Product Review Coming Soon!

Did you all have a good Christmas? We had such a great holiday, and I can’t wait to recap it for you all!

But before I get to that, did any of you lucky people out there get a flat screen TV for Christmas? I know there were some great sales out there. If you did, then you will probably need some flat screen TV stands, right? Check out this great website that is full of beautiful and fashionable décor solutions. I love this corner stand!

CSN Stores contacted me about doing a product review… they have more than 200 online stores, selling almost anything and everything under the sun! I can’t wait to show you guys which product I choose to review!

I’ll be back to update more later!

Vogue on Vogue on Vogue

I don't know who has the time to do this, but I thought this was really cool.... its a mash-up of all the 2010 Vogue covers! Pretty cool, albeit pointless. But isn't that what fashion is all about? go HERE to see the mash-up covers from around the world.

Pet Week~

Its Pet Week over at I Heart Faces. And its no secret how much I love my kitty boys... we've had them since before we were married... picked them out of their litter when they were just hours old! And they are often the subjects of my photographs... I just can't get enough of their cute cuddly faces.

I love the personality that each of our two cats has. Seal is the laid back, easy-going, orange cat. He's the one Sean picked out, and funny enough, matches his personality. Duke is my kitty... a moody, tempermental grey tabby. (*ahem* maybe fitting of my personality too *ahem*) He's the cuddliest of the two, but only when he wants to. When he doesn't want to, he gives you this face:

Head on over to I Heart Faces and see all the other fun pet entries!!!

Live Like No One Else....

So that one day, you can really LIVE like no one else!

This is the motto that Dave Ramsey drills into your head during his Financial Peace University classes. The idea is that you live like no one else right now (paying cash, not eating out, making huge financial sacrifices), so that once all your debt is paid off, you can really LIVE like no one else!

One of the blogs I read, Hooked on Houses, has its finger on the pulse of celebrity housing. Today's post featured Dave's new 13,000 SF mansion in the Cool Springs area of Franklin, TN. Can I just say, WOW? And the article says that there is no mortgage on record for this property... from which we can deduce that 'ol Dave stayed true to his ways and paid CASH (almost $5mil cash) for his new abode. Of course we do'nt know that for sure, but one of the things I've always liked about Dave is that he lives what he preaches, and it works.

Now I can't imagine ever needing a 13,000 SF house and I really can't imagine having the funds to pay for that out of pocket. But that's not the point... the heart of financial peace is to eliminate the enslavement to debt, so that all the money we earn can be given away and given back to God. Sean and I are working towards this goal... and are looking forward to being able to put even more away towards eliminating our debt once Sean has a job again. Imagine all the payments you have in a month that go to debt... student loans, mortgage, credit cards, etc. Now imagine all of those were paid off. What would you do with that money?? The answer: anything you want! Bless a waitress with a huge tip, fund missionaries overseas, feed 100 people Thanksgiving dinner.... really, the possibilities are endless! Of course, you do'nt have to have all your debt paid off to be generous... its all just a matter of making giving a priority.

I'd Like to Work There!

I came across this video that is a behind the scenes look at a software company called "Infusionsoft". Take a few minutes to watch this video, then tell me that you wouldn't want to work for them! Aside from the vast array of cereals and flavored popcorns available to employees 24/7, and regardless of the indoor football field, tetherball courts and cozy reading room, this company seems to have a few key elements to success.

#1- Leadership. Leaders need to be with their people... that means bosses mingling with their employees on a daily basis (Likewise, lead pastors should be meeting with their support staff in encouragement... none of this "higher than" or "more important things to do" attitude).

#2- Value. Every team member is valued and public appreciation of a job well done is commonplace in successful work (or church) environments. Notice that no one is worried about 'competing' in this business... its about each person playing their part for the betterment of the Company as a whole. (Take that and apply it to minstries working together for the Advancement of the Church as a whole... wonder how much greater our impact would be if our churches were doing this.)

#3- Environment. Its not about "trend" but about encouraging individuality. Creativity thrives where individuals feel most comfortable. I wonder how many more congregants would volunteer in the church and use their God-given talents if they simply felt more welcomed at church. Sad to say, but you know it happens every Sunday... people feel uncomfortable coming to church. And it has everything to do with #1 and #2 on this list.

#4- Fellowship. Notice how the employees here actually enjoy spending time together-- outside of work. That's where relationships are built... in the seemingly insignificant moments of simply having fun together.

What elements of this company stood out to you?

I love what one of the guys says at the end....It's about making sure that people know we value them... and we want to be valued.