Sunday, June 21, 2020

Sunday Night Thought


Thursday, June 18, 2020

It's The Small Things

Does anyone else lately feel kind of blah from news outlet overload? I know it is important to be informed, especially with everything that is going on, but sometimes I feel like I can’t get away from it between television and different social media platforms. It can honestly be a little overwhelming at times…

I honestly think it is just as important to concentrate on even the smallest positive thing that happened during the day as it is the biggest. I have actually found myself lately making a mental list of all the positive things I accomplished and positive things that happened through out the day and it really does help. 

Around this time last year I had this huge exciting thing happen and shortly after things just seemed to derail eventually to the point where I really felt like I had no other choice but to end it. I’ve been reflecting on that this month some because I honestly don’t understand why things changed so much after, and I don’t think I ever will, and sometimes you just have to be okay with not fully understanding a situation. Then I have a birthday coming up and it’s not like I’m old, but sometimes you just have an issue with turning another year older… 

So to help balance out the news, reflecting on old events, and slightly freaking out over turning another year older here are some of the small things and moments that I have been thankful for that in the end really do mean a lot and can always bring a smile to my face.
A really good hug

Puppy cuddles

Walks with friends

Fresh flowers {especially peonies}

A fun/funny/nice text from a friend

Rosé

90’s Rom-Coms

A perfect 80-degree day in the South in the middle of June

Ice cream

Stumbling upon a really great Instagram account

Having the perfect hair day

Black and White movies

A hair cut

Picking the perfect recipe to try off of Pinterest

Turning the first page of a new book

The smell of a new book {weird, I know}

An unexpected phone call from someone you haven’t talk to in a while

The feel of sunshine on your face

Listening to Pandora and not having to skip over one song

A new dress that fits perfect

Bubble Baths

Climbing into a warm bed complete with a ridiculous amount of duvets and pillows

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Feel Good Shows

I know I may get criticized for even admitting this, but I haven’t watched the news in two full days now. Yes, I know there is a lot going on right now, and yes, I know it is important to be informed, but the new is just getting too heavy for me. Sometimes it can seriously take its toll on you mentally. 
I love older shows and movies; they seem just a bit more light hearted and innocent than present day shows. I mean, who doesn’t love watching Lucy try to work in a chocolate factory? Here are a few of my favorite  {older} shows to watch!

I Love Lucy


Bewitched


Green Acres



The Golden Girls

Thursday, June 11, 2020

My Top 5 Favorite Summer Pasta Recipes

Hands down my top three favorite thing to eat are: sushi, tacos, and pasta. I don’t know about you, but I have no clue how to make sushi and tacos just always taste so much better when they’re from a restaurant, but pasta is always delicious!

This may sound weird, but I kind of feel like there are some pastas that are strictly wintertime, some that are just meant for summer, and some that are just perfect no mater what time of year it is. Here are my top 5 favorite pastas for summer!
This is most definitely one of those pasta dishes that is good all year round. I love how easy it is and it is just comfort food at its best

When has any recipe by Paula Deen not been good? {fun fact: she’s the only person I have ever been star struck by….}. This recipe is surprisingly healthy and so easy to make. 

One of the reasons I love this dish so much is because it not only taste amazing, but it looks so pretty when you place it on the table/serving area. The only down side to this one is that it is a little time consuming.

I just love a lemon element in pasta during the summer time; it just adds a nice a fresh element to any dish. 

Shrimp + Pasta... need I say more? I could eat seafood all day long, especially when it is part of a pasta dish. This recipe is basically the epitome of a summer past dish!

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Guest Post :: How To Get More Views On Your YouTube

YouTube has definitely been a platform that has evolved with the times and I kind of love the fact that it is so user friend and a great creative outlet for those who choose to use it in that way. I personally do not have a YouTube channel, but there are some really great ones out there and some that are just addicting. Today Peter Minkoff is sharing a few great tips on how to get more views on your YouTube Video!
Getting more views on your YouTube videos has never been easy – in the beginning, not enough people knew about YouTube and weren’t as interested in these videos, while today, there are just too many people doing the same thing. That’s why being unique and attracting as many views as possible is still a challenge, but there are a few tricks that can help you do that more easily. Whether you’re a vlogger or just a YouTube enthusiast, here are some of the best tricks that will help you attract more people than ever.

Spice up your titles

Though it sounds like the hardest thing in the world, this will probably be the easiest way to boost your views. We all know that video titles aren’t the only way for people to find your video content, but they actually are the most accurate way to do so. This is why you need to work on your video titles and pay more attention to this aspect, and you’ll be surprised to notice the difference in the number of people checking your videos out. Picking the right title is easy if you know what you’re doing, and it’s all about the proper keywords, a few numbers, and keeping things short, sweet, and eye-catching. If you manage to do that, your videos will get more attention, and your views will rocket.

Find your target audience

This is an important aspect of every business, and YouTube videos are no different. Finding your specific niche and directing your attention to a limited number of people instead of trying to engage them all is a much easier tactic that makes more sense in the long run. This should help you identify your target audience and focus all your attention on the people who are more likely to respond to your content. Doing this takes some time, energy, and patience, but don’t be afraid to do some extra work that will pay off in the end.

Pay attention to your presentation

Speaking of easy ideas that go a long way, this is probably the easiest and most straight-forward. Everyone knows that visually-appealing and attractive videos gather more attention, and that’s why we’re all trying to keep our content as inviting and appealing as possible. Of course, there are lots of ways to do so, and using those amazing audio visualizers is among the most effective ones. These visualizers are catchy and customizable, which is why they can work for lots of people, including yourself, so be sure to check them out and start using them in your videos ASAP.

Content over anything else

In the end, you can do whatever you want, but you’ll never get enough views if you don’t have the right content. Content is still the king of YouTube, especially today, with so many people fighting for your attention and doing whatever they can to bring you to their channel. Therefore, you need to keep one simple thing in mind – if you want followers, viewers, and subscribers, you need to give them high-quality content. It goes without saying that doing that is far from easy, but you can still do it if you stick to the basics. Stick to things that are simple yet engaging, and be ready to present new videos as often as you can. This will generate more traffic and bring more people to your channel, and that’s something we all want.

As you can see, boosting your views isn’t as hard as most people think, and you’ll probably be able to do all these things more easily than you’ve imagined. Start with these ideas and keep upgrading them, and your channel will become more popular quite quickly.

Saturday, June 6, 2020

Links I'm Loving

Who else could use a trip to the beach, because I totally could! I feel like 2020 has been a roller coaster of a ride so far… hopefully the next six months will be a little more peaceful.  In the mean time here are a few fun links to get lost in.
Fresh cut flowers are hands down one of my most favorite things. Flowers just have a way of making a room feel fresh and happy. Needless to say beautiful flowers need an equally beautiful flower vase 

It really is just astounding at how many things Covid-19 has impacted. Shelter in place, businesses shutting down, sporting events put on hold, taking classes online, and the delay of graduations and high school proms. This adorable little boy decided to organize a social distance prom for his nanny and it is pretty adorable.

I love watching the Bon Appetit; it is completely addicting. Who doesn’t love a good boxed brownie mix? The Bon Appetit chefs are getting a little creative and sharing how to take boxed brownies to the next level

I don’t know about you, but I definitely have those days where my hair just looks a little off and needs to be pulled back. Speaking from experience, you seriously can’t go wrong with a good Tortiseshell hair accessory.

Summer and White dresses just go together like peaches and crème – it’s a classic that never goes out of style. I love the cut of this dress and how a simple pattern on the fabric takes the whole thing to the next level!

Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Father's Day Gift Guide

I usually wait a little closer to Father’s Day to post a gift guide, but since online shopping has been the way to go thus far and some companies are taking a few days longer to ship items, I thought there was no time like the present to give everyone a little extra jump on their gift shopping. 

I have always felt like men in general are harder to shop for…especially my dad. Sometimes it honestly seems like he has everything he could ever want, which of course make shopping a bit of a challenge. So, for those of you who have a somewhat challenging father to shop for here are a few gift ideas!

Here’s where to shop for my above Father’s Day Gifts. Click on the name of the item to be directed to the website. 


1.               Leather Tie Case
2.             Jack Black Skin Saviors Set
3.             On Run Cloudswift
4.             Cuisinart 20-piece Delux Grill Set
5.             Mother City, by Starner Jones
6.             Riedel “O” Cognac Glasses, Set of 2
7.              Harvey Leather Overnight
8.             Presidents of War, by Michael R. Beschloss
9.             Polished Poker Set
10.           Personalized Golf Ball Gift Set

Tuesday, June 2, 2020

My Top 10 Favorite Instagram Accounts

It is crazy to think that Instagram has been around for about ten years now… I love how Instagram allows you the ability to do a few quick edits and that there are even apps that allow you to save your favorite presets now. How did we ever survive in the days of unedited pictures…
I hate to admit it, but when it first came about I thought that I had Facebook and wondered what the point of Instagram even was. I honestly didn’t get into the app till I had a blog and now it is hands down my favorite social media platform. 

Over the years Instagram has evolved so much; from another platform to strictly share personal pictures to a platform for amateur photographers to share photos and get feedback, for bloggers to share a little inspiration, cooks, and even companies utilizing it as one of their main ways to self promote and advertise.

I am such a sucker for a beautiful feed and will go ahead and warn you that I tend to gravitate towards favoring interior design and home Instagram accounts. There are a few fashion, food, and inspiration accounts in the mix, so scroll down to see my current favorite accounts!