Flashback Friday

This is my great-uncle Harold, my Mother and my Granny at Turner Falls, in Davis, Oklahoma. I am going to guess around 1969 for the date. I am pretty sure my Grandfather is the one who took the picture. I always enjoyed the few pictures I have from this outing, because we went to Turner falls multiple times when I was a child too. I haven't been in years, but I always think about it fondly. The boys and I were always so excited to go. (PS: You can check it out HERE.)

Music Video - John Mellencamp

Perhaps, you, like me, preferred him in his Cougar days.. :) But.. I am really digging this song, so I thought I'd share.

John Mellencamp - Troubled Land

A hodge podge of Etsy goodies.

Instead of a wedding theme, I am just going to share some of my personal favorited Etsy items. Click the item images to go to the Etsy listing!



I have had a long time general fondness for skeletons, but the medical text book like labeling really makes me love this.



I love the filigree and the lock and key. Pretty!



Another thing I've loved for what feels like forever is anything Victorian. I also love a bold bracelet.



I'm not sure where I'd wear this, but I sure love it. Actually, I think I want one of each of the designs in TopsyTurvy's beautiful shop!



Another seller that has lots of great stuff, including custom made cuffs, is BayouSalvage. I actually have one a friend got me as a gift a couple of years ago, and I wear it a lot.



This one I actually found thanks to Samantha Nandez, and I am totally in love with it. I haven't ordered it yet...but soon!



Those are only a few of my favorite shops. Truth be told, many of my favorite items are similar, so I didn't want to bore you :) I would love for you to link me to some of your personal favorite Etsy shops in comments! Maybe I will do a readers' favorites next time.

Stop. Think. React

Sometimes, it’s easy for us to overlook our blessings. Sometimes, it’s easy for us to talk the talk, but not so easy to walk the walk. It’s easy for us to twitter and facebook about all the beliefs we have, but it rarely goes beyond that.

I feel like I’ve had a sudden realization. I feel incredibly self centered. Sure, I love to help people, and 'I do what I can'…But, who am I kidding? I can do more. Running my own business allows me the flexibility of creating my own schedule. It’s time to do something more. The truth is, I can find two…four…hours a week to do something for somebody that needs it. In the grand scheme of things, it’s a blip on my radar, but it can be everything to that person.

I am sad to say that as time goes on, I find myself forgetting that I needed the help of others in the past. My life has been touched by the kindness of people who made time for me. Now that I have this life, I should pass it on.

We should all pass it on. You may never know the true impact you have on somebody in only a short period of time.

There are so many volunteer opportunities out there. Even if you aren’t in a position to give financially, you can take a couple hours a week to offer your hands, your mind, your heart.

If you live in the DFW area, here is a great website that has all sorts of volunteer opportunities on it: Hands on North Texas

All you have to do to find volunteer opportunities in your area is go to Google and type in “(your city) volunteer opportunities”. It’s that easy. Go do it!

And, just because life is better with pictures in it, here is a random photo of everybody's favorite Chessie!



Peace, love and happy Monday to all my friends. :)

Ask Me Anything!

Okay, my friends, I have jumped on the Formspring bandwagon. It is full of interesting questions, and quite a bit of silliness among friends. If you'd like to ask me a question, you can find my page here:

http://www.formspring.me/awesomebrandi

Ask away! :)

Winner of Free In Love Session

Congratulations to Stacy and Tony, they are the winners of the free in love session!





Stay tuned for their session coming up soon!

Be sure to join the facebook fanpage to be the first ones to know when new contests and giveaways are announced. I generally announce them there before they hit the blog!

Flashback Friday

My dad just sent me a scan of this photo the other day. He said it was taken June 14th, 1992. From left to right, my brother Jonathan, my dad, myself, and my brother Robert. I remember the day we took this picture. We took it at the Aquarena Center, which was previously known as Aquarena Springs. We also rode in glass bottom boats, which I remember being terrified and fascinated by at the same time.

McKinney Krewe of Barkus Parade!

As you already know, Valentine's day was cold. Very, very, very cold. Despite that, I bundled up and headed up to the downtown McKinney area to check out the Krewe of Barkus parade. I found out about the parade thanks to Brigitte from the North Texas Cat Rescue. They had a booth at the event last year, and had one this year too. Unfortunately, this year it was way too cold for any kitties to make an appearance, but Brigitte and several volunteers braved the weather to pass out information.

There were tons of super adorable dogs there, and lots of great costumes. Check out the pictures!



I loved this too cool dog just hanging out before the parade.


My favorite costume had to be a group costume. It was Little Bo Peep with a flock of sheep. The sheep costumes were made of cotton balls. It was ridiculously cute.




I am such a sucker for a BIG DOG!






They had a band playing for the crowd, and I heard the bass player was only fourteen. Way to go, teenage bass player.


The parade got under way...










Even though I love big dogs, I think little ones are pretty darn cute too. Especially Pomeranians.














Don't you just adore this guy's floppy face?










This gorgeous redhead made my heart pitter patter. Absolutely beautiful.




The sheep made their way down the road.










Even if it was cold (painfully so), I enjoyed seeing all the dogs in their costumes. I think next year we will have to enter Dante into the parade, I think he would really enjoy it!

Free In Love Session Contest Entries! Time to Vote :)

Here are the awesome entries for the in love session contest! Read through them and cast your vote. I know it's going to be hard. I'm glad I don't have to vote!

Tiffany and Dustin

"Dustin and I just get each other...We're into the same geeky things and have the same silly sense of humor...We think so similar and constantly finish each other's thoughts. I genuinely thought I'd never meet someone and get married until I met him. He makes me smile and laugh even when I don't want to. He thinks I'm beautiful even though I hate the way I look most of the time. He doesn't laugh at me for singing out of tune to the radio and he takes every opportunity to remind me how much he loves me. "

Stacy and Tony

He is the “chick flick” to my “zombie movie”.
I am the frantic to his sedate.
He is the jazz to my folk.
I am the icing to his cake.
He is the 45 minutes late to my 45 minutes early.
I am the kinky to his vanilla.
He is the “doing the dishes” to my “cooking with every pan in the house”.
I am the steady to his shake.
He is the romance to my pragmatism.
I am the “stay in and party girl” to his “go out to dinner guy”.
He is my compliment.
I am his too.

Lauren and Cody

When I envision my future, I see long toes…a crooked smile. I see amplified, wiry black hair and caramel brown eyes. I see my boyfriend with a ring on that currently naked left hand.
Today that idea is just a dream. But Cody is everything I've been hoping, praying, and wishing for. He fills my needs and overflows them, leaving my heart full at every good-bye kiss.
There’s no book on love; there is no set age or maturity level for when you can know what love is, because no one knows what love is...they just know how it feels.

Vote below!

(Please, no cheating. You can fairly vote once a day.)

Who do you want to win the free in love session?
	Tiffany and Dustin
	Stacy and Tony
	Lauren and Cody
pollcode.com free polls

Votes will count until Friday night. The winner will be announced on Saturday! Good luck to all the couples :)

Flashback Friday

Last week I shared a series from my Mother's 12th birthday, this time I am sharing a different family birthday!




This is from Jonathan's second birthday (I think), so that would be April of 1987, and I would be a little more than three and a half years old. In the back is my Mother holding an unhappy Jonathan, and to her right is me sporting a little sumo wrestler top knot, helping with the blowing out of the candles. The other adult is my Aunt Karen, who has my cousin Don in her lap, with just a little bit of my cousin Ashley's face peering out beside her. One of my favorite pictures!




Here are two more pictures from the same birthday. Myself, Don and Ashley enjoying some birthday cake. I still have the memory of that table and chairs in my head. I remember it was red. Metal with some kind of plastic like coating on it. It's interesting, the things we remember.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

I heard about everybody up North getting feet of snow. I saw that we had 'rain/snow' as our forecast...But, being the Texas raised cynic that I am, expected some ice and sleet. This morning, when Brian kissed me goodbye before work, he told me that it was all snowy outside. When I got up later on, I peeked out the window, expecting to find a few patches of half melted white stuff. What I saw instead was a beautiful thick cover of snow, and snow still falling from the sky! Right now, it is STILL coming down. It's absolutely amazing and makes me want to act like a child. Snowmen and snow angels! I took a few quick pictures. Like any good Texas parent, I also took some pictures of our 'child' in the snow as well! Check it out.











A flock of birds passed by overhead, it was cool.






He didn't really want to look at me, he was too excited to play. Recently we put Dante on a diet and he's lost around 15 pounds. He looks good, right? :)






To all those who had to go into work today (like my sweetie pie!) please be careful out there. You know that Texas drivers + inclimate weather = bad roads.

A couple of other notes:

- Kandace asked if someone could enter the free contest on behalf of someone else. Yes, you can, BUT they need to know about it and agree to it. So, as long as you have their permission, go for it. :) I would LOVE for people to nominate their parents, or even their grandparents!

- Today it was announced that one of my favorite fashion designers has died, of apparent suicide. Alexander McQueen. I am really sad about it. Here's a link with more information.

Thanks for looking and I hope you are all staying warm.