Look What You Made Me Do

I know you are probably sick and tired of hearing about Taylor Swift, snakes, reputations, etc.

If you fall into this category, then this post is not for you.

You have been warned.

If you have been reading this blog for any length of time or know me in person then you are aware that I am 100% Team Britney. That hasn't changed.

However, over the years I have become so intrigued with the hidden messages in Taylor's albums (I first mentioned this on my blog here regarding Speak Now) and the cleverness of her marketing team. Plus, I can't get her catchy lyrics out of my head and always enjoy when someone crosses the dark side into pop music. I'm sure there are many fan sites that analyze each release of her albums and if you have time, I encourage you to research the secret codes for every one.

That being said, I was totally jazzed about her recent blackout on social media and the clues her team began to release in anticipation of her upcoming single. I woke up on Friday morning and downloaded Look What You Made Me Do while I was still in bed. You can read my initial thoughts about this jam in my weekending recap post.

Have you seen the video that accompanies this pop melody?

Good news! I have it right here for you:

Upon your initial view (or maybe the first few times), a few things may stick out to you about who the song is about. However, I am willing to bet that you missed the majority of the details displayed in her music video. Don't worry, you can read all about the shade she threw in this production. It's glorious, intriguing, and gave me hope that her album will live up to the hype.

Check out all the hidden elements in Look What You Made Me Do on Buzzfeed.

Here's to hoping she asks me to join her squad.

*Linking up with Lindsay's Sweet World

Favorites On A Friday: Blogger Style

I don't discriminate when it comes to Friday.

Bring on the weekend!

And don't let the door hit you on the way out, work week.

When it comes to sharing some of my favorite things, I keep a few lists handy so I don't forget to discuss them on the blog. While I hope my suggestions help someone out, I also write about them so I can refer to them later on. My memory has faded since having E (WHY does that happen?!?) so writing things down is a necessity!

I really try to keep my favorites themed, if possible, and today's topic focuses on all things blogger related. Bentley, Like the Car has been around for almost seven years - SEVEN YEARS! It started off as a creative outlet where I could dump all the random thoughts circulating in my brain and then I took a sabbatical  (minus the pay part) while I was pregnant and during the first year of E's life. Since one of my goals was jumping back into the blogging world, I felt like it was an ideal time to share some of my beloved blogger things with you!

Followers App

Fellow blogger and real life friend, Lindsay, wrote a fabulous post about growing your following on Instagram. She has worked her tail off expanding her brand in the online community so I was excited that she divulged a few of her secrets! 

One of the tips she had fully supported of my disdain for those who play the follow/unfollow game on Insta. Following her suggestion, I downloaded the Followers app and haven't looked back. It's perfect for tracking your activity on the Instagram platform and I love the feeling of vindication when I unfollow the bigger influencers who attempt to play the game with me.

And for your enjoyment, a picture of Lindsay and I from yesterday:

See? I told you we knew each other in real life! #twin

iPad Keyboard

Here at our casa, we have one laptop for the entire family. E is too young to fight for computer time, but J and I have run into times where we both needed to use it. Instead of purchasing another computer, I decided to try a keyboard for my iPad.

It was an excellent idea for a fraction of the cost of a new computer! I wasn't sure I would like it at first, but it has grown on me. It's the perfect solution: I can type out my posts while J uses the computer and quickly go back to insert any graphics or photos when he is done (or from my iPad if I am really pushed for time). 

Instagram Loop

Do you follow me on Instagram? If so, then hopefully you saw and participated in the Building your Mom Tribe loop that I co-hosted with a few other mamas.

I was really excited that a spot opened up to co-host with Ally! When I participated in the loop a few weeks ago, I sent her a DM and asked that she keep me in mind when she picked her hosts for the next loop.

Bloggers, do not be afraid to take this approach. 

If you stumble across something that interests you, take the initiative. It can lead to connections with other bloggers, readers, and hopefully gain some exposure for your brand as well. If you are interested in getting a group together for something like this, please keep me in mind! 

Blog Linking

Here and there, I tell stories about parenting my vibracious toddler, E.

One of my recent posts discussed the number that ALL parents need, which I shared in a linkup party. A few days later, I received an email from Laura who said she was going to link up to my blog in her own Friday Favorites. This was cool for numerous reasons. First, someone I didn't know in real life ACTUALLY read my post and secondly, she found me through a linkup party.

Raise your hand if you don't know what a linkup party is.

Link Party

Until recently, my hand would be raised. I swear they were not around (or at least as popular as they are now), when I began this journey a few years ago.

So what is a link party?

It's when a host or group of blogger hosts insert code into their blog to group all their blog posts together give other bloggers a chance to link their blog to the party.

Sometimes the host(s) will pick a detailed theme like Most Embarrassing Moment or something less specific such as Tuesday Talk. Each link party is a way to connect with other bloggers and showcase your content. It can lead to new connections and a future shout out, link or even feature on another blog. Even better, it will help you find new sites to add to your reading list!

That's enough about my favorite blogger things, but I would love to hear what your preferred blogging tools or tricks are! Do you have anything to add or is there something you loathe? I want to hear ALL about it.

Have a wonderful Friday, everyone! Our little family has a semi-unusual,"first time for everything" weekend planned.

I hope to share all the details with you on Monday so see ya then!

*Linking up for Friday Favorites with Momprofessionals, Smidge of This, Cup of Tea, and Meet @ the Barre

Favorites On A Friday + Instagram Opportunity

Praise the Lord up above that it is FRIDAY!!!

I cannot be happier that this week is over. Between the crazy weather, obstacles at work, and too much on my to-do list that did not get crossed off, bring on the weekend. My attitude has not been the best for the last few days, but I still managed to pull a few of my favorites from this week.

Dining Room Table

Did you catch the weekending post from Monday? A fun trip downtown turned into an expensive endeavour that ended with some new additions to our home. The biggest (and long overdue) purchases included a rug and table for our dining room.

Although many things are still needed in this area, we were able to move our first piece of purchased married furniture into the kitchen and get rid of the cheap Ikea table that my sister bought when SHE was in college.

J and I both agree that the rearrangement is an improvement. Slowly but surely, our house looks more like functional adults live here instead of college students.

Weather Radio

This week was nothing short of exciting when I experienced a tornado warning while at work. Of course it would have happened on Monday - it was a rough day. We hardly received any damage, but severe weather was expected again on Wednesday. Since we live in Georgia, everyone freaked out and our city shut down...literally. Tuesday night was spent preparing our storm shelter.

And putting last minute items by the stairs in case we needed to move quickly.

However, one thing eased my mind that evening and that was this beauty:

I HIGHLY suggest everyone purchase a weather radio. You can set it to sound an alarm in the middle of the night to alert you for all types of severe weather (tornado, hurricane, floods, etc.) and it will run on batteries if the power goes out. It is much more reliable than the apps on my phone, although I use those as well.

I realize that this seems like a boring, adult purchase, but it is worth buying. If you are getting married soon, put this sucker on your registry.

Homework

During the anticipated tornadic weather, J stayed home with E while I went to work. Once they made their way downstairs, I received a phone call that there was an issue with E's homework.

The cats literally ate her homework.

It was hilarious and troubling at the same time. I know my husband kept praying, "please don't throw up on the new rug..." So far, so good.

Aunt Foo Foo

E and I are THRILLED that our favorite Foo Foo is coming to visit! Our weekend should include fun Easter activities, a trip to "The Loveliest Village On The Plains," and a viewing of Trolls.

J is so excited; he can't stand it.

New Domain

In very exciting news, I finally set up a big girl domain! Although it was not one of my blogging goals for 2017, it was a necessity in my mind. 

Isn't she lovely?!?

I am still using Blogger to host this personal space on the internet, but am excited that it appears to be working correctly.

Trying to improve this blog is a huge project (especially since technology is always changing), but this is one small improvement that I was able to do. If for some reason you notice that a page isn't working or you aren't receiving updates when I post, please let me know!

Instagram is another challenge for me, but I do want to share an opportunity with you. Are you frustrated with the Instagram algorithms? I've recently joined an Instagram pod to assist with engagement and we have a few spots open for other users. If this is something you are interested in, please contact me and let's discuss it further.

Thank you for checking in on this fantastic Friday. I hope everyone has a great week full of dreamy weather!

*Linking up for Friday Favorites with Momprofessionals, Smidge of This, Cup of Tea, and Meet @ the Barre

Favorites On A Friday

It's F-R-I-D-A-Y!!!

After a LONG work week, this meme is giving me all the feels. #becauseitstrue

Most importantly, my mother is visiting this weekend and I am so pumped to see her! E is going through a stage constantly announcing who her best friend is and while I usually top the list, there is no competition when Foxie is in town. While Foxie is always one of my favorites, today I am sharing a few more favs on the blog today. These items are a mix from this week and the previous week since I missed out last Friday's post. #slacker

Hidden Produce

Between working full-time and attempting to be a decent wife and mom (and trying to catch up on my reality TV, keep my house from turning into a pigsty, hitting up the gym, etc.), I don't have a lot of spare time. I really try to prepare healthy meals (typically Whole 30), which is only possible through meal planning and prep. When I stumbled upon an area in the store that took part of the preparation out, I dove in head first! I'm looking at you diced veggies.

Now I can measure and go when compiling a dish - there is no need for me to use a knife (most of the time). This is also perfect for making an omelette on the weekends or creating healthy salads for lunch during the week. And the best part about this is that these are located in the fresh produce so it's not frozen. I'm fully aware that I am probably paying more going this route, but compared to the time saved and mess avoided, it's worth it!

Big Girl Bedding

Confession: My three year old still sleeps in her crib.

Throw your stones, send me your mom-shaming tweets, start questioning if you are raising your own kid right, but E is a great sleeper and we are not trying to disturb the slumber. Since she is safe in her crib and hasn't climbed out (except one time with Foxie was sitting), this is where she rests. However, I understand that I cannot live in this fantasy forever and took the first step towards a big girl room - I ordered bedding!

I don't know when we'll actually get around to making the transition since numerous items need to be completed (paint color, window treatments, decor, etc.) so don't hold your breath for the makeover post. But it you have any ideas, please share them below!

Office Supplies

Remember my post about back to school shopping?

My love for office supplies remains strong. Although this week was rough on the work front, a shipment arrived on Tuesday that absolutely delighted me.

Aren't these beautiful?

I'll have to check if the Paper Mate Flair pens are offered in our supply book. If so, I will order them the next time around. They are PERFECT for all you plannerholics. #trustme

Flowers

We were sent the most beautiful arrangement from J's work in honor of his grandmother.

I have been obsessing over these gorgeous flowers since they arrived at our house. The only problem is that our cat(s) likes to eat it, which inspired my husband's Facebook post.

Holidays With E

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Holidays with a toddler are SO fun! I find it hilarious that she get so excited over the holiday when she has no idea what the celebration is for.

Around Wednesday, I realized that I did not have a green, festive shirt for her to wear. #momfail Thankfully, my friend came to the rescue and created the perfect top.

How adorable will E be?!?

If you are interested in seeing more creations from Southern Belle Designs (such as clothes, Easter buckets, etc.) you can visit her page here.

Feeling particularly festive? Last week I shared about a time when I was lucky and also put together a very green round up in honor of today. Check it out - it's magically delicious!

While we won't be celebrating with green beer this weekend, we do have a few things lined up. Tonight Foxie and I are taking E to see Peter Pan. Say a few prayers for us because this is not a movie, it's an actual play. We will see how well she does during the production. #fingerscrossed

On Saturday we have another birthday party to attend and then J & I get a date night! We are heading downtown for a fancy dinner and then hopping over to the theater to watch Grease.

Come back on Monday to read all about it!

*Linking up for Friday Favorites with Momprofessionals, Smidge of This, Cup of Tea, and Meet @ the Barre

Favorites On A Friday (Including An IG Announcement)

Cheers for a short week (thank you work for being closed on Monday in honor of Presidents' Day) and that it is F-R-I-D-A-Y!

Friday is truly the perfect day to share a list of favorites because you can't help but be in a great mood that the weekend is upon us.

Last Friday my post shared all of my favorites things that focused on Valentine's Day. While I typically like to go with more of a themed post, this week was pretty eventful so I'll just focus on that for now.

Whole 30 Completion

Did you catch my last Whole 30 related post?

Yes, this graphic means that I FINALLY completed my fourth round of Whole 30. While it wasn't my best round (more on that later), it was still deemed successful and gave my husband more than enough dishes to wash. I plan on going compliant again, following this weekend. Curious about Whole 30? Here is a list of all things Whole 30 for your perusal:

Why I Started Whole 30

Round One Week One Meal Planning

Round One Week Two Meal Planning

Round One Weeks Three & Four Meal Planning

Round One Results

Whole 30 Recipe Index

Whole 30 Food Processor Fun

How to Survive Whole 30

Meal Planning & Grocery Shopper

Whole 30 Meal Plan: Week One

Whole 30 Meal Plan: Week Two

Whole 30 Meal Plan: Week Three

Whole 30 Meal Plan: Week Four

I must warn you that more Whole 30 posts are on their way. I plan on sharing my results (let's face it, that's what everyone wants to know about anyway) and a resource that will be beneficial for you if you ever decide to embark on this journey or if you want some clean recipes to add to your arsenal. 

Strep Throat Appointment

Wait, say what?!

I haven't discussed our ongoing battle with E and strep throat, but plan to at some point. It's not that it's too personal to share, it's just semi-boring (IMO), but could be beneficial to others who are facing the same war.

The abbreviated version of this LONG story is that when E gets sick, it's strep throat 99% of the time. Her behavior has been dreadful at home and at school these last few days, plus she started complaining that her mouth hurt. Being a toddler, she's not great at giving details as to what hurts. We are now at the point where I can call the pediatrician and get scheduled for a simple strep test usually that day or the next. We don't have to see the doctor and if it's positive, a prescription is called in.

Since we have a big weekend planned, we decided to be good parents and take her in for a quick test this morning. The simplicity and flexibility of our doctor's office in handling the situation is why it's one of my favorite things this week.

Fingers crossed we get the all clear!

National Margarita Day

Hopefully you stay up to date with all of the important holidays: Christmas, Easter, National Margarita Day...

That's right. Wednesday was National Margarita Day.

I haven't celebrated this day in quite some time and was really excited when my friend, Lindsay, invited me to a girls dinner with all of her besties. I was a little bit anxious because well, I'm ALWAYS anxious (even going to something like spin class), but also because joining a group of ladies who have been BFF is intimidating and can sometimes end poorly. Thankfully, this was not the case...at all. I had a great time, heard some crazy stories, tried to guess which patron of the restaurant sent a drink over, and most importantly, laughed. It reminded me of hanging out with my friends from high school and college. Thanks for the invite, twin!

Date Night

Lately, our town has been pulling in some decent names for entertainment. Around this time last year we saw Elton John in concert.

He was absolutely fantastic.

I was thrilled to discover that Dierks Bentley was headed our way!

When I have a crappy day at work, I may listen to a few of his jams on repeat. It puts me in a much better mood!

To kick off the evening, we met our friends at a fun, craft beer bar downtown. Perfect for the beer lovers and foodies alike.

We headed over to the concert and wound up sitting around some really random people. The couple in front of us was very much into each other (PDA to the extreme) while some guys a few seats ahead provided the most entertaining dancing, ever.

Of course, we sat almost directly behind Lindsay and Brian.

We missed Jon, but were in our seats for Cole. He was great and excited to be back so close to home.

Dierks came out and I may have melted.

Dierks shotgunning beers with a concert attendee. 

Dierks & Jon

Dierks & Cole

My favorite song...

I thoroughly enjoyed myself and was thrilled when Dierks decided to do a Tiger Walk during his concert. I may have petted his shoulder. #creepyfan

All in all it was a great concert and not too late of a night. On Fridays I get to sleep in a little later, which is definitely appreciated after an eventful evening.

Instagram Chat Loop

Instagram has quickly become one of my favorite social platforms. Facebook has my heart, but Twitter and I continue to grow apart. #sorrynotsorry

Growing your audience organically is challenging, but worth it. It amazes me how many people do the follow/unfollow game. I swear I gain thirty followers and lose twenty. Frustrating.

Through one of my Facebook groups, I stumbled across Abby's blog and immediately liked her content. She and I (mostly her) have been working on putting a bi-weekly Q&A chat loop together on Instagram. The graphic is ready to go, but we are finalizing our core group. If this is something you may be interested in, send me an email. We only have a few spots left (if she hasn't filled them by the time this post goes live), but would love to connect with other blogger boss ladies!

Even if you're not a blogger, I'd still love to connect with you on your preferred social sites. Click on the links above or the icons on the left side of the page to follow.


Like I said, it's been a pretty good week so this week's favorites weren't hard to determine. I hope you have a fabulous weekend and can't wait to share our adventures (hopefully) next week!






*Linking up for Friday Favorites with Momprofessionals, Smidge of This, and Meet @ the Barre