Influenster

Have y'all heard about Influenster? Are you a member?

I was invited by a friend, and so far, it is pretty addicting. I'll admit, I had never heard of it. And I know--one more social media outlet, right? Not really.

Influenster is part-community, part-reviews, part-game. You review products you love (or hate) to raise your 'score', and earn badges. You can interact with other trendsetters and find out how your favorite products stack up.

If you're like me, and a product-junkie (makeup! shoes! clothes! baby stuff!), this is the place for you.

It can be a little confusing and overwhelming at first glance. There is just so. much. stuff. To read, do, figure out. But once you start in on earning badges, the fun really begins!

Even better...participating can earn you discounts and previews on products, even a free box of goodies to try for yourself!

Go ahead and check it out. You can find me there, as mullinnix_girl. Click here to join, and have fun!




{I am not being compensated in any way for this post. All opinions are 100% mine.}

Halloween Wreath

Hey, y'all!

Any of y'all still hanging 'round here? I realize I'm MIA. My apologies. Life. What else can I say?

So, my wreath obsession continues. You know, like this or this? Mmmhmmm. A friend saw a lovely Halloween wreath on Pinterest and said, hey friend, I'll pay good money for you to make me this. So I said, well, gee, okay. You talked me into it.

I really, really love tulle wreaths. Like...a lot.

I do not like the time it takes to put nearly 3 rolls of tulle on said wreath. The black flowers (as well as the spider) came from Dollar Tree! What a steal!

I added the purple centers. Then the spider got glitter-fied because I needed him to really pop.

Friend loves it; I'm kinda loving it too. Maybe time to make another?

Texts With Jenn 8.9.12

Jenn and I have always been a bit...anti-social. And nerdy.

Think Daria.

We had plans to go to a (guy) friend's birthday party, that neither of us was looking forward to.

Texts With Jenn 8.6.12

Jenn hates kids.

Well, that sounds a bit harsh...and to be fair, she does love MY kid.

But mostly, strangers' kids totally freak her out and give her hives.

She was getting rid of some shoes, taking them by for a friend to look at....while said friend was at her own kid's birthday party.

A skating party. 

Teehee.

Texts With Jenn 8.3.12

Jenn kinda has a thing for gnomes.

So when I spotted this dude while trolling Hobby Lobby, I had to show her.

Homemade Finger Painting with Baby C

Hey, y'all!

So if you've hung around here much, you may remember that I once taught preschool (loved that job!). The private school where I worked had a heavy emphasis on arts and crafts, which was one of my favorite parts of the job (duh!).

I've been so super excited for my son to reach an age where he can really 'do' some arts and crafts. Back in late June, I decided to pick an activity at random and see how he liked it. I used this recipe from Invitation to the Butterfly Ball and created some homemade (kid-safe!) finger paint.

I was so hoping he would dive in and make a lovely, huge, fingerpainted mess...but if you remember the fiasco with his birthday cake, you know better.

Cautiously exploring.

Check that out. ONE fingertip in the paint.

I decided to lay his whole hand into one of the containers and he looked at me like, what the heck lady?!

He did eventually get into it a little more, but he was very particular about dotting a single fingertip at a time. I "helped" him a little, moving his hands around and showing him it was okay to be messy, haha!

He needed a bath after, because it was a bit sticky. I'm not sure if we'll try this one again. The paint has to be stored in the fridge, and I think the texture plus the cold sort of made him more apprehensive. Also, I had to had a great deal more water than in the recipe to get them liquid enough to paint with. 

I have an entire Pinterest board devoted to arts & crafts for kids, what about y'all? I would love more ideas!

Texts With Jenn 7.30.12

First, auto-correct got me (for a change).

Then, I hit 'send' too soon, and before the picture.

Random Photo: Rumble-y Skies

Hey, y'all!

Happy Thursday!

Here in the the Upstate we've been having a lot of rumble-y afternoons.

Not always much rain, but a LOT of ominous skies and thunder.

I snapped this quick picture on my phone as we were leaving town one day.

I love it for several reasons.

First of all, how gorgeous does the sky look?

Second, the building you see has been standing for a long time.

When my mother was small, sometime in the 50's, it was the post office.

Later, it became a grocery store.

And then, much much later, a church, where I witnessed one of my best friends (hi, Mila!) get married.

Pretty cool, huh?

Y'all have a wonderful day!

{P.S. Ask Anna readers are eligible to receive a 20% off discount to my shop, through the end of August. [ASKANNA20] Stop by and say hi to Anna!}

Texts With Jenn 7.26.12

Brilliant.

Guess what, y'all?!

I'M BACK!

Well, not me, but my shop--ShenanAgains! 

You can find all sorts of new goodies, like...

Upcycled Spoon Handle Ceiling Fan Pulls

Lots of new spoon/fork handle key rings!

Vintage enamelware!

 Vintage spools from local mills!

Texts With Jenn 7.22.12

The epitome of her auto-correct fails.

(for the record, I was being dumb, asking about "pictures"...and yes, calling her a hooker {lovingly, naturally})

Texts With Jenn 7.19.12

Dear auto-correct,

Thanks for the laughs.

Sincerely,

Me

Texts With Jenn 7.16.12

Auto-correct strikes again.

Texts With Jenn 7.14.12

This is only the beginning of her auto-correct torment.

Her phone is out to get her.

Happy 30th to Me! A Celebration of My First 29 Years

In celebration of turning the big 3-0, I'm taking a look at some fun things from my first 29 years.

I'm sure there's tons of stuff I'm forgetting, as well as people, but I wanted to walk y'all down memory lane.

(in no particular order)

~Learned to play alto sax

~Marched in color guard

~Got my driver's license first try!

~Went to the Marine Corps Ball, twice

~Went to prom

~Played powderpuff football...the week before I was in a pageant!

~Did a few beauty pageants

~Graduated college

~Was stung by a jellyfish as a child (not this one!)

~Spent a year teaching K3 & K3 summer camp (most favorite job ever!)

~Worked in banking for 5 years

~First job was making pizzas & fast food in the "Little Caesar's/K-Cafe"

~Developed a love for football

~Did some tailgating

~Went to lots of Clemson games (Go Tigers!)

~Attended Dabo's Ladies Football Camp

~Went to a Clemson bowl game in Tampa

~Experienced the biggest snow in our area in decades

 ~Became engaged to my best friend

~Developed a love affair with reading

~Developed an even bigger love affair with shoes

~Married my best friend

~Got pregnant!

~Welcomed my sweet baby boy

~Planned my son's first birthday

~Made lifelong friendships with great girls (I love you, Cas & Jenn!)

~Was able to be a part of Casie's baby showers, wedding, spent prom together, did pageants and powderpuff

~Spent 2 weeks in Hawaii, beachin' it up, getting up close & personal with penguins, snorkeling and visiting Pearl Harbor

~Was privileged to get 28 wonderful years with my amazing grandmother, MaMa

~Grew up an only child & loved it, but...

~Got a "sister" the 'easy' way! (hi, Shannon!)

~I think I have the cutest brother-in-law ever. Really. See?

~Spent my 1st wedding anniversary in St. Augustine, and met a 'pirate'.

~Spent tons of fun times with some great girls 

{Y2K, anyone?}

~Bought our first home

~Planted a garden

~Had some seriously short hair

~Read the entire original set of Nancy Drew books during 1 summer in elementary school

~I voted!

~Meet Edwin McCain & CJ Spiller

~Honeymooned in St. Thomas & St. John

~Had a wreck (not my fault!)

 ~Had some seriously long hair

~Planned baby showers, bridal showers, played the role of bridesmaid

~Saw 3 of my closest girlfriends get married & 2 of them have beautiful babies

~Rode motorcycles

~Found an amazing friend named Lesly

~Blew out my knee

~Still haven't broken a bone or had a cavity

~Graduated high school

~Prayed a lot & weathered some storms

~Opened an Etsy shop & started this blog!

~Made it to the state level spelling bee in 6th grade

~Lots of wonderful memories with my awesome parents!

~Got lucky in the in-laws department :)

~Adopted quite a few animals (and lost one...RIP, Bunny Bunny)

To James & Colston, my parents, in-laws, Cas, Jenn, Les, Mi, and all my bloggy buds too--thanks for a great 29 years!

Thanks for reminiscing with me y'all!