Monday, July 23, 2012

{Giveaway} Kiki & Coco

Happy Monday! Welcome back y'all! I'm trying this new thing where I try to be more positive. Ever since reading the happiness project I've become keenly aware of how my attitude effects me and those around me. I know all of us have the tendency to get down about Mondays, but we can gripe and moan all we want  but it never changes the fact that its Monday, does it? So why not try being excited for a new day? The new opportunities and exciting possibilities the day might bring? You don't have to do it, but maybe give it a try...

On that note, I'm offering all of you a new opportunity to win some free stuff! Hey! Who doesn't love giveaways? Well today I have a great one for you. 


I recently found the etsy shop, Kiki & Coco and fell madly in love with their bracelets. 

This one is my absolute FAV

I feel like these are the grow up alternative to a friendship bracelet, right? They come in so many wonderful colors too! So you can get one to go with ANYTHING.

The Royal Braided Bracelet
Plus, for those of us from the DC area... Kiki and Coco is too! I know y'all love supporting local designers! 
Karma Beaded Bracelet

The lovely ladies behind Kiki & Coco have graciously offered one Blue Dog Belle reader a Rio Gold Chain Cobra Bracelet in the color of your choice.  


There are a TON of colors to choose from. You can get a neon one like this one (I know you ladies love neon), or maybe something else... Red... Black... White? Football season is nearly upon us (go dawgs) and y'all will surely need color coordinated bracelets to wear to the tailgates. DUH. 

The giveaway will remain open until July 31 at 11:59 PM. 



Friday, July 20, 2012

{Cocktail Friday}

First off, y'all need to know something about me. I am a girl who loves to sleep. I have a hard time functioning on less that 8 hours, my body just refuses to get up. Well, a surprisingly hectic work week, in combination with this LSAT class has suddenly sucked the hours from the day.
I'm going to be a very busy girl until October 4.
Thursday I woke up at 6:30 (I normally get up at 7:45) was at work by 8. Worked straight through until 6. Came home. Ate dinner while watching 15 minutes of the Kardashians, then did LSAT homework until class started at 7:30. Class finally ended 11:45 or so. This has been 4 days of this now. WTF. I don't know how people do it... though I suppose if I want to go to law school I better figure it out fast.

This story is just telling the tale that I am a). too tired to actually make up a drink for you (Pinterest to the rescue though); and b). in desperate need of several cocktails. Thankfully it's Friday. I plan on stopping by Harris Teeter on my drive home tonight. Picking up a bottle of something alcoholic and bubbly, maybe a redbox movie and probably a frozen pizza. I will then retreat to my couch where I will drink the bubbly beverage (adding in hard liquor of course), eat said pizza and zone out to some crap movie. Then retreat to my bed around 9. Put on the sleeping mask to block all possible light and CRANK UP the noise machine. Seriously. Can't think of a better night after the week I've had. 

Wow... incoherent ranting. I promise I try to avoid these, but I foresee the frequency increasing around these parts in the coming weeks. Bare with me :)

Here are some pretty pictures with links to superior bloggers with wonderful cocktail recipes that you should really try. I'm sure I'll be trying a few myself this weekend.

Raspberry Mint Mojitos
Bada Bing

Cucumber Rosemary Gin and Tonic 

Mint Lemon Sorbet and Champagne

If you want even more pretty yummy cocktails come visit my Pinterest Board: Cocktail Party


Also, I have a fun surprise... Since I'm getting DANGEROUSLY CLOSE to 100 GFC followers, I have a great giveaway starting on Monday. Here a sneak peak 


Have a fabulous and sleep filled weekend y'all!

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Thursday Randoms: Blog Awards

So, exciting news, I've been nominated for a few blog awards recently. I haven't had a chance to respond to them yet, so for this week's Thursday Randoms I'm going to participate in several of them, because one, I need to thank the lovely ladies who nominated me and two, because I know y'all love random facts about my ever exciting life. So here we go. *Warning this is kind of a long one.  

First off the lovely Tabitha of My Cliffnotes awarded me 


The Rules for the Sisterhood Award:[-] Include the award's logo in a post or on your blog.

[-] Share the love, and link the person who nominated you.
[-] Tell seven facts about yourself.
[-] Nominate 7 other fabulous bloggers.
[-] Link your nominees to this post and comment on their blogs, letting them know they have been nominated.



The Rules for One Lovely Blog Award:

1. Link back to whoever  nominated you.
2. Write 11 random facts about yourself.
3. Nominate 11 bloggers.



Jessica of Preppin' Postgrad and Ally of  Sunny Sweetheart both awarded me 


1. Each person must post 11 things about themselves.
2. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you and create 11 questions for the people you have tagged to answer.

3. Choose people five people to pass the award onto and link them in your post.

4. Inform those individuals of their award.
5. No tag backs!


And if that wasn't enough the wonderful ladies at Wil.Harris3 awarded me not one but two

 

The Versatile Blogger rules are:
1. Nominate 10 fellow bloggers who are new to blogging.
2. Let them know you have nominated them.
3. Share 7 random facts about yourself.
4. Thank the blogger who have nominated you in your post.
5. Add the versatile blogger picture to your post!

The Kreativ Blogger rules are: 
Post a link to the person who awarded you
Share 7 well-thought out random things about yourself
Award 10 other bloggers and let them know


Seriously, I cannot thank you all enough. I started this blog only four months ago mostly as an outlet for me. I'm not going to lie, I love adding followers, and I kind of live for comments. But honestly, I never really expected anyone to read this but me and a few friends. But now my GFC following is getting extremely close to 100 (help a girl out and follow me if you don't already! I promise I'll love you forever and ever!), and I just can't believe I've made so many friends across the country and here in DC, it's wonderful!

So, by my count I owe you 32 random facts and 22 answered questions. Here we go.

[1] I have LIVED in 15 different residences in the last 6 years. 

[2] I met Diego Luna in Madrid when I was 16.

[3] One of my best friends is seriously a nine year old. She is related to this lovely person.

[4] I love to spackle. As in fix wholes and dents in the wall. 

[5] My go to cocktail without fail is a Gin and Tonic

[6] I love to cook, but I rarely do because I hate cleaning up afterwards.

[7] I played softball like a crazy person from about age 11-18. (I started at age 8). Travel ball in the summer, varsity in the fall, and spring. I played ever single position, and even was the pitcher my senior year. 

[8] I haven't picked up a ball in 6 years.

[9] I had an unhealthy obsession with NSYNC as a pre-teen. (still do actually)

[10] In the 7th grade one of my homework assignments was to go sit by a tree and describe how it was feeling. I kid you not. I went to a crazy hippy liberal kind of a school in Atlanta.
   
[11] I met Bill Clinton once, and I would totally be his Monica. (Yet I LOVE Hillary. like LOVE her. I have a problem)


[12] I wear a size 9.5 shoe, but I'm only 5' 4''. Life isn't fair


[13] I was a Spanish Major, but now can barely hold a conversation... if even that. FAIL.


[14] I was also a Political Science major, so my college career was not for nothing. 


[15] My favorite building in Washington, D.C. is the Jefferson Building (Library of Congress)

[16] I have an unnatural love of cilantro. 

[17] I spent a summer in Tanzania teaching English and math to a group of 4-7 year olds affected by HIV/AIDS. Most amazing experience of my life

[18] My favorite thing I've every purchased for myself is my Michael Kors watch. 

[19] I have a phobia of cotton balls. Like they seriously stress me out. 

[20] I spent 18+ years of my life in Atlanta, GA, but I think of Athens, GA as home (even though I only spent 6 semesters actually in Athens).

[21] I'm the kind of girl with a lot of great friends, but very few "every now and again friends" if that makes sense. 

[22] I hate venturing too far into nature (the beach is an obvious exception though). I'm a serious city girl. 

[23]  My guilty pleasure is anything Real Housewives. 

[24] My favorite color is seriously grey. and not ironically, or from the counting crows. 

[25] I am hard core addicted to diet coke. I've tried to get off it, but to no avail. 

[26] I am obsessed with monograms. I would seriously monogram everything I own. 

[27] I am AGGRESSIVE driver. 

[28] I have 2 sisters. One goes to Clemson for her Undergrad. One is going to The University of Minnesota for her Masters starting this fall. 

[29] I cannot stand mayonnaise and refuse to eat just about anything that is mayo based. 

[30] I have an abnormal ability to name Congressmen and Senators. I often impress myself  with my relatively obscure knowledge of the various delegations. Political nerd right here. 

[31] I studied abroad in Spain in 2008, and it was AWESOME. 

[32]  I drive a 2006 Jetta 2.5L in Navy Blue. I love her.

Questions from Preppin' Postgrad
1. If you could meet one blogger and one celebrity in real life who would you want to meet? 
I am seriously obsessed with youtube makeup gurus. My absolute favorite is Emily Eddington of Beauty Broadcast. I adore her, seriously. I kind of need to be her best friend.

2. If you had access to a time machine where and when would you go? 
Did y'all see Midnight in Paris? I've always been so enthralled with the 1920's, flappers, prohibition and since I saw that movie my interest has only peaked. I would totally hit up Paris circa 1925.  

3. If you were a kitchen appliance what would you be? 
I would probably be the oven, because I have a tendency to be cautious, thoughtful and meticulous as I make my way through life. Some may call it slow to move, but aren't the best things in life (definitely when it comes to food) prepared low and slow. Hello, BBQ anyone? yes. okay. I'm the oven. 

4. What fortune would you want from a fortune cookie?
"The path you've ventured down will lead you far"

5. What is your favorite book?
Hmm... that's a tough one. I'm not traditionally one of those with a favorite book or movie. The book that has resonated with me the most (at least that I've read lately) is The Happiness Project. 

6. What song describes you?
haha, not at all actually, but I have no idea how to answer this question.

7. Favorite candy?
Reeces Peanut Butter Cups. Hands down.

8. Favorite movie you have seen recently? 
Magic Mike. No explanation necessary.

9. Dream job?
Senior Legislative Aide to a Senator or on a Committee, with an Energy and Environmental focused policy portfolio.    

10. Beach or Mountains. 
Beach

11. If you had $1,000 what would you do with it? 
Buy a real camera. DSLR I will own you one day. 

Questions from Sunny Sweetheart

1. Why do you blog?

It makes me happy, and its a great creative outlet from my all to often boring and oh so serious Washington DC life. 

2. What is the last song you listened to?
Where did our love go--- Diana Ross

3. What is your favorite social network (Facebook, Blogger, Twitter, etc.)?
Instagram(follow me @EmPri88)

4. Favorite childhood memory?
Summer trips to St. George Island, FL. 

5. What makes you smile?
Oliver, our kitty cat. He's a klutz, and beyond entertaining. 

6. Favorite spring/summer 2012 trend or fall/winter 2012-2013 trends?
Color blocking. I cannot get enough. I have always leaned towards solids over patterns, so I've been color blocking for years! But now it's cool!
7. What pets (if any) have you had in your life so far?
Kiki (cat and my first child, passed away 2007)
Tiger (cat, passed away 2006)
Woody (Puppy 12 years old)
Oliver (cat, 2 years old)
Nicky (dog, 9 years old)

8. Favorite hair tool or product?

9. Do you prefer e-books or regular books?
Regular. I don't have an e-reader. 

10. What ingredients make your perfect sandwich?
Whole wheat bread, Chicken, Avocado, Roasted Red Pepper, Dijon Mustard and Goat Cheese. 
11. What sports or activities, if any, did you do/currently do in high school?
I was a softball playing fiend. 
OKAY. wow. I really should have broken this post up, but oh well. Now, I guess it's time to nominate folks. I'm a little hesitant to send out nominations into the blogosphere. I'm not normally one to participate in these chain email kind of things, but I really do appreciate being nominated. SO. I am going to nominate 10 lovely ladies. If you are nominated feel free to pick your award. I don't really care. I love you all, and you are all creative and versatile and caring and what not, so you all qualify. 


If you're still reading... kudos to you. See you tomorrow for a Friday Cocktail! 

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