Thursday, February 28, 2013

FANCY SHMANCY: FEBRUARY FAVORITES



1// Whole Living Magazine - I love this magazine. It's one of my all-time favorites. It's important to stay inspired to be healthy and do good things for yourself. I like to just keep this magazine by my side all day for a little light reading here and there. ;)

2// Kate Moss Lipstick - I'm always on the hunt for great lipstick. I picked up a couple tubes of Rimmel's Kate Moss lipstick to try out and was pleasantly surprised, especially by the slight berry scent. I could get used to lipsticks smelling like something other than wax and...beans. ?

3// Warby Parker - It's no secret that I truly love Warby Parker. I recently went to the eye doctor after 5 YEARS of not going. What? Anyway, I need some new frames so I can see better! I ordered a new box of home try-ons and it just reminded me of how much I love that fact that you can try on a couple pairs in the comfort of your home for free, think on it, get a couple opinions and then order the ones you like! I might need some help deciding which ones to pick!

4// Thomas O'Brien for Target Sheets - Jon and I recently bought a new sheet set for our bed. It's amazing how a new set of sheets can make your bed feel luxurious and fancy. We were just saying this morning how cozy our bed is. Love me some new sheets.

What are your February favorites??


GIVEAWAY WINNERS FOR FEBRUARY!

We had some exciting giveaways on the blog this month! I love being able to offer giveaways from some of my favorite companies of all time. If you entered into the $100 LUSH Gift Card Giveaway or the Minnetonka Fringe Boots Giveaway...I am ABOUT to announce the winners below! Winners have been randomly selected using Random.org.


Winner of the LUSH $100 Gift Card Giveaway is...#127, AhoyNative! I'm so excited for you! You are going to have SO much delicious smelling goodness! I hope you make a pamper-yourself-evening-out of it, complete with your favorite music and sparkling water and/or wine! ;)

Winner of the Minnetonka Fringe Boots Giveaway is...#34, Jenny! Whooo! Please pick out your favorite color and send over your size preference. Time to rock out some fancy boots for springtime!

Congratulations to you both!! Please contact me at Savannah@maiedae.com with your shipping information and your gift will be on its way! Happy last day of February, ladies! Be sure to check back later for a round-up of my February favorites!




Wednesday, February 27, 2013

THREADS: MAXI + MINNETONKA


MY OUTFIT: 1// Grey Wide Brimmed Hat - GAP 2// Acid Wash Button Up - Urban Outfitters 3// Camel Cardigan - Target 4// Maxi Dress Worn as a Skirt - Forever21 5// Grey Leggings - Forever21 6// Dusty Brown Fringe Boots - c/o Minnetonka 7// Camel Braided Belt - Thrifted

I can tell this is going to be one of my favorite outfits as the Georgia weather turns slightly warm, slowly but surely. :) Don't you love when you find those pieces in your wardrobe that become your favorites and staple items for a long time? This button up top, maxi skirt, and fringe boots are definitely that for me. You know when you can pair your favorites together that it's going to be a great outfit!


GET THE LOOK: 1// Acid Wash Top - River Island 2// Gold Locket - Piperlime 3// Camel Cardigan - Awear 4// Felt Hat - Piperlime 5//Minnetonka Boots - Minnetonka 6// Maxi Skirt - New Look

I LOVE Wednesday. For those of you that know me, Wednesdays are date-night with the husband! I look forward to when Jon walks in the door from work all day long. :)


Tuesday, February 26, 2013

SPONSOR FEATURE: SEASON MUST-HAVES

February is just about over! This is good because it means the cold weather *might* start turning into spring soon. Come on fickle Georgia weather! Let's get some sunshine and warmth! This month, I asked my sponsors to share their top two must-haves for the season. Mine would definitely have to be giant furry blankets and Lush's Ocean Salt scrub. See what my sponsors picked below:

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Dani of High Walls - Must-Haves // My two 'must haves' would have to be: a good book - I believe in always keeping my brain active and inspired - I'm currently reading through the Sherlock Holmes stories after my boyfriend bought me the anthology for Valentines Day! Secondly, I think you should always have something that gives you confidence - my new go-to item to cheer me up is this pair of glitter ankle boots, every time I put them on I feel a little bit fancy! Find Dani here; blog & twitter

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Michelle of Creature Type - Must Haves // Pastel Colors: I've been feeling the need to dress extra sweet and sugary lately to combat the winter dreary-ness! From my pink tights to my minty scarf, everything is cozy ,but happily colored! Tegan and Sara's "Heartthrob": Tegan and Sara have been one of my very favorite bands for years and I have a lot of happy memories listening to them with my best friend. I've had their wonderful new album on repeat for weeks! Find Michelle here; blog & shop.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Ashleigh of Lovestoned - Must Haves // Right now I am shopping for new flatware and found this really amazing set. The birch handle is my favorite - it's something that my husband and I can actually agree on, shocker!  Now if I could just get him to let me buy it! I'm also in desperate need of some sunshine right now. How long can winter go on?! As much as I want to break out all my maxi skirts and tank tops I will be happy to just surround myself with fresh flowers and doodles. I am so in love with all of the journals from Minted, especially this brightly colored one! Find Ashleigh here; blog & instagram

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

April of Jototes - Must Haves // Q&A a Day Journal and Urban Decay Naked 2 eyeshadow palette. Find April here; facebook & pinterest

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Amanda of Amanda K by the Bay - Must Haves // I've had my eye on these pretty lacy suede oxfords for spring, and I would love a throw pillow for my new couch! Find Amanda here; blog & pinterest.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Beth of Until Only Love Remains - Must Haves // My two "must haves" this season are a pair of the new GAP skimmers (I am just in love) and Burts Bees Chapstick (A must have in the Colorado winters!) Find Beth here; blog & facebook.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Nat of Modern Buttercup - Must Haves // This season, my two top picks are Lush's Sweet Lips sugar scrub and Burt's Bees hand salve! These two products are some of my absolute favorites, and I don't know how I would survive winter without them. They're lifesavers! Find Nat here; blog & twitter

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Christine of Flapper Girl - Must Haves // Haley Doc Marten Boots (my favorite boots) & "Waiting for Something to Happen" by Veronica Falls (my current favorite album). Find Christine here; blog & shop.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Liz of Donna's Decembers - Must Haves // The soda fountain dress from Modcloth that is the perfect shade of yellow and a fresh copy of The Great Gatsby to read before the movie hits theaters! Find Liz here; blog & shop

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Magen of Crumpled Fantasies - Must Haves // LUSH lip scrub for my dry winter lips and a Hello Apparel sweatshirt to keep me warm and comfy until the weather warms up! Find Magen here; blog & twitter

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Mia of Mia Malene - Must Haves // Black Converse: I am a Converse-addict. I own a ton of them in a ton of different colors and different versions. Oddly enough, I don't wear most of them. But my black low cuts seem to be glued to my feet; especially during this season. Which is weird seeing as everyone is walking around in their warm boots, trying to stay warm. Me, I just need my converse and I'll be happy - and a warm jacket of course! Volbeat 'Beyond Hell/Above Heaven': Volbeat is a Danish band that I absolutely love. Their music is truly amazing and I've attended a few of their shows. I am currently waiting (not so) patiently for their new album so while passing time I'm listening to this album on repeat; the perfect way to start and end my day. Find Mia here; blog & twitter

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Poly of This Enchanted Pixie - Must Haves // Lush Mother's Day in Paradise gift box and the new Rising Appalachia album. Find Poly here; blog & shop

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

What are your "must-haves" for the season? Please let me know in the comments below! Interested in sponsoring Maiedae for the month of March? Check out my advertisement page here for all of the rates and sizes. :) 


Monday, February 25, 2013

WEEKLY WRAP-UP

Last week was my first week working for Maiedae full-time! I took Monday off to get a little R+R from my work trip and had some time with Jon, but I started off Tuesday ready-minded and excited! It was a long and rewarding Tuesday-Thursday working for myself and doing what I love. I've still got some balancing to figure out, but overall I'm feeling really great about my weekly schedule and transition. :) If you read this post, you know that I got sick on Friday. :( It was good to just rest-up, but I was definitely itching to get back to work! This is going to be my first full week of work and boy, am I ready!

Jenny and I have a lot of prep work to do to get the Maiedae Mixer site up and running to launch ticket sales on March 1st! We are SO excited about this event. Things are really coming together and it's not going to be something you'll want to miss! So, if you are a blogger//creative be sure to check out this initial announcement post and mark your calendars for the March 1st ticket sales! We will only be selling 50 tickets, so make sure you get yours!

Snapshot(s) of the Week: 1// Ugly, but yummy green smoothie for breakfast with spinach, bananas, chia seeds, coconut milk, and ice! 2// My favorite desk items while working. Idea book/schedule, whole living magazine and peach baby lips. 3// I get really excited when I find a bracelet that doesn't look odd on my wrists. 4// Sick day dinner. Chicken noodle soup and a couple fishy crackers.


5 Favorite Posts:
* Past & Present Book Launch & Weekly Wrap Up - Design*Sponge
* 10 Best Mascaras - Glitter Guide
* How to Launder Bras - Madalynne 
* Social Media Made Simple: How & Where to Spend Your Time - IFB
* My Everyday Makeup - Zoella 

Favorite Blog of the Week:
* Speaking of Zoella above, I might as well just make her my favorite blog of the week. I've been loving her youtube videos and makeup tips all weekend!

Inspiring Me this Week:
* Beauty - I've been loving and super inspired about learning more about makeup and beauty products lately.

3 Things About Yours Truly: 
* For breakfast during the work week, I like to eat a breakfast bar, oatmeal, or drink a smoothie. :)
* I had a little "love myself" mini shopping spree this weekend and bought new make-up and LUSH goodies.
* Really, REALLY want to see the new "Fantasyland" at Disney.

Have a lovely week!


Friday, February 22, 2013

LIVING WELL: THINGS TO DO ON A SICK DAY

This morning I woke up and felt like rubbish. The night before I had a wonderful coffee date with a friend, made plans to be productive in the morning and finish out my first week strong as a full-time small business owner. I felt a little funny before dosing off to sleep last night and then woke up a couple times during the night feeling off...and then the morning came.

Mornings have been interesting at the Wallace household lately. For the past several months we've had construction going on in the woods behind our condo. To paint a picture for you...my side of the bed faces the east window, so right around the time I'm ready to wake up the sun and all of it's "good morning, get out of the freakin bed" flares are right in my face. Our room is filled with light and right outside the window is a beautiful tree, and every morning a tiny bird that has a similar tone to a car alarm sings us awake from early dawn until be are literally out of the bed. And...back to the construction, for some reason starting around 6:00am a giant piece of machinery (not sure what it is, I haven't been able to spot it), makes that backing up "bleep bleep bleeeeepppping" sound for 3 hours straight. So we have the sun, the incessant bird and the melodic bleep bleep bleeeping of the construction work. AND right around 7:30am, Kaito, our grey-hairded cat gets hungry and makes sure we are very aware of it by howling at the top of his lungs at the tiny crack at the bottom of our door. It's truly a symphony to hear. ;)

Most mornings Jon and I can burry our heads in our pillows, put on a little static background noise and get an extra hour of sleep in, but this morning for some reason hit me all at once, I think I might have gone mad.

Photo found here.

Stumbling through our bedroom to the shower, I had that "feeling" come over me...today was going to be a sick day and more than likely I would be good for absolutely nothing. Sometimes it's hard to take an unplanned day off and force yourself to get well so you can heal and get all of the rest you need. I finally submitted to what my body was telling me, crawled back into bed right out of the shower and haven't gotten out since. I'm feeling loads better and plan to be back on my feet tomorrow but am thankful I took some down time today to get well.

During my day in bed, I came up with a couple of "must-do's" during a sick day:

1. Nothing - If you don't have the energy to read, work or think...just don't do anything. Try and get some sleep, lay still and just try to be as peaceful as possible.

2. Listen to Your Mother - I might not want to drink any water, take any medicine or eat a thing...but try and do whats best for your body. Stay hydrated and let your insanely amazing body work on the getting back to normal process.

3. Watch YouTube - Once your brain starts functioning somewhat normally and you are well enough to actually watch something, go to YouTube! Of course there is Hulu and Netflix, which are brilliant, but I've found a new obsession (thanks to my sister) on YouTube watching beauty and fashion videos. Currently loving this, this and this channel.

4. "Window" Shop - Since your stuck in bed, might as well browse the internet and do a little online window shopping. Sometimes it's just fun to put things in your cart or on your wish-list and never actually buy a thing. I DID however get inspired and bought myself a small haul of "love myself" goodies from LUSH. Omg I love that shop.

5. Enjoy - You're in bed. You're sick...might as well make the best of it and enjoy the day off, especially in-between the "i think this is the end" feelings. ;)

And now, with that, I'm going to take my own advice and do "nothing" by going to sleep. :) I wish you well and all the best in your health! I hope you have a wonderful weekend friends.


Thursday, February 21, 2013

MINNETONKA GIVEAWAY! (CLOSED)

I was so excited to be featured in Minnetonka's blogger spotlight this week! I love wearing their moccasins and I'm excited to be able to giveaway a pair of their new 2-layer fringe boots courtesy of Minnetonka! These boots are my new favorite and I love pairing them with a patterned maxi, skinny jeans, or with a giant sweater and leggings. See below for details on how to win these lovely boots in your favorite color!
GIVEAWAY TIME
One winner will be selected at random and announced within the week. Giveaway is open to US residents only. Winner will be able to selected the boot color of their preference. They come in a beautiful black, camel, dusty brown, and grey!! I'm wearing the dusty brown ones in the photo above. See your choices here. :)

Main Entry:
Leave a comment letting me know what outfit you would pair with your new boot and what color you would select! Also be sure to leave a contact email address so I can let you know if you win. :)

Bonus Entries: (please leave one comment per entry)
1. Like Minnetonka on Facebook.
2. Follow Minnetonka on Twitter.
3. Like Maiedae on Facebook.
4. Follow Maiedae on Twitter.
5. Tweet about it!! You can copy and paste this if you'd like: Win a pair of fringe Moccasins from @MinnetonkaMocc on @Maiedae! http://tinyurl.com/b86pkps

Best wishes and thank you, Minnetonka, for the awesome giveaway!!


Wednesday, February 20, 2013

NOW OFFERING CUSTOM WORDPRESS BLOG DESIGN!

Jenny and I are so excited to announce that we are officially offering Wordpress blog design services!! We've been designing on the Blogger platform for almost two years and have wanted to expand our offerings for a while now, but wanted to wait until we were in a good place and had a great developer to make it happen.

We will be offering "boutique" design services for Wordpress blogs. Your new look will be completely customized and developed professionally by a Wordpress specialist. We are so excited to begin working with clients on this new platform and really create beautifully unique designs just for you! On top of offering a custom design and professional development we will also be offering full blog transfer services if you are wanting to move your home to the Wordpress platform as well as hosting services which will allow us to make annual maintenance and have easy access to work with you for any tweaks and changes you might need over time.


The design process is easy and fun! We begin by providing you with a thorough PDF that outlines our Wordpress package options, pricing, and next steps. Once you decide to move forward, we'll send along homework questions that will help us understand your sense of style and desired brand for your new space. After your homework questions are complete, you will be assigned a designer that will work closely with you to create something you LOVE. Your designer will either be myself or my amazingly talented business partner, Jenny. To check out some of our previous design work, please take a look at our design portfolio.

Once a designer begins working with you we will create a "mock-blog" that will allow us to work through the revision process. Once we get to a design you are 100% happy with, we will finalize and send everything off to our developer who will make it come to life! Upon completion of your project, we provide you with a file of your blog assets (banner image, shareable widgets etc.), a "Tips & Tricks" PDF that outlines custom tips on using your new space and blog support! Blog support is there to offer you free tweaks and small changes on your design once it's installed. If you need to change a color or add in a new welcome photo, no problem! We also archive all of your design assets so if you ever need a redesign or any major changes made, we are happy to assist!

Can you tell we are excited?! If you're interested in getting more information about our Wordpress blog design packages please email our lovely assistant, Leah, and she will be glad to provide you with our Wordpress PDF! Her contact information is: leah@maiedae.com AND as a special promo for our big announcement we will be offering the first 3 people who sign up for a Wordpress design $200 OFF of their package price! Heck yeah!!! 

If you have any questions, please note that our www.maiedae.com website hasn't been updated with this information but we are happy to answer any questions you might have! Feel free to tweet me @maiedae or shoot me an email!

Happy Wednesday, friends!


Tuesday, February 19, 2013

THOUGHTS ON GOING FULL-TIME FREELANCE

Here it is! Today is my first official day as a full-time business owner and freelancer. :) Ever since Jon and I made the decision two months ago, we've been preparing for the transition and working on what that would look like for our family as well as having lots of conversation with Jenny about how that would look for our business. It's hard to believe this day is actually here. This has been a huge dream and goal of mine since I can remember and it's so exciting to be in this place, free to do what I love!

As I have been preparing for this transition, I wanted to share some of the things I've done and goals I've set during this time. For those of you that are full-time seasoned freelancers and business owners, I would LOVE to hear any helpful advice you might have! Please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section below. :)


1. Budgeting - One aspect of this transition that will directly affect our family is the shift in our budget. Instead of depending on a consistent income from both Jon and me, we now only have one consistent income and an income we hope will build consistency, but will most likely fluctuate through the course of this year. Fortunately, we are able to live off of what Jon brings in. However, I have some whopping student loans left that we are working our arses off to get done paying. We've made A LOT of exciting progress in our debt over the past two years and we are seeing the finish line on the horizon. When I was working my 9-5 job, most, if not all, of my paycheck was being thrown at our student loans. Now that things are changing, we've decided to tighten up our budget and continue throwing everything I bring in at our loans with a goal of contributing a certain range each month. One thing that has REALLY helped working towards this adjustment was right after we made the decision that I would quit my job, we decided to live off of our new budget immediately and save the extra so we could create some cushion room and get used to how things would look for the rest of the year.

2. Scheduling - I've heard that it's really important to set boundaries for yourself as a business owner because the perception can often be that I all the sudden have lots of free time. In order to set boundaries for myself and for others, I've created a very thorough schedule for each week. I've set aside specific planning time, email time, blogging time, and lots of design time to work on projects. This will not only help me be realistic about what I can and can't take on, but will also help me stay focused on the tasks I need to complete that day. I've also made sure to include time in my day for exercise, lunch breaks, and personal development time so I'm keeping myself healthy, inspired and not sitting on my behind the entire day!

3. Get Ready! - This is a big goal for me. In the past, with my 9-5 job, I've been able to work from home now and then. I would find myself scrunging around the house with baggy pj's and messy hair. Day one felt fun and exciting, but by the second or third day of slumpin' I began feeling completely uninspired, tired, and unmotivated. No bueno! Taking the time to get ready in the morning; shower, get dressed, put some make-up on, do my hair...can make all the difference in how I feel that day and how productive I am. My goal is to get ready every morning with ONE jammy day each week. Tuesdays are pajama day...although I DID decided to get fully ready today, mostly because I wanted to impress my co-workers on the first day. ;)

4. Take Back the Night! - Before quitting my 9-5 job, I would work 32-40 hours each week at my desk job, come home, and then work most nights and weekends on Maiedae. I made sure to dedicate Wednesday to Jon for date night and Sundays for rest and family time...but most likely every other night and weekend (unless we were traveling) was dedicated to Maiedae work. While I LOVE what I do with Maiedae and never really felt like I was working...I'm ready to "take back the night" and give myself more set work hours and open up more time for new projects, hobbies, friend//family time and husband time!! I'm so excited to give myself some time back and maybe work on some home decorating or set coffee dates with friends! Whoohoo!

Those are some of my main goals and thoughts on going through this transition. I'm excited to see what I will learn through this new adventure, what will shift and the "best practices" I will glean. Again, if you have any advice or great resources, please feel free to share! In the meantime, here are a couple of my favorite "freelancer" resources for creatives:

B L O G S
* Be Free, Lance - Breanna Rose
* Advice Column - DesignLoveFest
* Biz Ladies - Design*Sponge
* Alt Blog - Alt Summit

B O O K S
* My So-Called Freelance Life - Michelle Goodman (currently reading)
* The Boss of You - Lauren Bacon & Emira Mears

Hope you have a wonderful day!!


Monday, February 18, 2013

MINNETONKA BLOGGER SPOTLIGHT!

I'm so excited to announced that I'm the Minnetonka Blogger Spotlight! Minnetonka is one of my favorite companies and I'm so excited to be featured this month. I love their shoes and am always impressed by their quality and style. Check out the interview and spotlight feature on their blog here.

See other ways I styled Minnetonka's here, here, and here. Also, be sure to come back later this week for a chance to win a beautiful pair of Minnetonka boots of your own!!


WEEKLY WRAP-UP

This past week has been truly an exciting time. I finished up my last work week for my 9-5 job. On Friday, I turned in my work computers, parking passes, and took my last pile of books out to the car. Driving home on Friday, it hit me briefly that this was it! I haven't thought about it much over the weekend. Since I was out of town for the week I spent a lot of down time with Jon resting and hanging out. Yesterday morning I woke up and thought to myself..."oh....my...everlovin', I quit my job!" Haha, I think everything will really hit me tomorrow morning when I officially start Maiedae full-time. I'm SO excited!!

Snapshot(s) of the Week: 1// Went to the Young House Love book signing in Atlanta with Jenny and Kate! Had so much fun!! 2// Where I was last week, working graphics production on a cruise boat. Got a chance to enjoy the view here and there and work on some exciting ideas for Maiedae. 3// Decided to treat myself and got my nails done on the boat. It's a "shellac" finish. It's supposed to last two weeks and be more gentle than gel. One week in and loving how good it still looks! 4// Sunday morning drive to go visit my family with Jon. :)


5 Favorite Posts:
* Blogs You Need to Read by Moorea Seal 
* Lime Cordial Three Ways by Joy the Baker 
* Small Business Tools by The Influence Network 
* NYFW's Buzziest Social Media Moment: Vine by IFB
* For Bloggers: Finding Your Niche by Breanna Rose  

Favorite Blog of the Week:
* Delightfully Tacky - I love Elizabeth's blog. I feel like she's my curly-headed sister. She has beautiful and unique fashion posts AND recently came out with an amazing "Style Yourself" e-course I'm really looking forward to checking out. :) 

Inspiring Me this Week:
* My So-Called Freelance Life by Michelle Goodman. - I've loved gleaning as much advice about this transition time as possible. Michelle's book is full of great resources and experience. 

3 Things About Yours Truly:
* I've been watching the IT Crowd a lot this weekend with Jon. I love that show!
* To lounge around the house: I love wearing one of Jon's hoodies, leggings, and giant socks. 
* I get headaches if I sleep too long. 

I hope you have a wonderful week, friends!! :)


Friday, February 15, 2013

BECAUSE I LOVE YOU...$100 LUSH GIVEAWAY (CLOSED)

Hello, friends!! I'm finally on dry land again! I've been away for the past week working graphics production on a cruise boat for my 9-5 job. Everything went wonderfully and I even got a little time to enjoy the sun and do a lot of brainstorming for Maiedae and for the blog! I got home last night just in time to celebrate Valentine's Day with Jon. :)

I loved seeing the response to the "Dear Little Me..." series. It was so wonderful having each blogger share such a special letter with us AND be able to see their cute faces when they were little. While that series is wrapped up for now, I encourage you to write your own and show yourself some love this month!

Today I have a lot to celebrate. Today is my last day at my 9-5 job. What?!!! I'm taking a long weekend off and then Tuesday I will begin full-time work with Maiedae! I'm so unbelievably excited. I'm so thankful and blessed to have such a wonderful husband and business partner that fully support me. Jenny, I'm counting down the days until you're full-time with me!!!

To celebrate Maiedae and all of the exciting changes AND as a gift to you wonderful readers. I'm giving away a $100 gift card to my favorite beauty product shop, LUSH. As a belated Valentine's gift, one lucky reader will be able to purchase lots of "love yourself" goodies.

I'm seriously in love with LUSH products...I discovered them a couple months ago thanks to my friend Kate and am obsessed with their amazing fresh handmade cosmetics and body products. :) Some of my favorites are Ocean Salt face scrub, Mint Chocolate lip scrub & Angels on Bare Skin daily face wash.

GIVEAWAY TIME
One winner will be chosen at random and announced within a week, winner will receive a $100.00 gift card to LUSH! Open internationally. This is not a sponsored giveaway.

Main Entry: To enter please visit LUSH and tell me what would be at the top of your "to buy" list if you won $100.00. Also please be sure to leave an email contact so I can let you know if you win! :)

Bonus Entries: (please leave one comment per bonus entry)
1. Like Maiedae on Facebook!
2. Tweet about it! You can copy and paste this if you'd like: Happy belated VD! @maiedae is giving away a $100 gift card to @lushcosmetics ...time to love on yourself! http://tinyurl.com/basr4sf

Yay!! Best wishes!! I hope you have a wonderful weekend! :)



Thursday, February 14, 2013

DEAR LITTLE JENNY...

Dear little Jenny,

Don't ever loose that big smile and joyful heart. You are full of life and you will bring that life and laughter to others. Life will bring many struggles, but never loose the joy in your heart. You are strong and can withstand a lot more than you think. Just remember that God has given you a deep purpose that is worth living.

You have the capability to love others very deeply and unselfishly. Be patient and don't get too caught up with boys too early. Heed your daddy's advice and protect your heart. You won't fully understand until you're married, but trust me. Your heart is a precious gift and one worth protecting. 

It's okay to be silly and unique. Don't fear what everyone else thinks of you. The popular kids won't like you many times, but that doesn't matter in life. Be different and creative. Your eye for beauty and passion for art will become part of who you are. 

Love,
Grown up Jenny

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

We are celebrating Valentine's Day by writing love letters to our little selves. This idea stems from one of my favorite quotes by Kris Carr, “Picture yourself when you were five. in fact, dig out a photo of little you at that time and tape it to your mirror. How would you treat her, love her, feed her? How would you nurture her if you were the mother of little you? I bet you would protect her fiercely while giving her space to spread her itty-bitty wings. she’d get naps, healthy food, imagination time, and adventures into the wild. If playground bullies hurt her feelings, you’d hug her tears away and give her perspective. When tantrums or meltdowns turned her into a poltergeist, you’d demand a loving time-out in the naughty chair. From this day forward I want you to extend that same compassion to your adult self.” This Valentine's Day, take time to write little you a love letter. What are three things you would tell yourself? Show yourself some fierce love this month. 


Wednesday, February 13, 2013

DEAR LITTLE MOOREA...


Dear Little Moorea...

You should not be afraid. You have been strong since you were born. You are going to face so many incredible hardships and obstacles in your life. And at the tender age of 6, you already have dealt with so much. You have already grown up so quickly and have taken on the role of adult. But with each hardship, you will gain greater compassion for those around you and you will see more deeply your greater purpose in life.

Your sacrifices were so worth the love you were able to give. You were born with a beautiful sensitivity towards others and your ability to bring comfort and love to others through your comedic personality and your dept of kindess will stay with you forever.

When you are a grown up, you will understand the power of allowing yourself to be vulnerable. You have had that power inside of you since you were tiny because it is your natural tendency to want to connect to others on a deeper level in an instant. When you were little, you were very fearful of being vulnerable, afraid that it was a path through which others could hurt you. But as a grown up you will see that you are the only one who is in control of your vulnerability. It is a channel flowing out of you with which you harness strength and love. And your vulnerability will do so many good things for others. My little self, you are a wonder. I am so proud of who you are, who you remained during all of the hard times, and the person I now am because of you. Your pains were worth it all. And you will grow to understand happiness and peace like you could never imagine.

Love,
Grown up Moorea

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

We are celebrating Valentine's Day by writing love letters to our little selves. This idea stems from one of my favorite quotes by Kris Carr, “Picture yourself when you were five. in fact, dig out a photo of little you at that time and tape it to your mirror. How would you treat her, love her, feed her? How would you nurture her if you were the mother of little you? I bet you would protect her fiercely while giving her space to spread her itty-bitty wings. she’d get naps, healthy food, imagination time, and adventures into the wild. If playground bullies hurt her feelings, you’d hug her tears away and give her perspective. When tantrums or meltdowns turned her into a poltergeist, you’d demand a loving time-out in the naughty chair. From this day forward I want you to extend that same compassion to your adult self.” This Valentine's Day, take time to write little you a love letter. What are three things you would tell yourself? Show yourself some fierce love this month. 



Tuesday, February 12, 2013

DEAR LITTLE JILL...


Dear Little Jill...

Having the benefit of being you for some time, experiencing all that you have experienced, and knowing what you have yet to know, I have a few loving words of wisdom to share.

First, the world is a big place. It is so much larger than you can see with young eyes. The small bruises you take from this journey are much easier to handle if you can see beyond yourself. What feels like a crushing blow to your heart or your ego isn't really so bad. It doesn't even register in the big picture, and one day, you'll hardly remember any specific moments of unhappiness.

Secondly, don't worry that not everyone you meet will want to be your friend. It's not about what's missing in you, it's just a fact that some personalities aren't meant to work together. You'll find your "right" people when you start to believe in yourself and value the good traits you have.

Lastly, you are resilient and unflappable. It's a trait that you won't become truly aware of until you're older. One day someone will point it out to you, and you'll realize that it's true. It's OK to be a bit tough, as long as you don't let it get in the way of the times when you need to be kind. Never forget to first be kind.

So, little me,  although I wouldn't suggest changing too much about the way you do things (the butterfly effect is said to throw things off kilter) I want you to know that there is a lot of love waiting for you in the future. Not only will you be loved by others more than you could have ever imagined, but you'll love and respect yourself more too. Believe that you deserve good things and keep truckin', little one! As you always suspected, things will turn out right.

Love,
Grown up Jill

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

We are celebrating Valentine's Day by writing love letters to our little selves. This idea stems from one of my favorite quotes by Kris Carr, “Picture yourself when you were five. in fact, dig out a photo of little you at that time and tape it to your mirror. How would you treat her, love her, feed her? How would you nurture her if you were the mother of little you? I bet you would protect her fiercely while giving her space to spread her itty-bitty wings. she’d get naps, healthy food, imagination time, and adventures into the wild. If playground bullies hurt her feelings, you’d hug her tears away and give her perspective. When tantrums or meltdowns turned her into a poltergeist, you’d demand a loving time-out in the naughty chair. From this day forward I want you to extend that same compassion to your adult self.” This Valentine's Day, take time to write little you a love letter. What are three things you would tell yourself? Show yourself some fierce love this month. 


Monday, February 11, 2013

DEAR LITTLE GINA...


Dear Little Gina...

Oh how funny you are. I love how odd you are and that will always be a part of you. The good news is the older you get the cooler being "different" is! Your perspective will challenge people (mostly your parents) and will be refreshing to others.

It will make you the weirdo in the neighborhood with chickens in your backyard but it will also empower everyone around you to find out who they really are. Another thing you need to learn to love would have to be your bangs. You will have them forever. You will, however, graduate from a bowl cut so that is great news.

What I love most about you, though, is your sense of adventure. Being able to spend all day outside building forts and making a mess of yourself is way more fun then playing dress up (though you will do that too). That sense of adventure will take you on travels all the way to Uganda, to go hiking in Arizona, and to marry your best friend and move away to a tiny island where you only need bikes. It will be a blast and that is only the beginning! Enjoy yourself and laugh a lot. Let the little things go.

Love,
Grown up Gina

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

We are celebrating Valentine's Day by writing love letters to our little selves. This idea stems from one of my favorite quotes by Kris Carr, “Picture yourself when you were five. in fact, dig out a photo of little you at that time and tape it to your mirror. How would you treat her, love her, feed her? How would you nurture her if you were the mother of little you? I bet you would protect her fiercely while giving her space to spread her itty-bitty wings. she’d get naps, healthy food, imagination time, and adventures into the wild. If playground bullies hurt her feelings, you’d hug her tears away and give her perspective. When tantrums or meltdowns turned her into a poltergeist, you’d demand a loving time-out in the naughty chair. From this day forward I want you to extend that same compassion to your adult self.” This Valentine's Day, take time to write little you a love letter. What are three things you would tell yourself? Show yourself some fierce love this month.