Wine Lover's Giveaway Extravaganza!

Calling all winos! Calling all winos! 

Your wine-away is here!

This is the one you've been waiting for. Everything you could need (besides the vineyard) to have a party! In celebration of National Wine Day on May 25th, (people, we officially have a holiday!) some spectacular wino friends of mine have banded together to bring you a wino's dream come true.

The goods:

 1// Corkicle to chill your wine in the bottle 2// Houdini wine preservation kit 3// Ozeri electronic wine opener, foil cutter and pourer 4// Wine by Wives Sunflower wine glass 5// leopard Woozie
6// cork barrel 7// set of four Govino flexible shatterproof stemless glasses 8// Vino2Go (8oz)
9// Vino2Go XL (12oz)

The winos:

Sara // Stephanie // Mer //Ashley // Angela // Rachel // Rachel // Kristyn 

// Lisette // Beth // Amanda // Nadine // Beth

Pour yourself a glass of your favorite wine and enter below!

Good luck! (Open worldwide!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Just Because I have the fever and chills...

Welcome back to Just Because! Some of you may be wondering why we moved Just Because to Thursdays. Well, it's because I just couldn't be trusted with two link-ups back to back. After forgetting to post early twice, I knew we had to move it. Sorry for any inconvenience! As usual, you can link up a post about ANYTHING. And, we have a new button!

Have you heard the good news from Ms. Catalyn at Confessions of a Northern Belle?!?!?!?

I'm so happy for them! This is something they really, really wanted!

As for me, I keep going back and forth as to whether or not I want to have kids. Yeah, I know. Shocker. I don't know how you parents today make ends meet! Life is so expensive that I have half a mind to keep our lives as simple as possible by delaying kids indefinitely.

We got married four years ago. Last time I checked, being childless and unmarried at 25 does not make you a spinster. Regardless, when I went around gathering mailing addresses, a relative asked me when we were having kids. I dismissed it as small talk. He persisted. Again, I said something along the lines of, "Oh, in time." Then he demanded to know exactly when we were having kids. I exploded. All I saw was red. My response? "I'm inviting you to the wedding, not the delivery room." I know he was kidding, but, c'mon really? 

Now that I'm older, people are more and more brazen with their questions. I'm getting really sick of the constant tirade of insensitive annoying questions:

"Do you have kids?" No. "Oh."

"So, when are you having kids?" I don't know.

"Do you plan on having kids?" Yes, but not right now.

"So, you don't have kids?"  No, I don't have kids. 

"Wait, you really don't have kids?!" I lied. I actually do have kids. But it's a lot easier running errands when I lock them in my trunk. No you, dipshit. I don't have kids. 

via

The oh response is one of the worst. What does it even mean? Oh, I wonder if they are having problems? or, Oh, I feel like crap for asking that. I can guarantee you it's not the latter. My in laws have been very patient, loving, and respectful of our decision to wait. My extended family is another story. 

I've started guilt-tripping people. When they ask me all of the aforementioned, I reply with this question: "Has it ever occurred to you that we just might have problems getting pregnant?" The tone of the conversation changes and they drop it...usually. 

Do we have problems in that area? We haven't attempted a pregnancy yet, so there's your answer. But what if we did? I feel for the couples that struggle with infertility and are constantly bombarded with these questions. People--can you just mind your business? Sheesh!

So, I get the baby fever and the "chills" over and over again. I don't know when we'll have kids. In the meantime, I am having way too much fun enjoying the adventures of other friends and their terrible wonderful children.

Brin at Bold Butter Baby

You can't beat that. Sorry Brin. Haha. Now, without further ado, link up your posts today!

<div class="Just Because-button" style="width: 200px; margin: 0 auto;"> <a href="http://www.northernbellediaries.com" rel="nofollow"> <img src="http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y469/NBelleCreations/May2013/justbecause_zps3431e086.png~original" alt="Just Because" width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div>

Shade of Color Art Notebook {review}

Disclosure: I received this product in exchange for my honest review. All opinions stated are my own.

Hello friends! My good friend Stephanie at Shades of Color Art approached me to review one of her personalized notebooks. These notebooks are so pretty! She paints them by hand in the abstract style. She asked me what I wanted for the logo. When I asked her if I could have my design shop's logo, she said yes. I was ecstatic!

FTC Blogger Guidelines for Disclosures

If you're a blogger who participates in doing product reviews or accepting paid articles on your blog, this is a must-read.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC for short) updated its dot com disclosures article this year, and it has tons of important information for advertisers (this mean us, bloggers!). This applies to all of us, "big" and "small" alike. I am a blogger--period, and the FTC won't discriminate against the size of my blog if I am breaking its guidelines on consumer protection.

Michael Bublé Album Review

When I was approached to review this album, I was thrilled! Holding a degree in vocal performance, how could I turn this down? I'm so glad I accepted the offer. I now have beautiful songs added to my playlist and I've even found a new song to slow dance to with my husband. Cue the waterworks.

Read more >>

If I won $600M...

So apparently some lucky duck bought the winning ticket in a Publix supermarket in Florida. (Whitney, if that was you, I completely understand never hearing from you again.) I'm sure the winner has to talk to their lawyer(s) and accountant(s) about what to do with their money, but I think I know what I would do. (seriously, winner X, come see me. I'll charge you less than those sharks in Florida. Ty Ty will also cut you a deal, I'm sure.)

So without further ado, this would probably be what I would do in that most unfortunate scenario:

1.

Be in total denial. No way. Can you imagine winning the lottery? Even $100?  I'm not too keen on Uncle Sam taking $300M in taxes, though, so I'm not sure whether I'd take the lump sum or not I won't take the lump sum. No diving into piles of money like Uncle Scrooge for me. (If you don't get that awesome 80s cartoon reference...Google it now). I'd would LOVE to have a check that's taller than me!

A picture that is totally irrelevant to this post. You're welcome.

I Love Bloglovin' link-up #10

In order to help bloggers transition away from GFC as the main way to follow blogs, Northern Belle Diaries and Postcards from Rachel have teamed up to host I Love Bloglovin'. 

I'd like to introduce you to two amazing ladies before we begin!

Instagram  -  Twitter

Not only is Hallie gorgeous, but she is sweet, funny, and has a great "cents" of style! I love her and so will you!

Twitter  -   Bloglovin

Tara and her handsome Brit are living their lives across the pond while having a blast! Tara is  also another cute little fashionista. Stop by and say hi without the cost of airfare (too corny? My bad).