National Handwriting Day

Today is National Handwriting Day!!! So I've decided to celebrate my writing more cards!!

Do you need more personalized stationery? Some of my favorite sites for that are:

Ashley Brooke Designs - stationary
Celebrations at Home
Hip Hip Horray
Ideal Favors
Invitation Consultants
Party Perfect
Pepper Design
Preppy Paper Girl
Setting the Mood

and my new favorite 

Great Oak Circle.

I am currently hosting a give away with Great Oak Circle. and of the winners options is customer invitations or announcements! head over to my past post and check it out..

WHAT YOU WILL WIN & RULES Pick your prize from Great Oak Circle and receive a custom, one-of-a-kind design for any of the following:
*Blogger or Wordpress basic 2-column layout including header, background, signature and 3 sidebar buttons with install.
*Invitation or announcement, 4x6 or 5x7 size.
*Print design for business card, postcard, letterhead or other promotional material.
*Etsy store banner.

Now back to National Handwriting day. Head on over to Real Simple to find out  what your handwriting says about you.It is crazy, but how your write- print or cursive, how you dot your I's, etc.. all can say something about you..

It is also National Pie Day (head over to Real Simple for ideas on how to celebrate) 

GIVEAWAY: Great Oak Circle -Custom Design Giveaway!

I could not be happier with my new custom blog design! Christine, is an old friend (back from when we used to both be majorettes, and then attending Florida State. She now lives in Alabama, and owns Great Oak Circle. I have been working with her the past week to give SimplySouthernGirl a "facelift" of sorts! The process was quick, simply & painless. Christine worked with me through every step in the design process!! From her the initial inspiration board, to the custom header, blog buttons, navigation bar, signature, etc- she worked to ensure that everything she created reflected by ideas, & stayed true to my vision. I could not be happier, and could rave out her for multiple posts..

Now for the AMAZING PART!!!! 

Christine has offered her services for a GIVEAWAY!!!!

WHAT YOU WILL WIN & RULES

Pick your prize from Great Oak Circle and receive a custom, one-of-a-kind design for any of the following:
*Blogger or Wordpress basic 2-column layout including header, background, signature and 3 sidebar buttons with install.
*Invitation or announcement, 4x6 or 5x7 size.
*Print design for business card, postcard, letterhead or other promotional material.
*Etsy store banner.

Please visit Great Oak Circle to learn more about the design process. Each of the above designs comes with an initial preview and 3 edits. Additional edits will be charged an hourly rate.

MANDATORY TO ENTRY

• 2 points Follow blog SimplySouthernGirl  & leave a comment on this post
• 2 points follow or subscribe to Great Oak Circle, leave a comment on this post letting me know

RECOMMENDED EXTRA ENTRIES GIVE YOU MORE CHANCES TO WIN:  

(Leave a comment for EACH & include your email if you don't have an active blog)

• 2 Point if you like SimplySouthernGirl on Facebook. (Leave a comment letting me know you have done so)
• 1 Point if you follow Simply Southern Girl @Bmds99 on Twitter(Leave a comment letting me know you have done so)
• 2 Points if you like Great Oak Cirlceon Facebook, " and post SimplySouthernGirl sent me!"
• 1 Point for tweets Tweet about the giveaway and include this post URL http://www.simplysoutherngirl.com/2012/01/giveaway-great-oak-circle-custom-design.html      (be sure to include @Bmds99 in your tweet)
• 1 point Facebook about the giveaway and include this post URL  http://www.simplysoutherngirl.com/2012/01/giveaway-great-oak-circle-custom-design.html      (be sure to tag SimplySouthernGirl in your facebook post)

• 3 Points Blog about the giveaway and include this post http://www.simplysoutherngirl.com/2012/01/giveaway-great-oak-circle-custom-design.html   (Leave a comment with the link to your post.

Best wishes to all who participate! I will use the Random Number Generator two choose two winners on 10-26-11

Some of her other designs are shown below....


 

I will use randomnumber.org to determine my winner! & will announce winner on in 2 weeks on February 5th!

Southern Sayings...

Source:  via Lori on Pinterest

Source: werejustlikeyouonlyprettier.blogspot.com via Lori on Pinterest

Something to think about...

Tomorrow is another day

Scarlett O'Hara was right, "after all..tomorrow is another day."

Today was  an abnormally long day... Yes I had a long day at work, full of challenges, and new learning curves... but that is to be expecting while in an acting assignment for the position above mine. With that being said, after taking time to reflect upon today, I am mighty thankful I have an amazing leadership team, and sales team that are supportive of the new challenges we are taking on, and goals we are reaching for! Blessed I tell you, beyond believe. Blessed... and "Tomorrow is another day"

I often take it for-granted that I work for a truly amazing company that supports by work/life balance, one that supports my volunteer interests, & one that gives back to the community each and every day and encourages its employes to do the same.. this helps keep my priorities in check..

With that being said this past weekend, I was able, along with other advisors- facilitate a leadership retreat for 28 amazing collegiate women!! This was the 4th annual retreat.. You can view last years retreat here. The executive boards of the Alpha Chi Omega chapter from Florida State University and University of Florida traveled to St. George Island (SGI) for 3 days full of friendship, leadership, learning and service. We provide them with meals, team building, and break out sessions.. amongst other things..

But we had a little time to  take a break for photos on the beach.. Below are photos of FSU gals on the beach.. 

It is weekends like this past one that keep me grounded, and help me remember on days like today that "Tomorrow is another day"...

Eggcellent Idea for Valentines surprises

Valentines day is just under a month away.. and while C & I are not big "Valentines day" celebrators... and have vowed not to do gifts this year in lieu of things for the house, and wedding plans.. I thought the heart shaped eggs were a great idea to pack in your significant others lunch box, or serve as deviled eggs at a Valentines day party.. 

I will be making these. and will be sure to update with photos of how they turn out..

  Who doesn't love heart shaped food, right? 

Here's simple how-to make a heart-shaped hard boiled egg via Anna The Red.

This would be such a cute addition to a home packed lunch this Valentines..

images/annathered

Blog REVAMP 2012

One of my 2012 Goals, is to put revamp my blog, & take it to "the next level"... In sitting down and thinking what that would entail. I came up with the below:

1. Blog design

2. Blog giveaways

3. Aim to acquire more followers 

I am happy to announce that Christine, from The Great Oak Circle, has graciously offered to do a blog design. She has been a dream to work with, thus far, & I can't wait to show you the final blog design shortly. Christine will also be working with me to offer a give away to my readers! Below is a sneak peak of some of the ideas/inspiration that have gone into the redesign..

In fact, the week of the "relaunch" I will be doing a week of giveaways! In addition to the blog design giveaway.. I have already lined up 2 books, and a stationary giveaway.. I am so excited to share the news with you.. If you know anyone who would be interested in being part of the week of giveaways, please have them contact me!

 pink and navy pillow                 great combo of fonts

caitlinwilsontextiles.com            mysweetandsaucy.com

pink and navy wedding, like the scallop             monogram

Uploaded by user                          monogrammed-gifts.com

Valentines is almost a month away

The 2012 Ashley Brooke Designs Valentine Collection is Here + it is  15% off. Last year a good friend designed Valentines day cards for Chris & I, but the year prior I ordered from Ashley. I must say I am super impressed with Ashley Brooke Designs, she is easy to work with, and she ships quickly and in the most adorable packaging! If you are looking to send Holiday cards, check her out...

 

This is not a paid post, just a post b/c I love note cards, and loved the cards I have bought from Ashley

MOMAGENDA ON GROUPON!!!!

Groupon has a great deal on My Agenda and Mom Agenda planners today!

I have blogged about these planners for several years now, and refuse to use ANYTHING else.. these are AMAZING!!!




You can pick between:

• mini My Agenda planner, $15 (originally $27)
• My Agenda Desktop Planner, $19 (originally $32.25)
• Mom Agenda Desktop Planner, $19 (originally $32.25)

All of the planners come in a variety of colors and shipping is $5.95.

Things to accomplish in 2012!

 I am not one for new years resolutions, however, I would like to commit to some goals in 2012.. I am committed to adding to and amending this list throughout the year.. These are things I would like to accomplish, things I would like to add or change in my life. etc, etc..

1. Back up my entire online life onto an external hard drive, especially my photos.

2. Tell my friends and family that I  love that I love them on a more regular basis. To their face, not in a text.

3. Aim to be healthier in 2012. This means eating better, working out more, etc..

4. Replace one terrible reality show I'm currently watching with one wonderful scripted show currently available on television.  Swap suggestion that I am going to implement Swap: Keeping up with the Kardashians  for  _______ (goal is to find a show this week) Currently I really only watch the shows I TIVO. Which are The Kardashians, Property Brothers, Our First Place, Toddlers and Tiaras, and Jeopardy. While I think reality shows are ok Some of the time. I am thinking I could use some substance in our TV watching.

5. Call my close friends on the phone at least once a week, and catch up with them for at least ten minutes.

6. Know which candidate I'm going to vote for in the upcoming presidential election, and know why. (This should be easy, as C & I watch all of the debates, read up on the candidates, etc)

7. Try at least one new place to eat each month (& try somewhere local)

8. Send 365 days of correspondence (you know I love an excuse to buy new stationary) I did this last year, and loved the challenge of corresponding more with friends..

9. Write letters to a companies when I receive great service or I like their product, and the converse when I receive bad service/product.

10.  Take my blog to the next level. (I have yet to come to a conclusion of what exactly this means, but I would love to gain followers, streamline the look of my blog, and potential even gain sponsors) One this is for sure I would like to have at least 30 giveaways (I have a good friend who is going to help me with this.. but I am open to ideas, suggestions, etc.. )

11. Take Chris to a Pro Football game (gasp, he had never been) preferably the Saints..

12. Visit 2 more states that I have not been to (left I have OR, WA, MI, ME, RI, HI, AK, CO)

13. Take a cooking class (Peyton and Amy Z if you are reading this, I say we do it together)

14. Take a girls only trip

15.  Go to the top of the capital of Florida (seriously I have lived in Tallahassee for 12 years and never been) It is under construction now, but should be done soon!

16. Volunteer for projects I truly believe in, instead of saying yes to everything. I am working to pair down and streamline the projects I volunteer in and the commitments I have..

17. Unsubscribe from all the catalogs I throw away every time they arrive in the mail.. & all of the random emails that fill up my personal and blog email address.

18. Work on planning a wedding, but ensure that I don't let it consume my life...