It's the Truth

I don't like Desiere as the Bachelorette, I can't decided if it's the way she walks, or the fact that she's not a blonde, of a combination of the two.  I'm a terrible person for saying this.

My dog is undoubtedly the cutest dog in the world. Simply no questions about it.

Our deck has made incredible progress, and I have officially done none of it, which makes me feel guilty.

Trips to Target always start in the shoe section, but this shouldn't come as a surprise.

My Grandfather would have been 83 this week, sometimes I wish he were still here. Although know he's in a better place, I selfishly would have loved for him to meet my boyfriend

I've been back from the Bachelorette party (that one) for five days, and my bags are still not unpacked, I just can't find the motivation.

Ti-Vo can actually go down as a life changing thing. What did we ever do without it? i.e. How did we ever live without it?

When I drive home from work in a skirt, and my legs are touching I can't handle it. I have a towel in the car that I put between them.  Yes, I do wash it, if you were wondering.

If my hair is in a bun, it's for sure third day hair.  Amen for dry shampoo, bobby pins, and hairspray.

My blog posts have been sporadic this week to say the least. I'm not even sure what's going on. After the past two weekends being gone, I feel like my entire routine is messed up, and for a creature of habit, that's hard.

I ate Cinommon Toast Crunch for breakfast this morning, after not having it in years. Gosh what amazing things sugar will do.

And that's all I got.
More tomorrow. I swear.
But I'm sure you've heard that before.

The Dichotomy of Blogging

Sometimes even us new bloggers have a love hate relationship with blogging.

 I don't know about you but when I try something - I give it my all.
Everything I've got.
 I have a need, a desire, and irrational obsession with being successful.

But who am I kidding, that describes all of us crazy ladies who spend our 'off work' hours and hard earned dollars to be part of a twenty first century culture that is still developing.

Since I've been blogging for just over a year, I am clearly an expert in all things blog, cough, cough.
#maybesomeday

But what I have realized is the dichotomy of feelings I have about it, blogging that is.

I love sharing my life with you all, I love getting to know all of you, I love learning new things, and I love the culture and network I have grown to be a part of. 

 It's a whole new network that I didn't have before.

But part of me is scared to share aspects of my life, hesitant to jump right in, and reserved in some ways.  Part of me just wants my life to be mine, all wrapped in my little world.

As I continue to develop and find my writing style, my voice, and the great purpose of this blog,
I am sure I will find clarity in balance in what I share, and what stays with me as 'mine'. 
I am sure this will be a forever changing things, as SBSL continues to evolve.

And that's when I think to myself are these thoughts normal?
 I know all of you super successful bloggers, look at bloggers like me, and think,
'Girlfriend, you've got a lot to learn.'
And you'd be right, I do.

But does learning about myself and others get easier?
Will this love hate relationship go away?

Will I always have moments of frustrations, moments that make me smile, and moments that make me realize just why I got involved in this whole culture to begin with???

Constantly creating valuable content for you guys.
Trying to grow my little space over here.
Get more followers, sponsors blogs, guest post, and give aways.
Sometimes even when I am not involved in any of them, I feel overwhelmed.
#icanttweetfastenough
 Sometimes I am not sure when to look, or how to figure out where to go next, what I should do.
And that's when I realize, I'm the only one who has the answers,
the only one who knows what I want to share, discover, and learn from this space
And what I want to hold on to as 'mine'.

like this little girl
I feel like as long as I find a good mix, I can continue to make it work.

But help me help you guys.

What helps you shape your blogging direction???

I'd love to hear what you have to say!!!!

I'm Materalistic

I'd love to tell you I am not at all materialistic, but I can't, because I am.

I am mildly materialistic.  

I love Nordstrom shoes, nice wallets, and Nike work out gear.
  I like my Starbucks, Toms Shoes, and Paige Jeans.
I enjoy a Kate Spade bag, Express work attire, and Michael Kors watches.
And that's just me being honest.

There are days that I wish I were super frugal, thrift shop going lady.
 Because I see soooo many of you bloggers that are awesome, frugal, and amazing.

Your finds never fail to amaze me.

I'm not even sure when it happened, or how it happened.  I grew up in a 'normal' household.
But I guess normal is relative these days...
(If you read this post, or this post you might understand a little more of how I was raised)  

Unrelated picture, but she's still gone.
 I miss her.

I'm not saying I want the fanciest, or the newest, or the bestest,
but I do have some expectation for nice things. 

I think it came from my childhood. I always worked. Like always.
It started at twelve when I mowed the neighbors lawn and babysat.  I loved buying things myself.
My first BIG purchase was my awia 48 second anti-skip disc man.
Remember those things from way back when???
I was so proud. I love that I had earned myself the newest trendy thing.
 Things my parents would never have bought for me.

Those eyes, only three more weeks.
In High School my money indulgences changed to Express clothes, iPods, and one big trip to Europe.
That I worked three years scooping ice cream of all that.
It felt good 'not relying' on my parents for 'extra' things like dinners out with friends, getting my hair done, and trips to the mall.  I love the 'sense' of independence.
(I say 'sense' because in High School you have no idea about the costs of car insurance, health insurance, housing, gas, food, etc. so my 'sense' was relative for my age)
None of my friends were paying for the things I was paying for; I was proud.
Again my money gave me things that I wouldn't have had otherwise, and I liked it.

College came, and I was making more money than I ever had. I got 'sucked' in to Sorority life, which is expensive in nature.  The dues, the trips, the dresses, and the matching shirts.
I loved designer denim, Nordstrom shoes, and nights out at the bar.

And when I graduated with job (read about it here), I was happy that I had the money to go on fun trips, pay for my cell phone, car insurance and payments, and still maintain my lifestyle.
So the things I've done for myself have been 'nice'.
Again I'm not talking super fancy, but 'nicer' things appealed to me.

Like I said, sometimes I feel bad, while none of the things I love and indulge in are necessary.
I could easily find happiness in less expensive things, but I think it's the lessons I learned early in life, that hard work could buy me things I liked and wanted that I wouldn't get otherwise that made me a little materialistic.

P.S. I just bought this wallet, I did get it on super sale for $59, and I love it.

Yup, it's Michael Kors