One Year Blogiversary!

Today is officially my one year blogiversary and I seriously can't believe how fast the time has flown by.  Looking back at my very first post and thinking about how hard I worked to make it absolutely perfect, I can't help but notice how much easier this whole blogging thing has gotten for me post by post.  Sure, I still have writer's block sometimes and stare at a blank screen for a long time before I find that spark of inspiration, but for the most part blogging has become second nature and something I look forward to doing each day.  It's a part of me now and I am truly thankful that I have this little space to share the things I love with all of you! 

Funny story - this past weekend I was out with Chelcey at a local art boutique and got recognized for my blog for the very first time and it was pretty cool I must admit.  Not that I am doing this for any sort of fame whatsoever, but just knowing that someone is looking at what I put out there and cares enough to read along totally made my day.  And wouldn't you know she recognized me by the necklace I was wearing.  If that's not a good sign then I don't know what is ;)

Here's a look back at some of my favorite posts from my first year, and here's to another good one ahead!

UPDATE!  Since Chelcey and I started our blogs together a year ago, we've teamed up for a fun giveaway for you all!  Don't miss out on your chance to win a Sephora Gift Card and one of Chelcey's fabulous prints below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

xoxo,

Amanda

Five Things

In case you didn't realize, I've amped up my posting schedule this week, aka every day, and I'm pretty darn proud of myself for sticking with it!  With some encouragement from my blogging PIC Chelcey, I decided to make some changes around here in the form of more content that will be coming your way each week.  The change of seasons always inspires me to try new things, and now that warm weather seems to be sticking around I want to share more style, beauty and life inspiration with you.  I can't guarantee that there won't be a day or two skipped in between, but I'm going to try my best to keep the creativity flowing.  As much as I may dread having to write a blog post some days, I truly do find myself being happiest when I'm pouring my heart and soul into this little corner of the web.

Today I wanted to let you in on what's been happening in my life, and you know, just write.  This is a blog after all!  As much as I love sharing tips and tricks and beauty and style posts, sometimes it feels good to just sit down in front of the computer and let the thoughts flow from my brain (except for those days when I got nothing ... awkward). 

1. Vacation all I ever wanted ... In less than a month my happy little self will be sitting on the beach, drink in hand with one of those little umbrellas, soaking in the sound of ocean and maybe a little sun (I'm the poster-child for fair skin that just won't tan, so beach umbrellas are my bff).  I've already got vacation-brain so it will be a miracle if I survive the next couple of weeks and manage not to forget anything.  I'm also planning a little getaway in June to Chicago with my momma for her birthday.  I've actually never been if you can believe it, so please fill me in on all the best spots that we should check out while we are there!

2. If the pants fit ... The other day when getting dressed for work, I decided to reach far back into the depths of my closet where those "I'll fit into this eventually" clothes live, and lo and behold the pants actually fit!  I was pretty happy about it, because I haven't worn them in a very long time.  I can really see a difference physically and feel a difference inside in my body since I started meal prepping (and have been keeping it up).  Now, just imagine what a steady exercise routine will do.  It's a work in progress.

3. And down the stretch they come ... It's officially Derby season around here, aka my most favorite time of the year, and I am so excited about it.  There's a certain buzz that fills the city for Derby and you best believe I will be soaking it all in, meaning lots of good food, drinks and time with friends and family.

4. Treat yo-self ... I finally bit the bullet and bought a new camera!  I honestly haven't purchased a camera probably since early college and while there's technically nothing wrong with my little Canon point and shoot, it was time for an upgrade.  Enter the Nikon 1 J4.  I'm no photography pro, so this little guy is perfect because it gives the quality and options of a DSLR with the convenience of a point and shoot.  First order of business and will be documenting my trips.

5. I'm moving - I couldn't come up with a clever enough way to introduce this one, so I figured I'd just come right out and say it.  Yes, you read that right.  And yes, I just moved a year ago.  But I'm excited for this new adventure, having roommates for the first time, and all of the fun that comes along with a fresh start and blank space. 

Happy Thursday y'all!

xoxo,

Amanda

Blogging is Hard

Things have been pretty quiet around here lately, because hello Captain Obvious, my last post was a week ago.  I had been doing really well about maintaining a good schedule, but then that sort of fell by the wayside.  Blogging is hard.  I have glimpses of motivation where the ideas are literally overflowing from my brain faster than I can write them down, and then I hit that wall where I really just don't care to blog.  It's not that I don't enjoy it, because I definitely do, but it's more so that I'm still mastering that balance between my career, social life, and the blogosphere.  

Because I've been so MIA lately, I figured what better way to get back on track than to share what I've been up to (and not so much) lately!  I'm on one of my oh-em-gee-so-many-ideas sprees, so expect to see a variety of new posts coming your way soon!

What I've Been Doing

1. March Madness.  No explanation needed.  My Cards (both men's and women's) are on to the Sweet 16 and my office has a group bracket challenge going that my girl Chelcey is dominating.  I always talk about how much I love Derby, but this is another time of the year that is high on my list of favorites.

2. Shopping.  Something about when the seasons change always makes me feel like the clothes in my closet are inadequate to fully do the warmer weather justice.  For that reason, Chelcey and I have hit up the mall a couple times recently and I've gotten some new pieces that I can't wait to style.

3. Watching Friends.  I'm on the last season, and I honestly don't know what I'm going to do when it's over.  By the time I finish, I will have gotten through the entire show in a little over two months.  Hi, my name is Amanda and I am a serial Netflix binge-watcher.

What I Haven't Been Doing

1. Filing my taxes.  I know, I know.  I am an accountant for goodness sake.  And you would think I would want my refund but I have been the queen of procrastination about taxes this year.  This is a task that's going on my to-do list this weekend for sure, and I won't be leaving my apartment until it's done.

2. Working out.  Remember how I said I was all excited that they finally opened the gym over at my apartment?  Well, that excitement lasted for all of two days.  I'll be perfectly honest, part of what is holding me back is the fact that I absolutely hate washing my hair, and I'm not about to do that every day if I get sweaty and gross from working out.  I need to find a way to refresh gym hair without fully washing it, so by all means, if you have any tips then please let me know!

3. Getting to work earlier.  I made it a goal to start slowly getting up earlier week by week so that I wouldn't be that girl who waltzes into the office at 9:00 (9:05), but this has not worked out so well for me.  Read - what I really need to be doing is getting out of bed earlier.  My alarm goes off at the same time, but I lay in bed far too long jammin' to my T Swift cd and before I know it I'm scrambling to get out the door.  People have suggested that I switch to a buzzer alarm, but I'm really not  a fan of having a mild heart attack every morning from the abrupt sound.

What I'm Going to Be Doing

1. The change of the wardrobe ritual.  Spring has sprung around here, and there's no going back.  So if Mother Nature decides to throw a curve ball of a 45 degree day our way next week, you can bet I will still be rocking my colorful ankle pants and blouses.  Sorry not sorry.

2. Blogging.  Like I said before, I'm currently in an upswing when it comes to things around here.  I have a ton of ideas and things I want to share, so the OCD in me needs to settle down so I can actually accomplish some of them.  I came home from work last week to find the sweetest happy mail and blogging books from Chelcey that I've already delved into a bit, and they've definitely catapulted my motivation into overdrive.

3. Vacation.  My sister trip to the beach is less than two months away at this point, which totally counts as the near future, right?  And since I have swimwear that I am actually really confident in wearing, I couldn't be more thrilled to just relax by the ocean with a good book and spend some quality time with my sister.  

What have you been up to lately?

xoxo,

Amanda

The Good, the Bad, and What's Coming

Looks like I need to dust off some of the cobwebs around here!  But I guess that's how it goes when life happens.  Things have been pretty hectic around here for the last couple of weeks, but now it's starting to get back to normal and I can breathe a big sigh of relief.  My goal going forward is to post weekly updates every Friday, but clearly this week I'm a couple days late.  Master procrastinator over here.  All that being said, here's a little update of what's been going on in Amanda-land.

The Good:

- I bought a new car!  Since being in a wreck and having my previous car totaled, my biggest source of stress has been coordinating calls with insurance, test driving potential new cars and balancing work in between.  I can happily say that all of this has now been settled and I can get back into the swing of things.

- Football season is upon us!  My Louisville Cardinals have already won their first two games and I can't wait for the big conference games coming up.

- We've launched the website for

Bloom Creative Company

!  Chelcey and I are so excited to get this thing off the ground!  We have a fun giveaway going on through the end of the month, so be sure to head on over and get entered.

- I have my bangs back!  Cutting my bangs is my ritual for welcoming fall because every summer I grow them out to pin them back out of the way.  Come September, I'm ready for the swoop again and this year was no exception.

The Bad:

- Every used car salesman in the city has my number, or at least it feels that way since my phone is ringing nonstop.  I probably won't be answering any unknown numbers for a loooong time because I just can't deal with their back-hand guilt-trip sales practices. 

I'm drawing a blank on anything else bad that has happened lately (aside from the car wreck, of course)....that's gotta be a good thing, right?! 

What's Coming:

- This week at work, we have a big acquisition happening which is probably going to mean some later nights for me (or maybe I'll challenge myself to get up when my alarm actually goes off

and get into work earlier.  Hey, it could happen).

- I ordered my dress for the

Maiedae Mixer

in a couple of weeks and I am eagerly anticipating its arrival!  Here's to hoping it fits like a glove because I probably don't have time to find anything else.  I'm a procrastinating queen I tell ya.

I hope you've had a great last couple of weeks and are ready for fall as much as I am!  Might I suggest running out and getting a Pumpkin Spice Latte?  Do it.  Now. 

xoxo,

Amanda