Tyler Anne's 2014: Week 6-7

Every time I get super busy, I usually do it at the same time as Holli! We're twins so it's cool. This week  we're both a bit behind on recaps but, you know, #life.

So here's belated 6 & 7!

 Week 6 // 7

Inspiring pin(s): Gally Cook One Piece Palm Print // #ColorBlock

Book I finished: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead // Family issues put reading on the back burner for Week 7

Book I'm currently reading: Frost Bite (Vampire Academy, Book 2) by Richelle Mead & Guilty Pleasures (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Book 1) by Laurell K. Hamilton - I WILL finish this book this week!

Blog I'm loving: Design Improvised // Inspiration Nook

Blog post I can't get enough of: Studio Kitchen Makeover by Oh Happy Day // Utah Snapshots by Inspiration Nook

Word of the week: Contention // Absolution 

So, what went down? Week 6 was all about dealing with my back pain and doing a lot of behind-the-scenes work for the blog, work, and writing! Week 7 was an emotional roller coaster. My estranged grandmother had two massive strokes (that she miraculously survived) just after my mother got out of rehab. Somehow, though, it brought the three of us closer than we've been in years. Also, had an adorable Valentine's Day weekend that was calm, fun, and just right. Boy Tyler got me seasons 1 and 2 of Castle (one of my top five favorite shows), an awesome decoration for the entryway (blog post on THAT later), and a box of chocolates (with mustache decorations) / typewriter card. I gave him a bacon beer koozie and a book about Dancing with Cats from Modcloth. Oh, and Arby's. :)

Don't forget to see Week 6/7's posts: Valentine's Day Roundup (Even though it isn't V-Day anymore, doesn't mean this post isn't still relevant! You could easily use these for any celebration or just because!)

- Tyler Anne (aka Chick Tyler)

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Tyler Anne's 2014: Week 5

 Week 5

Inspiring pin(s): Golden also PANTONE Color of the Year 2014: Radiant Orchard Nature

Book I finished: Last week was hectic! I didn't finish any books, barely reading any at all! Ahh!

Book I'm currently reading: Guilty Pleasures (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Book 1) by Laurell K. Hamilton - I need to finish this book!

Blog I'm loving: Design Love Fest

Blog post I can't get enough of: Tim and Hannah's Affordable DIY Self-Sustainable Micro Cabin — House Tour by Apartment Therapy

Word of the week: Arctic

So, what went down? SNOW! Considering that I live in Florida/am from Alabama, this was a big deal. Our little city shut DOWN for two days and work understandably slowed. So when the cold weather moved on my life became hectic! 

Don't forget to see Week 5's posts: Inspiration: Green & Gold / Super Simple DIY Desks / Holli Anne's 2014: Week 5 

- Tyler Anne (aka Chick Tyler)

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Tyler Anne's 2014: Week 4

Week 4
 
Inspiring pin: Untitled by Jesús Garrido

Book I finished: Club Dead (Sookie Stackhouse, Book 3) by Charlaine Harris

Book I'm currently reading: Guilty Pleasures (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Book 1) by Laurell K. Hamilton - I need to finish this book!

Blog I'm loving: A Subtle Revelry

Blog post I can't get enough of: A Donut Cake by A Subtle Revelry

Word of the week: Fandom

So, what went down? Well, awesome ole me had to go to the doctor and be told I tore some soft tissue in my back and to not use my right arm as much until it heals. The first half of the week was spent blog prepping, designing, and being a big baby about doing it all left-handed!

Don't forget to see Week 4's posts: Inspiration: Slice of Bright / Inspiration: Morning Coffee / What does your patio say about you? / Holli Anne's 2014: Week 4

- Tyler Anne (aka Chick Tyler)
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What does your patio say about you?

We love to decorate our homes. There’s no two ways about it. Indoor decor is a must while outdoor decor is just plain fun. Some could argue that while a person actually lives inside of a house that the furniture and style that fills it is more important. However, don’t you also spend time outside?

Even though you may spend the majority of your time inside, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t dress the outside as well! With a plethora of styles created to accommodate any patio space it’s important to find a style that is uniquely you.

Here are four patio designs and what they say about their owners. 





The Elegant Host
When there’s a dinner party to be had, you’re the person everyone turns to. With this stainless steel patio furniture elegance from Cabana Coast, you have turned your outdoor eatery into a modern, contemporary, design made to show everyone you’re a classy host. With its stainless steel and matching wicker, this set can look sleek on its own or be dressed up even more with tabletop accents. If your patio design holds this set, you can rest easy knowing that your smart, elegant tastes have finally been realized. 

The Modern Grey Entertainer
This patio scene from West Elm just screams, “We like to entertain!” Showcasing Tillary outdoor modular seating, this set can be separated then rearranged to meet your liking while maintaining a smooth, modern look. Are you having a pool party and want to be able to lounge alongside the swimmers? Move one of the sofas closer. Do you want an intimate seating area to spend time with loved ones and friends after a long day of work? Move it back with the rest of the arrangement. The pops of color keep the eyes appreciating this set while the designer pillows only attribute to the overall cool feeling. This design shows visitors that you aren’t afraid to entertain and look good while doing it.

The Designers
Not only do you like to entertain, you like to “Wow!” This patio scene has a Wayfair 11-piece round sectional that is stylish and sleek with a glass-topped coffee table able to withstand the elements. When your visitors step out and see this combo they’ll know you appreciate good design and know the right ways to inspire awe. You won’t mind their assumptions because you like the praise after spending a good amount of time searching for the right “wow” factor to complete your patio design.



The Eclectic Outdoorsman
You love color. You love contrast. You love being outside. This Banyan Bay patio set from Pier 1 Imports with its colorful accents and additions creates a patio design that shows you’re a lover of the outdoors who isn’t afraid of unique decorations. Your taste is eclectic and fun. This set has synthetic, hand-woven wicker that makes you feel closer to nature while allowing you comfort. You will be able to lounge day or night, cold weather or warm weather with this patio thanks to your love of eclectic design and flair for fun.

So, what does your patio say about you?




- Tyler Anne (aka Chick Tyler)
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Tyler Anne's 2014: Week 3

Week 3

Inspiring pin: Floral Inspiration photography by Ali Harper, flowers by Amy Osaba

Book I finished: Living Dead in Dallas (Sookie Stackhouse, Book 2) by Charlaine Harris

Book I'm currently reading: Club Dead (Sookie Stackhouse, Book 3) by Charlaine Harris - And, again, I'm reading THIS book for the third time!

Blog I'm loving: A Beautiful Mess

Blog post I can't get enough of: DIY Framing Wood Corner Desk by Young House Love

Word of the week: Revamp

So, what went down? Business was awesome this past week! Three extra mini blog projects makes this blogger oh so happy! Also, I took this precious picture of the same-name beau!

What went down during your week?

Don't forget to see Week 3's posts: Inspiration: Custom Kitchens / Inspiration: Minted.com / Holli Anne's 2014: Week 3

- Tyler Anne (aka Chick Tyler)
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DONE with UNDONE

So, I wrote a book a month or so ago for a contest. It took me a week and totaled around 45,000 words. I called it UNDONE and it was sloppy, rushed, and 10,000 words shy of where it needed to be but, by golly, I finished it!

I didn't go on to the next tier of the contest but what could be more exciting than finally being able to say I finished a book from beginning to end? An editor contacting me asking for a longer, revised copy of my manuscript. Which is what happened!

Two days ago I resubmitted UNDONE, much happier with the plot, characters, and length (57,000~ words)!

Now I'm back to baby this lovely blog while also working on another manuscript which will be something of a Paranormal Romance > Cozy Mystery type deal. My future posts will revolve around books, writing things, and Pinterest obsessions!

What to expect in the very near future
King Cave by Scarlett Dawn review
Books You Need to Buy with Your Holiday Money
Leading Ladies You Should Love

(This is a teaser cover I made! Photo cred: C. Elizabeth Vescio)

-Tyler Anne (aka Chick Tyler)
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Blog Love: Discounted Ad Spaces!

We love you. It's that simple. 

Whether you had an amazing Valentine's Day or one that just didn't do it for you, we wanted to show a little love of our own.

Starting today we have our ad spaces half off! Be the first, second, third, and so on to purchases ad spaces that will get your blog/site exposure. 

Go to this page to purchase your space! When purchasing, use the code "XOXO2013" to get 50% off!

You can chose between Large (30 Day or 60 Day), Standard (Wide or Box), or our Sponsor This Post!

Remember, our discount code is XOXO2013! Limited time only!

Hire the Annes: Consultations For You

The Annes are all about blogging and social media! If you haven't seen our new page offering our consultations, you can find them here but we also thought we would explain a little more about them.

If you have any questions feel free to email us at chasingthere@gmail.com!

What are the consultations? 

Besides awesome? Well, each one is different because they are catered just for YOU. We offer consultations on social networkings, as well as blogging. We are both really passionate about teaching fellow creatives, business owners or just people with a hobby about these topics. The way they work is you request a consultation, we give you a questionnaire on what your needs are, then we do research for you on your existing or upcoming projects/blogs/social networks and we set up a video chat session with you (up to two hours!). You get two expert opinions (because two is better than one!), as well as detailed notes of your session.

Why should I pay you to consult me? 

Holli Anne: Well, I'm not big on answering questions like this. Sounds so job-interviewy! I don't have the MOST impressive Facebook following or Twitter or any other social media following for that matter. But let's be real, I'm not a celebrity! What I do have is knowledge of how to make social media work for the blog, two years experience consulting and managing social media for businesses and a whole lot of passion for social networking sites! On the blogging end, I've been dabbling in blogging for years. I've been a professional blogger for around a year and before that was a newspaper editor/communications employee. Moral of the story: Planning, writing, organizing and marketing are sort of my "thing."

Tyler Anne: Like Holli Anne, I've been a social media consultant and maintainer for two years. I've worked with small businesses of all kinds to help reach their Internet audience and maintain an online presence. I also have a very real addiction to social media and networking which definitely isn't a bad thing. Not only do I work in and around it but I also live my social media. I bring experience and passion to helping fellow creatives, business owners, and anyone else interested in blogging. There are so many social media sites out there that it's easy to get lost. Let me help you find a way that will work specifically for you.

What will I get out of it? 

Exactly what you need. Like we mentioned above, it's tailored to you, so we create our consultations to teach you exactly what you need to know. Want to get more interaction on your Facebook page? Want to understand Twitter and Instagram? Need help forming a social media strategy? Want help coming up with blog topics? Whatever it is, we got this!

Is this just a one time meeting or do we get to be friends forever? 

Oh, we get to be friends forever! After your consultation ends, we send you your notes and we check in on you from time to time, just to see how you're doing. We also are pretty much always a quick Internet message away from answering your followup questions!

Why I Created Almost There

This morning was not a good morning for me. I woke up to an upsetting email, got stuck in heavy traffic, wrestled with my internet and cable provider, and then had my car die while in said provider's parking lot. Did I mention it was raining? Because it definitely was.

There was a lot of silent contemplation (and weeping) while I sat and waited for the AAA man and then the tow truck.

I thought about my job, the future career I wanted, all the DIY projects I wanted to do for the new place, financial things (at which point I started weeping again), and what Almost There really means to me.

See, I created Almost There because I wasn't where I wanted to be in life. I lived in a tiny apartment that didn't even allow me to unpack all of my things. It drove me nuts! For an entire year I was stuck in that place when all I wanted was my dream house! After sulking for a few months I decided one very important thing--it's okay. Just because I wasn't living in the place of my dreams or making the amount of money I wanted, I could still be happy with what I had. Even though I had a small apartment I could still do some of the things I wanted. I could find DIY projects that I fit the space or alter the ones I wanted for a house. The blog also became a place I could store things that inspired me...things that were beautiful and creative!

After a few posts and the motto of "You're almost there!" I knew I wanted to share Almost There with other people who aren't exactly there yet. Those people who wanted to be inspired, who loved creativity, who liked being positive and happy!

How does all of this apply to my morning's incidents? After I started thinking about how much the blog means to me and what it is I want it to stand for, I realized that my current situation was indeed crappy but in the end everything was okay. Sure the situation sucked but there are definitely people that have it worse off. I had/have blessings to count and that was enough for me to suck it up and get by with a more positive mindset.

I also realized that Almost There, to me, is not only a blog--it's a lifeline constantly reminding me that even if life isn't going as planned I can still be happy.

So, I just want to thank all of you who read and comment on my posts. It makes my heart happy that MAYBE I'm helping inspire others out there to be happy too!

Now, time for me to drink my coffee and appreciate the rest of this rainy day!

Confounding Corners of Doom

I am the QUEEN of clutter. You think your tiny space has a lot going on? Probably can't compare to mine. Over the years I've squashed most of my pack rat urges but there are just some things I can't quite let go of. So I put random trinkets in plastic tubs, boxes or just let them roam freely throughout the apartment. A part of me is deeply ashamed at my lack of will power but some tendencies are too hard to let go of sometimes! (It also doesn't help that I live with Dude who doesn't believe in organization or, for the matter, laundry baskets.)

I probably could have continued to live my life as the Ruler of Unnecessary Clutter but since I work from home, I get a 24/7 view of messy clutter and I just can't take it anymore!

So, with one of the MANY To Do lists I've acquired, I've decided to tackle the confounding corners of doom that reside in my apartment. For all of you out there who live in tiny spaces but have a lot of things (whether unnecessary or not) you may have one or two of these.

What are CCDs?

A Poor Girl Fix: Nails, Nails, Nails

Technically I'm not poor. I'm "budget-conscious." Running a business from home can ware on the ole cash flow occasionally so when I get a comfortable amount of money to spend, my first thoughts don't go to my nails. But I couldn't deny that my talons had gotten a little out of hand and something had to be done.

So where did I go to meet my French manicure needs?

Rite Aid.

Trendy, right? Rite! (See what I did there?)

Somewhere on that there Pinterest I saw a cheap trick to help get that French manicure look without pumping out the dough.

Here's what you need & what I purchased:

• Reinforcement Labels  (those annoying little circles you put around the holes in your paper so your binder can hold it)
• Wet N Wild's Wild Shine nail polish (on sale at Rite Aid for less than a dollar at the moment)
• Patience (I would have bought it but they were all out)

 What you do next is pretty simple but here's what I did to get my nails tipped in silver (because I wanted to be different, duh) and looking simple yet classy.

1.) Get some sweet tea or wine.
2.) Make sure your cat or dog is in another room because they sure want to be all on you RIGHT when your nails are wet.
3.) Clean your nails and strip them of any polish.
4.) Take your clear polish (or clear with SPARKLES) and paint each nail once. Wait until they dry then give them all another coat.
5.) Take the reinforcement circles and put them under the top part of your nail that you want tipped white. My nails aren't that long right now so my tips are bitty!
6.) Take your white polish (or any color you want) and carefully paint the tips of your nails. Don't worry about getting it on the rest of your nail! The reinforcement circle is a nifty little guard! Let it dry and do another coat!
7.) Take off the circles and BAM! A poor girl's fix to a sketchy French manicure!

So there it is! If you have a job where you look at your nails a lot or OTHERS look at your nails a lot, don't be ashamed if you can't justify a mani/pedi in your budget. Instead go to the school supply section of Rite Aid, Walgreens, CVS or Wally World and start the fabulous process of a poor girl's fix for your nails!
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