Our DAMN Tweets!
Happiness will never come to those who don't appreciate what they already have #quote #truth6 hours ago
RT @LoriMoreno: You cannot love what you do not appreciate, and FEAR MAKES APPRECIATION IMPOSSIBLE. ~ A Course in Miracles9 hours ago
@CathyWMDA Thanx for the follow! You can LIKE us on Facebook too 'Santa Clarita Info - http://t.co/rGJMpD7C'. Keep Up the Good Tweets!1 day ago
Dear #sacramento TU for supporting business in #california and making this state such a desirable to live #failure on so many levels :(1 day ago
Kristy Nuttall
Just in time for summer …
Published April 12, 2012 | 
Tired of cracked and dry heels?
… I know of something that works like nothing else I’ve found. Sandal Essence is something I swear by and it’s truly one of my favorite products. My friend Kristen at Dine and Dish is hosting a give-away today for it. I’m shouting it from the roof-tops because I know just how good it is.
Seriously … you NEED to win this product. You will LOVE it as much as me after one week of use.
It’s easy to win too … they are all things you will do in about a min. CHECK IT OUT!
You will thank me later!
You can check out Sandal Essence online here:
Their website: SandalEssence.com
Filling your brain | What are you a student of?
Published January 11, 2012 | Over the holidays I took some time to fill my brain with good movies, books and of course basketball 
. In the evenings Ron, Zac and I have been snuggling up on the couch with blankets and popcorn to watch movies with hot cups of tea. That’s been awesome.
I believe that we are all students of something. There is something that interests us enough that we just can’t get enough of it. Sometimes it’s not present 100% of the time, but then it will show up again and pull our attention from everything else. It will make us want to have the emails, phone calls and text messages stop coming at us furiously so that we can just study … take in every bit of it … get lost in it.
Zac has been recording College Basketball games and I hear the constant drone of shoes on the floor, crowds chanting and then him pausing and rewinding to study a move that someone in the game performed. Then he tells me to watch as he performs it and adds it to his repertoire. He does this for hours at a time sometimes.
He is a student of the game of basketball … that’s for sure. he LOVES it and has high aspirations in it. (Which I believe he will achieve.)
I, on the other hand, am a student of people, learning and figuring things out. I love learning about people – why they do what they do … who they are … how they got that way. I do this in person, in reading books and in movies. I study life!
Over the holidays, I read two books about mental management that were awesome and made SO much sense to me. They specialize more in sports, but can easily transition over to business and life. I flew through those reading one completely over Christmas day in the car out loud to Ron and Zac on our marathon of driving.
The other book is a guilty pleasure that I decided to dive into. I haven’t read a fictional novel since early last year when I finished Steig Larsson’s trilogy of novels. I enjoyed those so much that I didn’t know what could possibly replace them in my mind – haha. I’ve been looking at books and wanted to find another series that I could try. Stumbled upon Hunger Games before Christmas and tried to buy it on iBooks, but they didn’t have it. I asked for an Amazon card so I could get it through the Kindle app. I started it less than a week ago and I’m already over 50% done with it. I know there is a movie coming out about it and as I turn each page, I can see how it would make a great movie. I truly hope they do it justice. So now I’m hooked and will read all three of the books in this series. Each morning I am trying to chisel out an hour (at least) to read more of this story. I find myself loving the words on the page and savoring them because I know that I’m already half way through the book and I don’t want it to truly end … but I do want to know what happens.
… so … my DAMN Question for you today is …
What are YOU a student of?
What makes you tune everything else out and just study it … practice it?
Coo Coo Clocks … where’s the DAMN snooze button on this thing?
Published December 1, 2011 | 
So last Spring out of the blue, we got this little yellow bird that started visiting us. Each morning before the sun came up, he’d start hitting the window and then he’d fly up the window beating his lil wings against the window all the way up. He’d do this for about 5 – 10 minutes .. and then go into the tree for a bit and start over.
He seemed pissed … really pissed. We couldn’t figure out what the heck he was mad about. We have our very own ANGRY BIRD!!
So we decided to really piss him off and give all the trees a HUGE cut back. Not just a trim either … there was trunks exposed in the back yard and we could actually see all the neighbors.
Mr. Yellow Bird left shortly thereafter. That was 8 months ago.
… and now that the trees have grown back in … he’s back and even more pissed off. Now he chirps as he beats the windows. Not sure what we did … but he’s definitely NOT happy.
Check out the video we took from our bedroom window.
… so today my DAMN question is this …
Why is this Mr. Yellow Bird targeting us with his hate crimes? … and why so DAMN early and often?
Any ideas?
… help Mr. Yellow Bird find his DAMN answer already so he’ll leave us alone.
Student Athlete Branding – The Internet … a blessing and a curse
Published November 18, 2011 | 
It’s no secret that Ron and I have a talented student athlete. Our son plays basketball and is driven like nobody I’ve ever known.
Being a student athlete is no joke. When I was a kid, it meant that you were good at sports and that maybe, just maybe, you could play at the next level. Grades were not really that big of a deal if you were a student athlete … and I even met a baseball player one time in college that couldn’t even read.
Those days are LONG gone though.
As early as middle school, these kids are vying for a spot on one team or another, attending camps, clinics, workshops, etc. It is very important to further the growth as an athlete, but today, to truly play at the next level, you must also excel in the classroom. The term, “Student Athlete” has “Student” at the beginning for a reason. If you can’t make it in the classroom, you will not be in serious contention for college scholarships.
A lot of athletes learn that it will take a lot of sweat to get where they want to go. They know that grades have to be a big part of the equation and they hear it from coaches all the time that like it or not, people are always watching … but there is one lesson that I feel they are not getting on the field (or floor) and it’s a very important piece for them to master.
Branding!
Yes … I know you are reading this thinking … branding? That’s what “I” have to worry about with my business … now I have to worry about it with my kid too? You do if your child wants to play competitively in college and sometimes beyond. College and professional sports is a business and therefore, branding of their incoming players is important to them as well.
With things like Facebook, Twitter, Myspace (although that’s less relevant these days), Instagram, Flickrr and other social media sites, it’s harder for these student athletes to “keep their noses clean.”
I have personally seen some kids get into serious trouble with Facebook this year. I’ve seen bullying, I’ve seen kids impersonating others in a hurtful way and I’ve seen photos that make kids “appear” to be doing something that they aren’t with a simple click of a cell phone camera.
I don’t think that kids understand the true ramifications that come with being THAT exposed. Especially when they are student athletes with a bright future ahead of them.
I think that the best way to control the environment for our student athletes is to create one from the ground up. An area where they can interact with friends, share photos, put up schedules, videos, etc. A space that they can call their own, but one where they can control what is shown and shared a little easier.
Having the experiences that we are with Zac made us realize that we could help other student athletes as well. Through RKN Studio we can help them develop a place that they can call home online. A place that will allow them to start managing their own brand – their name! If you want to check out some more info on that, you can GO HERE.
We created a website for Zac that showcases his resume to coaches, sports writers, scouts, etc. If you’d like to check out the finished product of Zac’s site, you can CLICK HERE. Before we truly launched it, we sought out advice from college coaches that we know, AAU coaches, parents and players. It allowed us to get a good combination of athletics and academics. We also had Zac design it so that it has “his” spin on it. In fact .. the student athlete packages that we’re selling are all designs that Zac created with the sole intent of helping other student athletes.
We also got Zac set up on Twitter – which has honestly been a ton of fun for him … and for me. I like seeing him interact with everyone like this. His friends are all asking him how his Mom has so many followers … and then ask how did YOU get 45 followers in 4 days – hahah. Twitter allows him to show a little of his character where photos on a website sometimes can’t truly do justice there.
I guess one confirmation that I’m doing the right thing by working with the kids is that I was asked to speak at a local high school to their football team about the dos and don’ts of social media when it comes to trying to be a college athlete.
… and apparently that was a success because they are now asking if I’ll do the same thing for ALL of their programs . That makes me happy. If I can help one kid realize their dreams … why not help more?
BRANDING … IT’S NOT JUST FOR BUSINESS ANYMORE!
Where’s My DAMN Tip? Watch the Documentary – Catfish
Published November 16, 2011 | 
Have you seen this movie yet?
Our house has been a sick house over the last week. We have exhausted all movies and such. I had this one from Netflix for WAY TO LONG because each time I tried to get Ron or Zac to watch it with me, they would say it didn’t sound good. So yesterday when Zac and I were trying to find another movie to watch on the couch, I asked him about Catfish again and he said, “Mom it doesn’t sound like something I’d like”. I said, “dude … seriously, we are stuck on a couch sick and we don’t have anything better to do right now.”
So we watched it. About 15 min into this documentary … Zac said he was WRONG.
We both loved this movie. I don’t want to give the story of this movie away. Definitely worth the time. Especially for Zac to see. If someone starts to tell you what the movie is about … stop them and beg them not to. You need to watch it yourself and experience the journey that IS this movie.
You can thank me later … seriously!!
Posted in Check This Out, Where's my DAMN tip? | 
catfish documentary, documentary, films, video rental | 
Leave a commentDusting Things Off
Published November 3, 2011 | 
I decided it was time to spruce things up around here. After all … I do web design for a living and all 
. Isn’t it funny how when it’s your business, you rarely have time to do your own stuff?
This day has been coming for some time though. I’m digging the new layout I’m working with now and I know so much more now than when I first created the site.
I finally made the decision to close My Little Pretty and with that comes closing down the website, the merchant accounts, etc. I was hosting WMDA on there and since that’s all going away, it was time to move it and upgrade. After going through all the fun posts on here in the move, I realized how much I missed this place and my friends who used to write here.
So … mixed feelings with closing MLP. I will miss it, but I am finally ready to let go. RKN Studio is doing great things. It’s growing each year and my goal is to get it to a place where we have people working for us to help even more people make their dreams a reality in their website.
I really wish that there was someone out there that would just buy MLP from me. I wouldn’t sell it for a ton, honestly it’d be just enough to pay down the line of credit I still have on it. They would get photos of all my designs, the left over components and beads as well as the website and press I have created. Hell, I’d even throw in the display shelves I used at shows. I’d love to see someone actually do something with it. I just don’t have the drive for it anymore after the market crashed. Wishful thinking … I know!
Instead … I think I’ll start putting the beads and components online for sale to pay things off.
With every ending there is a new beginning. Time to begin already .
I guess it goes without saying that here I am again, asking, “Where’s My DAMN Answer?” hahahahahaha
For those of you still here … I’ve heard from the other ladies of WMDA and it sounds like we are all ready to come back here and there. Maybe not as often as we did before, but more than we currently are .
How do you like THEM apples? Don’t say you weren’t warned – hah!
Kristy
Posted in Check This Out, My Wish List | my little pretty, new beginnings, re-design, rkn studio, WMDA | Leave a commentWe have a winner … wait a min … we have TWO winners!
Published June 15, 2011 | 
The FREE WINE GIVEAWAY has come to a close. We used Random Org to come up with our two lucky winners.
The winners are: Jackie McDoougall (Comment No. 7) and Elle from Elle’s New England Kitchen (Comment No. 34). Please email Cathy your mailing address? Once we have that, we’ll give it to the winery and they will ship direct.
As is ALWAYS the case with wine … there must be someone 21 or older to sign for the wine.
Thanks for playing . I forgot how much fun it was to do a giveaway. Hey Cathy … what can we give away next?
Posted in Check This Out, WMD Wine Review | Andrew Caldwell, Legends of wine, living ledgend, wine giveaway | 2 CommentsJodycakes Rocks!
Published November 22, 2010 | Our very own Jodycakes has been written up over on Culture Map Houston. It’s a GREAT write up with some tips on how to bake Vegan and at the end of the write up, there is even a video. If that’s not enough … she’s even sharing one of her recipes for Pumpkin Spice Vegan Cupcakes with Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting.
Such a great article … and video … I miss you Jodycakes!
Do Fun Stuff (or why bother)
Published August 31, 2010 | 
This is my motto for the day!
One of our friends, Ryan (that some of you probably read – and if you don’t, should) has been working on an AWESOME project. I mean not just a little awesome … BIG FAT INSPIRATIONAL AWESOME! REALLY!!
I’ll stop yelling now, but seriously … did I mention … it’s awesome?
He has put together one of the best kid/parent/adults albums with some great bands and as if the music wasn’t fun enough to stand on it’s own, it’s got 100% of the proceeds going to a very worthwhile cause – Smith Magenis Syndrome (SMS). It’s call Do Fun Stuff and can be found on iTunes. Yesterday it hit the number one spot in the childrens music genre on iTunes and was battling with Yo Gabba Gabba for that spot throughout the afternoon.
I can’t get the widget to show up on our blog, but I can link to Ryan’s entry (Pacing The Panic Room) where you can listen to the songs and read the story behind why he did this project. Also here: dofunstuff.net
Here is a link to just one post that sums up why I love Ryan (his writing and his family). You’ll hear his voice as well as see a video of Cole, LB and Tessa that will truly melt your heart and make you want to have every person you know buy a copy of this album.
I have been reading and watching LB grow up for the past couple of years and have no reservations in buying this cd right now in order to help start some case studies to learn more about this disease. Ryan and his family are a shining example of what love in a family can do and I’m jumping on their band wagon with both feet.
I hope you’ll enjoy it enough to hop on with me too.
Click the image to the right in this post to go to the iTunes page where you can purchase your copy TODAY! I thank you in advance .
Princess and the Pea
Published July 18, 2010 | I am 42 years old and have never had to shop for my own mattress. Can you believe that?
When I got married the first time, my Mom and Grandma took me out and said, we’re buying you a mattress … we picked one out and brought it home and it was done. I don’t even remember laying on them to try them all out. Poof … it was just there.
Ron and I did them math and it was 17+ years ago that the mattress we were sleeping on was purchased. No wonder my joints hurt when we were sleeping … there was nothing left to the springs. It felt like we were sleeping on something like this … :: pointing to photo on the right ::
So we decide this is the year for us to bite the bullet and pick out a new mattress. OMG what a pain in the ass THAT is. I had NO clue!
We started at the big box companies (Ortho Matress and Sit and Sleep) because their commercials told us that after 8 our mattress should be replaced because of the dust mites. At 17+ years old, I’m sure that our dust mites needed a cane so they probably were not as scary anymore – haha. We tried every bed that they hadl … we did the computerized test to see what you were supposed to be sleeping on, we were tired just from laying on all those beds. Oh and the price tag – YIKES.
So I come home and do what I do best … research. I looked up reviews on every single mattress and every one of them had some kind of negative feed back on them – they sagged quickly, they were not comfortable, the manufacturer didn’t stand behind the product, etc. I then expanded my research to include “how to select a mattress” because I figured that surely I was missing something. That is when we came up with an article that suggested buying direct from a smaller local manufacturer that you could actually go tour to see how they were really making your bed because some big box companies throw all kinds of left over foam into your mattress in order to save cash. They also do the single sided thing for the same reason now … all about the almighty dollar and not our comfort … figures.
The first manufacturer I found was in Ontario, CA … then the next I found was Custom Comfort Mattresses in Orange County. I went to both websites and was impressed with the Custom Comfort Mattress because they offered tours … and then I watched a video on their site that explained that they made mattresses like they did 20 years ago … but better. They don’t make them single sided … they are double sided so that you can still flip them and get more life from such an expensive purchase.
The kicker was that I also did the same research that I did on all the other mattresses and what was a little weird was that I didn’t come up with anything negative. I dug some more and the only thing I saw was something about a lawsuit against the brother to separate stores … families in business have issues … I’m ok with that – it’s their deal.
So Ron and I decided to make a little stop on the way back from San Diego. If there was something we liked, we figured we’d go to the one that is going to be opening in Pasadena next month. We got to see samples of a lot of the beds that we were trying out from the big box stores and let me say … holy foam scraps bat man! Literally … that’s what it looks like in there.
We explained how far we lived away and that we were ok with waiting until the Pasadena, CA store opened and they said, no problem they were not charging us for a delivery fee and they also would take our old bed away! BONUS!!
We ended up getting a mattress that is double sided with a double sided pillow top and the pillow top is detachable so we can flip that more often and we could even replace just that if we needed to for some reason. I also dug the fact that this mattress isn’t using foam like the others out there … they use latex and it helps keep the bed a little cooler – ANOTHER BONUS!!
They delivered it a few weeks ago and OMG … I never knew how much of a difference it would make in my sleeping. The first few nights I figured it was just the newness and maybe I was making more of it than it was, but honestly, I actually sleep through the night on most nights now. Oh … but there is one thing that we didn’t count on … it’s MUCH higher than our old bed (it seriously comes up to my waist now) … like so high that I have to jump and roll into the bed each night and THAT makes me giggle like a little girl each time.
So for those of you out there that are in the frame of mind to start shopping for a mattress, before you just jump at a name brand because you recognize it (or your Grandma says it’s good), I suggest you do what we did and find a smaller manufacturer in your area, go look at their facility, ask a bunch of questions and see how the bed you will spend 3/4 of your time in is made. THEN once you have done ALL that, lay on each one and find the one that your body likes best. It will save you lots of grief down the road.
You can thank me and my “mad research skills” later .
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