Feeling lucky

I have been SO lucky to win a few giveaways over the past few weeks that will help me decorate my condo.

I won Mama Laughlin's Twist of Dazzle 400 follower giveaway.
I seriously checked her blog about 100 times that morning to see if I won or not - I had high hopes for a fleur de lis for my spare bedroom, and boy was I excited to see my name on her blog!

I have to say both Camie and Kristen were so easy to work with and dealt with all of my questions regarding my options with my cross/fleur de lis and it came out so much better than what I imagined.

It is just what my room needed as a focal point when you walk in the door!
And then about a month ago I won Taylor from Undomestic Momma's giveaway

I have always wanted a "Keep Calm and Carry On" sign for my house, but now that I have received one, I am trying to find the perfect place for it in my house.

I feel so fortunate to have won both of the blogs and I will think of both blogs/blogging every time I see these up in my house.

Thanks again girls and thanks to the amazing sponsors to your blogs!

Swap Partners - Pour Some Summer on Me

Below is the list of swap partners for the 'Pour some Summer on Me' blog swap!!!

(Hint: If you need help finding your name (We had 86 entries) hold ctrl+f and type your name in the box and it will appear a lot quicker versus skimming that list)

1.Aly @ Analyze This 49.Michelle(michabella) @ Living a Life of Love

2.Valerie @ Beautiful Beginnings 78.Savanah @ What Makes Savanah Smile

3.Molly @ The Fuschia News 14.Ashley @ Pumpkin Butter

4.Kindra @ Keeping Up With Kindra 36.Lindsey @ Lovin My Life

5.Jenn @ Perfectly Imperfect 37.Jenn @ West Sac Honey

6.Sarah @ Life's Short...Poupard 32.Niki @ The Biker and The Baker

7.Angie @ Just Shy of a Y 8. Lacey @ Bugs and Kisses

9.Allison @ What Would Martha Stewart Do 59.Ashley @ Life after the Aisle

10.MJ @ Teaching in Heels 20.Chelsea @ Hello Miss Chelsea

11.Kodi @ BeVelle Boulevard 50.Jess @ First Comes Love

12.Joanna @ Dance and Dream 39.becky @ the good life

13.Jennifer @ Books, Recipes & Life, OH MY! 57.Claudia @ Claudia Confesses

15.Christina @ Skip to my Lou... 52.Bex @ How to Train Your Husband

16.Jamie @ The Yellow Brick Road 18.Becky @ The Branches

17.Whitney @ Pretty Whitty 62.Ashley @ EveryDay Blessings

19.Tiffany @ Starting Over 68.A Geek's Wife And Her Dog

21.Rachel @ Romancing Rachel 67.Lori @ My Life

22.Jennifer @ Growing With the Greens 69.Kelly@Life in the South

23.Mateya @ The Best Is Yet to Come 29.Krystal @ Krystal's Kitsch

24.Lyndse@I was born a red dirt girl 61.Steph @ Nursing In Red Stilettos

25.Marcy @ Marcys Mazin Moments 56.Katie @ Confessions of a Suburban Housewife

26.Ashley @ The Thames Trio 28.Melanie @ Miss Melanie

27.Amber @ The Daily Dose 63.Nikki @ Me 2 We Est. 2011

30.Tiffany @ Figuring Out The Plot 77.Allyson @ Alphabet Soup

31.Emily @ The Juice is Worth the Squeeze 41.Katie @ The Lacy Family

34.Steph @ A Professor's Wife 35.Lindsi @ Keeping the Home Fire Burning

38.Janna @ Happiness Journey 33.Holly @ Running in Stilettos

40.Jacqueline @ Jax and Marbles 83.Rachel @ Champagne and Mud

42.Jessica @ A Bunch of My Nonsense 70.Audra Kate@ A Southern Girl in Heels and Pearls

43.Janette @ The Johanson Journey 81.Kylee @ Uppercase Diva

44.The Holmes Home 73.Emily @ Just to Keep In Touch

45.Rachel @Shepherd's Daughter 82.Samantha @ Life is Better Blonde

46.Kelly Marie @ Not Quite Legally Blonde 65.Leah @ Happily Herring

47.Lindsay @ Undomestic Chica 76.Rachel @ Observations of a Token Yankee

48.Lauren @ I learned it there first 54.Jen @ Just Jennifer

51.Tricia @ Flip Flops and Guinness 74.Kristen @ A Kapple a Day

53.Katie @ Katie's Journey 85.Caroline @ Simply Smithwick

55.Arika @ Pink, Pearls, and Polka Dots 79.Jennifer @ Mr. and Mrs. Boots

58.melanee @ the warren wire 66.Katie @ Katie Lately

60.Sara @ Words to Run By 84.Elisabeth @ The Adventures of Miss Elisabeth

64.Jennifer@Life With the Haas 80.Wendy @ Ready For Take Off

71.Ashley @ Ashley Borysewich Blog 75.Marie @ PoutyPinkPrincess

72.Katie @ Life With the Dietrich's 86.Molly @ A Day in MollyWood
Please purchase your Summer themed items with a spending amount of $25 (not including shipping). Some ideas include, but are not limited to: flip flops, beach towel, sun tan lotion, magazines, favorite drink recipe, cocktail glasses, sunglasses, nailpolish, etc!
(If you are sending nail polish or sun tan lotion, PLEASE wrap it up and place in a sealed zip loc bag!!!)

All items MUST be mailed between Tuesday, May 24th - Saturday, May 28th . We will post a link-up party on Thursday, June 2nd for everyone to reveal their goodies they received!

Have fun shopping!!! :)

These are a few of my favorite things....

Last week Kelly from Keeping up with Kelly tagged me to do a little survey about my favorite things!

I thought this was a great way for some of my newer followers to get to know me [if your new, please let me know by leaving a comment and tell me something about you, or something that you love!! I love to getting to know my followers :)]

[1.] My family

I think its safe to say that even though my family is not a "thing" they mean the world to me! I think your family gives you a foundation of who you are, and you make yourself out of the foundation. I have come to realize that over the years, I am VERY fortunate to have such a strong relationship with my family. I look forward to getting together every Sunday, its a way for us all to stay connected, and I thoroughly enjoy the company.

Although Alli and I have not always had the most "my sister is my best friend" type of a relationship, I believe through the past few years we have become much closer, and I can think we can attribute this to the boys! Somehow Justin and Doug, make us appreciate each other more! ha! and to that i'm very thankful to as well. The boys have come into our family and have pretty much made our family of 4 now 6 and I LOVE it!!


[2.] My phone

I hate that this is my 2nd most favorite item, but honestly it is my lifeline! I have an iPhone - and I would be lost without it. I obviously use it for a phone, text, and email, but it seriously keeps me connected with the world. Between a game of Words With Friends, Twitter, Angry Birds, Sky Burger, updates on the latest sports scores, keeping track of my runs, an ipod... seriously - what is not to love about her??? And yes, it is a her, and her name is Bella, which is short of Isabella the iPhone. [I'm still a little jealous of a co-worker who came up with the name Fiona, as in Fiona Apple, for her phone! 10 pts for creativity goes to MaryBeth!]

[3.] My T-Shirt Quilt

My great grandma and grandma make amazing quilts. I had always wanted to make a quilt with them but never really needed one. However, when i graduated college, rather than making a t-shirt blanket with all of my sorority shirts, I thought I would make a quilt, and ask my great grandma to help me. I thoroughly enjoyed going over every Tuesday evening one summer and quilting with her. Every time I look at the quilt it brings back both college memories and the time we spent together during the summer making this masterpiece.

[4.] Hint of Lime Tositos and Sour Patch Watermelons
It is a good trip to the grocery store if I can get out of there without treating myself to 1 of these two items. I honestly eat very healthy, however these 2 items are seriously my weakness! its horrible!

via

via
[5.] The Ohio State Buckeyes

I think its more of a religion than a team here in Columbus, Ohio, to love the buckeyes. I'm a little anxious about this season, however, I'm still looking forward to fall, and the anticipation of another great season from our beloved buckeyes!

[6.] Restaurant Ranch Dressing

I don't know what it is about restaurant ranch dressing, but its SO much better than anything you can buy at the grocery store. My friend Jaci and I will debate where we go to dinner at times based off of the salad dressings. Its a toss up between Red Robin and Texas Roadhouse for the best ranch dressing. Do you have a favorite?!?

[7.] Snowboarding

I love snowboarding, it is something that we can do as a family and its something I hope to do one day with my family as well.

Dropping into the half pipe at Buttermilk in Aspen last year
[this is the one used for the XGames]
[and no, i'm not that good, I just went down the middle of it and screamed like a little girl with excitement!]

[8.] Diet Coke

I would be lost without diet coke. But I'll lay it all out there for you, a fountain diet coke, in a Styrofoam cup with chipped ice, is my ABSOLUTE favorite! its honestly heaven in a cup to me! It is a special treat when I drive by a Sonic and pick myself up a Route 44 Diet Coke with EZ ice.

[9.] Christmas

There is just something about Christmas that just makes me absolutely giddy 24/7. I love the season. People are filled with cheer, there is music on specifically for this holiday, houses are decorated to look more like homes, families gather together, and you get to give lots of presents. I just LOVE it! I wish it could be Christmas ALL year round!

[10.] Baby Names

I love thinking up baby names. I love unique names, however I don't want them to be so far out in left field that my child will be looked at funny when his name is called on the first day of school, however I want them to be a one of a kind in their classroom! My list is constantly changing, but I have names right now that I'm pretty much OVER the moon excited about!

[11.] Vacations

After getting back from our cruise, I think Justin and I both realized that we may need to plan more vacations. it was SO nice to just be the two of us, and not have a care in the world, just relaxing. I'm ready to go back!? Who's coming with us!
[12.] Running

Although I mainly dread going to the gym, or hitting the pavement, and I really hate going for a run when I'm out there, the sense of accomplishment once I finish a long run/race is totally worth it all. We are signed up for the 1/2 marathon on Saturday and I'm so ready to start the race and more importantly ready to finish it. I just want to beat my time from last year!
[13.] Blogging Friends

I LOVE my blogging friends. Its amazing how supportive everyone is to one another. I think its amazing that here we are, all over the US, and we have gotten to know one another through our daily chronicles that we share via an electronic diary. I think there is a sense of community that we get as a blogger, that others don't understand unless they are into blogging as well. I appreciate the friendships that I have made/built over the last year and a half more than I ever thought I would. I originally started blogging just to link up to Kelly's Korner SUYL series, and it has become so much more! and for that I am forever thankful!


So now that you know a few things that I love, I want to hear what you LOVE!

Jess First Comes Love
Anna A Pair of Kings
Caroline Simply Smithwick
Shannon Life After I "Dew"
Brittany Sweet and Sassy and Oh So Classy
Sonja For the Love of Stilettos
Emily The Simple Frills
Stephanie The Professors Wife
Jenny Life, Love and Marathons
Holly Running in Stilettos

Happy Thursday Blog Friends!!!

Thank you....

Today has been a wonderful day! I am beyond blessed and so fortunate to have such a loving family and friends!

Thank you for all the birthday phone calls, bday posts on facebook, tweets and texts - you all sure do know how to make a girl feel special.

Justin and I went to Benihana with Jason, Katie and Molly tonight for dinner. Behihana takes a picture for you on your birthday and Molly just happened to be sitting with Justin and I - and I surely don't mind claiming her as mine every now and then
[please check out the cheese in the picture! you would never know she was up 2 hours past her bedtime! happy as can be:)]

My sister and her fiance got me such a fun gift [I'm normally not one to show off my presents but this one is so fun I can't help but share]
A cupcake carrier, Cupcake liners, Cupcake decorating books and Bakerella's cakepops!
J is just excited for me to "attempt" some of these! he said he will totally be a taste tester :)
and just because J is the best boyfriend EVER i came home to these as well, pink roses - that are gorgeous and they smell amazing!

Like i said - i feel so loved today!
Thanks to everyone for making me feel so special! I guess 28 isn't so bad after all :)

In other exciting news one of my besties Jess started up a blog! I'm so excited to share her blogging experiences with her! Stop on by her blog and say hi! She is so sweet, follow along for their life stories as well as their way on making their family of 2 [plus 2 adorable fur babies] into 3 :)

hello there....

Hello there!

I have missed you all and I'm sorry that I've been in a blogging funk lately. I don't quite know what has gotten into me...

well I guess I do know a little bit what has gotten into me

#1 work has been crazy busy, and I do use my lunch time occasionally to blog/catch up on blogs/relax my brain... and so that hasn't been happening lately

#2 twitter : yes that lovely little site that I have taken a fond liking to, well it keeps me up to date with some of my favorite bloggers, but not everyone, so I feel like I'm 1/2 up to date with what is going on... well sorta

#3 i'm gotten into a routine when I get home from work: gym, dinner, shower, reading in bed. yes you read that correctly - i'm skipping right over the reality tv and going straight to bed. its much more relaxing. this doesn't mean that i don't use my dvr'd shows to keep me entertained while i'm cooking/eating dinner, or that i don't occasionally watch one here or there.. but lately i would prefer to read over watching reality TV! [hell might have frozen over!]

And now that I'm on a reading kick I desperately need new authors. I am finishing up my last Nicholas Sparks book right now Safe Haven, I have Emily Griffin Something Borrowed [which I haven't started yet] and I also bought In a Heartbeat by Leigh Ann and Sean Tuohy [the real story of the Blindside]. Any other suggestions!?!?!

But in the meantime I thought I would catch you up on what we have been doing when I'm not in a routine mode [i.e. the weekends]:

Friday I got a special delivery from Justin in the office
Aren't the just beautiful? I've never had flowers delivered to the office before and I was completely shocked, and even had tears in my eyes when they were brought to me! I'm one lucky girl!

Saturday we had a surprise birthday party for Justin's cousin's 40th. Jennifer [his cousin] is someone who always does something for everyone else, and she was so touched a party was thrown in her honor, she started crying when we sang happy birthday to her when she walked in, and didn't stop crying the entire time. She is just too sweet.

Saturday night we watched this little chunk munk! Its a little hard to take pictures of her nowadays because she is on the MOVE! I had just got her out of her bumbo after dinner.. and she was walking over to me

and after we changed her into her PJ's. She had a ton of toys, but the only thing she would grab for off of the coffee table was Justin's wallet - too funny [smart girl!]!
[i also love these footed pj's - her feet are so small they stop on the right foot at the end of the red polka dot! so cute! they just kinda flop around]

Sunday Justin and I were all ready to cheer on the buckeyes in a victory of Minnesota in basketball and then head to a friend' s house to watch the Super Bowl. Well our plans were quickly changed when we lost power for about 3 hours [not so sure how we made it through the ice storm ALL last week without losing power - but this weekend was a different story]. Thankfully we live close enough to my parent's that we were able to head over there and make my dishes to bring to the game:

Football shaped veggie pizza

and chocolate covered strawberries

I was so happy that the Packers won. My friends joke around that because I'm a browns fan that I'm able to choose a different team during the playoffs since we will never make it :( so i chose my second favorite team the saints... and they were knocked out after the first week - so then i picked up green bay to cheer for for the rest of the playoffs!

I love Aaron Rodger's story, his patience and how he still has the love for football every time he plays. Its like watching someone who is playing for the right reason [if that makes sense?] It was a great game! I'm glad that Steelers came back with a little pep in their step in the 2nd half to make it more of a game, but in the end I was VERY thankful the Packers pulled off the win over the Steelers!

So that's our weekend wrapped up in pictures as well as an excuse as to why i have been absent lately!

What did you do this weekend? Is anyone else in a comment/blogging rut - or is it just me? Perhaps I can blame it on the winter blues :) come on sunny weather!

Happy 1 Year!

Happy 1 Year Anniversary to Lovin' My Life!

I can't believe 1 year ago [well yesterday - hello worst blogger ever!] that I started this blog.
I started my blog simply to have an outlet - somewhere to put my thoughts, pictures, ideas, crafts, recipes, ect... but it has grown to so much more! I never thought of blogging as a two way street... I thought I would just post pictures, blog about my ideas, and people may or may not read them... end of story.

but this last year has proven to be WAY more than that!

y'all have become part of my life. i look forward every day to seeing what is going on in YOUR life, and love hearing from each and every one of you.

I appreciate your patience when it comes to my blogger block, or my lack of punctuation [or over punctuation especially when it comes to explanation points!!!! ha] or when I don't have much exciting to blog about!

So thank you for joining me on this journey that has taken me much further than I ever thought was possible!

CHEERS!

Here's to another great year !

30 Day Challenge Day 1 and Day 2

One of my favorite things about blogging is meeting other bloggers - and I thought I would take this opportunity to partake in Katies 30 Day blogging challenge

So I'm a few days behind - so I'm going to take this opportunity to catch up!


Day 1: introduce, recent picture, and 15 interesting facts

Hello there! I love getting to know other fellow bloggers - so here is your chance to get to know me, or if get to know more of me in the next 30 days! i started this blog to document my life, and i never imagined others being interested in what i have to say or what i am doing. in my blog i will be honest with you, i will be an open book, and i'm excited to share it with you at least for the next 30 days.

Here is a recent picture of me [and Justin]. I very seldom have a picture of just myself... so this is as good as it gets. we were on our way down to THE Ohio State campus for the OSU vs Miami game last month
now here are 15 interesting facts about moi

[1] i have 2 great grandmas - 94 and 96 [my 94 yr old ggma - reads my blog! love it!] 7 grandparents [4 grandmas and 3 grandpas - all of my parent's parents are divorced and re-married] all still alive and kicking! i am beyond fortunate! and i love that this is one of the ways i communicate with them!
[2] i love routine and making plans - and it doesn't go over very well when either one doesn't go as planned - i'm getting MUCH better at this!
[3] i can watch golf all day long, but as soon as i turn the channel to a tennis match - i'm fast asleep!
[4] i absolutely love Christmas! Did you know its only 72 days left :)
[5] i would totally love to go back in time and be a fly on the wall for 1 day when Justin was in college - i love hearing his stories!
[6] i work at a hospital [thank G in HR] but i'm deathly afraid of needles and blood! eek!
[7] flip flops and socks totally wig me out! like heebie jeebies beyond uncomfortable type feeling
[8] my orthodontist looked in my mouth when i was in 3rd grade and simply just said "youre a challenge... let me tell you that makes you feel good as a nervous little kid - i have to admit - he did a pretty good job!
[9] i'm loving my iphone and enjoying having a smartphone again! as of right now her name is bella for isabella the iphone.. the verdict is still out on her name - any other suggestions would be appreciated?? am i the only one who names their phone/car??
[10] i despise the words moist and penetrating/penetration [esp during football games - when the running back penetrated through the defensive line....eww gross!]
[11]there is something about a guy with a sleeve that is totally hot- however i do not want J to ever get one! i know... very contradictory.. but its the truth!
[12] i would love to have blonde highlights again... unfortunately its just not in the budget for me to have it as a constant up keep
[13] the only scripted show i watch is modern family... yes i'm a reality tv junkie!
[14] I totally wish that i could have a a dog - b/c i love the names I have picked out - but I don't know if I will ever be ready for a dog! its a HUGE responsibility! but i love the names [mulligan, bogey, palmer and watson]
[15] my dream job would be an event planner... i love the large aspect of planning events as well the little details

Day 2: Meaning Behind Your Blog Name

I was more excited to start blogging than coming up with a creative/witty/hidden meaning behind my name for my blog- so there it is -I came up with Lindsey at Lovin' My Life. I truly believe in the title of my blog - and I totally love my life, the ups and the downs... so I do love my life! Maybe one day - I'll change it to something a little more creative! But until then - its staying the way it is!

exciting news.........

My friend kate... kate spade that is... sent me an email today [how sweet of her] - and for some reason i decided to open it [i rarely do this because then i just sit and drool over the gorgeous handbags she has to offer...] but today instead of expensive handbags i saw an iPhone 4 cover.. and i knew it was fate... i was meant to open that email

i have been waiting for about 3 months now for the white iphone... since i have lost berry [read about the tragic experience here]... and i have been lusting over JM's iPhone ever since waiting on the white phone to be released...

well my dear friends at Apple haven't moved quiet as fast as I would like them to [i have no clue why i have been so set on getting a white one...] and i think i'm okay with that because i think kate had better intentions for me anyway... because this is what i saw today
this totally screams LINDSEY!
i love it - black and white, a hint of pink and POLKA DOTS!
yes please!
so i bit the bullet - and purchased this beauty - just the case [not the phone]
she will be here in 11 days [can you tell that i'm excited]
so within the next 11 days i will go from my lovely flip phone
to an iPhone
and i can't be more elated!
hello email. hello facebook. hello BLOGGING! hello big girl phone!
woohoo!