Finally Friday!

That's right folks, it's actually Friday.  I'm ready to get out and have some freedom! 

Don't you hate that you can't say it's Friday without getting the stupid Friday song in your head?  I confess that I do... Terrible.  That song is just awful and I don't appreciate having it in my head.  I confess that I also don't appreciate that the neighboring team is cooking bacon in the office and not sharing.  Boo to that!

It's bright and sunny here in Utah and very hot.

Which doesn't help the fact that there are tons of fires nearby and no sign of rain... No bueno.  Last I heard there is one fire in Fairview that has claimed over 400,000 acres and at least 50 homes.  Very sad.  I'm going camping this weekend and I'm going to have to take my inhaler!

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If you haven't yet, don't forget to enter the Shabby Apple giveaway!

Ends next Thursday on 7/5! 

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So Whispering Sweet Nothings has this really cool Coast to Coast blogger map that you can add your information to.  It's very cool, because you can go in and check it out.  You can find people based on the map, and you can get yourself added to it so people can find you.  It's very neat!  Thanks Aubrey for sharing it with me!



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I confess that I only have 7 more followers until I hit 700 and that means another giveaway!  I had better start thinking up something awesome for you guys.  :) 


Also, I'm linking up with confessions 'cause Mamarazzi is back!







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I confess that I went in for a meeting with the rescue I volunteer with last night to plan our Howl-O-Ween event, and I was the only one who ordered meat.  I felt really silly as the two girls two my right were Vegitarians.  So here I am with a bloody rare steak... Awkward.  


They were very nice though, it's going to be a great group of girls to work with.  The event should be amazing!  Silent Auction, drawings, costume contest, photo booth with your pets, catered and OPEN BAR.  Hell yes.  I can't wait! (Even though I have a TON of work left to do before then.) 


If you want good advertising and to help the animals you can donate product to the event that we'll auction off, and then you'll get listed in our newsletter, on our list of sponsors, and on the Cause for Paws website.  It's great publicity! 

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Also, I need a favor. 

I'm walking in the Strut Your Mutt event to help raise money for my rescue.

If you could donate a little to help, that would be amazing! (any little bit counts)

BUT, if you could sign up as a virtual walker it's even better! 

The team with the most walkers signed up by July 9th gets $1,000 towards their goal!

We can save so many lives with that! Please help us out!

You don't have to be local, you just have to sign up and join our pack.

You'll also get free CFPU merch!

Sign up HERE! 

If you still don't want to sign up, you can help sponsor my walking:

So what are you up to this weekend?

$75 Shabby Apple Giveaway! (CLOSED)

I am in love with Shabby Apple's designs.  I've been looking through them all day, and there are so many cute dresses, swimsuits, and collections! I especially love the vintage styles.  Just look how cute that swimwear over to the left! I DIE! 

I have to get skinny so I can look good in this stuff.  I'm serious, Shabby Apple may be my new motivation! And while I'm not one of those girls that requires modesty, it would be nice to have some lovely modest outfits I could rock at work or not have to worry about having a cardigan for.  It's all adorable and they have a collection for every kind of style you're looking for.

I think my absolute favorite collection is the Mad Hatter Collection, as it is whimsical and lovely, and I must have the the Alice Dress someday.

However, I am also smitten with the Casablanca dress from the 1943 Collection, the Tinsel Town Skirt from the Tinsel Town Collection, the Overboard dress from the Set Sail Collection, and pretty much every swimsuit from Stardust Inn.

Aren't they all lovely?

Even more so because...

Shabby Apple has offered one of my readers $75 towards their purchase at Shabby Apple!  That's a huge discount, and you can use it for anything you want!  Do you want it?  Read the details after the break!

What's New?

Having an entire weekend of alone time made me happy.  I just needed a break, so shutting myself in my apt with no guests or distractions was such a relief! I actually got some cleaning done, and I sat and did some art! Friday night I spent the evening drawing in Ink and Satruday I fell in love with Watercolor pencils.

And Saturday I fell in love with Watercolor pencils.  I think I need to buy a huge nice set for myself one of these days!

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Josh had been in MD all weekend at a conferance, and when I went to pick him up from the airport I snapped this picture.  So pretty!

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Last week I worked with another bunch of great animals at the Adoption Center in Trolley Square. Some cuties, and some that I am still surprised that they haven't found their forever homes yet.  Working with animals makes me happy, even if I sometimes don't want to go in to do it...

Left: Athena, a favorite of mine.  Right: Cheyenne, sweet and shy Yellow Lab.

Top Left: New and tiny little girl named Jazzi.  Top Right: Maximillion is a love!

Bottom Left: Theodora looks so much like Astarte! Bottom Right: She looks so much like my Emma!

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I've been slowly working on updating things here at My So-Called Chaos piece by piece until I get it perfectly how I want it.  There's still a couple more things I'd like to add, but it's starting to look right.  I've also been updating things over at Health NOT to Health NUT too, and I'm really liking how that is coming out.  What do you think?

Also, I'm accepting sponsors both here and there.  It's cheaper over there because I have less followers and readers there, but it's still not bad here and you'll get lots of exposure! :) Plus I'm having a sale!  I am happily finding lots of blogs to sponsor myself, and it's fun!  I even have a few guest posts coming up! 

June Sponsor Ad Spot Sale!

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Other things making me happy:

My Dean Russo Prints came!

My Car got a much needed bath:

And I have some awesome people in my life.

What's new with you?
I have a BIG giveaway tomorrow, don't forget to come check it out!

Little Black Sandals (MM)

<a href="http://www.mysocalledchaos.com"><img src="http://i725.photobucket.com/albums/ww257/agofish/For%20Blog/musicalmondays.jpg"></a>

This week's song:

Little Black Sandals

by Sia

I'm being dragged down, down by the hand

The hand of a golden giant man

He's crushing my knuckles

Splitting my skin, he says he'll let go

If only I'd ask it of him

He says

Girl, it's your call

You wanna fly

You wanna fall

So I shout

I wanna get away from you

As fast as I can

I tell my feet to move it

I hope they have a plan

[[Chorus]]

These little black sandals

Are walking me away

These little black sandals

Are heading the right way

These little black sandals

Are walking me away

These little black sandals

Saved my life today

So now I'm free

Free

From the big bad giant

Who was stalking me

Thank you feet, for guiding me

I'm glad somehow I got brains down there, at least

[[Chorus]]

Sometimes I'm tempted

Sometimes I am

I would be lying if I said I didn't miss that giant man

He was the line between pleasure and pain

But me and the feet have some years to reclaim

[[Chorus]]

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My first instinct when I hear this song is that it's about abuse, however I think it really can be applied to any bad relationship.  It's beautiful, and haunting, and I think most people can relate to it in some manner or another-most of us have had relationships we feel better for having walked away from.  There are a few that would have ruined my life if I'd stayed, and a few that I would have lost myself in for much longer than I should have.  I'm grateful for the strength to walk way, and sad for those that never find it...

What are you listening to this week?

Don't forget to link up and you will be entered to win a big music prize pack at the end of the year!

June Ad Spot Sale:

Books 'n' Bloggers Swap Link-Up

It's time for the Books 'n' Bloggers Link-Up!

If you participated, please create a post.

The post must include:

• Links to both hosts, Beth and Miss Angie.
• A link to your swap partner.
• Images and information on the books you received.
• The Books 'n' Bloggers Swap button.  Code below:

<a href="http://www.mysocalledchaos.com"><img src="http://i725.photobucket.com/albums/ww257/agofish/For%20Blog/button.png"></a>

My swap partner

Chloe from All That Good Stuff

What I received:

#1: A Book Chloe Loves
The Notebook, by Nicholas Sparks.
I'm pretty sure I read this once when I was younger, but it's been so many years I can't remember it.  Chloe is a sucker for Romance novels, so she loves this book.  And hey-the movie has a hunky hunk in it. Yum.

#2: A Book Chloe Hasn't Read
1,000 Creative Writing Prompts by Bryan Cohen

Ideas for Blogs, Scritps, Stories and more?  Who couldn't use this?  I am really excited to see if any of these inspire me  to write some really creative blogs for you guys to enjoy! This could be fun!

#3: A Book I Wanted

Wanderlust by Elisabeth Eaves

I have had this on my wishlist for a while now.  I am no stranger to that old familiar Wanderlust feeling, and seeing a book that claims it is "A love affair with five continents" makes me happy inside.  I want a nice long love affair with Europe, followed by several other continents.  Yes please! I'm sooo excited to read this!

Thanks Chloe, I love all of my books!

What did you get in the swap?

Link up swappers!

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June Advertising Sale:

Book-A-Holics Anonymous

Hello.
My name is Angie and I'm a book-a-holic.
(You: Hello Angie.)

I have an addiction to buying books.

Even when I have a pile of books at home I haven't read yet.

Bookstores are like heaven to me.

Big money-sucking wallet-emptying heaven.

Do you know how many times I have to tell myself NO in B&N?

About 152 times per visit.  At least.

Apparently it's still not enough times to stick.

Because I went in the other day just to get a gift;

and walked out with two for myself...

Yep, I'm an addict.

Also, I received my book swap books from Chloe!

Big reveal and link-up tomorrow.

Excited?  I am!

Are you a book-a-holic?

What books are you reading currently?

I really want to know!

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June Advertising Sale:

Sponsor Me?

Hey lovelies!  As you may have noticed I've added a lot of awesome stuff to the blog.  I know we talked about it before, but I want to talk about Sponsoring.  I've recently started advertising on some other blogs, and it is awesome! The hope is that with advertising on another blog as a sponsor more traffic will come through.

So I am starting to put sponsors on my blog, and any money that comes in from the sponsoring will be put back into the blog, allowing me to advertise on bigger blogs and bring in more traffic.  More traffic = more times my sponsors will be seen too.

Current Stats

GFC Followers: 668

Facebook Fans: 333

Twitter Followers: 445

Pinterest Followers: 393

And these numbers are constantly growing!

Sidebar Ad Sizes

Interested?  Let's team up!

Since it's my first month, I'm offering a discount! 15% off for any sign ups in the next two weeks! Just enter Promo Code: 15ForFirst in the promotional code field when purchasing your ad space!  That's off any size! :) I promise to speak you up lots and lots as my sponsor too!  

Pricing/more info & Sign-Ups HERE!

Eventful Weekend Recap

Before I recap the weekend, here are a few pictures of the animals I was able to work with last Wednesday at the Adoption Center:

The top two pictures are Hank, the mini poodle.  Bottom left is Beefy the Puggle mix.  Bottom right is Sammy the cutest chunky Shih Tzu ever.  The cat is Skittles, and she was the cuddliest! She loved on me for a long time!

Thursday night I went to the store with a craving for a Cobb Salad, which they didn't have and I didn't feel like making-but I still did well because this is what I came home with for dinner instead:

Friday was probably the most interesting day... Julie, Josh and I all went for Rich's Burgers, and when we came home Kristi and Kaden were waiting for me.  They had just been to the zoo and the kiddos had gotten their faces painted.

Kailee and Kaden with their facepaint.

Josh and Julie took off for a party, and Kristina told me that my ex (the one who's just somebody I used to know now, despite being friends for years) had been willing to let his kids run in and see me while he waited in the car.  I was floored.  I haven't seen the kids in almost 8 months, and I've missed them terribly. 

Plus, Kristina had left my Wii controllers in her car when we planned on playing Mario Party, and her Book Swap books that had to go out the next day.  So the books and controllers are the excuse I'm sticking with for jumping in the car and heading back up to Layton to get them... and see the kids...

They are SO big! Look how they've grown!

On the drive up I was really worried about the psychological consequences of my actions, but I couldn't help myself.  And while I do miss them more now that I've seen them again, I don't regret it at all.  D hugged me and told me how much he missed me and then ran off to play, but H had me hold her the entire time I was there and she cried when she couldn't come with me when I left.  I love them so much.

It was also fun how awkward their dad was as he hid in the basement to avoid me until he thought I was gone and came out only to find that I was coming back in the house... HA!  Oh well.  We'll never be friends again, at least not like we were, but we can at least be friendly or civil.  Silly man...

Pizza and rockband! Kaden came and spent the night.

The next day Kristi and I got up and went to the Farmers Market where I bought this really awesome art.  I wanted the Labyrinth original SO BAD, but just couldn't part with $300.  Sad day.

Then we went for Raman, and afterwords everyone went their separate ways and I enjoyed a blissful evening in, and then most of Sunday crafting at home alone. It was nice and relaxing.

So how was your weekend?

Far Away (MM)

<a href="http://www.mysocalledchaos.com"><img src="http://i725.photobucket.com/albums/ww257/agofish/For%20Blog/musicalmondays.jpg"></a>

This week's song:

Far Away

by Ingrid Michaeson

I will live my life as a lobster-man's wife on an island in the blue bay

He will take care of me

he will smell like the sea

And close to my heart he'll always stay

I will bear three girls all with strawberry curls

Little Ella, and Nellie, and Fay

While I'm combing their hair I will catch his warm stare

On our island in the blue bay

[[Chorus]]

Far away, far away

I wanna go far away

To a new life on a new shore line

Where the water is blue

and the people are new

to another island in another life

There's a boy next to me and he never will be

Anything but a boy at the bar

And I think he's the tops, he's where everything stops

How I love to love him from afar

When he walks right past me then I finally see

On this bar-stool I can't stay

So I'm taking my frown to a far distant town

On an island in the blue bay

[[Chorus]]

I wanna go far away, away

I wanna go far away, away

I wanna go far away

Where the water is blue and the people are new

To another life, to another life

To another shore line in another life

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I don't know about you, but every time I listen to that song I long for that kind of life.  To live on an island with a good man who comes home every night from the sea and a few daughters.  Sounds like bliss.  Anyone know any single fisherman?

What are you listening to this week?

Don't forget that if you link up with the button you are entered to win a big prize at the end of the year! 

New Features & Confessions

Do you see my new tabs along the top?

Do they look ok to you?  Firefox shows them weird for me (but it's acting badly in general today) but Chrome and IE both look fine. Are they all on the same line to you?

Anyway...

I am now offering blog design, and advertising! 
I confess that I decided to do so because I really need to earn some more money for when I buy a house this summer! I'm both excited and nervous about it, but either way figure I need a little extra cushion for unexpected expenses.

See examples of my blog design in the Blog Design tab at the top.

As for Advertising I'm offering sidebar space (I already have one little add over there) as well as sponsored posts, reviews, and giveaways! These are great ways to get your blog/shop/product or whatever you want noticed.  Check it out in the Advertise tab at the top.  (If I love you, trade can most certainly be arranged too!)

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On another note, I confess that I found this amusing!

That's right.  That is my post about my trippy nightmares and I'm currently sitting at 666 followers.  Mark of the devil?  Maybe if I believed in the devil, but that's another story... I just thought it was quite interesting and entertaining!  Looks like I'll need to do a giveaway for 700 soon! Sooo exciting!

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That is really all I have for you this week.
Other than this:

Source: someecards.com via Miss Angie on Pinterest