Budgeting Bloggers: July 2013

I'm not a fashion blogger.  Sure, I used to post a lot of outfit photos (and may do so again in the future, if I feel photogenic), and I still post a lot of shopping stuff.  But really I'm a random blogger, with shopaholic tendencies.

The first step is admitting you have a problem. (image source)

I was sooooo naughty in June.  $250 on two Kate Spade purses alone.  So I was bitching whining talking to my friend Caroline about how I need to just stop spending cold turkey in July, when she reminded me that Fran does this Budgeting Bloggers link-up every month.  You hold yourself accountable for your spending and do your best to stick to a pre-set budget, all while learning to stock your closet with things you'll actually keep.  (Quality>Quantity)  Quitting cold turkey is extreme, but budgeting is not!

Even though June was an epic bust, I figured I'd give this a go for July.  That said, I decided to count any purchases that arrived via mail after July 1st against my budget this month, as a little punishment for crazy June.  I also decided on $150 target budget per month, but credit myself when I make sales via Poshmark. When I told Duke about the $150 target, he was skeptical I could achieve it.  That just made me want to accomplish it even more.

1. Downeast Basics Maxi Skirts ($60 for two):  I got a $10 discount code for this purchase, but it basically went away when I had to return a couple other items from the order (ugh, paying return shipping).  I love these easy, breezy skirts though.  They are already being worn every week.
2. Bandelettes ($25 for two pairs with discount code):  I ain't ashamed of this purchase.  I saw these on Girl With Curves and Little Chief Honeybee, and I knew I'd be using them in the HOT Tennessee summer.  They're basically these beautiful little garters that protect your thighs from chafing in dresses/skirts.  I purchased in nude and black.
3. Old Navy Shorts and Jeans ($17 total! with discount code):  I got these for a great deal.  A pair of black gingham shorts (inspired by Fran) and some tried and true skinny jeans.  Returned other items from the order though.
4. Payless Comfort Plus Karmen Pumps ($30 for two pairs during BOGO sale):  Nude and black pumps for work, scored during a BOGO sale in-store.  These are way comfier than more expensive heels I own!
5. Coach Legacy Stripe Scarf ($9+Posh credits):  Okay, random.  But it is pretty and I wanted one for my leather Coach bags.  And it's been sold out for ages.  <-- attempting to justify this most impractical and silly of purchases, probably the only thing on the list I am annoyed about. Ugh.
6. Everlane T-Shirts ($30 for two):  Because Fran and Caroline insist they're amazing, and I'm fed up with finding a comfy white tee that isn't too sheer.  I chose white and muted black.  I agree with them that the white tee is just thick enough not to be sheer!  Best white tee I have every owned.  I don't think I'll buy white tees from anywhere else.
7. Target Merona/Mossimo Tees ($25 for 4):  I needed more new t-shirts to survive the summer, and these fitted v-necks were on promo for a great deal.  I got two in black (two different sizes for different fits), one in mustard, and one in grey with thin stripes.  Love them all.

= $196 - $65 in Poshmark Sales = $131

For my first Budgeting Blogger month, not too shabby!  I thought I'd killed my budget in the first two weeks with June purchases.  It was hard to resist those summer sales.  But between returning stuff and selling on Poshmark, I was shocked how quickly I recovered.

I think budgeting will drive me to sell more things I don't need, shop more thrift stores, and really try to be choiceful.  I also want to focus on having clothes that fit, and purging my closet of, well, the extra stuff.  I have dropped off two large bags at Goodwill in the past couple of weeks, and I love how my dresser drawers open and close smoothly, and how my closet looks so nice and clean!

I think I'm going to see if I can do $100 next month!

Check out more Budgeting Bloggers here!

Sex & the City, according to Duke

Image source: thehappilyeverafterproject.com

Me: "Maintaining close friendships with girls is a lot of work, and I'm not good at it.  I'm beginning to think I will never have that Sex & the City circle of friends."

Duke: "That's because Sex & the City isn't real!  They meet for brunch like *every day*, and the blonde one f*cks someone, and the brunette gets indignant.  Then they go to the latest restaurant opening or whatever."

Me:  "Did you read this in some article?  How do you know this?"

Duke:  "I saw a few episodes, and it's just ridiculous."

Me:  "Well, what about the redhead?  And the curly blonde?"

Duke:  "The redhead has a kid and she's a professional busy-woman.  The blonde is a fashionista."

Me:  "Which one am I?  The indignant brunette?"

Duke:  "You're none of them, Aubrey.  Because they aren't real."

#nailedit

And he used the word fashionista.  In real conversation.  Bwahahahaha....

Eleven at Crystal Bridges

I've blogged about Crystal Bridges museum a couple of times before, but on yet another business trip to Arkansas I found myself there.  Not complaining at all... this may be one of my favorite places!

Crystal Bridges

Eleven, cafeteria by day and full service by night

The museum and its restaurant are open late on Wednesday and Friday, so at the recommendation of a coworker I decided to grab dinner there.  During most of the day, Eleven is cafeteria style.  But during the evenings they are open, it is reserved/hostess seating and a different experience.  (It's still loud in the dining area for sure, but it's more upscale and cocktail hour-ish!)  They actually have a "Culture Hour" Wednesday and Friday evenings with $5 appetizers and drinks.

I wasn't feeling particularly adventurous for dining that night... I had to catch a red-eye in the morning, so I sadly didn't partake of their amazing cocktail menu.  Boo.  Next time.  So I settled on a burger and just soaked up the surroundings.  The Eleven Burger consists of Angus beef, American cheese, pink peppercorn aioli, lettuce, and tomato on brioche, served with roasted fingerling potatoes.  It was good... I have high standards for burgers, and this one hit the spot alright.  I appreciate that Eleven prides itself on using local ingredients; I love farm to table and locavore eating!  I'd really like to come back and try something else off the menu.  It's a fantastic experience in general, so I don't mind giving it another go to find my favorite menu item.

Duke hates anything with aioli on it... but it's totally not the same as mayo in terms of flavor!

Afterwards, I decided to take advantage of the summer sunlight hours and walk around outside.  Totally skipped the galleries, but I have no regrets!  There are so many trails and sculptures, and when you're outside you can really take in Moshe Safdie's amazing architecture.  (Note: The building remind me a little bit of the giant Madagascar cockroaches I used to hold as a volunteer at Wonderlab museum... but in a good way!  It's nature's beautiful design.)

Selfie!

I will always come back to Crystal Bridges whenever I can.  This was my 3rd visit, and each one has been so different and enjoyable.  It's an American treasure for sure.

Semi-DIY Curtains, Round 2

This striped shower curtain at West Elm caught my eye online as a possibility for bedroom curtains, but supposedly the thing is sold out everywhere and backordered until August.  Bleh.  Undeterred, I chose the zigzag pattern to see if I liked it in our room.  These shower curtains cost $39 at West Elm (yowza) but they're a great weight and way cheaper than their $55-75 per curtain panel prices.

I know, my cell phone photos are totally lacking.

Before cutting.

I put the whole curtain up on the window again to see if I liked it.  With my own self-approval, I then made the cut and stitched up the rough edges, this time folding/pinning.  I totally treated this more expensive shower curtain better than the Target one.  I'm ridiculous.

They aren't blackout curtains like Duke may have been hankering for (I may order some blackout curtain liner to sew onto these later), but I really like the look!  Despite the pattern, I feel like it will match just about any bedspread I put on the bed.

I dig it.

Speaking of, I'm on the hunt for a good bedspread that's less girly.  I like grey/yellow, but not finding what I'm looking for.  Sigh.  Maybe an ikat print?  We'll see.

My Personality... according to Keirsey

For grad school, I had to take the Keirsey Temperament Sorter.  I received a list of 70 questions, each with two choices.  Each choice was a gut decision, picking the response that was most like me.

I didn't think much of it, until I got the results.  Um... this test knows me.

I was labeled a Guardian temperament, type Supervisor (ESTJ).  The report I received gave me a great summary of how this applies to me work.  It was funny to read, since they basically said I do better in a hierarchical, structured work environment (like the military)... which is not what my current work is like at all.  And I'm okay with that.

The report says that Guardians are dependable, hard working, loyal, responsible, dutiful, humble, cautious.  It supposes that I am a Logistical leader, which I didn't understand... until they started throwing out words like schedule, routine, clarity, orderly.  Okay then.  They got me.  Yup.  Wow.  It felt strange to me that a "quiz" could seemingly know so much about me.

source

ESTJs in general, according to Wikipedia, are "practical, realistic, and matter-of-fact, with a natural head for business or mechanics. Though they are not interested in subjects they see no use for, they can apply themselves when necessary. They like to organize and run activities. ESTJs make good administrators, especially if they remember to consider others' feelings and points of view, which they often dismiss... According to Keirsey, ESTJs are civic-minded individuals who dedicate themselves to maintaining the institutions behind a smooth-running society. They are defenders of the status quo and strong believers in rules and procedures. ESTJs are outgoing and do not hesitate to communicate their opinions and expectations to others."

This personality test could have helped a lot in therapy.  I mean, seriously.  But it also makes me think about my weaknesses, things I need to make a bigger effort on because they aren't natural to me personality.   I find I have to work harder to maintain friendships and keep a flexible schedule.  I have to work harder to adapt to ambiguity.  Common ESTJ weaknesses include: often too inflexible and stubborn, judgmental, may have difficulties expressing their emotions, find it difficult to relax, may focus too much on their social status, and uncomfortable with unconventional solutions.  I'd say some of these apply to me more than others.

I don't know that there are that many people who absolutely love having an ESTJ in their lives...  I don't think we're the most easygoing people.  (One report said that Percy Weasley was an ESTJ, and I was all like, I AM A HERMIONE NOT A PERCY!")  But at the same time, I feel like I'm able to help my friends when they need my crazy organization skills, or want someone they know is dependable and loyal.

Have you ever done the Keirsey or Myers-Briggs test?  What did you think of the results?

Semi-DIY Curtains

I think I saw something about making window curtains from shower curtains via Pinterest or Twitter or something recently.  (Was it you, JTal?)  Anyways, Duke and I were noticing how unbearably warm our bedroom becomes since our large window (and its cheap, apartment complex blinds) don't block the sunlight on the weekends when we try to sleep in.

As I was browsing Target's selection, I got a bit peeved that each curtain panel was like $30.  Seriously?  Why don't they sell them in pairs?  Weird.

Testing out the size...

Then I noticed that the shower curtains were indeed much cheaper, and they were the perfect size for our large windows.  BOOM.  So I picked up a pair and took them home.  $20 for a curtain.  I chose their blue Bird Shower Curtain in their Threshold line, available in-store.

Bear enjoys the bird pattern.

I didn't end up liking the one I chose for the bedroom (too sheer), but I did keep one for the guest room.  I hung the panel up to check the fit (Duke installed the basic curtain rods) and then I snipped the thing in half.

Cut it straight up the middle!

I did sew up the cut ends, though to be honest I didn't do any folding, pressing, or pinning.  I just rapid-sewed the thing up.  Kind of janky.  But I like the panels a lot, and I think they add something to the room to make it look more put together!

Lazy sewing...

Finished product, in poor lighting, but not too shabby!

I'm still shopping for curtains for the bedroom to solve our problem, but I'm also browsing for new, more gender-neutral bedding.  (Now that we're cohabitating, my turquoise/pink bedspread is a bit much.  Duke says he doesn't care, but I think it may be time for a change.)  So I'll post back if I figure out that situation!

Korea House

Sissy came to Nashville, and Mom came down from Indiana to join us for a weekend.  Since it's not often we all get together minus Dad, I figured we'd indulge in something we love that he isn't a fan of: Korean food!

My friend Lauren at Old Red Boots reviewed this restaurant a while back and recommended it to me.  People keep asking me about good Korean restaurants (since I am hapa Hangul!) in Nashville, and until now I couldn't give one.

Korea House is legit.  It's located in Charlotte Park (i.e. West Nashville), quite a little haul from Franklin.  But at least the drive helped us work up an appetite.

Dukboki, stir-fried seasoned rice cake & vegetables in a spicy sauce

Sides

We ordered a variety of dishes, though I of course indulged in my beloved kalbi.  They served it off the bone, but I really enjoyed it.  Mom and Sissy liked their meals too.  It was hot, delicious, and tasty!

For the official Korean review, Mom says, "It's not as good as what you get in Korea or Los Angeles, but it is authentic and delicious!"  She spoke in Korean to the hostess and servers, so she got the scoop.  The portion sizes are large for what I've seen at Korean restaurants, which is another good thing.

The restaurant itself, like many foodie finds, is located in a nondescript strip mall.  The seating area itself is not large (maybe seating for 40, max?), so I recommend you get there for an earlier dinner if you don't have time to wait.  We arrived around 6 and sat immediately, but by the time we left the line was out the door.  It's a good sign when you see people lining up for dinner at your Korean restaurant!

Kalbi, marinated beef shortrib steak

Japchae, sweet potato noodles stir-fried with vegetables and beef

Bibimbap, literally "mixed rice"

I've noticed a lot more foodies are embracing the Korean trend, and I love it!  There's kimchi fusion happening all over the place, in tacos, sushi, burgers, and more.  I remember back when just bringing dried seaweed to school lunch was a "weird" thing, and now it's mainstream.

If you're nervous about trying Korean food, don't be!  I actually think it's more approachable than you might think.  It's not sushi, it's not udon, it's not American fake Chinese.  It's just Korean.   It's spicy, it's salty, it's flavorful.  It's fresh.  If you take leftovers home, the smell will linger in your car for a day.  You add sriracha/red paste to taste, and you share everything at the table.  Korean meals are all about community and tasting it all, kind of like tapas.

I think that Bibimbap, Korean "mixed rice" is a great starting point.  It's kind of a Korean salad.  You can have it with or without meat/egg, and it comes with rice and veggies in one big bowl.  Yum.  If you're a Ron Swanson like me, Bulgogi is a marinated beef dish that you're sure to love.  And try all the little plates on the table!  It's part of the experience.

Canoeing the Harpeth

This weekend, one of the super fun activities I planned was to take a canoe down the Harpeth with Mom and Sissy.  Well, combining Mom's fear of water with faster/deeper waters from lots of rain, it wasn't the most brilliant of plans.

That said, with Sissy's help as chief navigator and paddler, we survived our 5-mile journey down the Harpeth.  We rented a canoe from Foggy Bottom, and it took about 90 minutes for our entire trip.

It was a gorgeous morning, and the river was quiet and very pretty!  (And foggy... haha.)  We ran aground a couple of times, but we found our way.  I definitely see myself coming back with Duke or friends.  Not a bad way to get a little arm workout and enjoy nature!

Guest Blogging at Bergie & Nef

Hey there!

My cousin Suzy lives in NYC with her pets (a doxie mix and cat, respectively) and chronicles their lives over at her blog, Bergie & Nef!  It's a great place for animal-lovers residing in small spaces to share tricks of the trade and funny stories about being pet parents.  I also love her posts about pet-friendly excursions in the Northeast with the pup too.

Nef & Bergie

I'm going to be guest posting over there about life with Bear in our apartment, so be sure to check it out!  Crazy cat ladies and puppy lovers unite!

Check out my first post, all about Bear's favorite toys for self-play while I'm at work!

Zinio Magazine #Giveaway WINNERS!

This may have been the easiest giveaway win ever, given the sheer number of subscriptions I was able to offer, thanks to Zinio!

source

Our NINE Winners are:

Rachelle - Need e-mail!

Maria

Yona

Angela

**katiebug** - Need e-mail!

Madeline

Heather

Lauren

Caroline

If you left your e-mail address, I will be sending you a note to collect your first/last name and confirm your magazine subscription choice, so Zinio can send you your prize.  CONGRATS!

If you did NOT leave your e-mail address, please send it to adventuresinaubreyland(at)gmail.com NLT midnight on Friday in order to claim your prize.

I used a random number generator to make nine (9) selections, and eliminated duplicate winners as only one subscription per person was allowed.

Enter the #Batmobike - I bought a bicycle!

I've mentioned a couple of times that I've been bike shopping.... and I made a purchase!  Woohoo!

Background: I didn't learn to ride a bike until I was nearly in middle school.  The only bike I ever owned had tassels and one speed.  After I outgrew it, I rarely ever rode.

Upon moving to Franklin, I realized I live (literally) within a 4-mile radius of everything I need.  In fact, I'm less than a mile from my main grocery store and less than two miles from downtown Franklin's restaurants and shops.  I figured it would be awesome to be able ride there (and burn some calories).

How I romanticized bike ownership in my head... (source)

I got braver after talking to my blogger buddies, and super pumped after reading pretty much every post on Let's Go Ride a Bike.  I also started talking to more people about my itch to buy a "grown-up" ride... and promptly went from thinking about a Walmart Schwinn to a used bike to a new hybrid.

Today:  I sadly didn't get the bike I thought I was wanting (they sold it before I could test it, and it wouldn't be back in stock until summer's end)... but I happened to call MOAB Bikes after Duke told me they had a great selection there.  One of their guys, Jeremy, was able to figure out what I was looking for immediately.  I met him after work and tested out a bike, which was my size and my style.  Love!

Trek Verve 1 WSD

I got the Trek Verve 1 WSD hybrid.  It was not a small investment (somehow over time I went from wanting a $200 Walmart bike to buying a $400 one, welcome to my world), but the store gave me a good deal.  I managed to sell a bunch of crap I don't use stuff on Craigslist that I didn't need, so I used that $$$ towards the bike.  I also love that I can bring the bike back for tune-ups for an entire year, it's a great brand, and it fits my needs.

As Jeremy brought out my bike post-tuneup, he was remarking on how the bike's black matte color was super stealth.  I agreed, and said it's a total "Batmobike".  Before it even left the shop, it had a name!

One thing I definitely anticipated (fortunately!) was the startup cost to buying a bike.  You can't just buy the machine.  I ended up with: a car bike rack, front/rear lights, kickstand, helmet, lock, adapter (for the step-through frame)...  it definitely adds up.  I still don't have a rear rack or basket or any other doodads like that; I want to get comfortable riding first.

Last night I took my bike out in the summer heat, and I had a blast!  Sure, I may not do well at shifting gears (Duke has already had to adjust the bike for me), and I will probably wear out my brakes because I'm a little scared of going too fast.  But I loved getting places quicker than walking/jogging, and I stayed out until I was drenched in sweat.   I'm definitely sore, like I went horseback riding!  And I slept like a baby.  This bike may be one of the best investments I've made in a while.  I hope.  EEK!

A Long, Productive Weekend

Time for a ramblog!  I had a long, productive weekend for the July 4th holiday!  I opted not to go home to Indiana, given my emotional and physical exhaustion from wayyyyy too much travel.  There's something about airports that kills my mojo in general.  Still, I always feel like one of those wimpy celebrities that ends up hospitalized from exhaustion, just from living life.  #firstworldproblems much?

While I think my parents were hoping I'd visit, I don't think I could have spent my weekend in a more productive way.  (Sidenote: I'll see my family this weekend anyways!)  It rained almost every day, but I managed to work from home Friday, accomplish a zillion errands (pharmacy, post office, groceries, Goodwill, etc.), and even get some homework in.  I also did some leisurely wandering in Franklin for fun.  Duke worked much of the weekend, so I think the solo time was good for me.

Obviously, there were lapses in productivity, like when I created this photo.

I also spent my Sunday in a Type A whirlwind cleaning.  The trunk of my car is neat, the apartment is neat (minus my nightstand and pantry), and I totally reorganized the guestroom.  I also read an entire book (Superfreakonomics) for fun.  And it was free, because libraries rule.

The reason I was reorganizing the guestroom was twofold: one, I wanted space for a vertical bike rack, and two, I wanted the sewing machine nearer to the window for better light.  The result even impressed Duke, as something about moving that furniture made the room seem like less of a "bonus room full of random stuff" and more of a put-together space.  It even feels bigger.

So much more space for activities!!!

And yes, we're for sure shopping for bicycles!  After visiting Sissy in Arizona and riding her roomie's cruiser, then getting mucho encouragement from Lauren and Trisha at our blogger meetup, I think I'm finally ready to take the plunge. I went from thinking about a Walmart bike to test riding better machines at local bike shops (as mentioned in a previous post).  This weekend, we decided to commit and buy a trunk rack for my car, to hold these hypothetical bikes.  My hope is that my bike is assembled this week, tests well, and is in my possession SOON.  We're already talking about riding to the farmer's market and downtown Franklin Baskin Robbins and Mellow Mushroom... as soon as I learn how to shift gears and make turns without fear of falling.  Because that is the reality of the situation for me at this point.  Patience.

Oh, and check out my "Monday" outfit... cleaning out my closet made me realize I needed to wear some pieces more often (like my shoes) or else add them to the Poshmark or Goodwill piles.  So I decided to get all fancy like a businesswoman  lady who lunches and pair some orange heels with my new Kate Spade bag and a dress from Sam's Club.  Yeah, that Sam's Club.

Sam's Club plus Kate Spade.  Yep.

I may have bought three dresses there last month.  But it doesn't count because they were like $50 total.  Plus my lunch only cost $1.50 because that's how much the best hot dogs ever cost plus a drink.  Add an extra dollar if you're counting a cinnamon sugar soft pretzel.  Because I maybe got that too.

Peace!  I'm wearing jeans today.

Don't forget about my magazine subscription giveaway ending tomorrow!!!

Waking Up in Nashville

Just yesterday I was thinking about how good life is right now...

Last week, in one evening Duke and I grabbed a bite at local dive The Bunganut Pig, met with a friend for drinks at 55 South for the Heritage Foundation, then cooled off in our apartment's beautiful pool.  It was just pure bliss.

Arrested Development, of course!

Saturday, I was able to meet up with some of my blogger buddies (Lladybird, Let's Go Ride a Bike, Blue Jeans & Melodies, Librarian Tells All, Kitty Cat Stevens, and That Girl in the Wheelchair) at Rumours for wine, bites, and lots of talking.  Read Jen's write-up of the night... it was just perfectly delightful and fun!  How lucky to have found such a great group of women in my first year in a new city!

Burger Republic's Four Cheese Garlic Burger w/Truffle Tots

Sunday, Duke and I went to the fantastic Burger Republic.  I had a Four Cheese Garlic Burger with Truffle Tots.  INSANE. IN THE MEMBRANE.  I think I still taste the garlic.  OMG.  We even browsed bikes at Halcyon.

Duke, home brewing

Then, in the past week, I had an awesome time testing out bikes at Harpeth, enjoyed a leisurely long weekend in Franklin, and celebrated Bear's 6 month birthday.  :)

Happy 6 Month Birthday, Bear!

Okay, so what's the point of this random list of things I've done recently?  I AM HAVING SO MUCH FUN.  SO MUCH HAPPY.  It's awesome.  I truly believe Nashville is one of the coolest places I have ever lived, and that's including France.  For real.  I just can't get over the kind and warm people I've met, the incredible foodie scene, the endless list of things to do...  it's perfect.  PERFECT!  Why have I been taking this for granted?

I'm awake, Nashville!  I see how awesome this place is!  And it's gonna get even more awesome now that I've had this epiphany.

Don't forget about my magazine subscription giveaway happening NOW!!!

GIVEAWAY: Magazine Subscriptions with Zinio

I inhale magazines at home and on the go.  I subscribe to quite a few, especially when I get a good deal online.  But I always feel guilty for tossing them out (or recycling) after reading.  I mean, I use my iPad so much, why not read them there and save the trees?

Zinio

Well, there's an app for that.  Zinio, to be exact!  You can subscribe to magazines via Zinio (for competitive prices, much better than newsstand) to read your magazine on your mobile device.  You can even purchase single issues.  Love it!  The app is available via the Apple, Droid/Google, and Microsoft app stores.

Can't make up your mind which magazine to pick?  One of my favorite Zinio features is Z-Pass, which gives you three new magazines for $5 a month.  You can keep the same, or swap your titles every time!  It's great if you want to check out a magazine without subscribing for a full year, and the monthly fee costs less than some single issues purchased at the newsstand.  There's even free content.

And thanks to the folks at Zinio,
NINE of my readers will receive a free magazine subscription!

There's no purchase necessary, or even credit card information required.  It's absolutely free.
You won't be charged!!!

Here's how to enter:

1. Check out Zinio.com and browse their selection.
2. Follow this blog via Bloglovin' or Feedly.
3. Leave a comment on this post with your e-mail address and tell us which magazine you'd most like to download for free.

Earn extra entries (leave a *separate* comment below for each):

1. Tweet about this giveaway (and blog post), and include the link in your comment.
2. Mention this giveaway (and blog post) on your blog or Facebook, and include the link in your comment.
3. Instagram a photo of the Zinio app on your mobile device, and include the link in your comment.

ENTRIES CLOSE AT MIDNIGHT, CST, ON JULY 10, 2013.
Winners will be selected at random.

It's that easy!  JOIN THE FUN!  Can't wait to hear about your favorite magazines.

Zinio compensated me for this post with one free magazine subscription (hello, Food Network Magazine!), plus nine (9) to give away to my readers.  The content of this post is my own.

Insta-Bear!

Baby Bear, lately...

This photo makes me lose it!  :)