A Southern Sass

Let's try this again

2010-04-09T05:34:00.002-04:00

I am getting an error on my blog when a comment is added. I wonder if it happens when I post a new blog...

New Comment Form

2010-04-09T05:29:00.001-04:00

I really want a better commenting form on my Swagger Gift's Website - so I am testing it here:)! I don't want anything bad to happen if you know what I mean.

I did quite a bit of research and am trying IntenseDebate as my new comment form. Let's see if it works - shall we?

It worked! Now let's see if I modify the post - will it still work?

New Signature!

2010-03-09T08:29:00.010-05:00

I just figured out how to add a signature to my blog posts - what do you think?

I learned how to do this from this post at Shabbyblogs.com! Thanks Shabbyblogs!

Picnik - a cool tool

2010-03-03T03:55:00.004-05:00

Okay - so I was spending lots of time on FB (a current habit of mine) and came across a picture from one of my husband's cousins. She had written on her photo in this really cool photo with the caption of - I picniked. What the hell did that mean?

So of course I googled it:) What did I do before google? seriously.

Picnik is a cool *free* website that you can use to tweak your photos. It has some of the same "tweaks" as Picasa but a lot more AND there are cool graphics, picture frames, and fonts! I recently purchased PhotoShop CS3 but since I'm not at 100% of knowing what the @#%@ I'm doing - this is super cool! It has a lot more fonts than I currently have downloaded and I haven't quite figured out how to do picure frames in CS3 yet - do I have to buy those? Anyway - I hope I don't just use this software as a crutch and not learn more/use my expensive CS3 anymore!

Here is a picture I messed around with and added text, boarders, picture frames, tweaks - etc. I'm not sure why I choose the picture or what the hell I was writing, but it was an experiment and I was short on time - okay? Don't judge:) I will work on a "real" picture later. Until then - here it is.... Beautiful, huh?:)

I love Picasa Web Albums

2009-10-07T06:14:00.008-04:00

I am using this blog to test out some new features (well new to me) on Picasa. I have never embedded a slideshow before and I want to see how it works - okay?

So I am embedding a slideshow of our brand new Digital Holiday Cards from my gift shop, Swagger Gifts. I am super excited about them because they aren't your "typical" holiday card - they have cool patterns and the pictures are printed on card stock instead of the flimsy picture paper you would get at somewhere like Eckerds. AND they are 30% off until November 10th - yeah!!

So without further ado -let's see how this slideshow works shall we?

Here is the Slideshow with Extra Large 600x pictures:

Here is the slideshow with Large 400x pictures:

Looks like the 400x wins. The pictures aren't huge but I guess you can see them all right. What do you guys think? Any suggestions?
Mandy

Shabbyblogs.com Rocks!

2009-10-01T04:07:00.003-04:00

Hey There! Remember me? Well I understand if you don't:( I haven't posted on here since June 2008 - yikes! I have been posting on my two other blogs though (does that help?).

So AnYwAy, since I last posted, I moved to Zurich, Switzerland! My husband and I are over here for 1 year and we are loving every minute of it! Since moving, I have really been trying to keep all my friends and family back "home" up to date with our day to day life and travels on my travel blog.

I wasn't sure how it was going to work out running Swagger, my gift shop, from this side of the pond but it has been wonderful! I hired a really amazing store manager and the store is thriving without me (does that mean I don't have to work much when I come back?)! I have had the opportunity to became less attached to the day to day operations of Swagger and have been able to do more ecommerce stuff and keep up with our Let's Talk Shop blog, too!

This past week I decided to make all my blogs PRETTY! I love my friend's blog - Erin McLean Events - so I started there. I found out she uses a shabbyblogs.com background so I made me way over there! Wow - talk about beautiful stuff! This is one talented lady for sure! How do you like my new background? So cool - right? You can get one too for free - and if I could figure out how to do it - anyone can!

From this website I found a link to KevinandAmanda.com and found some awesome fonts! I haven't quite figured out how to change the font on my title bars yet..... but I am working on it! Stay tuned!

I just wanted to say a HUGE thanks to all the wonderful bloggers out there who try to make the blogosphere a pretty place - FOR FREE! You guys ROCK! My little corner has now been beautified!

love,mandy

Make - OVER!

2008-06-03T18:34:00.007-04:00

I am a makeup moron. I mean - I think I usually look presentable enough - my foundation matches my skin tone and all - but I just can't do eyes nor do I know ANYTHING about new cool products. I think it is because I hate Sephora - I get really overwhelmed by all the products and since no one will help you I just wander aimlessly until I give up and leave. This is why I shop at makeup counters, but the problem with that is I always feel so guilty when someone helps me that I HAVE to buy something. So for me - going to the makeup counter = buying product. And of course I'm such a sucker - I don't just buy one thing - it is $100 worth of things. Why I do this I don't know. I own a gift shop and everyone who comes in doesn't buy from me. Which is totally fine so why do I get suckered in if someone shows me an ounce of attention? Because I'm a sucker. :)

ANYWAY, the point of my story is that I am so bored when I look at myself in the mirror that I knew I HAD to get some new makeup. If I put on that same damn eyeshadow one more time I was going to scream! So today I walked my happy ass to the local MAC counter to buy a new eyeshadow - that should help with the boringness right? Well one eyeshadow:

Paradisco - kind of peachy and very fabulous

One Long Lasting Lipstick in Clingpeach - I LOVE this stuff - it literally doesn't come off - amazing! (And my mother always said that I looked dead without lipstick - thanks mom!:))

And one blush in PeachyKeen

So who knew the blush was where it's at? Holy crap! I've never worn blush before - I always used a bronser - but as the salesgirl pointed out - bronser makes you look tan but it doesn't make you glow! So yeah - now I glow! And it only cost me $50 total! Now that is a bargain! Hell - I guess I could have looked into Botox! Turning 30 is a bitch!;)

I fell out of the blogosphere....

2008-06-02T22:00:00.002-04:00

but I'm back!:) Why is it that you can be so gung ho about something and then another thing interrupts you for say a weekend and then it is 4 weeks before you post on your blog!!! WTF! Seriously, not much has even been going on - just work and more work. Everyone buying Mother's Day and Graduation gifts at Swagger threw me into a tizzy. Which I'm definitely not complaining about - I'm just totally wiped out! It was a big step for me to just write this, so now I think I am back in the swing of things - hopefully! I will catch up on all your blogs tomorrow! I have missed everyone!

I have nothing to wear!!!!!

2008-05-01T12:31:00.004-04:00

So I am packing for a long weekend trip to go see my sisters and my adorable nieces and nephews when I realized that I have nothing to wear! Okay - so I realize it every day when I go into my closet but it always makes me feel worse when I'm going on a trip. I mean you have 3 days to dress for - you think you could find 3 outfits that would make you look cute, not fat, and be appropriate for the events - right? WRONG! It isn't like I don't shop - I shop all the time - it's just that the crap they are selling in the stores either doesn't fit or doesn't like good on my body type. It seems to happen every season, too. When it is winter I think -well I'm sure the summer stuff will be cute and then when summer comes I think well maybe fall will be cute. Vicious cycle!!!

Is it all just a game the media plays with us? Make all the famous people in the magazines look cute by:
1) specially designing stuff for them (and usually giving it to them for free) and
2) if they don't like the way they look in the outfit just use a little airbrushing in the picture and BAM - they are beautiful and their clothes look perfect on them.

Of course this isn't my reality so it took me 1 1/2 hours to pack! First I had about 25 different outfit changes - this shirt with those capris (nope), how about with these shorts (nope), maybe a different top - you get the idea. Then I franticly called my best friend to say that I am fat and my clothes don't fit (imagine lots of drama and screaming on my part). Then she talked me off the side of the building by reassuring me that I wasn't fat, always looked good, blah, blah, blah (this is why everyone needs a best friend:)!) So I tried on another 10 outifts, when I finally pulled my self together, gave myself a good strong talking to about self confidence, you only look as good as you feel, etc - threw 15 things in my suitcase and zipped it up!

My whole morning was then put into perspective when I sat down at work and began to read my emails. Currently I am trying to help out a 14 year old cutomer of mine who struggled with anorexia and has now started a non-profit organization called NoBODY's Perfect. Now why I wasn't thinking about this during the packing episode I'm not sure. So here's my new pact with myself - whenever I try something on in my closet and it doesn't make me feel good - instead of remembering when I used to wear it I am going to but it into the Goodwill Bag! I don't need that in my life - hell my dryer could have shrunk the clothes for all I know! No use making myself feel bad - I actually really like who I am as a person and my clothes shouldn't change that or be able to have that affect on me! So if you see me walking around Raleigh naked you will know why:) Okay - enough about that - I will let you guys know about my progess and possibly shrinking wardrobe (hopefully I will be able to buy new stuff that makes me feel fantastic this weekend!) Anway, so below is the press release for NoBODY's Perfect. If you live in or around Cary, NC please come support this little girl and join me in loving yourself just the way you are!

For Immediate Release:

Local Teen Launches Body-Image Awareness Organization and Local "International No Diet Day" Gathering

Cary, NC – Fourteen Year Old, Abby Kaufmann, has founded the organization NoBODYs Perfect. Using her recent two year experience with Anorexia Nervosa, she has found a passion for creating awareness for teenagers.

NoBODYs Perfect is an up and coming non-profit organization started by Abby Kaufmann, 14. The goal of the organization is to promote positive body-image and raise awareness about the poor media portrayals of what we "should" look like. Abby started this after struggling with Anorexia Nervosa over the past two years and seeing the toll that negative body image can take on people.

Since this is such an important issue facing many, many people today, others have recognized this issue as well. On May 6th, 1992, International No Diet Day was started. To commemorate this day locally, Abby has decided to create more awareness about eating disorders and promoting positive body-image by organizing a local International No Diet Day. This May 6th, join Abby and friends at The Loop (1207 Kildaire Farm Rd, Cary, NC) from 6:00 to 8:00 to enjoy great food without any guilt! At this event, there will be information regarding NoBODYs Perfect as well as a "body peace pledge" and a place to ditch those trashy magazines, diet pills, scales, measuring tapes, etc.

NoBODY's Perfect is a non-profit organization designed to promote body-image and raise awareness of negative body-images and poor media portrayals of what we "should" look like. By the end of 2008, the founder of NoBODY's Perfect hopes to have a fashion show, a rally downtown Raleigh, sell calendars, shirts, have meetings, give speeches and just make a difference! NoBODY's Perfect is looking for people of all ages, sizes, weights, colors, heights, complexions and anything else to model in the fashion shows and/or in the calendar. Hopefully, knowing that you modeled will raise your confidence about your body. Money raised at our future events or donated by the public will be donated to either NEDA (National Eating Disorders Association) or The Dove Campaign for Real Beauty. We are considering starting a fund to help people struggling with eating disorders get the help they need but may not be able to afford.

For more information about NoBODYs Perfect, please visit our website at
http://www.myspace.com/nobodys_perfect_org or contact Abby Kaufmann at nobodys_perfect_organization@yahoo.com

I drank a diet coke last night

2008-04-29T08:45:00.000-04:00

Don't judge me. I know I shouldn't have done it. I was on day 30 something of no carbonated drinks - damn! But I was in Target and it was right there - damn! I think quitting smoking was easier than this. It didn't even taste good but I drank it anyway. Why was that? Maybe b/c I was at home but the TV wasn't working b/c IT WAS RAINING so I needed something to do so I went to Target. I guess I can blame my husband for this- if we still had cable I would have been watching Gossip Girl! Okay - so I feel better now - I confessed and I blamed someone else - now I can get on with my day! Thanks!

My Husband is a Lucky Man

2008-04-28T12:11:00.001-04:00

Why you might ask? Because he isn't here. If he was, I would kill him! Why again you might ask? B/c his cheap ass changed our wonderful Time Warner Cable Television into Direct TV (Satelitte) AND IT GOES OUT WHEN IT RAINS!!!!! The switch happened on Thursday, my husband left to go out of town for some boondoggle on Satursday, and Sunday I want to sit down to watch TV. If you live in Raleigh (or on the east coast for that matter) you know why I'm so pissed. It has been raining nonstop here for about the last 24 hours and Sunday Night TV (Desperate Housewives and Brothers and Sisters) is some of my favorite! Last night I came home from doing errands around 7 pm and wanted to relax with a little mindless TV - there were torrential storms outside - but since this had never affected my TV watching before I thought nothing of it. Until I turned on the TV and it had some signal issue 771. Oh hell no - so I call Direct TV get their automated technical support that has the audacity to tell me 771 means "you might be having bad weather in your area and try your TV again when it stops". That was technical support? WTF! The TV actually came back on 10 minutes before Desperate Housewives (good karma perhaps?) but cut out a couple times during the show and during Brothers and Sisters. So here is my question and I will stop ranting - What happened when the cop came over to Dylan on the bench - what did he tell her? Hopefully that is the only significant thing I missed. It is supposed to rain all day today too - good thing I don't like any Monday night TV:)!

I'm not a talker

2008-04-27T16:32:00.001-04:00

Okay so that is a complete lie and one of my favorite movie quotes (Old School). I like to say it a lot right before I go into or come out of some long rant about nothing in particular. I can't help myself - I'm a story teller. I thought I might confess this right at the beginning of our relationship so as not to lead you astray. :)

A Couple Other Confessions:

1) I grew up in South Georgia so my spelling and proper english writing techniques are basically crap. So is my vocabulary (hence why I couldn't think of a better word than crap just now). Georgia was 49th in education during my k - 12 years - nice!!!

2) F*ck is my favorite word. I probably shouldn't be telling you this right away but it is true and I use it a lot so I guess it is out on the table. My sister told me that it was going to be her children's first word if they hung out with me anymore, so I started saying WTF or YFKM (you're effing killing me). Hopefully they won't be smart enough to figure out what the acronyms mean for a while.

3) I love red wine. However, I am pretty clumsy when I am drinking it - and no not b/c I am drunk. I don't spill white wine, beer, cosmos, margaritas, mojitos - nope just red wine and it really sucks. Is the universe trying to tell me something? If so, the only message I am getting is that maybe I should design something similar to a sippey cup top for my wine glasses. I mean I'm usually a pretty graceful person - years of ballet - so I'm not sure why red wine in a glass makes me a complete carpet destroying loser (sorry Dan!).

4) I love Tiaras and pageant waves!!! Yes that's right Tiaras and Pageant Waves - you know what I'm talking about elbow elbow wrist wrist wrist. I have basically perfected it. Not b/c I have been in a lot of pageants (only Miss AHS woo hoo) - but just basically b/c I love Tiaras and whenever I have one on I do the wave:) Oh and another confession - if I don't have a Tiara and someone else does I will try by any means necessary to secure said Tiara (unless the Tiara is on a bride - then I will leave it alone - usually). For instance - last night I went to the Beerfest in Moore's Square in Raleigh. I saw someone with a pink glittery tiara right when I entered - I mean I didn't know this was a tiara type event or I would have brought my own. So of course I was jealous and as luck would have it even with the hundreds of people at the Beerfest we kept seeing it over and over again. About 60 beers into the 118 I finally approached the Tiara Wearer and basically said "Listen honey, you look cute in the Tiara and all but I'm sure I have a better wave so hand it over":) And finally my last confession - I am very persausive:) Yep - that's me with the pink glittery tiara waving at my adoring fans:)

Here we go......

2008-04-27T12:19:00.000-04:00

I am so excited to be blogging again! My husband and I created our first blog when we traveled to Australia so all our friends and family could see what we were doing. You can check it out at http://www.wheresmandyandnate.blogspot.com/ . I found that I enjoyed the trip even more by being able to share it with the folks back home. I figured writing this blog would help me appreciate and enjoy my life here in Raleigh even more than I already do by being able to share it with all of you. Besides don't you remember back in middle and high school when the teachers would tell you to write in a journal as it would be therapeutic? Those were supposed to be private entries and I never did start one but I thought I would start with a blog and let whoever in the world wanted to read it do so. Nothing like jumping in with both feet :) So here I am - welcome to A Southern Sass - daily chronicles of my so called life:)