Xau Xau Giveaway

Don't you just love this necklace? I do! I would love to have this during summer. For 2 reasons. #1 I LOVE crochet. I've been crocheting since I was 3 years old! #2 Cherries always remind me of summer.

Growing up, my parents had at least 5 cherry trees. I used to sit and wait until the first part of June, just waiting for the cherries to turn red. :) Then I'd sit there and eat them right off the trees! No lie!

If you would like the chance to win a $30 Gift Card from Xau Xau, where you could get this necklace, head over to Grosgrain. And don't forget to enter this giveaway. Good Luck! ♥

My Bestie

Well, my best friend is officially moved into her new home. She is longer down the road…but a good 2 hours away. I already miss her. And we just helped her moved today. My Guy and I are exhausted! Another friend of ours, helped too! But I’m sitting here feeling very empty.

My bestie really needs this. She needs a new beginning. Life has just not been kind to her lately. I’m hoping for her and her baby, that this is just what they need to heal. I’m glad that My Guy and I are able to be there for her. It’s going to be tough. I’m used to her being nearby. She worked for My Guy and traveled with us every single week. Now, she is 2 hours away. At best. Let’s not talk about the traffic between here and there.

I feel like an anxious Auntie now that she’s expecting. And I feel like an older sister looking out for her. Isn’t that crazy? But she is my bestie. Bestie for life. One of the few friends that has always been here for me. The way that I’m there for her. It’s just going to be weird. Seeing her without her hubby and with a baby. Never mind that I already miss her and we’ve only been home for a few minutes.

I cried for about an hour on the way home. We have that kind of a friendship. We’re close. We once lost touch, but over the last few years, we’ve grown so close to each other. Probably because of the situation we were in. Dating “public personas” but managing to keep it on the DL. Traveling all over just to stay close to the men we love. We found ourselves decorating new homes at the same time. Falling in love with 2 best friends. Planning out what our lives could be like. She kept trying to tell My Guy and me that we needed to get married. We needed to be more like her and her hubby.

She kept telling us, that they’d work out. And we all needed to have kids at the same time. We had so many dreams. And we spent so much time together. Doing little things like having dinner together, to the big things like their wedding. We had built such fun and interesting lives together. And every single time that I’ve needed her, she has been here for me. Holding my hand through endless doctors’ appointments. Making me laugh when I felt like death. Cheering my on when I needed to fight for my life.

Then, it started to fall apart. It started with their separation. And slowly, she moved further and further away. Things changed. He changed. She changed. All of our lives changed. And now, they’re expecting a baby. But they’re no longer together. She’s crushed. He walks around in a daze. And My Guy and I are stuck in the middle.
Our 2 best friends, they’re completely lost. But my bestie, she’s trying to move forward with her life. She wants better. She wants for her child to feel love. To have the childhood she never did. And now, my once self proclaimed “airhead” best friend has bought a house 2 hours away.

It doesn’t seem like much. But when she works Monday-Friday and we travel Thursday-Sunday…well it doesn’t leave a lot of time to spend together. 2 hours is HUGE! And I know she’s hurting. But the hope that I seen in her eyes today, it was so amazing. It was inspiring. She laughed at the fact that her nursery furniture was delivered today. My Guy and I had her house painted for her. And a good friend of ours helped us. We got her all moved in today.

Although my heart is hurting, and I’m missing her, my bestie is better off with this move. I just wish, hope, and pray that we get to spend time together. I want to see her as she grows this beautiful baby. I can’t wait to help her take care of the gorgeous little guy or gal! And more than anything, I want my bestie to be a part of my life!

So tonight, I’m going to say a few extra prayers for her. That she loves her new house. That it brings her comfort, safety, and security. I pray for the health and happiness of her and this precious baby. And most importantly, that she is able to move past this dark chapter in her life. This move is not just a new home, but a new beginning for a wonderful woman that just needs a little love. ♥

Strawberry Almond Salad

I've been searching for some yummy strawberry recipes. For one, straberries are my favorite fruit. Honestly, me and strawberries go way back! And secondly, I found a great deal on strawberries this week. I got 2 flats for $5. Not pints my friends, flats!

I really want to make something yummy. Tomorrow I'm going to make strawberry french toast for breakfast. Yum! It already has my mouth watering. What else can I make? After a quick search, I found this Strawberry Almond Salad. I'm so excited to try this tomorrow too!


Strawberry Almond Salad

Ingredients:

1 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup nonfat or light sour cream
1/4 cup honey
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 pint (2 cups) fresh strawberries
1/2 pint (1 cup) fresh raspberries
1/2 pint (1 cup) fresh blueberries
1/2 cup sliced almonds, dry roasted

Instructions:

1. In a food processor, process cottage cheese until smooth. Transfer to an airtight container; refrigerate for 8 hours or until firm.

2. Put cottage cheese in a bowl; gently fold in sour cream, honey, almond extract.

3. At serving time, slice strawberries and gently combine with other berries in a bowl. Spoon about 1/3 cup berries into individual dessert dishes. Top each serving with 2 tablespoons of the cream mixture. Sprinkle with sliced almonds.



By the way, strawberries have more vitamin C than oranges. And the taste pretty good too! I would suggest going to your nearest grocery store. Because strawberries are currently on sale everywhere! And they're delish! ♥

Milk Money Giveaway

Grosgrain is hosting a giveaway for a $30 Gift Certificate to Milk Money. Don't you just love this headband? There is something fun, chic, and flirty about it. Milk Money offers more than just headbands, they also have jewelry. If you would like a chance to win this giveaway, head over to Grosgrain and enter. Good Luck! ♥

Some Like It Vintage Giveaway

I just adore vintage. Anything and everything vintage. I'm one of those people that hunts down little dusty shops to go treasure hunting in. The one thing that completely sold me on moving across the country, was all the little towns here. To me, that meant tons and tons of thrift shopping. Because in my home state, there are not a lot of good shops to go "hunting in." Unless you consider a very shabby Goodwill or an extremely overpriced Antique Mall good shopping. Which I don't.

But over at Grosgrain, they are hosting a giveaway for a $50 gift card to Some Like It Vintage. So I just had to take a looksy! There are so many amazing items there! I searched through everything for nearly 2 hours. But this dress, it's my favorite! It's a Retro Bronze Satin Gown. And reasonably priced for the beautiful condition of the dress. Oh my! I wish I had it in my hands right now! It would make the most amazing birthday dress for me tomorrow. :)

If you would like to enter this giveaway, head over to Grosgrain. You know you don't want to miss out on a nice treasure like this! ♥