Hey everyone! It’s BTB! I’m just letting everyone know that, yes, we are still here!! We have taken a short little break from blogging (and vlogging) due to the Holidays and illnesses. Don’t worry, though! Dana will be back with amazing posts and I will be continuing my weekly vlog “What’s Up Hollywood?” soon! So don’t leave us!!!!!
-BTB
Isn’t that what this season is all about? Gratitude? Yes, I do believe it is. So guess what my peeps? I’m so very grateful for many things.
I would love to say that I spend every hour of every day in awe of life and I constantly give thanks. But…I don’t. Because I do this thing called life. And it takes up a lot of time. So that is why I think Thanksgiving and this season is so good. It literally is a day that we set apart to be thankful. Um…genius. I need this. I need a day that reminds me to get out of my head for a minute and realize how good I have it in this life.
So what am I grateful for? Oh bajeezies. I have so much to be grateful for. I know, I know. How cliche. “She’s blessed. We GET it.” Well guys, I must be cliche today, in my belated thanksgiving post. Because really, how could I not?
I’m going to keep it short-ish.
I’m just so incredibly thankful to be alive.
Thankful for how far I have come since my surgery.
I am thankful for the opportunity I was given with these surgeries and the possibility of living with less pain. An opportunity I never thought I would get. A miracle opportunity.
Yes, we hit some bumps along the road. Some major complications and I almost lost my life in this journey. But those bumps along the way have taught me so much about myself, my family and the people I love, and my God.
Because of the miracle of life, I am able to enjoy a fiance that loves me so completely (shout out to my boy BTB), a family that sticks with me through the hardest times, and friends that I truly consider family.
I am able to enjoy even the simple things like coffee with seasonal creamers, a roof over my head, the smell of fresh ink on paper, Christmas lights on houses, the smells of Christmas filling stores and homes, my niece’s giggles and toothy grins, my niece calling me “nay nay” for the first time, trying on my first wedding dress complete with lace and veil – seeing my mom’s eyes light up when she sees me dressed in white, my bestie’s belly laughs and honest truths, and BTB’s sweet smile and tight hugs.
I just can’t get enough of life. I am beyond blessed and highly favored. Gosh, I just can’t imagine if I wasn’t here to experience even the small, beautiful things in my life. Its amazing what a little perspective can do for a “bad” day.
I highly recommend making a gratitude list. Even the small things: like 2 feet to walk around on and a jacket to wear when its cold out. We all have things to be grateful for. Even in the worst of times.
Oh and the winner of the Mary Kay Giveaway is Amanda! I used random.org and their random number generator to choose the winner. So congrats Amanda! I will be sending you an email to get your information to get you your Mary Kay goodies! Woooo!
Later my taters.
living abundantly with gratitude,
Dana
P.S. Today is my Mary Kay Cyber Monday Sale. 20%off ALL day long. Don’t miss out! Check out my website! OR contact me via danamichelle@marykay.com
Hey guess what you guys??
I’m going back to graduate school in January! I am all registered for classes and everything.
As you know (or if you don’t, GOSH you are behind the times. ha!) I had major surgery in April of this year. This surgery required a year recovery and so I had to withdraw from graduate school to take some time for my health.
It was a super tough decision for me to take this time off because my biggest life goal right now is to finish school. It has been a long journey. Chronic illness has this funny way of getting in the way of finishing college and graduate school in a timely manner.
Anywhoozer.
With all my complications from the surgery, I was really worried that I wouldn’t reach my goal of being able to return to graduate school this January. BUT my doctors have cleared me and I have taken care of all the logistics on the graduate school end…SO back to school I go!
AHHH. Eeeeeek.
I’m nervous.
What if I forgot how to be a student? It has been a year, you know.
This is such a big step in my surgery recovery. In fact, its a step away from recovery and back into real life. This is scary peeps. In the best kind of way.
And best of all, it means I will be moving back to the same town as BTB! And the bestie! And all my friends that are family! I am so excited. I might have peed myself a little out of excitement. But only a little. Not enough for anyone to notice but me.
Okay guys. I leave you with this…
Because really, who doesn’t like argyle? This was taken at church. Doesn’t it look like such a “church picture”? We look so welcoming and fun. Like we are saying, “Hey, come to our hip church. We wear argyle and giggle about it.”
And no, this matching argyle thing wasn’t planned. It was not, unfortunately, ‘bring your argyle to church’ day. Although that would have been hip. This just goes back to the post where I spoke about BTB and I and our great minds thinking alike and our tendency to coordinate outfits on accident. And apparently, Paul (the other guy in the picture) has a great mind too.
Okay. See you later taters.
living abundantly going back to grad school in my argyle,
dana
I just ain’t feelin’ today.
I ain’t feelin’ folding my laundry today. I think I will let it sit in its laundry basket one more day.
I ain’t feelin’ writing thank you notes today. I think I will let people remain un-thanked for one more hour. I will write them later. Later today.
I ain’t feelin’ the pumpkin pie latte I bought from a local coffee shop that shall not be named because I’m not the bad mouthin’ local businesses kinda girl BUT I prefer my salted caramel frappe from the corporate starbucks. SO SUE ME. So sue me.
I’m not feelin’ washing my hair today. Its just too much work for me. They make dry shampoo for days like today.
I ain’t feelin’ taking the trash cups in from my car today. I will let them sit there another hour at least. Maybe even 2 more days. But only 2 days. Not 3 days.
I ain’t feelin’ calling the dentist about my cracked tooth. I just hate the dentist. No offense you dentists out there. Because I am sure my blog appeals to many dentists out there. ha. Anywhoo. The tooth will have to wait. It doesn’t hurt yet. I’ll wait until it hurts.
I wasn’t really feelin’ updating my blog today. But I decided to update it about how I ain’t feelin’ updating my blog. So yeah. There’s that.
I ain’t feelin’ bathing my dog. Even though he smells. I will bathe him tomorrow. Sorry tobster. One of these days you will become my priority.
Those are the things I ain’t feelin’ today. And I am obviously not feelin’ good grammar either. Maybe I will be feelin’ that tomorrow. More on this later.
Love you bloggy peeps. I am definitely still feelin’ you guys. Not in a weird way. You know what I mean. Right? I hope so. I hope we are on the same wavelength.
Later Taters.
living abundantly even though I ain’t feelin’ it today,
dana
Check out this week’s episode of BTB’s weekly vlog, ‘What’s up Hollywood?’! Its super silly and funny per usual. Usual, as in, so was last week’s first episode. haha. But I am sure it will become a usual thing.
If you didn’t tune in last week, that’s okay. Start tuning in now!
Oh and don’t forget to enter the giveaway! Today is the last day! EEEK! Go enter!
Okay, I’ve got a busy weekend ahead of me. So I probably won’t check in with you peeps until then. But you never know…
living abundantly because BTB is silly and makes me laugh,
Dana
Hey peeps. Its that time again. Time for whaaaaat?
Time for weekly wedding whimsy, thats what!
Today I am talking photography. Wedding photography! I am just going to share all kinds of photography ideas I like. I have found all of these via pinterest, of course. Not saying I will use any or all of these ideas, they are just cute and/or beautiful photos.
Let’s get to the wedding fun!
Source: blessyoursweetheart.tumblr.com via Dana on Pinterest
Source: heatherarmstrongphotography.com via Dana on Pinterest
Source: nadjaseale.com via Dana on Pinterest
Source: weddingchicks.com via Dana on Pinterest
Source: weddingbee.com via Dana on Pinterest
Source: stylemepretty.com via Dana on Pinterest
Source: stylemepretty.com via Dana on Pinterest
Source: stylemepretty.com via Dana on Pinterest
Source: softbeauty.tumblr.com via Dana on Pinterest
How sweet/cute/adorable/precious/beautiful are all of these pictures? They each capture such a special moment or concept.
I love the picture of the piano with the heart because it is so BTB and the picture of the wedding dress in the library is SO me. If you know either me or BTB personally, then you are nodding your head in agreement riiiiight now. Nerd alert over here! I think both of these picture ideas would be so cool for us and something we should consider doing.
I also love the sweet bridal shot of the bride in her veil. GORGEOUS.
All of the couple shots are amazing and great ideas for us to give our photographer to help him/her get an idea of what we want. I especially love the one with the groom blindfolded! BTB is very adamant about not seeing me until I walk down the aisle. Which I think is sweet and I totally respect.
I have way more photography ideas pinned on my pinterest boards! Do you have pinterest? Come follow me too! Its so fun.
That is all the wedding whimsy I have for this week! Tune in next week for more wedding gorgeousness.
Don’t forget to enter my giveaway! You have until THIS Friday and so far the odds will definitely be in your favor (okay, hunger games reference. nerd alert!)! Hurry and enter!
living abundantly with wedding whimsy,
Dana
Possibilities.
I am about to talk about a topic I never really thought I would talk about on my blog. But here I go.
Ever since I was a young adult, I have not let myself dream of having my own children. I have always been scared to let my heart go there.
Why? My health. My pancreatic disease has always been this huge obstacle in the way of having children. Talks of my body would be too weak, too many medicines, pancreas can’t handle the stress, organs can’t handle the stress, lack of nutrients…basically lack of a healthy body. You need one of those to carry a healthy baby.
But here’s the thing. That wasn’t my only obstacle. I also have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. So not only could I not hold a pregnancy…I will have trouble even getting to that pregnancy.
Sigh.
These harsh truths are reasons I have never let my heart go there.
Because in the past, when I have let my heart go there, it has stung. Why was I given this sickly body? This body that can’t sustain my own healthy life, let alone another little life. In the brief seconds I would let my heart wander, I would be consumed with heartache. Tears would form at the mere thought. Why God? Why?
But in this past year, I have made my heart go there. Made myself face this fear of not being able to have children of my own.
I decided instead of letting these fears form inside my heart and mind, I would hand these fears over to God.
And once I did, oh boy, did I feel some relief. A burden was lifted. I no longer had to carry this burden of fear that I have been carrying for years. It has been a heavy load.
Ever since I have let go of the fears, I have allowed my heart to desire a dream. A dream for family.
I am allowed to dream this dream. God has put a dream of family in my heart and I know He will take care of the details. The details of whether or not my body can truly handle pregnancy now that I have a possible healthier future. The details of possible adoption. These details I simply do not need to worry about. My heart is open to all options.
In God’s time, He will take care of all these details. Burden lifted. Sure feels nice.
So until then, I can dream of the possibilites because I know my God has something beautiful planned for BTB and me and our future family. Something far more fantastic than I can even imagine.
So until then I wait patiently. I wait with expectation of beautiful possibilities.
living abundantly,
dana
P.S. Disclaimer: BTB and I are not planning a family now. haha. These are just dreams of our distant future. 
P.S.S. Don’t forget to enter the giveaway!! You only have until THIS Friday to enter!
Here are some things that I love today.
Well, I guess I love these things most days. But for the sake of the blog post title, they are things I love, today.
Moving on. You know what you guys? I ramble too much. I don’t know how you guys like reading this ole blog. I am forever on some tangent about some tangent.
See? There I go again. What were we talking about?
Ah, yes. Things I love today.
1. Rides in my brother’s new bucket truck. Yes, my brother has a bucket truck. Its for work purposes. But sometimes we use it for play purposes.
Views from the bucket truck…
2. I love that it is fall. And fall means football games. Cold football games.
3. In a related ‘things I love’, I love BTB’s intense football game stare. Serious business, folks. Serious business.
4. I also love that dogs like to lick BTB’s face. Big plus. Probably one of the reasons I started dating him. I asked, “Hey you, do dogs like to lick your face?”. and BTB said “Yeah, they sure do”. And I said, “Very cool. I’m Dana.” And then, I knew it was love.
4. I love when BTB and I accidentally coordinate outfits. I think it shows that our great minds think alike. And that we both cheer for UGA. And then I ask him to change so we don’t look like we coordinate outfits.
5. I love birthday parties. Because birthday parties mean delicious dinners and cake. I especially loved this birthday party because we were celebrating my sister-in-law lauren’s day of birth. She sure is special and deserves a day all to herself.
Candles!
My brother and Lauren.
Me and the birthday girl.
6. And finally, I of course, love little miss H. She gets to be included in all “things I love today” posts. Because she is so stinkin’ cute. Among other reasons.
That’s all I love today. Yep, thats it.
Haha. I had you fooled.
No silly, I love more. I just don’t have pictures of those things. For example, I love little mandarin oranges fruit cups. It’s my form of crack. Those little, tiny, orange pieces of heaven sure can make a girl (this girl) swoon.
Alright, I’m peacin’ out.
Don’t forget to enter the Mary Kay giveaway! You guys, you have a REAL good chance of winning. Trust me. The odds are in your favor as of now. So go enter!
living abundantly,
Dana
As I mentioned before, BTB is going to be doing a weekly VLOG (video blog post) on the abundant life called ‘What’s up Hollywood?’! Wooo! The videos will come every Friday. BTB will update you on all the latest Hollywood Buzz.
Hilarious.
Yes people, that is the man I am going to marry. Should be fun.
Don’t forget to enter yesterday’s MK giveaway!
living abundantly with all the hollywood news,
Dana
So I have gone back and forth on how I would go about announcing my special news to you guys today. And finally I just said you know what? Why don’t I just tell them what is on my heart and how I got to this newsworthy place? That sounds good.
So guess what you guys??
I am a new Independent Beauty Consultant for Mary Kay!
Here are some things you know:
You know I love Mary Kay. You guys have read here and here about how much I love Mary Kay products and the women who sell them. Unsolicited, I have done several product reviews and raved about the products because I am simply obsessed with the quality of the products Mary Kay has to offer.
You know I love my best friend, Casey Sanders, who is also a fellow consultant with the company. I trust her advice, I trust her opinions, but mostly, I just trust our friendship. I have seen her grow through this company. She now dreams big and sets goals to achieve those dreams. How cool is that? Yeah, cool.
You know I have been through a very tough journey through dealing with chronic illness, having my transplant surgery and other surgeries, and trudging through this year long recovery.
What you may not know:
You may not know that I have taken off a year from graduate school and I have not been able to work for over a year due to my health issues.
You may not know that I have had a very hard time dealing with not being able to work and help out my family.
You may not know I have been struggling with boredom and fighting the temptation of getting down and depressed about not really doing anything productive most days. Yes, I know I have needed this time to recover. However, if you know me at all, you know I need a purpose. I thrive on having a job and doing that job to the best of my ability. It makes me happy and content knowing that I have something else to do besides catching the latest Law and Order SVU marathon.
You may not know that Mary Kay allows me the opportunity to recover at home from surgery, have a purpose, AND help my family. I have been praying for this. And God has dropped it on my doorstep. Quite literally. In the form of a starter kit. 
Ever since I decided to start my own Mary Kay business, my spirits have been lifted and I walk around feeling that my life has a little more meaning. I have been having a blast letting people know about my new business and what I can do for them to make them feel a little more pampered and beautiful!
Working on starting my business has given me the opportunity to catch up with every one in my life and let them know how I have been doing. I get out of the house more and all with the purpose of trying fun products with friends and family! I get to show them some gratitude for all they have done for me lately by giving them a facial or a makeover!
Gosh this work stuff sure is hard. ha!
So this is my Mary Kay story. This is where it all begins for me. I am thrilled to see where God takes me on this new adventure.
So in the spirit of celebration and excitement about the start of my new business, I am doing a special giveaway for you, my readers!
* 1 FREE Mary Kay lip gloss! (color choice is yours)
AND
* $10 Mary Kay gift certificate! (to be used when buying from me)
To win both of these fun gifts, you must be a follower of my blog and let me know you are a follower in the comments section. (google connect) THAT IS IT! You are entered to win! Super simple.
For Locals (Statesboro and Savannah): I am giving away free facials. To win a free facial, simply tell me you are a local in your giveaway comment and I will enter you in a drawing for a free facial! WHAT WHAT!
Don’t miss out! Everybody loves free Mary Kay products!
**I will leave the giveaway open for a week, so you will have plenty of time to enter and share this giveaway with others.
I am so excited to start on this amazing journey with you guys. I trust God is going to do big things with this new chapter in my life. Thank you all for your support and constant encouragement! You guys mean so much to me. On. the. reals.
living abundantly because I love Mary Kay and my blog readers,
Dana
my mary kay contact info:
just your average, every day 20-something with a tendency to blog. i love my family, my amazingly friendly friends, my fiance-ben the betrothed, and jesus. i am a professional student and independent to a fault. i buy and then subsequently read books on every subject. i am chronically ill but i'm still awesome. i blog about living with chronic illness, planning a wedding, my attempts at being domestic, pretending to be crafty and fashionable, and just my ridiculously awkward life. i live an incredible life. the abundant life.
