Home - Nora Spaulding

Ten Valentine’s Day Gifts Under $30

February 8, 2017 No Comments

I thought with Valentine’s Day coming up soon it’s the usual thing to share some gift ideas and follow the holidays. Maybe you’ll find these ideas helpful and all under $30 because we may not all have a good Valentine’s Day budget to work with. Plus small gifts are just as special and can sometimes mean even more to me. I hope some of you like these nice Etsy things I picked out and remember it’s nice to shop small and support local businesses and homemade items when you can!

large initial necklace-$29.00 same-day shipping!

‘i love you’ hidden message mug-$19.29

Floral phone case in iphone & andriod-$25+

Map Heart print (husband, wife, girlfriend/boyfriend, fiance etc)– $5.00

Personalized Cutting Board-$25.00+

Spoon set “i belong with you/you belong with me”-$29.99

Handmade Bath Bomb set of 12-$20

Wristlet Wallet-$25

Ceramic Jewelry/Ring Dish– $26

Wine Socks-$14

Who Should You Be Keeping in Your Life?

February 6, 2017 No Comments

Sometimes I need something new on the blog and I don’t often get offers to share guest posts about anything new like health, fitness, or self-care (although I’m writing more of that now). Here I have Alicia from The Happy Hippie, she is an easy-going, happy, healthy person and I wanted to feature her here on the blog. She reached out to me after I asked for guest posts in the Blog & Biz BFFs Facebook Group. I’m excited to see what she has for us today and I hope she becomes a new friend here you all can go follow her and subscribe to her blog.

This quote speaks to me in a lot of different ways. I try to always be the best version of myself that I can possibly be and I try to surround myself with those who bring out that side of me. In my 21 years of life, I have found some amazing people who do just this. I have also found people who have brought out the worst of me, those people are no longer in my life because that is a version of myself I never want to see again. It is so important to take yourself out of toxic situations. How do you know if it is toxic? You might find yourself asking this question right about now.

Stress

This quote brings this word right out in the open. If someone who you think is someone important to you is just constantly stressing you out, they aren’t actually bringing out the best version of you, they are bringing out the stressed version of you.

Negativity

If you are always feeling negative around this person, or as if you are being brought down, leave. No one should ever make you feel bad about yourself. We are all unique human beings who deserve to feel empowered on a daily basis. No one should take this away from you. If they do, walk away.

Feeling the Need to Impress

If you are feeling as though you always need to impress someone, they probably aren’t the right person for you to be spending your time with. You should be able to feel confident in who you are as a person. You are unique, which is something no one can take away from you.

Toxic people can secretly be making your life worse. You should feel confident and empowered around those who are put in your life to bring out the best in you. What does this kind of relationship look like?

Confidence

No matter the relation to someone in your life, you should feel confident around them. You should be able to be yourself. They should love you as much as you love yourself. You shouldn’t feel embarrassed or afraid. You should feel happy and confident.

Empowerment

I have talked about feeling empowered a lot, but what does this actually mean? This word can be taken in a lot of different contexts but I feel as though someone who empowers you, is someone who supports you and has confidence in whatever you are doing. These are some of the most positive people you can be around.

Support

We are going to have bad days. Someone who brings out the best in you is going to support you, be a shoulder to cry on, give you advice, and tell you the truth, even if it is not what you want to hear. These are the people you can depend on!

In a world of billions of people, it can be hard to find your people. But when you are trying to decide whether a person is meant to be in your life, take a look at this post. If they fit into any of the first three categories, they are probably better off not having the honor of being in your presence. But, if they fit into the bottom three, keep them around, they have to be pretty genuine to make such an impact in your life.

And never forget, positive vibes only!

Hello! My name is Alicia and I am so glad to meet you! I am a 21-year-old girl who wants to make the world a better place in any way I can! I am an aspiring teacher who does not go anywhere without her pup Brindle. I love to cook what I think is sophisticated food and binge-watch Bob’s Burgers. To learn more about me and my positive vibes, check out my blog www.the-happy-hippie.com

Thanks for letting me feature you and show everyone about self love and how you can easily “cut the fat” so to speak. I think you have a great blog and we will be fast friends in no time! Until next time!

Bloggy Brunch Week 6

February 5, 2017 No Comments

Can you BELIEVE it’s February already? Holy Cow! It’s kind of insane. This year has just started and is flying by quicker than usual. It’s been a whirlwind month already and as much as I got done it’s still only about 98% of 100. I got my newsletter done but not published yet and I did get my Va services up and published but only did one small job yet. So I’ll be busting my buns for February to be twice as productive as January was and I hope you follow me on my way. #slaygirlslay

INSPIRE THE BEST YOU
10 Ways to keep a Positive Attitude in the Winter
This is a great and very useful post for people with seasonal affective disorder or folks that can’t balance themselves in the cold, dark winter months. A guide in ways to be happier and a healthier you in small ways daily and ways to take advantage of it instead of the dread. Spending time with family and giving yourself lots of self care time will definitely help you. I also love a good snuggle with the dogs and spending time watching my favorite shows.
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My Dogs Think They’re Human…..

February 3, 2017 No Comments

If you feel like I do about my pets then you’ll understand why I wrote this. I love these dogs like our kids because well they are (at least for now). The dogs mean everything to us and after a few years of trying situations with a few dogs, it never worked out for one reason or another. Not enough space, couldn’t potty train after several attempts, and aggression behavior issues- we then found our forever dogs. W technically didn’t adopt them but have in the past and I 100% believe in the “adopt don’t shop” attitude if you can. That’s to say sometimes I don’t think it’s a good fit with little ones and again, dogs who have previous behavioral issues. But we got lucky and they have over time turned into great little dogs.
These are all the reasons they think they’re just like us in one way or another. They push their limits and can be so frustrating but we love them so much. It’s been a fun wild ride- comment below if your dog, cat, or other pet does things like this.
Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter so you never miss a post the first edition should be going out in the next week or so!

My dogs think they’re human because I want to dress them in baby clothes and they don’t mind it. They want to be warm and cozy and I buy them often accessories like hats and scarves. Maggie doesn’t mind it and Bouncer tends to hate it. They have had Christmas sweaters a couple of times and rain jackets when it gets really cold and wet. Usually, they like it when it helps keep them dry and comfortable. I taught them how to “dry off” and wipe themselves and their paws on a towel, so now I just saw the towel and they know to get excited to dry off. It’s very very cute!

My dogs think they’re human because I love to talk to them like actual people. I tend to sometimes have full conversations with them. It might sound pretty weird but I’m truly friends with my pets.
Talking to them makes me feel like they are a part of my family and I treat them that way. Honestly, and I’m not crazy I think they could be reincarnated- maybe not from people I knew but I do often feel my old dog’s spirit when they are near me and look at me the same way she did. It’s uncanny. If you think I’m nuts- then whatever but it’s happened a lot so I know I feel it.

My dogs think they’re human because they sleep in our bed with us! We have a queen-sized bed and they steal the covers. Most nights they kick us in the back and push me completely off in the middle of the night. But I love having them close and cuddling them like kiddos.

My dogs think they’re human because they get baths, not only to keep them clean but the whole process is humanistic. I usually use warm water and lots of soap/bubbles. They get the biggest cushiest towels. They shake and get cuddled after being “wet and tortured” (ya know, it’s the worst thing ever!). I kiss and hug them and make sure they are fully dry-often by using the hairdryer which Bouncer thinks is a game and Maggie just gives in and gets a “fluff”.

My dogs think they’re human because I buy them presents for the holidays and have celebrated their birthdays as well by making them puppy cookies from a recipe I found online. They get stockings at Christmas and we (try, although they hate it) take them places if we go somewhere nearby.

My dogs think they’re human because they get to eat a few human foods. We don’t condone a lot of snacks or treats besides dog ones. The only things they get rarely and by that I mean like 1-2x a month or so. They love eggs which are good for their coats, nails, and eyes. And popcorn, sometimes they get a few morsels from us having some and I don’t think those can hurt them. Not once have they choked or coughed or gotten sick from those things. We don’t give them a lot of meat or ANY bones at all.

My dogs think they’re human because they watch and communicate (bark/growl/tilt heads) at movies and pet shows. It is the most adorable thing you’ve ever seen when a dachshund tilts its’ head. I know they have their own little language and can talk back and forth. I don’t think they always understand it all but they have feelings and an excellent sense of sensing others and that energy. Every year for major holidays or whenever they play the Eukanuba Dog Show, they just have full attention and love it! It’s funny and we all vote on our favorites. Usually, the small dogs/toy group wins our household over.

My dogs think they’re human because they steal pillows and blankets and own whatever couch they may be laying on. It’s theirs and they won’t be moving without making a huge fuss. They have their own set of blankets that I wash and cycle through so they aren’t lying on the same gross hairy smelly blanket. It’s nice when I take it out of the dryer and wrap them up in it. Sleep is imminent. They know what the owl blanket and the pink blanket are, that one has a footie pouch that Bouncer particularly loves to cuddle in the bottom.

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Hi! I'm Nora

I’m a stay-at-home wife & dog-mom. I began this blog ten years ago, I couldn’t ignore that I felt a calling to help people find comfort, a sense of belonging or a place of community whenever they really needed it. » Read more about me here on my About page!