World According to Shia

Link Up! So there doesn't appear to be a link up ... no worries! Dear Four Day Weekend, Your my favorite Christmas present!!   Dear Stairs, You thought you had me down ... feeling better today!  YAY I can move my neck again!   Dear Cookie Making Elves, I kept waiting for you to show up the other night but you never did ... so I went ahead and made them ...  I also made cinnamon honey butter but totally forgot to take pics ... Oh well.  Not only did I make the butter I got super creative on the container   ... okay so I recycled some glass jars and jazzed them up with some fabric and ribbon ... they were super cute!  Dear Michael's treat boxes, Can I just say how much I love you?  I think my cookies were not only the tastiest ones ever but the cutest ones ever too!!   Dear Wedding Photos, I finally organized you!  YAY!!   Dear Holiday Helper Headquarters, okay so I totally failed ... didn't get to 30!  Okay...

It's that time of the week don't forget to link up with  Amber  &  Neely!! It's okay: ~ that I had to call into work today because I hurt myself falling down the steps at work - the saddest part is I was trying to be careful even concentrating and saying to myself ... don't fall don't fall ... totally fell! ~ it's okay to wonder how stupid you have to be to really think that the world is ending tomorrow. ~to be laying on my couch with ice on my neck watching Sex and the City on E. What's okay with you today?

Donate! Last night, I went shopping for a little baby girl at the Ronald McDonald House here in Jacksonville Florida.  The Ronald McDonald House does have a special place in my heart because my younger cousin was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease and the Ronald McDonald House was there for him and my family.   If you aren't familar with the Ronald McDonald House here's what they do: Our Ronald McDonald House program provides a “home-away-from-home” for families so they can stay close by their hospitalized child at little or no cost.  Our Houses are built on the simple idea that nothing else should matter when a family is focused on healing their child – not where they can afford to stay, where they will get their next meal or where they will lay their head at night to rest. We believe that when a child is hospitalized the love and support of family is as powerful as the strongest medicine prescribed. Allow Families to Face the Weight of Illness Toge...

Would you change your perfume if your guy didn't like the smell? When Paul and I met I wore Marc Jacobs Daisy and Calvin Klein Euphoria.  Out of the two Daisy was my absolute fave and I had just recently gotten it for Christmas from my sister Debra.  Paul absolutely hated the two scents.  If I wore it - he would say - yuck you have THAT on again.  At first, I thought - hey buddy deal with it - because I love this stuff.  But then I got to thinking ... I SHOULD care if he hates it.  Who wants to get cozy with someone that they think stinks. So him and I went to the department store and we both tested some new fragrances ... he liked some that I hated ... I liked some that he hated ... then we found some that we both liked.  So I got those and gave away my Euphoria and Daisy.  I gave Daisy to a co-worker and every time she wore it I was like awe you are wearing (my) Daisy.  It was a little sad but what are you gonna do. So what...

Link Up! Dear Friday, you are here already?  I know for once I wasn't tapping my foot waiting on you.  Sneaky sneaky! Dear Haters of "Happy Holidays", There is nothing wrong with saying Merry Christmas AND Happy Holidays!    Saying Happy Holidays doesn't take away from Christmas, you getting all angry and mean and nasty about someone saying Happy Holidays is taking away from Christmas.  If you want to get up on your soap box about keeping Christ in Christmas - good for you - I encourage people to stand up for what they believe in - but just remember when you're up there on that soap box ... WWJD.   Dear Starbucks, I am living proof that we can all live without you.  My new schedule means your drive-thru is too packed for me to stop.  I feel like we have a love hate relationship anyways ... you want to charge me for soy now even though I have a registered Starbucks gift card and I am a gold star member but ... you make tasty drinks...

It's that time of the week don't forget to link up with  Amber  &  Neely!! It's Okay... that I feel like the only thing stressful about my holiday season is those Holiday Helper Headquarters posts I have committed myself to doing - blah! that I forgot to announce that I have officially changed my name ... okay I mean last name ... my name isn't Shia.  But seriously, I felt happy and sad about changing it - I mean I've been me my whole life and now it kinda feels like I am starting over.  I've perfected every way of signing my old name ... heck we did nothing but that when I was young - so I got this!  But now ... I sign like uhhhhh.  My 3 year old niece, Kaelyn, is in (pre) pre-school (there is such a thing) and she has learned to write her name and all her letters - so on Saturday she was like I want to spell your name Aunt Llissa ... okay M E L L I S S A ... now I want to spell your last name ... okay R O N D uh O wait I ...

Be kind! We've all heard the heartwarming story of the NYC police officer who bought a homeless man some socks and shoes - no matter what is done with those shoes nothing can destroy the kindness.  We live in a world where kindness is rare but 'tis the season! Today I was going through Starbucks' drive thru and I got to the window and the cashier pointed at the car in front of me and said ... do you see the woman in that car she said Merry Christmas and paid for your order.  I've heard of this happening before but never experienced it.  So I said, tell the car behind me Happy Holidays (I mean come on not everyone celebrates Christmas) and I paid for them.  I looked in my mirror waved to the guy behind me (no joke he kinda looked at me like I was a weirdo but hey).  As I was driving out he beeped and waved back once he got to the window.  I felt so good about it.  Did I do anything as kind as the NYC police officer?  No, I mean...

Hang lights!! Okay our lights weren't quite this awesome but I forgot my camera cord ... I'll post pics of the house later. So this is a true story.  Saturday, I went with my sister to look at Christmas lights with my niece Kaelyn.  Which then lead to my sister convincing me that I should help her hang Christmas lights on her house.  She told me that the hooks were already there from the previous year - sounded easy enough.   So we got back and I helped put Kaelyn to bed, read her a bedtime story and then go out to the garage to get started.  I walk in and my sister has some of the lights untangled.  However there is one strand that doesn't work and is no joke in a ball like this ...  okay so it wasn't that big - but it was still a mess.  So she tells me that we don't have to use that strand and that I can just use the tangle free strands.  So I start on the side of the house get around the corner and have to start ov...

It's that time of the week don't forget to link up with  Amber  &  Neely!! It's Okay ... that this week I just haven't been "feeling it" - you know when you just get in a funk - blah! to throw away a thank you card - okay thanks for the thank you card - but do I seriously need to keep it FOREVER?  I mean - I think a day tops - then recycle bin.  Am I wrong? that I plan on giving all the adults in my life - DIY gifts - OMG I have like high hopes that I can get them all done!! (Oh there will be posts!) that I am all about wearing tights to not shave my legs - so now if Florida would just be consistently cold enough to wear tights everyday I would greatly appreciate it.  I mean if my husband supports no shave season I think Florida should too ... right? that I am so grateful for all my followers and readers - I don't think I have said this for awhile so I just want to say ... you guys are the best.  I really apprec...

Here are some Cyber Monday deals I just saw on Glamour.com : CYBER MONDAY Beauty Bar  - Enter code "BBCYBERMONDAY" at checkout to get $20 off purchases of $100 at beautybar.com. Bobbi Brown  - Get 5 samples of your choice and free shipping with any order at bobbibrown.com. Colorescience  - Get a free 6g mineral sunscreen with your purchase of $150 or more at colorescience.com. Dr. Brandt  - Get 50% off full-size eye creams at drbrandtskincare.com. Hydroxatone  - Get 30% off any purchase of $150 or more at hyroxatone.com with the code "cyber monday". Mally Beauty  - Get 25% off all face products at mallybeauty.com; use code "25FACE". Philosophy  - Get a deluxe tote bag gift set with your purchase of $75 or more at philosophy.com. Enter code "delight". Stila  - Shop the online version of Stila’s LA Warehouse Sale, with deals of up to 80% off at stilacosmetics.com. Have you gotten any fab Cyber Monday Deals?

Black Friday is almost here! Here are some tips from All*You for Black Friday: Gather information. Follow your favorite retailers on Facebook and Twitter and subscribe to their e-newsletters—loyal customers often get first dibs on sales and special promotions. Also comb through newspaper ads on Wednesdays, and check websites that leak in-store or online sale information, such as  bfads.net , theblackfriday.com , blackfriday.info and  blackfriday.com .   Make a list. Figure out which of your must-have products are most heavily discounted and in highest demand, then give those higher priority. Then map out your route, noting what time each store will open that day. Scope it out. Either visit the stores on Wednesday night or call and ask each store manager when the sale starts, how early you can get in line and where the products you’re looking for are likely to be located. (Black Friday sale items often are stocked in unusual places.) Time it right. Plan your ...

Homemade Cranberry Sauce Think outside of the car and make your own fab cranberry sauce! It's super easy to make!  Also, it's a great dish to bring to a holiday dinner as a guest. I made this last year to take to my parents' house and no one touched the canned stuff! Ingredients 3 cups or 12oz package of Cranberries - believe me one bag is enough you will have extra! 1/2 cup Sugar or Splenda  1 cup Water or Orange Juice - The OJ gives it a kick and is definitely a talking point at the table - hmmm I taste a hint of something what is it ... Now time to make the Cranberry Sauce: Stove-Top Directions In a medium sauce pan, bring the water (or OJ) and sugar (or Splenda) to a boil. Stir frequently to dissolve the sugar.   Add the cranberries to the boiling water (or OJ).   Bring the water back to a boil. When the cranberries have burst, reduce the heat and let simmer for 10 minutes or until the desired consistency. While in the pan - use a p...

I am tired of Skeletor making the best dressed list! This is NOT a good look! What do you think?

Holiday Looks for Less Emma Stone wearing jewel-tone Burberry Design. Peplum and sequins = holiday fun! So I don't know about you but sequins always make me think of holiday wear.  I love this outfit for the holidays because who says you have to go red and green.  Here are a few finds on creating this look for less this holiday season ...  A) Forever 21 - $29.80 B) H&M - Two Color Combinations - $29.95 C) Sears - Rhapsody Collection- $28.99  D) Forever 21 - Pink or Peach - $29.80 E) JCPenneys - Removable Peplum - $25 F) H&M Skirt - $24.95 I think I'll be rocking some sequins this holiday season ... What about you?

Link Up! Dear Friday, As always thanks for finally showing up!   Dear JCrew, Please stop sending me these tantalizing emails ...  okay so I looked ... I mean I had to ... right? Dear Sephora, Cinderella makeup collection ...  brilliant or ridiculous ... I can't decide. Dear Friday Afternoon, Can you please move it along so I can go home!   Dear Foggy/Drizzly Weather, Please stick around for the weekend - I have longed for a sleepy weekend.  I just imagine me and sweatpants and cocoa and naps .... sounds lovely ....ahhhhh!   Dear DVR, I can't wait to watch all my shows tonight - hubby works late so I got a date with the Housewives and Teen Moms .... YAY!!!   Dear Grocery Store, I am going to try to hit you up early so I can get all my Thanksgiving supplies without all the madness ... kinda cuts into my lazy weekend but the quicker I get it done the faster I can get in those sweatpants and on that NAP!!! ...

We all want to get holiday deals and save money - but how?  Well head over to dealigg.com - Stores & Coupons Tab  - there are 100s of stores listed with in-store coupons and online coupon codes.   For example here is a deal from Ann Taylor Loft: $20 off $75 on Full-priced Orders Use Ann Taylor LOFT Coupon  skinny4 20% off $100 or 25% off $100 with Love Loft or Ann Taylor Card + Free Shipping on $125  [Exp. 11/15] Use Ann Taylor LOFT Coupon Code  LOFTCARES What money saving sites do you recommend?

It's that time of the week don't forget to link up with  Amber  &  Neely!! It's Okay ... that my Holiday Helper Headquarters post have received min comments - all good - tons of fab stuff on its way - had to get all the lame stuff out in the beginning.  Stay tuned for Black Friday help, DIY gift ideas, recipes and TONS more fabulous stuff. that I ate WAY too much at lunch time!   to check your DVR last night and getting p-oed because stuff didn't record then realizing you think it is Thursday night and not Wednesday night ... seriously it happened not once but twice last night! to blog surf in an effort to stay awake to watch American Horror Story.  Is there a reason it has to come on at 10 PM?   to not get your hopes up when the weather gets chilly - tights one day - sweating with tights on the next - pick a season Florida!! to follow and comment on blogs that don't follow me - maybe they haven't figured ou...

Making a list checking it twice ... get organized with LISTS!  You can reduce your holiday stress by making lists to ensure you don't forget anything or anyone.   Types of Lists: Gifts - to buy/budget - click HERE and HERE for some templates to try. Things to Bake Recipes to Make Decorating Ideas Holiday Cards to Send Shelters to Help/Care packages to send Guests to Invite/What they will bring Parties to Attend/what to bring Blog Posts to Post this list could go on and on.... The trick is to keep your lists organized.  I suggest either getting a cute holiday notebook or download an app.  There are tons available in the app store.   Just figure out which way is easier for you to have constant access to the list.   If you want to make a notebook - I suggest buying one that has pockets or creating your own with a pronged folder.  You could also go super chic and use a binder but don't forget the bigger it is - t...