Fun Fall Printables

I am happy and loving fall so I thought I would share some Fall {8x10} Printables with my lovely blog friends! Click below the images for the download link! ENJOY!

DOWNLOAD HERE

DOWNLOAD HERE

My Dogs Ate My Blog Post

While our human was outside sipping her freshly brewed pumpkin latte in the fall sunshine, we thought we would take over her blog. We are always trying to lay on the keyboard while she types or paw at her hands, so you might as well know who we are! First off, we are her entire world, or so we think. She takes us everywhere and enjoys when we take her for walks. Sometimes she even gets us ice cream, but shhhhhhh don't tell that scary guy that always gives us shots at that place they call the vet. Secondly, she really does not know what she would do without us - we make her smile! Oh, we have not even introduced ourselves, we apologize...here we go...

Hello, I am Bandit! I turned eight years old this past March and I am my human's protector. I am loyal and sweet and maybe a tad uptight. Humans think that just because I am a Jack Russell Terrier I am noisy and obnoxious, but I really am not that way. I was the runt of my litter and I tend to be pretty small at only ten pounds. I can remember the day my human walked into the pet store where I was for sale. I tried to look as adorable and cute as possible, and it must have worked because she took me home that very day. I have always thought I am bigger than I really am and I enjoy playing fetch and chase more than anything!

Hey, I am Lola Belle! Sometimes the humans in my life refer to me as dodo bird because I tend to be a little crazy and goofy. I found my human when I was at my foster home in Houston. She was a neighbor and when my human saw me she knew she had to add me to her family. I was suppose to be a small dog, about the size of Bandit but my legs kept growing and I got bigger and bigger. I am now forty pounds, how did that happen? I am so incredible sweet and I love giving hugs to my human. I love cuddling with my human, but only on my terms. Sometimes I just want to be left alone, ya know? Oh yeah, and I love love love bones! I might just have a few hidden around the house.

Ohhhh, we here the food pouring in the other room, meal time! Enjoy your day!

My Etsy Fall Wish List

Fall is my absolute favorite season - the changing trees, the pumpkins, the colors, the smells, and of course the flavored coffee. I cannot ever get enough of everything fall, so today I thought I would share with you my Fall Wish List from Etsy!

Burlap Pillow Subway Art - GO HERE TO CHECK IT OUT
Lightweight Perfect Scarf - GO HERE TO CHECK IT OUT
Fall Table Runner - GO HERE TO CHECK IT OUT
Black Chunky Wool Hat - CHECK IT OUT HERE
Fall Wreath - GO HERE TO CHECK IT OUT
Owl Purse - GO HERE TO CHECK IT OUT

What are some of your favorite fall etsy items?

Losing Blog Inspiration

One of the biggest challenges of blogging is continuing to come up with unique post ideas. Sometimes the ideas will flow out of me one after another, and other days I sit and stare at a blank post screen. I have begun sitting down once a month and making a list of post ideas. After I have done so, I think at least make an outline of the biggest posts. If I am extremely inspired I go ahead and write a few so that they are ready for busy or uninspired days.

HOW NOT TO RUN OUT OF POST IDEAS:

TIP ONE} PINTEREST
Seriously, all you have to do is type in blog topics and you will have hundreds of ideas right in front of you! If that doesn't seem to help just flip through your friends pins and see what they are interested in lately.

TIP TWO} TAKE NOTES!
I keep a notebook in my purse, in the living room, in my nightstand, in a kitchen drawer, and at work. Every time I get an idea I make sure to write it down immediately! If I do not write my idea down right away I can guarantee that I will not remember it even five minutes later.

TIP THREE} TUTORIALS

My favorite posts to write are tutorials. I love to be able to help others in any way that I can. Share your knowledge - do not just assume everyone knows what you know. Did you just DIY a project or learn how to code something new on your blog? Let us know, share it!

TIP FOUR} PROMPTS

I have known several blogs to give monthly prompts out to fellow bloggers that includes a link up. If you are having a busy or uninspired month, these might be perfect for you. Plus, it is a great way to connect with other bloggers that you might not have otherwise met. Even if you do not use that prompt on the day given, save it to use down the road.

TIP FIVE} GET OUT AND ENJOY THE WORLD | BE SOCIAL

It is so easy, as blogger, for us to sit behind the computer and enjoy our online world, There is nothing wrong with getting involved in the blogging community, but there is an entire world outside of our blogs. Get out of the house, even if it is to take a walk or get a cup of coffee. You cannot force inspiration but you can stumble upon it. Typically, when I leave the house the ideas in my head start flowing.

What tips do you have when you are stuck in a blogging rut?

Best Vintage Free Fonts

Vintage items are one of my favorite things, especially after they have been re-purposed. Also, I have been working on designing a lot of new vintage wedding invitations for my store lately so I thought I would share with you some of the awesome fonts I have fallen in love with.

The links are below, but not all are commercial, so check before use!

DINER SKINNY  | AIRSTREAM | STEREO | MARMELLATE JAM | FOGLIHTEN NO 1 |
RIESLING | RANGER | EASTMARKET | MATCHBOOK | STONY ISLAND | SEASIDE HEIGTS

Tuesday Huesday

Journey of Childlessness

I sat down to write this post with every intention of writing about my divorce. I just feel like I am not quite ready yet. It is not that I am not ready to share my story, I am I just feel like I need to tell you a different story first. This story I have never told, to anyone outside of my inmost circle of loved ones. Also, as I tell this story know that my husband, at the time of this story, and I are no longer together. It is alright though, it has been years and I am now with the most loving and sweet guy.

About two years after we were married my husband and I began to try to have a child. We were a little unsure, as most I am sure, if it was the right time or not. We had just recently moved to Texas for his new job, and finances were still pretty tight. However, after discussing it with close friends we realized if you are always waiting for the right time for something you will always be waiting. We tried for almost a year before I got pregnant. I know this is frustrating to some, but for us we knew the right moment would come and we were pretty patient. Besides, we were still very young. I remember when I first told him he did not really believe me at first, and even when he did he was somewhat passive about it. I was ready for the new-found daddy to be jumping up and down with me or offering me a hug from excitement. I guess that was not us, now that I look back.

We did not share our news with anyone, as we wanted to wait till the beginning of the second trimester to make sure everything was alright. I never had any actual morning sickness, just a lot of dizziness. This was the first time I began to get car sick though. Also, I had never had heartburn prior to being pregnant and my heartburn got to be so bad I would sit up at night crying. I knew if I could just hang in there it would be all worth it though. I had began to journal the pregnancy as a keepsake for my child. I was adopted at birth so to me this was special. I went eight weeks before I actually called to make an appointment at the OB/GYN, mostly because I was scared to death of anything medical related. Since I was a new patient, she could not get me in for two weeks, which was not so bad because a lot of time ultrasounds do not show much until then anyways. Plus, everything seemed to be going great.

A day before my ten week mark I had just arrived home and went running through the apartment to the bathroom. This was a common occurrence for me, since baby made me have to pee constantly. There, sitting in my bathroom, I stared in shock at a bright red streak. No, no - this could not be happening. I slowly walked out of the bathroom and laid on my bed, waiting for my husband to get home from a late night at work. I began having panic attacks, but eventually calmed down thinking it was just one streak and I had read that sometimes women spot a little while pregnant. A little later, when my husband got home, I explained to him what had been going on and he said I was just getting myself worked up about nothing that everything would be fine.

NOTE: I am going to pause here and just tell you that the next paragraph is descriptive so if you feel uncomfortable, you do not have to continue reading.

By this point, I had to use the restroom once again but hadn't because I was too scared of what I might find since my stomach had began cramping. I could not wait any longer, I hesitantly walked back into the bathroom and sat down, I then heard it, the plop. The cramping worsened instantly and tears began streaming down my eyes. My body began to shake so hard that I thought I was going to pass out. I slowly turned around and looked down, there was blood everywhere. I was devastated. I sat down on the bed and called my husband in to explain everything to him. I do not know what to tell you about his reaction, it was so passive. I thought this was something we both wanted. I called my best friend, who had already had four kids and one stillborn, to ask her what to do. She cried and prayed with me and told me to get to the doctor the first thing the next morning. I quietly hung up the phone and got on my knees. "God, I have begged you to protect this little one," I prayed. "God please I am not strong enough for this, please stop the bleeding. Please don't let me lose my baby."

The next morning I got up early to call the doctor's office the second they opened. They gave me an appointment that afternoon. Wow, was that a long day. When I arrived to the doctor's office they asked me if this was my first appointment, to which I answered yes. She then asked if I was excited to which I gave her an extremely quizzical look. She asked once again if I was excited to be having a baby, and I, not so nicely, looked at her and said "I wouldn't be if I was not bleeding so bad right now." She simply handed me my clipboard of forms and closed the window. My husband was there with me and he filled out the forms for me while I dazed off into my mind. So many thoughts ran through my head that day. It was heartbreaking to sit in that office and watch mommy's walk in and out with beautiful smiles on their faces. I was so thrilled for them, but was hurting so bad both emotionally and physically. Forty-five minuets passed, and I walked back up to the window to ask why it was taking so long...they had forgotten me. Another thirty minuets later the nurse called my name. As we walked back, we stopped at a little testing station for a urine sample. I was so frustrated, upset, and tired at this point I could not understand why I could not just see the doctor right away. The nurse smiled at me and asked how I was. I once again gave another quizzical look and told her not good. She just smiled and told me pregnancy is hard. She gave me a cup and pointed me across the little hall to the restroom. I turned and looked at her and asked if she still wanted me to do this since I was bleeding, and she said yes a little blood never hurt anyone. When I returned, I handed her the cup and her eyes grew. My cup was almost completely red. She then asked me if I was miscarrying, to which I replied that I thought so. She shooed me into a room and asked me why I did not tell anyone, to which I replied that is exactly what I told the receptionist when I called to make the appointment. She told me to undress and lay up on the table - what a mess! Yet another, thirty minuets went by before the doctor entered. I was so angry and frustrated by that point, but she was so sweet and caring you could not help but adore her. She checked everything out and told me that she wanted to do an ultrasound. She looked sad, and began explaining that sometimes these things happen, if fact, one in four women miscarry. A few minutes later as I lay in the ultrasound room looking at an empty screen, tears began to uncontrollably fall down my face. My doctor was so sweet that she sat in the room talking with me until I could calm down a little. I do not remember a lot of the rest of that appointment, it was mostly routine things I believe. I was given my appointment card to have my blood tested and a prescription for a pain reliever then we headed towards the elevator.

I was devastated, not just because my dream just slipped from my hands, but it is amazing how soon a mother builds a connection to the baby growing inside of them. It is not something I can even explain to you. As we entered the parking lot and began walking towards the car, my husband looked at me and said, "Oh well, we will wait the three months and try again, no biggie." I think he thought he was trying to be encouraging but these words hurt so much. No biggie? We just lost a child but it was no biggie? I did not know this then but those words would eat at me for years and cause a lot of resentment and anger. My husband did not say much else to be during the next few weeks, I do not think he knew what to say. Honestly, he just invested himself more into his work and I dealt with the depression that comes with miscarriage.

Almost exactly a year later, I was pregnant again. This time I was extremely hesitant, and I was reluctant to be happy. I set up an appointment right away. I was not going to put it off this time. At five weeks, I entered my doctors office once again, thankfully not waiting as long as I did before. I was slightly a little more optimistic since I had extensive blood tests that even evaluated my chromosomes. My husband and I once again met with the doctor in that tiny room. She was smiling this time saying everything looked good. We were then sent into the ultrasound room to attempt to get some kind of picture on the screen. The smile faded from her kind face. She would not turn the screen to us, but simply said she was not happy with the size and she thought I would once again miscarry in a few days. After she left the room I sat there and thought...Why? Why me again? The statistic is suppose to be 1 in 4, why am I going through this for the second time? I spent the next week on the couch since this time I actually was having a false labor. The pain was horrible and there was not even a reward of holding a precious baby at the end. This continued for two days while my husband disappeared into his work.

A half a year later, I was pregnant for the third time. At this point I knew this baby was not going anywhere. In fact, I knew that it was going to be a girl. I nicknamed her and bought a few clothes and books. I hardly had any morning sickness and I actually felt pretty good. I was making sure to not get stressed and even went in for a pre-natal massage. I had gone to the doctor as soon as I missed my period and she had noticed a few of my levels were lower then she would like them to be so she gave me injections. I was so excited when I still had not seen any blood nor had any cramping when I went in for my twelve week appointment. I actually had fun going to this appointment, and was probably the first time anyone in that office saw a smile on my face. I went through all the routine steps that happen during an appointment. Then it was time for the ultrasound, I couldn't have been more excited. I laid back and waited as she viewed the screen. I was watching her face intently. A tear streamed down her face. As she choked up, she quietly said so me, "Sorry." This moment was surreal. I could  not understand why she was saying sorry, I was so sure this was it. I was not bleeding. My doctor informed me that sometimes your body has trouble discharging a miscarriage so there were some steps we were going to have to take in order to prevent me from getting an infection, I chose taking the prescription.

This prescription she gave me made me go into yet another false labor which was painful and made me incredible sick. It was horrible. Not only that, but my husband disappeared a couple days later to visit a friend out of town. I was alone. I had not told anyone but my mother about my pregnancy and she was seventeen hours away. The week following my third miscarriage was one of the hardest weeks of my life. I battled depression extensively and had no desire to even get out of bed. I was angry at my husband for leaving me while I was suffering so much.

Difficult years followed, as my dream of motherhood shifted from joyous hope to desperate pleading, to the grief of impossibility and finally, to settled acceptance that it just was not going to be.

Although there is much more to the ending of this story, that I will share later, I have now come to a contentness about not having children. I know, you are probably gasping right now saying why would she write that? I also know that I could adopt or foster children, but I have chosen instead to invest in the lives of those already around me and my friends children and my career. I am not angry or even heartbroken anymore, in fact, I find great joy in watching other people raise their children. I understand this decision is not for everyone, but it is the right decision for me. I thought this decision would eat away at me, but honestly I could not be more happy in my life right now because I know I am exactly where I am suppose to be doing exactly what I am suppose to do. The only challenge now is getting other people to understand that childlessness is something I have honestly chosen.

I do have one piece of advice that you can take or leave. So many divorces are caused by a loss of a child. If you have to go through a situation like I did do not allow it to pull apart your marriage. Get help, do anything you have to. In our case there was a lot more at play behind our divorce then just a loss of our babies, but we still let our marriage take a huge hit nonetheless. Also, I understand the intensity of depression, and if you feel depressed for any reason, do not hide it - talk to someone. I held mine in for so long, and to finally let it go is so freeing.

21 Reasons Why I Love Blogging

I recently took an extremely long break from blogging and now that I am back I remember all the reasons why I love blogging. I am trying to get back into a normal routine, which has been somewhat of a difficult transition since I have so much going on right now. However, I am sure it will work out, it has once before. Nonetheless, I thought I would share with you some of the reasons why I love blogging so much, please tell me why you love it so much!

1] Without a doubt, blogging has made me into a much better writer.

2] I am already an organized person, but blogging takes that organization to a whole new level and new faucet.

3] I get to share my life with awesome people who accept me for who I am.

4] I love reading back on past posts to see my journey and how I have grown.

5] My blogging friends are some of the best encouragers in my life!

6] I love being creative, and my blog gives me space to do so!

7] It has forced me to find value in myself.

8] Blogging has allowed me to make a difference in people's lives in ways I never would have been able to without my blog.

9] It is my own. No one tells me what to do, or bosses me around. I get to do whatever I want.

10] I do not follow any rules, I just blog because I love it. Ohhhh, and how I hate rules!

11] Blogging is so diverse - it can be done in so many ways. I love how the topic can change completely from day to day.

12]  The people I have met are awesome. I don't she is reading this but a certain blogger that helped me build my blog following in the beginning just recently wrote an amazing heartfelt and transparent post that has inspired me to tell my story. (Soon to come - When I am finally ready)

13] Blogging has helped me grow my online store significantly.

14] At my job, we are constantly building websites and coding, but my blog is fun and just for me.

15] I get so excited reading the comments that are posted on my blog. Aren't people so sweet?!

16] The blogging community is a constant reminder that you are not alone. I was so touched to read the comments on my post about my dad (My Dad Was Tall) that I actually started crying as I began scrolling down. It honestly is touching. I love those "me too" moments.

17] With blogging, you actually get out of it everything that you put into it.

18] Opportunities - I have been given opportunities that I would have never be given if it was not for blogging.

19] I love that I can get lost in reading other blogger's posts.

20] Blogging has helped me appreciate my life. When something is written out in front of you, it is so clear how blessed your are.

21] I have learned what being transparent truly means, and it is so freeing.

What do you think? Why do you enjoy blogging?

32 Favorite Uses for Lemon Essential Oil

32 Favorite Uses for Lemon Essential Oils

1] Takes the odor out of laundry if you leave the load in the washer too long.

2] Removes sap from anything! I used a drop of it on a cloth to remove sap from my car, and I did not even have to scrub.

3] Lemon Oil mixed with soap will clean up greasy hands.

4] Placed in a spray bottle of water, lemon is a great household cleaner.

5] A lemon soaked cloth rubbed on leather will preserve it and prevent it from cracking.

6]  Great at removing sticky from just about anything!

7] Adding a few drops of oil to your furniture polish will give your wood furniture a great luster.

8] Perfect at cleaning stainless steal!

9] Removed scuff marks.

10] Clean your cutting board and protect it from nasty bacteria.

11] Protects your garden plants from those pesky little bugs.

12] Spot-free dishes! Do I need to say more?

13] Refresh bad smelling washcloths. Add a drop to your kitchen washcloths to rid them of those icky kitchen smells.

14] Combine with peppermint oil and water and drink up for an energy boost! Just be sure to use a glass bottle because lemon will eat through anything else.

15] Add lemon to anything you cook to zest it up!

16] Place in a humidifier to ease your respiratory system and get rid of that gook.

17] Placing lemon oil in warm water and honey will get rid of a scratchy throat.

18] Get great highlights in your hair. Just simply add the lemon oil to your hair and spend some time outside in the sun.

19] Lemon oil is great for nails and will fight against nail fungus.

20] When combined with lavender and diffused in a room it can be extremely calming.

21] Diffuse lemon oil to give you a clear mind.

22] For a great skin exfoliate add lemon oil to oatmeal and scrub away. This will give your a bright completion.

23] Rub lemon oil to the bottom of feet to get rid of callouses, corns, and bunions. 

24] Diffuse after painting a room for air quality control, or even add to your paint.

25] Mix 2 drops of lemon oil with 2 drops of peppermint and 2 drops of lavender for allergies. Just swish around your mouth for a bit, then spit out.

26] Add to bites and stings to prevent infection.

27] Rub onto your chest to help with colds.

28] Combine a few drops with coconut oil to rub on the tummy for constipation.

29] Gargle with warm water and lemon oil to get rid of a scratchy throat.

30] Massage over aches to remove exhaustion and fever.

31] Add to water or rub on reflex points of hands and feet to cure your hangover.

32] Gently massage lemon oil with peppermint, lemongrass, and cypress for varicose veins. Just be sure to rub towards the heart.

There are so many more uses for essential lemon oil, it honestly is pretty amazing and I promise it really does work. I am impressed. I buy my essential oils from doTERRA. I suggest doing a little research in order to choose the right essential oils. Make sure that you are buying therapeutic grade essential oils since they are pure.

How to Know if You are Ready for a Dog

As someone who has two dogs, I understand how important it is to make sure you are truly ready for the responsibility that comes along with getting a dog.

I would suggest asking a friend to borrow their dog for a few days. After a few days caring for the dog you will be able to see if you are even ready to make that commitment. If your dog sitting was successful but you still are not sure if you are ready, contact your local shelter and see if you are able to foster a dog for awhile. Shelters always need volunteers! Just be careful, you might be like me and fall in love with a little foster puppy and they become your family!

As far as getting your dog from a breeder or from a shelter, I have done both. What you do is completely up to you. Both of my pups are amazing, and I would not trade them for anything. Bandit, my Jack Russell Terrier I got from a breeder over eight years ago. He is a stubborn little thing but so sweet and loyal. Lola was a foster puppy of a neighbor. My neighbor was convinced that Bandit needed a sister but I was reluctant until spending time with Lola, then I fell in love and she joined our little family. I would highly suggest getting your pup from an animal shelter as there are so many dogs out there that need a loving home. Lola is my sweet baby that I say even though I rescued her, she really rescued me.

What advice would you give a friend who is considering getting a pup?

My Dad Was Tall

My daddy stood well over six foot tall, which to a little girl that was gigantic. He always seemed young to me with this carefree, laid back personality and his head full of dark hair. My dad lived a quiet life centered around family and the fire station. He avoided being in crowds and if found in a crowd was extremely uncomfortable. He was not ever mistaken as the life of the party or the first one to speak up. Although my dad tended to be quiet he was extremely kind. He would be the first one to volunteer to help someone out, especially family. My favorite part of my dad, of course, is how much he adored me. I was not his own, since I was adopted, but most would have never of guessed. I was his little girl, his sidekick, and his pride. I remember as a little girl sitting on his lap in the recliner as he watched football feeling so safe. Since I was an onlymchild, my dad spent many moments playing cards or board games with me. I specifically remember a sweet moment when my dad was playing in one of the annual Thanksgiving Eve Family Poker nights and I was sitting on his lap watching him play this strange game before I went to bed. Being a kid, I was not seeing the big picture, so I asked my dad (out loud) if his two kings and ace were good cards. Instead of my dad getting angry like most men would have, he patted me on the head and smiled. Everyone laughed and threw their cards back in the middle. To me, my dad was perfect, he was amazing, he was tall.

I was ten years old the year we took a family vacation to Disney. We always went on vacation every summer, but this trip was different. It was extra special. My dad survived the Disney crowds like a trooper as I walked along him holding his hand. He even got angry with a guy who accidentally burned my arm with his cigarette as he was passing by. My protector. Even though now I will ride any ride at park, I was not like that when I was younger. So as everyone else in the group got in line for splash mountain, my dad and I stayed down at the bottom of the ride watching an afternoon parade. After the parade, he bought me some pink cotton candy which we shared while we sat down on a bench waiting for everyone. This was a quiet and sweet moment that, at the time, I did not know I would remember for the rest if my life. While sitting on that bench my dad looked down at me and told me was proud of me and the girl I was becoming. He told me he wanted me to grow up to be a good person, get as much education as possible, and to be happy. My dad also asked me to always be strong for my mom and to promise to take care of her. Then he ended the conversation by telling me he loved me. This is something I never heard a lot from him, in fact I only remember two times specifically, this being one of them. It is not that he did not love me, he just had an unspoken love. Even sitting on the bench, that day my dad was tall.

Later that summer as I prepared to leave for summer camp my dad was sitting in his recliner watching television. On my way out the door to the car I gave my dad a hug and told him I loved him and would miss him. This is the second time I remember my dad saying I love you. Even as a ten year old I knew something felt off that day but I did not know why and like any ten year old I ignored the feeling and went about my day. Besides, I was excited for my first summer at camp. It was the first time I would spend a week away from home. As we drove up to camp we sang songs and did each other's hair. Arriving at camp for the first time was exciting, there were so many kids and such great counselors. We spent the day playing games, eating camp food, and exploring the outdoors. After dinner, my camp mates and I were running across the camp to play the 'big game' at the open field. While headed that way, my youth pastor pulled me aside and began talking to me. This annoyed me as he was making me miss out on the game. We went inside the cabin I was staying in, which made me feel a little odd as boys were not allowed in there. He asked me how camp was going and how I liked staying in the cabin. Just as I was at the height of being uncomfortable my mom and grandma walked in the room. At that moment I might have been thinking a million thoughts but I cannot remember one of them. When I think back to that moment it is blank. My mom asked me to come sit down by her on a bed, and I just sat there staring at her. Maybe I was annoyed that she could not even let me have a week alone at camp without visiting, I don't know. She just sat there looking at me as tears began to fall down her face. It was a few tears at first but then it became more and more to the point she could not talk. My grandma then asked my mom if she would like her to tell me and I shifted my glance over to her teary sympathetic eyes. Grandma then told me that my daddy was gone. The first thought that ran through my head was why would he leave and I wonder where he went? I began to ask these questions out loud, when my mom realized I did not fully understand. He left this earth, not just our home. 

 All this time, growing up, my dad had been suffering from Huntington's Disease. This was never a secret from me. I knew and thought I understood what this was and what it meant. See, I had watched my grandma suffer and die from this horrible, incurable disease. Those moments when I thought my dad looked so tall, he was actually physically struggling. Huntington's Disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that leads to cognitive decline and behavioral symptoms. The things I would notice most was the involuntary shaking of his hands and feet as I sat on his lap watching television. I would also notice him choking on his food from time to time. This is a common beginning symptom of Huntington's. The worst symptom of Huntington's Disease that many families have to face is suicide. Huntington's sufferers have extreme depression and no hope. There is not a cure for this horrible disease, all that can be done is symptom management. Sadly, some of his brothers and sisters suffer from Huntington's as well.

That Monday morning my dad took his own life. I am not mad at my dad for doing so, and never have been - I am a daddy's girl after-all. I have had a hard time understanding it all and processing though. Why did he take his own life? I think he was thinking of my mom and I, and yes I realize how awful I sound saying that. I think it worried and concerned him thinking about my mom and I taking care of him and him being completely dependable on us. Huntington's would have taken over our entire life and my dad would eventually needed full time care. I think he knew I would give up my entire life to care for him, and I believe my mom would have too. We loved him after-all. My dad was tall. Nothing could get my dad down, nor did he need anyone's help. Huntington's taking over his body was embarrassing to him. I am in no way saying suicide is ok, it is painful to those that are left behind, I am simply stating that I understand. However, that day in the funeral home with friends and family surrounding us, my dad no longer looked tall.

I miss my dad everyday. So many people have said that when you lose someone you love it eventually gets easier. I strongly disagree with this statement. It never gets easier, overtime, you just tend to adjust your life. You focus on the good things and God's grace, remembering the precious moments with your loved one. In my case, you start a charity in your dad's name. As I stated before, there is no cure for Huntington's Disease and treatment can be time consuming and expensive. I would like to be able to raise money for families affected by Huntington's Disease. This money would be used in order to help fund medical expenses (treatment, medicine, clinical trials, occupational therapy, speech therapy, walking aids, counseling...) and one day I dream of offering scholarships for student affected by this awful disease. I want my dad to once again appear tall, and affect other's lives so deeply and sweetly as he has mine.

My Charity for Huntington's Disease is named 'Make Your Mark' in honor of my loving daddy, Mark Allen Embree. If you would like to donate, I would be so appreciative and you can just click this link here: DONATE
You can also check out this link here and buy a t-shirt which donates it's proceeds to Make Your Mark.
If you would like more information, have questions, or would like to help in another way, please email me at britt@yellowumbrellablog.com

Huesday Tuesday

How to Add 'You Might Also Like' to Your Blog Posts

Adding 'You Might Also Like' links to the bottom of your blog posts only takes a few steps. Do you wonder why you might want or need this on your blog? It is a great way for people to see content on your blog that they might have not normally stumbled upon.  Plus you will get more traffic!

This is what your blog posts will look like once you have finished this tutorial:

Let's get started... 
1. Go to Link Within (http://www.linkwithin.com/learn) and fill out the information that you see circled in the image below.

2. You will then be directed to the following page:

3. Follow the simple steps on LinkWithin and you will have a 'You Might Also Like' at the bottom of each of your blog posts.

How to Customize Your Post Title Font

This tutorial will show you how to change your post title font by using Google Fonts in Blogger. Google offers over 500 fonts for online use, and I promise it is simple to do!

1. Go to Google Fonts and find the font you would like to use for your post titles. For my blog I picked 'Satisfy' for my post titles. Next to the font you picked you will want to click the 'Quick Use' Link.

2. You will need to copy these codes to use in the next step.

3. Next, log into your blog. Go to your 'Template' Page and click 'Edit HTML'.

4. In this step you will be looking for the <head> tag within your template code. If you click CTL+F it will bring up a search box in which you can type <head> into that box. 

Copy code number 3 from your google fonts page and place it directly above the <head> tag. After you paste the code, you will need to place a forward slash (/) before the > at the end of the code.

EXAMPLE: 

My code before: <link href='http://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Satisfy' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css'>  

My code after: <link href='http://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Satisfy' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css'/>  

5. Go to your search box again by hitting CTL=F and search for /* Posts. You will find a code that looks similar to this...

Directly above the closing bracket (}) you will insert your code number 4 from your google web fonts page. My code ended up looking like this...

h3.post-title, .comments h4 {

font: $(post.title.font);

margin: .75em 0 0;

font-family: 'Satisfy', cursive;

}

6. Save the template and you are ready to love your new post title font. 

NOTE: If you would like to make the font a little larger go to the 'Template' page and click 'Customize.' Then you will need to click on the 'Advanced' and 'Post Title'. This is where you can change the font size of your post title! 

HERE IS WHAT MY POST TITLES ENDED UP LOOKING LIKE:

The Struggle of Being an Outgoing Introvert

I have lived the majority of my life being picked on for being quiet and shy, while on the inside getting frustrated with people for saying that because I do not consider myself even a bit shy. I can walk up to anyone and talk to them about anything. I was even raised in a big and loud family, that you have to speak up to be heard. I have always been involved in many of lives social circles. The problem is that even though I have an outgoing personality I am actually an introvert.

30 Struggles of being an outgoing introvert:

1. I am happiest in small coffee shops and diners where I can be surrounded by people and watch the activity around me, but staying isolated on the sideline.

2. I waiver from wanting to be noticed for my work and accomplishments to panicking over the thought of someone paying too much attention to me. 

3. I have never understood categorizing someone as a introvert or extrovert because I am both.

4. I am told that I love people and making them happy, which is true but odd because I can be highly uncomfortable around others.

5. Dating or friendships are hard for me because I can be the life of the party but then not feel like hanging out or talking for a few days because I am enjoying my alone time.

6. The social activities that were suppose to be so important to me, such as prom or graduations, were just never my thing. Yes, I participated in these activities, but I do not feel like I would have missed out if I didn't.

7. My friends tell me I am mysterious, but really I just do not see the need to share everything about myself. Honestly, I would rather listen and hear about other people's lives. 

8. Because of #7 I can go from blowing up social media for several days to withdrawing from the online world for days.

9. I can be such an awkward person because I want to make others feel comfortable in social situations but at the same time I feel highly uncomfortable.

10. I am in no way anti-social, I just choose when I want to be social. I know this sounds mean and I in no way am mean or cruel, sometimes social situations just wear me out and I am selected on how I spend my time because of this.

11. I have many friends, but only a few I keep in my inner circle. These friends I am highly transparent in front of and they know everything.

12. I can be the life of a party, but then turn around and become a hermit for a few days. 

13. I am embarrassed to admit but sometimes I try everything to avoid people, but once I finally do talk to them I really enjoy the social time.

14. Growing up in school and now in the workplace people always volunteer me to do the presentations because I excel at them, but they don't know that I am really just seconds from throwing up at the thought of presenting.

15. I can be extremely indecisive, just ask my boyfriend. :)

16. I can be a little weird. People do not always know what to expect from me because I do not fall into the typical categories that most people do.

17. I love family events, but my family does not know this because I usually sit on the sidelines observing.

18. I spend a lot of time on my thoughts when I am alone, but tend to blurt things out in social situations.

19. People tend to say I am quiet which bugs me even thought I know it is partly true. Before realizing I was an introvert, there were times I would try to force myself to be more outgoing. 

20. I truly treasure my family and friendships, but I am not always the greatest at showing this to be true.

21. I get hurt easily when someone belittles me for saying I am uncomfortable doing something that might seem like no big deal to them.

22. I tend to bottle up my emotions because it is too exhausting to express them.

23. When I say something I mean it, there is no hidden meaning.

24. I am not very good with spur of the moment plans. I like to have my plans well thought out in advance.

25. In dating, it is a huge deal for me to want to spend every minute with someone. This does not happen often and I am so lucky to have that now with my guy Jim.

26. I don't just want to take life slow, I need to. Life is too exhausting to move fast!

27. People do not understand why I enjoy sitting at home on a Saturday night.

28. When put in uncomfortable social situations, I have a go to outfit and shoes that become a sort of security blanket for me.

29. I have two dogs that I treat like my children because although I am alone a lot I really do not like being alone.

30. I tend to dread getting on a plane and having to sit next to a chatty person, but also hate the idea of being on a plane for hours without talking.

Are you as confused about my personality as everyone else? What odd personality quirks do you have?

Great Buys for Back to School

I am so excited, this coming month I am returning to college. Immediately following high school I went to college for Elementary Education. I had completed enough college courses in high school that I entered college as a Sophomore, however after two years of college I realized a career in Elementary Education was not for me. Now, almost ten years later I have decided to complete my own year left towards a bachelors and get a degree in Business Administration/Entrepreneurship. This should be interesting considering I am a VP at a start-up web development company, I just opened up my online stationary store, I started a new charity to raise money for Huntington's Disease, and I began blogging full-time again. Either way, I am excited and just like we all do I will take it day by day. Besides, it is just for one year, right?

The best part about a new school year (even if you aren't enrolled in school) is the new buys for back to school. I have picked out my favorites for this school season. What do you think?

Studio C Tutti Laptop Backpack $59.99 w/FREE SHIPPING

Erin Condron Life Planner $50.00

Poppin Jumbo Mobile Memo $5.99

Mobile Cell Phone Stand $10.00

Kid Made Modern 36ct Colored Pencils $7.99

Wreck This Journal Everywhere $10.00

Martha Stewart Wall Manager

Behold Pencil Case $13.00

HOW TO put social share buttons in your blog post

Blogger and WordPress both offer social media share buttons for your blog post. These are great, but if you are like me, my blogger share buttons do not always work correctly and I wanted something more customized. Now, you could use HTML to customize your share buttons and it really isn't that difficult, but I found a site that makes it super easy for anyone! [This is not a sponsored post]

ShareThis {www.sharethis.com} offers great options for anyone wishing to use social share buttons.

All You have to do is click the 'Get the Code' button in the middle of the screen to get started. It will then walk you through three steps - 1.Choose a Platform, 2.Select a Style, 3.Customize

As you can see, ShareThis offers several great platforms. Just simply choose the one you need!

In step two, you are given three different style options to choose from.

Finally, you are allowed to choose any customization options you would like, then all you have to do is click 'Get the Code.' Not only will ShareThis give you your social media share buttons but it will also walk you through how to install on your platform. So simple!

ShareThis also offers several analytic options as well that are worth checking out.