The Monthly VLOG

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Time for "The Monthly VLOG" hosted by Mamarazzi and Shawn.
First of all I LOVE that my opening and closing frames are goofy faces, even though I tried really hard to begin and end with a cute smile.
Awesome.
So this video has my Show and Tell and I also share something that my readers may be surprised to learn about me.

OK my video skills are not the best and umm...well I didn't get a good shot of my window, so here it is...it's old and crusty and I love it!

The second video is of Coco...she is the only person in this house with any talent.

BUT

I taught her everything she knows so I must have a talent too.

Right?

I had Big Daddy be my helper for this video, BUT I really am the one who taught Coco her moves!

Are you ready to get your VLOG on with Mamarazzi and Shawn?

Here are the rules:

1. Create your VLOG that includes

a. Something your readers may be surprised to learn about you.

b. Your hidden talent.

c. Show & Tell : share a piece of furniture or decor. Tell us what it says about your decorating style.

2. Add "The Monthly VLOG" button.

3. Link BOTH Mamarazzi and Shawn in your post.

4. Add the perma link to your post to mister linky.

5. Try to visit and comment on as many people participating as you can.

PLEASE send us questions for future VLOGs so we can announce the date and assigned questions for the next one. AND if we select your questions we will give you linky love...awesome!

Taking Back Monday Giveaway: Lucky Charm Necklace

Giveaway CLOSED

Congrats to the winner Becca from The Texas Darlings

Last Week's Winner HERE
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Check out this adorable hand stamped necklace:

Cute right?

It comes from the Etsy shop Dark Chocolates & Tulips

You can enter to win it by visiting Dark Chocolate & Tulips, take a look around and come back here to tell me what you fell in love with in your comment.

This is a MANDATORY entry

You can also earn 5 EXTRA entries for doing EACH of the following...Just leave ONE comment for EACH thing you do. I will do the math. Thanks!

TWEET (5 ENTRIES)
@HolleeAnnCFG Want to win a super cute necklace? Visit Dandelion Wishes to find out how to enter http://www.ourdandelionwishes.com

POST (5 ENTRIES)
on your blog LiNKiNG back to Dandelion Wishes...send your readers here to check in and let me know they voted so they can get entered for cool prizes too...come on, it's nice to share.

FACEBOOK (5 ENTRIES)
status linking to Dandelion Wishes FAN page (you'll have to like me first :))

ALSO...(5 ENTRIES)

for LIKING Dark Chocolate and Tulips on Facebook

You can also DOUBLE your chances to win by commenting on our Facebook page.

Giveaway open to US and Canada only.

Winner will be selected by random.org and will be announced on Monday March 7, 2011


PS I don't respond via email to comments left on Monday Giveaways, unless you have a question

Business Cards, Greetings, Post Cards and More OH MY!

This post brought to you by printinghq. All opinions are 100% mine.

custom postcards

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Unlike other online printing companies, PrintingHQ.com does not use pre-made layouts or templates where you fill your information in the blank, leaving you and 100's of others with the same business card. They allow you to upload your own custom artwork for no additional fees and create a printed piece that is unique to you and you only.

I keep calling cards in my purse for when I meet some one and want to stay in touch. I save my business cards for business. I think it would be super cute to make one for my blog using artwork from my blog. I am always running in to other bloggers and would love to have a special calling card of hand that sends people to my blog.

First time buyers on their site will receive a 10% off coupon for their already low prices by clicking on the black box at the bottom of the homepage where it says new customer.online printing companybusiness card printingcustom postcards

One From the Archives

Those lovely ladies from The Real Housewives of Oklahoma are asking for your favorite crock

pot recipes for McLinky Monday.

I decided to pull a favorite Cooking with Jordan recipe from the archives...this one is from 2009 but it is one we use a lot for a go to crock pot meal.

Seeing J in her pigtails with her crooked teeth makes me smile.

Cream Cheese Chicken and Rice

4-6 pieces of chicken (we like breasts for this)

1 package of dry ranch dressing mix

1/2 cups water

cook 3-4 hrs or until done on med high shred chicken

(use a liner for this recipe...i forgot)

combine 1 brick cream cheese,

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 cup of milk

season with pepper and garlic salt

(as you know we don't know how to cook w/out it)

dried parsley for color

blend until smooth

pour over chicken and blend

yummy over rice with a salad

I miss that little girlie...we need to do a little more cooking together. Maybe life will slow down a little soon.

So Grateful for Amazing Friends!

I have the most incredible friends.

Truly, I am so blessed.

I have been showered with love these last few days.

Email, text messages, phone calls and now...

GOOD MAIL!!!

The fabulous JennyKate & Impulsive Addict sent me a wonderful package of HAPPY!!

The package includes:

*super comfy cozy pajama pants...wearing them now, yes it is the middle of the day.

*an adorable black headband, love love love.

*lindt chocolate, a must!

*cute PINK nail stuff...I think I will ask Big Daddy to paint my toes.

*yummy smelling apple blossom candle...sooo Springy.

*darling Springtastic pencils.

*cute cute cute flip flops.

*an awesome reusable tote, will most def use the next trip to farmer's market.

*sweet little decorative paper clips...these will come in very handy.

*PINK note cards, these are going in my car, I seem to always need a note card when I am out.

and the sweetest handwritten note. Y'all made me cry, thank you so much for this unexpected bit of Good Mail. You girls are the bestest and I just love ya for this.

Thank You, what a wonderful surprise!

My Happy List

At the tippiest top of MY Happy List this week is YOU!

Yep, YOU!

My Bloggy friends and readers.

Y'all have been so sweet with your kind comments and personal email.

I am fine.

I needed a little break.

I am taking it.

I cannot tell you how thankful I am to those of you who linked up with My Happy List last weekend.

We had the highest turnout since I started this linky party.

I was considering letting it go.

And then I would get email from people saying how much they loved it.

So I decided I needed to keep it as a weekly link party...even if it was just me and 3 other people linking up.

It was doing it's job.

It was spreading the HAPPY.

I hope the HAPPY continues to multiply as the weeks go by.

Sooooo what is on YOUR Happy List this week? Create your post. Add the Happy List button to it and link THAT post up! It would be super awesome if you took a minute to visit a few people who linked up their Happy List too...after all this IS a party!!

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I will be back to blog jogging on TUESDAY March 1 with my "The Monthly VLOG" post. Come by on Monday for my weekly Etsy feature and giveaway!!

Friday Confessional

I Confess...

I am not feeling well.

I don't have a cold.

I don't have the flu.

I don't have any kind of bug.

I don't have a fever.

I don't have a migraine.

I don't even have a headache.

I am not suffering from "lady town" stuff.

I just don't feel well.

I Confess...

I don't like feeling this way.

I tried to talk myself into feeling better.

I Confess...

I have not been able to convince myself.

I Confess...

I haven't tried very hard to convince myself.

Cuz, sometimes.

I just don't feel well.

I Confess...

I allow myself to wallow in it for a little while.

Ya know, just not feeling well.

For no very good reason.

I Confess...

Some days it is just how I take care of myself.

I say, "Meh, life can wait...take your time"

And

I listen.

I Confess...

I am beginning to feel better already.

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PS Do you have your post ready for The Monthly VLOG? I do (:

On Keeping It Real...

Listen. I am WAY behind on my bloggy reciprocation.

Chances are, you already know this.

You might even be wondering why I haven't been by after you have so sweetly left thoughtful comments on my blog.

After all...Mamarazzi ALWAYS comments back.

The truth is that I am completely overwhelmed by the 400+ posts waiting in my reader.

200+ emails waiting in my inbox.

The 57 Friday Confessional links.

AND

The 22 Happy List links.

Overwhelmed in a GOOD way.

I am super happy that My Happy List linky party had so many people linking up.

Like, really happy.

And I am feeling the love.

Soooo thanks to everyone who linked up in the linky parties.

So. Much. Fun.

I am hoping that "The Monthly Vlog, hosted my Mamarazzi & Shawn" is well attended too.

I need to be honest though.

I am not feeling well and I don't think I am going to get around to visiting everyone this week.

I am going to reply to comments via email for everything that was said over the weekend.

I just can't get caught up and I feel really bad about it.

I need a fresh start and a pass from y'all.

So I can stop hiding out and feeling guilty.

Pretty please?

We can still be friends, right?

I hope to be back soon...with a real post.

Talkin' about it Tuesday

1. What are your thoughts on Valentine’s Day. Do you love it? Hate it?

I kind of love it. There were times in my life when it was a MUCH bigger deal than it is now. My mom and I were just talking about that. It seems as though it is less of a big deal now that I have my Happily Ever After with my amazing husband. He validates me and tells me he loves me daily. He is pretty much perfect for me.

2. What is your favorite romantic comedy?
Notting Hill. "I'm also just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her."

3. Meg Ryan & John Mellencamp: what’s your first reaction?
ummm. *blink blink" (crickets chirping) clearly I have no reaction. I mean other than what I always think when I see John Mellencamp. Dude, why drop the Cougar? It was badass.

4. All time favorite poem or quote?

"If you can't be a good example, you will just have to serve as a terrible warning" and "I may not be perfect but parts of me are fabulous!"

5. What’s the longest amount of time you’ve gone without sleep? (like consecutive hours).

Probably 72 hours with zero sleep, but lately will get about 24 hrs of total sleep a week, if I am lucky.

6. What color ink do you prefer to use?
PINK! But if I am doing professional worky stuff then blue.

7. Share with us a blog that you recently found and fell in love with (and link us!)
This is a REALLY hard question. I have a lot of blogs that I love, but I rarely venture out to fine new blogs. I just don't have time. I wish I did...I know there are a lot of amazing blogs out there.

8. If you could be on a reality TV show which one would you choose?
Any of the Real Housewives...if I get their money too. But Big Daddy and I would love to do The Amazing Race someday. WE cringe watching some couples and the way they treat each other when they get stressed. I think it would be refreshing to have a couple that actually works well together and doesn't get ugly.

9. Mountains or Beach?
Beach...totally.

10. With the Oscars around the corner, what’s your pick for best picture?
This is the first year in FOREVER that I have no idea or opinion on the Oscars.

Taking Back Monday Giveaway: Sterling Silver Necklace

Giveaway Closed

Congrats to winner Lynn from Lynn's Life

send me a message with your info, Lynn

Last Week's Winner HERE
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Who say's Monday has to be bad? Let's start the week right, with an Etsy Giveaway...

Oooooh look at this little bit of loveliness....

This darling necklace comes from the Etsy Shop Popsicledrum.

So do you want to win it?

I know, super silly question right?

Of course you do...here is how you can enter...

Mandatory Entry visit Popsicledrum on Etsy and come back and tell me what you fell in love with in a comment.

Easy right? So GO...do it.

This is a MANDATORY entry

You can also earn 5 EXTRA entries for doing EACH of the following...

TWEET (5 ENTRIES)
@HolleeAnnCFG Want to win a super cute silver necklace? Visit Dandelion Wishes to find out how to enter http://www.ourdandelionwishes.com

POST (5 ENTRIES)
on your blog LiNKiNG back to Dandelion Wishes...send your readers here to check in and let me know they voted so they can get entered for cool prizes too...come on, it's nice to share.

FACEBOOK (5 ENTRIES)
status linking to Dandelion Wishes FAN page (you'll have to like me first :))

You can also DOUBLE your chances to win by commenting on our Facebook page.

Giveaway open to US and Canada only.

Winner will be selected by random.org and will be announced on Monday February 28, 2011


PS unless you have a question, I don't reply via email to comments left on Monday Giveaways.

PSS once you win you're not eligible for the next week's giveaway, but can enter again after that.

My Happy List

Let me tell you about this Happy List thing and why I see value in it.

I believe that happiness is contagious.

Yep. I really do.

Have you ever smiled at a stranger in the market, walking down the street, or wherever and they SMILE BACK?

What about a blog you read regularly that always leaves you feeling uplifted and inspired?

That is JOY at work, my friends. Pure JOY!!

¹joy

noun \ˈjȯi\

Definition of JOY

1

a : the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires :delightb : the expression or exhibition of such emotion : gaiety

2

: a state of happiness or felicity : bliss

3

: a source or cause of delight

See THAT? Joy is a state of HAPPINESS.

I read a really great CNN Health article, (that I found on Fishful Thinking) showing that research has proven that Happiness is contagious in Social Networks.

So if you're feeling great today, you may end up inadvertently spreading the joy to someone you don't even know.

That means when you feel happy, a friend of a friend of a friend has a slightly higher likelihood of feeling happy too.

The lesson is that taking control of your own happiness can positively affect others, says James Fowler, co-author of the study and professor of political science at the University of California in San Diego.

"We get this chain reaction in happiness that I think increases the stakes in terms of us trying to shape our own moods to make sure we have a positive impact on people we know and love," he said.

Really, read the article, it's a great read.

I think our blogs fall under social networking too.

AND I believe we touch people without ever knowing we have.

That, to me, is awesome.

Soooo...what is on my Happy List this week?

We're going over the hill to Hollister to bask in the awesomeness of my family for a few days.

Coco and I are gonna stay until Wednesday.

My mom and I are gonna get our craft on! Since moving into their new house my mom has a whole room set up for crafting.

Yeah, a craft room. HAPPY!

I went a WHOLE week without a migraine. This hasn't happened in a very long time. HAPPY!!

Two of my FAVORITE bloggy friends will be bringing their kiddos to my house this Summer for a week (hopefully 2 weeks).

We are trying to think of a cool name to call our "Bloggy Get Together"...because that is not a cool enough way to describe how excited we are about planning and making this happen.

HAPPY!!!

So far we have come up with MiMyMa Summer Retreat MMXI (because roman numerals make it badass) HAPPY!!!

My sister Meg begins her 3rd Annual Gringo Fiesta this week. HAPPY!!! This means we are in the last bits of Winter and she will be saying goodbye to the cold weather by brining the HEAT! 10 days if delicious Mexican food. She shares all of her recipes on her blog but I am thinking she needs to share them on her Gringo Fiesta Fan Page on Facebook. Maybe if she gets enough LIKES she will...so "like" her OK?

Hey Meg, please post a pic of the mustache the baby grew after having his first few bites of Guacamole. HAPPY!!!

I also have a few "things" making me happy, I have been dying to share these with y'all!

I got a LOT of emails about my fingernails after my She Gets a Little Crafty post. I don't think they were looking that great but so many people were sweet about it.

I started taking Biotin about a year ago, when I was losing clumps of hair due to the stress almost dying put on my body.

Not only did my hair grow back, better, healthier and thicker than before.

My nails started growing REALLY strong.

It also helps speed up metabolism.

So there is my "secret" to healthy nails. HAPPY!

My folks gave me some knives for Christmas, because every time they visited and I was in the kitchen cooking they would hear me complaining about my knives being horrible and that cooking would be less work and more enjoyable if I had the right tools (and a better kitchen).

These. Knives. Are. Awesome. HAPPY

If you cook for your family, like I do. You need good knives.

Go get yourself some Tamodachi knives. They are in expensive and you can find them at Target!

And face it, a trip to Target is just what you need. HAPPY!

So I have done a little shopping at the CSN Stores this week. HAPPY!

I had a little credit to make a purchase and review here on my blog.

AND I won $35 credit from Stephanie from Thoughts From Cali.

This avocado slicer/scraper is one of the things that has already arrived. Like 2 days after I ordered it.
I will do an official review once everything else arrives but so far I have liked my experience with CSN Stores.

So tell me...What is on YOUR Happy List this week? Create your Happy List, add the button and link THAT post up.
<center><a href="http://www.ourdandelionwishes.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o298/TheVasquez3/happylistbutton-2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></center>PS. It would also make me REALLY HAPPY if you voted in my sidebar polls! Kthanks!

(PLEASE add the perma link url by clicking on the title of your post and grabbing that url to add to mister linky)

Friday Confessional

I Confess...

I have a really bad habit.

I don't even mean to do it.

If I am having a conversation with someone who has an accent.

I start talking like them.

It doesn't matter how hard I try not to, sometimes trying hard makes it worse.

Like when I use to get my nails done.

And the girls would try and chat with me.

I would totally speak in broken English with a Vietnamese accent.

And, because I am stoooopid and love making a fool out of myself

I would speak loudly

You know, so they could understand me better.

I wanted to shed my skin and slither out of there,

EVERY week.

I Confess...

I 100% blame my Dad for this.

You should hear the man's Spanglish.

Even funnier is watching my mom DIE of embarrassment.

When he is standing there rolling his R's

LOUDLY

(again, so they can understand him better)

And of course using body language to get his Mexican point across.

Yep, my family is super special.

I Confess...

Sometimes I think I can speak Spanish.

I mean I DO know a few words

(mostly very unladylike naughty ones)

And I also know how to form a few sentences.

AND I swear if someone says something to me in Spanish

I TOTALLY understand what they are saying.

I think it is because my last name is Mexican.

It's like a superpower that I acquired when I married Big Daddy.

Cuz HIS dad is Mexican.

I Confess...

I still tear up laughing about the day Jordan realized she was 1/4 Mexican.

We were on our way home from Disneyland.

She was around 10 yrs old.

My mother in law was talking about her Grandpa Sam

(Big Daddy's dad who passed before J was born)

And how he taught Big Daddy some Spanish.

J could count to 10 in Spanish and could repeat any word in Spanish with excellent dialect.

My mother in law pointed out it was because her Grandpa Sam was Mexican.

So her dad must have learned it from his dad and passed it on to her.

She looked at Big Daddy and said, "Your dad was Mexican?"

He said, "Yes, I am half Mexican, so that makes you a quarter Mexican"

Her Eyes got BIG and she said, "How come no one ever told me?"

Hilarious.

I Confess...

I miss that kid.

The teenager that replaced her is not nearly as fun.

I hope "she" comes home someday.

That. Would. Be. Awesome.

They (Glamazon and Mamarazzi) say confession is good for the soul.

So grab a button, add it to your confessions and link THAT post up. (by clicking the title of your post a new url will pop up in tour address bar. That is your permalink and the url you should add to mister linky) Please do not just link up your main url, thanks.

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PS I'll stop in to see y'all on Monday...the next couple of days are gonna be family time!