Warning: Massive Blog Post Ahead!!!

Today is the last day to enter my giveaway!
Go to this post or just scroll down to the bottom of this post for the rafflecopter.


February was a month for all things Pin-spired!

My hair, outfits, crafts, and new recipes.

My hair seriously needed an update!

It had faded and had so much regrowth over the last couple of months that I just couldn't take it!

I decided to get back to my roots a bit and add some bangs as well after seeing these photos on Pinterest.

I fell in love with them!!!

I normally despise bangs!

no links for 2 & 3

My results from the fabulous Kasey!

FYI: I suck at selfies!

Medium & dark brown tones, mixed with some caramel hilites :)

Love!

And believe it or not, I am having fun styling my new bangs :)

Next up are the outfits!

Sheaffer featured this outfit and I knew I had all the items to recreate it!

My recreation...

Liz Claiborne sweater - red sold out (similar here and here)

JCP Blue gingham shirt sold out (similar here)

Vigoss destroyed jeans (found here)

White Converse (found here)

I have had this next outfit pinned for awhile, but never got around to actually wearing it. Well, once my new boots arrived I knew this was such a simple, but perfect weekend outfit!

My recreation

Old Navy puffer vest - super old (similar here -limited sizes)

Gap gray & white striped shirt (similar here and exact here)

Hunter wellies (found here)

I decided to wear my destroyed jeans instead of leggings, but I think it still looked really close to the original.

After seeing this next image on Pinterest I knew it was the perfect gift for Mic on Valentine's Day :)

How awesome is that liquor bouquet?

Here is my recreation...

Mic loved it!

I picked up the bucket, floral sticks, & shredded paper at Hobby Lobby. 

The mini Jack Daniel's bottles came from Kroger.

I made X's valentines for school from an idea on Pinterest too!

X's valentines...

They were super easy!

All I did was print the label, write his name, and then throw some Cars fruit snacks and a Hot Wheels car in snack size Ziploc bags! These are SO X!

And my final pin-spired idea came from Miss Shay Shull :)

And our cupcakes...

They were a big hit :)

X has asked for a "cake cake" every night!

However, the vanilla frosting was much better on the strawberry cupcake than the strawberry on strawberry ones. Lesson learned :)

Were you Pin-spired this month?

Make sure to check out the hosts amazing looks at well :)

Now on with our normally scheduled Friday link ups!

Of course I mean, High Five for Friday with Lauren and 5 on Friday with Darci & crew :)

1. We celebrated my FIL turning 70 on Tuesday and we will be celebrating my mom turning 57 this weekend :)

2. You know how much I love TV! Well this week was filled with great episodes (PLL, Justified) and season premieres (The Americans, Vikings)!

3. Sheaffer posted to Facebook over the weekend that the "MUST HAVE" denim jacket was in stock & 20% off at Macy's! I have been wanting that jacket for awhile now, but just couldn't justify the price tag. Well with the discount and a gift card I was able to order the jacket! I can't wait to receive it! I live in my denim jacket from Gap (darker wash, super old) from Spring to Fall, so I can't wait to add this to the line up! 

Read how Sheaffer feels about the jacket here!

4. I have worn my new Hunter wellies every single day since they arrived! I wear them to & from work, to run errands, etc. They are perfection! I may or may not be daydreaming of a 2nd pair ;)

5. X-tremely V celebrated its 1st Anniversary!

And I am thanking you all by giving away two prize packs filled with some of my favorite things (valued at $100 each!). Make sure you enter today!!!

The winners will be announced tomorrow March 1st!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And last, but not least I am linking up with Holly & Jake for

1. I always pick staying up late over going to bed early.

2. Look at the size of those...mounds of snow! We have way too much in Ohio and are expected to get more this weekend :(

3. I recently learned....how to create my own blog button & social media icons! It's the little things people!

4. Only when no one is looking...do I sing & dance in my car! Well I sing, but I try to make it look like I am on a phone call instead! Always worried about what others think! Grr!

5. I lost my....body & mind when X was born :( I want them back!!!

6. I was certain I'd be...an accountant when I grew up because math was always my favorite class. At least I work in the financial world...close enough!

7. There is not enough liquor in the world for me to....jump from anything! An airplane, bridge, bungee cord, etc!

8. I just finished...playing around on YouTube & Pinterest ;) Must do some office work!

9. Why does everyone have to be...jealous of others. I just don't get it. If you have more than me so what! If you look better than me so what! I am only jealous when you start flirting with my man!

10. It's very rare when I...have a GNO. I have always been more of a guy's girl, instead of a girl's girl. Give me a Guy's Night Out with hitting up the bars, eating pizza & wings, & watching or playing sports...my kind of night!

11. If I were a dog...I would probably be scared of myself! I am terrified of dogs and don't want to be anywhere near them!

12. I don't believe...that just because it comes in your size that you should buy it! #sorrynotsorry Example: Floral or loud print leggings are not meant to be worn on anyone over the age of 10 or over a size 2 in my book!

What would your answers to be?

Did you make it through the whole post? lol!

Thanks again for sticking with me :)

I truly appreciate all the friendships I have made over the last year :)

Have a great weekend!

Keeping things simple

First, let me say Happy Birthday to the most amazing woman in my life! 

I am so blessed and proud to call you mom!

Love you!!! XOXO

Tomorrow is a big day around here!

2 Friday link ups and 1 great monthly link up!

Make sure you don't miss it!

Also, tomorrow is the last day to enter to win one of my two prize packs (valued at $100 each!)! 

If you haven't entered yet, do so today!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

As for today...I am keeping things simple.

Linking up for 

Come join the fun!
FYI: You get extra entries for the above mentioned prize packs by following me on GFC and Bloglovin!
And tweeting about it too :)

Oh, and make you sure you visit Holly's blog to enter to win a $75 Target gift card! 
It has been great sponsoring Big Holly this month :)  

#xvsdailylife2014 Week 8

Day 50 ~ Enjoying one of my guilty pleasure shows while my nail polish dries :) #duckdynasty

Day 51 ~ They are here!!! So excited!!! #hunterwellies

Day 52 ~ These delicious wings can't cook fast enough!

#starving #itswhatsfordinner

Day 53 ~ X loved his first train ride at the mall!

#wealldid #itwontbeourlast

Day 54 ~ Thanks to Andrea's photo we couldn't help picking up a pretzel at Sam's Club to share :)

Day 55 ~ Surprising my main squeeze with his favorite shake!

#mickeydees #shamrockshake

Day 56 ~ Celebrating my FIL's 70th birthday at Brown Derby :)

#amarettosour

Have you entered to win one of my prize packs yet?

If not, get over to this post here and do so today!!!

Two winners will be announced on March 1st!

Healthy Life - Hair Edition

Yes, that does say "Hair Edition"!

Living a healthy life means a lot of different things, including keeping your hair looking good!

I know if my hair looks good my outlook on the day is great!

Up until a few short months ago I used to wash my hair every.single.day! 
And if I worked out that day, I washed it twice! I know crazy!

My fabulous stylist told me I just couldn't keep doing that :(

In the beginning I thought she was crazy!

Who doesn't wash their hair every day, or at least after working out?
Plus, I thought my hair was always way too greasy to go a day or longer without washing it! 

But in the end she convinced to at least give it a try.
I mean I didn't want to literally throw my money down the drain on my hair color.


So back in November I gave it a shot.
In the beginning it was rough.
Those first few days after a hair appointment is pretty easy honestly, because I love how it is styled, cut, etc.
I don't want to mess that up!
So I can easily go 48 or so hours without washing it.
It is after that first wash and blow dry where your hair doesn't do exactly what your stylist did for you just a few days before. I picked up a dry shampoo that a few other bloggers mentioned worked well, and didn't cost an arm and a leg. 

TRESemme' Freshstart Under $5 at most retailers.

I did really well for 2 whole months of only washing my every other day, 
and a few times even waiting 3 whole days!
My hair appeared greasy at first, but after about a week or so it slowly adapted to my washing schedule.
I used the dry shampoo by the bottle directions, but I never thought it was working. It always made my hair feel heavy and kind of gross :( I would end up with my hair in a ponytail or bun by 10 am each day.
So I continued with the washing every other day or so schedule, but I cut out dry shampoo entirely.


But after reading this post from Alison at Get Your Pretty On I decided to give dry shampoo another try!
I picked up the Dove dry shampoo.

I absolutely love it! 
It feels so light when you spray into your hair, you can immediately brush through it, and it doesn't leave a heavy or chalky residue. 
I now use this every "off" day and it feels great and adds just a bit of extra texture to my hair :)
And the price is great too at under $4 a bottle at most retailers!
If you are looking to try a dry shampoo for the first time, or are in the market for a new one I highly recommend Dove!

One more thing I want to add while we are talking healthy hair....Biotin.



I hate to admit this, but my son is a hair puller. 
Thankfully, he doesn't do it to other kids or his caregivers.
Just to me :(
Somehow my hair became a security blanket for him shortly after he was born, and at 2 years old it still is :(
Every night while putting him to bed he must JAM his precious little hands into my head to fall asleep. He loves to grab my hair and twist and twist until he is in a sweet dreamland state. 
Meaning = My head hurts, my hair is full of knots, and I am loosing WAY more hair than the typical 100 strands a day! (The upside was my hair was FULL of body...lol)I needed to make a change!
Now most of you are thinking....get the kid to fall asleep without pulling your hair out.
Yeah, easier said than done my friend!
So instead I turned to a Biotin supplement.
It really has made a difference!
It is a supplement for healthy hair, skin & nails.
Who doesn't want that?
It also helps support healthy carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism. Again, who doesn't want that?
I have noticed a difference in my overall skin tone, my nails don't seem so brittle, and my hair seems to be a bit tougher (if that makes sense).
Another product I highly recommend :)

I love finding products that work well and are affordable!

Do you wash your hair every day?
Do you use a specific dry shampoo?
Any supplements that you rely on?

Don't forget to check out my post from yesterday and enter the rafflecopter at the bottom to win one of two prize packs I am giving away!

Linking up for

Our weekend & My Favorite Things Prize Packs!

I have never been so excited to welcome in a Monday!
Of course I am recapping our weekend, but I am also opening the giveaway up to you all!
If you are new to X-tremely V,
thanks for stopping by!
You can read a bit more about me here to catch up :)

On to our weekend!

Linking up with

Our dinner plans for Friday evening got cancelled,
so we were able to just cook up some wings and hang out at home :)

Saturday it was too nice out to sit at home!
After the super cold temps we have been seeing this winter,
we had a high of 45 degrees and sunshine!
It felt like Spring!

We decided to take a drive, but had no idea where we wanted to go. So we hopped on 30 and headed east!
We decided to head to Akron and visit Quaker Square.
Unfortunately, there aren't many shops or restaurants there but they do have a lot of things trains!
X loved seeing the old train car restaurant and the train cars located outside :) An actual train went by on the tracks as we were checking it out and it was wonderful for him!

 

Afterwards we decided to swing in the Summit Mall so we could grab some Starbucks and X could stretch his legs a bit more before the hour+ drive home. We have never really taken X to the mall or anywhere that there are crowds of people. He was wonderful! He held our hands and loved walking all around! The best part is that the mall has a little train that drives around inside :)
Once X saw it we were literally running to catch up to it!
He couldn't wait to ride it!
Seriously, the highlight of the day!

Sunday we ran a few errands and stopped at Sam's Club for a couple of things. X had so much fun riding in the cart (under our supervision)!

So how was your weekend?

Now on with the giveaway! I am giving away 2 prize packs valued at $100 each filled with some of my favorite things!!!

Here are the items you two of you lucky readers will be receiving...

$30 value

$20 value

A copy of Tracy Mallet's The Booty Barre DVD.

A new Spring colored infinity scarf!

And a fabulous discount code from Amy's Sew Fun Etsy Shop! Amy is great to work with and a former cheerleader of mine :)

One pack will receive a hardback copy of


And the other pack will receive this adorable picture frame from Jessica's Picket Fence Etsy Shop :)
I can't say enough wonderful things about Jessica!
She is one of my oldest and dearest friends, 
and she is SERIOUSLY talented!
I need some of her creative juice!

I am so excited to share some of my favorites with you!
Thank you all again for helping me turn this past year around and focus on the positive things in life!
I really appreciate it :)

Giveaway is open today through Friday,
with 2 winners being announced on March 1st!

Just click the link below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. We hereby release Facebook of any liability. Winner(s) will be contacted by email 48 hours after the giveaway ends. If you have any additional questions - feel free to send us an email!