An Understatement of the Fact

Right before Christmas, I got my first "Vox Box" courtesy of Influesnter. To say that I was excited about it would be a gross understatement of the fact. I could not open up that box fast enough.  I'm going to be complete honest with you right now, I didn't expect to really get anything that was of use to me. I expected to be disappointed.  I was so wrong.  Here is what I got in my box:

Skinny Cow │Puffs Plus Lotion │NYC │Ducklings │Rimmel London

I expected the Skinny Cow "Divine Filled Chocoloates" to taste like a regular old Peanut butter cup. I'm not the biggest fan of those, but it was so good! I gave a package to my dad who instantly wanted to know where I got them. 

Most people think that a tissue is a tissue...but they are so wrong. I have a dust allergy. Or a dog allergy or something that makes my nose run and makes me sneeze. All the time.  The lotion in those tissue really makes a huge difference when you're constantly blowing your nose. They are my favorite tissues by far. 

The NYC make up really makes for a funny story. I got the make up in the VoxBox right before Christmas. I was excited to use it on Christmas day. It's a neutral palet of colors. My favorite! Well, When I was diggin in my stocking on Christmas morning, I found the exact same make up in my stocking! I was so excited! Now I won't run out forever! I'm wearing it in this picture with my cute Christmas Day Sweater. 

The Duck brand of tape has never failed me, but I never even knew that they came in the little "Ducklings" type sizes. I can't even count the amount of times that I have split one piece of duck tape into multiple pieces, so when I saw this stuff in my box I got all excited to use it. I haven't had an excuse to yet, but I know it will be useful eventually! Plus, it came in a cute olue color with flower patterns on it! 
Last but not least is the Lip Lacqure. The color, although I really liked it, did not look good on me. It just seemed to clash with my skin tone, but I did like the make up its self. it went on smooth and it looked really nice on my lips. I just couldn't wear it because it didn't look good on me, but to each their own, I suppose!
I was really excited about this "Vox Box" and I hope that I get more in the future. It has made me feel so much more confident and I finally got some experience in reviewing a product. That is pretty okay with me! 
Until next time :)

Such Christmas

Christmas is a very stressful time of year. In all honesty, I'm just excited for 2013 to be over.  It's time for new! And because I like new...

contact me ASAP to reserve your spot!

Christmas went pretty well if you ask me. I got a lot of really great gifts.  My family always over does it at Christmas with the presents, but I am so grateful for everything that I get every year. I suppose this year was a bit smaller than most because we're getting older and more expensive, but I was not disappointed in the least. In fact I think that everything I got this year is really useful and awesome. These are a few of my favorite presents. 

That bottom right picture is an ice scraper that plugs into the cigarette lighter! It melts the ice!  One of my favorite things about living in Vegas was the lack of frost, so I was a little bit overly excited about that little electric scraper thing. no more of this stupid business.

I think the best part of Christmas though, was having a cute little baby around to spoil.  She has enough cute outfits and toys to last her to her third birthday. She isn't even one yet! I just wish that she knew about Santa and could understand why were all so excited. She was mostly just mad that we woke her up early to do present before they had to go to the in-laws. Poor baby Kallie. She did look quite adorable though. Even though she was pretty dang grumpy!
After we did Christmas at my house, we went over to my aunt's and did the whole family gift exchange. This year we drew names instead of buying for everyone. Our family has just gotten too big to do it any other way. I think it worked out pretty well, but I'd be lying if I said that it was a perfect exchange. Some people didn't really get a fair amount of gifts, but that isn't what Christmas is about anyway.  
I got to wear a very cute outfit and I had a really great time with my family. I'm in love with this sweater and I'm a little bit worried that I'm going to try and wear it every day. It all of my #OOTDs start to involve a mint sweater, someone please call an intervention!

Well, it's done! The Christmas recap is complete! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! Don't forget about the half off ad space!

A Vacation

I've decided to take a blogger vacation until Monday.  I need a minute to regroup and get ready for the next few weeks of beyond awesome blogging.  Please be sure to head over to my sidebar and check out all of my amazing sponsors.  They all have unique blogs that I always enjoy reading.  While I'm away, don't be shy! Head over to and make some new blogger friends. They don't bite I promise! I'll be saying goodbye to them in the next couple of days, so be sure to stop by and say hello to them while they're still here!
Want to sponsor me in the new year? Check out my sponsor page to be part of my blogging family! Until Monday, have a wonderful and safe weekend!  Oh yeah, and #backthatazzup because it makes life more fun to have a some Friday jams...

I Will Hold Myself Accountable

First and foremost, I would like to say merry Chirstmas Eve. I could not be happier that this Christmas season is coming to a close. It is all so stressful. I will be so happy when the waters are calm and I can just spend time with my family again. 
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Every year about this time, I start to think about my New Years resolutions.  Usually, I don't even right down what I resolve and it allows me to get out of really giving my goals a fair shot. This year, I hope to keep that from happening with a simple little blog post. I will work to hold myself accountable. 

1// Get fit. Seriously fit. No more excuses. No more half way. 
2// Read Books.  Grown my brain. 
3//Save every possible penny.
4// Grow my blog. Focus blog goals. 
5// Fix my smile. 
6// Organize, downsize, and optimize.
7// Quit drinking soda. For real this time. 
Every goal I have made has an extensive explanation to go along with it. I figure that if I resolve to do things that are extremely important to me, I will be successful.  And, let's be honest, I like to be successful.  2014 is going to be a big year for me. I can feel it. 
I hope everyone has a safe and ever so Merry Christmas. I won't be posting tomorrow as I am going to be spending time with my family!  That 5 posts a week blogger in me wants to, but I think I can make an exception for Christmas!

Reserve you ad space today! Grow your blog with me in 2014!

Utah Isn't Just Right Wing Extremists

A couple of days ago, I was chatting with one of my Army buddies. The thing about Army buddies is that they come from all over. This particular friend is from Flordia. Something that is pretty common when you meet people from other places, is to share about the cool thing there are to do in your town.  Personally, I feel like I have to defend living in Utah a lot. People from other places really think that there's A) Farms, no running water, and polygamists B) Mormons who hate everyone that isn't like them C) Rich right wing extremists D) Absolutely nothing cool to do.  E) All of the above.  So when someone says what is there even to do in Salt Lake?! I go on a 5 minute rant about all of the great things that The Wasatch Front has to offer.  It makes me feel like I can never say "I'm bored" ever again.

Of course, there is always the trip to Temple Square. Every year at Christmas time, the lights go up in the trees.  Plus there are Nativity Scenes from around the world and a hot chocolate stands on every corner.  That picture was taken back in my Senior year of highschool...I don't just wear my letterman around anymore... There's outdoor ice skating at the Glavian Center. I haven't ever done it, but I reallly think I need to this year. There are two huge, beautiful shopping centers in Downtown Salt Lake with high end retailers and a big movie theatre.  There's also two outlets malls. One in Park City and on in Utah County.  With in about 30 minutes of my house I can get to at least 3 ski resorts.  There's the "Candlelight Christmas" at This Is The Place Heritage Park where you can see carolors and pioneers wandering the streets. You can also square dance in the school house to authentic period music on the weekends.  Jazz Games...even though they reallly aren't worth watching this year at all :(   There's a fantastic production of the Nutcracker every year performed by Mountain West Ballet.  I've had friends dancing in it for years. It is always an amazing show.  You can run around Gardner Village and see the elves. This is also something that I've never done, but I read about it in Aubrey's blog and it looks like a ton of fun! You can go Celebrity scouting in Park City!  I want to get a job up there just to run into famous people...I've never really met anyone that's famous, so I always thought that would be pretty cool.  There's seriously so much to do. I can never ever complain about there being nothing to do ever again. There is always something to do...  What have you found to do where you live?

Give Me the Freaking Time of Day. Please?

I'm not sure if this is a link up anymore, but I'm going to write some Friday Letters.

Dear Employers,

Don't post that you have all these job openings then never ever respond to my emails, resume submitions and applications. I am a qualified individual! Give me the freaking time of day...

Dear Family,

You better appreciate my snow shoveling, dinner cooking, dish doing, diaper changing, and overall charming personality. This is freaking exhausting...Execpt, I will say, I cook a damn good...everything.

Dear Facebook, GQ, A&E, and...everyone else,

Phil was asked a controversial questions and gave an answer that was--wait for it--Controversial. Why are you all so surprised that a "God-Fearing" man responded honestly about his opinion towards homosexuality? He also said something about how he would never love anyone less because of it. The people hating on him are the ones exhibitting bigotry and intolerance, not him.  It goes both ways ya know?

Via

Dear Kallie,

I love you and your cute little cupcake bum pants, but holy crap, you are confirming my suspicions that I can never ever be a stay-at-home momma. Ever.

Dear Army,

I have never been so happy to be a Soldier as I was yesterday. When I decided to go out and shovel the snow, I had gortex boots, a fleece cap, a waffle top, and work gloves. My feet were dry and warm after hours of shoveling and my hands were protected...hooah...just hooah.

Dear December,

What the heck happened to you?! Where did you go? I have no presents, no money, and I'm so not ready for Christmas to be a week away...

When it Rains it Pours

Well, I promised you all a series, so today, I have my sidebar featured sponsor Ashely  from American Honey to kick it off!  This series was created to share exactly what this blog is all about. It's about making the best of bad situations. It's about learning to move on from the things that don't go exactly as we plan.  I hope you enjoy the first instalment of

To share you story and be a part of this series, please email me at katherine.c.nay@gmail.com

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Blog

Have y’all every heard the saying “when it rains, it pours”?! Well, fellow friends of Chalk It Up to Better Luck, I’m Ashley from over at American Honey and I have a quite literal and somewhat funny (after the fact) raining and pouring story that I now chalk up to better luck and laugh about.

As some of y’all may know, I was a tour guide at my college. I loved getting to meet all of the prospective students looking to attend my wonderful school. Every semester I had to give a certain number of tours and sign ups would be at our bi-weekly meetings. I signed up to give a tour on Veteran’s Day. I was very happy about this tour until I found out that it was supposed to rain the whole week.

As the time for my tour came around, I was not excited to give about it anymore. Before I even started the tour my Sperry’s were soaked. I tried to make the best of this rainy day by being a very cheerful tour guide and telling lots of jokes because I wasn't the only one having to tough it out in that wet miserable weather.

About half-way through the tour, somebody asked me a question. I didn't want to stop and answer it because that would only mean being out in the rain even longer. I turned around and started walking backwards down the sidewalk while answering the question.

Little did I know that I was walking down a sidewalk where a knee-high decorative brick wall jutted out into the middle of the walkway. I kept walking backwards and walked right into it and ended up sitting down on it. Normally everything would have been fine. I probably would have laughed and gotten up and made some kind of joke about it. But on this particular day, it wasn't quite as funny. When I got up from my unintentional sit on the brick wall, the back of my pants were soaked. I was mortified!

I tried to laugh but I just couldn't manage it. Everybody in the group asked if I was alright which only made me feel worse. The front of my pants were soaked from just walking in the sideways rain and then the second half of the tour I had completely wet pants, front and back. When we finally got to the end of the tour, I apologized for giving such an awful tour on the yucky rainy day. To my surprise I was met with big smiles and laughter as my group told me that I had given one of the best school tours they had been on.

Ever since then I try to remember that just because you’re having one of those “when it rains, it pours” kind of day doesn't mean that you can’t have a positive effect on other people’s day. Heck, you may even get a good story out of it like I did.

I also wanted to thank Katie for hosting the Chalk It Up series and wish her the best of luck! 

10 Things I Hate About You [Gym Edition]

Well everyone, it looks like I might possibly have a job by next week! That is some dang good news if I do say so myself!  It's been pretty...um, interesting? being unemployed, but I'll be happy when it's over. I don't understand how people like to not have jobs. (SAHMs you totally count as having a job. In fact, I'd rather work outside the home because it's not as difficult.)

Christmas is a week a way. Want to know how many presents I have purchased? Zero. Nada. Zilch. I'm sitting in my lil' sissy's room looking at all of her meticulously placed Christmas decorations thinking about how a few more days to just insert themselves between now and Christmas. K thanks!  I also wouldn't be angry if the $7.79 in my bank account magically quadrupled every day. Yeah...that would be super awesome.   Okay. Time for the real post.  Last night, I went to the gym for the first time in a few weeks. With being sick and finals week and all that business, I sort of fell off the wagon. But as of last night, I'm back in business. Although I had a pretty good work out...I could just feel a blog post brewing. And then...BAM!  This.

1.  The gym is often filled with people who go there for social hour. They gab around equipment and take up space that I would like to use...

2.  Men...We can, infact, see you staring at our asses in the mirror. Stahhhp.

3.  People that stand in front of the mirror lifting their shirts and checking out their abs. Bro...I promise, the 6 pack didn't grow in since your last two bicep curls. Enough with the nudity. 

4.  There are women running around the gym who I never see actually work out, their hair is down and they are not even a little moist with sweat, yet they have these picture perfect bodies...How?!

5. The staring. Like seriously, we can SEE you! Just...don't. 

6.  I understand that your phone call is really important. Don't freaking take it while sitting on a bench or a machine...

7. People don't re-rack their weights.  I could die. 

8. Half of the stuff in there is all freaking broken and it never get replaced. 

9.  No, I don't want a training session. Leave. Me. Alone. 

10. People who talk to me. For reals. I didn't come here to be hit on. I came here to pick things up and put them down. So go away. 

Hashtag UtahProblems

One of my mom's favorite things about me being back home is that I like to fix dinner.  The past few years, I have really enjoyed cooking and learning new things. I have a few "signature" recipies that my whole family enjoys. They especially like that they don't have to cook it.  Last night I fixed us up some enchiladas...I have a thing with chicken dishes...The best thing about pretty much everything I make, is that it's all really quick and easy.When I make nearly anything with chicken (taco soup, pot pie etc.) I just buy a rotisserie chicken so I don't acutally have to cook it, just tear it all off the bone and toss it in.  It really makes cooking amazingly easy.  Nearly everything I cook starts in a can or a package and ends up freaking delicious, so I'm not ashamed of it one little bit! This is how my meal turned out last night

Mmmm...My mouth is watering. 

I'm also enjoying some of the fantastic luxuries that come with being back home in the winter time...Living in Las Vegas spoiled me. Bad.  I was running around in a jacket while the sun was shining down on me...And now, I can't leave my water in the car over night or else this happens. 

For realsies...This is the worst...I'm a freaking popsicle and so is my water apparently. 

On the brightest of sides, like I said yesterday, I'm the baby sitter for now. I figured I ought to help out, being all unemployed and all.  I don't get it though, she has a million toys in front of her, and all she wants to play with is the new paper and an unopened package of ramen noodles...

When I called her name for this picture, her face was priceless.  She's adorable and I can't believe I've had to miss out on so much of her first year of life. 

Well, it's time to watch the Grinch and quote it verbatim until I even annoy myself. 

Dat Unemployed Life Doh

**Congratulations to Jane!  The Krafts for Kuties Giveaway winner!**
I've been home for a couple of days now.  So far I haven't really done a whole lot.

Being unemployed can really be a drag. 
The best part is this

Auntie Katie gets to baby sit!  Yesterday we went to see Santa. She did not like Santa.  This face is a much happier one than the one she was making while sitting on Santa's lap...Although I am NOT a mommy and I hope to not be a mommy for a very long time, it's pretty fun to hang out with this little girl.

All day I just get to hang out by the wood stove and watch ABC Christmas movies on Netflix. I would complain about being unemployed and how bad I want a job...but this is pretty okay.

While I really need to get a job, I could get used to just chilling here with a cute kid and eating spaghettios from the can.  

But if you're from Utah and you know of some employment opportunity....let me know. I could use some green to get me by.  Well, I need to get to the filling out of a zillion applications. I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend!

I Won't Let Them

Well, it's Friday. You know what that means?  I means that I'm all done with my last final. It means that it's time for me to put myself in my car and drive the 400 and something miles back to my parents house where I will live for an indefinite amount of time. I'll admit, I can feel tear burning in the back of my eyeballs. They're threatening to fall, but I won't let them... Instead, I'm just going to fill up my little cooler with some Red Bull, and enjoy the ride. Well, I'll enjoy it as much as a person can enjoy a drive with pretty much zero scenery...It's a pretty boring stretch of road between here and home.  I suppose I'll just turn this awesome song on repeat and call it a party. I think that will work. 

Ima #backthatazzup with Whitney today and just pretend that this day isn't happening...

Buh-Bye College....Buh-Bye Las Vegas. I will miss you. 

Don't forget about the Giveaway!

Excuse Me, I Swear, I'm Sorry

So far, this blog has had well over twice as much success as the old one, I'm not sure what I'm doing that has made this one so much more attractive, but it worked. 
I've had a couple of people ask me, "What's with the name?" 
Well, I'll tell you. 
In my life so far, I have had a lot of life experiences in which I really want things to go one way and they end up not exactly working out the way that I planned.  I used to really let it get to me. The walls of my life seemed to be collapsing in around me on a weekly basis. Nothing seemed to just..work. 
Well, one day, I just woke up with a brand new attitude. It was like I didn't give two shits--excuse me, I'm sorry, I swear--if things worked out, as long as I learned something from it, I was okay. I could just...Chalk it up to better luck and hope for the best the next time around.  
This change of attitude completely turned my life around. I stopped crying over my stupid break-up with my ex-fiance and I made some goals. I applied for college (even though that didn't really work out amazingly either), I got excited about leaving for basic training and I changed my own life by learning to turn my failure into something else entirely...
It's not failure, it's just the chance to try again. 
My dad used to say, back when you could win a free coke form the lids of a 20 oz coke bottle, whenever he opend one that said "try agian" he said "Oh look, I won!" We would aways get all excited then remember that he was about to say "Yeah, I won the chance to try again"
And that is what I think of now. When things don't work out the way that I had hoped they would I just chalk it up to better luck and move on from it. 
And I want to hear about how you have done it too. I am starting a series about how people deal with hard times. I want to hear about a time that things didn't go exactly as you planned, but they turned out okay or even better thank okay anway. 

If you've got an experience to share, please send me an email! I'd love to have you share your stories on my blog :)

Don't forget about the giveaway! Your chance to enter ends on Sunday Night!

There Was So Much Fun to be Had

The day that I go back home is getting so close.  There are a few things that I am really looking forward to. I have a few job prospects, which will be nice. I like to start new things. I have an interview at a clothing store in Park City on Monday. Now, in all honesty, folding shirts at the Abercrombie & Fitch Outlet is not my dream job, but I would be willing to bet that it would be a good experience. 

via

I'm even willing to work two jobs to be able to do that. Crazy? Maybe. But I like to be busy, and do you know how many famous people are just wandering around Park City?! Tons. I could meet all sorts of famous people.  That sort of job, while not my dream, could really be worth it. I've been attempting to pack up my dorm room, but I'm not really doing the best job at that. It' most just an enormous mess (insert shocked face here). There is stuff everywhere. But hopefully I'll get my act together this afternoon and get nearly everything where it needs to go. But it makes me so sad to pack.  I am really going ot miss living in Las Vegas. I was running around the track at the gym the other day looking out the windows and seeing the awesome Las Vegas Skyline.  I think I might make it a goal to come back here.  Other than it being ridiculously expensive to attend school, I've really liked it here. 

I had so many adventures. I up and drove to Flagstaff Arizona for a bluegrass festival where I paid for almost nothing because so many people were around to take care of me.  I drove to California couple times on these scary desert roads just to pick someone up and drop them off. 

That windshield had so many bugs on it I could barely see through it by the time the weekend had come to an end.  I had friends come visit me and we had all kinds of fun pretending we had money and drinking too much on the strip. 

I made two really great friends that I can always count on to tell me the truth.  and I survived my first semester of college without coming out on the otherside filled with hatred for shool. In fact, I kind of did sort of well. That was a nice surprise. 

I got to go to the Marine Corps Ball where I got to wear a beautiful dress, hang out with a sweet guy and make some new friends. 

There was so much fun to be had here and I think I took advantage of it. Sure, there were a lot of things on my list that I didn't end up doing, but I'll get there. I'm really going to miss jumping on the free way and seeing the fake statue of liberty. It has really been quite the past couple of months, Las Vegas. I'll miss you and I hope I get to return. 

Don't forget about the awesome giveaway I have going with this month's Headlining Sponsor Krafts for Kuties a Rafflecopter giveaway