Whew, it's Friday ya'll and a 3 day weekend at that!
Today, I have a really sweet guest posting on my blog.
Her name is Shaylee Ann & her design skills are incredible!
She's also giving away a little somethin' somethin',
so you must read on!

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Hello, Ashlee fans! I'm so thrilled to be guest-posting over here today! And I'm super excited that Ashlee is posting on my blog too!

Alright, so introductions! I'm Shaylee Ann. I'm nineteen. I'm single. I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

I blog at Mother {at} Heart. I'm short, quietly loud, and a lover of all things mommy and baby. And that pretty much sums me up!

Today I'm going to tell you all about something of a passion that I have: DESIGN.

I have an immense love for fonts, color schemes, and HTML tags. When I was about sixteen, I started my first blog. Amo Vita was simple, bright, and boring. I used backgrounds from sites like The Cutest Blog on the Block. Their backgrounds are darling, but the border around the header was ugly, and the lack of personality gave me no desire to ever post. How could I post when it looked so . . . horrid?

So, I rolled up my sleeves and googled everything I could about blog design. I began by using MS Powerpoint as I made the transition from Amo Vita to Simple Elegance,  

I created my own header with my own images and cute fonts, and hello, I was in heaven. After a while I learned how to create my own headers, sidebar titles, post dividers, favicons, and signatures.

 They weren't adorable by any means, but they were a step towards becoming a self-proclaimed designer. Once I realized that I could personalize my blog even more, I taught myself how to read basic HTML by watching tutorials on Youtube. I practiced, and practiced, and practiced some more. I gave my blog more makeovers than I can count. Then, once I felt comfortable enough to share my new skills with others, I began Simple {&} Elegant Designs. I designed half a blog before finding the need to close shop, due to a busy life and not enough time to spend designing. I continued to design my personal blog, transitioned from Simple {&} Elegance to Mother {at} Heart,

and by Spring of this year, my designing was taking off. I started out simple, with just fonts and colors, then moved on to create my own graphics and tweak every bit of code I could get my hands on. I went back to using at program that I have tried out before, but hadn't really been converted to, yet - Paint.Net. Three blogs later, I was on my way to starting up my own designing business - Dream 65 Designs - this time sticking with it, and going all out.

Now, I create email stationary from scratch;

I design blogs for friends and fellow bloggers, and I offer my newly-acquired design knowledge to anyone who asks. I love what I do, and I love that I can earn money from doing what I love.

Because I love Ashlee's readers, YOU, I'm offering the first person to read this post, to become a follower of Mother {at} Heart via GFC, and to email me, a free custom email stationary!

Would you like that? 

I thought so. ;)

Thanks again, Ashlee! :)

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How cute is that email stationary?! 

I have never seen anything like it.

I just wish I already knew how to do html because it gets so discouraging!

 

Now, you better hurry and follow Mother {at} Heart and email Shaylee right away!

 

Thanks for posting Shaylee! 

Prayer Request.

 

The past two days have been filled with nothing, but sad news.  I'd like to take the time to ask you to stop and say a prayer for my hometown and the town I now reside in. 

 

In my hometown, two teens were in a car accident on Monday.  The boy survived, but the girl did not.  I don't know either of these families, but it saddens me to know that someone's daughter, granddaughter, sister, or friend will not be coming home.  Someone who is so young, will not get to live their life to the fullest. 

 

Today (Tuesday), in the town I know live in (25 minutes away from my hometown), a former police officer was shot in his own driveway/yard and shortly after, passed away.  The rumor around town is that the man who shot him had a grudge against him for several years, but that's just hear say you know.  Also, over the past weekend, a young man was killed on a motorcycle, leaving his family, girlfriend & unborn child.  A child that will never get to know him.

 

The world is SO scary these days.  While I was growing up, it seemed like doors didn't have to be locked, you didn't have to worry about people pulling in your own driveway and shooting you because they were just there to visit.  It was just different.  Now, as soon as I come into the house alone, I lock the door right away.  I'm constantly looking out the windows to make sure no one is in the driveway.  Should we have to live our life in fear?  I sure don't want to, but one can never be too cautious. 

 

So, as you are saying your prayers, please add these two towns & a few extra people I have on my mind tonight.  Like my grandma who is getting over bronchitis & a special grandaddy who is in the hospital. 

 

Thanks for reading.

weekend recap

What a beautiful weekend it has been here in Kentucky! 

Since I was off work on Friday, I got all my house work done so Saturday and

Sunday I could focus on the things that I/we wanted to do.

Saturday was spent sewing up some keychains for one of my best friends bridesmaids gifts. 

I'm loving how their turning out and I hope she does too. 

Here's a little sneaky peek :)

Phone camera + nighttime = dark fuzzy picture

 

And the soon-to-be bride, Brittany (left).

This is a picture of us riding RZR's from like 2009!

 

Sunday, Mac and I took a trip to Bowling Green, KY {about an hour from home} to Beech Bend Splash & Lagoon Waterpark.  Ah, it felt so nice to just sit back in the chair and get my tan on!  The pool water was a little on the chilly side though. =\  And the park was super busy! People everywhere! 

 

 Look at the line for the slides!  All the way to the bottom of the steps!

This weekend was such a relaxing, feel good weekend!  Hope yours was just as awesome :)

Happy Monday!

High Five For Friday!

It's been a while since I've linked up for High Five for Friday

and since I'm off work today it's a great time to do one! 

 

 

 

1.  Got my dress in the mail for one of my best friend's wedding!  I LOVE IT!!!!!!!  I bought it on kohls.com, but can't find it on there site anymore.  The brand is ELLE.

 

 

 

2.  Found out today that I'm partnered up with one of my blogger icon's for the Little Blogger/Big Blogger program, Ashley.  Can't wait to work with her!  Go check her out by clicking her name!

 

 

3.  A day off from work. Enough said.  =)

 

 

4.  Working on some keychains for some special honorary bridesmaids for said best friend.

 

 

5.  Mac (the boyfriend) got promoted to 1st shift this week, so no more being home alone at night! Woo-hoo!  {although I'm gonna miss getting to watch what I want on tv, lol}

Happy Friday, folks!

P.S.  I had guest posted this week over at Jennifer Leigh's blog.
Go check out my Fall Lust List & show her some love.

New Pair of Specs!

New eye glasses are so hard to come by these days, especially when you have no eye insurance and don't really want to shell out the money for a doctor visit and new pair of specs!   Anyone else have that problem?? Just me?? Well, if you are in a situation like mine, do I have a solution for you!

FIRMOO.COM

I was recently given the opportunity to review a free pair of glasses from www.firmoo.com and I'm SO in love with them!  Never heard of Firmoo?  No worries, I'm here to tell you all about them. :)

Firmoo.com is the world's most popular online glasses store {and I can see why, it was such a hard decision}.  Their main focus is to provide vision and fashion in a frugal way.  Frugal? That's a word I love to hear!  And what's even better is this awesome program that they offer to first time customers!  As a first time buyer, you are given the opportunity to get your first pair of glasses for FREE!!  Free? That's an even better word I love to hear! ;) 

So, are you curious to see which ones I chose? 

Here they are:

After I chose the pair I wanted, it seemed like no-time and they were at the post office.

I was a little over excited and ripped into the package right away!

Look what all came in the package!!!!!

Glasses hard case, soft case, repair kit, & cloth to clean the glasses!

What a steal!  I couldn't be more happy with my new specs!

So, do you happen to be in the market for a new pair of specs?? Well then get your eye prescription and head on over to Firmoo.com right now, pick your favorite pair, and send Antonio an email letting him know you're interested in a FREE pair of glasses and the blog of ashLeenikoL sent you!

And how about one more pic? :)

Jennifer Leigh's Lust List!

I'm so excited for ya'll to meet Jennifer from Jennifer Leigh's Blog! She is one of the nicest, most sweetest girls that I've "met" in blogland so far and when I asked her if she wanted to be my first guest post, she jumped right on board!  Jennifer has also nominated me for the Liebster Award, go check that out here.  Thank you so much for doing this, Jennifer! & thanks for the award! :) 

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Hi y'all! I'm Jennifer Leigh and I blog over at http://www.jenniferleighblog.com. I'm so excited that Ashlee has invited me to guest blog over here! One feature I love & am going to make a re-occuring post on my blog is the Lust List! You can see a past Lust List on my blog at http://jenniferleighblog.com/august-5th-lust-list/. Basically, its a short list of places, people or things I'm lusting over (let's face it, it's mostly things). Some of the things on the list might be things I'm dying to buy, or just things I enjoy. So, here goes! Here's my lust list for Wednesday, August 15th!

First up is Jonathan Topper's One Last Thing Before I Go.

I absolutely LOVE Jonathan Tropper! I've read all of his previous books and thoroughly enjoyed them all! His latest work comes out in 2 weeks and I can't wait to get it! The description also seems to feature a lot of drama: "So when he learns that his heart requires emergency, lifesaving surgery, Silver makes the radical decision to refuse the operation...." Come on, that got me intrigued in one sentence! I know all this drama will also be packed filled with tons of humor that only Jonathan Tropper can bring, and I just can't wait!!

Next up, some fabulous nail polish! Essie Stylenomics Collection (Fall 2012) - in the Sylenomics shade!

I love nail polish. In fact, I love it too much, which means I have way too much. But, I'm definitely going to order this color soon! I can't wait for fall because I love fall fashion, and what completes a fall outfit more than beautiful fall nails? I also just happen to love this color - I'm a May baby so I've always been drawn to emerald shades, but being a redhead draws me to the color even more, since it happens to look great red heads. Of course, this color will look amazing on everyone! If you're not up for green nails, I also love the "Don't Sweater It" shade too!

Another great item that can take you from summer to fall (and even into winter if you layer) is the Madewell Silk Candlelight Top!

I really like the rich jeweltone color of this top, but I am also in love with the grey/rock color too! I think this is just a great structered top to dress up or down, and will definitely be great for all kinds of work places (especally mine)! The top is bit of a splurge at $125, but I've found Madewell's quality to be pretty top notch, and my local Madewell also happens to have excellent customer service which I love! The best part about this top is I really think you could wear it through all 4 seasons, and there's a whole slew of items you could wear it with!

I mentioned before that I love emerald, so here's another emerald item which is much more attainable for the ressionistas who are watching their budgets! The J. Crew Factory Stretch Cabochon Bracelet!

This bracelet is simple but lovely, and I happen to be a huge fan of gold. You can wear it to dress up jeans and a T, or it'd look great with a simple shift dress at work. The possibilities are endless!

Last but certainly not least is some Dallas art from Society 6 artist, Architette Studios.

What an adorable illustration of Dallas! My husband and I definitely need some art on our walls and I love this simple reminder of home. I might live in NYC, but Dallas/Fort Worth will always be home!

I hope you've enjoyed my guest blog lust list! Please check out my blog at http://www.jenniferleighblog.com! You can also follow me on Twitter @JenniferLeighTX and on Blog Lovin' at http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/3931764.

Until next time....

Jennifer Leigh

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Wow, I think my lust list would probably be a mile long!  Doesn't making a lust list blog post sound like fun?  I'd for sure link up with you, Jennifer!  And I love her style!!  Although, I'm one of those recessionista's she was talking about, ha ha!  Thanks so much again for posting, Jennifer!! 

Make sure you go and check her out!!  Leave her a comment and tell her I sent you ;)

Been gone far to long.

Hidy friends!!  Feels like an eternity since I last wrote a blog post.  Sometimes it's hard for me to get on here and write when I don't make it home until 7pm or later and still have laundry, dishes, & other chores to take care of.  But tonight, I've decided to sit down and do it, even though it's 9pm!!

This past weekend was one of my best friends' bachelorette party!  We spent most of the day Saturday and Saturday night on the beautiful Dale Hollow Lake on a houseboat.  The weather was PERFECT.  I spent most of the day floating in the water with my drink in my hand and getting my sun tan on!  {This was only the second trip I made to the lake this year :(}  I ended up not taking any pics of the people {there was like 20 of us!!}, but I did get one picture of the view on Sunday morning.  Ah, it was SO peaceful. 

I'm so excited for her wedding day, October 20th.  She is going to be a beautiful bride and I'm sure the decorations and food won't be half bad either ;) 

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As I'm sure you already know, I've been spending time with this little stinker.  My gosh, he's getting so big!  He's SO good at pulling up and he's stood alone for a few seconds and walked a couple steps, but nothing major yet besides crawling.  Spoiled is what he is! lol.  But we wouldn't have it any other way.

Well, that's all I have time for tonight.  I've just got home from Zumba and I'm wore smack out!!  Hadn't been in over 3-4 months.  Whew, I'll be feeling it in the morning. 

I've also got my first guest post debuting on my blog tomorrow, so make sure to come back and check her out!! :)  Good night!