hello there december

After reading my awesome pal Katie's blog and her super fantastic idea of making her own advent calendar for her son, I decided to make one for me too! A little daunting, but after tons of searching for ideas, I came up with my very own. Best part? It's super easy too!
So here's tomorrow's to do:

december 1: hang up my Christmas wreath

december 2: make my gift list

Wanna make your own?
Here are the steps in how I got mine together:
materials:
-construction paper (i used red, green and white...original, right?)
-scissors
-markers (i used black, red and green)
-a clip board
-a binder clip
-my list of 25 things to do before Christmas

steps:
1-make your list of 25 things you wanna do before Christmas!
2- cut up sheets of paper. I split 1 sheet into 3 slips. do this for all your colors until you get a total of 50 slips
3- sort them out and label them (half get numbers 1-25) the other half gets the "to-do's"
4- i put a light green sheet of paper under the slips and over the clip board. (this way I don't have to paint the clip board, but the ugly brown doesn't show through. another note: i tried to make sure that since i used a light green under sheet i used dark green for the slips)
5- clip the numbers on top and using the binder clip, clip the to-dos on the bottom.

that simple :)

Oh.....and my list of 25 things?
You'll have to come back tomorrow for the other 23 things :)

lovelove,
kellie

calling into a business 101

I know it might come off as silly, but sometimes when people call into our law office I have to fight the urge to say what I really want to say. (Sounds horrible right?) The truth is (and I'm not bragging, I swear) but I feel I have a good amount of patience, so when clients (or hopeful to be clients) call in, it takes a lot for me to start to get pissy, but it happens. A lot.
I feel like there should be a 101 in calling a business and what proper etiquette is before they even pick up the phone to dial.
The rules would be something like this:

1-When calling, please know WHO you are trying to reach.
It sounds strange, but soooo many times people seem to have forgotten the name of the attorney they want to speak with (or have dealt with). While I understand a quick loss for the name, a pause the length of the movie Titanic is just awkward for us both.
Tips: have their card handy, so you have something to look at for those brief (or not so brief) brain farts. Or, try rehearsing in your mind what you want to say before you call, hey, I do it.

2-Remeber WHO you are talking to.
The wording is close to #1, but this item is very different! So many times when clients call in they are angry at the attorney or the opposing counsel or maybe even a secretary that didn't call back when she said she would. I get it, you're frustrated and because you're unable to talk to the person you happen to be mad at, you lash out at whoever answers the call. I get it, but I hate it. Many times the receptionist (like me!) or the secretaries have nothing to do with what's making you mad. Honestly, we are trying to help you out and get with the attornetys to help you, but sometimes it's just not possible to do in your timeframe. (No I'm not saying this is all your fault and you should just get over your anger). I understand your anger, I would be too. What I don't like is that you take it out on me or my co-workers. I'm human just like you and believe it or not, when you yell at me and tell me you think I suck at my job, I get my feelings hurt. So please, remember who it is you are talking to. However, if the person on the phone is being a complete jerk, your rudeness seems a bit justified.....just make sure their rudeness wasn't caused by you calling them a *$(&#$ or a @$#@#$
Tip: Don't call angry. It will end up only pissing off everyone and trust me, if someone's mad at you, they don't exactly want to jump to help you right away.

3-Don't belittle the staff.
Big surprise, but we don't actually like being called names. this goes hand in hand with #2, so please just calm down and don't call angry. Save your words for when no one is listening.
*Side note, even if the receptionist is only 23, please do NOT call her a little girl. Believe it or not, that is a bit demeaning.


Stay tuned for more don't and tips! :)
xo,
kel

5 loves on monday

another monday = another list of loves (and the start of a new holiday season!)

1. Christmas decorating.

I haven't started yet at my place, but I'm hoping to this week. (Last night I helped the bf hang some lights at his place....and by helped I mean I sometimes handed him the hammer and tried to hold the chair steady for him...but mostly I was busy rearranging....I'm so add sometimes). I lovelovelove this time of year!

(both photos found at weheartit.com)

2. this book

I read the first of the series and loved it. I finished the second one (shown below) this past holiday weekend. Each one keeps getting better. I cannot wait to read the third. And hopefully the fourth will one day be finished and published. *crosses fingers*

3. handmade gift ideas.

My parents and I watched HGTV's special this weekend (my poor, poor stepdad) and it has some amazing ideas for handmade gifts. They are either diy ideas or they link you to the etsy store that makes them. Best show ever!

And here is the link, so you ca see for yourself!

4. red dresses

perfect for the upcoming holiday season

found via modcloth.com

found here

found here

found here

5. these gals, this show, and their clothes!

The girls with Glasses...also can be seen here.


happy monday!

xoxo

kellz

happy thanksgiving day!

Happy turkey day!

Thanksgiving has always been a special holiday to me. Not only is there always tons of food (and let's face it, I'm a total food lover) it's also the only holiday in which my family travels to be together. It also use to be my dad's favorite holiday.

Although this year, my mom, step-dad, and I are staying in town. But luckily, we're also being joined by my roommate and his parents (and their adorable dog) this turkey day. :) While I'm kinda sad I don't get to travel to Pensacola and see our awesome friends, I am glad that I'll get to spend the holidays here with people that I love.

And of course I'll also get to eat until I explode. :)
And enjoy a few more extra days off!

But of course the real meaning these days behind this holiday is to be thankful. I feel like this is something we tend to forget in the rushing of the end of the year. We start putting up Christmas decorations as soon as we put our Halloween costumes away and all of a sudden, Thanksgiving is lost. It's no longer a holiday we cherish, but a forgotten holiday that happens to take place the day before Black Friday. I think Thanksgiving is actually the perfect pre-holiday to Christmas. It should get us in the thankful mood, so that when December comes lurking we can feel more focused and centered on what this time of year is actually all about.

So whether or not you're American or even celebrate this holiday, I think trying to take time out to refocus and be thankful is important. If nothing else, it will help give you balance when the holiday rush starts and you start to feel stressed. (Just my opinion).

I'm thankful for....

What are you thankful for???

PS.

A giant thank you to all my blog readers. I hope yall know how much I really do appreciate each and every one of you. :)

happy holidays

love,

kellie

Calling all Canadian pen pals

Fun little pen pal update.....ready for it???

I'm creating a new group!

There have been a lot of gals from Canada signing up and not all have wanted to take part in international (yes, the price of stamps can be pricey) so I decided (thanks to the help of a fellow pen paler) to create a new group, just for my Canadian pen pals! So now there are three (yup, 3!!!) lists to choose from: USA national (USA residents only), Canada national (Canadian residents only), and International (all countries).

**EDIT**

Price of stamps:

USA: (state to state is 44 cents)

USA to another country (98 cents)
I'm not sure about another country to another country, but feel free to share if you have those rates.

So if you're interested, email me! I'm currently putting together yet another list (although i guess I'm always putting together another list...I lovelovelove pen pals)!

*********************

And now that I've shared my fun news, I want to share some awesome news about one of my favorite blogger and pen pal friends! Miss Rikki Cupcake is now a MRS!!!! Congrats Rikki and Timmy!

Go share your congrats with the happy new couple on her blog! :)

xoxo

kel

be still my heart (an amazing giveaway)

This may be the sweetest thing ever.

Chronicle Books is having a giant giveaway and you can enter to win. Here's how:

1. Post a list of Chronicle Books valued at up to $500 on your blog that you'd like to win.
2. Fill out the form on via this link and you'll be entered to win.
3. If you win, one of your lucky readers who commented will win too!!!
So leave a comment in this post if you enter (so you have another shot) and you can also leave a comment on Jamie's blog (which is where I found out about this lovely giveaway) for yet another shot to win! Good luck loves!


*My list of books (perfect for me, gift for my loved ones for the holidays and to fill my lovely one-day classroom!!):

Now, go check out their site, enter and come back here to enter again! :)

-kellie