So, I am not Oprah but I have a few favorite things I would like to share...

So I finally did something on my list!!!! Yeah very exciting. I went kayaking and it was amazing just like I remembered…and of course I was thinking why don’t I do this more often. My friend Sarah went with me and she had never been before so of course it made it even more fun and we took a double kayak, which is always an adventure. It was so incredibly peaceful and tranquil. We did go at ten in the morning before there was a ton of people and it was a perfect Texas spring morning. So, go and do it!!!

I don’t think I am Oprah or anything like that. But, I do have a few things that I would love to share with ya’ll. A lot of people ask me different things like where do I find all these good deals or music or my hair products (surprisingly that happens a lot). So I thought I would make a blog of them.


Deals and Steals
We all know how crazy the economy is and we are all looking for the best deals. I pride myself in being the queen of finding steals or the best offers. A few of the websites that give me those tips or deals.

1. www.couponcravings.com- it’s a blog and if you sign-up to get emails you will get an email from her everyday with all the best deals on groceries, free stuff being offered, and just about anything where there is a deal. I promise you will not regret signing up for this.

2. www.groupon.com - I have gotten so many deals and if you sign-up and get your friends to sign-up and use you as a reference you will get a $10 certificate to use on your next purchase. They also do a daily email.

3. www.livingsocial.com - Again just like groupon but offers slightly different stuff but equally is good.

4. If you live in Austin, TX get a golocal card. You can buy them wherever you see go local. Check out their website www.thegolocalcard.com

5. And for hotels I use www.hotwire.com the only thing with it is like priceline you can’t see the hotel name until after you buy it but trust me if you go with a 3-4 star hotel you won’t go wrong. I have gotten some amazing deals on there.

6. Also, if you think those membership cards at local stores are not worth it I am going to have to argue with you. For sure if you at all like the movies get the Regal card. I get free movie tickets and concessions all the time. Also with Borders books you get great coupons weekly and I love books. They now also offer free wifi. So check it out.


Amazing Non-Profits who are changing the world!!

1. I have to plug a few organizations that are doing some amazing work to help our world. One is called Music for The City. I am really partial to this one as my friends are the ones who created it. But, check out this video:
http://vimeo.com/11561817 and go to www.musicforthecity.org


2. The next ones have to do with trafficking of humans, which gets my blood boiling. These two organizations are doing amazing things to help put a stop to this horrific crime. I happen to have met the founder of the not for sale campaign in Africa this summer. He sat around and told us stories that broke my heart. I just want there to be more awareness of what is going on with this. So, please check both of them out because both are truly amazing.

http://www.sctnow.org/


http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/


3. And the last but not least organization is the March of Dimes. They do so much for helping newborns especially ones who are born with complications. I have gotten to see first hand how they help when one of my friends babies was born early just last month. It is truly amazing. So please support them. www.marchofdimes.com



Music and musicians that I adore quite simply!

Hey if you have made it this far I greatly appreciate it! So, music… here are five local Austin bands/singer/songwriters that I think everyone should know about. Okay so they also happen to be my friends…but seriously they are incredibly talented and Austin is truly blessed to have them here.

1. Betty Soo…simply put fun and amazing lyrics…and fantastic voice. Check her out at www.bettysoo.com! Go see her live you will love her!

2. Miranda Dodson…incredible voice and songwriter and about to have a CD release party on June 11th at Stubbs in Austin. She is at www.mirandadodson.com

3. Jordan Whitmore…sweet sound that you will love! http://www.myspace.com/jordanwhitmoremusic

4. Trees of Lyres- again amazing…they are cute married duo that I really like. You just gotta find them on facebook.

5. Alpha Rev- they are getting to be big time and don’t really need me top plug them…but check them at http://alpharev.com/index2.php


Other blogs and websites you should check out for other amazing things that can enrich your life and…

1. My friend and pastor Jonathan Dodson has a great blog…. www.jonathandodson.org

It will challenge you and just simply want you to be living and exploring what the gospel means in your life.

2. Jonathan Dodson’s wife and my friend is incredibly talented and has great store on Etsy (and if you don’t know what Etsy is go on it! www.etsy.com) She designs clothes and its so fun- you might even see me modeling a few dresses. http://www.etsy.com/shop/Parsimony

3. My friend DeeDee does a blog and its awesome…http://www.adoredaustin.com

4.My friend Shawnda also does a blog. She is my hero and inspiration…because I really want to adopt one day and she and her husband have such a true Godly heart for adoption and it inspires me. I also happen to be in Uganda at the same time she was adopting the latest addition to the Kovac family. It was incredible and really special. Check her out at www.james127.blogspot.com and see what adoption is all about.

5. The amazing church I go is also one to check out... www.austincitylife.org


I hope you have enjoyed my top favorite things! Seriously, I love giving shout outs to people, places, and things I believe in.

Finally, I am going to Alaskan cruise this summer with my mom and I can’t wait to come and share about that.

But, if you are in Texas and looking for a sweet short trip- go to Fort Worth and check out the amazing museums and the zoo. Texas Cowgirl museum is awesome and so is the Modern Art Museum. And you can check out Groupon and Living Social to see if there are any great deals happening there when you want to go.


PS. I use Pantene pomade on my hair…amazing and sometimes Garnier surf hair. They are cheap and awesome!