Meet and Greet Friday | Here Comes the Sun

Happy Friday! How was your Christmas?  I hope it was lovely.  Did you get everything you wanted? My family is here -- and honestly, I couldn't have asked for anything more.  Having everyone together her in St. Louis is so much fun!!

Anywho, it's time for our final Meet and Greet!  I've decided not to proceed with hosting this in 2014.  I'm having such a terrible time keeping up with two blogs and a shop.  I'm so sorry!  However, we do get to meet another fabulous blogger TODAY!  Kelly of Here Comes The Sun.

What inspired the name of your blog?
My blog is named after one of my favorite Beatles songs. It reminds me that at the end of every dark period in life, the sun will eventually come out again. It's how I try to look at life.

What is your blog about and why?
I consider my blog a lifestyle blog. At first, it was mainly crafts and DIY home decor because that's what I do the most. But then I discovered food blogs and I got hooked on creating yummy food photographs so I have begun to add recipes too. My mission is to show people that they can live a creative life on a budget. It's what I like to do so that's what I like to share with my readers.

Share with us some of your more popular posts.
Some of my most popular posts are my DIY Bay Window Curtain Rod, Yellow Chevron Curtains and my Soda Bottle Birdfeeder.

What are five words that desccribe you?
Energetic - I really cannot stand to sit still for very long. I feel like I have to being doing something at all times of the day or I do not feel productive.
Goofy - sometimes you just need to let loose
Driven - when I decide that I'm going to do something, there is no quitting till its done.
Creative - my blog pretty much sums this word up.
Nature lover - always been a fan of the outdoors.

Do you have hobbies outside of blogging? If so, what are they?
In addition to blogging, I also enjoy running and any type of outdoor activity like hiking and camping. And relaxing on the beach

You can also find Kelly here:
Facebook | Pinterest | Twitter | Instagram | Google+

Meet and Greet Friday | Cheerios & Lattes

Happy Friday!  I'm super excited to introduce you to Mackenzie from Cheerios and Lattes.  I had the privilege of meeting Mackenzie at Blissdom this past year.  I love her passion for blogging and her love for Jesus.  Let's get this par-tay started.   

When did you start blogging?
I began blogging in January of 2011.

What was your purpose for starting a blog? Has it changed? 

I actually had never really followed any blogs consistently before I started my own. The idea of blogging actually came from a family member who works on the ad company side of things. I told him I was completely puzzled why former teachers now stay at home moms were ‘giving away’ lesson plans and printables. It blew my mind because I knew how much work went into creating those types of things.

When he shared with me the fact that those bloggers were actually making money for sharing/creating. I immediately thought that it would be a great way to help supplement our income since I was switching from full –time teaching to part-time. Because I wasn’t working full-time anymore for the purpose of being with our boys, I didn’t feel that I could justify taking the time needed for blogging if it was just a hobby, but if it was simply sharing activities I was doing with our boys, crafts, recipes, etc. that were normal parts of our life, it was a great fit and blessing for our family! My purpose has not changed in the almost two years I have been blogging. My purpose is clearly a creative outlet that helps support our family by sharing the everyday life things we have going on. Blogging has really been such a blessing to our family not only income wise, by also by all the great opportunities it has given us together! It has truly been a ‘job’ that we DO together! We have gone of several family friendly trips, reviewed some awesome new products, received tons of great Christian books for our home library, meet some awesome blogger families, and are currently finishing up our entire sponsored nursery for our little lady coming this February!

Recently, I have had to post less than my typical 5 posts a week, as my pregnancy is in the third trimester, my energy level is lower, the holidays are approaching, and we have several big projects going around the house. The best part about blogging, is that I CAN DO THAT! I decide my schedule, what sponsored posts to accept, when I want to work, and when I don’t. Blogging truly can be a fantastic source of income and creative outlet no matter what niche they find themselves in.

What inspired the name of your blog? 
When I decided to blog, I actually choose Cheerios and Lattes because those are two things that kept our family rolling at the time; they still do today as well! You can always find cheerios in our pantry (and on the floors, and under the carseats) and espresso ready to make a latte in our home. It seemed like a perfect name because it shared both that it was for kids and for moms!

What five words describe you?
Christ-Follower, Authentic, Lover of People, Compassionate, Creative, Organized

What is your blog about? Why?
My blog mainly features recipes, DIYs, educational ideas to do at home with your kids, crafts, product reviews, and other random things that find their way into our lives.

You can also find Mackenzie here:
Facebook | Pinterest | Twitter
Google+ | Instagram

Friday Meet and Greet | Smart School House

Well, I'm a little late to the Meet and Greet!  My apologies.... I am a hot mess, friends.  I'm afraid I've gotten myself in over my head with responsibilities this month.  Sigh.  Oh well... it's still Friday for me, so let's this party started, shall we?  Today we have the talented Kelly of Smart School House.  Let's get a little better acquainted with her, shall we?

When did you start blogging?
I started blogging in the summer of 2012

What was your original purpose for starting a blog?  Has it changes?
The original purpose of Smart School House was to share pictured tutorials of crafts and kids activities. For the most part, my blog has stayed true to that! However, I have phased out certain aspects that weren’t doing anything to grow my blog. After awhile, it was easier to see what people enjoyed seeing from Smart School House. So, I go with what is working!

What inspired the name of your blog?
The story behind the name of my blog is an interesting one that not many people know about. Way before I started tutoring, I was an elementary teacher and I would tutor kids after school, on the weekends, and during school breaks. Smart School House was actually the name of my tutoring company! In fact, it was originally Smart School House Inc. Once we started a family, I left the classroom and no longer had the time to tutor. A little while after I stopped tutoring, I began blogging and my husband was the one who suggested that I keep the name Smart School House. I wasn’t completely convinced that it was a good idea though. However, I already owned the domain name and the company name so it made sense to stick with it. It turns out, staying true to myself and my original business identity was a great decision. I am so proud of what Smart School House has accomplished!

What changes has your blog undergone since you started? Have there been any memorable surprises, challenges or rewards it's brought you?
The overall look of Smart School House has changed quite a bit since I first started. The biggest aesthetic change came when I made the move to WordPress. At that point, I decided to change my logo and create a more timeless and streamline look. I discussed more about the changes I made in a YouTube video awhile back, feel free to take a look. The most memorable experience I’ve had since I started blogging was being asked to be in a magazine. Being contacted by All You magazine was such a thrilling surprise! Actually seeing the full-page write up inside the magazine that was sold all around the country kind of felt unreal (not going to lie!). That magazine feature really helped elevate my blog to a new level and introduced me to a whole new audience. From business perspective, working with publishers and media contacts was a great learning experience!

Describe your work space to us.
I have two different workspaces in my house: my computer desk and my craft room. My computer desk is situated in our breakfast nook. I have a Mac desktop computer, a small white desk, and a white button back ghost-style chair (it is so cute!). Having the computer in a central part of the house allows me to work while not being secluded in the craft room. My craft room is the actually the 4th bedroom of the house. It is the last bedroom down the hallway so it is quiet and allows me to keep my crafting supplies organized and separated from the rest of the house (crafting stuff can get messy!). Inside my craft room I have a couple of photography studios with lights, 2 craft tables, and a shelving unit with canvas drawers that hold all of my crafting “stuff”.

You can also find Kelly here:
Google+ | Pinterest | Facebook | Instagram
StumbleUpon | Twitter

Meet and Greet Friday | Cupcake -n- Bake

Happy Black Friday! Are you working or shopping today? I'm decorating! YAY! Soooo excited about this time of the year!

We're in the last few weeks of the Meet and Greet Friday.  I sure hope you've enjoyed meeting some other bloggers!  I'm excited to introduce you to Renea of Cupcake-n-Bake! Let's get a little better acquainted, shall we?

What was your original purpose for writing a blog? Has it changed?

I originally started blogging because it gave me an excuse to bake all the time. I wanted to share all the wonderful recipes that I grew up on with everyone else. Eventually, blogging became a wonderful hobby of mine. It gave me something to help cure my A.D.D. Plus, it ultimately made me a better cook. At the beginning of the year, I spread my wings a little and started to craft and give tips, too. I still blog mostly about cooking, but occasionally I’ll add a craft in.

Could you provide us with links to a couple of your most popular posts? 
Sure! All but one of my most popular posts are from really early in my blogging career. They include: Caramel Filled Cupcakes, Giant Cupcake Smash Cake, Peanut Butter and Snickers Cupcakes (a personal favorite of mine), and Why You Should Always Use Vinegar in Your Dishwasher (an extremely useful tip).

Where do you find inspirations for new posts?
It really depends on the subject. Sometimes, inspiration just hits me randomly, but sometimes I find it elsewhere. For example, I’ll stroll through craft stores such as Hobby Lobby, and I’ll come across some cute outdoor holiday decor. Then, I’ll check the price. If it’s kind of expensive, I’ll ask myself, “Can I make this?” If the answer is yes, there’s my inspiration. Food is a little different. I get my inspiration from all sorts of places like TV/movies or conversations with friends or family. There have been plenty of times when someone has said I should do something. That always helps when I’m having a dry spell. I have a list saved on my computer of things I’d like to try out. I think I may get to those eventually.

Tell use 3 blogs you visit and read enthusiastically.
I’ve found so many great blogs over the time that I’ve been blogging that I probably wouldn’t have found otherwise. I still read the same ones that I started with the most, though. Tidy Mom and Bake at 350 were my biggest inspirations, so of course I have to mention them. Cheryl has some great household tips, while Bridget is the only reason I know how to frost cookies with royal icing. I also really love Lemon Tree Dwelling. Cathy always shares the most delicious looking recipes.

Do you publish on a schedule or are you more free spirited? If you publish on a schedule, why? How strict are you about your publishing deadlines?
I tend to publish on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday deadline, though its more like a Sunday night, Tuesday night, Thursday night schedule. I find that i’m more likely to have regular readers if I stick to that schedule. I really prefer to schedule my posts in advance, that way I’m not rushed to post it. Also, I sometimes deviate from my schedule for special posts. For example, I have a random series called “I’ll Take It Tuesday”. Obviously, it runs on Tuesdays, but not every Tuesday. If I know I have one coming up, I schedule my other posts around it. That series basically gives me leeway in case I don’t have enough to post that week. I’ll also deviate from my schedule if I have something come up, and I know I won’t be able to post much. I try to let my readers know in advance, though, and I keep them updated through the process.

You can also find Renea here:

Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Google+

Friday Meet and Greet | Yesterday on a Tuesday

Hi friends!  Guess what?  It's Friday.  Less than a week until Thanksgiving!  What are you thankful for?  I have so much to be thankful for... I'm truly blessed and I trust you can say the same.  Feel free to hop over to my other blog and grab a copy of my Be Thankful printable!

Okay, so whose ready for a meeting and greeting?  Today I'm excited to introduce all of you to Malia of the darling blog Yesterday on a Tuesday.  I loved reading what inspired the name of her blog...  keep reading and meet Malia!

When did you start blogging?
I started blogging four years ago. My then six year old son suffered from a terrible back injury and had to wear a brace 24 hours a day and go to physical therapy 2-3 a week for a year. I started the blog as a way to keep friends and family in the loop. It was a tough year, but all his hard work paid off—he was able to heal and today he is a happy healthy 11 year old who plays sports including soccer. He has come a long way!

What inspired the name of your blog?
My daughter named the blog… because she’s always start her stories with “Yesterday… on Tuesday…” I thought it sounded like a nice way to start a conversation with friends.

What are five words that describe you?
Creative, self-deprecating, hardworking, geeky and loving.

Could you provide us with links to a couple of your most popular posts?
A couple of my most popular posts are DIY Citronella Soy Candles and DIY Cleaning Supplies.

Do you publish on a schedule or are you more free spirited? 
I used to publish on a schedule but I realized I was driving myself crazy to get a post done EVERY DAY and it started to feel joyless. So I just do the best I can now and try to ease up on myself and have more fun!sdf

You can also find Malia here:
Pinterest | Facebook | Instagram
Twitter | YouTube

Friday Meet and Greet | One Dog Woof

Happy Friday, sweet friends!
I'm excited to introduce you to ChiWei of One Dog Woof.
Let's get this party started, shall we?  Woo-Hoo!

What inspired the name of your blog?
Oh boy, I was having so much trouble picking a name because I wanted it to be something that would last. Maybe it'd become a business name someday, you know? At the time, my son's favorite book was Sandra Boynton's Doggies. Well, one of his favorite books, anyways. It's a counting book, with dogs. So the very first page was "One dog. Woof!" It went on to count up to 10 dogs with different barking sounds, but I just used the first one! I felt it represented the fact that I was a mommy and the fact that we have a golden retriever at home, and this was my family life at the time.

What are five words that describe you?
Creative, worrywart, cynical, random, happy

Where do you find your inspirations for new posts?
The inspirations for my posts come from life - necessity is the mother of invention! I make something when I need/want something and don't feel like spending money buying it. I'd rather buy supplies and make my own, and then I can complain about how the store is overpriced and my project is so much better! Prime example: my crochet friendship bracelet.  I could've bought it, but then I wouldn't be able to decide what color I wanted, so better to just buy a ton of embroidery thread and make them in every color!

I'm learning now that some things that I take for granted are things that other people might want to read or know about, so I'm adding an element of teaching into the blog, just so it's not JUST about me, like my blogging tips series.  That means I keep my eye out for possible posts or crafts or recipes in almost everything I do. I say everything because sometimes, I'm just too lazy to take the photos or jot down the ideas - I'd rather enjoy and live the moment instead!

Describe your workspace to us.
Until very recently, my workspace was my living room and dining room. I have an attic space, but it was only to store supplies and it was a mess, so I would drag all my materials down to the dining room and make a mess until I got yelled at and then I'd take it all back upstairs. Now, we've renovated the attic space with new paint, new floors, a revamped card catalog and a big new desk for me to work on, with plenty of lighting to take photos. So now, my workspace is technically the attic. But sometimes, especially with crochet, I still bring my project down to the living room, so I can work and spend time with my family. And I still make a mess everywhere I go!

If you could offer one blogging tip to readers, what would it be?
Don't focus so much on blogging that you lose sight of life. I use blogging to document life, but I have to live life first. And know that this comes from a self-professed stressball and worrywart - don't put so much pressure on yourself. If you need a break, take a break. If you want to learn something and can't quite understand it, put it down and come back later. Now if only I can follow my own advice!

What are a couple of your favorite blog tools that you use?
I love my camera, even though it's just a basic DSLR with a basic 35mm lens. Once the photos are taken, I live and die by Gimp and Adobe Lightroom to edit photos and create graphics for the blog. I rarely use the online tools like Picmonkey and Ribbet, although they do come in handy for collages. I also have a brand spanking new Erin Condren planner to help me plan out deadlines and post schedules.

What hobbies do you have outside of blogging?
I love to eat! And cook, I suppose. I think I'm a pretty decent cook if I put my mind to it, at least with the savory stuff. Baking...not so much. If I could afford it and was well, single and flying free, I'd love to travel, see the sights and eat international foods. Ok, beyond eating and cooking, I like to crochet and make things with my hands, which led me to the whole blogging thing in the first place. Before I was interminably pregnant, I enjoyed short bike rides on my $5 garage sale cruiser bike with a honkin big seat and silver streamers. Maybe not so much a hobby - but it's a fun activity on a sunny weekend!

Do you publish on a schedule or are you more free spirited?
I'm a free spirit! I don't publish on a schedule because I'm not disciplined enough. I just don't have enough posts or ideas lined up to the point where I can post on a schedule, and life happens. Life happens NOT on a schedule, and that's more important to me, so if it's a beautiful day, I'm not going to spend it blogging or crafting, and if someone is sick, I'm not going to worry about missing a post. I don't think this decision affects my readers at all. I think we'd all like to think our readers are glued to our every word, but I think the reality is that everyone lives their life as it comes, and a blog is just part of the unpredictability!

You can also find ChiWei here:
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest
BlogLovin' | Instagram | Google+

Friday Meet and Greet | The Experimental Home

Oh yeah!  It's Friday.  It's Friday.  Are you as excited as I am?  Well, it's also that happy time of the week to meet another fabulous blogger.  Let's get a little better acquainted with Laura of The Experimental Home.  Ready?  Let's go.

When did you start blogging?
I started blogging earlier this year, in March 2013. At the time, I was really struggling with the emotional demands of being a working mother to a 1 year old boy. I missed the hobbies I no longer had time for, and wanted to do something for myself. So, I made the decision to start the craft blog that I always wanted to write, and made time for it. It was one of the best decisions I ever made.

What inspired the name of your blog?
I am a scientist. Scientists come up with ideas, design experiments to test them, and then make conclusions based on the data. I realized that scientific inquiry and my creative process aren't really very different. When I am crafting, cooking, or doing anything creative, I start with an idea for a finished product, come up with a plan to make it, give it a shot, and then decide whether or not it worked. Often it does, sometimes the plan needs a little revising, and other times I totally fail. But the failures are just part of the process. I named my blog "The Experimental Home" and use the tagline, "A notebook of my everyday experiments", because I wanted to inspire my readers by encouraging them to experiment creatively everyday.

What are five words that describe you?
Silly, Thoughtful, Messy, Independent, Motherly

Could you provide us with links to a couple of your most popular posts?
My most popular project is a chevron crochet baby blanket I made for a friend earlier this year.

But, not far behind is one of my favorite projects. Last spring, I did a series of flip flop refashions, one per week. On the 5th week, I used zippers to replace the straps. I love them.

If you could offer one blogging tip to readers, what would it be?
The most offered blogging tip I have seen is to take great pictures. My tip is a corollary to that… Use awesome graphics. Sometimes you can express in a graphic things that you (or at least I) could never capture with a photograph. I use Adobe Illustrator, but Inkscape is a great open source option if you want to learn to make high quality graphics for your blog.

You can also find Laura here:

Pinterest | Facebook | Twitter
Instagram | Google+

Friday Meet and Greet | Rhubarb and Honey

It's Friday!  It's Friday!!  Let's do a happy dance, shall we?  Today, we're getting a little better acquainted with Kimberly of Rhubarb and Honey.  I had the privilege of meeting Kimberly at the Food Media Forum, hosted here in St. Louis.  She has a passion for food -- so be sure to visit with her after reading up {wink}.

When did you start blogging?
I started my first blog, Everybody Loves Cheese, in 2007. I had recently become more involved in the St. Louis food scene and wanted to share my thoughts and views on the food community at large. I occasionally included recipes here and there, but the focus of this blog was more about larger food issues and emerging trends in the food world. Shortly after launching Everybody Loves Cheese, I joined a CSA, and I wanted to document the foods I received in each share so I started a second blog called Adventures in Eating Locally. In addition to talking about the unique local products I received each week, I added many more recipes to this blog in the hope of showing people just what to do with things such as delicata squash and kale. After maintaining two separate blogs for three years, I combined them into my current blog, Rhubarb and Honey ... and she's been thriving ever since!

What is your blog about (lifestyle, food, crafts, DIY, etc.) and why?
The main focus of Rhubarb and Honey is food … because outside of my “real job,” my life revolves around food! My culinary style can best be described as 80% “fresh / local / sustainable” and 20% “nostalgic / somewhat bad for you / everything in moderation” ... so you'll find mostly healthy recipes that feature local and organic ingredients, but you'll also find some not-so-healthy things that I grew eating and just can't give up. You'll also find a lot of recipes that I developed with my husband, who just happens to be a professional chef. Lately, I've started branching out from food a bit so you may find the occasional craft tutorial as well, and I hope to do more of these in the future.

Where do you find your inspirations for new posts?
Everywhere! I travel a bit for my real job so I'm constantly finding inspiration from the restaurants I visit across the United States. I'm also one of the principal organizers of the St. Louis Food Media Forum, a vocal champion for our local Slow Food chapter, and I occasionally help out with my brother and sister-in-law's competitive BBQ team, and each of these activities brings me tons of inspiration as well. Finally, I am a food magazine junkie! I devour (pun intended!) each issue of Bon Appétit, Saveur, Cooking Light, and Vegetarian Times as soon as they arrive in my mailbox so I get lots of inspiration from these as well.

How do you balance blogging with everyday life?
I think this is the most difficult part of blogging for me. Although I'd love to be blogging full-time, my blog is a hobby right now, and I sometimes struggle to find the time to post. I've been making a more concerted effort to blog on a regular schedule lately because I truly love sharing the recipes I've developed with my readers ... and I love interacting with them as well! But, I also know that there are times when I just can't post as much as I want to, and I've learned not to beat myself up when that happens ... and I think that goes a long way in making sure my blog is always a source of happiness for me.

Could you provide us with links to a couple of your most popular posts?
Funnily enough, one of the most popular posts on my blog has nothing to do with food! For Mother's Day in 2012, I whipped up a quick and easy homemade brown sugar and vanilla body scrub for all the mom's in my life, and it keeps getting traffic to this day!

My most popular food post by far is my drunken Irish bacon jam... and when you combine bacon, Guinness, and Irish whiskey, how could it not be popular?

You can also find Kimberly here:
Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Pinterest

Friday Meet and Greet | Simply {Darr}ling

Hello there!  Welcome back to another week of our Friday Meet and Greet!  Today, we get to meet Kendra of Simply {Darr}ling.  Let's get a little better acquainted, shall we?

What changes has your blog undergone since you started?
I’ve gone through a few changes since I began my blog. Last summer I tore my Achilles and it was somewhat a blessing in disguise for my blog because I suddenly had time to focus on my blog and take time to grow it. The biggest change happened just a couple months ago. When I began blogging, I named it Adventures of Brad & Kendra after the photobooks that I make each year to commemorate that year’s memories. Earlier this summer I attended BlogHer and was constantly explaining on my business cards that one name was my blog and the other was my Etsy shop. Back in August I started moving my blog to become Simply {Darr}ling.

Could you provide us with links to a couple of your most popular posts?
A couple weeks ago I introduced a series entitled A DIY Christmas where each week I post a new DIY gift idea. In a short period of time this has become one of my most popular posts and I’m excited to see it grow as I get further into the series.

Another post that has been popular is my Oven Roasted Chicken.  When I cook I have a tendency to just pour a little of this and a little of that and hope it turns out. I was surprised when it became one of my most popular pins and posts.

Tell us about your biggest post "blooper," and also the post you're most proud of: 
My biggest recipe “blooper” is my post that I titled “Epic Muffin Fail." I had a suspicion that they were wrong from early on and it was confirmed one they were baked that they didn’t have the right consistency. My husband still ate them and said they were OK but I’m pretty sure he was just being nice.

The project I’m most proud of my craft room.  I love all the fun fabrics that I brought into it and the various storage solutions that I utilized.

Describe your workspace to us.
90% of the time I’m actually blogging from my couch. I have a craft room; but my sewing machine is actually set up in the living room. Since I work on my blog on the weekends and in the evenings this allows me to still hang out with my husband and pets while I work. My dogs have separation issues and don’t like it when they can’t reach me.

How do you balance blogging with everyday life?
I’m an Electrical Engineer in my day-job plus have a 40 mile commute each way. This doesn’t leave a ton of time for my blog but I try to put as much time into it as possible. One thing that helps is that many of my posts come from everyday life. The recipes I post are ones that I made for dinner (or dessert) and the DIY projects are either something for me or a gift. The best thing for managing my time is the ability to schedule posts and promotion. I try to use my weekends to write posts; however, there are still many week nights where I am sitting and working on either posts or scheduling tweets.

You can also find Kendra here:

Twitter | Pinterest | Shop
Instagram | Facebook

Friday Meet and Greet | A Little CLAIREification

Oh happy day! It's Friday!! Are you as excited as I am? I just love Fridays! Today, I'm super excited to introduce you to Claire of A Little CLAIREification. I had the privilege of getting to meet Claire at Blissdom this past year. She is a busy woman that has a passion for blogging -- I love that about her. Let's get a little more acquainted with her, shall we!

When did you start blogging?
I started blogging on October 1, 2012 so I am excited to have just passed my one year blogiversary! It's been a crazy but fun year, for sure and I have learned a TON and met so many amazing people that I now call my friends.

What is your blog about (lifestyle, food, crafts, DIY, etc.) and why?
A Little Claireification is a lifestyle blog committed to bringing readers “Bright Ideas On A Budget” – from baking, crafting and DIY projects to time management tips, meal planning and inspiration. I like to throw a little fun and laughter in the mix as well. I chose to do a lifestyle blog, as opposed to just a food blog or just a craft blog, etc. because I really enjoy dabbling in so many things!

What changes has your blog undergone since you started?
Wow. While I have stayed true to myself and to my own "blogging voice" you find that that voice naturally changes as you grow and start interacting with more and more readers along the way. You learn which things resonate more and you also learn from other helpful bloggers along the journey. It's definitely an evolving thing and that makes it so much more interesting. I also learned how incredibly hard it can be to take amazing pictures and I have such a greater respect now for photographers. My picture quality has improved a TON since I started and I still have a long way to go!

If you could offer one blogging tip to readers, what would it be?
That one is easy: Promote others more than you promote yourself. Hands down, the more you engage with other bloggers and promote them along the journey is one of THE most important things in growing your OWN blog. Relationships aren't built over night and you can't expect some huge blogger to just start immediately following you and commenting on all of your posts because you tweeted their project, but the more you interact and share other people's successes, you will find that it in turn comes back to you on so many levels. I will also say that blogging is not for the faint of heart. It's a lot of work and you have to keep it fun and surround yourself with positive people or you will get burnt out.

Could you provide us with links to a couple of your most popular posts?
Every now and then it's a very simple project that gets the most feedback and traffic. My DIY Starfish Garland was a big hit with a ton of clicks through to Amazon, and it was so simple.

And then other times, it's just the perfect timing of a seasonal post and it brings residual traffic that just keeps coming. My Mini Ombre Valentine's Cakes post is an example of that and I had only been blogging for a few months.

I picked that one to share because, as you can see, it doesn't have many comments {and has way too many photos} yet I still see traffic on my blog every single day from that post and now that my Pinterest following has shot up, you can bet that come this January, a year later, the traffic on that post will be quadruple what it was a year ago. My point is this. A lot of bloggers say that "content is King" and there is a reason for that. If you write a good solid post and it only gets a few comments when you are a newer blogger, you have that in your "blog library" to link back to down the road.

You have to continue to put out great content and not get discouraged when it seems like nobody is commenting. Some people post five days a week and some people only post one day a week. Either way, make it count.

You can also find Claire here:
Facebook | Pinterest | Twitter

Google+ | Instagram

Friday Meet and Greet | Beth Cranford

TGIF!  How many of you are as excited as I am about it being Friday??  I love when the weekend is within reach.  Any big and exciting plans?  Well, I'm super excited you're here to join us for the Friday Meet & Greet.  I'm thrilled to introduce you to Beth of BethCranford.com.  Grab a cup of coffee and let's get a little better acquainted with Beth.

What was your original purpose for starting a blog? Has it changed?
My blog has definitely been through some changes. When I started my blog, it was literally so people would have a place to connect with me after downloading my time management book that I wrote for a friend to give to her readers. (“How Do I Get It All Done... And Still Have Time To Enjoy It”) At that point I was writing some cook books and meal planning resources and didn’t think I had much to blog about. So I started by posting articles (with permission of course) written by people that I found to be helpful in the areas of parenting, homeschooling, homemaking, etc.

Somewhere along the way I found my blogging voice and started writing about spiritual growth, personal development, homeschooling, and other similar topics, even home business. I want to help women live a life they love. Sometimes that’s doing the things that are good for you, like tending to your spiritual life, and taking care of your health. Sometimes it’s fighting depression. Sometimes it’s getting real with your schedule and cutting a lot out. And sometimes it’s just knowing what’s for dinner!

My blog is a reflection of the things I’ve learned (and continue to learn) along the way about personal success and living well. In the near future I plan to offer coaching as a way of putting my top strengths and spiritual gifts into action.

Where do you find your inspirations for new posts?
A lot of my inspiration comes from questions readers post on social media. Often I don’t even realize I have the answer to a particular question until someone asks it! I’ve even set out to answer a question and ended up writing a book. (Is Homeschooling Really For Us?)

I get a lot of inspiration from the books I read, but it doesn’t usually translate into a blog post right away. I just let it brew a while and at some point, something I’ve learned or been changed by will come out in a post.

And my time with God. It’s not something I can really explain. It’s not like I have a quiet time and I come away with a new post. It’s just the relationship, and being filled with Him that keeps me centered and gives me something valuable to say.

How do you balance blogging with everyday life?
I’ve heard a lot lately about balance. Some time- management coaches are even teaching that balance is a myth. I have to say I disagree. That doesn’t mean I can or should give the same amount of time to each aspect of my life every day. Some days will be heavily focused on business while others area all about the kids... or the laundry. How do I make sure that one area of my life isn’t suffering because I’m too focused on other areas? Two things.

First, I have to be rock-solid sure of what it is that I need to be doing, and just as important; what I don’t need to be doing. I wrote about that in the book I mentioned above.

Second, I design an “Ideal schedule” and try not to veer from it too much. An ideal schedule is a picture of what is important to me, and how it all fits into a week. It’s sort of like the organizing mantra “A place for everything and everything in its place.” But instead, it’s “A time for everything and everything in its time.” When you don’t overbook, and when you stick to the task at hand, you can honor your priorities.

Does that mean we don’t ever order pizza because I had a big work project, or that I always stay focused on work during “working hours”? No. but it’s a guideline that keeps me mostly balanced in the grand scheme of things.

If you could offer one blogging tip to readers, what would it be?
Stay focused. Too many bloggers have too many irons in the fire. We’re creative people and there are just so many ideas! But you’ll truly find more success if you focus on one thing until you get it to success, then you can go on to the next thing.

The need to focus applies in many ways including these:
• Your blog’s topics:  Keeping your topics on your blog centered around a common theme will make it easier for your readers to know why they’re on your blog and why they want to come back.
• What you’re learning:  Stop buying (or finding for free) more learning products. Go use the ones you have until you’re great at the skill they’re teaching, then move on and learn something new.
• The projects you’re doing:  Writing a book? Good. Finish the book before you go and get a weekly contributor gig, start a podcast, or start another new blog.

What brings you incredible joy in blogging?
Wow, so many things! I love sharing my heart and putting my thought “on paper” as I learn to live well and to love my life the way God designed it.

I love teaching, and bringing otherwise complex topics into focus; making them easy to grasp and apply.

I love networking with other bloggers; sharing tips, encouraging one another, and even doing projects together. The blogging community has proven to me to be very friendly, something I was a little surprised to find.

And, it sounds like a cliche, but I absolutely love it when something I’ve written blesses my reader in some way. I love connecting with my readers.

You can also find Beth here:
Facebook | Pinterest | Twitter

Friday Meet & Greet | Happy and Blessed Home

Well, we made it through another week.  Let's do a happy dance, shall we?  Happy Friday, sweet friends!!   I hope you had an incredible week.  Today we get to meet Monica of a Happy and Blessed Home.  Let's see what fun we can learn about her and her blog...

  

What was your original purpose for starting a blog? Has it changed? 
The name of my blog is inspired by my firstborn son whose name means Happy and Blessed. I truly feel blessed to be a mom and I feel like my cup is spilling over and I have to share. I started blogging just days before my second son was born in January of 2012. My journey as a new mom has opened up many new avenues of learning for me, so I thought it would be a good idea to start blogging. My original purpose was to have an outlet for me to write about my experiences. Over the course of my first year of blogging I realized that my passion is to be an encouragement to moms and I write on the topics of preschooler tools, games and crafts for kids, encouraging words for moms, and having fun together as a family. I publish free printables and crafts for little ones as well an occasional devotional or recipe. As I find resources that are useful for my family, my hope is to share it with my beloved readers.

What kind of relationship do you have with your followers, and which posts have proven most popular with them? 
My most active group is on Facebook. We share encouraging articles, artwork, and blog posts for moms. We sometimes talk about things like how to socialize a preschooler with only one child, or how to find "me" time as a mom, and the group is a great place to share info about special offers like freebies. I also get a ton of comments on the blog which is another great way to keep in touch. I'm very active in a local MOPS (mothers of preschoolers group) as well as some online groups for preschool moms and moms in general. Since I write about teaching my preschooler at home, and some of my experiences as a mom, my blog has led to some in-depth conversations with my real life friends. These women also give me feedback on things like Family Fun Friday - a link party with over 100+ bloggers and 500+ readers every week. I'm a big believer in networking with other bloggers and I enjoy visiting their blogs as much as I think they enjoy visiting HappyandBlessedHome.com. I've learned so much from others and I truly enjoy reading other blogs on the topics of mothering, parenting, discipleship, marriage, cooking, and homeschooling.

Could you provide us with links to a couple of your most popular original posts? 
If you like FREE printables you'll want to check out Preschool Activities - Free Printables as well as my post on Free Alphabet Printables. I've also written on a great Curriculum for Preschoolers as well as a post on Orgainizing and Inspiring Preschoolers using Montesori. I'm currently writing a series on Preparing for Kindergarten as well as creating a Morning Board for Circle Time with my Preschooler, and I've videoed a series of encouraging One Word Devotionals for Moms. My biggest hit has been Family Fun Friday with lots of traffic and it's the one my mom friends ask me about the most.

What are 5 words to describe you?
I wanted to be certain to give you words from a trustworthy source, so I asked my husband, and the five words he used to describe me were: Pretty, Trustworthy, God-fearing, Caring, and Relational.

Whare are three blogs you visit and read enthusiastically?
There are so many amazing bloggers out there and I subscribe to quite a few. But if you are looking for bloggers who mentor women through their blogging, I highly recommend Time Warp Wife by Darlene Sachet, I Take Joy by Sally Clarkson, and The Better Mom by Ruth Schwenk. These women blog as a ministry to serve the hearts of others, and I truly enjoy reading their blogs.

You can also find Monica here:
Facebook | Pinterest | Google+ | Twitter
YouTube | BlogLovin

Let's share some love with Monica today by leaving a comment on her Facebook page, blog or send off a quick hello in a tweet!  Thanks so much for stopping by.  Hugs all around!

 

Friday Meet & Greet | Partyful

Happy Friday!  Before we kick off the Meet & Greet, I wanted to put a quick plug for Thee Networking Blog Hop | September Edition... there's still time to link up and make some new bloggy friends!  We'd love to have you join us.

Moving on to the main event {hee-hee}.  I'm super excited to introduce all of you to Laura of Partyful, a blog that is a stylish guide to easy parties.  With recipes, decor and favor ideas -- you'll get lost in the fun!  Let's meet Laura...

What is your blog about and why? 
Partyful.co gives you comprehensive party plans that are perfected and meant to be taken right from the blog and put into immediate party-action. You will find recipes, table setting ideas, centerpiece tutorials and festive theme parties with printable step-by-step timelines, which will help you create sensational soirées.

I created Partyful because I love entertaining in my home. Gatherings allow us to slow down, celebrate and enjoy the simple things in life with friends and family. I hope that by doing all the nitty-gritty legwork, showing how it is possible to create a stylish party from top to bottom, in a limited amount of time and with a budget, Partyful will inspire your inner hostess!

Where do you find inspiration for new posts?
I love perusing magazines and books instead of clicking through pages on the internet. As much as I adore and am addicted to Pinterest, it is difficult for me to easily find inspiration there because my brain goes on pin-overload! I’m sure that is due to the fact that I am from the generation that used typewriters and pay phones. I have notebooks full of pages I tear from magazines about entertaining, cooking and home design. I refer to my notebooks whenever I need a jolt of inspiration.

I’m always on the lookout for small, personal details that make all the difference when entertaining. For instance, a table setting created by using simple white cotton napkins tied with twine and a sprig from your garden is so much more personal and interesting than a matching set of placemats and napkins.

Could you provide us with links to a couple of your most popular original posts?
Currently my most popular posts are Colorful Mexican Fiesta Table Setting and Elegant Halloween Party Ideas.

Tell us three blogs you visit and read enthusiastically. 
I use the Bloglovin’ App on my iPhone so I can easily keep up with many of my favorite blogs. Lately I have been reading Bloom Designs for party inspiration, Jenny on the Spot for a good laugh about life and motherhood and The Intentional Blogger for helpful blogging advice.

What are some of your favorite blog tools that you use? 
My must-have blog tools for my Wordpress site are SEO Wordpress by Yoast, Google Webmaster Tools and Broken Link Checker. A couple of my favorite nifty plugins that help increase my blog’s page views are Link Within and Comment Redirect.

Laura can also be found here:
Pinterest | Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin'

Friday Meet & Greet | Little Miss Celebration

Happy Friday!  It's been a while, huh?  I have a confession, I'm having a very hard time keeping up with two blogs...  my income comes from Live Laugh Rowe and my shop, so I'm desperately trying to priortize a few things.  Bear with me.  Pretty please!!

Alrighty, now on to the fun part of Fridays!  Let's make a new bloggy friend.  I'm excited to introduce you to Cindy of Little Miss Celebration.  She is as sweet as can be and I'm certain you'll be thrilled to get a little better acquainted with her.

What inspired the name of your blog? 
Growing up in a creative family that loved celebrating – from birthdays to holidays to Sunday dinners – I’ve been a celebration fanatic for my entire life. Christmas is a holiday I have always loved and yes, you could say that I go the tiniest bit overboard every year! My children have always called me Little Miss Christmas. When I was (struggling) to decide on a name for the blog, my daughter thought Little Miss Celebration was the perfect name. It just seemed to fit!

What are five words that describe you?
Creative, passionate, energetic, supportive and optimistic.

Could you provide us with links to a couple of your most popular original posts?
I am a huge fan of lemon and have lots of fellow lemon lovers! My Glazed Lemon Muffins with Candied Lemon Slices made my lemon friends happy, as did my Frozen Lemon Soufflé.  And this DIY Bee Beautiful Beauty Gift Jar seemed to make people smile!

What is your greatest frustration in blogging?
My biggest frustration and to be absolutely candid, the source of many tears, is photography! I have never been great with a camera, which rather ironic, given that I have been scrapbooking for 15+ years! My mother-in-law, to whom I was very close, was the family photographer and she took photos of everything. I did so much research and preparation before launching Little Miss Celebration and never really thought about photos during that process. Don’t even ASK me what I was thinking! I must have imagined that photos would magically appear! My husband bought me a DSLR camera for Valentine’s Day this year. I’m trying to feel less intimidated and carve out some learning time, though it continues to be a challenge and a process. Well, I always keep a big bottle of Tums AND Advil close at hand during photo/editing time!

What is brings you incredible joy in blogging?
Without question, the opportunity to constantly meet, connect, share with and be inspired by amazing and wonderful people!

You can also find Cindy here:

Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

Google+ | Bloglovin'

Friday Meet & Greet | Crafty Texas Girls

Happy Friday! I trust that you're having a great week.  I've had company, so I'm a bit pooped out {hee-hee}.  Here we are ready for another Friday Meet & Greet.  Are enjoying them? I've had such a blast learning about some of you.  Are you ready to make another blogger friend?  I had the privilege of meeting Samantha of Crafty Texas Girls at Blissdom this year.  She is as sweet as can be and has a darling blog!  I'm tickled silly that YOU get the chance to get a little better acquainted with her as well.  Let's do it....

When did you start blogging?
I started blogging in 2010. I was looking for a creative outlet for my crafting skills and my love of writing. I had once read from another mother that 'if you use your nap times just to clean the house, you will kill your soul'. It is a little dramatic I guess, but it made sense to me. In my small slices of free time I wanted to do more than house chores. I wanted to do something that made me really happy creatively. In 2010, my girls were ages 1 and 4 and they were good nappers. So that's when I blogged.

What was the original purpose of your blog?
I began the blog to showcase my small business. I made hair accessories and girly gifts. And I wanted an 'online-look book'. I had a few friends that read 'home decor/diy' blogs and once I was introduced to those, my blog began to change a bit. I still showcased my small business creations, but I also included posts about other things that I made. Crafts I made with my girls, projects I did in my home. As time has gone by, most of my posts have been about those diy projects. I also share about my small business and post about my adventures balancing that business and motherhood. My blog has grown and grown. More women seem to find themselves in my honest story of balancing motherhood, creativity, and pursuing a dream. The blog has taken on a life of its own. I find myself dabbling in home decor, interior design, baking, and of course- more crafts than I ever thought I could create.

What inspired the name of your blog?
Crafty Texas Girls was the original name of my small business. My husband and I were living in New Orleans when we had our first daughter. She was extremely premature so I quit teaching and decided to stay home with my itty bitty baby. That is when I began making bows, learning to sew, and started playing around with the power of hot glue. My husband's job then brought us home to North Texas and I couldn't have been happier. My love of crafting and creating followed me back to DFW and the craft fair bug bit me again. I met a new friend, Jennifer, and we did a few craft shows together- we called ourselves the "Crafty Texas Girls". After awhile she turned her attention to painting and interior design, but I couldn't shake my love of crafting. I decided to keep the name "Crafty Texas Girls" because I figured it still fit- describing what my daughters and I now love to do together. Although I have changed the name of my small business to "Samantha Conner Designs", my blog is still and will always be Crafty Texas Girls :)

Describe your workspace:
Upstairs is my craft room. To me, the biggest part of what I do is create with my hands. We converted our extra bedroom into a creative space. After years of dragging out the sewing machine and hot glue gun from under the bed and working on the floor, my husband finally agreed that I need a room of my own:) The craft room houses fabric, my sewing machine, notions and trim, ribbon, and samples. My girls love to come play in their on the floor while I work. I found a vintage school desk that is filled with art supplies, so often they draw and craft too.

Hobbies outside of blogging:
Sometimes it doesn't feel like there are enough hours in the day! My first priority is my family, I stay at home to be with my girls, so I have to fit my blog and my business in around them. Most of our time together is spent reading, playing, and going to dance or gymnastics. For myself, I run. I fell in love with running before my first daugther was born, but I didn't get more serious about it until 2009. That is when I found a group of women to run with! We do a few races together each year, I have completed four half marathons and a ton of smaller events. I am not the fastest and definitely not a pro by any means, but I love running. It is something that I will always do because it makes me feel both physically and mentally strong.

Samantha can also be found here:

Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter | Shop

A meet and greet requires a little chit-chat, right?  Let's give Melissa a little love by leaving a comment on her Facebook page, blog or send off a quick hello in a tweet!  Thanks so much for stopping by.  Hugs all around!

Friday Meet & Greet | Willamette Valley Wonder Woman

Happy Friday!  Last week, we didn't have a Meet & Greet... boo, right?  I never heard back from the appropriate parties, so we took the week off.  I guess that makes this weeks festivities twice as exciting!  Let's meet Melissa of Willamette Valley Wonder Woman.  Ready or not, here we go!

When did you start blogging?
I began blogging in April 2012 after reading others blogs for over six months and thought, if they could do it, so could I. 

What inspired the name of your blog?
I thought about a name for quite some time, then one night while I was laying in bed, the name Willamette Valley Wonder Woman just popped into my head. I live in the Willamette Valley, and some people in the past had teased me with the name Wonder Woman. So it stuck. I didn't want to be known only as the Willamette Valley Wonder Woman though, (it is a mouthful!) so I began incorporating my name Melissa Kaylene to associate with it. 

What changes has your blog undergone since you started? Have there been any memorable surprises, challenges or rewards its brought you?
When I first started blogging, I mainly wanted to share my life's stories, and the things that I had created. Over the past year it has evolved. I still do share some of the recipes and crafts I do, but my main focus is sharing my family life and events. I stepped out a few months ago and began offering promotion to local events and reviews on my blog; reaching out to my local community. I love doing things; getting out. And I have been enjoying trading and working with other individuals and small businesses. Some perks have been getting to do things that I would not have got to do without my blog! I have received a year family pass to our local aquarium, a free cooking class, and free admissions to events. Things are definitely starting to take off and its exciting! 

Where do you find inspirations for new posts?
In life in general. Most all of my posts whether they be DIY in nature, or inspirational, all come from everyday life. To get the best blog and posts you have to have a life outside of the internet. :)

What brings you incredible joy in blogging?
Sharing. It doesn't matter if its sharing my own life, or other things that I am passionate for. Sharing excites me.

Melissa can also be found here:
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

A meet and greet requires a little chit-chat, right?  How about we share some love with Melissa by leaving a comment on her Facebook page, blog or send off a quick hello in a tweet!  Thanks so much for stopping by.  Hugs all around!

Friday Meet & Greet | An Extraordinary Day

Happy Friday, sweet friends!  I trust you had an incredible week.  Today I'm excited to introduce you to Diane of An Extraordinary Day.
 

When did you start blogging and what inspired the name of your blog?
After much time trying to decide which platform was best, setting up the blog, and finally paying for help with the details large and small to made it pretty, I finally, with much fanfare at my house, launched An Extraordinary Day in April 2012.    

An Extraordinary Day is the kind of day I want to live and the kind of day I wish for you. I'm a believer in living life to the full. Learning Jesus came to give us "life with joy and abundance" was life-changing for me. Since then, I'm big on putting the extra on the ordinary. After all, "Why be ordinary when you can be extraordinary." ~Diane Miller I coined that phrase in 1992 and my friends know...it's how I live and I want that for you too!    

What is your blog about and why?
I like to think of An Extraordinary Day! as an inspiring magazine. I have lots of interests and the blog is a bit like me in that way. Each Sunday we start the day with JOY. I share an inspirational thought and invite readers to count seven blessings from their week. It's a favorite of many and no matter what...there will always be a Joy Day! post. Though I don't consider myself to be an artist or a crafter, I love creating. My goal is to help those who don't think they're 'crafty' to try their hand at some simple do-able DIY projects to make their home more lovely and personal. This year has been financially difficult for our family and so I have approached most of my DIY posts with the idea that you can take what you have on hand and create something extraordinary. You'll also find a few recipes on the blog because we all have to eat. [wink] Some of my favorite posts include nature photos, which I love to take, with the addition of a quote or verse. In season there are posts about gardening, too. I guess you might call An Extraordinary Day! a lifestyle magazine where readers are inspired with some of the things I love, and encourage to live with joy.    

Could you provide us with links to a couple of your most popular original projects?
My foray into furniture painting began with painting my gifted vintage sideboard with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. What has amazed me is this post is my number one traffic generator. It blows me away. Regardless. I love the sideboard now and have sooo much fun creating sweet vignettes for the top. In fact, this week I just created another which I'll be posting about soon. Last November another dear friend gifted me with a vintage window taken from her old house. I have had so much fun decorating this window and for some reason the spring version with cute bird banner was featured all over blogland and lately the tutorial for creating the banner seems to stay in the top posts box on my sidebar. My most pinned image is that of an old blue bench downtown with a scripture verse. It's actually a favorite of mine too.

Do you find blogging therapeutic? If yes, how so?
Blogging has become unexpectedly therapeutic to me. My husband and I have been living in limbo for eight months now. When everything else seems tenuous, I have the blog and my readers, and a reason to have fun creating something lovely...whether it's a quote on a photo, a table setting, or something to make my home sweeter. There is some sort of accountability in this relationship with my reader that helps me to choose well. To choose joy, and to choose to inspire. In the end, it's no longer about me. Yay! But, it would never have happened had I not written my 31 day series...31 Extraordinary Days. Posting daily was a good discipline and helped me and the blog grow, and became a springboard to what it now does for me each day.    

What brings you incredible joy in blogging?

Hmmm...that's a good question. When I read the comments of women who say that the words they just read on the screen were just what they needed for the day....That makes my day. It's humbling to think that God would use my taps on the keyboard to touch another's heart. Truly. The best part of blogging is connecting with people. I love reading comments and responding and getting to know my readers. I wish I could meet my readers in person. Definitely it's people that make blogging a joy!

You can also find Diane here:
Facebook | Pinterest | Google+

A meet and greet requires a little chit-chat, right?  Let's share some love with Diane by leaving a comment on her Facebook page, blog or send off a quick hello in a tweet!  Thanks so much for stopping by.  Hugs all around!

Friday Meet & Greet | Life on Lakeshore Drive

It's Friday! It's Friday!  Let's do a happy dance, shall we?  That also means that it's time for our Friday Meet & Greet.  Let's meet Kathy of Life on Lakeshore Drive.

When did you start blogging and what is your blog about?
I started blogging just a little over a year ago.  My blog is mainly a crafts and DIY blog. I host a weekly Sunday linky party, A Bouquet of Talent, and I love to feature the talent of my wonderful friends. 

Could you provide us with links to a couple of your most popular posts?
Fall themes have definitely been my most popular post. Here are a few of those post: 
Pine Cone Tree Tutorial,  Pumpkin Glitz & Glitter, and my Fall Burlap Wreath Tutorial.

How do you balance blogging with everyday life?
Honestly, I am still trying to find balance when it comes to blogging. I love it so much, and it is very easy to let it dominate a great deal of my time. I am an elementary school teacher, and if I'm not in my classroom I am blogging.

What is your greatest frustration in blogging?
There is always so much more that I want to accomplish each day on my blog that it can become very frustrating and overwhelming. I love to spend time visiting all of my favorite blog friends. There just never seems to be enough time in the day!

What is brings you incredible joy in blogging?
The greatest joy I have found through blogging is all of the awesome friends that I have made. It is amazing how they have truly become dear friends. I have made many cherished friendships through blogging, and I have also found fellow bloggers who live near me. That has been such a treasure.

You can also find Kathy here:
Facebook | Pinterest | Twitter | Google+

A meet and greet requires a little chit-chat, right? Be sure to show Kathy some love by leaving a comment on her Facebook page, blog or send off a quick hello in a tweet!  Thanks so much for stopping by.  Hugs all around!

Friday Meet & Greet | C.R.A.F.T.

TGIF!  It's that happy time of the week where we get to make another new bloggy friend!  I have so much fun drafting these posts and reading all of your Q&A's.  Today, you get to meet Jamie of C.R.A.F.T.  (it's an acronym for Creating Really Awesome Free Things).  I've had the privilege of meeting Jamie at Blissdom this year.  Love her!  She just has a super fun energy that makes you smile!  Without further adieu, let's chat with Jamie!

When did you start blogging?

I started blogging in February of 2010!

What was your original purpose for starting a blog? Has it changed?

I started C.RA.F.T. the day after I saw my first craft blog, Ucreate. I’m a maniac like that. I was doing projects anyway, why not share ‘em! At the time, I didn’t realize how much extra work that meant. I just figured I’d slap up some pics of what I’m already doing. I think if I would have known how much work it really is, I might have never started. High five (and thank goodness) to being naive! I started this sucker in February 2010. Over 3 years ago. Holy. Cow.

What inspired the name of your blog?

Naming things is fun for me. Thus my love for super cheesy valentines, ha! I wanted the blog to be about crafts, why not just call it C.R.A.F.T.! I starting thinking about words to go with C.R.A.F.T. and bam, Crafting Really Awesome Free Things popped into my head. It was Crafting Really Awesome Free Things for about 6 months, but I didn’t want to limit myself to only crafts, I like to create lots of goodies, like trips, recipes, parties, clothes, furniture… I like that Creating Really Awesome Free Things is less restricting.

Could you provide us with links to a couple of your most popular posts?

The my most viewed post on C.R.A.F.T. is actually a round up of DIY adult Halloween costumes. The second most viewed post on C.R.A.F.T. is kind of one of my projects. It’s actually Andy’s genius. It’s how to fix a broken/ cracked iPhone screen. Just for fun, here are the top 10 posts on C.R.A.F.T. in 2011 and here are the top 10 posts on C.R.A.F.T. in 2012.

What are a couple of your favorite blog tools that you use?
I have a few! I heart social media! It's been a great way to interact, share, and learn more about C.R.A.F.T. readers. I'm a pinterest, Facebook, instagram, twitter, vine, and google + junkie! Another blog resources I could not live without is picmonkey.com. I seriously, don't know what I did before picmonkey. Also, I have a whole pin board dedicated to articles and tutorials about blogging, I use it a ton as a reference! Oh and of course, google! If I don't know how to do something, I google it!

What hobbies do you have outside of blogging?
Andy and I just moved to a new house in central Austin, so we are really enjoying exploring our new hood. We live a bike ride away from food trailers, coffee shops, and parks. We just got a tandem bike! It's super fun!

You can also find Jamie here:

Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest

Twitter | Google+

A meet and greet requires a little chit-chat... so how about leaving a comment on her Facebook page, blog or send off a quick hello in a tweet!  Thanks so much for stopping by.  Hugs all around!