren't very friendly. They hardly even smile.

I've worked in customer service since I was 15. I'm 24 now. Receptionist, frozen yogurt swirler, barista, cashier, you name it and I've probably done it. I'm here to tell you IT'S NOT THAT HARD. Greet me nicely, smile a little, do something!

I know firsthand that customers can suck. They can be difficult and rude and entitled and at the end of your day, you feel exhausted and beaten down. Trust me, I've had customers THROW things at me.

Say it with me. It's not that hard. It's not that hard to be nice. It's not that hard to smile. It's not that hard to act like you like your job. It's not that hard to be a decent human.

I don't mean to generalize at all and I'm sure there are a lot of nice Starbucks employees out there (I know some!), but I just feel like the majority of my experiences are negative and this girl pushed me over the edge.

What are some of your customer service horror stories? I would love to hear them!

The Butler's Pantry // Escalon, CA

 One day, while I was perusing the explore page on IG, I came across a real gem. A house-ware boutique...and a house-ware boutique truck? Whaaaaaat. After IG drooling stalking for a few, I realized that this lovely place was located on Main Street in Escalon, which is just a short drive from my hometown. My brother in law grew up in Escalon, so I knew my sister would be up for a trip.We took my 9 year old niece for her birthday this past weekend. She is the definition of a blooming fashionista/stylista.

From the very second I laid eyes on this store, I was in love. I mean LOOK!

The door was open (which is always very welcoming) and other ladies were shopping around (which was a good sign). We loved everything. There was literally not one single piece there that I wouldn't love to have in my home. How is that even possible?

 

 

 

Confession: I spent $100. I got J his Valentine's Day gifts, stuff for his birthday party in April and a few things for myself of course. The store owner went to high school with my brother in law, so we chatted with her for awhile. SHE IS THE SWEETEST THING. She was so friendly and gave us a tour of the building. Her shop used to be the old butcher shop and a lot of the original wood/other items were still there. She had converted part into a small hair studio, another part into a nail studio, and there was still room for other fun things! The old refrigerator room is used as hair supply storage. Even the little conveyor belt on the ceiling is still there - draped with beaded light strings of course.

If you ever find yourself in the area, please stop in and see Jamie. Her shop is adorable and you'll leave with some really adorable pieces. She's getting a shipment of pineapple and cactus decor soon, so you know I'll be back!

The Butler's Pantry
1730 Main Street
Escalon, CA

6 Ways To Have A Better Commute

In case this is your first time here or you don't follow me on any form of social media, you don't know that I commute for work. I only live about 30 miles from my job. However, the fastest I ever get home is about an hour. Last Friday, it took me two hours and ten minutes. I'm pretty much always in a constant state of hangry, traffic induced depression. 

 A few years ago, I commuted with my dad and we spent a minimum of 5 hours in a car each day. Last year, I drove about 120 miles a day from Monterey to where I work. Annnnnd this year, I'm only doing 60 miles a day. (haha only 60) Sadly, I consider myself an advanced level commuter. If you want pro tips, talk to my dad!

Here's what helps me stay semi-sane out their on the roads. For tips on being the best commuter ever, read this post from February of 2015.

• Music - A good playlist/podcast can change your commuting life. My current choice is Sam Hunt's album on repeat. If you don't have Amazon Prime Music, download the app. I like it waaaay better than Pandora. You can actually listen to the songs you want! No waiting and waiting  for the song you actually want to hear.
• Snacks - If I don't pack snacks, you better stay far, far away from me. I try to keep snacks in my bag, but I ALWAYS have a granola bar stashed in my car for those times I forget. This is going to sound so lame, but if traffic is really bad I'll play games while eating - like take a bite every minute or something. It stops me from eating my snack in two seconds and it helps time go by faster for me.
• Water - I will not leave the office without a water bottle or a Redbull (for those desperate days). I need something to wash down that granola bar and for as long as I can remember, my mom would always tell me to make sure I had snacks and water in my car in case something were to ever happen. Job well done, mom! 
• Sunglasses - There's this certain spot of my commute where the sun is KILLER. Without my sunglasses, I would without a doubt go blind and crash my car. I don't really wear sunglasses any other time besides when I'm sitting in traffic, so I always have a pair in my car. 
• Dance Parties - When I commuted from Monterey, I would ALWAYS have dance parties in the morning. I was so tired. It was dark. The drive was so slow. I would dance like a crazy person to keep myself awake. This is also a good way to improve your mood and to make friends with the people sitting in traffic next to you. 
• Motivational Mantras - I have two things I tell myself multiple times a day. The first is "You can't help if you're smarter than these people" and "You can't be stuck in traffic forever. This will be over soon!" The first one might be a little rude, but seriously, the road is a crazy place full of crazy, stupid people. The second is the whole truth. Sometimes it feels like I'll be stuck in my car forever, so I have to remind myself that I'll be home before I know it.

Do you commute? What are your tried and true tricks to surviving it? I would love to know!