Happy New Year Archives - Page 2 of 2

NYE at the River: Comfortable with a Touch of Glitter

Before this post starts - let me just say that I am a lifestyle blogger. Not a fashion blogger. I adore all of my fashion friends so much and I am constantly reaching out to y’alls blogs for inspiration when it comes to my wardrobe. However, when a girl needs inspiration for New Years Eve spent partying in the Middle-of-No-Where, NC… inspiration is minimal.

Here’s what I knew I wanted: comfy, warm, a touch of glam {but not too much… remember the setting… they would laugh at me if I came in wearing a LBD!} and something that I could rock leggings with when I get tired of wearing my jeans. Because let’s be real, the theme of the day is eating and drinking - elastic waist bands = winning.

And here’s what my closet threw up for me to wear:

2 cats & chloe: burgundy and glitter Don’t you just LOVE my new boots? I’m kinda obsessed with them. And when I say “kinda obsessed” I mean #OBSESSED!

Now go fill your glass with some sparklin’ champagne, surround yourself with friends and family - and eat that last bite of chocolate. The #2catsWhole30 starts tomorrow. Cheers and Love… Happy New Year Y’all!

OH! And for those of you who are feeling lucky this New Year’s Eve… I teamed up with a handful of lovely bloggers to bring you a Crate & Barrel Giveaway!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Prize: $100 Crate & Barrel Gift Card

Co-hosts: Miss Trend She • Jenn’s Blah Blah Blog • 2 Cats & Chloe • God’s Growing Garden

Giveaway organized by: Oh My Gosh Beck!

Rules: Use the Rafflecopter form to enter daily. Giveaway ends 1/14 and is open worldwide. Winner will be notified via email and can opt for a Crate & Barrel gift card or cash via Paypal.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

CELEBRATE SOUTHERN: 2014 via Instagram… and BIG NEWS!

by Susan

You know, looking back, 2014 was just an “okay” year. There really wasn’t anything in particular that jumps out at me that made this year an extraordinary year. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t a bad year. It just wasn’t an incredible year. So I decided to spend a little time skimming back through my instagram life and do a bit of reminiscing on all of the fun that was had in 2014. Shall we take this journey together? Stick around {or at least scroll to the bottom of this post} because I have a huge announcement to make… hint: 2015 will be delivering good, new loveliness.

Okay, buckle up - because here we go!

We welcomed the new year with open arms. #partyanimals

I successfully finished a whole30! #whole30forlife

I started selling loose leaf tea. While it didn’t last long on the blog - I am still selling it if anyone wants some! #teaanyone?

I ate lots and lots of veggies in 2014. #lovemesomebrussels

Do you see the difference clean eating will make? #youarewhatyoueat

I worked tons of weddings, including several beach house weddings! #itsnotalwaysthisglam

My sister and I decided to play in the mud… and run a 5k at the same time. #fools #muddyclumsyfools

I made my clients happy. #thisiswhyidowhatido

I spent some time at the Perquimans River. #drinkupyall

My sweet, sweet chloe. #luckycharm

We did lots and lots of testing to figure out what is wrong with me… #webarelyhaveanswers #2015willbedifferent

My husband and mother put their heads together to throw me a surprise 30th birthday party. #itwaspiratethemed

I discovered zoodles. #lifewillneverbethesame

We spent the Fourth of July with great friends, back at the river. #onthepontoon

I surprised a wonderful friend in Vegas for her 30th birthday! #vegasbaby

I realized that I have the same bangs as my favorite childhood doll. #kirstenbangsforlife

I got a fake tattoo and continued to argue with my parents about why I cannot get a real one. #im30forcryingoutloud

We took a spontaneous mother/daughters camping trip to Charleston, SC. #morrisislandismyfave

I discovered my obsession with holding a hummingbird. #herebirdiebirdiebirdie

I roadtripped to Florida with my first grade bestfriend. She stayed there. I went back to Virginia. #imisscaitlin

Chloe found love in blogland. #mailorderborder

Our vacation of the year turned out to be a very chilly, but awesome camping trip. #greysonhighlandsvirginia

In one day I adopted an amish dog and got hit by a giant deer. #inmybrandnewcar #meetoliviabenson

I decided to fully embrace my role as a furmom. #donthate

And let’s not forget that 2014 was when we started the Celebrate Southern Linkup!

Not too shabby of a year right? Yes it was mediocre but it was a pretty good mediocre.

So how about that big news I promised… Nope - I’m not pregnant. {I’m pretty sure once you get married, every time you say you have “big news” an angel loses its wings in disappointment when you reveal that you’re not pregnant.}

So the big news: J from Bless Her Heart Y’all {And A Hot Southern Mess} and I have decided to continue to grow Celebrate Southern, with a PODCAST! That’s right, we may be a wee bit cray, but at least we have gone off the deep end together! We will continue to host the weekly Celebrate Southern Linkup, but twice a month we are going to have a link to our podcast for you to enjoy!

Celebrate Southern: The Bloggers’ Podcast will be a podcast by bloggers, for bloggers. Our goal with this fun new podcast is simple: we want to talk about blogging, away from the computer. Most of us are constantly stuck at our computers learning, blogging and growing - The Bloggers’ Podcast will be something that you can stream or download {via itunes as of January! Eek!} and take with you to work, hang out with us during your commute, or even sprint it out on the treadmill while listening it to other bloggers chat about what we love - blogging.

Join the conversation by following our new instagram account, joining our facebook blogging community group or simply reaching out to either of us on our blogs. We love to talk blog and we would love for you to join us.

On Episode One we are discussing 2015 and blogging goals - Here’s what we gab about:

A quick intro so you can get to know us via audio {isn’t it weird hearing the voice of people “visit” every day in blogland??} (0:00)
Topics Overview: Blogging goals, How to break down big goals into smaller goals to make them more manageable (6:16)
Are you a New Years resolution person? (7:15)
Breaking down your Blogging Goals (8:16)
Suz’s Goals (9:00)
J’s Goals - Canon T3i camera (10:05)
How to Bread Down Goals (10:59)
Blogging Pageviews and Followers - Breaking Down Numeric Goals (15:41)
Blogging is Work. How much time does it take to keep a blog running? (16:50)
Editorial Calendars (19:38)
Yearly Blogging Goals Picture Frame / Vision Boards (21:42)
#2catsWhole30 (24:14) : https://www.facebook.com/groups/1409679692623565/
Youtube Channel (25:16) : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCByHosCd8ngxwPxRrB_PBhQ
Wrap up and contacts

Please excuse the stupid little man in the picture below… we are still trying to work out the technical kinks! Our official graphic should be there by our next podcast!

Now you know the drill - grab a favorite southern inspired post and linkup below! I’d love to hear what y’all think about the podcast idea! Also, since I’m such a junkie for yearly recaps - if you are doing one, please leave me a link in the comment section! I would LOVE to see your year in a blog post!

Cheers and Love,

Suz

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Listen to Episode 001 of Celebrate Southern: The Bloggers Podcast here:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: iTunes | Android | RSS

SWS: Do you make New Years Resolutions?

by Susan

Can you believe that we are just days away from a brand spankin’ new year? Now that my New Years Curse has expired {more on that another day} I am a huge fan of January 1. As adults we don’t get to enjoy that fun, back to school, fresh start, blank page feeling anymore. Which is why I love the January One.

With the first of the year, for me, comes resolutions and goals. I know “they” say that a huge percentage of people who make new year’s resolutions fail - but for me - they become my goal or mission for the year. And like I said in one of my last posts: the older I get the faster the years fly by. It seems like just yesterday I was pondering my goals for 2014…

I was curious how the 2 cats sponsors feel about resolutions and if they made yearly goals for themselves. Here are their SWS answers:

Meet My Sponsors: Liz from I Heart Vegetables and J from A Hot Southern Mess.

As for me - I always make yearly goals and resolutions. And I always type them into a blog post because I LOVE the accountability of “going public” with my goals. Even if no one were to visit my little piece of the world wide web… having my resolutions in writing makes it more real and more memorable for me. So stay tuned for my annual New Year Resolution Post coming in January! {Need ideas for your new year resolution? You can read some of my past goals here.}

In the comment section below - tell me - do you believe in New Year Resolutions? Do you make goals? What are you planning for your 2015?

Cheers & Love,

Suz

Bring it on 2014…

by Susan

It’s only January 21st. It’s not too late for an update and “New Year’s Resolution” post right? Eh - it’s my blog. I make the rules. So here we go!

Happy New Year friends! Again, I realize I am about 20 days late with this. But bear with me - it’s been a crazy 21 days.

2013 went out with a bang! We had one heck of a party at our Big Green House. Friends even drove up all the way from Carolina to pose in our photo booth, blow some party horns, drink some champagne and steal some dolla dolla bills y’all in a fired up game of Right-Left-Center Game! We welcomed 2014 surrounded by great friends and a very loud vuvuzela.

And then, just like that, the first day of the new year became the first day of my Whole30 challenge. And it has consumed my mind. And my time. And my cravings. I definitely plan on doing a post real soon that talks about my Whole30 experience because, at only day 21 out of 30, I hate to be uber cliche and say it’s been “life changing” quite yet… It’s definitely been an eye-opening experience that will stick with me for a very, very long time.

Let’s see, what else? Oh! I got a new job! Don’t worry brides and grooms - I am still your go-to wedding planner. But I have picked up a marketing coordinator position with a Home Warranty company. Yes - I swore off “warranty” January One of 2013… buuttttt I’m back. But not in sales. In marketing. I made my official Linkedin announcement today. Wonder if anyone from my old job will notice…

**insert shameless plug… go like 29:11 on facebook!**

Speaking of wedding planning - I have one last thing to share! 2014 and my business 29:11 Celebrations are BOOMING! I currently have 14 weddings booked and already have inquiries for 2015. Who would’ve thought that a year ago - when I left my warranty job of almost 8 years to jump out on the crazy steep and scary ledge that is self-employment… sigh… who would’ve known that my business would take off?!

Oh - and since I firmly believe in writing out your goals and resolutions, so let’s do this:

In 2014 I will be…

HEALTHY

ORGANIZED

and

HAPPY

So there ya have it. Bring it on 2014. I’m ready for you.