It's Good to be Home!

Over the past three weeks, I have been on physical and mental overload! I'm just now feeling like I can relax enough to blog again, and assume a normal breathing pattern.

I know I've talked about how excited I was to be planning commencement at my university this spring, and while it was wonderful, it was also a WHOLE LOT OF WORK! More work, stress and pressure than I could have ever imagined!

Last weekend, myself, my graduation team, nearly 100 student marshals, along with tons of faculty and staff helped over 2,000 students walk across the stage to receive their diplomas! What an amazing feeling!

I have never been more proud than when I watched 400 students file out of the arena as I finished directing my 6th graduation ceremony in three days! Talk about a marathon weekend!

Here are just a few of my favorite commencement moments:

Receiving a little bribe gift from the College of Business!

Getting the stage ready for our first ceremony of the weekend!

After the most beautiful entrance from the College of Health Sciences!
Seriously, it was gorgeous!

My view during the final ceremony on Sunday evening!

So many people!
 

My first commencement weekend was a test of my mental and physical strength, as well as my sanity. That's why this weekend, I'm back at home with my family, enjoying their company and some relaxation.

It feels so good to be home, and posting again on Sweet Like a Song! 

Though graduation may be over, I'll never forget what our Chancellor, Dr. Kenneth Peacock said to me on Saturday morning when I introduced myself to him:

Me: "Hi, I'm Melody..."

His response: "I know exactly who you are. You're Melody Miller. You graduated from Appalachian one year ago, and you're directing this whole thing." 

I swear I was beaming from ear to ear. What a wonderful event weekend!

Until next year!

As always, Have a Sweet Day!

Very Jane Product Review!

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by a representative from Very Jane.com.  If you haven't heard of Very Jane, it's a website that features new handmade and boutique style items every day, and at really great prices!

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Very Jane normally runs 10-15 new deals per day, that you're able to order for three days, or until the item sells out completely. Upon ordering, the item ships directly from the seller to your doorstep.

When I was asked to review something, I went straight to Very Jane's Facebook page to see what type of items they had to offer. The only problem, I loved so many of their products! They sell items that so many of us bloggers talk about every day! 

Here are a few Very Jane products that I loved:

The standard bauble necklace!

This black and white chevron maxi dress!

My favorite item, and the product I was lucky enough to review was the 3-letter, 12-inch wooden monogram!

A wooden monogram is the perfect way to personalize any empty space. I bought my first one to use as a wreath on my front door, and love it so much! I knew that the 12-inch version from Very Jane would be the perfect addition to my office space!

My Very Jane monogram arrived at my doorstep, perfectly packaged and ready to be personalized! 

I painted my first wooden monogram pink and green, but I wanted to do something a little different 

with this one! 

After much thought, and getting opinions from everyone else at work, I've decided not just to paint this monogram, but to bedazzle it! Though this is going to take much longer than simply painting the whole thing, it will add the perfect touch of sparkle to my office at work!

First, I painted on a base coat.

Once the paint dried, I was able to cover the whole thing with multi-colored gems!

I love how it turned out!

I feel so lucky to have been contacted by Very Jane, and gotten to review one of their products. Their fabulous customer service and selection of items that I love will definitely keep me returning as a customer!

If you've never heard of Very Jane, make sure to check out their website! There's always something I love at a great price!

*Though I was asked to review this product, the thoughts above are 100% my own.

As always, Have a Sweet Day!

Making Life Happen

Here I am, one week away from directing my first commencement at Appalachian State University, and I've never been more excited, nervous, anxious, or scared in my entire life. 

The past two months have been an absolute whirlwind, but I consider myself so lucky to have experienced every piece of commencement from beginning to end. 

Often times, I'll see people that I met as a student at Appalachian, and they ask me how I like my job. I don't know if it's the look on their faces as they wait for my response or the tone in their voice, that makes me feel like they expect me to say that I'm not happy, but they are so wrong. 

I am in love with my job. 

I wanted to plan events, so I got took a job where I get to plan one of the biggest events that Appalachian has each and every year. 

I can't help but get emotional every time I think of this process coming to an end. Just like my 10K race two weeks ago, I am about to accomplish something that I never thought I could, that I have worked so hard for, and for so long. 

I can already sense the tears that will come as soon as I give my cue for the first ceremony to start, for the brass ensemble to begin playing Pomp and Circumstance for the first time, and for the first set of graduates to walk by me with only their dreams in mind. 

Little do they know, they'll be passing someone with dreams on her mind as well.

There are so many things I want to do, places I want to go, and things I want to see in my lifetime. Getting through the planning of seven graduation ceremonies this spring has shown me that I can do absolutely anything that I set my mind to. 

I am so unbelievably thankful for everyone who has supported me throughout this amazing adventure, during the days that I was so happy, and those that I wanted to give up and turn back in the other direction. I seriously couldn't have done it without you.

When I graduated from college a year ago, I worried about what I was leaving behind in Boone, North Carolina. Now, I don't have to worry. I am able to show my love for Appalachian in each step that I take on a daily basis. 

Congratulations Class of 2013! We did it! 

As always, Have a Sweet Day!

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter Review!

A few weeks ago, before being a bridesmaid in my cousin Courtney's wedding, I ran into Target to pick up a few items. Just like any other trip, I left with a cart full of things I hadn't originally planned for, including a tube of Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter!

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While picking out this new lip product, I knew I wanted something that would bring shine and life to my lips, especially since we were about to have tons of pictures taken for the wedding. I looked through the various shades, and decided on Sweet Tart because it was dark enough to see, but light enough to still have that super fun look!

What a great choice!

I love the Sweet Tart color, but more than that, I love this product! It stays on, it gives life to my lips, and it doesn't feel dry or cakey like old school lipstick! It goes on just like its name, like butter.

Here I am wearing it while playing with Paisley the other day!
It turns out that another familiar face uses the exact same shade! Here's Ashley from Ashley Brooke Designs sporting her Sweet Tart Revlon Lip Butter in a blog post last week!

 View the original post here

With my fabulous Sweet Tart experience, I will definitely be buying more of this product! Next, I'd like to try Lollipop or Raspberry Pie! These cost just over $6.00 per tube, and are probably available at most stores that sell cosmetics, though I purchased mine at Target.

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If you've been looking for a new lip color lately, this is the one to try!

As always, Have a Sweet Day!

Running My First 10K!

I'm still in complete disbelief that I ran my first 10K on Saturday!

I had goosebumps the whole time because I couldn't believe I was truly running six miles right beside the Oak Island Lighthouse in Oak Island, North Carolina!

Though I'd been trying my best to follow Hal Higdon's 10K training schedule, craziness at work had made that a little more difficult than usual. For my last week of training (week 8), I decided to take it easy in the beginning of the week, so I could rest up for Saturday.

Monday: Ran 3 miles on the treadmill/weights & abs + personal training for one hour

Tuesday: Ran 4 miles outside

Wednesday & Thursday: Rest Days

Friday: Travel day

Saturday: 10K at 8:10AM!

I am so so lucky to have parents that would make this trip to Oak Island with me. We had the best time visiting this new place. It felt like we were on a mini vacation!

We arrived Friday evening around 5PM, and right after checking into our hotel, headed to the Chamber Welcome & Conference Center in Southport to pick up my race packet. This included my racing bib, t-shirt and a few other things from the race sponsors. Everyone there was so nice, and it made me super excited to run the next day!

For dinner on Friday, we threw around a couple ideas, but decided to try a local favorite, The Provisions Co. in Southport. I had been there years ago, but it was my parents first time going.

We enjoyed steamed shrimp, delicious crab cakes, homemade onion rings, and a hamburger fresh off the grill, while taking in the beautiful views (since Provisions is right on the water)!

 

After dinner, we'd saved just enough room for some ice cream at Flava's, the ice cream and t-shirt shop just across the street. It was the perfect ending to a wonderful evening.

We woke up bright and early Saturday morning to get ready for the race! Since it started at 8:10, and we wanted to get there early (something we learned from my first 5K experience,) I ended up setting my alarm for 5AM! Seriously, so early!

I loved my outfit for this race, and was so excited to finally put it on! 

I wore a Kiss My Southern Sass tank that said "Bless Your Heart and the USA," along with a large red bow for my hair, and black Nike shorts.

On the back of my shirt, I made a sign out of blue cardstock paper and foam letters to honor those in Boston following the Boston Marathon bombings.

It was a rainy morning in Oak Island, but thank goodness it stopped right before my race started! I ended up wearing my dad's hat to keep my head dry, and had on my rain coat until the last second. Since the tank top I was wearing wasn't dri fit material, I wanted to stay as dry as possible before I ran.

 Waiting in the corral as they counted down our start!

 Ready, set, go!

 Running those six miles after five months of hard work felt so so good! I think I smiled the entire time because I was so happy to be there accomplishing a goal that I'd set for myself.

My view during mile 5!

When I saw the marker saying I only had one mile left, I swear I could have sprinted the whole way from excitement, but instead, I decided to keep a good pace and save it all for the end.

When I came through the entrance of the NC Baptist Assembly and saw my parents standing at the finish line, I gave it all I had. What an amazing feeling!

I officially crossed the finish line at 58:12:00! 

I have to admit I shed a few tears from pure joy in that moment. I accomplished something that I never though I could. I ran six miles in under an hour without stopping.

Amazing. 

Little did I know, I also placed second in the 19-24 female age group for the 10K, and will be receiving an award!!! There's seriously no better feeling!

Thank you so much for your continued support and kind words!
Maybe next year, I'll go back and run the half-marathon! The sky's the limit!

As always, Have a Sweet Day!

Artist in Training!

If there's one thing that I've learned about living alone, it's that it gives you a lot more time to pick up new hobbies! 

For me, those are things like discovering dance moves I didn't know I had, finding new TV shows to watch, running, and one of my most-favorite hobbies...painting!

I've never been able to draw well, straight lines are not my friend and neither is staying inside the lines, but for some reason, I find painting relaxing and enjoyable. 

There's nothing better than being alone in my apartment with a glass of wine and a blank canvas!

Two of my most-recent paintings:

An owl for my friend Tara's daughter Morgan!

The Chiquita Bonita Lilly Pulitzer print for my friend Katy's 22nd birthday!

I love being able to share this new-found hobby with sweet friends!

Have you picked up any new hobbies lately?

As always, Have a Sweet Day!

A Paisley Birthday Party!

I can hardly believe that in a few short weeks my Goldendoodle Paisley is going to be one year old!

It seems like just yesterday we were making the 10-hour trip to pick her up and bring her home...

and now she's all grown up!

As a huge lover of birthdays, cake and ice cream, and my Doodle's biggest fan, I can't imagine not celebrating this exciting day!

After chatting with Paisley about it, and asking my parents what they thought, we've decided we're going to have a small birthday party at our house, with all of Paisley's favorite human friends!

This puppy party wouldn't be complete without a fun outfit for Pais, cute cupcakes, snacks and invitations! Just make sure you RSVP! 

Her actual birthday is on May 8th, but since that falls on a Wednesday, and I'll be prepping for commencement, we're looking at either May 4th or May 19th! 

A few items of inspiration:

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Saying that I'm excited would be an understatement!

It's going to be the puppy party of the year!

As always, Have a Sweet Day!