Sunshine and Bubblegum - KATIE'S PERSONAL BLOG

Bloggy Break

2011-11-02T16:15:00.000-04:00

Taking a break from blogging. I'll be back (probably next year) when I can devote more attention to it, the attention that this blog deserves.

Till then my friends....

Take care and Dream Higher.

Gmail Rant

2011-10-12T15:23:00.001-04:00

Gmail and I get along well. It's my favorite email system. BUT TODAY - when I write a reply it's automatically making a new email and posting the replay underneath, instead of simply adding my reply to the chain. That's a terrible explanation and you have no idea what I meant. BUT it's annoying.... so so so so so so so so so so so annoying. And it's slowing me down. I already spend way to much time answering email. This little change, though not a big deal to anyone else, is not good for me. Not good at all.

UPDATE: It's back to normal. *huge sigh of relief*

What I Love Wendnesday

2011-09-28T12:12:00.000-04:00

This Canvas Print

I'm so BUSY!!

2011-09-21T13:28:00.000-04:00

As you can conclude from the title of this post I've been so busy this week. I had an install yesterday that didn't go as planned. What should have taken 4 hours tops is now taking 24 hours and counting. SO ANNOYING. But no fault of the client of course - just me and my slightly limited skills/ the stupid code that won't do as I tell it too.

People have been emailing me asking if I received their email yesterday. Grrr.... Yes. I got it, I've just been to busy to reply yet. This is also annoying because people can take weeks to reply to me but if I don't reply to them within a few hours they go ballistic. Slight (or major) exaggeration here, but still.

Okay rant over. Back to business for this busy butt.

I love my job, really I do!!

That's just {NOT} grape

2011-09-14T15:15:00.000-04:00

The grape sugar flavor substitute stuff arrived. It sucks. Really, it does. And it's sad. My hopes were up so high. *sigh*

---- But I also ordered Root Beer and that one actually tastes pretty good. So all happiness is not lost. Hope everyone's week has been better than my grape idea!

Needed Randomness: A. - J.

2011-09-07T14:33:00.000-04:00

A. Ate ice-cream yesterday. Sugar free kind. Loved the temperature, the creamy dreaminess, but the flavor was weak. Not sure if it's because my taste buds have changed or because it was sugar free.

B. Been craving a cupcake for weeks. Not like a "give me a cupcake now!" kind of a way. More like a "cupcakes are cute and yummy and I really want one" kind of a way. Which makes no sense unless you are in my head. Basically I want a cupcake very badly. But not badly enough to cheat on my diet. Especially now that I fear my taste buds have no desire for such an artificial delight.

C. Cleaned our home yesterday. I clean everyday but yesterday I really cleaned. You know scrubbed things and made floor spotless.Did this thinking the fix it people were going to come fix our dryer and refrigerator. But the phone they were suppose to call is down for the count. So they won't come.

D. Don't care though. If the fix it people come or not. Yes our stuff needs fixed but it's been broken for awhile and we can deal.

E. Ever ridden an elephant? I think that would be cool. When I reach my weight goal that is. Don't want to hurt the poor thing!

F. Fish. Those were the only pets my home had growing up. They were my sisters. They smelled.

G. GRAPE!!! I love grape. I ordered this natural grape fake sugar drops stuff. I think if I put it in club soda it might taste good. Oh how I miss grape soda.

H. Hope it gets here soon. Just talking about grape soda is making me long.

I. I am strange. Thanks for noticing!

J.Just can't think of much of anything for this one. Better stop. It's 10 anyways.

What I Love Wendnesday

2011-08-31T15:06:00.000-04:00

1. This cute purse (especially for fall and winter)

2. These Menu Planners (thanks to Jacky!)

3. This Shirt (and a reason to wear it)

4. This notepad (or just a pet zebra)

5. This outfit (thanks to BabyGirl!)

Top Chef Just Desserts

2011-08-24T19:06:00.000-04:00

Far from being a chef myself I find it fun to watch chefs on tv. One of my favorites is Top Chef so I was thrilled when Top Chef Just Desserts premiered last season. Now it's back for another season and it starts tonight! Very exciting. Here is a sneak peak...

Are you going to watch it too?

Polly want a cracker?

2011-08-16T17:05:00.000-04:00

I don't know if Polly wants a cracker but I sure do. I've been dieting the last 14 days, no carbs or sugar, and I'm severely craving some whales (Wal-Mart brand of goldfish crackers). Maybe watching this will help...

Yep!!

Love this song!

2011-07-25T13:28:00.000-04:00

Working away with the radio on in the background (last.fm - pandora is okay but I can't stand the ads). The music helps me stay calm and happy.

Then an amazing song came on and I HAD to post it here.

Enjoy!!

Cupcakes for me!

2011-07-21T13:28:00.010-04:00

Hubby was late coming home from work today. He didn't have his phone so I couldn't call him. It was stormy and yucky outside. I was worried.

Today, Hubby brought home CUPCAKES!!!

Paint it WHITE

2011-06-13T14:58:00.002-04:00

Sometimes I want to decorate my whole home in white and then add pops of color here and there. Strange idea?? I don't think so!! Just look at this photo I found. It could totally work.

That's kind of what I did with my latest blog design. Although I wouldn't add THAT much color to my home.

UPDATE: or maybe just white and brown earth tones. I LOVE everything about this room:

"We got older but we're still young..." - The Starting Line

2011-05-19T14:19:00.000-04:00

Music!

Since we moved into our new office, today is the first day that we have had music. It's amazing to me how much of a mood lifter my favorite music is. And the fact that I find something amazing makes me feel really great. Maybe all is not lost.

Thanks everyone for your sweet comments on my last post - you guys ROCK!!!!

It's raining outside (and in).

2011-05-14T17:16:00.000-04:00

It's getting worse. The last two days I haven't worked. I can't. I don't feel well, sleep well, eat well, or interact well.

I feel grey. Like Eeyore in Winnie-the-Pooh. Maybe it's the weather, allergies, maybe it's nerves, from over-working, maybe it's depression. Or maybe this is what being a grown-up feels like. I used to get excited about Grape Soda. Not so much anymore.

It's like it's gone. That carefree, the world is amazing, childlike outlook. It used to come so naturally and now I can hardly even force it. Being 25 sucks.

NEVER being able to forget also sucks. I TRY SO HARD. I have Hubby and he is wonderful, my job is the best, my life is really great and I'm happy. But it's always there, in the back of my mind. Why can't I conceive a child?...

It's getting worse. But it will get better. It has too.

Who me?

2011-04-30T17:51:00.000-04:00

Yes, it's true, I've been gone for a long time. Not sure what happened but it's hard for me to blog these days. Hour after hour working on other people's blogs makes me a little sick of it I suppose. I do LOVE my job though!!!!! and blogging still rocks-the-socks-off.

And p.s. I'm still alive!!!

Working and watching Despicable Me

2011-04-12T16:36:00.000-04:00

This movie always makes me smile!!

Rambling on Monday night

2011-03-28T23:48:00.000-04:00

Monday, at least mine, is over in 13 minutes. I couldn't be more thrilled. The emails just kept coming today and I'm ready to get some sleep and start all over again tomorrow. It's funny how tough it is too be busy but yet, the moment it slows down I go into a panic. So grateful that I'm exhausted! Got to remember that.

Over the moon happy for EasyCanvasPrints!

2011-03-23T10:25:00.002-04:00

I was recently contacted with a sweet opportunity. Megan at EasyCanvasPrints offered me a free Canvas Print in exchange for a sponsorship on my sidebar and this post. I was stocked!!! Right away I had a brilliant idea - make one for our office - so that's what I did.

I don't have a picture of it, since my camera charger is lost, but here is the image I uploaded to EasyCanvasPrints.com (cute website btw):

And it turned out looking 99.9999% exactly like the image. Honestly, I thought it might turn out a bit blurry since they blew it up so large, but no it was crystal clear.

I LOVE IT!!! I can't express how easy the process was and how thrilled I am with the outcome. It arrived at my door early and it was packaged perfectly. Everyone in our office can't stop looking at it and my husband was very impressed.

Thank you, thank you, thank you EasyCanvasPrints - you guys rock!!!

Seriously people, if you want a canvas print - hang it over the mantel, or your bed, or do one for the office like I did - please please check out EasyCanvasPrints. You won't be disappointed!

Hubby knows best

2011-03-18T10:39:00.000-04:00

Yesterday.

Worked on this one blog for 5 hours straight. Kept having stupid problems and couldn't for the life of me right align the navigation bar.Wanted to fix it and be done but I couldn't.

Hubby came home, turned on the TV and proceeded to watch basketball and yell "Jimmer" over and over again. Yelling, cheering.

I wasn't in the mood and wasn't very nice to him. He very carefully suggested that I take a break for the night and start again in the morning. Reluctantly I folded and stepped away from the computer.

Today.

Work up early. Answered email. Started on that same blog and fixed it in five minutes.

Although he couldn't technically help me, he helped. And he always does. He's the smartest person I know and I'm so blessed to have him around :)

This and that and an orchid

2011-03-10T16:23:00.001-05:00

Been distant. Been busy, mostly been distracted with my own thoughts. Not sure why.

Got a call from Grandma today!! She just wanted to see how I was doing. I love her! It was so good to hear from her. I miss her terribly.

The orchid Hubby got me for our anniversary is still going strong!! Last year it died and I was sad. Maybe this year it will live longer :)

When I zone out I keep seeing pink unicorns. I think it's because I watched Despicable Me twice last week. One of the BEST movies ever!!!!

Drumroll please....

2011-03-02T18:08:00.000-05:00

The winners for our latest giveaway are Cynthia, Mandy and Abby! Congrats girls!! Look for an email from us to discus the details.

For everyone else who entered but did not win - you are still winners today!! Email us within the week (dreamupstudios@gmail.com) and we'll send you a 20% off coupon to be used towards a DreamUp Studios design order of your choice!

Happy Monday!!

2011-02-28T06:15:00.001-05:00

It's Monday!! Yippee (I'm secretly trying to trick myself into thinking that I'm happy about the weekend being over. Shhhh... don't tell me)!!! At least it times for FMM.

Movie Questions

1) What is your favorite movie? I can't pick just one. I refuse.

2) If you could trade lives with an actor or actress for one day, who would you choose? And why? Anne Hathaway. Because she's gorgeous and funny and nice and everyone likes her.

3) Who is your favorite actor/actress? I love Audrey Tautou and Mark Alan Ruffalo.

p.s. Only one more day to enter our giveaway (it ends March 1st at 12:00pm est). You know you want to WIN!!

Top 2 Tuesday!

2011-02-22T01:54:00.001-05:00

Top 2 Things you've learned from your parents or grandparents

1. LOVE EVERYONE, especially your spouse. My grandparents are the kindest people ever. They are amazing at seeing the good in everyone and ignoring the bad. They love each other more than any couple I've ever meet. You can still see it in their eyes when they look at each other, even after all these years.They teach me the beauty and importance of love.

2. LIFE ISN'T FAIR. Being a Libra I'm constantly looking for balance, thus I notice when things aren't 'fair' way more than I should. All throughout my growing up years my parents would combat my tantrums with, ' life isn't fair'. I hated them for that. But I get it now and I'm grateful.

p.s. Enter our giveaway - you could WIN!!

Oh, COME ON!!!

2011-02-18T15:55:00.000-05:00

Alright, I'm not MAD, so don't take this the wrong way, but I only have 6 entries (thanks you ladies, you are the best!) for my portion of our DreamUp Studios giveaway. The winner will get $100 worth of services for FREE. That's a lot of money (at least in my world it is) and I really wanted more people to want it... I've been busy and haven't had much time to announce it (plus I'm terrible at doing that) but you would think at least some of my readers would enter.... any advise?? Ashley has 6 as well and I want to BEAT her.

Okay rant over. Enter the giveaway here.

After Valentine's Day Give-Away!

2011-02-15T02:21:00.001-05:00

Hi lovelies, hope your Valentine's Day was as lovely as you are!! My day was great as is every day spend with my sweet Hubby. I'm not looking forward to tomorrow without him though... anyone with me there?? But don't cry because it's over just yet, no no!! We (the team at DreamUp Studios) have a fun surprise in store for you!!

To keep the love going we thought today would be the perfect day for a give-away!! We are offering one $100 DreamUp Studios gift card to three lucky winners!! We will be hosting this giveaway on three blogs (DreamUp Studios Blog, Sunshine and Bubblegum, Little Things and Possibilities) and choosing one winner from each blog.

So how does it work??

It's simple really! Just leave a separate comment for every entry, telling us which entry it is (ie. I followed you on facebook). You may visit each participating blog and leave more comments there for more chances to win. In two weeks we will choose one winner from each blog (be sure to leave your email so we can contact you if you win) and give them their prize!!

To qualify for the give-away leave us a comment and tell us which DreamUp Studios services you would purchase with the gift card if you won.

For extra entries you may 1.) browse our past projects and leave a comment on the project that you like the most, telling us why you like it (then come back to this post and leave a comment so your entry gets counted). 2.) 'like' us on Facebook. 3.) Follow us on Twitter. 4.) Follow us via Google Friend Connect

For extra extra entries you may 1.) leave a comment on one of my past posts 2.) 'like' me on Facebook. 3.) Follow me on Twitter. 4.) Follow me via Google Friend Connect

Finally, to show our love and appreciation for our current followers (either of the three host blogs, facebook or twitter) we are giving you each FIVE extra entries just for being awesome.