Sometimes You Just Need A Good Squirt In The Eye

Okay, get your mind out of the gutter, you pervs! That title got your attention, didn't it?! This photo always makes me laugh and I needed a laugh. Been feeling kind of down lately and decided to do a little post focusing on some positive and humorous aspects of my life.

1 - The reaction I get when people learn I am 32 (soon to be 33).  This is priceless! It's always a stunned "no f-in way" look. I always looked young and have been carded for everything including lotto tickets from day one. It used to bother me but now that I am in my 30s it makes me happy. I am constantly told by people that they think I am 24,25ish. I'll take it!

2 - My eyes look insanely blue in all my selfies when looking into the light. I love my eyes. Probably my best trait. They even look vampire-esque in some photos. I am asked: "Are your eyes real?" "Are those contacts?" all the time. Kinda makes a girl feel good.

Eyes were not edited...Just looking into the light.

3 - My daughter is super smart and super gorgeous. Not that those are important factors for me loving my daughter but I am so proud of the things she knows at such a young age. She amazes me every day. Plus she is super adorable. She may have the attitude of a teenager at times but she makes it easy to overlook that tiny detail.

My pride and joy!

This post seemed to do the job. Made me a little happier even if just for a little while. Sometimes we need to take some time out to find joy in the silly, little things. What about you? What are some silly things that make you happy? xoxo

A Day Late...

I decided to get a little wild and post about my Memorial Day weekend today since I figured everyone else did it yesterday. Didn't want to overload your feed any more with another Memorial Day Weekend post. Now you get to enjoy it today, or at least I hope you do.

Overall, I had a good weekend after a bit of a rocky start. Saturday, we decided to head to a local Arboretum and explore with Olivia. I must admit, I did have an ulterior motive of trying to get a few nice professional looking photos of me and her. After she refused to take photos with me and seeing how hideously large I looked in the ones she agreed to take with me, the day went to shit. I was super depressed about what I looked like and there was no snapping me out of it, at least for the rest of the day. Here's one of the photos where I don't look that hideous:

Sunday we decided to go to the Air Show at Jones beach. Despite my anxiety in huge crowds and the fact that there were over 400,000 people there I had a good time. The weather was gorgeous and we went with a large group of people. The only downfall was having to wait 1-1/2 hours on the bathroom line. Only did that once!

Monday we went to my mom's house for a barbecue and it was like nature knew it was Memorial Day and BAM it was 80 degrees. It was a fun laid back back day. Then there was a barbecue going on at our our house when we got home so we had  a marathon barbecuing day but it was the perfect end to a nice a holiday weekend. I hope you enjoyed the weekend as well!! xoxo

The Backhanded Compliment

Let's discuss the backhanded compliment. You know those "compliments" you are given where you don't know whether or not to smile and say thanks or slap a b*tch. I've had the urge to do the latter much more often lately. The following are not compliments people!! So just refrain from using any of these.

"You have such a pretty face!" Why thanks! But I guess not such a pretty body since you only addressed my face. You could have said "You're so pretty!" and left it there but thanks for pointing out my insecurities about my body. I guess I should be grateful you complimented me at all being for an inferior non-stick figure.

"Are you sick? You normally have such a pretty glow." I actually feel just fine just didn't have time to apply my makeup this morning. Thanks for informing me that I look like a sick zombie without it.

"I like this hair color so much better." Thanks I guess. But let me just clarify, you were lying when you said you liked my hair color last time around?

"You're so much smarter than you look." Well thank you. Just because I dye my hair blonde on occasion it doesn't mean all my brain cells are gone. I think it's so awesome we are still judging intelligence on appearance. Makes total sense.

"What a great knock-off!" Obviously not! Do you find it absolutely necessary to let me know that you know it's not the real deal. Hmph!

"You're so lucky you get to sit home with your daughter all day." (Said from a non mother) - All I can do is laugh at this one. First of all, I work from home and watch my daughter but that aside, the last thing I do is sit. I chase her here, chase her there, get her this, get her that, etc., etc. When I am not doing that I need to do my job which pays my bills. But yeah, I'm lucky and pulling all my gray hairs out. As a mother who has both worked and stayed home, going to work is so much easier than staying home, hands down. The best revenge for this will be when this person finally has a child and they can see first hand, how "relaxing" it is.

What about you? What backhanded compliments have you received? And do you think the person was being intentionally obnoxious or were they just plain clueless?

Where Are My...

Happy Friday, my little blogging lovers!! So I have been on a hunt. For what? You may ask. I truly enjoy tons of different blogs, all types written by all types of people from all walks of life. But I have found there are a few categories where I feel the selection is low. Maybe it is just that I am not looking in the right places and you can give a girl a hand.

Where Are My?

Plus Size Fashion Bloggers - Although I love reading fashion blogs by all these pretty little things, I am smart enough to realize I will not look good in half of what they wear. I still like looking for some inspiration from these gals but I want inspiration from someone close to my size. One blogger I have found and makes me feel better about myself is Nadia Aboulhosn. She has great fashion sense and is more my size and she leaves me wanting more. I want to find other bloggers like her. She is such an inspiration for us curvy girls.

Non Religious Bloggers - I am not a religious person so I am a little turned off by blogs that are solely faith driven. Don't misunderstand me, I completely respect these bloggers but it is not my thing. That being said their are some "religious" bloggers I regularly read as long as every post isn't about God. In blogging land, I feel like there are so many blogs where the first words under their little photo are "God Loving" and I feel automatically shunned. Again, there is nothing wrong with that but where are my fellow non-religious gals at? One is Erin from Two Thirds Hazel. If you fit into this category you will want to check out this post by her: My Beliefs In God.

Non "Goody Two Shoes" Mommy Bloggers - I am a mom and occasionally I write about my antics with my daughter but my blog is about me and how being a mom is part of my life, not my whole life. I feel like so many (not all) mommy bloggers are: all organic, use reusable diapers, breast feed, etc. and non of those things are me. These types of bloggers make me feel like I am a bad mom and I know I am not so I usually avoid these blogs all together. I give props to those who do all of that but it's just not me.

Funny, Sarcastic, Witty B*tches - I think I can be witty on occasion and damn right sarcastic (at least in real life) and I want some gals I can laugh with and know they aren't taking things too seriously. I have actually found a few blogs in this category that I really love but I love them so much I want more!! Here's a shout out to the blogs in this category that I simply love: Voyage of the MeeMee, The Daily Tay, I Wore Yoga Pants To Work and Helene In Between. Check these ladies out! I love them!!

Male Bloggers - Let me clarify, male bloggers whose blogs aren't about sports. I want to read a lifestyle blog by a funny man. I always find a male perspective enlightening and down right hilarious at times. Are there any of these out there?

So if you know any fabulous bloggers that fit into any of these categories please give a girl a hand and let me know. Enjoy the holiday weekend!! xoxo

We Are Judging You: 5 Tips For Your First Day At Your New Job

Starting a new job?! I don't want to make your more nervous than you already are but yes, you are being judged. Probably more from your new co-workers than your boss. I have been around the work force enough to see what happens when somebody new starts. Your new co-workers are judging you and criticizing a lot of what you do. Some are more forgiving and others can be down right mean. I have compiled a few tips to help you shine on your big day. Some tips may seem obvious and others not so obvious but if you keep these in mind, it will help you be a success.

1 - Be On Time. Obvious right? Well, I have witnessed people show up late on their first day. What they were thinking? I don't know. I actually suggest being 10-15 minutes early. This also allows a little time in case you experience an unexpected traffic delay, etc. That being said, do not arrive too early. You want to make sure your boss is ready for you. I have also seen people show up an hour early and their new boss was not ready for them yet resulting in the manager seeming a bit short and impatient.

2 - Dress Appropriately. Make sure you are clear on the dress code before your start date. And when you attend interviews try to observe what others are wearing so you have an idea of how your co-workers interpret that dress code. If your office is business casual but you notice people wearing jeans with flip flops, I wouldn't recommend going that casual when you first start but this shows you that you would be way overdressed in a suit at that particular office. You want to fit in, at least when you are new, you don't want to be under dressed or look too way over the top, like you are trying too hard.

3 - Be Friendly But Not Too Friendly. Smile, introduce yourself, etc. You may not think it is possible to be to friendly but it is especially when you are brand new at a job. The one complaint I hear over and over again is people saying the newbie is "too comfortable too quick."  How does this happen? Say you overhear two of your co-workers talking about something and you quickly jump in their conversation. This is okay, to do a little when you are new but DO NOT overdo it. As time goes by, you will be included in these conversations more and more, just let it happen naturally. Don't push it. As I said be friendly and try to initiate some conversations but a little bit goes a long way.

4 - Ask Questions. I think a common misconception is that people think they should try to ask as little questions as possible when at a new job. WRONG!! You are being judged for not asking enough questions and being conceived as a know-it-all or a dimwit who is probably doing everything wrong. Think about your questions and try to word and express your questions in a manner that seems intelligent but please ask! Nobody expects you to have no questions.

5 - Relax. Everybody was the new guy at some point. You will have questions, be nervous and unsure but if you work hard and be yourself you will become a new superstar at your job. Don't worry if some of your new co-workers seem catty and unfriendly towards you in the beginning. They probably just want to make sure you will be around a while before letting you in their circle. Don't take it personal.

I hope these tips give you some insight on how to be prepared for your first day at your new job. Good luck and be the star you are!! xoxo

This, That And A Kate Spade Giveaway

Hello everyone!! Sorry I've been missing for a few days...Crazy, crazy weekend and then I started a new job yesterday. It's just two days a week because I still do everything else I do but it's perfect because it gets me around adults more often and it's a little break from running around with a toddler all day every day. We'll see how it goes but so far, so good.

So on Sunday, we went to my husband's godson's birthday party at Adventureland, yes the place the movie was made about, and had a blast. I wasn't sure if Olivia was too young to enjoy a place like this but I am happy to say it was perfect for her. You can see from the photo below that she was in all her glory.

I've started an Instagram account solely for Hole In Her Stocking Designs. Make sure you follow for many giveaways and to have first looks at new designs like this:

Next up, can we talk Dancing With the Stars??!! Meryl & Maks melt my heart!!! They better win tonight!! And how is Candace still in the running for the mirrorball??!!! Someone please explain that to me. Argh!!! She should have been the one to go last night. I had a dream about being on DWTS last night..Obesessed much?

Speaking of dreaming, wouldn't it be a dream come true to win a $150 gift card to Kate Spade? Lucky for you, I teamed up with 11 other bloggers to give you a chance to get your hands on exactly that!

Life Could Be a Dream // The Modern Tulip // From A to Z // Wetherills Say I Do Happily Ever After // Two Places at Once // Army Ever After // Dancin' With a Dolly Beauty Brawler // The Ashcraft Bunch // Like American Honey // Lot 48

Just enter using the Rafflecopter below--be honest with your entries. We don't like cheaters around here. :) The giveaway will run from 12:00 am EST on May 20th until 11:59 pm EST on May 26th. Best of luck to you!

My Dancing With The Stars Finale Prediction

This has got to be one of the arguably toughest seasons to call on Dancing With The Stars. This past week's performances were definitely finale quality with the 10s flying rampant. And it was shocking to see to Charlie go home, although I was okay with that because I love the others just a little more.

Normally, when I occasionally write these reality TV posts I have a clear cut winner in my mind. I am pretty confident in who I think should win and who I think will actually win and I am correct most of the time. I have to say this is the first time I am completely stumped. I don't know who I want to win and I don't have a feeling in which way America will vote. This is just a testament to how great this season actually is. Let's break it down.

First up..Candace. Unfortunately for her I think she will place 4th. This I am almost certain of. Does she give us great performances? YES! Is she America's Sweetheart? For sure. But the competition is just that steep this year. I think she was even stunned when she found out this past week that she wasn't even in jeopardy as was I. I honestly didn't think she would make the finale and I don't think she believed she would either. As I said, she is a good dancer and super sweet but I don't think that's enough this year. And I personally, am not a fan of her goody good, overly religious views. I think she will gain lots of votes because of this but lose lots of votes as well. You are either on board or you are not. I understand you have your beliefs but dressing sexy doesn't make you a slut, you are just playing a part, acting. This was the one thing that annoyed me about her. Although, I will say I notice she dressed a little more risque as the season progressed.

James...Ahhhh James....He may not be the best dancer left but who cares!! Although, he is pretty damn good and he has consistently improved every single week, which is always something America likes to see. Do I think he belongs in the finale? Absolutely!! He is a hard worker, gives us great performances, the chemistry between him and Peta is insane and he is great eye candy. I was a little nervous he was going to be eliminated this past week and was overjoyed when he wasn't even in jeopardy. Congrats James!! Do I think he'll win? Most likely not but would I be upset if he did? Not at all.

Next up...Amy. This is a tough one for me. Is she one of the greatest inspirations I've seen in a long time? Heck yes! She is hands down one of the best dancers this season even being an amputee. The judges have always judged her the same as everyone else with no special treatment and so will I. Although, she is inspirational and a great dancer, there is some sort of disconnect for me. I honestly cannot put my finger on it. Maybe I feel like she was set up to be the winner right from the beginning. I don't know. Maybe I just feel like her and Derek are the golden couple and they appear to be putting on an act at times. I might be out of my mind here so please tell me if you agree. Do I think she'll win? Quite possibly. I think it's between her and Meryl and it's a toss up at this point. Do I want her to win? Not really. Is that bad?

Last up. Meryl. As I am writing this post it made me realize I really want Meryl and Maks to win but more for Maks than for Meryl. It's about time he wins a mirror ball and Meryl has certainly brought out the best in him. I really hope they are a couple because they are adorable together. It was so cute seeing Maks so giddy after their perfect show this past week. He looked so joyous and it was contagious. Meryl made me fall in love with Maks. Okay so besides this possible budding romance, Meryl is the best dancer this season. TV gold! Will they win? I hope so!!! But Amy will give them a run for their money. I think they will be guaranteed the win if they have a nice romantic kiss at the end of one of their numbers on Monday. We've been waiting for it! Give us what we want!!!

There you have it. My thoughts and predictions for The Dancing With The Stars finale. I may have been a little tough on some of the contestants but it's only because there is such a tight competition this year. No matter what  I said, I truly enjoy all the contestants that remain and cannot wait for Monday!! I predict it will be the best show of all time!! xoxo