Let's Meet Up At #BlogHer12 !

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Calm Before the Storm And Other [Pre] #BlogHer12 Ramblings

In less than 48 hours I will be attending my first ever blogging conference - all thanks to living in New York City - and BlogHer selecting my city as the place for their Gi-Hugant blogging conference!  

I've been a mixed ball of emotions for the past few weeks - trying to get ready and navigate the overwhelming scale of this conference.  I'm a complete newbie on the blog conference scene - and that is quite a huge (and dare I say courageous) step for me.  

Originally I signed up for BlogHer12 thinking that it would be like any other conference I've attending in my life - I'd get a set agenda with activities, start and end times, etc.  I'd possibly connect with a handful of people, eat hit or miss food - and hopefully learn SOMETHING about the topic of the conference, maybe even be inspired.

What I've learned as the days have inched nearer to the big event is that BlogHer (as well as other blogging conferences) are a completely different beast.  At times I've been terrified and intimidated by what I've read and seen and at other times elated and thrilled.  I've felt pangs of jealousy over the exhaustive list of exclusive-hush-hush-invite-only events that didn't feel the need to invite me.  I've pondered whether or not I need to buy an entirely new wardrobe just for the conference.  I've regretted not seeking conference sponsorship.  I've laughed at some of the insane behaviors I've witnessed by people who are on a swag-fest mission.  I've felt a little sick about overemphasis on "getting as much free stuff as possible" from time to time too.  I've wondered what the heck I got myself into by choosing to go to this crazy affair.

I've realized that this is a conference that is bringing together thousands of people from all over the blogosphere - with different niches, different goals and different ideas of what a blogging conference should be.  I've come to a place of acceptance of that fact and it has helped me to focus on what I hope to gain by attending the conference.

Connections >>  I am most excited about meeting other bloggers - both those I've communicated with and know will be there and the surprise people who will cross my path.  I was nervous a couple weeks ago and honestly a bit intimidated about meeting people - but then, as fate would have it, I went to an event and was able to chat with a couple of bloggers who will be there.  And then just tonight, before writing this post, I got to meet another blogger who lives in my neighborhood - and hopefully she'll be attending part of the conference too.  These meet-ups were just what I needed going into the conference!  I'm of course also excited to make brand connections - and hopefully even more - publishing agent/contacts.

Clarity >> I'm hoping to clarify my goals as a blogger.  I want to be inspired and encouraged, learn new secrets to success and hopefully figure out where I want to go with my blog next.  If you've been round these parts for a while, you may know that I started this blog as a way to get back into writing, and my true dream is to write my first book.  I'm planning on doing that this November, so I'm hoping to gain some insight and understanding on how to connect with agents as well as how to use my blog to showcase my writing.

Cool Stuff >>  I of course am interested in being introduced to cool new things - via brands and other bloggers, I get excited just thinking of the plethora of exchange opportunities available.  I'm also excited to be attending a few private parties (so yeah, I did get invited to a few - so nuts really) and I want to use those opportunities to make strong connections!  I'm definitely setting my expectations low in terms of swag - so I'll be pleasantly surprised by any and all that is received.

I've said all this to say - I'm about to check out for about a week - but I've got some awesome giveaways planned while I'm gone (because, hey, if I'm getting swag, I want YOU to have swag too!)  I'll be doing some live blogging via Instagram & Twitter - so make sure you follow me on both!  And I'll be using the hashtag #BaxtronBH12 if you want to follow that way! Will share what I learn and all the details of my experience upon my return!!

<3 <3 Courtney <3 <3

P.S. Definitely enter my current giveaways and get ready for some prizes this week you won't want to miss! 

This Post Sponsored By:

Featured Lovely + Giveaway Meet Brooke | Covered in Grace

About you…
Me...I'm a goofy, laid back lady that loves to write and create and be with the people that I love. At the moment, I am free as a bird, living on Oahu and am going to soak up every bit of this Pacific Paradise that I can. I just graduated with my BA in English, after starting down this path 12 long years ago. Now, with a move on the horizon, I get to actually stay home and do whatever. Believe, I am not going to take it for granted. Woo!

About your family...
I'm a military wife to an amazing, hunky man that I adore (even when he's being a stupid boy). We have two beautiful daughters that amaze me every single day. My husband and I are trying to relish in every moment as we watch Taylor and Riley grow and change. They just turned 12 and 10, respectively, and I just cannot believe, or rather, I don't want to believe that my babies are going into the 7th and 5th grades this year. We currently live in Hawaii...but later this year we're making a giant life change and leaving this island and the military life for good. It will be such a bitter sweet change. We're praying for the right job opportunity and path to placed before us.

About your blog...
I began blogging to develop a daily writing habit. It evolved into a way for me to bring some nostalgia into my life, while practicing my wannabe photog skills. Now it is a place for me to feature some of the things and people that I love, as well as reflect on my faith in Jesus. In the near future, I plan to continue down the road of self-discovery, with a few stops looking back at the years passed, pin-spirations, Monday Meet Ups, networking with bloggers, and many more juicy tidbits of blogging awesomeness.

***

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | BlogLovin | HelloCotton | Pinterest 

As I sit and type this, I am in The Great State... TEXAS!! Visiting my family, watching my Baby Brother marry a beautiful lady, meeting my niece for the very first time...and hopefully, my very first in real life blogger meet up! Woo!

***

Brooke has generously offered up a Target Gift Card to one lucky Baxtron{Life} reader!

Enter the Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

***

Brooke also has a HUGE giveaway going on over on Covered in Grace where you can win an in-post ad on Baxtron{Life} in August + many more awesome prizes! <3

Make Twitter Work For You!& Follow Along Friday

YOU CAN BE A TWITTER ROCKSTAR!

Here are some helpful articles for the Beginner to the Advanced:
Twitter 101 via Dot in the City
Mom, This is How Twitter Works by Jessica Hische
Turn your Blog into a Twitter Powerhouse by Triberr
Twitter for Newbies via CNet
5 Twitter Secrets to Become Highly Visible in your Niche by Lauren Dugan
Beginners Guide to Twitter via KissMetrics
Science of Social Timing: Pt.1, Pt.2 & Pt.3 by KissMetrics

And now, let's party - TWITTER style! 

XO, Courtney

we want to connect with YOU!

every other Friday Aimee hosts a Follow Along that lasts until Tuesday. enough time to link. connect. share & enjoy meeting new twitter friends. connecting to each other helps to build community, your blog, your business & your network.

// 5 FEATURED LADIES \\

// HOW TO CONNECT \\

1: "follow" Aimee's Twitter Page AND THE FIVE lovely hosts by clicking on the first 6 linked buttons below!
2: Link up by following two EASY steps! 

• Step #1: Fill out the "submission" form below & enter your TWITTER PROFILE URL into the "URL" section. // 
• Step #2: On the next screen, select "Upload from Computer" and choose your image to upload. 

3: follow along with others that you find interesting
4. IF you want to share our little get together, please tweet: “follow along with @byAimeeSki today at http://wp.me/p1yWH4-ha" or you can always tell your lovely Facebook followers too!

thanks for stopping by today. we look forward to following along with everyone that links up!

{don't want to miss another one of our fancy dancy Follow Along parties? email me and getting added to our MailChimp Newsletter!}

please note, by linking up your email will be added to future link parties here at Aimee & Co. using the MailChimp application. you can unsubscribe at anytime, although we hope you don't.

Blogger: love/hate relationship!

Have patience with all things, 

but first of all with yourself. 

St. Francis de Sales

(Thanks to Marissa for this quote!)

I had a post to share with you all today,

I just finished it,

 complete…

save for inserting pictures.

And then

Blogger destroyed it

It disappeared right before my eyes.

Two hours of baring my soul,

disposed of carelessly in an instant.

Funny thing is that the post was about anger.

Between just anger and misguided anger.

And here I am angry,

and justified.

So now you'll just be getting a

fashion post

  

And I'll be going to regroup.

And praying I can eloquently re-write the post.

And share what I really wanted to.

So glad I had this picture handy to make me laugh at this whole debacle.
My husband is hilarious, no?

Restless Blog Hop & Some Randomness...

Hey Lovelies!  I just got back from a crazy wonderful three week adventure that was equal parts fun and exhausting!  We were in Texas visiting my sister & her family as she welcomed her newest baby girl into the fold.  I couldn't wait to get back and see my husband…and he was a quite a site for my sore eyes last night at our little reunion.  :)  Looking forward to catching up with you all and finding my groove again! 

I also want to take a minute to thank each of my awesome guests that contributed during my time away.  I couldn't have mentally survived and enjoyed myself without each of you!!  Thank you all so much!! 

I have many pictures to share over the next couple of days, but for now I just want to share my new haircut, and a few random facts, as well as welcome my new lovelies (that's you!)!

11 Random Questions (& Answers):

Favorite Food:  Seafood, and I am a total snob about it, it has to be from the Pacific Ocean to be good.

Favorite Nail Polish:  Ballet Slippers by Essie

Hidden Talent:  Intuition…if we lock eyes I can read a lot about what is going on in a person.

Hot Cocoa or Apple cider?  Hot Chocolate for sure, with a mountain of whipped cream on top!

Favorite Childhood Memory:  Snowmobiling or Camping with my family.

Who are the gifts from (Christmas)?  In our family the gifts are from each other via God's blessing.

If I could live anywhere:  San Diego, California

Favorite TV Show:  I am hooked on the Bachelor/Bachelorette.  In my defense that is the ONLY trashy show I watch.
How many books do I read a year:  I start probably 5-10 but only finish a handful!

What is your best quality?  I am an honest person.  I'm the friend you call when you want to be heard, understood and then receive truthful feedback.  Not the friend you want to call to join a pity party.

What is your biggest fear?  That I won't fulfill my purpose in the time I have left in my life.

P.S. I have to tell you, these ten questions were from a tag post that I received in DECEMBER, but life got busy and it got lost in the shuffle, but hey, better late than never.  (Thanks Amanda for tagging me!)

And now, moving onward, I want to give a big shout out to Christa at Young & Restless, for choosing me to co-host this week's Restless Blog Hop!!

WELCOME to the Restless BLOG HOP!

A blog hop is, its where you link up your blog, FB, twitter, etc and hop around to the other links, say hi, and find blogs you might like! (As well as be found).

Kind of like one big blogger meet and greet :)

RULES:
Follow your Host & Co-Host (Me!)
Grab this button and place it on your blog for the weekend!
Its smart to make a special post about the hop and talk about yourself or post something fun to draw people in :)

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Thank you so much for visiting, linking, following, etc!  Can't wait to meet you!  And let's get hopping!

The Life of A Mommy Blogger {Featuring Kirby Amour}

I recently read a NY Times Article on a study conducted about mommy blogging and how they've proven it "makes new mothers happier". This got me thinking a ton about the role blogging plays in my life, my friends lives, and my families day to day. It's big for me, it's big for my family, we put ourselves out there almost daily for the world to see including the small handful of people who we don't want to know anything about us. 

I don't know if I'm alone in seeing this but there seems to be a stigma about bloggers. I've noticed most tumblrs keep their blogs away from 90% of their "real life" fiends and families. It's almost like it's OK to be 100% yourself with the community you have grown of complete strangers yet we hide from those who are closest. I've been wondering about this for sometime and the reasoning. I guess sometimes it just depends on why you blog and how personal you get.

Blogging for me has been about many things. The community aspect is HUGE. The record keeping, the opportunity to experience and work on my craft of writing almost everyday. Tumblr has brought so many amazing things into my life: online friends have become real life friends, I've connected with other Brooklyn moms which has given G some pretty cool kids to grow up with, it has brought support when I've needed it most, and so much positive energy around who I am helping my personal growth. This isn't to say bad things haven't come out of the internet for us, it isn't always all good and sometimes the pressure to keep things up to date when I have writers block sucks. Yet, it's all worth it. 

I guess the biggest reason I blog is because it feels good and makes my life more fulfilling at the end of the day. And I particularly Baby Blog because my daughter is the coolest thing in my life.

You can find Kirby at Baby G, Parents for Occupy Wall Street & Kirby Amour!  Kirby also runs Awesome Baby Blogs a fantastic non-competitive directory of parenting/baby blogs.  

Time Away...

I have arrived at my first unsettling encounter with blogging discouragement.  Its okay, I'm not weeping in to my pillow or anything {yet}.  I'm just a bit surprised at how a few really minor interactions have me a bit down about the prospect of blogging.

Specifics aren't even worth mentioning, and I am sure that this little uneasy feeling in my stomach will go away in the next day or two, but it has got me thinking and re-evaluating my goals for this blog this year.  Working with people, especially via email and not in real life is tricky and can be difficult.  I find myself sometimes worried about things that are well out of my control and trivial in terms of real life or even real success.

I am grateful for this moment to have arrived though.  I must be doing something right, as I've heard of similar experiences time and time again.  The timing couldn't be better really.  I am about to leave tomorrow for Texas, to visit my dear sister and her family, as she welcomes her third beautiful child into our world.  I will be bringing Zion, but sans husband for three weeks.

I have connected with a really great group of ladies to share on various topics while I am away, and I'll pop in with my weekly weight loss updates, my pinning series and weekly recaps of the week's adventures.  I hope to have some time to stay up to date with everything you have going on as well, and look forward to jumping back in refreshed in three weeks time!  Wow…three whole weeks!

See you soon friends!

Would love to connect with {YOU} in February!

Want to Sponsor Baxtron{Life} in February??  Swaps still available {medium ad size}!  Watch your feed for my Extra Large Ad Space giveaway this week…you could win that really big featured space on the upper right side panel!  

For current stats, rates, and other questions, visit my sponsor page, and fill out an inquiry form! Thanks!

 

{Happy} New Year! New Look & New Name!!!

I'm so happy to announce that along with our official name change from "Life with the Baxtrons" to simply "Baxtron{Life}" we are finished with the redesign!!

Here is the Before {Click Here for the After}:

Come by and take a look!  Leave a comment and let me know what you think!?

Also, if you've redesigned your site, I'd love to see it, so leave me a link!

P.S. The winners of my January Ad-space Giveaway are:
{Extra Large Feature} Annie from Letters to Mo
{Large Feature} Ronni from Anywhere Is
{Large Feature} Kristina from City Corporate to Suburb Mama

STILL OPEN!:




 

Sneak Preview Saturday!!

REMINDER:


Welcome to the last sneak peek before the full redesign goes live next weekend!! I am really excited to share today's preview, because it reveals my goals and heart for this blog in 2012. Today I present to you the regular "series" line up for 2012. Some things will continue, but as you will see I have some exciting plans for this coming year.

Previously known as the "Weekly Wrap Up", I will continue to share a weekly summary of our Baxtron{Life} with lots of pictures of our activities and {of course} Zion!!

I've decided to merge my "From Mama B's Kitchen", "Recipes of the Week", "What's for dinner?" posts into one series that encompasses all food topics.  I'm not sure that I will post weekly meal plans anymore, but I will definitely continue posting recipes.

"Pinning!" will continue and {hopefully} grow into an even greater Pinterest Linky event, hopefully with giveaways and other fun prizes for the "Pinning-est" ladies on the web.

Until I had Zion, I always had a flat stomach.  Not anymore.  It is {sadly} official, I have a muffintop.  But, I plan on BLASTING it away this year.  Hopefully before I conceive baby number 2.  

This is a continuation of the same named series.  I believe strongly that in a time when Marriage is suffering so greatly in so many ways, people need honest, thoughtful encouragement in this area.  I'm committed to growing a stronger marriage, and so I will continue to share what I learn with you.

God has put a deep burden in my heart for the children of Liberia, a war-torn country in West Africa that is full of orphans who are in desperate need of love and hope.  I have no idea at this moment what God wants me to do, but I invite you to follow along in the adventure as He reveals His will for me {us} in 2012.

This new series is going to be a monthly or semi-monthly interview/post about a woman in my life that inspires me.  There are really so many of them, I cannot wait to introduce each one to you!!

And finally, the scariest series of my life.  The pure, unscripted truth about my life.  I have been through a lot in a very short time on this planet, and I believe {just like each of us} I have a story to tell.  This is where things get real about who I am.

I can't wait to kick off each of these series in the new year!

Merry Christmas Eve to you all!!

 

Sneak Preview Saturday!

Hey friends! I've been shopping all day and I'm exhausted!  As you might have guessed - real life has been busy for me, so I've been spending a lot of quality time with friends and family and not a lot of time writing…but it is only because I know that this coming couple of weeks will be the final push to implement all of my design changes!  :)

You've probably noticed things look a little bit different around here right now! Here is another sneak peek and a call for January Sponsors.  If you are interested shoot me an email! Or click one of the buttons below! :)