Lovin' Lately: Ugly Betty

Hi lovelies! As many of us, we all have a favorite television show that we can't get enough off. For me as a child, I always wanted to watch the shows my mom and my grandma were watching. They loved watching this amazing series called Ugly Betty. I'm not sure if you have heard it about it, but it was truly an amazing show. Unfortunately, the show ended after four seasons, but it is amazing. I have seen every episode about two three times. It is perfect background sound for working and is so great. I recommend you check it out. It is on Netflix Streaming as well along with Youtube. Check it out!

What TV shows do you like to 'tune' into?

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has always been a very special holiday for me. I have been blessed with so much in my life and Thanksgiving always reminds me of that. One tradition I started a few years back in my family is that everyone at the table has to go around and say what they are thankful for. Whenever we share, it really opens your eyes to how much you have. On any day, many people are quick to say all the things that are wrong with their life. Thanksgiving opens all these positives and makes you feel so happy and thankful for the amazing life that you have. Forget about that work project that was cancelled. Who cares? Aren't you thankful for the nice man that told you you dropped your money earlier today at the coffee shop. Forget that you really need a mani/pedi! Be thankful that you have your health, happiness, and a great life. Make sure to take this day to enjoy all the positives in your life and also the negatives {yes - you heard right, m'dear} Life isn't always going to be a straight path and most definitely won't be easy all the time. Those mountains in the road are healthy in helping you get around them and becoming a better person for them. I hope all my amazing followers have an safe, happy, and healthy Turkey Day! Enjoy yourself - you deserve it.

What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?

Sweet Mint Playlist # 2

As many of you know, I was on a little bit of a personal break earlier in November as I was starting to sort-out a few personal issues I was going through. Some things that helped carry me through would most definitely be music. It was a mix of blasting the radio and 'splurge' purchasing everything on the iTunes top 100. I have always been a huge fan of oneRepublic and Katy Perry, so there was definitely a lot of that. I am very interested to hear what types of music you guys are all interested in. I mainly a Pop/Country kind of girl.

AS I WAS SAYING by Jack Johnson

BEST SONG EVER by One Direction

CARRIED AWAY by Passion Pit

COUNTING STARS by OneRepublic

DANCE APOCALYPTIC by Janelle Monae

DARK HORSE by Katy Perry

DUST TO DUST by the Civil Wars

END OF THE WORLD by Hunter Hunted

FEEL AGAIN by OneRepublic

LET HER GO by Passenger

ROAR by Katy Perry

SOUTHERN GIRL by Tim McGraw

SWEATER WEATHER by The Neighbourhood

THAT'S MY KIND OF NIGHT by Luke Bryan

TIMBER by Pitbull (feat. Ke$ha)

UNCONDITIONALLY by Katy Perry

WORK BI*CH by Britney Spears

What is your playlist looking like lately?

From Drab to Fab: Bedrooms

Scrolling through pages of Pinterest pages of home decor, I can't be the only one who yearns for the perfect 'PB Teen' bedroom. {gulp} Pinterest also has some GREAT tips for making your room look a little bit more 'upscale'. A lot of them can be made from little to nothing and will add great value to your  room.

C A N D L E S: It is pretty simple to have a vanilla candle lying around, or any candle. While the nice candles that come in glass containers, the ones that aren't are easier to work with. One of my favorite ideas is filling a glass/plastic clear container with your favorite coffee beans. Fill the beans 1/4-1/2 of the way full, depending on how you want it to look. Place a candle in the middle of the beans (vanilla candles smell the best!) When you like the candles the mixture of the bean scent and vanilla will make the entire room smell good, and it looks amazing.

D U C T  T A P E: Growing up calling this crazy tape Duck Tape, I love using this for crafts. My suggestion would get a 'canvas' board to the size that works for you. Using duct-tape, make a chevron pattern, leaving a space in between each line of chevron. Then, take paint in your favorite color and paint over the tape. Let dry completely and then pull tape off of canvas. You have created a create 'art' piece to hang.

C L U T T E R: No one likes clutter, seriously. Keep organized by making sure all your clutter is tucked away. I love using organizing boxes and drawers. They sell great plastic ones at Target/Walmart that work wonders. Plus you get a little extra counter space for more picture frames.

What ideas do you have to turn a room from drab to fab?

App-Solutely Great

Little cheesy, but what the hay! I love finding new apps for my phone. While this app isn't new, I love finding new Vine users who make great Vines. They make some great videos and I love tuning into their new videos when they pop up in my 'Vinefeed'. I love the variety of silly and happy and then also funny and giggly. I'll share my favorite viners along with their 'genre' of Vines.

TOBIE STEVENS: Silly and Happy

SARA HOPKINS: Silly and Happy

TASIA ALEXA: Funny and Giggly

NICK ALBANO: Funny and Giggly

JACK GERMAIN: Cool and amazing

LIANA V: Silly and Happy

CHRIS DELIA: Funny and Giggly

LOHANTHONY: Funny and Giggly

DEM_WHITE_BOYZ: Funny and Giggly

KC JAMES: Funny and Giggly

EVANCREDIBLE: Cuteness Overload

JOSH PECK: Funny and Giggly

Who are some of your favorite 'Viners'?

Reality Check: Maturity

Ever since I was in middle school, I have been craving independence. Every middle school kid wants to be the ideal adult; with the life all planned out, amazing clothes, successful job, and a solid relationship with a significant other. I, selfishly, assumed that I was almost there {minus the job and relationship} but I felt I was budding as a new adult seed. It wasn't until a few weeks ago that I was faced with a situation I had never been faced with before - something I wasn't ready to handle and caused me a lot of stress.

It all started when I signed up to dog sit for my neighbors when they went away for a long weekend. Their dog is super adorable and they are really the nicest couple. I have dog sat for the couple a few times before, so it was a routine event - nothing out of the ordinary, so I thought. Everything was great up until one morning, the house felt really different. The dog was there and all and the furniture was intact, but something felt odd {and more importantly, smelt odd!} I walked upstairs to found that the dog has pooped all over the carpet in the hallway and in the couple's bedroom. A mix of fear, shock, and anxiety washed over my body. I had no idea what to do. Do I call them? Do I leave it? Who do I call? All these thoughts zipped through my brain. I immediately called my mom, explained the situation, and she came over with a huge bottle of 'club soda' and Shout. We cleaned everything, flood cleaner and all, and it all looked good; except for a light stain that still was on the carpet. I was scared, but I knew I had to tell the couple what happened. Luckily, this had happened before with the dog, which made me less nervous.

This whole event, as stupid as it sounds, was a big teaching moment. I thought I was ready to be an 'adult'. I thought I had reached a level of maturity that naturally came with age and I wouldn't have to "add on" to it, in a sense. Boy was I wrong! It is okay as an adult to ask for help and learn from mistakes. Maturity isn't something that fully comes with age. You continuously add onto it with experience from your life's journeys. You are shaped by your experiences. There are different stages of maturity and they are shaped by the way you react and treat certain situations.

xoxo

5 Ways to Get Ready For Bed

Sleep has been a major theme that has been on the noggin lately. I have been really bad about falling into a nightly routine. I'm really trying to work hard on relaxing before bed. The hour before bed is extremely vital to the way you will sleep that night. For instance, if you chug a XL coffee along with a pint of chocolate ice cream an hour before you hit the sack, chances are you aren't going to be sleeping to well. I've come up with my Five Ways to Get Ready for Bed.


#1 Good Night iPad: Not the new kids book! Seriously. Studies have shown that too much screen time before bed is very bad for your health. All screens should be off for at least 30 minutes before you sleep. I plug in all my electronics about 45 minutes and do my last minute checking of social media (I'm an addict!) Then let those electronics go to sleep too. Make sure your alarm is set for the next day and your ringer is off! 

#2 In a Mood for Food: Say goodbye to that cheesecake that has your name on it. Stop eating at least two hours before you go to bed. This way, all that food can digest inside of you and won't be the cause of extra weight that you won't want later. If you are drawn back to food, brush your teeth so you won't be tempted to snack a little. 

#3: All of the Lights Ambiance is key. When it gets dark, I turn all the lights on in my room. It keeps me awake when I'm doing work. Then, about an hour before bed, I turn off my overhead so it is just my desk and table lamps. It gives the room a cozy glow and gets me sleepy and tired. I naturally fall into the state of wanting to go to bed and it feels so good to sink into bed when you are tired. 

#4:  Sound of Music Music that is soft and calming can really help you before you sleep. Play the nice ocean breeze or a tropical rainforest to make you tired before you snooze. 

#5: Avoid Late Night "Crazies": Avoid getting angry with your roommate, family members, or friends. Late night time before bed should be relaxing! Enjoy yourself before bed. A good attitude before bed = good nights sleep + dreams! 

What is your bedtime routine? 

Sneak Peek: Children's Book

I have always had a love for writing, as you can see from this blog. I'm had a dream of writing children's books and I want to share the beginning of a story that I've been working on for while. I hope you enjoy everything I'm working on.

Once upon a time, there was a girl named Amy McDamie. She just moved to a small town named Amberville. She was nervous for her first day of school. 
      "What if I don't fit in?" she exclaimed, nervously to her mother as she lay in bed.
       "Why would my Amy McDamie want to fit in when she could stand out?" her Mother giggled. "Everyone will love my sweet Amy". Amy giggled along with her mom, but she wasn't quite sure. 

Across the town, in another bedroom, was a boy named Adam McFradam. Just like Amy, he was nervous about starting school again. 
     "What if nobody wants to play with me, Dad?" he exclaimed nervously as he lay in bed. 
        "Who wouldn't want to play with my Adam McFradam" he laughed. Adam laughed along with his Dad, but he wasn't quite sure. 


To be continued...

Do you like the story so far? Do you want to hear the next few pages?

Eep! Technical Difficulties.

As many of you noticed on Thursday, the Sweet Mint post didn't show up {bummer!} I have no idea what happened, but I promise (pinky promise!) that new posts will resume on Saturday. Sorry for this little hiccup in this process. Can't wait to be back. Thanks for all your guidance, love, and wisdom. 

xo, 

Sweet Mint Team

{Almost} Back

I am so sorry for all of this craziness and I appreciate the love and support from everybody. I am very excited to announce that Side of Sweet Mint will finally be returning this Thursday November 14th, 2013. The "SHOP SM" will open on SUNDAY 12:01am EST, along with a few other changes to the website. Thank you for supporting Sweet Mint throughout this break. It is much appreciated. Have a blessed rest of the weekend. 

xo, 

Sweet Mint Team

Thank You!

To all my Sweet followers. Thank you so much for your support during my 'break'. It really was so helpful to be able to clear my head and just breathe for a little bit. I contemplated about taking time off. It was really either between me writing posts that had little to no parts of who I was as a writer in it or none at all. At the end of the day, I knew I had to take some time off - it was best for me. I appreciate all the amazing comments and emails I got checking up on me; y'all are the best. I can't wait to start a new 'refreshed' Sweet Mint. With that said, I need some help from you. Sweet Mint has a lot ahead. I can't wait to see how it grows, but I need your help to get it there. Please share this blog around to friends and family who you think might benefit from a little Sweet Mint in their life. Keep updated through our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages too. Sweet Mint loves their fans. Support our Shop.

And on that note, I am offering a discount on my letterheads as a thank-you to all my great fans. All Sweet Mint followers and fans will receive 50% off any order of their custom letterheads with the coupon code: ILOVESWEETMINT until Sunday the 17th at 11:59pm. I hope y'all take advantage of this offer and I can't wait to do business with you. Thank you again for all your help. 

xo, 

Lauren

Apologies!

Hi everyone! I am so sorry for the delay in postings. These past few weeks have been super stressful and I have had a lot on my plate. I have been so swamped with work and I feel so bad for letting y'all down. I never thought it would have to come to this, but I need a little time off. It sounds so silly since this blog is so new, but I need a little time to myself. I love blogging and sharing all about me with all of you, but I need to take some time to work through some personal issues I have going on. As of today, the Sweet Mint store will be on a 'break' as well. I hope you all understand and I hope that Sweet Mint can be back up soon as possible. Thank you for understanding.

xo,

Lauren
Side of Sweet Mint

November Update

Hi y'all. I'm sure you've noticed a few tiny changes around Sweet Mint with the addition of our new "Sweet Mint Shop" and some other changes. I'm super proud of everything that has been accomplished in the little time we've been here, but I'm hoping to expand Sweet Mint. Of course, fan base means everything in the blogging world. I would love to start doing giveaways and contests to get my amazing fan base involved. For that to happen, we need to get more views and loyal followers. Please please please help Sweet Mint out by sending this blog URL to all your friends and people who love a good blog. Sweet Mint means a lot to me and I would love to include y'all more. Please share this link and encourage your followers (if you have a blog) to follow me as well. That way, there more potential for more amazing things on the blog. Thank you so much for everything you've done thus far.

xx,

Side of Sweet Mint