Today I released the limited edition fall collection set in my Etsy shop!  I'm super excited about this collection.  Fall is my favorite time of year and I just love how these clips turned out!

I will be releasing these for individual sell, but right now I have the full collection on sale for $25!  If purchased separately at full cost they'd be almost $40.  I wanted to offer a pre-release limited edition set for you guys!  Like I said, this is limited... I have a set number that I will allow for this pricing and once they're gone, they'll be full price.

||INCLUDES||

♥Pumpkin

♥Acorn

♥Pumpkin Cake Roll

♥Pumpkin Cupcake

♥Pumpkin Donut

♥Pumpkin Spice Latte

♥Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino

♥S'more

♥Pumpkin Pie slice

Also, I'm really honored to say that my Etsy shop was featured in a Buzzfeed article last week!  It came a such a surprise & shock!  You can view the article here!  My shop was number 2 in the list! =)

Hop on over to my Etsy shop and grab your set before they're sold out!

week 34 2015 | PLANNER DECORATION

School starts this week!  I love back to school time!  I'm so much more productive when no one is home during the day...  I missed being on a regular schedule && routine.  Plus, back to school time means FALL is coming soon!

This week's layout was inspired from the "Happy Place" image you see in the picture above.  I cut it out of a Heidi Swapp paper pad.  I thought it was really cute, had colors I don't use all that often, and seemed fitting.  My planner definitely is my happy place...

I shook things up a bit using a lot more stamps than I usually use.  This took a lot more time, but I LOVED the results!  The page flags at the top of each day indicate what my main focus for that day is.  So you have the YouTube play button for YouTube [obvi], the pencil for my blog, and the cupcake is for my etsy shop.  I really think it turned out quite adorable.

I've seen people turn a box of their day into a "To Do" list.  Normally I use each box for a specific category: Personal, Blog/YouTube, and Etsy.  So I had to really think about how I wanted to arrange my tasks for the day since I wasn't doing my typical layout.  I'm not sure if it was the new layout or what, but I definitely felt more productive this week.

||WHAT I USED||

♥Planner: Limelife Planners

♥Planner Clips: My etsy shop

♥Washi: Michael's, JoAnn

♥Stamps: All are Sweet Stamp Shop except the page flag & washi stamps, those are Recollections from Michael's

♥Ink: Versa Magic Chalk Ink- Midnight Black, Aloe Vera, Sea Breeze

♥"Happy Place": Cut out of a scrapbook paper book by Heidi Swapp

♥Blue Speech Bubble Sticker: Michael's

♥Pen: Staedtler Triplus Fineliner- Black

Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel so you don't miss a video!

POHS update

I haven't done an update on my POHS in quite some time, so I thought I'd do that today.  It has escaped my mind because there hasn't been much to talk about really.  Which thinking about that, means I actually should be shouting from the rooftops and being grateful!

If you're unfamiliar with POHS or my issues with this, you can find all my POHS posts here.  In short: POHS stands for Presumed Ocular Histoplasmosis Syndrome.  It's a syndrome affecting the eye, which attacks your central vision.

Now on to the good news!  The reason I've been quiet about it lately is because my bleeds haven't been active!  I haven't received treatment since February!  This is the longest I've gone without injections since I was diagnosed.  I'm over the moon about it!  It's such an amazing feeling for the doctor to come in and say "everything looks good, we'll see you in 6 weeks"!

Now when I say everything is "good" I'm talking about my good eye.  It has been affected by POHS but it's the only good eye I have left.  My right eye has 100% central vision loss.  My left eye is my good eye, so we're doing everything to keep vision strong in it.  We don't even treat my right eye anymore because the scarring is too significant and irreversible.  My left eye has been active for quite some time and I was receiving regular injections in it for over a year.  So to go 6 months without issues has been such a relief!

I know that it can flare up at any time and I'm mentally prepared for that.  But for right now, I'm basking in thankfulness!

Car Organizing & Care Tips | YOUNG DRIVERS

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #1stImpressionsCount #CollectiveBias

Meet Cinnamon!  She is a Scion XB and she is my baby.  I love this car more than I've loved any car in my life.  She's beautiful and fun to drive.  That's why I spoil her, treating her to the highest quality of products.

Well... Cinnamon is about to get a new driver.  This summer my son got his drivers license, started his first job, and starts his senior year of high school in 4 days.  Talk about an emotional whirlwind for this mom!  Not only will I be getting him ready for back to school, Cinnamon is also ready to make her back-to-school first impression count.

We took off for Wal-Mart to purchase some car care items for my son to have of his own.  We came across this awesome display full of Armor All® products in the automotive department.  The Armor All® Outlast items caught our eye in their pretty shiny boxes!  We picked up the Armor All® Outlast Tire Glaze [what is it with teenage boys and tires/rims?] and the Armor All® Outlast Protectant.

||What's Inside||

♥Our new Armor All® Outlast products

♥Lint-Free Automotive paper towels

♥Sturdy emergency blanket

♥Tire pressure gauge

♥Air compressor for flats that runs off the cigarette lighter

♥First Aid kit

♥Jumper Cables && Emergency Roadside kit

The Armor All® Outlast Protectant provides a natural looking finish [not greasy] and helps to protect from damaging UV rays.  I love a beautiful clean dash, but I HATE a greasy car.  New drivers can over do it with the cleaning so you don't want them using something that leaves a greasy film behind.

Just apply a liberal amount to a lint-free [my preference] towel and rub onto: Dash/Console, Vinyl Seats, Plastic Trim, and Door Panels.  This product is a thick cream which makes it very easy to use.  Perfect for the new driver.

I'll let the before & after photos speak for themselves here.  We were incredibly impressed with the Armor All® Outlast product line.  I also have to admit that the tires did look amazing after using the Armor All® Outlast Tire Glaze... You just spray it onto clean dry tires.  That's it.  Easy as pie, and the results are beautiful.  Tires are a part of the car I didn't previously focus on when detailing my own car.  I'm sure my teenage son is smug in being right about pretty tires completing the overall look of the car.

Wal-Mart currently has a coupon for $2.50 off any (1) of these Armor All® Outlast products: Armor All® Outlast Trim & Plastic Restorer, Armor All® Outlast Tire Glaze, Armor All® Outlast Leather Restorer, and/or Armor All® Outlast Protectant.

I also made a glove box organizer for necessary papers and more.  I HATE car clutter, so I want to pass that along to my son as well.  Glove boxes aren't junk drawers!  I keep a phone charger, a pen, the owner's manual, and an organizer for papers in the glove box.

Just grab a medium sized accordion file.  These can be found in the office supply section.  I happened to have one already on hand [actually I have like 5... I'm such an office supply hoarder].  Wal-Mart also has little 5.5"x8.5" 3 ring binders that would work too depending on the size of your glove box.

I labeled my sections with an Ultra Fine Point Sharpie.  Label your sections with whatever categories you think you'll need.  Your needs may be different than ours.

||Categories||

♥Insurance: for insurance cards

♥Registration: Kansas requires we carry our registration

♥Maintenance: I like to keep my maintenance receipts

♥Repairs: also for receipts

♥Notes: blank notepad paper, cause you never know when you may need it!  Like in case of an accident, you can exchange information.

♥Contact Info: Quick reference to our roadside assistance number, our mechanic's phone number, emergency contact numbers [your phone might not work in an emergency], etc.

♥Quick Reference: Little tid-bits about the car that you can access easily.  Like tire pressure, oil type, etc.

♥Money: Not much, just like $10.  You don't want your high school age new driver or college driver in another city not have emergency cash.

♥Maintenance Schedule: A detailed list of car maintenance and when it needs done

♥Maps/Directions: We all have become too dependent on technology.  Keep printed maps & directions in this section when traveling just as a backup.

♥Emergency: This category may seem redundant but... In this section I put detailed typed lists of what to do in different emergency situations that might arise.  Young drivers can get worked up really easily and they might not think properly in an emergency.  You can instill in them what to do, but when it comes down to it, they may draw a blank.  What if the emergency happens in an area where your young driver has no cell service and they can't call you?  This is just a peace of mind for you and your young driver.

Now that you've got some ideas on how to help your young driver prepare for Back-To-School time with Armor All® Outlast products, you should enter this chance to win a $1000 or $500 Wal-Mart gift card!  Think of all the car care prepping you can do with that!

Armor All Outlast #1stImpressionsCount Sweepstakes

When I was a new young driver, I was horrible at directions and was always getting lost.  Do you remember being a new driver?  What memories do you have from that time?

week 33 2015 | PLANNER DECORATION

A planner group that I'm in is doing a "sweet treats" theme this week.  I don't usually partake of the themes in the group, but this week I had to!  I've had these silly sweet treats stickers for years and years!  They will randomly make an appearance every so often.

This week was jammed pack and I didn't even get to decorate until Thursday!  I was working off of my pre-planning sticky notes the first few days of the week.  I was too busy to sit down and actually do my pages.

Well I finally got them finished and filmed.  I think they turned out super cute.  I'm really loving it.

||WHAT I USED||

♥Limelife Planner

♥Paper clips: My etsy shop

♥Box Footer Labels: TheGiftedPepper on etsy

♥Washi: Michael's & Target

♥Sticker book: I don't even know! I've had it for at least 2 years

♥Etsy Labels: I hole punched scrapbook paper

♥Stamps: Sweet Stamp Shop

♥Ink: Versa Magic Chalk in Aegean Blue

♥Pink Polka Dot Page Flags: Target

♥Pink/White/Black Page Flags: Michael's [I think]

♥Aarow stickers: Teresa Collins Sticker Pad

♥"Note This" stickers: Teresa Collins Sticker Pad

♥Pen: Staedtler Triplus Fineliner in Black

Be sure to hop on over to my YouTube Channel for the corresponding Plan With Me video! 

new releases || AUGUST

I've decided to start a monthly post where I share with you the new releases in my etsy shop.  I have kept my etsy shop fairly separate from my blog, but I'd like to post announcements here. 

Liiike....

I was able to get my supplies for a 50% discount and I'm passing that savings onto my lovely customers!  I think that is pretty blog worthy, so I'm starting the post off with that!  

Now on to August new releases...

Gourmet Cupcake Trio:  Watermelon, Coffee Bean, and Strawberry Ice Cream.  Each cupcake has a miniature design on top.  These can be purchased with either silver or gold paper clips.

Pastel Lollipop:  The pastel lollipop is a colorful design that is perfect to liven up any planner page spread!  This design is also available in silver paper clips or gold paper clips.

Gold Heart Macaron Charm:  I had a lot of requests to offer charms in my shop.  I will slowly be adding every paper clip design in the shop to be offered in charms as well.  Starting with the new heart macaron!

Girl in Pink:  When I first started my polymer clay journey in junior high, I made little doll figurines that were similar to this girl here.  Of course I couldn't go into full intricate detail like I used to, or I'd have to charge a lot more for a paper clip!  I missed making those figurines, so I decided to create a paper clip version.  Expect to see other variations in the future!

Posh Collection:  With sparkling gold & black clay this set of 2 french macarons, 2 page flags, and a happy mail envelope is just the luxurious touch you were looking for.  The happy mail envelope and page flags are accented with tiny bows.  I'm personally loving this set myself... I've got it in my planner as we speak!

You can purchase these designs and others in my etsy shop for 50% off right now, using the coupon code at the beginning of the post.

Workout Motivation Tips

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PowerInProtein #CollectiveBias

I've been out of shape for a very long time.  I blame church ladies... No seriously hear me out, aha!  My mother died in April of 2000 [I was a teenager].  Up until that point I wasn't an "emotional eater".  However, when mom passed away, the wonderful ladies from my parent's church kept my father and I well fed with amazing food.  That was the beginning of a very unhealthy decade for myself.  Finding motivation to get fit after many years of frankly, "not caring" was difficult.

There came a point though when I realized I'm only getting older, more out of shape, and more unhealthy.  This was only hurting myself.  So I decided to make a change.  I've learned a lot since then about health, fitness, and overall wellness.  It's a journey and through that journey I've learned ways to keep myself motivated.  Today I'm going to share those ways with you!

||1} Music:  This may seem obvious but it's so IMPORTANT!  Music has a way of changing your mood, uplifting you, and motivating you!  Make a playlist of songs that get you moving.  Everyone is different and enjoy different genres.  Pick what works for YOU.  If you don't want to take the time to curate your own playlist, Pandora has a whole bunch of workout stations in many different music genres.  There's something for everyone there!

||2} Read:  Fitness books, magazines, and blogs.  There's so much information out there on healthy eating, exercises, and wellness.  Educating yourself on the importance of working out and living a healthy lifestyle is crucial.  It'll help you gain the desire to treat your body the best that you can.

||3} Log Your Progress:  Keeping written documentation of everything you've done on your journey is a major motivator.  I keep track of my goals, weight & measurements, food logs, and workout logs.  I'm VERY partial to written documentation over tracking on your phone.  For me it's much easier to flip through and I know I won't lose my information.  I work in I.T., I love electronics, but I don't always trust them... ahaha!

||4} Track Your Steps:  There's several ways to do this as it has become very popular.  It's become popular because it works!  It quickly advances to an obsessive game you create with yourself.  You have motivation to reach those 10,000 steps and you'll do things to reach that goal that you wouldn't normally do.  Like parking farther away in a parking lot just to get more steps.  More steps is more activity and exercise.  Every little bit makes a big difference.

||5} Ready To Drink Protein Shakes:  I love lifting weights!  I won't talk about how beneficial weight lifting is for women, but you should research it.  When you're lifting weights it's incredibly important to up your protein intake.  Protein is vital for working out because it helps your muscles recover and grow.  There are many many ways to incorporate this protein into your day, but one of my favorite ways is with a ready to drink protein shake.  I keep them in my kitchen for when I need to just grab and go.  I love their convenience!  My favorite is EAS Myoplex in Chocolate Fudge!

One afternoon while flipping through a women's health magazine, I kept seeing ads for the brand EAS.  EAS is known for their low-carb products to accompany a healthy lifestyle.  I decided while at Wal-Mart that I'd give the EAS Myoplex Ready to Drink Protein Shakes a try.  I found them in the Pharmacy section of Wal-Mart.  The EAS Myoplex Ready to Drink Protein Shakes come in Chocolate Fudge, Strawberry Cream, French Vanilla, Rich Dark Chocolate, and Cookie & Cream.

EAS Myoplex Ready to Drink Protein Shakes are a great source of protein.  They're convenient and easy to fit into your daily activities.  With complete nutrition and 42g of protein, this is the perfect companion to your healthy lifestyle.  EAS Myoplex helps build muscle, recover from workouts, and sustain existing muscle tone.  My son is a senior in high school this year and he's even enjoying the EAS Myoplex as an accompaniment to his own workouts.

Finally: The best way to stay motivated is to get the whole family [or your besties] on board.  Hold each other accountable.  Do fun active things together!  Walk to the park, go for a hike, ride bikes, enroll in a workout class, etc.  Around here even the CAT wants to be involved with workout time!  Seriously though... anyone else have this problem?  You get the yoga mat out and instantly the pets are in your way and wanting to join you?!

Transitioning from a sedentary lifestyle to an active lifestyle is a journey and a progress.  I've made progress and I have a lot more progress to make.  I'm so happy that I made that decision to be the best version of me I can be.  The journey isn't easy but it's nice to have convenient & nutritious products like EAS Myoplex to accompany me on the ride!

What are your motivation tips that keep you on track with your fitness goals?

a blog, a playlist [july 2015]

One of my favorite ways to listen to music is to find playlists on the Google Play Music service.  I like to find random mixes.  I found this one when finding playlists to listen to while on a road trip this month.  I'm a sucker for most 90s music anyway, but these 2 genres in one playlist is awesome.

HOWEVER, I was confused on why they called it 90s RnB because all of the RnB on this list were from all different decades.  AWESOME songs, but not 90s music.  It made it a pleasant surprise though when listening.  As a music lover, I had to verbally tell the radio that no "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye did not come out in the 90s ahah!

Here's a list of my favorite songs from the playlist:

||1} Hard Knock Life- Jay Z

||2} It's All About the Benjamins- Puff Daddy & The Family

||3} Ruff Ryders' Anthem- DMX

||4} Hypnotize- The Notorious B.I.G.

||5} No One- Alicia Keys

||6} Kiss- Prince

||7} Let's Stay Together- Al Green

||8} Waterfalls- TLC

||9} Superstition- Stevie Wonder

||10} Lost Ones- Lauryn Hill

So yeah... as you can see the RnB was all over the place as far as decades go, but it was all great music!  It was a nice mix of 90s rap and random awesome RnB music!

What did you most listen to in July?