October 2, 2012

The Power of Blogging

From daily/life planners to Pumpkin Spice Lattes, blogging has truly opened my eyes to so many great products.  I have always prided myself on being someone who can resist peer pressure {to a point} but when it comes to the blogging peer pressure I cave almost every time.  Some of the influences have been good others have been eh.  But I swear if I see one more person blog about Bridier Baubles one more time I'm going to buy a Bota necklace and I don't even like it!  Seriously!  But, some things that I have fallen for include, but are not limited to the following:

Erin Condren Life Planners:  It's no joke that I have a love/hate relationship with this thing.  I got it last year with a Plum District deal, making it half price, after reading so many rave reviews about it.  Upon first glance, I loved this thing!  The tabs!  The labels!  The page marker!  The stickers!  The little pouch!  The free personalized stickers!  All the bells and whistles were just what I "needed" and?  It was so pretty!  I mean it had my name on it!  Fast forward one year later and I barely use the damn thing.  Sure it's nice to have when I do need to use it but a planner from the $1 bin section at Target would serve the same purpose.  Needless to say I'm glad I only paid half-price for it considering that's about as much as I use it.  This year I'll be caving for the latest blogger obsession, May Books.  They're still customize-able but the price and size are totally more budget and mom-friendly.  
The Children's Place PJs:  I've heard one too many blogger talk about the amazing-ness that is the "stretchie" long enough. Last week it got chilly enough to bust out the footies and Kendall was busting out of all her 24 month ones from last winter.  I knew just where I was going this time around, The Children's Place.  I have always been a loyal Carter's sleepwear buyer but I couldn't resist the temptation to try these "amazing" pajamas a moment longer.  I mean have you seen the adorable patterns they come in? The birds? I die!  So Kendall now owns 4 pair {2 stretchies and 2 blanket sleepers} for the fall/winter and I couldn't be happier.  Thank you fellow mom bloggers for showing me the light that is The Children's Place pajama department. We'll never look back, unless you tell me about some other amazing pajama and then I'll probably totally cave and buy those too.
Starbucks:  OK well obviously I can't give bloggers  full credit for this over-priced coffee BUT it's safe to say that when I check Instagram and see one of my "colleagues" with a green and white cup I want one too.  The exception to this rule is the Pumpkin Spice Latte.  I know it's all the rage every September but for me it's just not my cup of tea...err...coffee.  I much prefer the Salted Caramel Mocha or even a Caramel Apple Spice.  My trusty standby is always a Skinny Caramel Macchiato though, love that thing hot or cold.  Does anyone else notice a similarity among all of my drinks?  Caramel.  Yes, please!  And don't even get me started on the girls that are lucky enough to know their barista and get their names written on their cups!  Jealous!  Yeah, I said it. Bust seriously, when I see someone sporting one of these I immediately think of some errand {near a Starbucks} that I "need" to run.
iPhone Cases:  I had my eye on a new iPhone case for months.  I knew I wanted a monogrammed one but I could not justify any of the price tags I was seeing.  I mean $50-60 for a case that's going to get dropped, thrown by a toddler, you name it, it's just not in the cards for me. I had my eye on Simply Monogram for a short period of time, even "hearted" them on Etsy but couldn't commit because I just didn't know how the quality would be.  Well thanks to the gorgeous Whitney for reviewing her Simply Monogram cover and raving about its awesome-ness I was finally convinced and able to order mine with confidence.  I can now attest to it's durability.  I love this case and even better is that I love it's price tag! For $16 you can even customize your own design {business logos anyone?}.  Love it and if it weren't for blogging I would never have such a cute cover to tell you all about.
Alcohol:  I'm going to say it, the blogging world is full of alcoholics.  I am one of them so I can say that.  I am thankful for my fellow adult beverage lovers though because without which I wouldn't know about a lot of tasty drinks.  Lindsey reviewed the Mich Ultra this summer and it sounded so refreshing and delicious and mmm...mmm...good I just had to try it.  It is just as good as you imagine although now that it's fall I'd recommend an Octoberfest.  Just sayn'.  Then, I believe it was Jenn who introduced me to Cupcake Red Velvet wine.  I don't know that it's necessarily that it tastes like red velvet cake but it does taste delicious!  If you don't like red wine I suggest starting with this because it's still a little on the sweet side.  And, let's not forget about the Instagram famous Lime-a-Rita.  I'm pretty sure, it's safe to say, that every blogger {who wasn't pregnant} posted a picture of this this summer.  Normally Jimmy wouldn't let me pay $12 for Bud Light products but somehow I convinced him that this was a worthwhile investment and I think he liked it too. I think.  Anywho, I liked it and I think 2 did me in for the afternoon.  The cans are small but they pack a big punch! AP even suggested drinking it with some tonic and I think that just might be the key ingredient.  Yum-bo!
So, yeah. Blogging is awesome.  Blogging single-handedly stimulates the economy, I am sure of it.  If it weren't for some of my BBFF's sharing their latest and greatest toy discovery, one that will occupy my two-year-old for longer than 4.7 seconds or sharing a great new must-read book {ahem...Fifty Shades...cough...cough} I would be in the dark.  That is until they talked about it on The Today Show.  But seriously don't you sometimes see things on TV and/or in your every day life and think "OMG I knew about that months ago because so-and-so blogger talked about it.  That is so two weeks ago!"?  No?  Just me?  I digress.  Blogging is awesome and has introduced me to so many wonderful things {yay! wine!} and, for that, I am thankful.

21 comments:

  1. Hahaha oh yes! I can totally relate to almost all of these. I am right there with you on the Life Planner. I dont use mine at all and thing is so heavy. I feel like I am carrying around my high school year book. Totally not mom friendly. I will also be purchasing a May Book...I mean how can I not?!!!

    Happy Tuesday lady :)

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  2. You are so right! I try very hard not to fall to peer pressure, but there have been several things that I have purchased because my "blog" friends have loved it. Some have been great, others not so, but at least I've tried these things, right?!?

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  3. Love this. While I don't blog very often, I follow many great blogs and instagram...and I can certainly agree!
    Also, I caved to the Erin Condren planner...didn't even have a coupon...and it sits in my desk drawer. :-( I REALLY wanted to like it. I love the colors and customization...it is just too bulky to carry around. So I am using a pink Finsbury Filofax with Kate Spade pages. I plan on buying a may notebook though, after seeing this post. See??

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  4. I blame all of my shopping, drinking and always spending on reading blogs lol!! The only thing I have not used that I bout was the Erin Condren planner....I may have picked it up twice...FAIL!!

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  5. I thought the same thing too about those lime a ritas packing a punch. I was buzzed after one can. LOL

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  6. OMG So true!
    And yes I JUST gave a May Book as a gift, omg it's amazing. I'm so jealous... I mean I think I am. It's kind of back to the whole 'couldn't I have gotten this for $1 at Target' but it's HAND SEWN! and custom and... yeah. Let me go have another sip of my PSL ;)

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  7. Oh I can't wait to buy one of those May Books, I love my Erin Condren planner but like you, I bought it half price with that Plum District deal. I couldn't imagine paying full price for that bad boy.

    And this was my favorite booze discovery this summer. It is absolutely amazing but definitely packs a punch.
    http://www.peasandcrayons.com/2012/03/whats-my-age-again.html

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  8. HAHA. I have a post written up just like this.. from PSLs to chambray to life planners to colored skinny jeans. How did I EVER live without blogging? Love it!!

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  9. Ohhh she needs to do an iPhone 5 case - I would be *all* over that shit! I love my EC planner - but have you seen MayBooks (I'm sure you have on the blogosphere)... I am thinking of trying for 2013 since they're a lot smaller!!

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  10. Oh, and you should add Peace tees to your list ;)

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  11. Totally agree... And I think you should walk over with your alcohol addiction and have a few drunks:)

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  12. I just ordered a monogrammed phone case from simply monogrammed because of this post.

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  13. So true Shannon! I love my $12 Target planner and can't imagine dropping $50 on EC. But I have been eyeing those MayBooks for a few months - but how do I choose between all those cute patterns and colors? I'm def more of a Salted Caramel Mocha than the PSL too. Happy Fall to you and KP!

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  14. I agree! I have come across so many fab women talking about fab products that I must have. You included! Thanks for keeping me fabulous specifically with clothes this fall. You closets posts are helping remind me of all the things I can do with what I have- thanks girl! Now I must go to Starbucks.

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  15. LOL... so true. I see things all the time and say "Oh, so and so blogged about that!" and I have been caught many times saying to my friends or mom "Did you see "xyz" on so and so's blog! I have to try it!" It's awesome. I have such broader horizons because of the bloggy world.

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  16. OMG!! I love this post! Blogging is addictive and very convincing. I am a any kind of caramel drink at Starbucks kind of girl too. I pass one everyday and when its not my week to drive I slowly die inside when we can't stop. And those Lime-A-Rita's... ha, we will just say 3 hours and a whole case for this girl just wasn't enough. Nope, I went searching in my brothers cooler too. I promise I am not an alcholoic, those drinks are just that good on a hot summer afternoon on the river.

    I love visiting your blog. So fun.

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  17. Definitely checking out the cell phone cover site and I am definitely trying that red velvet cake wine.... gulp gulp

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  18. I totally agree. This blogging community has brought to light so many awesome products to me! :) One of the many reasons that I love this community! :)

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  19. this community is so crazy awesome. i've actually stayed away from most of these trends. my planner is still the momagenda (remember that blog rage from a few years ago??) and my kid is a loyal CP stretchie wearer but i think that's it off this list. i did give into colored denim, the curl down, most books bloggers rave about, and a few others. i think it's so funny when i see some of these things out and about (currently bubble necklaces) and my first thought is "i wonder if they have a blog?!?". crazy world ;)

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  20. Love the iphone case recommendation! I have been eyeing these too and now I
    will be giving into the Bloggy peer pressure.

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  21. guilty of this and so many more! I will say, I have the May Books and it is perfect. Not a lot of bells and whistles but i dont need all that stuff.

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