Inspiration: Spring Wrap-Up.

On this last day of May, how about we have one more fling with all things spring, friends? Here are some beautiful reminders of spring...

Windows adorned with colorful flowers...

A little fun in the sun...

And of course, some peaceful nature shots...

What will you miss about spring, friends? xoxo

Man Candy Monday

Happy Monday (and Memorial Day!), friends! I've been wanting to feature this marvelous man for awhile. I first fell in love with him when I was 7 or 8. I was crushed when he fell in love with a mannequin, but that didn't stop me from smiling over his boyish charm, his sweetness (I mean, seriously, he could see past her mannequin-ness!) and love her for her and the swooning over his studly '80's fashion...

ANDREW MCCARTHY!!!!!!!!!!



P.S. What do you think of the new banner? I know it wasn't one of the banners I showed you last week, but I found this photo yesterday, and thought to myself, "Self, this is the photo."

Happy Memorial Day Weekend.

Well, hello, my friends. How are you doing today? I hope you all have a marvelous Memorial Day. I'll be grilling up good hot dogs; Memorial Day is my official beginning of grilling season. With everything that's been going on this week (emotions, anyone...?), I didn't get a chance to do a proper Friday round-up, but will get back into the swing of things next week. Have a great Memorial Day weekend, and raise a hot dog and root beer for me, friends! xoxo

[Photo via MANDR]

Thank You So Much!

I'm at the library, friends, all ready to post Freaky (Funny!) Friday, when I realize the computer doesn't have the correct program. Oy, what a week, huh? Look for your regularly scheduled dose of young-love angst next week.

Right now, though, I wanted to once again thank all of you for all the kind words of support and encouragement you've given me during my not-so-happy week. I wish I could give each of you a big squeeze, or at least treat you to a Barq's root beer. How fun would that be? Anyway, I'm still about the same -- no worse, which is a good sign, I think. The doctor gave me a new medicine yesterday, but I'm a little worried because the first dose made me feel, umm, well, a bit strange. I was reading Redbook in bed last night, woke up this morning and have zero recollection of what I read.

But I shall push forward. Thanks for all the love, and look for a mini Weekend Post later today. I love you all. xoxo

[Photo via happythings]

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

I thought you all might like to read my essay about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder that I wrote for TheFrisky yesterday. Here's a small excerpt...

It can be something as little as the time I was standing in a hotel parking lot while on vacation one summer, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw a man walking toward me. He looked exactly like my father. The closer he got, the larger the lump in my throat became. Or, it can be something a little bigger, like the few dozen times I’ve walked past the building on the campus of Northern Illinois University where my father worked and pictured him galloping up the stairs with a huge smile on his face. Or, even the time when I found the blue-knit cap he wore during the course of his chemotherapy and radiation to treat an aggressive form of sinus cancer and up until the day he committed suicide two weeks after finishing treatment. Or, the smell of his clothes and how they’d remind me of his big bear hugs.

That’s Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in a nutshell. It’s the body’s way of trying to process the massive stockpile of emotions left in the wake of a traumatic life event.

You can read the rest of the essay here. What do you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts! xoxo

P.S. Check out other moving essays in TheFrisky's new feature I Have...

[Photo via We Heart It]

Which Banner Do You Like?

I thought a new banner would cheer me up, and thanks to Lissa, I have a huge selection to choose from. And because I apparently love pretty pictures a bit too much, I can't decide which one I like best.

So tell me, friends, what one do you like the best? xoxo

P.S. More on my balloon obsession later...

Banner #1
Banner #2Banner #3Banner #4Banner #5Banner #6Banner #7Banner #8Banner #9Banner #10

Inspiration: Lemon Wreath.

Editor's Note: I hope you guys don't mind that I'm doing some "lighter" posts this week as I sort through some emotions. Thanks again for all your kind words of spport.

Everyone hangs wreaths during the holidays. But wouldn't it be cool to hang one in the spring? I love this lemon wreath, don't you? It would probably smell like beautiful Pinesol too, the smell floating around your house all day. Or maybe I'm the only one who LOVED that smell as a kid?

P.S. Check out more awesome wreath ideas from Williams and Sonoma here + here + here. Aren't they beautifully colorful? xoxo

[Photo via Dancing Branflakes]

Carrie Bradshaw's Google List.

With this week's release of Sex & The City 2, I love this video of topics Carrie herself would Google. Isn't it just spot-on?

Have you seen the movie yet, friends? What did you think? xoxo

P.S. What are some of your common Google searches? I think my search favorites would more resemble Charlotte...

Letters To My Future Husband: Letter #91

Dear Mr. Melissa Blake;

I'm sitting in the psychiatrist's office right now. And I hate it. I hate it not so much because you're not here, though it would be great if you were sitting next to me right now and holding my hand. I hate it because, frankly, I haven't felt this bad in almost two years. How is it that something like this, something so raw and so real, can really tear you up?

I've been on an emotional roller coaster since the weekend. I wake up crying. I go to bed crying. And you know, Sweetpea, I'm usually not the crying type. But for some reason, I just can't seem to stop the tears from rolling down my cheeks...

Oops, the doctor is calling me in. I shall be back, Sweetpea.

*45 minutes later*

I'm home now, Sweetpea, still sad, but proud of myself for going. I'm now on an anti-anxiety medication, which is the best thing, because I just don't know what to do with my anxiety sometimes. It just boils and boils and boils under the surface until it comes gushing out like a waterfall. Did I tell you that I had to stop in the bathroom before my appointment and call my mother because I was crying? What sort of 28-year-old does that? I just want these feelings to go away, you know? Lately, I can't even look at a photo of my mom, dad or even my sister without bursting into tears.
It also makes me wonder how I'm doing where your right now is concerned. How am I doing? Do I still burst into tears at the drop of a hat? Gah! See, I hate thinking into the future because I'm so scared and afraid of the future for some reason lately. I just don't want to lose anyone else in my life, you know? I've been thinking about my father's death a lot lately, and I couldn't bear to lose my mom or my sister or even my cats. What would happen to me?

But maybe on some small scale, these letters should give me a little hope, right? If I'm thinking about the future, a part of me, even if it's only a minuscule part, is hopeful about the future. Don't you think, Sweetpea?
Oh, and just so you know I'm still me, Sweetpea: My regular psychiatrist was out of town, so I had to see her associate. Wowzers, was he a cutie. Coupled with that and the fact that I have a real weakness for doctors, at least that made me smile today, right? I know, I know. It's probably just another tango with me and good-old transference. Until we meet...

[Photos via Audrey Hepburn Complex]

SweetHarvey Print Giveaway!

Today's giveaway is from SweetHarvey, a letterpress design studio that specializes in original illustrations. They're giving away the art print of your choice to one lucky reader. There is everything from the Swan print to the Heart Line print to the Hope print (my personal favorite...), just to name a few...

For your chance to win, just visit SweetHarvey, and leave a comment below, telling me your favorite print! Also, include your email. A winner will be chosen at random tomorrow. xoxo

Update: Congrats to winner, Kelly! Thanks for entering! xoxo

How I Feel (In 5 Photos) Wednesday.

"And we can build this dream together/Standing strong forever/Nothing's gonna stop us now..." --Starship

[Photos via On A High Note]

Piece of You.

I wrote this one a few weeks ago, and gave it to my mom for Mother's Day. And of course, as I was reading it over this morning, it made me cry...

In a world that can be so cold
You need someone’s warm hand to hold
From the moment you put your hand in mine
I knew everything would be alright
And when it’s dark outside
You’re my anchor in the storm

So don’t think for a single minute that I don’t love you
Of ever doubt how beautiful you are
You and I, we’ve come so far
Thank you for showing me so much beauty in this world
And the beauty within myself
You’re my mother, my best friend and everything in between
That’s why every little piece of you will forever be in me

Your strength, it amazes me
And your grace, it makes me believe
In the magic of a happy ending
In all the possibilities of dreaming
I just hope you know
Your daughter’s never going to let you go

So don’t think for a single minute that I don’t love you
Of ever doubt how beautiful you are
You and I, we’ve come so far
Thank you for showing me so much beauty in this world
And the beauty within myself
You’re my mother, my best friend and everything in between
That’s why every little piece of you will forever be in me

So don’t think for a single minute that I don’t love you
Of ever doubt how beautiful you are
You and I, we’ve come so far
Thank you for showing me so much beauty in this world
And the beauty within myself
You’re my mother, my best friend and everything in between
That’s why every little piece of you will forever be in me

Super Emotional.

I've been crying the majority of the last few days, friends, and wasn't even sure I should bring this up, but as I say, it's a part of me, so I should probably just take my own advice, shouldn't I?

Ever since my father's suicide, I've had Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder that, naturally, ebbs and flows. It's safe to say that it's been flowing like a river this week. I'm worried. I'm scared. I'm so afraid that something bad is going to happen, and the worst part is that in my mind, I know these are completely irrational thoughts. But our minds sometimes have a mind of their own, don't you think, friends?

At any rate, I'd love to hear how you've dealt with times like this in your life. Right now, I'm trying to do little things to make myself feel better, like sipping a cold Sierra Mist.

P.S. In typical me fashion, I suppose it's all very ironic that I happen to be writing about PTSD for TheFrisky this week, huh?

[Photo via Our Labor of Love]

Tales From The Trenches: Tale #37

Kasey's back! Today, he gives us a glimpse into some of the subtle, not-so-obvious things that make a woman attractive. Enjoy, friends! xoxo


A Smile
You can't ever go wrong by smiling. I mean, if you are missing a lot of teeth or you drool when you smile (or some other random condition), then guys might back away from you. But a smile is always attractive, no matter what the circumstances.

Eyes
Eyes are related to smiles in the sense that when you smile (for real) your eyes can light up. Bright eyes (again, barring random disfiguration of the eyeballs) are quite attractive. Plus, I don't think anyone has ever had a problem with you checking out their eyeballs. There is a reason you've never heard, "quit undressing my eyes with your eyes!" It's silly.

Attitude
A confident attitude (not stuck-up, vain, or pompous, mind you) is always attractive. Anberlin, on Never Take Friendship Personal, sings, "if you can't hold yourself together, why should I hold you now?" and I think it is mostly true. Confidence is always sexy.

Plays Nice With Others
I think women who are kind are hot. This secret quality goes a long way in my book, and not only does it add to your attractiveness level, but it immediately gives you "possible keeper" status. I mean, who wants to be with a jerk?

Inspiration: Bike Love.

I could never ride a bike when I was young (trust me, when your legs are fused, peddling becomes a bit difficult...), but some of my fondest summer memories are of my dad hoisting me onto my sister's bike and pushing me around our neighborhood while I steered, of course. I think he would have loved to push me on one of these bikes, don't you?

I'm missing you today, Father... xoxo

[Photos via The Juliet Notes]

Would You Like To Advertise?

Would you like to advertise on So about what I said...? I have several ad spots opening up on June 1.

I'm so excited to offer advertising opportunities to online shop owners, Etsy sellers, photographers, bloggers and designers. Ads are displayed and rotated weekly on the left sidebar and giveaway options are available with the purchase of an ad at no extra cost.

My rates are ideal venues for small businesses.

Quick Stats:

*Site: melissabxoxo.blogspot.com
*Founded on November 14, 2008
*Number of subscribers (via Feedburner and Google): 2,075
*Daily readers: 500 + unique IPs
*Weekly readers: 4,000
*Daily page views: 1,243
*Weekly page views: 8,702
*Number of visits in last 16 months: 194,500
*Facebook fans: 430
*Twitter followers: 1,392

Please email mellow1422 (at) aol (dot) com for rates and specials. Thank you so much, and I look forward to working with you! xoxo

[Image designed by the wonderful Ez]

Man Candy Monday

Good Monday morning, friends! By popular request, we've got the other half of one powerful duo today. This guy oozes confidence. He's not afraid to sing some good-old Neil Diamond. And of course, I'm sure he has a heart of gold underneath that bad boy exterior...

MARK SAILING!!!!!!!!!!

Have A Relaxing Weekend.

Lovely friends, how was your week? I am officially on summer vacation, so I couldn't be in a more blissful state of calm and awesomeness. I think I shall break out the Barq's and Peppermint Patties this weekend in celebration, what do you think? Oh, that reminds me...check out my post on The Bright Side Project if you haven't already.

In blog-related news, what do you think of the new summer-themed header? I owe a huge thank you to Lissa, who didn't seem to mind my sending her a bunch of photos because I couldn't decide on one I liked and for being so patient!

Do you have any weekend plans? I'd love to hear about what you're up to, and in the meantime, check out my Top 5 Favorite Blogs this week...

Old Sweet Song: Any blog with the word charm in its tagline is a must-read for me!

CakeJournal: An entire blog about delicious cake! Need I even say more?

Santa Barbara Chic Blog: The perfect blend of design and wedding inspiration for me!

snippet & ink: I always leave this blog smiling!

Whatever DeeDee Wants: A girl after my own heart!

And don't forget to check out some of my favorite finds from the Web...

I need a vintage phone ASAP!

Oh my, what pretty outfits!

Awww alert: An adorable prom story!

That's it....I need a sun room!

Genius: Clothes that pop with color!

Funny cartoon.

A big congrats to Jessi on the new blog layout! Beautiful!

What's your favorite documentary?

Such pretty glamour of yesterday...

Inspired: This man traveled the world in his wheelchair!

Question: What do you want to do before you die?

Don't you love these old business cards?

Ohhh, cardigans!

Red never gets old...

Houses that look like they came out of a fairytale!

I love these photos!

What a sweet birdcage, no?

Have you seen the lovely Pantone Hotel yet? Sigh.

Old-fashioned onion rings, anyone?

Spring flowers!

I could eat lasagna for every meal, couldn't you?

Genius: Stripe love!

Some utterly adorable baby photos!

Would you wear a black dress for your wedding?

Girl Crush Alert: Zooey Deschanel!

Want: These beautiful handmade ceramics! More here...

Genius: Wedding tennis

Oh gosh, how I love thrifting!

What's your favorite '80s or '90s teen movie song?

I'm a pink girl at heart...

I'm loving this before & after photo! How cool is that?

Coral + aqua is my new favorite color combination!

I want to eat these yummy ballet cookies, don't you?

[Photo via kiameku]