michabella: August 2011

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Sending love to Afghanistan!

Calling on everyone:

I am sending a care package to my friend who is stationed in Afghanistan.

U.S. Army Sgt. David Ward watches over the border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan August 27, 2011 at Torkham, Afghanistan. The port of entry is busiest in Afghanistan and the most important for the U.S. military, which imports more than 30 percent of all its supplies and military equipment through Torkham. (August 26, 2011 - Photo by John Moore/Getty Images AsiaPac)

I thought it would be a great idea to send some notes of thanks/appreciation to him and his fellow soldiers, especially as we are coming to the anniversary of Sept. 11th.

If you are a teacher or a mom:

Would you be willing to get your students/kids to write thank you's and/or draw pictures?! And then send them to me? Makes for a great craft time!

Any one willing to take the time to write thank you notes and send it to me, please let me know.

I am hoping to get everything by Sept. 9 to send the package out Sept. 12.

Leave me your email address so I can send you my mailing address.

Spread the word!!! The more the merrier!!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!

Monday, August 29, 2011

cupcake love

My weekend was nothing out of the norm. Baked up some cupcake orders...

Chocolate Peanut Butter

Mini cupcakes for a gender reveal party

This whole running a cupcake business is hard and overwhelming sometimes {most times in fact}.

Dealing with clients, building clientele, getting my name out there, working around my full time job, only having a certain amount of income and resources, etc.

Some days I wonder what the heck am I doing?!

I dream of something bigger.

I firmly believe in my product.

I love hearing the comments of how great my cupcakes are.

But then I always question.. are they really?

Are they enough to really take it as far as I would like to see them go?

Would people love them like they love the competition shops?

And then I got this email last night that makes this all worth it:

" I don't think we have met yet, but had to tell you that we just tried your peanut butter and chocolate cupcakes that were provided for our "Dinner at the Creek" meeting this morning. I have never had a better cupcake anywhere, EVER! We truly enjoyed them. Savored each bite, actually. Thank you so much for them. Oh, and I tried the mini carrot cake ones that were in the book store last weekend. Fantastic!

There was a specialty cupcake shop in Mississippi, where we used to live, but there is NO comparison. Yours are the best. The texture and flavor are great. Not too sweet (which many others are) and the ratio of frosting to cake is just right. I'm not a big frosting fan to begin with, and many other places pile it on SO thick. Yours is just right. Anyway, just wanted to thank you again and encourage you to keep on baking! "

It was just what I needed to keep me moving forward.

Thank you to all who have encouraged and supported me along the way.

xoxo.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

The Day I Died

Okay okay.

So maybe the title is a little bit (a lot) of an exaggeration.

Financial Peace University Update:

This week I cut up my credit cards.

GASP. SCREAM. CRY.

#DaveRamseyMadeMeDoIt

It took me a while to actually take the evil scissors and cut them into little tiny pieces.

{deep breaths michelle}

I did the major one Monday (easy because that one is maxed out) and two yesterday (the hardest).

It was a tough battle...with myself and the scissors.

{"Well I might need this or that. I'll keep it just in case. I am moving out, I might need apt decor. Etc...etc....etc."}

Odd how one can be so attached to plastic.

I felt like I lost my security blanket.

I know I will be happy for this moment looking back.

But it's tough. I am a shopaholic. I love fashion.

This is probably going to be the hardest thing for me to do. NOT SHOP.

And not going out to eat or buying my favorite $4.02 Starbucks drink.

Not treating myself to a new pair of shoes because I deserve it or because I am sad and boys suck.

I have cancelled my gym membership. I have learned to be okay with not getting pedicures/manicures.

I CAN DO THIS! ONE STEP CLOSER TO BEING CC DEBT FREE!

"Live like no one else so later you can LIVE LIKE NO ONE ELSE." -Dave Ramsey

{thanks for all the support. love y'all}

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Tail Wagging Tuesday

{link up here}
Yay! It's Tail Wagging Tuesday!
This weeks edition is posting funny pictures of our furbabies.
Well Jax cracks me up. He is.... special.
These are some of my favorite funny pictures:

Silly silly boy. Love him.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Miscellany Monday

Hello hello friends.

Linking up with Carissa today for Miscellany Monday!

{1} Got some pretty sweet news today that I won {AV}'s Inge Christopher bag giveaway!!! Ecstatic is an understatement!

{2} I spent Sunday in St. Augustine. It was magical. And much needed.

{3} One Sunday a month I am selling my cupcakes for missions at my home church. The first Sunday was yesterday and all 6 dozen mini's were sold, and about $80 was given to our missions fund!

{4} I kind of can't wait to see everything about Kim Kardashian's wedding!

{5} Teaching myself to be money-wise and not to splurge on shopping has been quite this struggle the past week but I am really liking Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University.

{6} YOGA! I am a big fan!! I am doing Mandy Ingber's Yogalosophy (Jennifer Aniston's yoga lady). {I cancelled my gym membership to save money}. So, I took up yoga to stretch my body, for my back, and for relaxation. I had no idea it would be a killer workout! Yogalosophy is AWESOME and Mandy is hilarious! I can't wait to see the results. I felt pain in places on my legs I never worked out before!! Felt good. *There is a 7-day $1.99 trial via YouTube if you are interested in seeing what it's all about first.*

Hope y'all had a lovely weekend!

Friday, August 19, 2011

Friday's Fancies

Oh Friday, how I love thee.

This weeks Friday's Fancies is a going back to school edition.

Luckily, I AM DONE with school!

But IF I were to go back, here is a fun outfit I would love to wear back to school.

Inspired by The Daybook blog. Girl has some great style!

Totally comfortable! And of course, some Starbucks in hand is necessary.

Back to School Best by pinkstarr403 featuring michael kors handbags

"LIKE" my back to school fashion this week!

{#37}

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Guest Post!

Hey friends!

You can find me over on Blair's blog today!

You don't want to miss this yummy cupcake recipe!

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Time for a change

Source: homegrownhospitality.typepad.com via cindy on Pinterest

I apologize for my absence of late.

I have been hiding. There is some real 'stuff' going on in my life right now.

The biggest being a problem I have with money. I am consumed by debt. Which sucks when it comes to my cupcake business, which I have had a lack of money and motivation lately. No bueno. I decided it needs to end here, while I am still young. Also because I have to move out by the end of the year. There is no way I am going to make it living paycheck to paycheck once I find a place for Jax and I. I signed up for Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. I hear so many great things about it.

Have you been through this class?

I would love to hear your thoughts and any encouragement is appreciated.

If you have money issues too, I really suggest you going through this as well.
Especially now while you are young.

Thanks to Pinterest, for giving me motivation and my sweet friend Pippa, for being there to listen.

Source: homegrownhospitality.typepad.com via Alison on Pinterest

Source: homegrownhospitality.typepad.com via Lacie on Pinterest

Friday, August 12, 2011

Friday's Fancies

Happy Friday!

One of my style/fashion icons is Olivia Palermo.

Outside of Ohio State Buckeye scarlet red gear, I have maybe two red blouses (that get worn during the Christmas season) and a red maxi dress in my closet.

Never been a big fan of red.

I think I might give red another try.

{sorry, this is always off-centered}

Redilicious by pinkstarr403 featuring red tops

Are you a fan of red??

"Like" my Friday's Fancies!!! {#39}

Monday, August 8, 2011

My bff JAX.

My furchild. My love. My bff.

We had a pretty good weekend...

Cruising around town because of boredom and because I had a major craving for McD's Caramel Iced Coffee.

-

He got spoiled on Saturday at my Cupcake Party
(ill be posting pictures of that soon)

Sarah from I Blame My Mother and her sweet girls baked him some personalized doggie treats!

He loved them. Adorable, no?

-

I drove around town yesterday in search of a kiddie pool.

Finally found one at Walmart.

He freaks when you try to get him in the pool. But he loves water. He actually does not mind hopping into the bath tub for bath time. (very thankful for this) So I really wanted to see if he would play around in a little kiddie pool.

Sure enough he did! I think?

I had to pick him up and put him in it at first.

He sat down a few times. Hopped in and out. Went crazy.

Then he spent 10 minutes doing this:

Yep. That's my son. Weirdo.

On another note...

Would you mind going HERE and voting for JAX.

You vote by 'liking' his photo!

{you first have to 'like' the page. simple. easy. harmless.}

He would so appreciate it. The winner gets a big bag of treats!

THANKS SO MUCH!

Friday, August 5, 2011

True Life: I am a Blogger.

Y'all are probably thinking...

DUH.

LOL.

For my new followers I thought it'd be fun to link up with Fabulous But Evil and Mrs. Monologues

My blog is titled 'Living a Life of Love' because that is what I strive to do. It isn't easy. Many of us, myself included, are selfish and only think of themselves. I have always been a giver. Even after many have shattered my heart into a billion pieces, God put it back together, and has allowed me to continue to give my love. This blog is basically about all the people/things I love:

I love sweet baby Jesus.
I am a Christian, believing I was saved by Grace through Him alone.
The most amazing love one could ever have is the unfailing love of a gracious Father.
Nothing.Is.Better.Than.That.

I love my furchild.
Many of you know JAX.
My crazy, challenging, loving baby boy.
You can read more about him HERE.

I am an avid lover of Dr. Pepper and cupcakes.

I have my own business- Michabella's Cupcakery.

I have a serious shopping problem.

I love the beach, vampires, tattoos, and country country music.

I am very down to earth and am on the quiet side.
{Until you get a few drinks in me, then I can be quite the social butterfly.}

Life is random. So am I.

I love all of you.

xoxo.

Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier. -Mother Teresa