Friday Favorites! LINK-UP!!!!

You may have noticed I was MIA last Friday, which means Friday Faves was a no-go. I was sick with a cold and it's still lingering, but I think I'm going to pull through.  

Soooo .... exciting news today! Several of you commented that you wanted Friday Faves to be link-up, so your wish is my command.  I created a button, which you can grab below and link-up with me today for Friday Faves.  Let's spread the faves!  

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So flattered! On Monday I was featured on a local blog called The Dallas Socials! If you live in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, you should follow this blog. Betsy, the beauty and brains behind the blog, posts daily about whats going on around town – from events, to freebies, to shopping, to fun stuff in the burbs. Check it out.  

I can't make this stuff up and yes, this happened in real life in front of my very eyes.  So last Friday night I made the mistake of running into Wal-Mart to grab a few things.  "Wal-Mart" + "Friday Night" are two words that should not go together in the same sentence. This I know.  
Anywho - I'm checking out and about to go on my merry way when a man with a brown paper bag on his head walks by me and heads for the McDonald's at the front of the store.  Anyone who knows me IRL knows my phone is in my hands at all times, which comes in handy for moments like this.  My intent was just to snap a pic of this dude walking with a bag on his head, but things quickly escalated.
Next thing I know, he is stumbling backwards and falls to the ground. I'm pretty sure I had one hand over my mouth and the other still snapping pics.  I thought this was some freak under the influence of the sweet nectar and security would be over at any moment to escort him out.  That didn't happen.  Paper bag man just quickly popped back up and just walked right of out of Wal-Mart like what I just saw didn't even happen.  I felt like I was in the Twilight zone. Don't go to Wal-mart on a Friday night is the moral of this story. 

The Bianca Tassel

If you saw this beauty in person you would die.  I had to have it and now it's on it's way to me! Yipee.

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Found these instructions on how to make bacon in the oven at the blog Mom & Wife and have been cooking bacon like this for the past month. Legit, the easiest and best way to make bacon IMHO.  You just put the bacon on a foil covered pan, put the pan in cold oven, turn to 400 degrees and bake for 20 minutes. While the bacon is baking you get to make the rest of your breakfast!  Life changing.  

Excuse me, sir.  Not liking my TV choices?

Poor guy got neutered and had to wear this cone when alone! ha.

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Remember Alana, the Honey Boo BooChild break-out star from last season of Toddlers & Tiaras?  I posted about her here.  Yesterday it was announced that home girl is getting her own spin-off show on TLC!  I swear, this made my week.  If trashy reality TV is wrong, I don't want to be right. 

K, now it's your turn! Link-up bishes! What are you favorites from the week?

Oopsies. I forgot to tell y'all I had a BLATE.

I really don't like the word "blate" (blogger + date = blate) for some reason.  It rubs me the wrong way, but I can't think of a better word, so blate it is.  

I don't know how I forgot to blog this epic event, but better late than never, right?  Caroline from Shades of Gray and I met exactly 2 weeks ago.  As many of you may know, Caroline and the hair poof queen PinkLouLou are real life besties.  

About a year ago all three of us have bonded over our in-a-prope humor, undying love for wine and affinity for trashy TV.  Well, Carol and I more so with the trashy TV.  Anywho, Caroline was in Dallas for a work conference and we got to meet up for some drinks before she flew back to Kentucky.  It was a blast and I wish we had more time to spend together.  More so I wish PLL could have flown down here too, but we all three will unite before this year is over and that's a promise.  

I made her do the "rawr"

Oh wait, PLL was there!

Sike.  I wish!  But we did send her this pic of us making "PLL" out with our hands.  She was there in spirit.

Oh and how sweet was Carol to bring me loot from Kentucky?  The famous Bluegrass Winners Cookbook, Maker's Mark Gourmet Sauce and this fancy schmancy Maker's Mark Shot Glass.  Love it all and loved our "blate"!

My Blogging Tips: Take 'em or Leave 'em

As I promised in Part 2 of "Getting to Know the Bargain Blonde" aka longest post ever, here are my answers to your blogging questions.  Again, sorry they are so long!  Clearly I like to hear myself talk.

B said, "Love your blog! Any tips on starting one up?"

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First of all, thank you so much! I'm always overwhelmed by all the love I get from my readers. XOXO

When I started my blog, I obviously had no clue what I was doing. For the first 4 months I didn't even have the "follow me" Blogger app on my page. Needless to say, I was blogger challenged in a bad way. However, slowly, but surely, I've picked up on the blogger game. Here are three tips I'd give a blogging virgin:

• Give serious thought when choosing a blog name. Knowing what I know now, I would have never gone with the name "the Bargain Blonde" because there are SO many blog names with the word "blonde" in it. Color me stupid, but I had no idea. I legit thought I was being super clever when I came up with this blog name. I should have researched the blog-o-sphere to see what was out there first.
• Be prepared for the commitment. Blogging requires a lot of time; It's not just about writing a post. You have to write, edit, take pictures, upload pictures, edit pictures, comment on other blogs, respond to e-mails, etc. If you aren't willing to put in the time or don't have the time, I wouldn't recommend starting one. I really think of blogging like a second job.
• Be you. Don't start a blog trying to be anyone but you. Write with YOUR voice and write about things that you are passionate about. I don't think you have to have a "theme" to your blog, but you definitely need some direction. I've always been a bargain shopper, so it's easy for me to come up with content. I truly love blogging and if I could make a living blogging, I'd quit my job in a second.

Katie H asked, "Do you blog/read blogs at work? How do you keep from spending hours on end trying to keep up with every one's? When you first started, did you ever feel like starting a blog is kind of like trying to sit at the popular table at lunch in high school?"

I will read blogs when I have down time at work, but I like to do most of my blogging and reading after work. Typically I'll have blogger open while I watch my TV shows at night.

As for your second question, I wish I knew. I feel like I can never catch up. I try my best to stay caught up, but it really feels like an uphill battle.

I don't think I felt like I was trying to sit at the popular table, but I totally see what you mean. I never started this blog trying to be a "popular" blog. I started it because I stumbled across Helen H (formerly "Life as a Wife") and loved it so much I thought, "Hey! I could totally do this." I seriously was so excited when I hit 12 followers, and when I hit my 50th (Raven) this February, I couldn't believe it. How in a few short months I went from 50 to almost 750 followers is confusing to me. I really don't understand it. My goal was to hit 100 followers by the end of this year and I didn't think I was going to be able to do it. I guess I underestimated myself.

Chelsea asked, "Someone asked something similar to this but what's your blogging schedule? When do you write your posts, when do you read other blogs/comment, etc.?

and

"Have you noticed any particular source for where you get your readers? Social media, links to you from other blogs, etc.?"

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When I think of a blog topic idea, I write it down or else I'll forget it. In August I started using a monthly calendar I bought at The Dollar Store to plan and keep track of my posts. On it I try to plan out my posts for the week, but I don't write them until the night before. I always write in pencil because I change my mind constantly. I never blog on the weekend, so I try my hardest to post Monday to Friday. That rarely happens, so I generally end up blogging 3 ot 4 times a week.

I think my readers tend to come from being listed on my besties blog rolls. When I first started out, I participated in "What I'm Loving Wednesday". I think link-ups in moderation when you are first starting out are a great way to get your blog url out there. However, I don't really care for blogs that ONLY do link-ups. I get they are easy to do, but in my opinion, you need original content as well.


There you have it; Blogging 101 with the Bargain Blonde.  Hopefully this helps a little.  Leave your tips in the comments if I left any important info out, which I'm sure I did. 

p.s. Tomorrow Raven and I have a fun announcement!