Creating the Perfect Bedroom

Hello, it's me from Ocean Dreams blog and I'm so thrilled to be guest posting on Michelle's lovely blog! I always love coming to her blog and being updated on her latest happenings...it makes me so happy!

So today I decided to write about something fun. I've always wondered what I would do if I could decorate my bedroom anyway that I wanted to, and this post is going to be about just that. It's all about taking my imagination anywhere I want it to go and creating the bedroom of my dreams. So what kind of elements would your dream bedroom have? Here is what mine would consist of:

Beachy Decor

Of course beachy decor would be a given for me. With the tranquil blue colors and lovely beach decor, I think I would be in beach heaven. If I'm permanently located in Southern California (which I'm hoping to be soon), a bedroom that reminds me of the ocean when I'm not dipping my toes in the sea water would be perfect. Plus I happen to love the touch of Hollywood Regency with the bedside dresser in this picture below. Lovely, right?

{via House of Turquoise}

Lighted Branches

I'm a hopeless romantic so I'm into the whole twinkling lights element. I think twinkly lights above my bed or near my bed would be enchanting. Lighted branches certainly light up a room and in particular I'd love to get a string light with a timer. Plus it's a versatile accessory that works well in a variety of interiors if I wanted to take it out of my bedroom and add it to a dining room or living room, for example.

{via    Kaelah Bee on Tumblr}

Bedroom Combined with a Library

Since I love to read like Michelle, I'd very much like to somehow incorporate my dreamy bedroom with a library or multiple bookcases of sorts. I don't think I'd want my entire bedroom to be surrounded by books...but I do think I'd want bookcases to play a part in my space. I love glancing at my books while I'm in my current room and dreaming about which ones I want to read again or which ones I still need to read is fun. Having a library in a bedroom would be lovely and give my imagination wings to fly.

{via My Ideal Home on Tumblr}

So if you could have the bedroom of your dreams (or maybe you already do), what would it look like? What elements would you combine with your calming space? It's so much fun to dream up how your dream interior would look like and I'm hoping that someday my ideal bedroom will become a reality. Of course by then I'll have to figure out something that works for both BK and I, but for now a girl can dream.

Thanks Michelle for the guest post!!

The Lucky One

Hello lovelies!  I've been on such a reading kick lately!  Aside from reading the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy (which I blogged about here and here),  I also read The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks.  The Lucky One just happens to be hitting theaters on April 20th too! 

The Lucky One

Synopsis:  When U.S. Marine Logan Thibault finds a photograph of a smiling young woman half-buried in the dirt during his third tour of duty in Iraq, his first instinct is to toss it aside. Instead, he brings it back to the base for someone to claim, but when no one does, he finds himself always carrying the photo in his pocket. Soon Thibault experiences a sudden streak of luck—winning poker games and even surviving deadly combat that kills two of his closest buddies. Only his best friend, Victor, seems to have an explanation for his good fortune: the photograph—his lucky charm.

Back home in Colorado, Thibault can’t seem to get the photo—and the woman in it—out of his mind. Believing that she somehow holds the key to his destiny, he sets out on a journey across the country to find her, never expecting the strong but vulnerable woman he encounters in Hampton, North Carolina—Elizabeth, a divorced mother with a young son—to be the girl he’s been waiting his whole life to meet. Caught off guard by the attraction he feels, Thibault keeps the story of the photo, and his luck, a secret. As he and Elizabeth embark upon a passionate and all-consuming love affair, the secret he is keeping will soon threaten to tear them apart—destroying not only their love, but also their lives.

Filled with tender romance and terrific suspense, The Lucky One is Nicholas Sparks at his best—an unforgettable story about the surprising paths our lives often take and the power of fate to guide us to true and everlasting love.  {via Good Reads}

Review:   When I saw the trailer for The Lucky One, I knew I had to read the book before the movie came out.  I read The Lucky One in a 24-hour period, which says a lot about how I felt about it.  I've always been the type of reader that once I'm hooked I don't stop until I'm done.  I'll admit it was a slow start for me though.  I didn't get fully hooked in to about Chapter 9.   And to be honest, I think it took me a little longer to get into it was because the book is told in third-person omniscient point-of-view.  You hear the story from three different people's point-of-view, which is not by any means as confusing as it may sound, it just takes a little bit of time to build up each character's background.  But as always,  Nicholas Sparks is an excellent storyteller as he brings his readers into the novel with his descriptive writing and attention to detail.  The story is very well-developed and paced that I was anxious to turn the pages to see what would happen next.  And while some parts seemed predictable {or maybe since I watched the movie trailer a billion times}, there were still parts that were not expected.  Overall, it was a GREAT READ.  I've always been a fan of Nicholas Sparks and The Lucky One is now one of my favorite books of his, next to The Notebook. 

Did you read The Lucky One?  What did you think?

Anyone plan on seeing the movie?  I am! ;) 

{I'm linking up with Heather at Blonde .. Undercover Blonde for Book Club Friday!  If you've read any books and have reviewed them on your blog, feel free to join!  I always look forward to adding new books to my reading list!}

Happy Reading! xo

{images via google.com}

JA Love

So everyone always asks me where, when, how my crazy love for Jason Aldean began?

Well I'm here to fill y'all in! ;)   It all started a little over 5 years ago, when I first began listening to him and hearing his music.  The internet and the GAC/CMT channels were really what helped get me hooked on him because we don't have country radio here on Long Island. {Well to clarify, as of last year we do, but the radio signal does not extend to my house and it's basically static for me.}  I would mainly use the internet to stream his music and find out more about him.  Three years ago, my mom and I began traveling to his shows and that truly sealed it for us ... we were officially hooked!

Over the last few years, our love for him has tremendously grown.  It's even really hard for me to put into words why he is so important to me and why I now consider myself one of his biggest fans.  A few weeks ago, my mom and I created a biggest fan video for him {which I gave him a copy of when I saw him in March ;)} and prior to making the video, I listed reasons why I thought we were his biggest fans.  We travel thousands of miles for his shows, spend every extra dollar we can to see him, we own everything in his fan club, have his tribal sun emblem tattooed on us.. the list went on.   But there is more to it than that.  And if you follow me here or on Twitter, Instagram,  you know I post A LOT about him.   I'm either sharing his new music, videos, congratulating him on his awards and accomplishments, and sometimes even defending him when there's controversy.  And while you probably think I'm nuts, there is obviously a significance as to why he is so important to me and why I talk/share a lot about him.

So I did my best to try and put in all into perspective...

Jason Aldean is the only man that has never let me down. I'm sure that sounds silly to you, but it's the truth. Whenever I have a bad day, I can listen to his music or read an update from his website, Twitter, or Facebook, and it immediately puts a smile on my face. Hearing his name or seeing his face on TV at an awards show or music video makes me immediately happy. Watching him light up the stage in concert always makes my day. His presence in country music is constant and always there when I need it. But more importantly, it is the man behind the music. When I met him in person, it truly sealed how I feel about him. I saw that he truly is the genuine, laid back, family man that he portrays himself to be.

His constant presence in my life, through my car radio, TV, or computer monitor for the most part, has had such a positive influence on me. I can't say that any other man in my life has had that affect on me. At some point and time, every man in my life has always let me down, except for Jason Aldean.

So call me crazy but this is why he is one important man in my life!  There are always those things in life that automatically make you happy and brighten your day ... he is one of those things for me!  He is always a part of each and every day and I wouldn't have it any other way!

LOVE YOU, JASON!  Keep doing what you're doing!  

{top right picture is from our last meeting in March -- where he remembered me!  How could he forget me anyway?! ;)}

 35 DAYS till I FLY OVER STATES to see JA in his state of Georgia and visit hometown!

55 DAYS till Nashville for CMA FEST!  I'm sorry for all my countdowns... can you tell I'm excited?!

Bucket List UPDATE

Hello lovelies!  I thought it was time for a bucket list update since we are 1/3 of our way through the year already.  Isn't that crazyyy?!  

So we might as well get to see how much slacking I've done . . . 

My 2012 Bucket List

• reach my ideal weight -- work-out and cook healthy regularly (at least 3-4 days a week) WORK IN PROGRESS: I am going to the gym 4-5 days a week and eating healthy.  Thank you, My Fitness Pal app!
• take photography classes  
• visit at least 5 new places  WORK IN PROGRESS: (1) Nashville  -- with more traveling to be done this spring and summer :)   

• continue to travel for Jason Aldean concerts  WORK IN PROGRESS:  (1) Nashville, TN, (2) East Rutherford, NJ, (3) Atlanta, GA, (4) Nashville, TN,  (5) Camden, NJ, (6) Bethel, NY,  (7) Holmdel, NJ  ** Tickets have been purchased for #'s 3, 4, 5 , 6 & 7-- they just haven't happened yet ;) 

• visit 10 new (non-chain) restaurants  WORK IN PROGRESS:   {1) H20 {sushi}; (2) Fancy Lee {sushi}; (3) Joe's Crab Shack {Nashville!}; {4) Glen's Dinette

{H20; Fancy Lee}

{Joe's Crab Shack}

{Glen's Dinette}

• go sky-diving  
• read 20 books   WORK IN PROGRESS  (18/20)  -- I've also decided to increase my goal to 25

 BOOKS READ:

(1)  The Fidelity Files by Jessica Brody

(2)  Love Under Cover by Jessica Brody

(3)  Fifty Shades of Grey  by E L James

(4)  Fifty Shades Darker by E L James

(5) Fifty Shades Freed by E L James

(6)  Wife by Wednesday by Catherine Bybee

(7) The Marriage Bargain by Jennifer Probst

(8) She Woke Up Married by Suzanne MacPherson

(9) Hysterical Blondeness by Suzanne MacPherson

(10)  And One Last Thing... by Molly Harper

(11)  The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks

(12)  Perfect Timing by Jill Mansell

(13)  Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner

(14)  Single in the City by Michelle Gorman
(15) Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis
(16)  Sweetest Thing by Jill Shalvis
(17) Head Over Heels by Jill Shalvis
(18)  Small Town Christmas by Jill Shalvis

• go to more Yankee games and a football game
• participate in volunteer/charity work and raise money for a good cause  
• have a spa day 
• bake and cook at least 5 NEW recipes each month  WORK IN PROGRESS  {Update posts on the blog 1 / 2 / 3 }
• continue to be crafty    Does making a photo book on Shutterfly count?!    
• LIVE each day to the fullest!   ALWAYS!!

Alright so I have some work to do to complete this list, but it's not as bad as I thought! 

I feel like I may make a few revisions and additions.  Stay tuned for future updates! ;)

Do you have a bucket list?  What is on your list?

Happy Tuesday! xo

Photo Overload via Instagram

Hello lovelies!  Hope everyone had a great Easter / Passover weekend!  I've been on spring break for a few days and for the remainder of the week so I'm playing catch up!  Starting with some . . . instagram photo overload!

Are you ready?!

Here are all of my instagram pictures from the last month since I've slacked on linking up weekly!

{1st row:  low-lights / loose curls / Reeses -- my friends new puppy!}

{2nd row:  kisses for Brandi / my favorite necklace / Essie's Neo Whimiscal / Sushi!}

{3rd row: Reading Fifty Shades of Grey (side note: a month later I'm still sad I'm finished} / Tickets for celebrity softball game in Nashville / Bunco} 

{4th row: a self portrait / St. Patrick's Day nails - green with a pot of gold accent nail / all glammed up to waitress / my snuggle buddy}

{1st row:  JASON collage /  sushi / Nashville collage}

{2nd row: Kristine's shout-out to me & my man, Jason Aldean :) / I love my pup! / a pre-concert self-portrait}

{3rd row: before the gym /  JASON!! / Jason on the cover of Country Weekly -- thanks to Kodie!! / Brandi Boo}

{4th row:  sleepy pup / silly faces / snuggled up with popcorn & a good book / SUSHI!}

{1st row:  Fifty Shades! / Brandi / Good Reads challenge / fresh flowers}

{2nd row: Brandi / yummy Sunday morning breakfast with friends /  a great workout}

{3rd row:  Oreo pudding cake / Oreo chocolate chip cookies /  All wrapped up / Red Mango tropical parfait}

{4th row: counting down to Atlanta & Nashville / Fifty Shades! / B&W of me}

{1st row: my reading log / flashback photos of Brandi and me}

{2nd row:  more flashback photos of Brandi as a puppy!}

{3rd row:  Chris Young / Jason! / Go Yankees! / Passion Tea from Starbucks}

{4th row: I <3 hair appointments / my clean bedroom / sleepy girl / a not happy face ;)}

Are you on instagram?  Look for me . . .  @missblondiexo

{Linking up with Ashley and Savanah & Ashlee}

Happy Monday! xo

Nashville in Pictures

Hey y'all!  I'm finally sharing pictures from my trip to Nashville last month!  I've been to lots of great cities and I have to say Nashville is at the top of my list!  I loved it there and I'm SO EXCITED to be going back in June!!

{FIRST DAY on Broadway . . .  a stop at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville for some nachos!}

{One of our favorite bars ... Cadillac Ranch!  A great place to enjoy live music from amazing (up and coming) singers and bands!  Mom also danced with G'nash!}

{A night out at the Wildhorse Saloon}

{Taking a tour of the Country Music Hall of Fame}

{CMT Building; AT&T Building aka the Batman Building; Ryman Auditorium}

{Touring the Ryman}

{♥♥♥}

{Hanging out on Broadway}

Since I traveled to Nashville for a Jason Aldean concert, I will be back with pictures from his concert! ;)

For more on my trip to Nashville, you can also check out my post where I talk about meeting one of my best friends, Jesslyn Amber!  {Find it here.}  

And can I just tell you,  I love this girl!  She's an amazing person and friend!  Be sure to check out her blog! 

Have you ever been to Nashville?  What did you think?  

Happy Tuesday! xo