From Blog Life to Real Life Link Up

Ok y'all I'm linkin up today with these lovely ladies to tell you about some of my favorite bloggers! They supplied the questions and here are my answers.

1. Do you have any real life blog friends?

Yes, I do!

Alys at Beautiful Imperfections and I went to college together at UT! We went to the same church, were both involved with the BSM and our boyfriends lived together one year so we would hang out all the time at their place. Her and her husband are expecting their first child so check out her updates!

Becky at Unveiled Faces was my prayer partner for two years during college. You know that friend that whenever you spend time with them, you always walk away refreshed? That's her. She is so humble, prayerful and beautiful! 

Lauren at Seek First was my Bible study leader in college and we lived together for a year. Love her shop and blog- so many great insights into what God is doing in her marriage and her life!

I wish I'd gotten to know Alyssa, Ashley, Heather and Hannah better while we were in college, but they've all got great blogs to check out now!

2. Which blogger are you just dying to meet?

Well I'm pretty dang excited to meet Annie, L, and Erin at Influence in October! (and the rest of you who are going!)

Erin has a beautiful way with words and stands strong in her faith in Jesus.

L is such a sweetheart and has a great series on the power of our words right now!

Annie could be my twin. We're both English majors, love us some Hispanic culture, value dessert for the blessing it is, and think we're Dumbledore when we use the word "alas". 

I'm also way excited to welcome Kerrie to Texas next year! 

3. Which blogger's closet do you want to raid? 

Sandy's from Sandy a la Mode! I love how she incorporate trends in classic ways. Share with me?

and 

Kim from Oh, Sweet Joy.  Seriously, can be she be any more gorgeous? 

4. You are stuck on an island. Which blogger would you want with you to help you survive? 

I'd go with Jessi from This Camera Tells my Story.  She could cultivate a garden, grind our meat and survive the heat. Plus, she'd be fun and interesting company! 

5. The first blogger you remember "meeting" and connecting with ? 

L was the first to reach out to me. She is so encouraging that a friendship naturally blossomed.

6. Any blogger that you admire and look up to? 

Well, of course. 

Kerrie at the Williams Post inspires me to daily live on mission!

Jessi at Naptime Diaries challenges me to embrace grace.

Hannah at Happy Days is so honest and beautiful and I love reading about her family's journey.

7. Who is the craziest/funniest blogger? 

I vote Lenora at Yellow Heart Art. There is hardly a post from her that doesn't have me giggling. Her tweets too! Love her. 

8. There's a reality television show for bloggers, who would you want to be casted with you?

I'd want Rachel from Along the Way with Rae there! We could have our morning coffee together and avoid any drama.


Oh, and Shawnda from Confections of a Foodie Bride. She could teach me her genius. 

9. Some bloggers have really cool jobs, anybody you'd like to swap careers with? 

Well, I love my job :) But if I have to pick... probably Ree. What does she do?  Cook, cooking show, cookbooks, give away awesome prizes, live on a beautiful ranch.  Yes, that sounds good!

10. Favorite blog design? 

I like Jenna's at The Life of the Wife! Her shop design is pretty sweet too! 
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This was such a fun prompt! Hope y'all check out some of these awesome girls!

Valentine's Day Blog Gift Swap!

In case you haven't noticed, I love these things ;)

There's something exciting about getting mail...

especially packages...

especially when you don't know what' s inside! 

Alissa at Rags to Stitches and 

Caroline at Good Times Never Seem Sew Good

hosted this awesome swap for the day of love

I was paired with Kassi over at Truly Lovely.

She and her sister Kayli

share lots of fun projects, recipes

and stories!

Kassi's awesome!

She sent me tons of goodies.

She sent a sweet Valentine's card!

Heart shaped cookie cutters

a notepad 

awesome turquoise earrings

(i LOVE these)

purple nail polish

And a Scentsy car air freshener

I put this in my car as soon as I opened the package!

I had so much fun getting to know Kassi.

Go check out her post and see what I sent her! 

Even if you're not a fan of Valentine's,

celebrate love today.

"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends"

John 15:13

The Girl Behind The Blog Vlog Link Up

Today I'm linking up with Erin from Captivated By Grace and Ashley at 5ohWifey

Go check out all the other vlogs and get to know some super sweet ladies!

In case you were wondering,

here's what the prompt was!

Introduce yourself and any other "regulars" on your blog (spouses, kids, pets)

Tell us a little about your blog. Main theme? Do you have a niche?

Tell us why you started blogging and why you have continued to blog?

How do you envision your blog evolving in the future? What hopes do you have for it?

What is your favorite thing about blogging?

What is the most challenging thing about blogging?

What inspires you to blog?

Is there anything else you'd like readers to know?

New Year Blog Swap

I was super excited to be able to participate in the 

New Year Gift Swap hosted by Casey, Danielle, and Alycia. 

I was paired up with Danna from A Hippy Heart, and the only guidelines 

were that we should send each other a gift within $10-$15. 

Danna is absolutely adorable! 

She is a fellow Texas girl who owns a vintage clothing shop.

We both love turqoise, Dr Pepper and Jesus

 and she is one stylish mama! 

There are about twelve things on my wish list from her darling shop.  

Want to see what she got me?

She did really well!

It was packaged so sweetly with lace and twine

and a kind note

And included:

a mini book about chocolate!

Who doesn't love chocolate?

(my sister, but she's a weirdo)

and a gorgeous necklace with turquoise

and a lovely vintage apron!

Isn't it the cutest?!

And kind of all together

it goes with my crazy colorful kitchen!

I LOVE my new toys and have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Danna!

Want to see what I got her?

Go check out her post!

Or go on over to Casey, Danielle and Alycia's

to see all the goodies that got shared this round! 

Cold Hands Warm Hearts Swap!

I am really excited to share with you 

what I got in my Cold Hands Warm Hearts package!

It's a blogger swap program put on by

 Ilene from Much Love Illy and 

Sandy from Sandy a la Mode. 

The basic requirements are that you get to know 

an assigned blogger and send them a goodie package 

which must include a pair of gloves or mittens 

(to keep their hands warm!) 

and then any other tidbits and accessories you think would be good.

I was paired up with Jessica who blogs over at The In Between.

It was great getting to know her through blog, Twitter and email!

I had been gone all day long when my package came in, 

so I didn't get to open it until really late at night

But I was just tooo excited to wait for better picture-taking lighting

Pretty festive packaging

What could be inside?

several very cutesy packages! 

i don't know if you can tell,

but they all have sweet little tags on them!

cable knit gloves from Target

and festive red tights

I totally wore these THE NEXT DAY

I looove them!

Then, Trader Joe's Candy Cane Coal

(we don't have Trader's Joe here, so this was awesome!)

A Bissinger Chocolate Bar

and Bissinger Chardonnay Salt Caramels.

YUM. 

I samples a little of everything right then. 

SO GOOD. 

Hook 'em!

If you want to see what I sent Jessica, 

check out her blog here!

Or check out all the participants at the link up.

Getting packages in the mail is super fun,

and so are surprises, 

so I really enjoyed this swap

and it's been great getting to know other bloggers

all over the world!