With a Twist Wednesday

With a twist... I like the sound of that!  Martini anyone?

 

I decided to stay on track with my blogs I'd start doing certain things on certain days, a trend I've seen other bloggers do!  So, since Wednesday is in the middle of the week and a good cocktail night I thought I'd call it With a Twist Wednesday.

 

The point?  Showing great ways to wear a basic tee!  I'm now obsessed with Polyvore, it's a great way to show what you're thinking... and seeing how it looks all put together.  Also a great way to build a closet! 

 

So for the very first one I'm using the new miracles tee!  It's now available online in v neck, cropped or off the shoulder.  I'm LOVING the tealish turquoise that the miracles, pushing the limits and dreams (coming soon) comes in!

 

 

For today I paired the miracles v-neck with peacock inspired heels (really any awesome color blocked ones will do) with a bright blazer, as well as bangles (a necessity for almost any outfit) and a fun bun (another new obsession of mine!)

 

Don't forget to check out our Pinterest at:  www.pinterest.com/mingoink

Plus we're giving away a cropped tee so enter on the giveaway page of our facebook:  www.facebook.com/mingoink

I'm also posting everything to Twitter so you can follow us there too!

 

I'd love to know how you put the twist on a basic tee!

 

Cheers,

 

Tiffiney

 

 

 

 

I want it Now...

I've been struggling with this idea for a blog all night... do I write it?  How do I phrase what I want to say? 

So, I decided to go for it in honor of the "believes in dreams," shirts I just ordered... in my favorite color I might add.

So instant gratification is something I struggle with.  I like to see results.  I have absolutely no patience.  However, it's not that I expect things handed to me on a silver platter (don't mistake instant gratification with entitlement) I am perfectly willing to work for it.  I just don't like waiting. 

Case in point.  I'm down 20 pounds... yeah!  However, I want to be at my goal.  I've turned down delicious margaritas, cupcakes (the really original gourmet kind that you feel like you HAVE to try just because you're curious) and pizza, lots of pizza. 

I think every single time you turn down something delicious that is offered to you your body should automatically drop a pound.  How amazing would that be?  Then you would truly be rewarded for willpower! 

Then again I just had a flash of that 90s made for TV movie with Suzanne Sommers where she makes a deal with the devil to lose weight.  I don't remember much more than that- just that it ended badly.  Don't even ask why I thought of that- I had to be super little when it was on!  (just checked on IMDB and it was called Devil's Food... which reminded me of cake... I just said no- another pound gone?)  Since I'm drooling I thought you needed to too.

Click for recipe

Click for Duncan Hines link if you can't resist!

So I figured I'd cave and post a picture of me.  I mean how am I supposed to prove progress to you guys without a picture of me.  This was on my 30th Birthday- with my baby brother- about a month before I started.  You can't see the dress underneath the cardigan but it's already too big and out of my closet- to be donated soon!



How amazingly cute is my brother? Love him SO much!

So what exactly is my point?  You know, speaking of me being off topic sometimes, okay all the time.  My biggest critism on every single paper I wrote from Middle School through College was that I didn't stay on topic for my point =)  I'm trying to improve that with my blog.

My point is that I have so many goals.  I have so many dreams (hence the new shirt in my favorite color) and I want them now.  Doesn't everyone?  However, I'm working towards them and I'm learning that the best way to stay on track is to celebrate the small victories... all the way up until I (you) reach my (your) big goal and then I (you) set a new one!  

Yup that's how my brain works

Okay so I have a tendency to get all touchy feely.  It's something I'm working on I promise. 

In my head I want to be this person that inspires people to create quote posters on Pinterest every time I speak.  



Like this one, Love it, Live it
Click Image for original Link

 In actuality, I think I end up sounding like an extremely wordy Hallmark card.  Since I know I go over the top quite a bit I appreciate the bold, meaningful statements- hence the elegantly simple designs of Mingo. 

(Side Note:  I love Hallmark- I'm from KC, Hallmark is from KC- it's like we're bffs or something.  Support them, buy cards for your loved ones... but you have to buy super cheesy or super random- it's the only way to go.  Slightly humorous doesn't get the point across.) 

(Side Note Part 2:  About 15 separate times I actually started filling out the creative worksheets that Hallmark has on their website to find new talent... I only submitted 1 of the 15.)

(Side Note Part 3:  Hallmark was responsible for the creation of Rainbow Brite, who was my favorite as a child.  I was even in the fan club, but that's a story for another day.) 

That being said I also heard from a few little birdies that my random thoughts are the most entertaining to read so that being said... format change:  the randomness will be intertwined with words of my supposed wisdom. 

So on with how my brain works

Today I decided I'm a little bit crazy.  I talk to people- while they are inside a car and I am not in that vehicle with them.  This happened today on three separate occasions.

1)  When I arrived at a four way stop at the exact same time as two other people I said, out loud, "No, it' okay- you go ahead."  With no hand motions to convey my intentions.  Nope, simply talking apparently to no one but myself.

2)  When I walked right out in front of a car at Petsmart while picking Zoe up at Day camp.  Yes, occasionally my dog goes to Day camp.  She plays and gets her nails trimmed and it's an amazing thing.  Seriously, the first time you saw how excited she gets when I reach for her leash instead of sending her to nigh night (yes, I do say it like that) you would take her to.  ANYWAY- I was almost hit by a car and I found myself mumbling, "OMG I'm so sorry."  Not that he got the message because I kept walking and once again, I forgot the customary wave.

Look at that face =)

3)  I diagnose what happened when I pass fender benders.  Then say it out loud like I'm on CSI.  Sometimes, if I have an audience I'll even pause for dramatic effect like Horatio Caine on CSI Miami.  You don't even want to know how amazing my imitation is if I happen to be wearing sunglasses.   

So moral of the story today:  Buy cards and remember to use polite hand signals when trying to communicate with people inside of vehicles. 

OH and Enter my contest for the size S "Pushing the Limits" tee!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Pushing the Limits

I'm reordering "Pushing the Limits" today.  So I thought it would be the perfect time to talk about it because it's definitely one of my favorites (if you want to know a secret- they're all my favorites!)

Original- model Jess Holland

Pushing the Limits is one of my themes for 2013 for a few different reasons. 

First, I've mentioned before that I'm not comfortable in my own skin.  I know I'm intelligent, creative and often entertaining but I still second guess myself because I'm not happy with the way I look.  It doesn't reflect the me that I feel I am or the image I want to project to the world. 

Second, I'm building a brand in a time that a lot of people are struggling with small businesses.  It's a brand that I want to inspire others.  My goal is to have people embrace who they are, what they believe and go on to accomplish amazing things:  personally, professionally and charitably (it doesn't seem like that should be a grammatically correct word... but spell check said yes so I'll go with it.)

So I thought the start of 2013 is a great time to embrace my personal changes and relaunch the shirt in my favorite colors!

SPOILER ALERT

The new design will be on black with a monochromatic teal ink and will be slightly larger so that it looks good on all our styles. 

I'm dying to know- what limits are you pushing this year?

Physical?  Mental?  Professional?  Personal?  Superficial?  Life Changing?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

6 degrees to who?

I love the idea that we're all connected.  I also think that sometimes we forget that we're not that far away from the guy you pass on a street corner or the lady you scream at in a fit of road rage.  So thinking about this led me to the thinking about 6 Degrees of Separation (have you ever played 6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon?)

 

 Can you connect them?   (Photo Source IMDB)

 I've also discovered that you can literally type "Bacon number ______" into Google and it will tell you the connections.  Where was this during my high school theater days?  (Yes I know I was/am a nerd =)

So that leads me to thinking about who I'd connect to if I could... and how easy would it be?  If I had to narrow it down I'm thinking...

Ryan Reynolds:  Let's face it he's gorgeous, seems like a genuine guy and I might also get to meet his wife (who I think is gorgeous and amazing!) Plus I wanted an excuse to put his face on my blog!

How can you not love him?  (Photo Source IMDB)

Then I was thinking who would be a great Mingo Spokesperson?  Who lives what they believe?  Who has personality quirks but doesn't hide who they are?  I love celebrities that break out of the mold or who show their less than perfect side!

Could our Mingo fans help us connect with someone amazing?  (Is there someone would wear a tee and maybe get their picture taken?  For almost nothing?)

So who is your top person to meet?  Do you think we could use the 6 degrees theory to make a Mingo connection?  What connection to people do you think we overlook daily?

I want to start out by saying that I can not begin to understand the pain that the community of Newtown, CT is feeling right now.  I don't understand how anyone could bring themselves to hurt a child or those that protect them.  I have spent three days trying to come up with the right thing to say, thinking about how I can make a difference and I end up typing and deleting because nothing seems enough. 

In memory of the victims I want challenge us all to positively affect someone else.  To commit a random act of kindness on a personal basis.  To make a difference, big or small, and show people that they matter- that someone wanted to go out of their way for them. 

So I decided to issue a challenge.  I want people to commit random acts of kindness and share them, use their stories to inspire others.  For complete details see below.

The Challenge

 

1.  Commit three random acts of kindness (It can be anything as long as it positively affects the other person's day and it's something that you wouldn't typically do.) 

 

2.  Tell us about it!  I want people to be inspired, to get ideas of what they can do so post your results on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/mingoink) or our Twitter (www.twitter.com/mingoink) and use the hashtag #Love

 

3.  For every act you post on our page (Limit one story entry per day) I'll enter you in to win a "believes in Love" tee.  It can be for you OR you can send it to someone you care about to remind them they are loved.

 

4.  Challenge ends at 11:59p.m. on December 31, 2012.  Two shirts will be given out the first week of January. 

 



I Believe... I am... I want... The Beginning

Mingo launched at the end of August of 2012. It's been an amazing four months. However, with the end of the first calender year I've been thinking about what I personally believe, what I am, what I want to be and how I want to impact the world. Which has led me to this blog post... and the beginning of becoming the face of Mingo, not just the idea.

I Believe...

I believe in impacting the world. 

I believe in helping others live their dream. 

I believe in paying it forward. 

I believe in Love, Angels, Peace, Miracles, Karma, Inner Beauty, Pushing the Limits and

Happily Ever After.  (Plus lots more to come!)

I believe anything is POSSIBLE!

 

I Am...

Talking about me is something I usually avoid.  Above are some of my core beliefs and a lot of the reasons I wanted to start Mingo.  I want to make a difference (doesn't everyone?) However, I have a lot about myself I want to change and some things I want to learn to accept.  My biggest insecurity is that I am overweight.

This holds me back from being the President Mingo deserves.  I have an amazing sense of fashion, yet I'm afraid of being taken seriously.  I avoid the spotlight, hiding behind those amazing women who represent Mingo so well.  It affects almost every aspect of my life.

Which is why this blog is about three key things:

1)  Making a positive impact:  the people who wear Mingo and why as well as the people we benefit.

2)  Learning to embrace who I am:  the struggles of physically becoming who I want to be as well as learning to embrace my personality quirks!

3)  Building Mingo as a brand:  the business, the successes, and the failures of starting a new line.

I Want...

I want you to know me, I want you to be a part of Mingo.  I want to encourage people to embrace their beliefs and their personality quirks.  I want to inspire. 

What do you believe?  Who are you?  What do you want?