12.24.2013

Merry Christmas


Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas day! 

Although the majority of this society focuses their attention (I'm guilty of it too!) on planning parties, buying gifts, and scheduling travel time, I hope we all set aside part of this special day to remember why it's a holiday in the first place (spoiler alert, it's not Santa). 

Happy birthday, Jesus!

12.20.2013

TOP TEN: Last Minute Gift Ideas

I heard on the radio that this Friday (today), Saturday, and Sunday are going to be the busiest shopping days of the year - behind Black Friday. Any time a day is labeled "busy shopping day" I prefer to stay at home. Don't get confused, I love shopping, but when it's crazy out there (I mean people fighting, pushing, yelling...), I say, No thank you

But it is the weekend before Christmas and some of us still have some last minute shopping to do. I thought I'd try to help you out. I put together a small list of items (mostly for the female on your list) that you could easily run into the store and pick up. Some are great for stocking stuffers and others as a main gift. 

If you do have to be out on these crazy shopping day, I imagine having a plan and knowing exactly what you want/need could make it a bit easier. Good luck!


1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9

The tenth item is something I like to give to my neighbors: cinnamon rolls. The Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Rolls. First of all, they are the most delicious thing ever. Second of all, they aren't hard to make, you have to have the time. Third of all, one batch makes about 5-6 trays of nine rolls. I made them last year, and I will make them again this year. 

(The best part about making them is saving a tray for yourself to eat. Just sayin'.)

12.16.2013

GIVEAWAY: Blue Nile Infinity Chain Bracelet

I'm so excited to have this giveaway for y'all right here at Christmas time! 

Blue Nile is the online leader in diamonds and fine jewelry, offering high-quality items at prices that are 20-40% below traditional retail.  Blue Nile was so generous to give me one of the Infinity Chain Bracelets and they gave me a second one to giveaway to one of you!! One lucky reader will receive this Blue Nile Infinity Chain Bracelet ($50 value)! 





All you have to do to enter the giveaway is to comment below on this post. That's it. 

For additional entries (please leave a separate comment for each item you complete)
3. Follow Blue Nile on Twitter
5. Tweet about the giveaway (please include @linleyshea and a link to this post)

Good luck!! I will be selecting the winner on Friday, so hurry and enter!

If you can't wait for the giveaway to be over or you see something else you'd like, enter code BNHH10  for an additional 10% off their already low prices!   


12.09.2013

Top Ten: Holiday Party Dresses

With Christmas less than three weeks away (yeah, less than three weeks away), I'm sure most of us have at least one (probably more like two or three) Christmas parties to attend. I find a Christmas or Holiday party a great excuse to go dress shopping, don't you? Below are 10 dresses I would be happy to wear to any upcoming party. Some could even be carried over to your NYE Party. 





















12.02.2013

A Little Update on Life

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This picture just makes me laugh. 


So I know a few weeks ago I posted a couple times claiming I would be posting more. And here we are now, three weeks later, and still lacking a regular posting schedule. Let me explain. 

So my first week of work went well. It was four long days of computer-based orientation. So you can imagine that after spending eight hours in front of a computer, I didn't feel like coming home and sitting in front of another computer. Sorry. 

The next week.... Early Monday morning (Dec 18th) around 1:30am central time, I received a phone call from my mother saying my grandmother (her mom) had suffered a heart attack, coded, and was now on a ventilator. I broke into tears and immediately began to pray. I prayed for her to be strong and pull through, but it didn't feel right. So I then began to pray that the Lord take her if it's her time and I prayed for her to not be in any pain. About fifteen minutes later I received a phone call from my dad saying she didn't make it. I cried a cry I had never cried before. 

I've been so fortunate in my 29 years on this earth to have not have to deal with too many deaths. This was my first. Through it I learned many things, but the most important thing I learned (or really realized) is how thankful I am for my faith. Through my faith I know my granny is in heaven with the Lord. She has eyes that see perfectly, she can run around with perfectly working legs, and she's happier than any of us can ever imagine. And that right there gives me a peace that I hold tightly to. 

Needless to say, we packed up and headed to NC for the rest of the week. Her funeral service was that Thursday. The service was perfect. Beautiful words were spoken that made us all laugh and cry. And although I wish the circumstances were different, I was thankful to see friends and family that I had not seen in months - and some in years. 

Last week, Thanksgiving week, I worked three days and my parents came down to spend the holiday with us. So I spent all my free time cooking and spending time with them. The time always goes by too quickly, but it was wonderful having them here. 

This week I am back to work. Finally getting out of orientation and getting out in the field, going to peoples' homes, and doing therapy. So, let me get adjusted to this new job and I will be back. I promise. I always come back - it may not be in the timeliest manner, but I do always come back. It's hard managing a job and a blog - especially when there're not related or intertwined. 

How many of you work a full time job and are able to blog regularly? How do you do it?