Quotes from a Dove Chocolate

"walk with a light step and a lighter heart."

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Walking with a light step and a light heart - it's a very difficult thing to do!  I try to be a carefree soul, but with the everyday stresses that life brings, it's impossibly hard sometimes.  I try to be grateful for the loves in my life, my health, my job, and my talents, and make sure to remind myself that "things could be worse".  I tend to take the challenging parts of life in stride, while the little things get me down the most!  I'm also horrible when it comes to holding grudges. I tend to forgive, but never forget.  I take silly little things personal, and easily block out those that would be offensive to most others.  


"Walking with a light step and a lighter heart" - definitely something to live by.  
Perfect advice from a perfect little foil wrapper, folded around a perfect little Dove Chocolate!


Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

It's Vacation Time!

{via}

Today is my last day @ the office before my fabulous, well-deserved vacation week! The Hubs and I are packed, arrangements are all set for my cat sitter, I've picked out my beach reads and the iPod is ready!   

Mariam @ Mon Style De Vie tagged me in a little question/answer game, so I have to thank her for making my Friday post a piece of cake (my brain is already on vacation!) Mariam is new to the blogging world, but she's ready to share her love for fashion with the world, so check her out!  Her blog is where I first learned that Madonna & her daughter, Lourdes, were coming out with their own 80's-inspired clothing line, which is way too cool!

The rules are to answer the following 8 questions, then make up 8 of your own questions and tag some of my blogging pals to join in the fun!

1. What current style do you think will end up being a fad?

I'm a fan, but I think the Fit Flops/ Sketchers Shape Ups will eventually fade away, kinda like light-up sneakers did! (However, I thought I saw a kid wearing them the other day.  Are light ups back?!?)

2. What's your guilty pleasure?

Dark Chocolate.  Milk Chocolate. Chocolatey things.  And Bath & Body Works

3. What made you decide to start a blog?

Too much flowing through my little brain... I had to get it out! 

4. Favourite Past time

Reading, being artsy/craftsy, relaxing and chatting with my husband.

5. Do you have a job or are you a student?

I used to be a student - how I miss those days!  I work full time for a drug, alcohol, & mental health tx agency.

6. Favourite Chocolate Bar/Candy?

m&ms! Plain, Peanut Butter, Pretzel, doesn't matter!

7. Money/Love?

Love, for sure.  I don't have a whole lot of money (see question 5) so I don't miss it! I would definitely miss having Love in my life. 

8. Favourite Music & Movie Genre?

Music - this is so hard to pick, I will say "Pop/Rock" 70% of the time.

Movies - I'm drawn to comedies/romantic comedies (I LOVE "Definitely, Maybe!") I like a little bit of everything, though!

 

 

And now, the 8 questions I made up, along with the lovely ladies I tagged:

1. You have $100 to spend on a fun present for yourself.  What are you going to buy?

2. Accomplishment you're most proud of?

3. What is your favorite smell?

4. Your dream car?

5. Favorite Season?

6. What's your favorite way to relax?

7. What was your favorite candy as a kid?

8. It's a cold winter day, you're home alone. What now?

 

Tagged:

Jennifer

Green Eyed Lady

Ashley

Flip Flops & Pearls Girl

Brittany

Tammy

 

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!  I am looking forward to a couple days of relaxation before heading off to the beach for even more relaxation :)

I'm going to be reading Richard Russo's That Old Cape Magic, and Jennifer Weiner's Best Friends Forever while i'm bumming it up at Myrtle. I've read several of Russo's novels, but this is my first Jennifer Weiner read!  I'm looking forward to trying out a new author.   

 

Judging by the book covers, they look like perfect summer reads!

Happy Friday!

Welcome to all of those stopping by from

 Friday-Follow and Follow-me Chickadee Friday!

 

I'll have a Deep-Fried Buckeye, please!

Chocolate Covered Bacon?  Seriously?!?

Ohio State Fair at dusk

When Monica Day, NBC4i Columbus news anchor described the disgusting yet "flavorful" sounding Ohio state fair treat on air this morning, I wanted to try it! "They put a cherry on top", she said, describing her chocolate covered bacon eating experience.  "I had chocolate all over myself, it looked like i mauled the bacon!" Somehow, hearing the beautiful former miss Ohio describe what most would consider a disgusting feast sounded kind of appealing to me.
     Maybe I'm way out of the loop and everyone has tried or has at least heard of chocolate covered bacon. I'm simply not a fair-goer, and part of that has to do with not having kids, I'm sure - but fair food definitely interests me!  Sadly, I'm not brave enough to try any of it. My sugar loving self has never had the deep fried twinkie. Can you believe that? Nope, never.  No deep fried Oreos, either.  Am I missing out?  I'm betting that i probably am!
     The fair website actually has a link to a "fair food finder", so I hit that up after hearing Miss Day's story.  I couldn't believe some of the random fair treats I saw! (and forgive me if I seem ignorant - I haven't been to a fair anywhere in a decade!):
-Frozen Bananas (umm.. eww? I'm guessing?)
-Chocolate covered frozen cheesecake on a stick (YUM)
-Deep Fried everything: candy bars, cookie dough, Captain Crunch, Smores, Fudge, Buckeyes, Peanut Butter Fluff, Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches

Deep Fried Fudge?  Deep Fried PB & J?  I don't know about those two, but I would definitely be up for trying the Deep Fried Buckeye, Captain Crunch, and Smores!

Deep Fried Buckeyes

I tend to shy away from deep fried food a little (due to a strangely high cholesterol problem), but that doesn't mean I don't love it!  Please, let me know if i'm missing out on any of these treats. I'll be missing the OS Fair b/c of my beach trip, but lucky for me, the Athens County Fair starts the day I return to town. If my readers think any of this stuff is really a must try, it would be a long shot but maybe i'll try hunting it down at Athens Co. Fair!

Wordless Wednesday

*I'm linking up at Welcome Wednesday

Post-it Note Tuesday

It's my first "Post-it Note Tuesday"!  I've been wanting to do this for awhile now!

  

 

I hope everyone's having a great week!

It's been pretty uneventful in my neck of the woods - just getting ready for next week's little getaway to Myrtle!  I'm trying to work ahead on some autoposts for the time that I'm gone.  I'll be checking blogger & my email, but I'm going to give my little brain a break from actually composing a half decent post with images and what not. (I will be twittering!)  All of my posts will be summer themed... I need to enjoy the season while it lasts, because when my beach trip is over, I'll be wishing away August and wishing for football/Fall!

  

Yankee Candle teased me with their new fall scents this past weekend:

I smelled them all in-store, and Maple Pancakes is my absolute favorite!  I can't wait to light it on those warm, lazy, football-filled Saturday afternoons! (See, I'm rushing time away already! I'm basically tapping my foot impatiently to light a fall scented candle. How sad... maybe I should just kill the anticipation and light it now!)

 

If you're stopping in from Tag Along or Follow Me Back Tuesday,

 HELLO and WELCOME!

 

I hope you like the babble you're reading and decide to stay awhile.  Maybe I can bribe you into following with my upcoming "summer's not over yet" giveaway - it will be posted around mid-late August :)  Just a taste:

Have a great day!  And remember, it could be worse:

You could be a CPR Dummy face soaking in bleachwater.

Meet me on Monday and Beach Countdown!

One week until Myrtle Beach, S.C.! 

I'm kicking off the week with some questions from "Meet Me Monday", hosted by the beautiful Java @ Never Growing Old.

1. What one food could you eat every single day?

Pasta... all kinds, all shapes, all sizes. With seafood, with veggies, or plain with a simple sauce.  And lots of extra parmesan cheese, please!

2. Do you wear glasses or contacts?

Glasses - I only need to wear them when sitting in front of the computer, or sitting in a room with bright florescent lighting for long periods of time.  I love picking out cute frames - currently, I'm wearing these by bebe!

3. What kind of cell phone do you have?

the iPhone - yes, I've been sucked in to the iPhone hole! I love apple products!

4. What did you have for dinner last night?

A bottle of water and some mints to go along with the heartburn I got after eating garlic shrimp scampi from Red Lobster, immediately followed by a chocolate milkshake from McDonalds for lunch! (My cholesterol levels thanked me later. Not really.)

5. What is your favorite candy?

Plain dark chocolate, Plain milk chocolate, pretzel, or strawberried peanut butter m&ms, please!  Read my m&ms analysis here.

Answer the MMM questions, then link up!

Appalachian Exploitation in the Media (Part 2)

Dateline NBC's special, "America Now: Friends and Neighbors" aired tonight; Ann Curry reported on the effects the recession has had on Southeastern Ohio.  I feel that the story was presented tastefully, in that the people weren't portrayed as stupid, ignorant and poor (like many reports that are often done in appalachia) - they were portrayed as poor and struggling, but trying to make it somehow - much like many others in rural america. 

I was especially intrigued by Lisa Roberts, director of Friends and Neighbors Food Pantry - a lady who, despite her own personal/economic hardships, spends her days working hard to provide food for thousands of residents in the S.E. Ohio area.

Reading or watching news stories like this make me:

1) feel very sad

2) want to do something to help, and

3) feel stupid for worrying about the amount of money I spent at Yankee Candle this weekend - seriously, what the heck?  Where are my priorities?

I understand that these feelings are exactly what NBC wants you to experience when watching the program.

Trying not to sound preachy here, but everyone has their preachy moments: it's important to step back, take a look at everything you have,  and be grateful.  and I'm one to talk - this is definitely something I need to keep working on!

On a positive note, I hope everyone had a great weekend!  I'm looking forward to starting a new workweek, filled with lots of fun posts in between office hours! 

And the Blogging Queen is...

I would like to thank all of you who entered the Blogging Queen sign giveaway - the feedback was so great, I'm thinking about making one more for another giveaway sometime later on!  

According to random.org, the winning number is 32.  Congrats to Diana of My Lifesong for being the 32nd entry!  

It will be on its way to Kentucky this week, Diana!

Giveaway #2 Sneak-peek

I'm currently gathering some of my favorite summer Bath & Body Works products together to share with one of my followers at the end of August! My "summer isn't over yet" giveaway will include lots of lemon, lots of pink, and lots of sunshine :)  

Just a heads up!  I'll let you know when it's officially on!

Happy Sunday!

Wired & Wonderful Wooden Sign

Welcome to Wooden Sign class 101! I am in love with creating these little pieces. Signs can be stuck nearly anywhere, hanging off a doorknob, on the wall, outside on the porch, in the office... the possibilities are endless!  


Here is a step-by-step for my latest project, a West Virginia-theme two-section sign.  I currently sell hand painted WV theme items in the Addison Visitor's Center, located in Webster Springs, WV.  It's my little way of sending a shout-out to my hometown folk, who have serious pride in their home - and their football team, the WVU Mountaineers.  The possibilities are endless with wooden signs, which are fully customizable - so go grab some wood and get started!

Two-Section Wooden Sign

What You Need:

Two pieces of lightweight craft wood with a base coat of paint (I always use a chocolate brown shade), sand paper, safety goggles, power drill, your design on paper, small paint brushes, craft wire, scissors, decorative ribbon, acrylic paint (in this project I used Navy Blue, 14K Gold, and Antique White by Delta Ceramcoat.)

  

1) Sand the edges of wooden pieces for a worn look. 2) Lay your design on top of the wood, and trace with a ball point ink pen - press hard, to "carve" the design into the wood. 3) Paint background designs first; my signature "stamp" on WV items is the state image.  Even after painting it, I can still see the carved design I traced earlier.

 

4) Begin painting the design; I painted letters with a two-dimensional "shadow" effect.  I used the navy blue shade for my first layer. 5) I added an antique white layer on top of the blue; I decided to stop with just one layer of the antique white, which looks a little imperfect over the blue.  This has more of a worn, country feel to it - so i left as is!  Imperfect sometimes IS perfect.

 

6) This is where my favorite phases of the project begin! Break out the power drill, and using a very small bit, drill holes in your pieces of wood.  For the top piece, drill holes at all four corners. For the bottom piece, drill two holes at the top that line up with the bottom holes of the first piece. Use your safety goggles to prevent sawdust from getting in your eyeballs! 7) Cut craft wire: 1 long piece for the hanger, and two shorter pieces that will be used to connect the top piece to the bottom piece.  I love to make my wire curly before assembling the pieces. To curl wire, wind around an ink pen or paint brush , slide off the tip, then gently pull apart so that kinks are spread wide enough to reach from one drilled hole to the other.  8) Thread wire through holes to assemble pieces together.  twist ends of wire on back of pieces into several small kinks to secure.  

Tie a few pieces of ribbon on the wire hanger, and...

TA-DA!

There you have it!  A simple, country sign to hang and proudly display your state pride! 

If you're stopping in from my Facebook page and you live in the Webster Springs area, this sign will be available to purchase at the Addison Visitor's Center in August.  

If you're stopping in from the weekend DIY blog hops, WELCOME!  I try to blog about one project per week, so stay tuned!

Here are a couple of my most recent projects:

Love is Sweet Sign

Blogging Queen Sign - for Giveaway!

My Etsy Shop

Sweets for the Sweet

<a href="http://snyder1418.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Stephanie S Button" src="http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt193/snyder1418/sweetsforthesweet.jpg" width="180" /></a>

Today, I'm sharing my favorite summertime drinks from America's Drive-In, SONIC!

The Java Chiller & Watermelon Slush

I will happily drink the Java Chiller in any flavor - Mocha and Turtle are my favorites.  The Java Chillers aren't coffee-strong - just a little coffee flavor added into a milk-shake inspired treat.  I also love the Watermelon Slush, which is way too sugary but reminds me of Watermelon Jolly Ranchers (which I love as well!)  

To make Homemade Java Chillers, Blend a shot (or two) of expresso with a couple generous scoops of vanilla icecream; pour into a glass, top with whipped cream and drizzle with chocolate syrup.

Now, it's your turn: Grab my Sweets for the Sweets button, stick it on your sugary post somewhere, and share your favorite summer treat - then link it up below!  Make sure to check back and read some others' posts - you may find a recipe or treat you would like to make or go out and buy! :)