Tag Archives: link up

One Year of #YOLOmondays & the LAUNCH of the Funday Monday Link-Up!

Funday Monday (That’s me on the left and Carly on the right!)

Happy Monday!

I am SO excited because Carly and I have some big news for y’all today: we’ve re-branded and we’re relaunching our weekly Monday link-up!

I can’t believe this is the 52nd week of this weekly link-up! Seriously! AHH! Where has the time gone? I can’t believe that 52 weeks ago I posted this totally embarrassing video announcing the launch of #YOLOmondays. And then the link-up just took off from there!

Then in August, Carly was so awesome to join me as a regular co-host and she’s helped me grow this link-up SO much over the past year. I can’t thank her enough for being such an awesome co-host and such an awesome blog friend.

And then there’s y’all – the ones who link-up to this link-up EVERY single Monday! We have, on average 150+ of you that join us on a weekly basis and we can’t thank you enough! I’ve discovered some AMAZING blogs and met some really great blog friends just through this link-up – and I know y’all have, too. Which is EXACTLY why we do this thing.

But, the truth is, Carly and I felt it was time to take #YOLOmondays in a new direction – make it feel FUN, fresh, and exciting!

So, we present to you:

YAY!!!! How awesome is that?

The Funday Monday link-up is the same kind of awesome, fun, anything-goes kind of link-up that we will host every single week on our blogs. It’s just a chance for you guys to link-up an outfit, a recipe, a DIY project, a craft, some photography, whatever – it can seriously be ANYTHING. We want this to be a place where you guys can have FUN, network with other bloggers, check out other blogs, and support each other.

Who ever said Mondays HAD to be boring and lame? Mondays can be awesome and having a FUN Monday can kick off your week on the right foot.

AND, to personally thank all of you who have stuck with Carly and me over the past year, we’ve got a giveaway JUST for you guys – we’re giving one lucky reader SIX MONTHS of advertising on each of our blogs! YAY!

So, grab a Funday Monday button over there to the right in my sidebar, link-up your FUNDAY MONDAY post below, and enter the giveaway.

Happy Monday, y’all!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

And don’t worry, we will STILL be selecting our favorite posts each week, and working with some of our favorite bloggers as co-hosts. We love the amazing blogs that we have discovered through this party!

Rules for #FundayMonday Link-Ups:

Follow your hosts Molly @ still being [molly] and Carly @ Lipgloss & Crayons
Grab a button and / or post a link back here in your BLOG POST (NOT your blog’s main page) so your readers know what all the #FundayMonday-ness is about. We love you guys linking up and we do go through and read all your posts… so if you do not give credit, we will have to remove your link. That’s no fun, right? Right. So be nice and share a link! Pretty please?
Link your blog post up using the linky tool below! It can be ANYTHING! An outfit post, a giveaway, a story, a recipe, whatever. Why? Cause it’s #FundayMonday!
Visit a blog or four that you’ve never been to before and leave a #FundayMonday comment – you never know, you might “meet” someone new that you will lurve!
Have fun!

Want to cohost #FundayMondays? We are accepting weekly cohosts! Please email us at carlybrydon@gmail.com for more info!

RECIPE: Healthy Turkey and Black Bean Sloppy Joes + #YOLOmondays Link-Up!

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RECIPE: Healthy Turkey and Black Bean Sloppy Joes

This recipe is another one of my “old favorites” that I am surprised I haven’t shared with you yet. Now, I will preface this recipe by saying: I am not a fan of sloppy joes. My feelings about sloppy joes are like my feelings that I had with meatloaf.

Well, I set out to come up with a sloppy joes recipe I actually enjoyed just like I did with the meatloaf.

I found a few recipes around the internet and I played around with a few different ones and this is what I ended up with. And it’s AWESOME. And guilt free.

So, give this SUPER easy and quick recipe a try!

INGREDIENTS:

1.5 pounds of ground turkey breast (93% lean)
1 can of black beans – drained and rinsed
1 can – 6oz. tomato paste
1 can – 6oz. tomato juice (I used the small cans)
1 tsp of minced garlic
1 tsp paprika
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp onion powder
Salt and pepper (to taste)
Whole wheat buns (or whatever bun you prefer)

DIRECTIONS:

Gather all the ingredients.

In a large skillet, cook the ground turkey breast in a little bit of olive oil until cooked all the way through (no pink showing).

Then, in the same skillet, add all the rest of the ingredients until warm and mixed thoroughly.

Toast your buns and BOOM you’re done! It’s seriously THAT easy and SUPER delicious. They make GREAT leftovers, too!

NUTRITION FACTS (approx. WITHOUT the bun):

Calories: 199
Total fat: 7g
Total carbs: 20g
Protein: 17g

RECIPE: Healthy Turkey and Black Bean Sloppy Joes
So, what recipe(s) are you loving lately?
+++

Happy YOLO Monday! Each week, Carly & I will select a few of our favorite posts from the Monday before to feature……it’s a great way to put the spotlight on a few of y’all each week! Please be sure to link up an ACTUAL post, not just a link to your main page.

Obsessed with Polka Dots

Easy Chicken Enchiladas

Floral and Stripes

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Jello Cookies

The Rules for #YOLOMONDAYS Link-Ups:

Follow your hosts Molly @ still being [molly] ,Carly @ Lipgloss & Crayons , and your guest host for the week Chelsea @ Lost In Travels
Grab a button and / or post a link back here in your BLOG POST (NOT your blog’s main page) so your readers know what all the #YOLOMONDAY-ness is about. We love you guys linking up and we do go through and read all your posts… so if you do not give credit, we will have to remove your link. That’s no fun, right? Right. So be nice and share a link! Pretty please?
Link your blog post up using the linky tool below! It can be ANYTHING! An outfit post, a giveaway, a story, a recipe, whatever. Why? Cause it’s #YOLOMONDAYS!
Visit a blog or four that you’ve never been to before and leave a #YOLOMONDAYS comment – you never know, you might “meet” someone new that you will lurve!
Have fun! Cause #YOLO!

Want to cohost #YOLOMONDAYS? We accept weekly cohosts! Please email us at carlybrydon@gmail.com for more info!

A Fitting Memorial Day + #YOLOmondays Link-Up

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My mom, Lynda Van Devanter Buckley – an army nurse in Vietnam from 1969-1970. (left)

Happy Memorial Day!

Now, I’ve mentioned my mama a few times on this blog before. The truth is, I can’t mention her too much – but especially on a day like today.

Today is not only Memorial Day – a day where we honor those brave men and women who gave their lives in serve to our country, but also today would have been my momma’s 66th birthday. And the fact is, although totally explaining how she died is a bit complicated, the fact remains, she died because of her service to our country. The disease she battled for so many years was due to her exposure to chemicals while serving in the Vietnam War – it just happened to take her life 30 years after she returned home.

As much as I’ve mentioned how much my mother meant to me, I have truly done a disservice to her service of this country and all that she did for women veterans.

My mom served as an Army surgical nurse in the Vietnam War from 1969-1970. She was stationed at the 71st Evac Hospital in Pleiku, Vietnam.

In 1983, she wrote a book called Home Before Morning, an autobiography that chronicled her time in Vietnam. It was the first book of it’s kind written by a woman veteran. The book was actually the inspiration for the television series China Beach.

She was the founding executive director of the Women’s Project of the Vietnam Veterans of America from 1979 to 1984 – even testifying before congress on behalf of the over 7,400+ women Vietnam veterans. She continued to fight, until the day she died, for the rights, recognition, and benefits of women veterans.

She was truly a pioneer and someone who just didn’t take no for an answer. She refused to let her illness define her, beat her, or control her.

My mom was truly an American hero – even though if she were here today, she’d just say she was doing her job.

So, on this Memorial Day and what would have been her 66th birthday, I’m honoring my incredibly brave mama.

Happy Birthday, Mom – thank you for serving our country and thank you for being my hero.

Lynda Van Devanter Buckley – May 27th, 1947 – November 15, 2002.

ten-mom1

+++Happy YOLO Monday! Each week, Carly & I select a few of our favorite posts from the Monday before to feature. It’s a great way to put the spotlight on a few of y’all each week! Please be sure to link up an ACTUAL post, not just a link to your main page.

Our favs from last week?

Love Top

Pulled Pork Egg Rolls

Masculine meets Feminine

Stuffed Waffles

The Rules for #YOLOMONDAYS Link-Ups:

Follow your hosts Molly @ still being [molly] ,Carly @ Lipgloss & Crayons , and your guest host for the week LB @ LB in Wonderland
Grab a button and / or post a link back here in your BLOG POST (NOT your blog’s main page) so your readers know what all the #YOLOMONDAY-ness is about. We love you guys linking up and we do go through and read all your posts… so if you do not give credit, we will have to remove your link. That’s no fun, right? Right. So be nice and share a link! Pretty please?
Link your blog post up using the linky tool below! It can be ANYTHING! An outfit post, a giveaway, a story, a recipe, whatever. Why? Cause it’s #YOLOMONDAYS!
Visit a blog or four that you’ve never been to before and leave a #YOLOMONDAYS comment – you never know, you might “meet” someone new that you will lurve!
Have fun! Cause #YOLO!

Want to cohost #YOLOMONDAYS? We are accepting weekly co-hosts! Please email us at carlybrydon@gmail.com for more info!

#RealTalk, a Giveaway, and #YOLOmondays Link-Up!

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maternity style: navy and white ikat maxi dress, white bubble necklace, red toms {{Dress: Ross
{{Belt: Target
{{Shoes: TOMS
{{Necklace: Caroline G. Shop
{{Bracelet: ILYCouture c/o

Okay, it’s time for some Real Talk (or #RealTalk in hashtag speak).

#RealTalk: The dress I’m wearing in this post isn’t even a maternity dress, but it fits like one. And I love it. Boom.

#RealTalk: Golden Double Stuf Oreos are my new favorite cookie. They are so much better than regular Double Stuf oreos.

#RealTalk: I’ve gained too much weight in this pregnancy and I’ve genuinely tried to do what I can to keep it down and not gain too much, but it’s so hard. (This is totally unrelated to my new love of Golden Double Stuf Oreos. I promise.) I’m really trying to eat everything in moderation, but I fight this weird fight of being STARVING one minute and then four bites in to my meal I’m full. I hardly finish what I eat anymore, but I’m still gaining weight. Also, exercise is tough. Those pregnant women you see running races and being all active and stuff? Those women are heroes and I want to be like them, but sadly, I’m not. I’m trying, though!

#RealTalk: While I love my belly right now, I hate my body. I feel like in the last month everything has just grown OUT. My hips, my feet, my arms, my chest, my legs… it’s all growing OUTWARDS. Everything is getting wider. And as someone who has struggled with body image issues her whole life, it’s not helping that people keep asking me if I’m sure I’m not having twins. YES, I AM SURE I AM NOT HAVING TWINS. There is one baby in there. ONE. Like, I know it’s lighthearted but, come on. How am I supposed to take that? Asking a pregnant woman if she is sure she isn’t having twins is basically telling her you think she’s huge.

#RealTalk: Sometimes I want to vent about stuff like this just to vent about it. I’m not really looking for a solution or advice… sometimes I just want to vent.

#RealTalk: The Wendy’s by my house has caffeine free Diet Coke on tap… and it makes me happy. So yes, I go to Wendy’s JUST to get a fountain drink. Sue me.

#RealTalk: My husband got me this purse as a Mother’s Day gift (the one on my wish list!) and I am obsessed with it. Yes, I know it’s kinda weird that a purple purse would make me so happy, but it does.

#RealTalk: I am rewatching the entire series of Arrested Development in preparation for season FOUR coming to Netflix on May 26th. I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am. Most hilarious show ever.

still being molly maternity style: belted floral cardigan, striped shirt, Litva's Jewelry earrings

#RealTalk: I’m super excited to bring you a FABULOUS giveaway from the adorable and oh-so-gorgeous Sandra of Litva’s Jewelry. You’ve seen her on here before as she’s been one of my amazing sponsors for a few months. Well, today’s she’s giving one lucky reader a $40 gift card to her shop! YES! $40!

And considering most of her jewelry is in the $10-$20 range, that’s preeeetty awesome. That’s like two pairs of earrings! Or something.

I have a couple pairs of her chandelier earrings and I absolutely LOVE them (pictured to up and to the right).

So, without further adieu, use the Rafflecopter tool below to enter!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy YOLO Monday! Each week, Carly & I select a few of our favorite posts from the Monday before to feature. It’s a great way to put the spotlight on a few of y’all each week! Please be sure to link up an ACTUAL post, not just a link to your main page.Our favs from last week?

White Jeans Day to Night

BBQ Chicken Salad

Mini Quiches

All About Accessories

The Rules for #YOLOMONDAYS Link-Ups:

Follow your hosts Molly @ still being [molly] ,Carly @ Lipgloss & Crayons , and your guest host for the week Susannah @ Simple Moments Stick
Grab a button and / or post a link back here in your BLOG POST (NOT your blog’s main page) so your readers know what all the #YOLOMONDAY-ness is about. We love you guys linking up and we do go through and read all your posts… so if you do not give credit, we will have to remove your link. That’s no fun, right? Right. So be nice and share a link! Pretty please?
Link your blog post up using the linky tool below! It can be ANYTHING! An outfit post, a giveaway, a story, a recipe, whatever. Why? Cause it’s #YOLOMONDAYS!
Visit a blog or four that you’ve never been to before and leave a #YOLOMONDAYS comment – you never know, you might “meet” someone new that you will lurve!
Have fun! Cause #YOLO!