The Friday Five

Happy Friday, Friends! Let's get this party started with five random things and/or thoughts going on in my world...

One:  Lily's Birthday

Tuesday marked the 8th birthday of this perfect little diva dog. Little Miss Lily totally runs the show around our house...but we wouldn't have it any other way.  She's so much fun to come home to...seriously, the unconditional love of a pet is priceless! She's well aware that something is about to change in her world {it's possible that she knew there was a baby on the way before we even knew!}. This little midget dog has never been much of a cuddler, but she pretty much stays as close to me as she can these days. Love her to the moon & back!

I was out of town for work on her actual birthday, so we postponed the celebration until Wednesday...and then she had a "Birthday Pup-Pie!"  

You can see all of Lily's previous birthdays here.

Two: Weekend with Mom

My mom has been planning to come visit for the past couple of weekends, but the weather and other unforeseen circumstances halted those plans...but she's finally able to make the trip this weekend! Looking forward to spending some time with her...and perhaps getting started on cleaning out the baby's room {which may or may not still be full of wedding stuff!}

Three: Old Factory Candle Giveaway

Did you see my post earlier this week about Old Factory Candles? Check it out here...and while you're there, enter to win your own set of three Old Factory candles! 

Four: Academy of Country Music Awards

I got a text this week from my friend Darcy that our tickets for the ACM Awards had arrived in the mail! I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am to go to this BIG event. It's the 50th anniversary of the awards show and the first time it's ever been held in Dallas. At first I wasn't sure how much fun it would be to attend when I'm six months pregnant...but I quickly decided this is an event I don't want to miss. I'm sure you'll be hearing lots more about this in the future...

Five: Have a fabulous weekend!

Today I'm participating in lots of Fabulous Friday link-ups: 

"Oh, Hey Friday!" {hosted by The Farmer's Wife and September FARM} 
"5 on Friday" {hosted by A.Liz Adventures, North Carolina Charm, The Good Life, and Hello! Happiness}
"Friday Favorites" {hosted by Meet @ the Barre}

"Friday Favorites" {hosted by Momfessionals} 

Thanks so much to all of these ladies for hosting fun Friday link-ups!

Thought for the Day

via

Why why why are the work weeks dragging by so slowly these days?!!? I think part of it has to do with the recent GORGEOUS weather outside that leaves me with ZERO interest in being stuck in my office staring at spreadsheets. Oh well...enough of my whining!

Oh...and don't forget about our fabulous Valentine's Day giveaway! Just a couple of days left to enter to win $150 Victoria's Secret gift card.

Hosted by: The Sequin Notebook, Jessi's Design, Martinis and Bikinis, A Little Glitter, Martin Manifesto, The Kari Diaries, Pink and Fabulous, Make Me Up Mia, Green Fashionista and Meet @ the Barre

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Hump Day!

A Valentine's Giveaway...Plus Other Stuff

This week = LONGEST.WEEK.EVER! Thank goodness we've finally reached the final day of the work week. I can't pinpoint any particular reason why this week has drug on for an eternity, but let's just say I am more than a little ready to sleep in tomorrow morning! Anyway, on with the Friday five...

One:  A Valentine's Day Giveaway

Whether you fall in the "love it" or "hate it" camp regarding Valentine's Day, chances are you still LOVE a good giveaway. And with that being said, I've got some good news for you...I've teamed up with some of my favorite bloggers for a fabulous Valentine's Day giveaway: $150 gift card to Victoria's Secret! 

Meet your  fabulous hostesses... {Check out their blogs and show 'em a little Valentine's love!}

Hosted by: The Sequin Notebook, Jessi's Design, Martinis and Bikinis, A Little Glitter, Martin Manifesto, The Kari Diaries, Pink and Fabulous, Make Me Up Mia, Green Fashionista and Meet @ the Barre

Do your thing with the Rafflecopter below....and GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Two: Jayten's 6th Birthday

Sending extended birthday wishes to this little dude {our nephew} who turned six on Tuesday!  His mom blogged all about his football-themed birthday party here.

Happy 6th Birthday, Jayten!

Three: KU Traditions

We attended a KU Endowment event at Dallas Country Club on Wednesday night, and they showed this video. The speaker before the video said, "If this video doesn't give you chills, then you mean nothing to me." We all laughed, but I have to admit...it gave me goosebumps several times. Here's to all the awesome traditions of the University of Kansas.

P.S. The guy speaking was an offensive linemen on the KU football team {yes, KU does have a football team} from 1995-1995...he wrote the poem he's speaking.

Four: Baby's First Picture

My sweet mom sent us this precious gift this week...our little midget's first photo! How sweet is this? It's our very first sonogram picture displayed on a perfect little plaque that sits on a mini easel! Our baby's first photo AND the first decor for his/her room! Thank you, Mom {Grammy!}.

Five: Nashville

Nashville came back on this week {mid-season premiere???}...did you watch?  It's only the BEST.SHOW.EVER!

Cheers to Friday!

Today I'm participating in lots of Fabulous Friday link-ups: 

"Oh, Hey Friday!" {hosted by The Farmer's Wife and September FARM} 
"5 on Friday" {hosted by A.Liz Adventures, North Carolina Charm, The Good Life, and Hello! Happiness}

"Friday Favorites" {hosted by Meet at the Barre}

"Friday Favorites" {hosted by Momfessionals} 

Thanks so much to all of these ladies for hosting fun Friday link-ups!

Oh, Hey 2015!

Back to work today! And I'm estimating it will only take me until March to start using 2015 as the year when I write out the date...always a little slow to catch on to that change. Maybe I'm subconsciously living in denial that time flies by so fast???  Anyway...I may still be dragging a bit from all the holiday excitement {or perhaps I just don't have anything relevant to write about...nah, that can't be it!}, so I bring to you the Friday THREE today rather than the Friday five...

One: Happy New Year!

I've gotta say, 2014 was a pretty great year {check out my Top 10 of 2014}, but here's to making 2015 even better! We're looking forward to all that the coming year has in store for us! Cheers to the new year!

image via

Two: Blogiversary Giveaway

Yesterday marked one year of existence for Martin Manifesto, and I decided the best way to thank YOU for reading and supporting this little space {because I am sincerely grateful!} is to host a giveaway! Be sure to stop by this post so you can enter to win a $50 Visa gift card plus a few items from my previous "Leslie Loves..." posts!

Three: Deal of All Deals

Remember back in October when I was raving about this holiday card chandelier? If you don't remember {what's wrong...holiday fog taking its toll on you too???}, you can check out the details here. Well, if you didn't get around to buying it in time to display all of this year's fabulous Christmas cards, NOW.IS.THE.TIME.TO.BUY.IT! This little gem is on post-holiday clearance sale for $11.98 {original price was $39.95...that's 70% off, folks!}. Hurry...the site says there aren't many left!

Happy New Year!

Today I'm participating in lots of Fabulous Friday link-ups: 

"Oh, Hey Friday!" {hosted by The Farmer's Wife and September FARM} 
"5 on Friday" {hosted by A.Liz Adventures, North Carolina Charm, The Good Life, and Hello! Happiness}

"Friday Favorites" {hosted by Meet at the Barre}

"Friday Favorites" {hosted by Momfessionals} 

Thanks so much to all of these ladies for hosting fun Friday link-ups!

One Year...Plus a GIVEAWAY!

I think we've already discussed my need to have clearly defined beginnings, so of course it makes sense that I started this little blogging adventure one year ago on January 1, 2014. Hard to believe that an entire year has passed...

image via

I've got to admit, blogging has been more than I ever expected it to be. More time consuming {just ask the husband}...but also so much more rewarding! I love that I can look back on the posts I've written over the past 365 days as a scrapbook, documenting both the day-to-day as well as the exciting/less common details of our lives.

The most surprising aspect of this little bloggety-blog {and I know everyone says this on their blogiversary, but I can't leave out the biggest impact} has been the relationships. Not only am I truly amazed by the number of other bloggers I've "met" and built friendships with, but I've also been so pleasantly surprised by the comments/feedback I've received from people I know in real life.  I can't tell you how much it brightens my day to read each and every comment, whether it be posted directly on the blog, on Facebook or via email. Thank you...thank you for making this little blogging project worth my time and effort!  

With all that being said, there's no better way to celebrate a birthday than with gifts...right?!!? Sooo...I'd like to thank YOU, for reading and supporting my little corner of the internet, with a giveaway. Enter below to win a $50 Visa gift card plus a few of my favorites from the "Leslie Loves..." posts {just for full disclosure purposes, it's probably safe to assume it'll be a few of the smaller ticket items...but they're still fabulous!}.  You know the whole rafflecopter drill, so just do your thing below to enter to win! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Birthday, Martin Manifesto!

And thank YOU for reading!

A Great Big Giveaway...Plus Other Important Stuff

Per the usual Friday post, I am linking-up with April {A.Liz Adventures}, Christina {North Carolina Charm}, Darci {The Good Life} and Natasha {Hello! Happiness} to tell you about five things currently going on in my world!

One: $200 PayPal Cash Giveaway

Who doesn't love cold hard PayPal cash...especially to the tune of TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS?!!?  I've teamed up with some fabulous ladies to host this awesome giveaway, and I am beyond excited about it! Meet your hostesses...

From left to right: Rebekah at A Girl Awake // Gretchen at That Mama Gretchen // Anne at Love the Here and Now// Kasi at Birch Juice  // Meagan at All The Joys  // Beverly at Halfway to Fearless // Logan at Logan Can // Leslie at Martin Manifesto // Jamie at The Growing Up Diaries // Mandy at A Sorta Fairytale // Rebekah at Lipstick and Lullabies

All you need to do is go visit the other bloggers who helped make this giveaway possible and show 'em some love! Use the handy-dandy rafflecopter below to enter for your chance to win. Good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Two: Father's Day

I am so incredibly thankful for the close relationship I have with my dad. He's been an amazing role model my entire life and has paved the way for me to achieve my own successes. When someone tells me I'm a lot like my dad, I take that as a genuine compliment. I've found his unwavering drive and perfectionist tendencies to be my best attributes at times while being my biggest flaws at other times. Thank you, Dad, for helping to mold me into the person I am today!  Happy Father's Day...I love you!

This is the first year I've had a father-in-law to celebrate on Father's Day. I'm very grateful for Ryan's dad, Brock. He and JoAnn {Ryan's sweet mom} raised a son that I adore and am blessed to call my husband. I'm thankful to have joined such a great family.  Happy Father's Day, Brock!

My Granddad. He may be a man of few words, but he's also the most honest, genuine, hard-working, loyal man I know. Happy Father's Day, Granddad!

I'm excited for my brother to celebrate his first Father's Day as a dad. Watching my "baby brother" interact with his own baby has been pretty incredible. He's an amazing dad! It's so obvious to see the joy that Nais has brought into his life. Happy 1st Father's Day, Landon!

Three: Miranda Lambert

Have you seen the cover of Rolling Stone magazine?

Or these photos?

Holy hottness! I'm obsessed. Although I've never been motivated to work out in my entire life, I've now found my inspiration/motivation. 

Four: Rachael's Birthday

My BFF turned 31 on Wednesday {June 11}, so we had a quick little celebratory dinner {Mexican food, of course!}.

Left Photo: Bree, Rachael & Me; Right Photo: Tina & Rachael

Lil Midget Max. It's not that he didn't L.O.V.E. the cupcake,
he was just angry that his momma took away his Bubble Guppies movie!
"Terrible Twos" a bit early?!!?

Five: Texas Necklace

Speaking of Rachael, she surprised me last weekend with this fabulous Texas necklace. 

Texas Necklace from The Gypsy Wagon
Similar versions here

She says it's a "thank you for coordinating everything GS concert related" gift. Although it was absolutely unnecessary and totally unexpected, I love love love it! {Thank you, Rachael, for the awesome thank you gift!} She has one too, and we both wore them to the BEST.CONCERT.EVER, so I guess it's kinda like our version of a BFF necklace.   

Thanks for stopping by for my "Five on Friday!"

Have a great weekend!