Showing posts with label featured bloggers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label featured bloggers. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 1

Loveliest July

 

Read These Posts!

Yes! August is officially here!  
Before you shut the door on July - 
make sure you catch these fantastic posts written by a few of my Loveliest!!

1. Courage // 2. Eyelashes // 3. Mee-Yow // 4. Changes // 5. Boi to the Sea

Connect with Aunie: Blog // Twitter // Facebook


Connect with Dr. Momsie: Blog // Twitter // Facebook /


Connect with Jane Caroline: Blog // Twitter // Instagram 


Connect with Paige: Blog // Twitter // Facebook // Pinterest / BlogLovin


Connect with Delilah: Blog // Twitter // Facebook // Pinterest // Instagram // HelloCotton

Which one is your favorite?  

Leave your nomination below in the comments -
 the person with the most nominations
 for Loveliest post in July will will 
win a "Lovely" Ad in September 
(as well as one of their nominators!)

Bullfrogs and Bulldogs

 

+ Ad Space Giveaway

Hi there! I'm Amanda from Bullfrogs and Bulldogs! I'm so excited to be guest posting here today! First, I want to give Courtney a huge thank you for inviting me over today! I love Baxtron{Life} for so many reasons but mostly because of the vulnerability and realness Courtney puts out there. Although at times she may be afraid to share the truth, she always has the strength and courage to do so and it's something I really admire about her.

Today I'm here to share a little bit about moi! I'd love it if you'd come by sometime and visit me. I love making new friends and learning more about all of you! You can find me here, at my blog Bullfrogs and Bulldogs and of course I am also on: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and I would absolutely love it if you'd follow along with me and of course, I will follow back!

So a little about me. I am a born and raised Pacific Northwest gal growing up in the suburbs of Seattle, WA and now live in a little town called Newberg in Oregon. I moved down here in May of 2011 to live with my now {as of May 2012} hubby on our family vineyard, Omero Cellars and our little farm we created together. I traded in my Toms and skinny jeans for muck boots and carharts and spend my days getting my hands dirty working around the property. I started Bullfrogs and Bulldogs as a was to share my transition with my friends and family back home but over the course of the year it has turned into so much more.

I write a lot about projects I'm working on around the house, a hobby I didn't know I loved until I moved into our 1970's home, and I share yummy vegan and gluten-free recipes I create to show that even vegans have fun in the kitchen! But most importantly, I try to make you laugh with the funny experiences I have here on the family vineyard and farm such as the time a coyote got on the property or when my 'city' house cat got stuck 40 feet up in a tree and I called the fire department. There really never is a dull moment on the farm and I try to make the most of every experience by finding humor in it.
One of my biggest goals is to be a little more vulnerable on the blog. I've shifted a little bit away from the original intent of Bullfrogs and Bulldogs and it is my hope to share a little more personal stuff about transitioning, which I think will be a forever process. I have good days and bad ones, ups and downs, and one of the things I love most about blogging is the connections I've made with my readers and other bloggers. So I truly would love it if you'd stop by and gave us the opportunity to get to know each other better! Here are a few photos of where I live:

I also have a fun little giveaway for all you lovely readers! I'm giving TWO of you a TWO month Top Dog Ad Spot on Bullfrogs and Bulldogs! You are probably wondering what comes with this little gift I'm giving. Well, when you are sitting on top you not only get viewed by all of my lovely readers but you also get to be featured as my blog obsession in one of my Feature Friday post, the option to host a giveaway on the blog, the option to write a guest post, and of course, facebook and twitter shout outs! All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter questions below and you are entered! I'll be picking the winner on Monday, August 6th!
   

 Thank you again Courtney for having me over today and thank YOU for taking the time to read a little bit about me and I hope to see you over in my neck of the woods sometime so I can get to know more about you! Have a beautiful day!
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Tuesday, July 31

Organic Mami + Giveaway

 

From City Corporate to Suburb Mama

Hey lovelies! I'm so happy to be guest posting for Courtney while she's away! Courtney is a dear friend  both online and offline! I'm so incredibly blessed to call her "friend" and so thankful that our kiddos love to play together and while they do, we get to hang out!

Today, I'd love to share a little passion of mine...pursuing a holistic approach to our family's health. You could even call me crunchy if you want! ;) This journey started last year, when our youngest son developed severe eczema. While the steroid creams and antibiotic creams were working, as soon as I stopped applying them, his eczema would return full force. It was so frustrating and I quickly realized I was only treating a symptom, not the root issue. That began our search to better understand our bodies, food and how they relate to each other as well as more holistic approaches to soothing and treating his eczema.  If you're interested or have similar skin issues, I'd love to have you read up on it all here.

During that time, I discovered hard lotion. It's completely natural, you can pronounce all the ingredients and easily recognize their source and what they are and it's amazing stuff!! I truly believe that God provided in nature all that we need to have health and a full life. He's that amazing! And, as I started to learn and discover, I was sold on hard lotion. My only issue was that it was too hard. I had an infant who quickly became irritated as I waited for the hard lotion to soften up in my hands so that I could apply it to his skin and I realized I needed to perfect my own recipe.

This was the very beginning of Organic Mami, my etsy shop where I sell coconut lotion, lip balm and non petroleum jelly (think Vaseline and Aquaphor without the petroleum). I offer a variety of essential oils and options and it's such a joy to hear of others trying and experiencing the benefits of solid lotion for themselves. And, during the time that our son really struggled with his eczema (before we discovered all of his allergies) the lotion was the only thing that soothed the itch and relieved his dry, weepy skin.



I'm so excited to offer a some of this lotion to one of you today! 
This giveaway includes 1, 4 oz. custom coconut lotion and 1, 1oz. custom coconut lip balm.


And, I'd also like to offer a 20% off discount for all of you as Courtney's readers. 
Just use code BAXTRONREADER.
Thanks so much, Courtney, for having me here today! Happy Entering everyone! 
Connect with Kristina:
Blog >> Shop >> Twitter >> Facebook >> Instagram >> Pinterest

Monday, July 30

When Life is Too Loud

 

Life of a Pint-Sized Mama

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My name is Mackenzie, and I'm honored to be sharing on Courtney's blog today! Though I've never met Courtney in "real life," my Dad married Courtney and her husband Jerry, so it feels like we've met. :) 


I'm a wife and mom, I work with a missions organization called Youth With A Mission, and I'm incredibly short - 4'8" to be exact! I love sharing about my faith, family, and life as a tiny mom at my blog, Life of a Pint-Sized Mama. Recently the Lord has put something on my heart, and I'd love to share it with you.
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Some days my life is too loud.


It feels like there is noise coming at me from all directions. Everywhere I look, there's an email to answer, a Facebook message to reply to, a baby to snuggle, a kitchen to be cleaned. I could probably shut out the noise if I wanted to, but it seems like I'm just turning up the volume. Though some things are "have-to's", it's mostly my own choices that are making my life this loud, this busy.
My heart feels full, but not in a good way. I'm distracted and tired. And I feel the Lord calling to me and saying,

Abide. Wait. Sit at My feet.

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The things I'm choosing to do with my life right now are all good things: mommy-hood, my marriage, visiting with family & friends, networking for our YWAM ministry, blogging and connecting with other women, starting a sponsorship program on my blog (soon!), preparing for my first blogging conference in October.

But even these good things, when they aren't fueled by the BEST thing, are just a distraction.

The Lord reminded me this morning of the sisters Mary and Martha. Jesus visited their house, and Martha was scurrying around to get their home ready. (Hello, Jesus was coming over! I would have been cooking and cleaning like a mad woman too!) I think Martha's intention was to be hospitable, which is a good, Godly thing. But all of her preparation caused her to be distracted from the reason that she was doing all of those things - Jesus. Her sister, Mary, chose to sit at Jesus' feet, instead of making sure their house was perfect for the Lord. And Jesus told them that Mary's choice to be quiet and listen to Him was the better thing. The best thing.*


I don't have this all figured out. I want to be a woman who shows God's grace and love to everyone around me. I want to use my my life, my family, my blog as a platform to give glory to God. But if I am not laying all of those things at Jesus' feet and letting Him fill me first, they will be for nothing. They will do the opposite of what I intend for them to do. They will be another noise in this loud, blaring world.
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Lord, help me to take a deep breath. Help me to choose You, the better thing. Help me to be quiet and sit at Your feet. Use the platforms You've given me to share Your name and Your love. And let me be willing to give up all the "extras" in a heartbeat. Breathe into all that I do. Help me to turn down the volume and listen to Your voice. I choose you, the best thing.

*From Luke 10:38-42

Connect with Mackenzie:
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Sunday, July 29

Stripped

 

All Glorious Within



Well Hey there Baxtron{Life} Readers.
I can't even begin to tell you how stoked I am that Courtney is giving me the priviledge of sharing my heart with you guys today.

I should probably explain who I am right....
My name is L and I blog at All Glorious Within
I have a heart for encouraging others in their walk with the Lord,
so my blog is me sharing things I am learning in my relationship with Christ.
I married my wonderful husband in July 2010, so I often include newlywed bumps along the way.
So with that said....I what to share with you guys some thoughts I had on trials and how each of us is Made to Shine for Jesus.


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In the last few months I have been able to help a couple of different friends with their house projects. Two of them have just bought fixer-uppers and are so brave in tackling them with a deadline in mind.  These homes needed serious work I tell you.
One of them had no electricity or plumbing and people had broken in and pretty much stolen anything they could from it.
Crazy right.


So as I was helping one friend strip paint in her new hallway, we discovered that under all those layers of old paint which looked pretty awful, there was beautiful dark wood.
So we began heating the paint up and removing it piece by piece from the wood.
And I realised, that's how the imperfections are in each of us.


We all have these layers of imperfections & sin that need removing from our life.
It makes each of us look awful.
But as we allow God to help us remove them and piece by piece get them out of our lives for good.
We begin to see the way we were supposed to be.
We begin to shine from the inside out, as the inside is finally visible.


We begin to shine the way God made us.
We allow Him to shine through us, people around us begin to see Him.
To see beauty.
But it is through His incredible grace that He is helping us become the person we were originally made to be.
Just like that wood, we were made to beautifully reflect the Lord.
But all that paint that gets added on top, sinful patterns, pride, our past.....
It prevents people around us and even ourselves from seeing that beautiful person that was created.


Isn't it funny how you can put those imperfections under heat and they get removed.
Just like in life when trials come our way and we are refined.
The imperfections are painfully removed sometimes.
But they are really worth it when they free us to shine for Him.


Some ponderings for me to remember the next time a painful trial comes my way.
Want to ponder with me?

Much Love,
L


Connect with L:
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / BlogLovin' / Pinterest

Friday, July 27

Strengths & Weaknesses

 

Special Feature

What is your greatest strength?  What is your greatest weakness?  Are you like me and have the easiest time coming up with your flaws, but a difficult time acknowledging your strengths?  Let me challenge you today to think on the things you do well, your strengths.  I'd love to hear what you come up with.   I'll share mine in a minute, too.

Every month I get the privilege of partnering with amazing women who continuously impress me!  These women share their lives, passions and inspirations in a way that is refreshing, uplifting and vulnerable.  This month I asked these lovelies to divulge not only their biggest strength but also their biggest weakness.






Weakness:
This is so hard. I'm going to say, though, that it's ONE of my greatest weaknesses ... I tend not to believe in myself enough, or rather, I don't have enough confidence in myself sometimes. I think that's a pretty big weakness because it trickles into so many other facets of my life, affecting them all. It's something that I constantly struggle with and need to continually lean into Jesus to overcome.
Strength:
My greatest strength... I want to say it's my capacity to love and encourage others . But really...my greatest strength is my savior, Jesus Christ. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.







Weakness:
I'm an introvert in 'real' life. I think this holds me back in promoting myself and even making new friends... I would much rather sit at home, then go anywhere , especially if it means I have to meet new people. I hate putting myself out there , and am so shy!
Strength:
My creativity. It's my passion and as long as I am in that creative state of mind , I am fueled and can't go wrong. Or at least I feel that way, lol, things always go wrong. Creativity for me equals strength and happiness.




Stephany | 'ol Mother Hyder / @HyderMommy / Facebook / G+ / Pinterest / Instagram



Weakness:
I am a very, very blunt person. I do not see holding back the truth. And, a very firm believer that "the truth just hurts." (if it is not what you want to hear, of coarse). BUT sometimes people think I am being cruel or negative towards them . That's not it. I am just not fake. I never want to hurt feelings, but if it's the truth...it will probably be said.
Strength:
Creativity. I do love to use my imagination. If it's on my blog, decorating my home or preparing my son's lunch...I want it to be creative. Creativity defines an individual and brings ones life out.




Chelsea | In These Shoes



Weakness:
I am a people-pleaser. I so desperately want everyone to like me--even people that I honestly don't like. I have grown a lot in this area. But still, sometimes I can get so self-conscious or convince myself that someone doesn't like me for no reason. I feel like I have to earn everyone's love and that if I mess up too much everyone will just decide they don't like me and don't want to be in my life . Every day I am trying to lean on the fact that Jesus chose to show me the most love when I was at my absolute worst.
Strength:
My greatest strength is compassion. If I can do one thing, it's care. I'm often brought to tears by the pain of a stranger or friend. This allows me to come alongside others in empathy and to help lift them up with encouragement. I have to flip the channel when those sad puppy commercials come on because I just can't handle it. Sometimes something sad I heard during the day keeps me awake at night thinking and praying. My friend once said I model "godly sorrow." Ungodly sorrow would be the kind where you think there is no hope. Godly sorrow is being so broken about your puny human condition or the condition of the world that you cry to Jesus because he is the only hope. This is what I do best.




Weakness:
Headstrong. It causes a lot of problems.
Strength:
Love. To love and be loved.



Weakness:
A big weakness of mine is that I tend to talk over people during conversation. And I don't realize it until I'm already doing it.
Strength:
My greatest strength would have to be that I am a very independent person and have always been a quick learner. I have a pretty good ability to grasp new concepts and skills quickly. This always worked to my advantage in the workplace.


Me
Weakness:
One of my greatest weaknesses is that I can be too direct.  
When I'm short and to the point, it can come across as harsh, and unloving.
Strength:
Reliability.  I am committed to keeping my word - and my commitments to people.  
I would go great distances for a friend in need.

What is your greatest strength?  Weakness?  We'd love to hear your thoughts!


This Post Sponsored By:

Tuesday, July 24

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.


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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!

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

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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



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Friday, July 20

Casual & Glam Floral Sashes

 

Eight Tree Street


Hi! I'm Maribel, mommy to four kiddos and wife to a wonderful guy. When I'm not busy with the family, I design florals and wedding accessories at EightTreeStreet, and write for my blog.

Today I am sharing with you my new found love: casual and glam floral, ribbon and fabric sashes. Ribbon belt sashes are a popular accents today in weddings, but they also make a fabulous and colorful fashion statement in everyday wear.

Ribbon sashes dress up your look from office to playground to a night out on the town, and they are very inexpensive and super easy to make. You can accessorize with sashes for a glam time at a wedding, they make the most gorgeous additions to a wedding dress. Wedding sashes can include ribbon, millinery flowers, brooches and a little bling for sparkling decor as well as handmade touches with fabric flowers, just divine!
For a casual yet chic playground attire, tie a favorite ribbon or a handmade flower sash around your waist over a simple T-shirt t for a perfect look. Here's a casual design fit for mommy or little gal. I love this Amy Buttler fabric sash, they will look amazing paired with a casual shirt and a pair of jeans.
You can make a sash to enhance pillows, chair backs for a party or event, or use as a curtain tiebacks.
Curtain floral sash tieback and flower girl blue sash via Pinterest,
Chevron chair back sash from EightTreeStreet
 Here's one of my designs, I love it's simplicity and fun decorations, hope you do too. Simple and elegant accessories for everyday wear!
 I would love to connect with you via on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest. Hope you stop by to say hello! In the meantime, a lucky reader will be getting one of my cute and casual ribbon belt sashes

Thanks Courtney for the opportunity to visit you today, let me know how you are accessorizing with sashes for home, weddings or a casual look! Make a fun, colorful and glam fashion statement!


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To Enter the Giveaway:
You must be a follower of Baxtron{Life} 
Leave a comment below telling us what you think of these gorgeous sashes!

Extra Entries (Leave a comment for each):
Follow Eight Tree Street via Twitter, Facebook and/or Pinterest.


Ends 7/26 at 11:59pm
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Sunday, July 1

The Loveliest


June

Favorite June Posts
Connect with Kimberly: Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram
Favorite June Posts
Connect with Lish: Blog | Facebook | Pinterest | Shop
Favorite June Posts
Connect with Kristina: Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Shop

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Time for a winner!