Wordpress

Ok.  I know it's not pretty.  It doesn't look super fabulous like this blog does.  But it's ok.  That will change soon.  I just didn't want to have to transfer anymore posts from here to there.  Remember... it's not super fabulous yet... but in due time.  Please change your links from this blog to ...

http://shealynnbenner.com/blog/


Adios Blogger!

It's Decided

OK!  I know I just posted.  Here I am again. LOL!

So. I just decided! I am going to sell the laptop bag! The fabric is Ginger Blossom by Sandi Henderson and it's now out of print, which means this bag is a ONE OF A KIND. I am hoarding the rest of it. :) It fits a 17" laptop. Interested? Let me know. :) Maybe I will just list it?  Yes. I think I will list it in my store. 

So click here!

xo

Photo Contest!!!

A friend of mine is having a photo contest on her blog right now - I loved the idea.  In fact, I loved it so much that I am doing one too!  :)

The details are simple.  I need some new photos for my website, and that is where you come in!  We want to see YOUR pictures!!  Not just pictures of our products, though!  How about pictures of them in action!  While a picture of the camera strap cover on the camera is fine, or the iPhone sleeve next to your phone is fine too, we would love seeing some shots our our products being used - like so...

These pictures are old.  I took them over a year ago.  An old friend was the model.  Quite a model she is too... though she didn't think she was.
I love these shots, but I need new ones!  So this is the deal.  Email me your photos - shealynn AT gmail DOT com - we will pick THREE winners.  This photo contest will start now and end a few days BEFORE I leave to go to New York for the BlogHer Conference.  End date is Monday Aug. 2nd.  So 2 weeks from tomorrow.

You can send as many pictures as you want.  Get creative!!!  Products alone are ok, but with you in them is even better!!!  ALL *Shey*[B] products, please.  Not just camera strap covers.  ;)

GRAND PRIZE WINNER - will receive - $50 *Shey*[B] Store Credit 

1ST PLACE WINNER - will receive - $30 *Shey*[B] Store Credit

2ND PLACE WINNER - will receive - $15 *Shey*[B] Store Credit

We can not wait to see what you come up with!!!

Scroll down to see a new product coming soon!!  :)

I Confess

I am here to confess some things that you may not know about me.  I think you all need to write your own confessions too... no.  I am not a priest.  But this could be interesting.  Got the idea on a blog I saw, forgive me for forgetting the name!

Bring on the confessions!

- I love to walking into a new tire store, because I think new tires smell amazing.

- I am not a patient person.  I yell at my computer often, and refrain from yelling a lot.  Sometimes I think steam will come out of my ears.  Scary thought!

- I don't like my impatience one bit.

- I used to get mad at my husband when he would refuse to take vacation due to getting behind on work.  That is until I started my own business.  Now I get it.

- I still think we need vacations, but maybe just over weekends.  ;)

- My husband has the best smelling deodorant, and I tell him his armpits smell good every time we snuggle.  :: blink blink :: Yes I am dead serious.

- I think Twitter is great, but it can be like high school all over again.  Drama, gossip, etc.  I didn't like high school.

- When my kids, parents or other sensitive ears aren't around I cuss like a sailor.

- I like to cuss.  *shrug*  (enter an eye roll from my mom here.  hehe)

- I am assuming my mom would roll her eyes or shake her head at that.  Mom?  Am I right?

- I do not like President Obama one bit.

- I love hearing my husband talk about things he's passionate about.

- I am a born again Christian, and love the Lord with all of my heart.  But I don't go to church.

- I hate overly judgmental people.

- I am not a girly girl.  I don't care for shopping, shoes, and makeup.

- When reading books I often think the main male character is extremely good looking.  What?  Don't tell me I am alone here.

- I love flip flops.  I wear them 365 days a year.

- I love my name.  Thanks Mom!

- I am a daddy's girl.  And I think my dad is adorable.  He's such a great dad!

- I think my husband is the greatest dad on earth.

- My husband looks sexy with tons of tattoos.

- I am very opinionated, and love to debate things I am passionate about.  Just ask my husband.  :)

- My favorite sound in the universe is my girls' giggles.

- I love blog comments, and wish I had more time to leave a comment on all of your blogs!

- My mom is hilarious!  Love her!

- I think this confessions post is getting a bit long!

- I love friends I can be myself with.  No holding back.  Thanks for letting me - Julie, Melanie and Denise!  Love you girls!!!

- I dream about living in New York City all the time.  Upper East Side, please.  Oh, maybe one day.  NYC is my heaven.  Love the city!

- I am an easy going person.

- I am proud of my business and myself.  No I am not being cocky.

- I have some new products and camera strap covers to share with you.  :)


New in my shop right now....

Shades of Grey...

The Photographer's Wallet ... Yahoo!  A new product.  Store your extra memory cards, batteries, chap stick and lens caps all in one super stylish place!  Want a different fabric combo?  Email me!  Any fabric in my shop can be made into The Photographer's Wallet!

Lime Spree ... 

Les Feuilles ... 

The Pleated Chain {in bright pink} ...

And... The Lime Spree cell phone clutch!  

These are *not* only for iPhones!

Any cell can be put in here.

That is all for now!  If you write a confessions post, link up in the comments - if you dare!  :)

Some Announcements! :)

I just bought my plane ticket to the BlogHer conference.  Wondering why I am lame and didn't buy it 2 weeks ago when it was $150 cheaper.  Ho hum.

If you're going to BlogHer and want something from *Shey*[B], I will hand deliver it to you at the conference.  But you have to order ASAP!  :)

Laptop Bags are now available for purchase.  I am only allowing 5 laptop bag orders a month, so get yours in asap if you want one!  For a custom fabric order, just email me.  :)  Laptop bags are here.

Also!  The CHIC is now available as made to order!  But!  Only 10 per month.  I am listing 5 every 2 weeks.  Right now the CHIC is available in red.  There are 4 more available.  Current turnaround time applies to the CHIC now.  Aren't you excited that it's available ALL the time now?  :)  Click here.

My email was hacked this morning!!  All of my contacts got an email from "me" with a spam link in it.  So sorry about that!  Along with that was mass email deletion.  So, my inbox is basically empty, which means, if you emailed me... it was deleted.  Please please email me again!

Don't forget that these camera strap slipcovers will no longer be available after tomorrow.  Vibrant Paisley, Ruffled Wicker, Brown Zebra, The India, Snip Snip, The Burlap, The Tuxedo, The Plaid, All the Suedes, All the Bros, Henna, The New York, Aqua Dot, Diamond Dot, and Laughing Leaves. 


And, lastly... how about a Q&A Post?  Sound fun?  Sure why not!  So... ask me anything!  I love your questions.  They're always so fun.  :)  And... let's add a little somethin' somethin' for you!  Ask me questions on this post and when I answer those questions I will post a giveaway.  All those who asked questions gets 1 extra entry PER question!  I am currently making a few BRAND new camera strap slipcovers - one will be for a giveaway on here and I might throw in a cell phone clutch too.  :)  So... ask away!  And in the giveaway post I get to ask you questions! Deal?  Giveaway will go up on MONDAY, so start askin my friends!  It can be about anything - not 
just SheyB related.  


Have a great night!!

"The Shallows"

"Is Google making us stupid?" -Nicholas Carr

My husband is reading a book that I might not have found so interesting 2 years ago, but I found VERY interesting 2 days ago, and very sad at the same time.  Not sad in a "makes me wanna cry" kind of way; sad in a "I can't believe these facts are true about people" kind of way.  I have continued to mull over what he was telling me about this book, and decided that I will be making some changes.

The book is called "The Shallows: What The Internet Is Doing To Our Brains" by Nicholas Carr.  The basis of this book is this... "an explosive look at technology's effect on the mind".   Remember, I haven't read this book, but had quite a detailed conversation with Mike about it.  Let's start with some facts... or the sad part as I might call it.

Fact: The average person reads 49 minutes A WEEK!
I was shocked by this.  That is 7 minutes a day.  Really?  That's it?
As you all know, I am not average.  LOL!  I read at least 25 hours a week.
Do you read?  And if so how much?  Blogs do not count.  ;)
Carr also pointed out that we should be reading things that make out minds think.

Fact:  The average person watches 35 HOURS of TV A WEEK!!
Wow!  The first thing I said to Mike when he told me that was "are you serious?!  That's practically a full time job!"  I just can not fathom sitting in front of the television for that span of time.
I am also not average here.  I watch maybe 5 hours of TV a week.
How much TV do you watch?  Movies are included in this, so include those.

Fact:  The average person is on the internet 19 HOURS A WEEK!  This may not seem like a lot, but those 19 hours are NOT including work hours.  Just browsing and goofing off on the internet.
I have lessened my internet usage considerably in the last 2 weeks, so as of this moment, I am on the internet (not including ANY work stuff) maybe 4 hours a week.  How about you?

I don't know about you, but those stats really got me disheartened.  I mean... what is so necessary that people need or want to spend that much time in front of the TV and that much time on the internet?

Now, let me be honest here.  I cringe when I hear someone say, "I hate reading.  It's so boring."  Why?  Because I used to be that person.  Yes, me!  I used to "hate" reading.  That is until I picked up a REALLY good book that I couldn't put down.  And I found the genre I enjoy.  Boom, done!  I am a reader, and find myself wanting to read instead of watching TV or being on the internet.  Now, I am the person that says "I LOVE READING!  There are SO many great books out there, and I can't wait to read them all!"  Now, if you don't like reading, I will still like you, of course!  ;)  I'm just saying maybe give reading another shot!

Carr also attributes people's excuses of having ADD to the internet as well.  He also states that the internet is like a drug and so many feel the need to get their "fix".

I get this.  100% understood this when Mike was telling me about it.  I used to be addicted to Twitter.  Needed to know what was going on ALL the time.  Now... I find myself not really caring as much.  Yes, I still like Twitter and all my Twitter friends, but to be honest, Twitter is a mind suck and a time suck!  Before you know it, 2 hours have gone by, and nothing has gotten done, and your brain hasn't gotten any form of workout.  The same goes for email.  Feel like you constantly have to check your email?  Or every time your iPhone beeps letting you know you have a new email do you feel that need to have to check it?  *insert the word addicted here in a sing song voice*

I feel like there is so much always going on on the internet, so it can make me feel less focused.  Hence the ADD remark in Carr's book.  So so true for me.  I hear many people say they can't focus or they have ADD, but I bet when it came down to it, it could be all that internet time.  The Facebook, Twitter, Blogging, Emails, etc, etc so on and so forth.  And!  I bet most of you will end up skimming this post, because it's so long... am I right?  That was another thing Mike was telling me about that book.  So many skim or bounce all over the place, because they can't seem to focus.

Here is a great excerpt from Chapter 8 of Carr's book:

"The development of a well-rounded mind requires both an ability to find and quickly parse a wide range of information and a capacity for open-ended reflection. There needs to be time for efficient data collection and time for inefficient contemplation, time to operate the machine and time to sit idly in the garden. We need to work in Google’s “world of numbers,” but we also need to be able to retreat to Sleepy Hollow. The problem today is that we’re losing our ability to strike a balance between those two very different states of mind. Mentally, we’re in perpetual locomotion. . . ."




So... do you get it?  What is the internet doing to your brain?


I will write a follow up post about what I am doing to "change my brain".  Because Carr quotes studies and talks about rewiring the brain, and changing how we do things.  This conversation with my husband about this book has definitely shown me how I want to change my habits.  Is the internet a bad thing?  I definitely don't think so, but I think it's like everything else in life ... balance.




Ta-Ta for now friends!

XO,

Night Owls Tweet - iPhone Pictures

[Over the next 52 weeks, Me from Arizona USA, and Kris from the Gold Coast AUSTRALIA, will attempt to blog a total of 365 photos. Each posting ... 7 photos, from the last 7 days, on alternate Monday Nights]

This weeks Night Owls Tweet theme is iPhone pictures!  :)  I got the new iPhone 4 and man what a difference that camera is compared to the iPhone 3G.  Took some pretty good shots with it.  So, here is a little of my life outside of the walls of my house. :)

Stolen Zoe kisses in the car in the driveway.  :)

A blazing hot day makes for fantastic clouds!

HOT!  (excuse my nasty dusty car!  ewww!  Must take care of that stat!)

My oldest girl reveling in her new found talent of bracelet making.  She learned that at camp. :)

Eclipse!  Waited in line to see it with a bunch of my girlfriends.  Pretty good!  For the record... Bella's wig.  UGH!  The Cullens hair?  Ugh again!  Except Edward and Emmett - their hair is way more normal.  And the sparkle... still lame.  Other than that, greatly enjoyed the movie!

Ummm... yeah.  I have a slight addiction to Coke Zero.  :)

Another REALLY hot day produced such a beautiful sky.  I hoped for rain, but no such luck.

Check out Kristopher's Night Owls Tweet post too!  She took some amazing shots!

***

I also wanted to state for the record that today was the most productive day in *Shey*[B] history!  I completed and sent FOURTY ONE camera strap slipcovers - in ONE day!  Whew!

Also.  There are several camera strap slipcovers that will no longer be available after Friday.  Which ones will they be?  Sadly these:  Vibrant Paisley, Ruffled Wicker, Brown Zebra, The India, Snip Snip, The Burlap, The Tuxedo, The Plaid, All the Suedes, All the Bros, Henna, The New York, Aqua Dot, Diamond Dot, and Laughing Leaves.

Making room for more new items!!  :)  So, get em while you can, because before long they will be gone!

I also found more FRENCH GIRLIE fabric!!!!  I have enough to make FOUR camera strap slipcovers.  They are listed here.  I don't have any scraps, so lens cap pockets can not be added, but padding can!  Hurry hurry and click here.  :)

I am also going to do another Q & A pretty soon.  Whatcha think?  :)

Ta-ta for now!

Hello!!

It's been a while, huh?  Almost a week.  Geez!!  When you're busy I guess it really shows.

There really isn't much going on here other than my girls in camp and school and me sewing mass amounts of orders, spending time with my family, and reading.  See.  Like I said.  Nothing new.  :)  haha!  I love my life.  As per usual in the summers and beyond here in Arizona it is unbearably hot.  Today it will be 115 degrees and there is a heat advisory in place until 8pm tonight.  Meaning - do not spend excessive time outside unless you want to get heat poisoning or exhaustion.  And by excessive time outside I mean more than 15 minutes.  ;)

Anyhoo.  I have a few book recommendations for you all.  I have read almost 20 books this year so far.  Most in the last month.  Here are some that I loved immensely.

The Girl in the Arena - Fantastic!!!  I gave it 5 out of 5 stars.

The Fallen #1 by Thomas E. Sniegoski - Very good.  There's a talking dog in it too.  :)  I gave it 4 out of 5 stars.

The Iron King (Iron Fey #1) by Julie Kagawa- One of the best books I have ever read.  I absolutely LOVED this book!!  5 out of 5 stars for sure.

Winter's Passage (Iron Fey #1.5) by Julie Kagawa - A great novella to hold us until the next books comes out in 1 month.  :)  This one you can ONLY get on the Kindle.  But.  If you have an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, you can get the FREE Kindle App and then you can read it.  Winter's Passage is free.  5 out of 5 stars

The Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan (Forest of Hands & Teeth #2) - Loved it!!  Can not wait for the next one!  5 out of 5 stars

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting - This book caught me by surprise.  I found it very good... especially if you stayed up til 5:15am in the morning because you just could not put it down.  I'm crazy.  I already know that.  ;)  4 out of 5 stars

13 to Life by Shannon Delany - I just finished this one today after starting it last night.  It was awesome. 5 out of 5 stars

Speaking of reading.  Since I was told about the free Kindle App, I have decided that I will be reading books on my iPad from now on.  Just so much easier.  My husband has been trying to get me to switch to an e-reader for some time now, and I am just stubborn.  But finally I have changed my mind.  The sheer amount of books I read and buy are filling up my office VERY quickly.  I will likely be donating to my husband's office's library for other's to enjoy.  :)  I only keep the books I figure that I would like to read again.  Now, I can bring a million books with me without actually bringing a million books with me.  All stored in my iPad.  So easy!

Lastly... how about a super awesome discount for my amazing blog readers?  :)  Twitter got the discount yesterday, and you all get it today!  However... since you are all so amazing I am going to end it later than I did for Twitter.

Get 25% (TWENTY FIVE) off your ENTIRE purchase through tomorrow at midnight!!!  This excludes gift certificates.  Enter SPARKLERS at checkout!  :)




And because I like to add pictures... here is a picture from my *Shey*[B] product shoot I shot a month or so ago... not sure about this one.

How is everyone?  Have anything outrageous planned for this 4th of July weekend?
We don't.  I think relaxing is in major order!
Have a great one!!

Winners and Prayers

Hey friends.  Happy Saturday to you.  I have some winners to announce, but I have a prayer request.  When I got this message from my friend I got teary eyed.  I am sure you all know who Erin of The Vintage Pearl is.  :)  She is such an amazing person.  Though I have never met her in person, I have been friends with her for almost 2 years.  She has help me a lot with my business, and as you know, her business is just booming.  I am so proud of her.  She has accomplished a lot.
Anyway.  I got a message from her this morning that her mom unexpectedly passed away yesterday morning.  I am so sad.  Losing a parent would be so hard.  I have cried for her, prayed for her, and sent messages to her letting her know she is in my thoughts and prayers.  Would you all mind going to her blog and leaving some love for her too?  Click here.  Let's show her lots of thoughts and love and lift her and her family (especially her dad) in prayers.  Thanks everyone!  Life is precious.

The winners are as follows.

Winner of the t-Shirts are:  Sydney & Jodi

Winner of the Couture is: Ashley!!

Hurray ladies!!  Email me your addresses!  :)


OK.  So regarding the t-shirts.  We are going to have them professionally printed.  So stay tuned for that!  :)  And the angel wing shirts... LOTS liked those.... haha!  The wings were printed on the back of my girls' shirts.  Someone had asked that.  IF you're interested in a wing shirt, let me know.  Depending on the amount of requests I might just list them in my store.  We will see, though.  There are a ton of other designs I want to try out too.  :)

I also listed some more new stuff! WOW!  ;)  Check it...

This Couture sold, but wanted to show you all anyway.  It was Twilight inspired.  haha.  Figured it was fitting since Eclipse comes out WEDNESDAY!!  Yep.  I am meeting some friends on Tuesday night for dinner and a seat at the midnight premiere!  :)

Navy Blue, White & Pink.  :)

And my newest favorite!  The Pleated Chain.  LOVING that green ruffle!!!

Yep!  All but the Couture are available in my store now!  :)  Click here.


OK.  I missed out on the aquarium with my hubby and girls today to catch up on orders, because I am behind.  Better get back to it!


xo,

Father's Day

I can't get enough of the umbrellas.  I know I posted it already, but  had to again.  I think I might have it printed and hang it up in my house somewhere.  It just makes me happy.  :)

Want to stop in and let you all know... this weekend only (starting now) I am offering 15% off your entire purchase for Father's Day.  Just enter FATHERSDAY at checkout.  ;)  Moms - go get yourself something special.... because why not?  Click here to head on over to my store.

My girls come home tonight!  Excited to hug and kiss their faces.

I got the prototypes back from the manufacturer.  They look GREAT!  It's a go!  I would say definitely by mid July my turnaround time will go down.  At least that is what I am hoping!  haha.  As always, I will let you know!

Don't forget to enter the giveaway below this post to win a Couture or a t-shirt!

And... stay tuned sometime this weekend for a post written by my husband!!  Excited for that.


Have a great weekend, and dad's... Have a super great FATHER'S DAY!


xo,

Advertising Change

Hey all!

I wanted to drop in, because I have thought about the advertising that I offer on my blog, and I want to make it better.  When I advertise for someone, I like to be recognized in as many ways as possible, or in the best way I can be.
This got me thinking about all of you that have businesses just like I do.  I kept wondering what I could do to offer better advertising options for you.  Here is what I decided. . .

I am no longer going to be offering sidebar advertising.  The buttons there will only be buttons of websites/shops that I frequent often.  Advertising will be on a weekly basis.  Your shop button/blog button will be displayed at the bottom of every blog post I write.  I will also write up a little feature about you and your shop as well so we can get to know you as the shop/website's owner.  I feel like this is the BEST advertising.  I wish everyone did it this way.  It brings more attention to you in 1 week than it likely would in the entire month.  During your week of being featured, you can offer a giveaway as well, which in turn will likely also bring you more traffic.  :)

Advertising rate:  $30 for 1 week.

So, that's it.  I think this form of advertising will be much better, and benefit you better as well!!  If you're interested in advertising, please email me: shealynn@gmail.com

I will be back soon with more pictures from Angelina's birthday party and Vegas!


xo,

Vegas Baby!!

I am finishing up some orders to go out today because there will be no working for me this weekend.  There will be no working for Mike this weekend.  Our kids are at their grandma and papa's house in North Carolina for a few weeks.  So, why no work this weekend?

Because Mike and I are going to be in . . .

Mike and I haven't been away just the 2 of us in FOREVER!  Longer than forever I think, actually.  So we are so excited to escape!  We had friends going with us, but they couldn't come.  So now it's just the 2 of us.  In this city of lights!  My camera and I are going to have a blast!!

But... while I am away... I want you to enjoy a fabulous discount!  15% off your ENTIRE purchase!!!  Just enter VEGAS15 at checkout.  :)

There are some new things listed in there.  Like...

The Raspberry Lemonade:  So FUN!

And the Ruffled Duo {in burnt orange} SUPER fabulous!  :)

So go ahead!  You don't need to gamble to feel like a winner!  Discounts work too, yeah?  ;)  Well, then.  ding ding ding!  winner!!!  15% off entire purchase - enter VEGAS15 at checkout... cuz I just love ya.

Have a great weekend!!!

Giveaway winners!!

I know I have been a bad bad blogger!  Currently sitting in the corner with a dunce cap on.  Oh and writing, I will blog more, I will blog more, I will blog more...

Though, this coming week is going to be SO SO busy!  I am only working 3 days this week.  Well, 2 1/2 days really.  Wednesday I am flying my girls out to my parent's house in North Carolina, where they get to stay and visit for 3 1/2 weeks!  I fly back home alone on Thursday afternoon.  Friday afternoon, my husband and I are leaving for Vegas for the weekend!!  I can't tell you how excited I am to get my hubby all to myself!  And not only getting my husband to myself, but getting my husband to myself while we escape for the weekend!  Such a rarity.

It's always so weird when my kids are gone the few weeks in the summer they are visiting their grandma and papa.  So quiet.  I slowly get used to it, but by the time they come home I am so excited and cry at the sight of them when the realization hits me of just how much I have missed them.

So, I hope to blog more this week.  Lord knows I have tons to share, just not a lot of time to do so.  I am so exhausted right now that I won't be mustering up the energy to upload, edit and post pictures of Angelina's school program, her birthday party, etc etc.  But I will very soon.  Perhaps tomorrow.  :)

For now, here are the giveaway winners I was supposed to post yesterday!

Winner of the March bag pattern from Melissa of May and Mae is Joy - winner of the June bag & fat quarters is Jacky - and the winner of the Sunday bag is Crystal!!!

Winner of the personalized name pillow by Marie of Bella Marie Designs is Julie!!!

Winner of The Pleated Poppy giveaway is Heidi!!!

Winner of the Lisa Leonard giveaway is Polka Dot Moon!!!!!!!

And, the Giveaway Day winner is Mary Keeley McAllister!!!!

Congrats to ALL the winners! Those who didn't win, go visit these stores!  They all offer amazing amazing items!!!

Do I Have A Sign On My Back?

So, you're reading a blog post, right?  And in the midst of the blog post you realize, "Oh my gosh!  This is about me!"  And this is not said in a giddy school girl voice full of excitement.  More like "Are you kidding me?  GET A LIFE!"  Now, look.  I make friends, easily.  I am a very "chill" person.  Of course, I do have my moments of throwing fits, but I don't do that often at all.  Drama, people.  Nasty.  Don't like it, don't want it.  But, I swear I attract it like I have a huge sign on my back that says "Talk crap about me, cuz I like it" or "I would die without drama".  Now, I have never read a post that is literally saying my name.  But when you know, you just KNOW.  There are so many hints in a post that your name might as well be right there.  Know what I'm sayin'?  These posts are always superficial , because no one knows the real deal.  They just think they do.  I love people like that.

Not.

I can not figure out why people do this.  I doubt I will ever figure it out.  Some people are just this way.  Built to gossip, be rude, nasty, unpleasant, judgmental and mean.  Their choice.

My choice?  Chalk it up to extreme jealousy, rant with a friend, and be done with it.  In this case, I am ranting a bit on here to all of my blog friends (YOU!).  :)  I choose to surround myself with like minded people.  People that encourage each other, and like you for who you are, instead of only liking you for what you do.  My mom always told me my whole childhood, "You are who you hang out with".  I never got that until I grew up.  Why would I want to hang out with some who is rude, unpleasant, mean, nasty, judgmental, and likes to gossip?  I don't want to be like them.  Therefore I choose to hang out with people that are nice, encouraging, understanding, loving, caring, etc etc etc.  All of those things... I am and want to be.  Sure.  I have my flaws, but doesn't everyone?  But in the grand scheme of things... I am a lover not a hater.  ;)  haha.

I laugh at this because it all reminds me of a drama filled reality series.  And I am just the quiet one in the corner happy to be minding my own business with my like minded friends, while the "I 'think' I'm too good for everyone" girls stand in a huddle gossiping for the world to see.  They can have that limelight.  I don't want any part of it.  So, who's with me?

Pure awesome moment at Bloggy Bootcamp.

Kim from Today's Creative Blog kissing me.  

Now, she is someone I want to surround myself with...

and not because she is kissing me.  haha!  She is just

an amazing person.  Love ya Kim!  So glad

after over a year of chatting online 

we FINALLY got to meet! 

And thank you Julie for the great picture!

*More Bloggy Bootcamp Pictures to come!*

P.S.  Incase you didn't notice.... I don't just blog happy times all the time.  This is reality, and I choose to blog about all of it.  The good, the bad, the ugly and the pure awesome of life!  xo

P.P.S.  Don't forget to enter the Red Letter Word giveaway below... Or click here.

I am back!

I am home from the Bloggy Bootcamp conference.  It was local but I still spent the night last night so I could have girls night with friends.  Man was it a blast!  I met some really amazing woman.  Even though I had 7 products stolen from my booth, it was fun beyond words.  I will share more about it later.  With pictures and everything.  :)

For now... I just released some new camera strap slipcovers.  Sharing is caring, yeah?  Good.

All are available in my store.  Click here.
Talk more later!  XO