When I said I appreciated constructive criticism, I meant it. I take every word to heart. But what I didn’t expect when I said that was to get a hundred emails from readers and Formspring.me questions pointing out everything wrong with me and the way I live my life. I never imagined I would be dragged over hot coals until I bled. Those of you that commented on my last blog post, thank you for being so respectful in your opinions! If everyone had responded like you did, I’d be in a much better place.

I don’t want to be the girl that was a crying, blubbering mess in the middle of Starbucks like I was yesterday. I understand not everyone is going to like me or agree with me, but I ask that you please respect me.

People forget there is someone on the other side of the keyboard that has a heart. At the end of the day, I am just a girl trying to live my life in the best way I know how.

Some of you might think I’m letting the “anonymous haters” win or I’m giving up too easily or I’m just a weak person who needs to grow a backbone because, after all, I did ask for honest feedback.

And maybe you’d be right.

But this time I choose me. I don’t need to win or be right or have the last word. I want to be happy.

In the upcoming months, my life is only going to get busier with traveling, writing, and working two jobs. I need to focus on those things and my loved ones rather than emails and comments from people who are trying to hurt me.

But I promise I will be back to blogging someday. This blog is not going private or disappearing. It’s simply going on a break. For how long? I do not know…

To my readers, thank you for going on this roller coaster ride with me.

To those that have emailed or commented your loving words of support, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

To my wonderful friends, you made this all worth it. I love you more than I can express.

And last, to Mr. Mojito, thank you for loving me, believing in me, and supporting me in every aspect of my life. In you, I found somebody I want to spend the rest of my life with, and I’m going to hold onto you forever.

I have disabled comments on this post because, frankly, my heart just cannot take any more beatings.

Until the dust settles, I have deactivated my Formspring.me/MojitoMaven account, but I plan on re-activating it in the future.

I will still be on Twitter and answering emails if you’d like to talk. (mojitomaven {at} gmail {dot} com)

I’ll see you all again on the flip side…

Blog love,

MM

Last night I received a comment from a long-time reader that made me pause and think.

But this wasn’t a “hate” comment, and it wasn’t anonymous. It was honest.

And it floored me. I felt like I got punched in the stomach. I typically have a VERY thick skin, but constrictive criticism (as opposed to anonymous hate mail) can make you think twice. I appreciate and respect genuine, sincere criticism. I always take it to heart.

This time, the constructive criticism stabbed me in the front. I’m still taking time to process, to think, to regroup.

One of her points was the she felt that the “personal” side to my blog has fallen by the wayside, leaving me appearing self-centered and preachy.

She’s right. It has. I rarely share personal stories on my blog anymore.

Why you ask? Well mainly it’s because I don’t feel like I have that many funny personal stories to share {read: my life is boring}. I spend my days juggling two jobs, writing a novel, and having some semblance of a personal life. Mr. Mojito also works two jobs while pursuing an MBA. Frankly, we’re just not that interesting.

I know my readers don’t want to constantly hear about how much writing this book is kicking my ass or how my jobs are wearing me down.

Plus, I’m not sure anyone is interested in my stupid stories from Starbucks like the lady that wears toe socks with Birkenstocks while wearing a dress or the man who sits in the same chair every Sunday, reading the newspaper before falling into a snoring, train-wrecking sleep.

Not to mention my office got moved to a different place in the building so I no longer have Mr. Toe Nail Biter to blog about.

So instead of blogging about mundane things, I say nothing about my life. I tend to blog about things I ponder or want advice on like sling back shoes or which phone I should buy.

But that’s no excuse, and I know it. It’s one of the reasons I had the blog poll asking about sharing personal information and stories on the blog. I’m going to try to start sharing more about my life.

I hate that a long-time reader thinks I’m preachy and self-centered. I never wanted to come across that way, and it hurts me that I did. I’m sorry.

I’m not asking for comments that say variations of the following…

“Don’t let the haters get you down.” OR “Screw the person who said that.”

…because this person was not a “hater”. She’s one of my readers whose opinion I value. She was just being honest, and I appreciate it.

Anyway, this has been weighing heavily on my heart since last night, and I really needed to get it off my chest.

Happy Friday!

I received several questions asking for a weekly blog segment written by Mr. Mojito.

Honestly, it has never really crossed my mind to do something like this, but if there is enough interest, I’ll ask my charming husband if he’d log on to my blog weekly and write-up a little ditty for all of you.

So, some questions:

Is there interest in seeing a weekly blog segment from my better half? {It is perfectly fine for you to tell me that you would rather staple your fingers together than hear from him.}

If there is interest, what topics would you want him to discuss?

Would you want to ask him questions, and he answers them? {If you want to ask him questions, you can email them to me, leave a comment, or leave a question on formspring.me/MojitoMaven, and I will compile a list for him.}

Would you want him to write about life with me? Would you want him to write about whatever the heck he wants?

Thoughts?

Side note: This is all pending the go ahead from him

So I’ve re-activated my account.

Have a question for me? Click here!

There is also a place to ask me a question on my sidebar!

All of my answers can be found on formspring.me/MojitoMaven and some will be posted to my twitter account.

image c/o Perez Photography

Blogger Poll:

Do you think it is appropriate to discuss your significant other/relationship on your blog including happy times, arguments, finances, sex, and mundane things?

A. No. It’s never appropriate. Relationships should remain private.
B. It’s normal to blog about all aspects of your relationship as long as your significant other knows about it.
C. It depends on the topic. {Which topics would be off limits?}
D. Other.

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Let’s discuss our favorite cast of characters:

SILEX!!

Simon says, “Is that a boner I spy? Oh wait, that’s just a piece of string.”

Ol’ Crazy Eyes is back!

And on that note, is Ramona on drugs or just insane?

Count-less Luann de Lesseps

…need I say more?

Jill Zarin and Bethenny

Once BFFs. Now mortal enemies. Or as Bethenny says, “Why would Jill be hanging with Jon Gosselin and Michael Lohan? That was like an episode of ‘The Surreal Life.’ It is utterly embarrassing. I mean, honestly, Urkel should have come – and if Gary Coleman showed up, it would have been perfect.”

Kelly Bensimon

…is one “housewife” you do not want to piss off. Did I mention she was arrested for assault? And apparently she’s a thief? And don’t forget her infamous, “This is you, this is me” exchange with Bethenny.

CANNOT. WAIT!!

Lucky for me, the “cure” is an over the counter medication. On the way home from work, I went to my local grocery store and walked to the medication aisle.

And then I just stood there. I couldn’t bring myself to actually buy the medication.

Because then I would actually have to go to the check-out line and have the cashier SEE the purchase that will not be named. And that would be embarrassing as hell.

So there I stood, looking like a fumbling idiot in the midst of a panic attack.

After ten minutes of staring numbly ahead, an employee asked if I needed any help. I mumbled that I was just browsing (because you know, it’s perfectly normal to “browse” the medication aisle) and that I was fine. Unfortunately for me, I am standing right in front of the medicine I need. The stupid box of miracle fix-it just sits on the shelf looking smug, burning holes into me and laughing as my face gets more red.

Of course the employee notices what I’m looking at. He turns to me and says, “You need ___?” And that was when I ran down the aisle, flew out the sliding glass doors, and jumped into my car.

Now I’m at home with no medicine, a self-diagnosed disease, and another embarrassing moment to add to my belt.

Awesome.

Cue the affordableness that is Etsy and Valentine’s Day!

I bring you some fun additions to my closet:

My clutch is canary yellow with an eggplant-colored liner.

My clutch has a pistachio-colored liner instead of Egyptian blue.

If you’re looking for some fun clutches, I highly recommend checking out Etsy!

You can noodle on that for a bit if you so desire.

ANYWAY, as promised, I bring you the bling post. Sadly, I SUCK at taking pictures of jewelry so please excuse the poor picture quality.

Some stats:

- The setting is virtually the same as my Cartier 1895 setting.
- We decided to order a plain wedding band with the setting in case I don’t feel like wearing my eternity bands.
- The solitaire and wedding band are around 2mm in width.
- The stone is round brilliant and an upgrade in size from my previous diamond.
- I lurve it!

Here are some shots from the designer’s website:

Here’s my failed attempt at capturing my new ring sitting pretty on my finger:

Side note: I like to play around with my eternity bands. Sometimes I wear them stacked. Other times I wear them on either side of the solitaire. When I don’t feel like wearing them with my engagement ring, I wear them stacked on my right hand. Choices, choices!

I’m FAIL in the fashion department, but I know diamonds. So if you have questions about all things sparkly, I am your girl!

And I want to talk about the best part of the Holiday That Will Not Be Named that many people despise.

If there’s a universal emblem of Valentine’s Day candy, it’s conversation hearts.

Be Good.
Be True.
Marry Me.
My Love.
Kiss Me.

While these candies are fun to play with and provide a much needed distraction from life, that’s about all they’re good for. These candies taste like a disastrous combination of chalk and paste blended with liquid sugar goop. In fact, eating too many can induce side effects of nausea. Not like I’d know or anything…

Seriously, what the hell are these little “candies” made of anyway?

So you all don’t have to waste your time, this morning I was lucky enough to try BOTH Necco and Brach’s conversation hearts. Brach’s wins hands down in taste, but Brach’s sayings are sloppier and harder to read.

What are your thoughts, dear readers? Love them? Hate them?

Make your own conversation hearts here!