Celebrating Through the Hard Times
It seems like everywhere you turn these days there's bad news starting us in the face with all the natural disasters and acts of violence and terrorism. This world is so full of hatred and darkness and most days it can consume me if I allow it to. I've began to struggle with anxiety in the last year and I contribute it to the ugliness of the world. Sometimes the feelings of anxiety hit me while I'm standing in the middle of the aisle at Target, trying to pick out new make up or a pretty new outfit. Sometimes it hits me while i'm in my car, listening to my favorite music on the way to pick my son up from school. The thing is anxiety shows up when you least expect it and sometimes, for a reason I can't understand.
Celebrate Everyday
The Confetti Bar. Last month I celebrated my thirty something birthday. Seriously y'all, I forgot my age the other day and my husband had to correct me. I don't feel the age I am though, so there's that. And i'm not embarrassed to say it, i'm thirty five. My thirties have been my favorite age decade so far but that's another blog post for another time.
*This is not an affiliate link. I received free products in exchange for this post. All thoughts are my own.*
This post is all about sparkly, glittery, confetti filled happiness. When I came across The Confetti Bar's Instagram account I knew immediately I had to collaborate because, Hello! Confetti!!! Confetti is all things happy. Don't believe me? Try saying confetti when you are angry or just throw some in the air and smile. I believe in being happy everyday and not just celebrating on our birthdays but celebrating everyday so I thought i'd share some of my favorite ways to celebrate. If you stay tuned, there's even a fun DIY.
Here's How to Celebrate the Everyday:
1. Grab yourself a subscription to The Confetti of the Month Club and get inspired making your own DIY confetti project.
2. Grab a sweet treat with a friend at a local bakery or donut shop.
(Think of all the fun Insta worthy posts you can snap, too!)
3. Have a confetti inspired photo shoot with your favorite furry friend.
4. Watch a silly movie with your family or friends, like Trolls!
5. Turn up the music and dance like no body is watching. Even if it is in your living room with all the blinds open so the neighbors can see.
6. Bake your favorite sweet treat and add sprinkles because they are the confetti of the baking world!
7. Google National Holidays for the month and celebrate each silly one, like National I Want You To Be Happy Day. Yes, it's a real thing y'all! Today is National "Joe" Day. Hi to all the Joes out there! Happy National Day to you!
8. Find a bright mural or DIY one, put on your brightest outfit and snap some pics in front of it!
9. Go put bright pink flamingos in your friends yard. Only if you know they won't get mad and who can get mad at pink flamingos?
10. Make your own confetti filled ornaments and give them to all your girlfriends as birthday gifts.
DIY Confetti Filled Ornaments
Supplies:
clear glass or plastic ornaments
confetti
ribbon
hot glue gun
cricut cutting machine & vinyl
OR stickers
How To:
Take the tops off your ornaments and fill with glitter and confetti
Make a bow out of ribbon and hot glue it on the ornament (this also glues the top of the ornament on)
Cut a cute saying or picture out of vinyl with your cricut OR decorate with stickers
(for mine I used my Cricut and cut the word Celebrate out)
Admire how pretty they are and give them to your girlfriends as gifts because shared happiness is double happiness!
They really are that simple and so pretty, too. I'd love to see how you get creative with confetti so be sure to share your fun projects with me on Instagram.
You should also join the cool confetti club on The Confetti Bar Blog for lots of fun, exclusive content and confetti bomb everything!
How do you plan on celebrating today?
August National Days
Hi Peachies! Happy August! We're two days in to this month and I already feel like i'm on a roller coaster. My sweet son starts 8th grade on Monday, which makes me so sad. I've had a wonderful summer with him and I love having him home with me. But it's also one month closer to my one year anniversary with my hubby and then the holidays come! YAY! I'm more than excited about that.
Speaking of celebrations...i'm bringing back the Monthly National Days. I stopped doing them because they were silly but sometimes we need some silliness in our lives and who doesn't love a reason to celebrate.
So cheers to Augusts' National Days
Today is National Coloring Book Day and National Ice Cream Sandwich Day, which is a day I can totally celebrate. I'm also looking forward to celebrating S'mores Day/Lazy Day, Filet Mignon Day, Relaxation Day, Thrift Shop Day, Chocolate Pecan Pie Day, Waffle Day, Dog Day, & Just Because Day.
What days will you celebrate this month?
If you could make up your own National Day what would it be?
I would love to have National Get Pampered Day.
A day where you could go to your favorite spa and get massages, mani/pedis and drink wine and eat cupcakes. Then go to your favorite hairdresser and get your hair done. Then go shopping for a fabulous new outfit and go on a super romantic date with your honey.
10 Things {I Can't Get Enough Of}
Hi Peachies! I'm so excited about today's post. The adorable, bubbly, and sweet Karli Bell from September Farms has come up with another brilliant link up called 10 on Tuesday.
Here's how it works:
1 | draft your 10 on tuesday list. it can be a list about anything. you can explain your list. or you don't have to. it could be your grocery list. your cleaning list. or a list about your top 10 pet peeves. but a list, nonetheless. k? k.
2 | grab the super snazzy button below and insert the HTML code into the HTML section of your blog. this will automatically make that pretty picture a hyperlink so that everyone knows where you're linking up at!
3 | link up below!
10 Things I Can't Get Enough Of
1. Strawberry Shortcake M&Ms
These things are my kryptonite. I ate 3 bags in one week!!
2. Sunshine
I'm absolutely in love with this time of year. The sun is shining, it's in the mid 70's, it's Heavenly.
3. Dancing in the kitchen with my hubby.
He started this silly thing where he would dance with me in the kitchen at random times.
I usually laugh at him and roll my eyes but secretly (not so secretly now), I love it.
4. Looking at our wedding pictures.
I look at them every day and they flood me with so many happy memories.
I tell him I would marry him every day of my life and I would.
5. Puppy Kisses.
I love puppy kisses. Always have. But since we got Willow I love them even more and she's very kissy.
{I don't mean make out kind but just kisses on the face.}
Cute Willow Story
My son is sick today so he's staying home from school so our morning routine is totally thrown off.
Usually I put Willow in his bed to wake him up but since she was asleep this morning when I got up I just left her in our bed.
When she got up she came running downstairs crying and jumped on the couch with me.
She was so happy to see me she crawled up on me and covered me in puppy kisses.
It was the sweetest thing ever.
6. Conversations With My Teenage Son.
It still surprises me that I have a teenage son but he amazes me daily.
Of course him growing up is bittersweet but I can honestly say that i've enjoyed every stage of his life.
He's growing into an adult now and we can have conversations about things that matter
(not just Pokemon-thank you Jesus!)
7. Speaking of Jesus.
I can't get enough of my time with Jesus.
I love starting every day off with prayers before I do anything else.
Then doing my daily devotional in quiet while drinking my morning coffee.
It's the perfect start to my day.
8. My Planner.
I have about three but my favorite is the one I won from Chicfetti's giveaway at the beginning of the year.
I'm really in love with it and planning my blog posts.
This has been a game changer for me.
I never knew there was a whole world of blog planning addicts out there-Hello, I'd like to introduce myself.
9. Time With My Brother And Sister In Law.
I love all of my family and friends equally.
Really I do,
but I rarely get to spend time with them so the time we do spend together so when we do it's the best.
My brother and I have always been close but now that we're both married it's even more fun to be together.
10. Mani/Pedis.
I've only done this twice. Twice, y'all! I never liked anyone to touch my feet so I had never had a pedi until August.
My girls and I went shopping and got our nails done for my bachelorette shower and they convinced me to get a pedi.
Since then i'm addicted.
I try to save this for special occasions (my wedding & birthday so far) but I could get them
once a week because it's seriously that relaxing. Anyone for a spa day?
So now that you know what I can't get enough of tell me what you can't get enough of.
And don't forget to link up with Karli and the rest of us. I'd love to see your 10 things!
"
Oh, Hey Friday! One.
Hi Peachies! Happy Fri-YAY! We all made it, we all survived this week and if was anything like mine started out being then you're saying Hallelujah! Me, too friend. Me, too! And Amen! I want to start the OH Hey, Friday! link up with Karli Bell again. It's been quiet a while since i've done it but I've always enjoyed it so much so I'm jumping on board again.
Here's how it goes.
You can join or just check out her fabulous blog. If you do you should read it from start to finish, you're sure to laugh, smile, and nod in agreeance the whole way through. She's a bubbly, gem of a person & that's just what I know from her blog. She keeps life real.
How does this link up work?
1. Well first off you list 5 things. They can be as random as you want or all about one subject, there are no real rules here.
2. You link up your post at the bottom of hers, not mine. I'm not that fancy.
3. Then you grab the button, from below & add it to yours.
4. Then you spread the word about your blog, her blog, and everyone else's you want.
(I added that part-duh!)
So get ready for my 5 for Friday.
My Five Favorite Instagram Pics Lately and i'm letting the pictures do the talking.
You can follow me on Instagram here
1.
Trying to beat the rainy Tuesday blues. #Tuesdaysarehard #donteanttoadult #nope
A photo posted by PeachyKeen31 (@georgiapeachy31) on
2.
Just another rainy day in Ga. I'm so bummed, y'all. 🍑🌧☔️ #rainydayblues #rainydayingeorgia
A photo posted by PeachyKeen31 (@georgiapeachy31) on
3.
A photo posted by PeachyKeen31 (@georgiapeachy31) on
4.
A photo posted by PeachyKeen31 (@georgiapeachy31) on
5.
A photo posted by PeachyKeen31 (@georgiapeachy31) on
And because I can't narrow it down, here's a bonus.
-
Hello Beautiful Bloom. #springiscoming #lesliessparkofhappiness #bloom #lesliesbeautyfullthings
A photo posted by PeachyKeen31 (@georgiapeachy31) on
"
March National Holidays
Hi Peachies! Welcome March. I'm sitting here trying to figure out how it's March first already. I'm pretty sure I blinked and February was done. We had a busy month though. We celebrated My Mother in Law, Mine, My Grandma, and my Hubby's birthdays and we welcomed our sweet Mastiff/German Shepard puppy Willow into our family.
Day One & Day 28
And here we are in March already. I had great aspirations for February but since we got Willow none of it happened. Yeah, i'm blaming it on the puppy. February's goals were pretty much thrown out the window and so was blogging. Having a 12 week old puppy is a lot like having a two year old toddler. Most days I feel like I've been hit by a 20 pound tornado at the end of the day. I'm surviving off coffee and well, lots of caffeine.
For the first time in a long time I sat down and actually accomplished something i've been wanting to do for a while. (Okay, so the internet went down.) But I used that time to start to fill out my planner for this month's blog posts and other important dates (Basically just Willow's vet appointment.) In doing so I realized that today is a fun filled one. It's the beginning of the month which means it's time to
look at March's National Holidays.
I'm still all for what I said about holidays in February's National Holidays post.
Let's talk about what National Holidays there are this month and how those National Holidays should mean an extra day of sleeping in and spending the rest of the day in yoga pants binge watching Netflix and coloring in our adult coloring books. Sounds like a plan? Yes, please?!?
When I think of National Holidays I think of just that, sleeping in and spending the rest of the day being a bum. In the summer that means being a bum at my parent's pool. The rest of the year it means being a bum in my yoga pants binge watching Netflix and all that. National holidays usually involve really good food, friends and family, and wine/beer/margaritas. Regardless of what National Holidays look like to you, I think we can all use a little more celebrating in our lives everyday. So here is a list of my favorite National Holidays in March.
March 1
National Pig Day
National Peanut butter Lover's Day
March 2
Old Stuff Day
March 3
I Want You To Be Happy Day
If Pets Had Thumbs Day
National Anthem Day
Peach Blossom Day
March 4
Employee Appreciation Day
Sales Person Day
March 5
Multiple Personality Day
March 6
Dentist Day
Frozen Food Day
March 7
Crown Roast of Pork Day
(I can't make that up, ya'll!)
March 8
Be Nasty Day
March 9
Panic day
March 10
National Middle Name Pride Day
Popcorn Lovers Day
March 11
Johnny Appleseed Day
Worship of Tools Day
March 12
Girl Scouts Day
Plant A Flower Day
March 13
Ear Muff Day
Jewel Day
March 14
Learn about Butterflies Day
Chip Day
Pi Day
March 15
Dumbstruck Day
Everything You Think Is Wrong Day
Incredible Kid Day
March 16
Everything You Do Is Right Day
March 17
Submarine Day (sandwich or boat? You pick. I'll go with the sandwich)
March 18
Goddess of Fertility Day
Supreme Sacrifice Day (I'm a Mom, that's everyday!)
March 19
Poultry Day
Quilting Day
March 20
Extraterrestrial Abductions Day
Proposal Day
March 21
Credit Card Reduction Day
Fragrance Day
March 22
National Goof Off Day
(This one I can definitely get behind)
March 23
National Chip and Dip Day
Near Miss Day
(I'll just stay home in bed for this day)
March 24
National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day
March 25
Good Friday
Pecan Day
Waffle Day
(OR National Pecan Waffle Day!!)
March 26
Make Up Your Own Holiday Day
March 27
National "Joe" Day
S(Shout out to all the Joe's out there!)
March 28
Something on a Stick Day
March 29
National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day
Smoke and Mirrors Day
March 30
National Doctor's Day
I am in Control Day
Take a Walk in the Park Day
March 31
Bunsen Burner Day
National Clam on the Half Shell Day
Well, I feel like this month is all over the place. It wore me out just typing this post out. I think what this is saying is "buckle up Buttercup. This month is going to be a wild ride!"
Let's talk about the 26th though. Make up your own National Holiday Day. It just happens to fall on my six month anniversary. I think i'll use that to my advantage ;) What will your National Holiday be?
"
National Tell a Fairy Tale Day
Happy National Tell a Fairy Tale Day, Peachies! We all love a good love story, one where the Princess meets her Prince, they fall in love adopt a puppy and then they become a family of four (because the Bride had a son when they got married). So in honor of this magical day I'm sharing my real life Fairy Tale with you.
My hubby & I met sixteen years ago. He was my best friend for thirteen of those years before we even dated. Everyone says we have such a romantic story because we were best friends for thirteen years before we even dated. He always treated me with respect and never once let on that he liked me in any other way and I was content with that. He was married and I respected that but he was always my go to guy when I was having trouble in other relationships. Life threw us for a curve 3 years and some months ago and brought us to where we are now. Which is pure love and chaos but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the entire universe. We're currently raising a teenage boy together and chasing around a 12 week old puppy all while planning our next move for the future and to be honest, there's no one else I'd rather do life with. He is strong when i am weak, he's calm when I am chaos, he's the one singing Bob Marley's Every Little Thing in my ear when i'm breaking down. He's so much more than my husband. He's the glue that holds me together. He's the sprinkles on my cupcake. Basically he's everything y'all. And since our love story makes many appearances on the blog, here are all the mushy gushy posts.
Our Love Story Parts 1 & 2
From Miss To Mrs.
It's A Love Story, Baby Just Say Yes Pt. 1
It's A Love Story, Baby Just Say Yes Pt. 2
t's A Love Story, Baby Just Say Yes Pt. 3
If i'm being honest here i'm not one to give marriage advice. I've only been married for five months. I definitely don't have it all figured out. I'm not full of knowledge or advice on this topic. Even when my 50 year anniversary rolls around I probably won't be full of advice or knowledge. I hope that I have gained enough experience in this area of life to help my kids along the way but don't be looking for marriage posts on the blog. I feel strongly about marriage. If I got tattoos i'd tattoo my vows on myself somewhere but since I don't, they're inked on my heart for all of eternity.
When the preacher said this verse from the Bible Mark 10:6-9
"But at the beginning of creation God made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” I remember taking a long, deep breath in and trying not to let the tears flow. This is what I whole heartedly believe.
Most days I feel like i'm rocking this wife thing & like everything in life, some days, I wonder if i'm doing alright.
Five months ago I stood barefoot in the sand and said "I Do" to my best friend of thirteen years.
Somedays I find myself aching to be back on that beach, completely lost in that moment. I long for that feeling, that moment. The moment when life slowed down and people came from all over to celebrate us. There were no distractions. No work, no phone calls from work, nothing but us. That's the part I miss about the wedding, actually. There were no distractions.
We chose the song You & I (Nobody in the World) by John Legend as our first dance song. I had no idea just how poignant those lyrics would be.
All of the stars you make them shine like they were ours
Ain't nobody in the world but you and I
You and I
Ain't nobody in the world
In that moment it felt as if we truly were the only people on the whole beach.
I was slightly aware of everyone standing around us talking and taking pictures but it felt as if we were in a dream.
The pictures of our first dance are blurry and i'm okay with that. Our professional photographer left with the wedding planners after the ceremony. It was dark and the photos turned out that way. In my opinion, they're perfectly imperfect. Like I try to live my life. In some way I feel like the blurry pictures are indicative of that moment for me. The moment when everything felt like a blur. I truly feel like that moment was one of the most special of my entire life.
And for the rest of my life that moment is tattooed on my heart. I am forever changed by it.
It was the beginning of the next chapter of my fairy tale.
Fairy Tales are true Peachies. Sometimes you have to create them yourselves but if you just believe, they will come true.
"
Birthday Weekend
We will talk about the weekend though. This weekend was actually fun and we did more than running errands and chilling out at home because Fri-YAY was my birthday!
If you follow me on Snapchat or Instagram you saw pics of my weekend but in case you didn't...
FRI-YAY
My hubby worked half day so Willow and I started the day off by sleeping in.
Willow really didn't want to get out of bed.
Awww, Mom. I don't want to get up. #willowsoto #willowthemastiff #mastiffpuppy #mastiffsofinstagram
A photo posted by PeachyKeen31 (@georgiapeachy31) on
I started off by having the breakfast of champions.
Birthday Breakfast of Champions. #happybirthdaytome #sweet34 #almostavalentinesbaby
A photo posted by PeachyKeen31 (@georgiapeachy31) on
When my hubby came home from work he brought Chick-fil-A and flowers.
Beautiful flowers from my sweet hubby today! #happybirthdaytome #sweet34 #almostavalentinesbaby
A photo posted by PeachyKeen31 (@georgiapeachy31) on
Willow thought the flowers were for her. To eat.
A photo posted by PeachyKeen31 (@georgiapeachy31) on
My hubby asked me what I wanted for my birthday. Willow was my Birthday/Valentine's Day present so I really didn't want or expect anything else so I told my hubby all I wanted was a mani/pedi and a nap. Since Willow and I had spent the last two days sleeping in, a nap wasn't needed but the mani/pedi was. More on that in a minute though.
After we ate lunch, my hubby and son gave me more presents.
I already have a Brighton bracelet full of beads and charms so they gave me a necklace to match.
The charms are a wedding cake & a puppy paw since we got married and got a puppy within the last 5 months.
A photo posted by PeachyKeen31 (@georgiapeachy31) on
After that we went to my Mom and Dad's house where Mom was making me a cheesecake.
She also bought me Chocolate Covered Strawberries.
A photo posted by PeachyKeen31 (@georgiapeachy31) on
Willow got some Happy Mail while we were there.
Apparently I haven't changed my address on my Etsy account since I got married.
Oops but that's okay, Willow doesn't mind where her gifts get sent to, as long as she gets them.
My Sweet Willow got some happy mail today. #willowthemastiff #mastiffpuppy #willowsoto
A photo posted by PeachyKeen31 (@georgiapeachy31) on
A photo posted by PeachyKeen31 (@georgiapeachy31) on
Then we ordered dinner from O'Charley's and took it home to eat.
Saturday
morning I got up and had another Insta worthy breakfast.
Saturday morning yumminess! #saturdayvibes #lesliessparkofhappiness #almostavalentinesbaby #sweet34
A photo posted by PeachyKeen31 (@georgiapeachy31) on
I got to run to my favorite new boutique in town and spend my birthday money.
Then it was mani/pedi day.
I got to go spend some quality me time with a good friend I haven't seen in quiet a while.
We laughed, we had a heart to heart and we even teared up a bit.
A photo posted by PeachyKeen31 (@georgiapeachy31) on
Fresh pedi. #lesliessparkofhappiness #lesliessparkofhappiness
A photo posted by PeachyKeen31 (@georgiapeachy31) on
After that we took Willow to my Mom and Dad's.
They puppy sat while we went and saw the new Star Wars movie.
I'll admit that I'm no Star Wars fan.
I didn't even know what was going on half the time and I had a million
and one questions for my guys on the way home from the movie.
I thought it was a good movie and maybe, just maybe
it might be making me a Star Wars fan after all.
Sunday was Valentine's Day and here's my Instagram post to sum it up.
We didn't do anything special.
My honey & I spent the morning snuggled in bed with Willow, exchanging gifts.
We weren't going to get each other anything but I know my hubby too well
to know he wasn't going to hold to that so I came prepared with a gift, too.
Valentine's Day goodies. #valentinesday2016 #celebratewithsotos
A photo posted by PeachyKeen31 (@georgiapeachy31) on
Then we spent the day running errands and making chili and ended our weekend watching The Walking Dead.
How was your weekend? What did you get for Valentine's Day?
"
Happy Birthday.
Hey Peachies! Today is a very special day! Thirty Four years ago today a baby girl came into this world and changed lives everywhere. She was full of blonde hair and spunk and the only thing that has changed in 34 years is that she has brown hair. She's still full of spunk and attitude. She's the queen eye roller and champion of naps. She loves hard and has a heart of gold. She's feisty and sweet and just wants to love Jesus, drink coffee and save all the animals.
This girl is me!
My husband and my mom asked me what I want to do to celebrate my birthday. My only response was that I want a mani/pedi and to stay home and relax. My hubby is getting off at one today and we're going to see my parents then we're ordering dinner from O'Charley's, bringing it home and spending the evening hanging out with our human child and our fur baby. In all honesty, that sounds like the perfect evening to me! My mom is baking me a cheesecake and she may cook dinner for us all tomorrow night. Tomorrow i'll probably go get that mani/pedi.
I like to drag my birthdays out but the older I get, the less they become about going out partying. They become more about taking the time to relax and spend time with those whom I love the most.
Here's how my morning has been so far.
Awww, Mom. I don't want to get up. #willowsoto #willowthemastiff #mastiffpuppy #mastiffsofinstagram
A photo posted by PeachyKeen31 (@georgiapeachy31) on
Birthday Breakfast of Champions. #happybirthdaytome #sweet34 #almostavalentinesbaby
A photo posted by PeachyKeen31 (@georgiapeachy31) on
My morning has been pretty incredible so far. Of course my day will only be getting better but it's pretty hard to be sad when you're this blessed. My facebook page has been blowing up with birthday wishes and continues to do so as we speak.
P.S.-That sweet puppy face. She is my Birthday/Valentine's present from my hubby.
So, y'all already know that i'm spending my birthday exactly how I want to but here's my dream birthday scenario.
1. Wake up in the Marriott in Kauai by my sweet hubby and enjoying an amazing breakfast in bed. Fruit, croissants, and Kauai coffee.
(Somehow all my family, friends, and even our Willow would be here in Kauai with us)
2. Spend the day walking on the beach, playing in the sand, and the sunshine with only our family and friends and puppies.
3. Get dressed around 3 and go shopping in the cute little towns we visited on our honeymoon (dogs and all) And since this is my fantasy
and money is no big thing, we'd buy everything we wanted. Every. Little. Thing.
4. We'd go on a sunset hot air balloon ride over the island. So romantic, right?
5. Then we'd go to a Luau for dinner.
6. After dinner my husband would hand me a small box. Inside would be the key to our new Hawaiian beach home.
One of those big beautiful ones we saw that were less than a block away from the beach. One that celebrities probably live in.
7. Then we'd live happily ever after on the island of Kauai, surrounded by our family and friends.
I'd Blog, Snap and Instagram my incredible pictures everyday!
That's my ultimate birthday dream!!!
What's your ultimate birthday dream?
"














