Lana Lately

I hope all of you checked out (and followed) 

my amazing sponsors yesterday! 

I still have two more sponsor posts coming, 

so be on the look out for some more lovely ladies!

I decided to spend today giving you guys a quick update on my life.

If you've been following my blog for awhile, 

you know that I quit my last job at the motorsports dealership
because I didn't like the way I was treated
(sexually harassed and unappreciated).

I have applied at a few jobs, here and there, 

and went for an interview last Friday at a 

Christian Publishing Company,
about 40 minutes from home. 

I could tell the boss liked me, 

but he said he still had a few other applicants to interview.

Well...within an hour he called and offered me the job!

He said I interviewed very well and that he REALLY liked me.

I took the weekend to think about the offer, because

although it's an amazing company
with plenty of room for advancement,

I'd be starting at the bottom of the totem pole 

(which also means bottom of the pay scale).

While I'd normally be okay with this...
because I would be commuting, 

I had to weigh my options.

After much debate, I accepted the offer.

I am very excited to start my new job in the Marketing 
Department at a wonderful, 
Christian Publishing Company. 

Baby C topped 5 pounds! Yay!

However, because Baby C is now up to 5 pounds
and seemingly healthy, the Indian Tribe has decided to step in
and take her into their jurisdiction.

(In Oklahoma, Indian Tribes have their own rules--

same reason we have casinos in Oklahoma). 

So, as soon as a Tribal home is found,
Baby C will be leaving us.

We love them while we have them, then we let them go...

Yesterday was my first day of MBA classes 
for the semester.

My break from homework has, unfortunately, come to an end.

Only 6 more months...only 6 more months...

Until next time, 

The Intelligent Blonde

January Sponsors

Have you checked out my sponsors yet?

If your answer was no--shame on you! 

Today, I'm going to spotlight a few of those lovely ladies.
Be sure to show them some love!

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Ashley is one of my best blogger friends (bbf)!

Even though her husband thinks I'm invisible...

Not only is she awesome (and laughs at all of my jokes), 

but she lives ON the ocean.  Fan-freaking-tastic for her. 

Seriously though, I'm living vicariously through her 

and I think you should, too! 

I'm Ashley from Sweet Tea in Sicily. I'm a newlywed from the deep south that was uprooted and shipped off to Sicily, Italy after a whirlwind romance and marrying my soulmate, Aaron, who is in the U.S. Navy. I'm just your typical stay at home wife (read: trophy wife), blogging about my wonderful marriage and adventures of every day life... cooking, cleaning, laying out on the dock, sipping amazing Italian wine, trying to blend in with the Sicilians (and failing miserably), traveling the world, making mistakes, laughing at myself, sharing memories, making lists, caring for my amazing hubster, missing my loved ones (& puppy!), and making memories along the way. Come and follow along as I share my stories and adventures of Sweet Tea in Sicily.

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Katie was one of my first blogger friends
and she is one of the sweetest girls, ever! 
She writes about her life in a way that makes 
you feel like you're standing right beside her.
I'm patiently waiting for her to get her diamond : )

Hey there! My name is Katie and I blog at His Diamond & Mine. My blog is all about my life, as a college baseball girlfriend and college senior. I love documenting my health/diet kicks, trips across the U.S., and daily adventures. I am obsessed with organization, completing my closet with online shopping sprees, and country music. Stop on by His Diamond & Mine, the MY diamond is coming soon ;)

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Amanda is an awesome blogger!

At "For Love of a Cupcake," you can find anything 

from posts about her adorable dog 

to motivational posts that are guaranteed 

to make you want to get off that booty!

Hi! I'm Amanda...and I blog over at For Love of a Cupcake! You will find many random things at my blog! I'm addicted to exclamation points, Starbucks coffee, and baking! E (my fiancé) and I have cute pup named Chloe so you'll be bombarded with tons of photos of her! I have recently become obsessed with beards...ever since E started growing one! Hope you'll stop by!

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The next fabulous blogger, Amber, is a fellow Oklahoman.

I actually used to go to college and church with her! 

She is a wonderful, Christian woman and such an inspiration to me.

You can see her love for God in everything she writes. 

Oh, and she is SUPER creative, too!

My name is Amber from over at The Pless Press. I am a newlywed who is just trying to find her way through cooking, crafting, and becoming the best wife I can be. I strive everyday to live my life to the fullest and to share my love of the Lord with others. I would love to have you stop by!

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I just recently found Lindsay's blog, 

but it has quickly become one of my favorites!

Who doesn't love a gorgeous, Southern girl?

Hey There! So first a quick thanks to the awesome Alana for having me on this Sponsor Swap. This is my first time so please go easy on me! My name is Lindsay, pleased to meet you!  I'm from the good 'ol southern state of Georgia and am in love with life. I am extremely family oriented, graduated last year, landed and am working my first big girl job, am in my first apartment, and learning to live an awesome life on a budget. Whew. I know I know, alot to take in. But I would just LOVE the chance to meet you. You can find me at Lindsay Nicole where I put in a little bit of everything. Hope to see you soon!

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Now hurry on over to these lovely blogs 

and show them some love!

I still have several more bloggers to feature this month, 

but if you're one of those students who likes to 

read BEFORE class, click on their buttons 

(on the right side of my blog)!

Until next time, 

The Intelligent Blonde

Lana's Rules of Dating

While reading Miss Chelsea's Rules of Dating, 

I not only found myself agreeing with everything,

but I found myself wanting to write my rules on paper down.
I decided to take it a step further...
what better way to compose rules of dating
than by getting input from one of your exes?
That's right ladies and gents, the following rules were co-written!
(and only a few of these rules were based off of each other)

So here it goes:

1. Do not ask me to go out the day before the date.
And preferably, don't ask me via text.

2.  Have plans.
DO NOT ask me what I want to do/where I want to eat.
I'm an outspoken person and never fail to tell people what I think,
but I WILL find something to eat on the menu no matter where we go.
Seriously...I hate Japanese/Chinese (is there really a difference?),
but I will take one for the team and eat rat-on-a-stick if need be.
And "hanging out" doesn't count as plans.
I "hang out" with my guy friends, ie..."hanging out" is not a date.

3.  Do not cancel our date the day of the date.
I don't care if your grandma died,
she CLEARLY isn't going anywhere....
she'll still be dead after our date!
haha jk.  If there is a REAL emergency,
canceling the date is acceptable.
Yo momma calling and wanting to do dinner
is NOT an emergency or an acceptable reason.

4.  Open doors.
All doors.
Including my car door.
I have been known to make this difficult for the guys 
by reaching for the door myself (independent woman for ya ha ha), 
but I at least want to see your effort. 

5.  Do not answer your phone/text while on our date.
If you check your phone more than twice an hour,
I will "spill" my water, submerging your phone in water,
or refuse a second date (depending on how cute you are).
Not only is it rude, but it makes me feel
like you'd rather be anywhere than out with me.

6.  Do not talk about your exes.
You're on a date with me for a reason.
Don't tell me how long you were with your ex
or what you did with them, because frankly, I don't care.

7.  Serious talk is forbidden.
At least until we've been dating for awhile.
Stay away from the "L" word, until you REALLY mean it--I'm not 15,
I won't believe that you are in love with me and let you in my pants.
Chantz goes so far as to say that marriage and kids should not come up,
(or any future plans, for that matter) beyond the realm of plans for the week.
He's not a commitment-phobe or anything...

8.  Do not talk about intimacy.
Sex should not be brought up until AT LEAST date #3.
Don't tell me your number, or your turn ons.
If you bring it up, I will assume you're a whore, just lookin for some action.
Sidenote: Just because you bring it up, DOES NOT mean you'll be gettin any.
If you know me at all, you'll know I want that ring, first!

9.  If I comment that some dessert looks amazing, 
take the hint.
I want the dessert but won't order it for fear that you'll think I'm a cow.
Order it for me.

10.  When I offer to pay, REFUSE my offer.
While I am an independent woman and
perfectly capable of buying my own dinner,
be a gentleman and pick up the tab.
If you let me pay my part, I'll put you in the friend zone forevermore.

11.  Follow-up.
After the date, send me a text/call me
and let me know you enjoyed it and want to do it again.
Otherwise I'm going to assume you're gay.

12. Do not make it facebook official after our first date.
That is creeper status right there.
One date DOES NOT mean we are exclusive, by any means.
Furthermore, do not use facebook to make it official.
I want you to ask me to be your girlfriend. IN PERSON.
For the record, I am anti-facebook relationship statuses;
I just don't like people bein all up in my business....

*I just remembered this one and edited the original post to include it:
13. Do not talk about money.
Or balance your checkbook while on a date with me.
This includes calling your mother to have
her check your account balance online.
If you're THAT worried about your money,
go home and eat your Ramen Noodles...ALONE.

Until next time, 

The Intelligent Blonde