Bridal Hair

I'm lucky because this weekend I get to be matron of honor in my bestie's wedding so I'm excited! I've been playing around on Pinterest looking at different hair styles this morning. I can't decide if I want to do an up-do or a down-do. Maybe you can help me decide.

Here's what I found:

{source}

What do you think? I know it's probably hard to decide if you don't know me. I tend to think my face looks nicer with my hair down but I'd love to be able to pull of a pretty up-do.

Opinions??

Tipsy Tuesday- Improving Your Blog

Over the past couple of weeks I've come across a lot of useful information for blogging and I am so excited to pass it on to you! As you probably already know {from the sidebar and older posts} I have an etsy shop where I sell my handmade goods. After a few months of familiarizing myself with etsy and noticing how other people have become successful {i.e. blogging} I realized I needed to get serious about my blog. And once I started seeking out other blogs that fed my interests I was captivated. There is such a wealth of knowledge, creativity, and just plain ol' interesting people out there.  I want/ed to be a part of it. I'm creative, I have ideas, and I have a voice! So I started this blog and I'm still molding it into what I want it to be. What I'm about to share with you has helped and is helping me get there.

10 tips on using social media for your indie biz

This first bit of wisdom is something I found on Yellow Songbird. Kim is the girl behind the blog as well as her successful handmade business called Oh Sweet Joy.

This is Kim:

{source & to find out more about her)

She shared ten tips from personal experience on running a successful business using social media. Here's a summary of her list:

1. Tweet often

2. Promote, but don't spam.

3. Keep things positive but be real.

4. The golden rule. Be nice!

5. Free is fun. Ex: Free earring with minimum purchase.

6. Offer exclusive discount/sales

7. Be inspiring and helpful.

8. Don't be too exclusive.

9. Be interactive.

10. Show people what life is like behind the scenes.

She expounded upon each point, you definitely need to read the entire post.

How to Create a Blog Button!

The next piece of information I came across is so fun and exciting you'll be playing for hours...but wait I'm getting ahead of myself. Have you noticed your favorite blogs usually have a 'button' that you can 'grab'? I have one! Look to the right above the google friend connect box, look familiar? Well thanks to Ashley from The Shine Project and her guest blogger Casey Weigand I learned how to make one! Grab buttons are good for growing your audience.

{source}

{learn more about her here}

Now, go read her post and create your own button!!!

How To Add Button Code & Code Box To Your Blog

Now that you know how to make a button you need to know how to create the code for that button as well as a code box like the one I have. Easy peasy. The Blog Guidebook has done it for you! Check it out! 

Well, I hope these bloggers have inspired you as much as they have me! Consider Kim's 10 tips and have fun making a button! Let me know when/if you made one and I just might 'grab' it and add it to my Favorite Reads. :) 

Do you have a tip, a DIY tutorial, recipe, advice, anything? Share it with us! Just add your name a link to your specific blog post in the box below.

Inspiration Workshop Week #8

THE PROMPT ~ (from Gussy Sews website)
This week’s prompt is YOUR INSPIRATION ~ where you pick the prompt/share whatever you’d like! I’m especially excited to see the topic you select AND to read through and pin some of the photos you share ;]



The thing that inspires me the most is the time I spend with God. To be quite honest though, the past couple of weeks I haven't even thought about Him, prayed, read the word, or fellowshipped with other believers. So I haven't felt too inspired. Having said that, I just sat down, read Proverbs chapter 22 (I like to read whatever chapter corresponds with the current date) and I haven't felt more alive, awake, or inspired in weeks! :)

The verses that really spoke to me were Proverbs Chapter 22 verse 4 and Proverbs Chapter 22 verse 11. I bet they'll speak to you too.

I also like a good book. I've read Mere Christianity before but it's been so long that I figured it was time to read it again. If you like a good book that will make you think, reaffirm your beliefs, and get you excited about God and his kingdom then this is a book you would like.



My best friend, who is getting married this upcoming Saturday (Woohoo!) got this beautiful Vera Bradley coffee cup for my birthday this year. I love coffee and I love pretty coffee cups. I drink out of it daily so I'm sure some of my more inspired ideas came about whilst drinking out of this pretty cup. :)

 

-Mandy

The Daytrip Clutch {& a Discount Code}

I've recently added new items to my shop {rosette earrings & clutches} & I'm super excited about them! My favorite new product is definitely my line of Daytrip Clutches. I had six to start out with and decided to debut them at our local Spring Craft Fair earlier this year instead of putting them on etsy. My mom ended up buying two to give to her sisters for their birthdays, my sister in law bought one the other day after seeing how convenient they are, and then my mother in law bought one! I decided to keep one for myself because I just couldn't part with it, and that leaves one in the shop for you. :) I need to start making more!

I've been carrying this little beauty now for about 3 months or so. I used to carry a huge over the shoulder bag which ended up with a whole bunch of random junk in it and it would take forever for me to find anything! It also had a huge hole in the lining and things would just disappear into the abyss. Frustrating! What is it about big bags that makes us think we have to fill them up with uselessness? Well, I don't have that problem anymore.

 

Wanna know what the heck was in there?!

 1. wallet {target} 2. keys 3. three kinds of lip gloss 4. nail polish 5. chocolate 6. coupons  7. feminine products 8. friendship bracelet {for a friend :)} 9. phone {not pictured}

Tell me, what else do you need?!!

Okay, you're right...maybe a checkbook. I usually keep mine in there too.

You've seen MY Daytrip Clutch, now go have a look at the one in the shop.

To celebrate all the new items that are popping up in the shop and YOU here is a DISCOUNT CODE:

Hope you all had a fantastic Tuesday!

I'd love to know what colors/patterns you would like to see on future clutches. Have a good idea? Comment below, I'd love to know! {I'm such a poet.}

Favorite Colors and Summer Fashion

Instead of doing a Tipsy Tuesday {because I kind of forgot about it and can't come up with anything this quickly} I decided to have fun with Polyvore & make some outfits with my favorite colors of the moment.

Favorite Colors: Robins Egg Blue {or turquoise}, Yellow, & Coral {or salmon}

 

Perfect Summer Outfits by OMeOhMy featuring high heels

 

I really want those turquoise shorts from jcrew. So cute!

Tomorrow I have plans to post about some of the new products in my shop. I'll probably have a sweet deal going on too. Don't miss it!

Since were taking a break from Tipsy Tuesday this week that means we'll have extra time to come up with something especially awesome for next week! Don't forget to link up!

Fun at the Baseball Game

Last night we were lucky enough to be able to go to the Natural's game for free with Dallas' work. Can I just stop and say real quick how awesome it is to have a baseball team (Minor League) in your home town?! Springdale, you are moving on up in the world. :)

We usually like to go just the two of us and let my parents babysit but they had already babysat the night before (MOVIE DATE NIGHT!!!!) and we thought it would be fun to bring Noah along. He has been once before on a Friday night and we stayed for the whole game so he could see the fireworks at the end. We couldn't stay until the end last night, it was just too hot and Dallas needed to get home and mow... before you start feeling sorry for him...we just got a riding lawn mower. : )

I thought I would share a couple of Noah pictures with you. I wish I would have thought to take more pictures while we were there but I was running around like crazy going where ever Noah wanted to go.

Here he finally settled down and let me set him on the table (for a few minutes). This kid makes funny faces.

And this is on the ride home. We bought him a mini bat and ball set while we were there, can you tell he loves it?

We had fun! I love that we can drive just a few miles to go to a baseball game in the Summer. I'm excited to take Noah each year as he gets older. Maybe someday he'll want to play. He's already sports oriented. He has a t-ball set and a plastic golf set; he loves both. I guess we'll see if he decides to pursue one or the other. :)

What are some fun Summer activities you do with your family?

Sunshine Sunshine!

I'm linking up with Gussy today on the Inspiration workshop!

The prompt ~

This week’s prompt is SUNSHINE! When you hear that word, do you think of the outside? Do you think of the color? Of a summer memory?!

Sunshine makes me think of yellow.... is that obvious or what?! And Summer, of course! I can't get enough yellow right now.

Pretty Sunshine Print:

Source: poppytalk.blogspot.com via Olga on Pinterest

 

Don't you love this yellow retro style bathing suit?!

Source: glamcheck.com via Mandy on Pinterest

 

This isn't really yellow but it's my favorite Summer drink. I LOVE Iced Soy Lattes. Hold the sugar please.

Source: starbucks.com via Mandy on Pinterest

 

And now I get to partake in a made for Summer activity...it's definitely time to give the dogs a bath. :) Wish me luck!!

Now get outside and do something Summery. ;)