#onelittleword in my life update

Today has been such a #onelittleword day!  After my training ride, I came home to my We R Memories binder (I chose hunter green) and my necklace from Jessica in the mail. 
I have mad love for this necklace.  Not only is it symbolic of everything I want this year to encompass, but it turned out beautifully and I know whoever wins the necklace from Jessica will absolutely love it.

It arrived in a drawstring, sheer bag and was complete with the necklace snake chain that I had ordered.  Jessica, who has outstanding customer service, was worried that she had forgotten something with my order, so she sent me another envelope featuring two small pearl charms and a new edition of her snake necklace, in case I preferred a thinner version.

In case you're joining me for the first time since my last #onelittleword post, the project is basically choosing a word that you are going to embody for one year.  You'll often see me talking here about twenty13 being the "year of opportunity," well that certainly fits since my one little word is "opportunity."  To hold myself accountable to my chosen word, and to have a little fun with it, I searched through Etsy for a necklace that would help out with it.  I found Jessica's Etsy shop, Glassy Chic Boutique, and just loved her work.  On the necklace, I chose the upper block text and on two sides, it says "opportunity" and then the dates, starting January 1st and ending December 31st- a year of opportunity. 

My definition of excellent customer service involves corresponding with your client or customers frequently throughout the order and creation process.  It also involves making sure that they are either completely satisfied or their expectations are blown out of the water.  Jessica fits all that and more.  I also want to make it clear that I sought out her work and she didn't seek me out to do a promotional giveaway.  I mentioned my blog and the project and she loved the idea.  She's just that awesome. 

If you're looking for custom, beautiful and affordable jewelry, I would definitely head her way.  I love supporting Etsy artists and designers :) 

Etsy Shop // Facebook Page // Twitter // Blog

I've started to work on my one little project with Ali Edwards' Big Picture Class.  I was going back and forth on spending the money for the program, because I could definitely scrapbook on my own, but he likelihood of me keeping up with it on my own was slim to none.  So I figured a $36 class, in which she provided free printables, videos, prompts and extras for an entire year was worth it.  I'm really glad that I did it.  Below is a sample of some of the cards that I put together for the January prompt.  They're in an extra rough draft mode, so no judgments...or at least, not yet! ;)

I've been brainstorming synonyms to help break up my goals and my intentions for what focusing on opportunity is meant to do for me this year.  I'm excited to put my binder together and see where the project takes me.   

My hubs and I watched the movie, Savages, the other night.  I'm not too keen on violence in movies. I'm the 23-year old with her eyes covered in the movie theater.  However, as violent as some of the scenes were in the movie (hence the name "savages"), I really liked the story line.  The story plays around themes of testing human limits (cruelty, mind games) and variations of love and power.  You'll recognize actors such as John Travolta, Selma Hayek, and Blake Lively in the film.  Lively plays the shared love interest of characters, Chon and Ben.  That was definitely an interesting dynamic, since the two male leads loved each other so much as brothers and best-friends, that they were willing to share the love of their live, Ophelia, otherwise known as "O." 

 

Source

The characters lived complicated lives and you love to hate the bad guys and what they're willing to do next.  My favorite character was Ben (played by Aaron Johnson).  At the surface, he seems kind of like a weed-smoking-surfer-California-dude, but the film cuts at the surface of how much time he devotes to helping third world countries.  This includes developing orphanages, clean water systems and schools.  Combine that with his devilishly handsome good looks and all I've got to say is be still my beating heart.  What reminded me of #onelittleword with his character was that he never let anything stand in his way.  His character used a dual-degree from Berkley to develop a product and sell it (in this case, marijuana), but in turn, he used that to help a lot of people.  Not just throwing money their way either, actually going there and devoting time to their lives.  That type of dedication is admirable, even if displayed by a fictional film character.  

I'll continue to explore my #onelittleword in other areas of my life and I invite you to participate with me and come up with your own little word.  If you would like to win a FREE necklace from Glassy Chic Boutique, make sure to enter the giveaway at the bottom of my #onelittleword post.

Thanks for Reading!

Favorite Things Friday

It's Friday and a wonderful opportunity to comment on the awesomeness of this week.  To start off, I'd like to share some of my favorite finds on the interwebs, including Disney princesses, a mountain of a reading challenge, book chats over at Sweet Green Tangerine, a different workout plan that involves loving your body instead of loathing the treadmill, and my start to becoming a book reviewer.

Stephanie from My Creative Brightside was the most perfect Cinderella at this little girl's birthday party.  In case y'all didn't know, I love all things Disney and had (let's be real, still do) really wanted to be a Disney character princess.  You know what kind of stinks? They don't get paid really well and before I get a rotten tomato thrown at me for saying that, I mean they're about minimum wage.  Can't save a lot with that, so alas, I'll just admire how adorable that birthday party looks.  Anybody need a 23-year old Disney princess? ;)

My favorite reading challenge that I've discovered involves climbing a mother truckin' mountain. You definitely heard right, a mountain. I'm signing up with the blog, My Reader's Block to participate and take care of the mountain of books that need to be read :)

The Mount TBR Challenge 

"to be read"

How does it work?

Challenge Levels:

Pike's Peak: Read 12 books from your TBR pile/s Mount Blanc: Read 24 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Vancouver: Read 36 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Ararat: Read 48 books from your TBR piles/s
Mt. Kilimanjaro: Read 60 books from your TBR pile/s
El Toro: Read 75 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Everest: Read 100 books from your TBR pile/s Mount Olympus (Mars): Read 150+ books from your TBR pile/s

And the rules:
*Once you choose your challenge level, you are locked in for at least that many books. If you find that you're on a mountain-climbing roll and want to tackle a taller mountain, then you are certainly welcome to upgrade.

*Challenge runs from January 1 to December 31, 2013.

*You may sign up anytime from now until November 30th, 2013.

*Books must be owned by you prior to January 1, 2013. No ARCs (none), no library books. No rereads. [To clarify--based on a question raised last year--the intention is to reduce the stack of books that you have bought for yourself or received as presents {birthday, Christmas, "just because," etc.}. Audiobooks and E-books may count if they are yours and they are one of your primary sources of backlogged books.]

Now I don't know if I have that many "backlogged" books, but I do have a lot and I can't wait to participate! I know I have a lot of bookaholics following this blog, so y'all should sign up with me and we can hold each other accountable!  Now once I tackle all those bad boys, if you have another reading challenge that you recommend, definitely let me know and comment below.  I love insight and feedback on everything I post here.

I also am really excited to participate in Jessica's Book Chats this year.  Her Book Chat link-ups have a different topic every week and they're a lot of fun.  I wish I had discovered her blog sooner but know you all know about it and can participate next week!  Her Reading Resolutions for 2013 are so on par with what I would like to accomplish this year.  How many books do you want to read this year?  I fell short of my goal and that alone was encouragement for me to start picking a novel more often than searching Instagram (there's gotta be a way to have my cake and eat it, too).  Visit her blog at Sweet Green Tangerine because I'm obsessed with it and you can expect it to be a good contender for my January blog obsessions.

I used to work out a lot and I get all kinds of bored with running.  I'm good at it but I hate it.  The double-edged sword of fitness.  You know when you're hot, sweaty and starting to get bored and you're thinking, "nooooo it's only been a mile."  So if I can avoid running, I try to.   So I came across the Tone It Up blog hosted by Katrina and Karena.  They're doing the Love Your Body Challenge for 6.5 weeks.  

I've made their January calendar my background and these ladies are so cute!  Not only do they focus on health and fitness, but they work on you!  It's a mixture of a Nike fitness ad and a night in the lounge back at the Theta house.  That's probably a bad example unless you were in a sorority, but it feels like you're chatting/texting/blogging with your best-friends.  They're all about the motto: loving your body and I'm excited to give this a try.  I started doing this today and it was fun and my glutes are definitely feeling it.  DO IT...you'll like it, promise.  Here was the workout for today: 

They're fun, they're fabulous and I just love watching their videos after a good workout.  Health and fitness is important but so is your self-esteem and overall well-being.  Have fun while working out and love your body! Don't beat yourself over it!

 

One of my 100 in 1001 things is to become an advanced reader/test reader for publishers and I've done just that.  I literally (does anyone think of Parks and Rec whenever they say this?) signed up for NetGalley last night and I can request eBook versions of soon-to-be popular (hopefully), great reads.  It's been so much fun looking around and requesting books.  I've already had twelve books approved for me and I can't wait to start reading and providing reviews.  So ladies and gents, you'll be seeing a lot more of that on here. #yearofopportunity

A lot of wonderful things have happened this week, including the start of the Blogger Book Swap.  In case you're reading this and haven't signed up, you have roughly one week.  I'm closing the sign-up on the 12th as long as we have enough pairs and right now, we have a ton of great readers signed up.  I cannot express enough thanks to my co-hosts for going above and beyond in spreading the word.

Another great opportunity is your chance to win a free necklace from Glass Chic Designs.  If you haven't read the post on #onelittleword, you may be lost from time to time on my future posts.  I may be biased, but it's good stuff, and I recommend you check it out and enter to win a free necklace from a great Etsy shop owner.

As if this week hasn't been inspiring enough, I've decided to participate in a year of gratitude and mail out 52 letters to the people I care about.

Whew, that's a lot going on and it's only the first of twenty13.  It's great to feel this energized and motivated...like hot damn I can do this!  

What are some things that are getting you amped up for the new year?     

Thanks for Reading!

  

P.S. I've seen folks anonymously saying mean things on other blogs and the subject coming up frequently.  One, that's just not ok to do.  A blog is someone's personal space and yes, they've chosen to share it with the world, but with the expectation that they'll receive courtesy with that.  If you don't like a blog, then unsubscribe from them.  Stop being mean or rude and show a little heart.

 

#onelittleword 2013

Disclaimer: I say one foul word in this blog post and I don't intend to edit it. 
But keep scrolling through, because there's a wonderful surprise at the end, I promise!

Some of my favorite bloggers, designers, and overall creative minds have been throwing around the hashtag and phrase, "one little word."  I was intrigued, especially since #onelittleword was usually accompanied by a cute necklace, bracelet, or scrapbooking/journaling activity.
Um, raises hand, that's right up my alley.

Let me tell you friends, I love this idea.
One little word encompasses everything you want out of the new year.  It's so much more than resolutions or a list of goals, it is what you want the year to be.  That in itself is so inspiring.  You have a brand new year, a new slate filled with memories to be made.  Pictures must be taken and people need to be met.  You can read more about this concept over at Ali Edwards' blog.

The most beautiful thing about this, is that it's a single word.  One word that describes exactly how you feel.  That can be challenging and may even instill anxiety to be so definite with something.  However, I just love it.  For once you have to decide, this isn't open-ended.  It's like a realistic goal.
You will accomplish this.

So I started brainstorming my one little word.
After a week or so of trying to figure out what new year's link-ups I wanted to be a part of, I had already created lists of goals or resolutions or something like that because I actually dislike calling them resolutions- then it hit me- write it all down.  So I started thinking of what I could contribute to a 101 in 1001 list (a future blog post you can anxiously wait for) and my one little word just came to me.

opportunity

As I write this, 2013 hasn't even started on the west coast and it's still so incredibly exciting.  I have my life partner with me for an entire year.  That's a big fuckin' deal.  We are finally together to go on adventures and experience new things.  It's not just me on my own, it's us.  We now have the opportunity to be together and actually live as one, instead of two bodies united despite the worldly distance of a war and deployment.  2013 means that we're getting another dog.  Not just that, but we're going to help a little fur baby out in life.  We're giving him (getting a boy this time) the opportunity to experience love, compassion, and to be insanely spoiled.  I've been obsessed with dogs since I was a baby.  There is something so beautiful in animals- they see no wrong in people.  If I can give an animal a good life through my means and capabilities, I will grasp that opportunity.  2013 is 365 days of accomplishing goals and dreams.  Sometimes that means when a door closes that you find a window, or just bust through the wall and make your own door.  I want to become a part of the Amazon Vine club, be an advanced reader (or test reader) for a publishing author, and so much more.  I plan on doing these things. It will happen! :)

So I invite you to participate, write a blog post, write it down and hang it up where you'll see it everyday as a reminder of your expectations of this year.  I've already seen many bloggers out there with their word for the new year and I love it!

One way I chose to commemorate such an important word to 2013 is I made a necklace from Glassy Chic Boutique made by Jessica Ely.  Click on that link and it will take you to her adorable Etsy shop.  I chose a hand stamped bar necklace because of its handmade simplicity.  For me, it's symbolic of staying focused, not getting distracted, and keeping my priorities in order.  It's a daily reminder of how awesome 2013 will be.  Jessica and I began messaging for the order and I explained to her what #onelittleword is all about and she loved the idea.  She was awesome enough to talk about her experiences being the shop owner of Glassy Chic Boutique:

My name is Jessica Ely and I am the owner of Glassy Chic Boutique on Etsy. I create and sell custom hand stamped and photo Jewelry. I'm all about custom. Most everyone has someone or something special to them, so why not hold them close, show it off and be reminded everyday!

When Kimberly put in her order for a custom hand stamped necklace with her "new years resolution word", and told me about the #onelittleword concept, I was more than excited! What a fabulous idea, I thought! I mean, It's often so easy to come up with a resolution for the new year, but to stick with it, now THAT can be the challenge. This necklace will allow Kimberly to be "held accountable" and act as a reminder to her throughout the year. When others ask her what her necklace says, she gets to share her story, how perfect!

Kimberly chose the "bar necklace", which has four sides. Four sides to get creative with! There is a 12 character maximum on each side. So,within the 12 characters, the possibilities are endless! :-)

Here's to wishing everyone's new years resolutions come true!

Source: GlassyChicBoutique by Jessica Ely

What could be more awesome than embracing what your 2013 will be?  

My very first giveaway!  

Jessica has been kind enough to give you all the opportunity of winning a hand stamped bar necklace from her Etsy shop, Glassy Chic Boutique.  Enter below for your chance to win one of these amazing necklaces and to perhaps get you started on your #onelittleword journey.  The contest starts January 4th and ends the 11th, so make sure to spread the word and enter yourself.  Having my #onelittleword has made me all the more excited for the new year and I hope it does the same for you :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Good luck and thanks for reading!