Sassy Irish Lassie

Bloomtastic!

Kat — Sat, 04 May 2013 12:35:58 +0000

Spring is here! Which in the Midwest is a big deal. We can finally shed our layers of sweaters and coats for something a wee bit lighter and get outside and enjoy the warmer weather. It also mean Mother’s Day – the day we spoil and remember our Moms because without them, well we wouldn’t be here!

Now, while anyone can buy their Mom flowers, why not step it up a notch and surprise your Mom with some gorgeous arrangements from BloomNation? BloomNation is the new etsy of flowers. Now you can shop at local floral shops from the comfort of your couch. Even better, you can see the actual designs created by the florists and pay local pricing without any service fees. Sweet!

Curious what eles BloomNation has to offer?

Quality: Every florist featured on BloomNation has received the company’s personal stamp of approval after being meticulously vetted. Expect to find only the crème de la crème as BloomNation’s community of floral artisans design unique floral creations which can’t be found anywhere else on the web.
What You See is What You Get: While conventional floral wire sites post stock images which can be misleading (shoppers never really know what will get delivered), BloomNation’s shoppers are able to place their orders with confidence, viewing actual photos uploaded by that floral artisan and knowing exactly what their recipient’s bouquet will look like upon arrival.
Ease & Convenience: BloomNation has successfully created a new way to send flowers by taking the in-store floral experience online- giving shoppers the ease and efficiency of the web… with the personalized touch of a local florist. BloomNation’s state of the art platform makes it simple to compare designs, prices and trusted reviews all in one place.
Support Local Businesses/ No Service Fees: BloomNation has built a community that supports thousands of true local floral artisans across the country. Shoppers are now able to seamlessly and securely order gorgeous floral masterpieces directly from their local floral artisan, pay actual local prices, forgo those ridiculous $15 service fees and have peace of mind knowing their unique BloomNation orders will impress every time!

I had the chance to order a beautiful bouquet, (from the couch in my pajamas!), and couldn’t believe the choices I had. It almost made it too difficult to chose but there was definitely something for everyone’s taste. And just for you I am able to share a special 20% off coupon code– Bloom20 – so you too can share a gorgeous bouquet with your Mom, our yourself, this Mother’s Day.

Don’t make a flower flop this Mother’s Day. Order a flower work of art that will leave her speechless!

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Mutely Distinctive

Kat — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:59:27 +0000

She gazed sadly at the lackluster face staring back at her. In her reflection she could see what everyone else saw. She could see her flaws, the less than perfect complexion, the hair that never looked quite right and the body that was far from beautiful. In the mirror, she saw ugliness that was Darcy.

In the mirror it was apparent why everyone loved Danny. In the mirror, her imperfections were magnified, a glaring reminder of why she was undeserving.

Darcy hadn’t told her parents that she applied to Columbia. She wondered if they would even notice she was gone.

The challenge of 100 words is to write a post, using only 100 words. Velvet Verbosity is back and this week she challenged us with ‘Lackluster‘.

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Beautifully Convoluted

Kat — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 21:20:00 +0000

Julia lay staring up at the bleak greyness that stretched across the late morning sky. She could hear screaming and sirens but everything was muffled – like she was listening underwater.

The sensation of rain spread across her face. The soft drops provided a calming distraction to the chaos around her. Julia closed her eyes, enjoying the velvety sensation. She was quickly lulled into a lurid haze, freeing her mind and giving her the impression she was floating.

When she opened her eyes she gasped as she looked at the contorted body laying below. Yet for once, she was at peace.

The challenge of 100 words is to write a post, using only 100 words. Velvet Verbosity is back and this week she challenged us with ‘Contorted‘.

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Strong Mom Party of One, Please

Kat — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 20:19:40 +0000

I am often outnumbered, in fact, I am always outnumbered. I am the sole female living in a house full of boys. Not that this is anything new to me. I grew up with a brother, had all boy cousins and lived in a neighborhood full of boys. Ironically, girls are a foreign entity to me.

But being a Mom to boys is not always easy. My vision of motherhood is often challenged and is nothing like what I envisioned as a young girl. Being a Mom to boys has its own crazy unwritten rule book. Rule Number One: There are no rules. There isn’t much of a learning curve either. You leave the hospital with this bundle of boyhood and hit the ground running. Will you stumble? Yes. Fall flat on your face? Oh yeah. Love them unconditionally even though they drive you to the brink of insanity? Absolutely!

Here is what I have learned so far:

The seat is never down. Never. Dreams of it ever being down again have long been flushed away.
Body functions are funny. If it comes out of the body – it’s humorous. Most days it is downright hilarious. It’s even funnier when it is inappropriately timed or in a public forum.
Duct tape becomes your best friend and a necessity. It can fix toys, accessorize swords and guarantees that your child’s diaper stays on through the night.
Your vision of you house smelling sweet and welcoming is replaced by outdoor musk and stinky socks.
This vision takes a cruel turn for the worse when your child enters tweendom and discovers Axe. *save me*
Your purse becomes a safe haven for random Legos, action figures, gum wrappers, special rocks they had to keep, athletic cups and anything else they deem worthy of keeping but not important enough to carry themselves. This by the way applies to everything they own.
You cute sassy purse turns into a huge canvas Mom bag.
You will have an in-depth knowledge of Star Wars, bugs, football statistics and all the noises you can make with various body parts.
You will learn that boys have invisible dirt magnets under their nails and no matter how often you wash and scrub them, they will be black again in minutes.
Your husband, sensing the testosterone filled house, will embrace his inner 12 year old and teach and/or encourage many of the above mentioned behaviors.
You will have bad days. Days when you will yell, say not nice things, things you regret. You will be tired, angry and frustrated. They will still love you.
Your boys will see you at your worst and still think you are beautiful and when you put on a dress they will say, “WOW Momma, you look pretty!”
It will be the best and most rewarding job you will ever have!

** I am participating in a blog campaign with One2One Network. I have not received any payment. All opinions, pieces of wisdom and parental transgressions are my own. **

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The Seeking Heart

Kat — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 17:25:32 +0000

A lone girl, desperate for acceptance and love but only allowed darkness. She was searching for light, but more importantly, she was searching for an ending. Death’s kiss promised that ending. Death enticed her with its wares, its beauty, its neverending peace. It made lavious promises of an infitude of light, an eternity of love. No longer would she be left, fruitlessly searching for a love they were not willing to give.

But when faced with the task – she failed. Yet another notch of incompetence, another glaring sign that she was undeserving of happiness. Even in the darkest of times she was not allotted even the tiniest shard of light.

Once again, she was alone.

photo credit

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Tuesday Tunes – Luke Bryan Up For ACM Entertainer of the Year Award

Kat — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 10:54:21 +0000

The Academy of Country Music, the Ram Truck brand and Kohl’s Department Stores announced today that fan voting is now open for the Entertainer of the Year award. This year, Luke Bryan competes for the title alongside Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift, and Blake Shelton. Country music fans everywhere have the power to choose the winners by casting their votes now at www.VoteACM.com.

The awards will be given out during the 48th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, to be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Sunday, April 7, 2013 at 8:00PM, live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network. This year, for the third time, the ACM Awards will feature the ACM Ram Red Carpet to welcome country’s biggest stars to the show.

“The Ram Truck brand is proud to partner with the Academy of Country Music for their 48th Award ceremony. Ram truck fans and country music fans are one and the same as they are cut from the same cloth of authenticity with a genuine work-hard, play-hard attitude,” said Fred Diaz, President and CEO – Ram Truck Brand and Chrysler de Mexico, Chrysler Group LLC. “We are excited to find out who Ram and country music fans will select as their choice for Entertainer of the Year. We congratulate all the nominated artists.”

“Once again, fans have the power to vote for two of the ACM’s most exciting categories, and we’re proud to have great partners both in Ram Trucks and Kohl’s to help make it happen,” said Bob Romeo, CEO of the Academy of Country Music.

Leading up to the show, fans can watch interviews and exclusive performances with the three final ACM New Artist of the Year nominees as they receive their trophies for winning their respective first round categories on GAC’s “ACM New Artist of the Year” special, premiering March 25th at 8:00PM ET and re-airing multiple times until voting closes on April 7. Additional air times and dates can be found at GACtv.com/ACM.

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Seemingly Unsuitable

Kat — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 23:45:31 +0000

Darcy was tired of being bound by rules and expectations. She was never going to measure up to their standards and she definitely was not going to fit into their so-called perfect mold.

She was tired of being stifled by their small town mentality, their inability to live outside the box. What others viewed as misbehavin’, Darcy viewed as creating. Why was craving to be different such a bad thing?

Of course, she could succumb to their wishes and live her life like her beloved older brother Danny. Ah, Danny the golden child – hated by few, loved by so many.

The challenge of 100 words is to write a post, using only 100 words. Velvet Verbosity is back and this week she challenged us with ‘Misbehavin‘.

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Mirror of Pain

Kat — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 20:33:41 +0000

The grounds rumblings intensified as sweeping smoke began to surround him. Simon tried to keep his wits about him but the chaos ensuing around him had left him paralyzed.

Fearful for his life, his inner being was in full conflict against his u=inner need to complete his voyage. What if he never made it to Galiena’s village? What if this whole journey was for not?

He thought of his son’s Seamus and his pleading eyes when Simon told him he had to leave. The deafening rolls of thunder jarred him back to reality.

Maybe I should have never left home…..

100 Word Song is a writing challenge from Lance based on a weekly music prompt. 100 words – no more, no less. This week’s challenge was inspired by The Clash’s – “Car Jamming”. Who can deny a prompt that involves The Clash???

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Blisstastic

Kat — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 10:25:46 +0000

Bursting at the seams

Filled with love and excitement

Too hard to contain.

Most can’t comprehend

The magnitude of Blissdom’s

Unfathomable joy.

Ready to be embraced

By my internet soul sisters

Let’s get our BLISS on!!

Be sure to head over to Lou‘s to read what everyone else is haikuing about this week.

Photo courtesy of the uber amazing Rachel. I could seriously squeeze the HECK out of everyone in that photo!!!

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A Precarious Venture

Kat — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 01:21:26 +0000

The sky ahead of him began to instantaneously change. The milky white clouds that lazily stretched across the sky began to swirl and twist into a deeper and caliginous shade of grey. The quickness and intensity at which they were changing set Simon on edge. For as strong as the force was that was pulling him forward, the forces working against him were even more commanding.

If there was ever a time for Simon to turn back, it was now. As he contemplated his next move, his hands began to shake violently. Nothing within him could calm his growing convulsions.

The challenge of 100 words is to write a post, using only 100 words. Velvet Verbosity is back and this week she challenged us with ‘Shake‘.

You can read the back story HERE.

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