Parents+Bloggers+Giveaway

Hello Lovelies - I wanted to take a minute to share with you my home away from this home:

In the world of baby blogging you see many sites driven by "voting".  At Awesome Baby Blogs we decided we were tired of all the competition in the world of blogging and decided to make a directory and community which is simple and voting free.

And guess what else?! We're REAL bloggers too! This isn't some company trying to make a buck off your blogs, we're real bloggers who really care about the parenting blog community! 

If you are a parent + a blogger than this directory is for YOU!  

What are you waiting for - ADD YOUR BLOG!

Connect via:

Web | Twitter | Facebook

Meet the ABB Team:

Founding Editor - Kirby Desmarais 

Kirby is the author of Baby G! and KirbyAmour. A feisty little girl covered in many tattoos. Ex-groupie turned pro tea drinker. Music Industry Maven who started the company Everything Independent. She has a firery passion for everything baby blog related so she created Awesome Baby Blogs to feed the addiction

Editor-in-Chief - Courtney Baxtron

Courtney is a mysterious combination of dreamer and type-A personality.  She is the author of Baxtron{Life}, a lifestyle blog about her life as a wifey and mommy.  Originally from Seattle, she is currently adventuring in New York City, where she enjoys pretending to live in the suburbs, attempting to balance her passions with her responsibilities, all while hoping to keep her "crunchy-granola" roots intact.  

Contributing Editor - David Vienna

David is a screenwriter and failed rock ‘n’ roll front-man. He chronicles his experiences raising twin sons Wyatt and Boone at The Daddy Complex, a blog popular with both parents and porn seekers, though the latter group usually leaves disappointed. He started his professional career as a journalist, then spent a few years writing for reality television. That one really awesome episode of “House Hunters” — yeah, that was his. Currently, he serves as Editor-In-Chief for concordmusicgroup.com. He loves E.L.O., ’70s horror films, Philly cheese steaks and napping.

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Did you know…

Awesome Baby Blogs has a blog that is dedicated to featuring your best posts - we devote endless hours to reading our members content and love to feature brilliant posts - as well as share them on social media!  Have a post you think is great - tweet or email me the link!

We have a monthly newsletter - that offers insider information about special events and promotions, and also features new members and featured bloggers.  When you add your blog you join our family!

And we just launched a new feature - Blogger-in-your-Inbox - which is a great way to discover new blogs as well as have your blog discovered!  Check it out and make sure to enter the giveaway below for a chance to win one in July!! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Get You Some!Radical Giveaway

Win: Large 200x200 Ad Space w/Feature Post + 2 Custom Organic Handmade Lip Balms

Win: 200x275 Ad Space | 1 Month

Win: Hand-Knit Bow Necklace

Win: Medium Ad Space | 1 Month

Win: Medium Ad Space | 1 Month

Win: 300x100 Ad Space | 2 Months

Win: Medium Ad Space | 3 Months

Win: Feature Ad Space | 1 Month

Win: Feature Ad Space | 1 Month

A Big Thank-You to All These Ladies for Offering Up Such Radness!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{FeaturedLovely}Meet Chelsea of In These Shoes

Hello!  My name is Chelsea and I am guest posting for Courtney today because the poor dear has Carpal Tunnel in her hand!  Take a minute to pray for her if you think of it.  I blog over at In These Shoes.   I am a 20-something should-be-done-with-college-but-I’m-not-quite English Secondary Education major.  I write about what God’s teaching me as I spend time with him and in his word.  I spill the mushy-gushy details about my blossoming romance with my husband of almost one year.  I’ll also share the occasional art project, movie/music/book review, and outfit (because I love all of those things too much!).

Last year a mentor/friend of mine introduced me to the idea of self-awareness as a means to knowing God better.  She helped me to do this via the Enneagram personality test, and since then I’ve become evangelistic about it.  For those familiar with the test, I am a Helper (2).  This means that at my worst my natural bent is to focus on other people’s problems as a means to ignore my own.  At my best, it means I am a selfless servant naturally pouring out tenderness and encouragement to others.  Since self-awareness isn’t my natural bent, I have to choose to work harder at this.  

I think that getting to know God as we get to know ourselves works out in a couple of ways:  

1. We are made in his image:  it’s in the bible, check it out.  This means that there are characteristics of the Creator in his Creation.  Nothing is more exciting than seeing a trait in myself that I recognize as something I love about my Heavenly Father.  It’s kind of like being a Daddy’s girl and thinking about the great things you inherited from him.  

2.  We recognize our need for him in our shortcomings.  As we better understand the areas and patterns of our struggles, we begin to understand our need for God.  Where I am weak, he is strong.   I am made in God’s image, but I also have a sinful nature.  As I get to know myself (for better and for worse) I see my need, and God’s desire, to restore me to my original condition.  This drives me to greater closeness with the God that I love. 

On that note, you guys have heard of Audrey Hepburn, right?  *wink*  I’ve always loved her quote: 

via Wanelo

So, in the interest of myself, and you getting to know me better, I wrote my own “I believe” statement.

I believe in dancing.  Like fools.

I believe that love can last forever if you work hard at it.

I believe that there is grace bigger than all of our mistakes.

I believe in chai and frosted mini wheats.

I believe in playing soccer in the rain.

I believe in holding hands.

I believe that giving is happier than receiving.

I believe in pink gerber daisies.

I believe that each person has something unique to teach us about life and God.

What would your “I believe” statement say?  How are you getting to know yourself, and God, better?

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Courtney here:

I "met" Chelsea via the MayDay FollowFest, and I've been so impressed by her understanding and ability to express the meaning she finds daily in God's word.  She has a beautiful way of sharing her insights.  I especial love her own paraphrases of scripture, which she calls the "Chelsea Standard Version." Thanks so much for blessing me by helping me out today lady!! XO

{FeaturedLovely}Meet Elise from Dear Family

Hi everyone! I'm Elise and I blog at Dear Family, I'm so happy to be over here today, but I am not happy about the circumstances. Pray with me for Courtney's wrist please! Feel better soon.

 

Today I brought some cake with me. Not just any cake, chocolate cake, chocolate butter cream frosting, whipped chocolate ganache and on top, chocolate curls.

Recipe here.

The reason I brought this chocolate treat over here today, is because I needed a little "pick-me-up".

My goal for this year has been:

Do one thing everyday that scares you.

-Eleanor Roosevelt 

Now, I can't pretend that every day is full of exciting adventure that has a heroic ending. But until yesterday, all these brave/scary things had quite (to my surprise) happy endings! 

Last night, was to be my first class of a two week "maintenance summer class" with the Milwaukee b
Ballet School. After quitting ballet for over 5 years and joining again this winter, I have had quite the difficult task of remembering french, remembering the positions, remembering combinations and the ever-so-difficult task of attempting to make my body move like it used to, or at least how it should. 

I nervously made the drive downtown, parked my car and paid the meter (all while sweating profusely) I was 30 minutes early, just what I wanted although everyone inside gave me looks that made me rethink my decision. I wandered around the Jodi Peck Center, wishing that if I had to take an advanced class "couldn't it at least be at the Milwaukee Ballet campus I take class at, the one by my house?" In a new building, I stumbled through several different doors until a kind girl pointed me upstairs to the dressing room. I quickly changed and the second I stepped foot into the studio, where other dancers were already warming up, I knew. This class was definitely above my level. I knew right then, I would be making many mistakes. At that very moment, my confidence left me. Confidence in ballet class is crucial, I promise you will make a mistake if you do not have it. 

From an outsider's perspective watching the class, they would probably tell you that the combinations were lovely. The dancers were lovely. The jumps, turns, barre and pointe work, absolutely stunning. They would also probably tell you that there seemed to be one girl in class that was just not yet ready to be taking this class - I'll let you guess who that was.

I left pretty embarrassed, in fact the entire class I was trying to figure out a way to slip out without being rude to the teacher. But, this was my scary thing for the day. It took courage and loads of prayers. On the car ride home, I repeated to myself "My worth is not in my performance or talents". I am so happy this is true. As for next week, I will be joining in a slightly lower level. I'm certainly not giving up!

See why I needed some chocolate today?

I hope you have some too, while trying something that requires courage. 

And you can always let me know how it goes!

Love,

Elise

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Courtney here:
Thank you so much Elise for helping me out as I give my hands/wrists a rest, and for sharing this story!  It is so hard to share some of the let downs and discouragements we face, and I admire your boldness and courage, not only in sharing, but in persevering through the class even though you knew it was beyond your current skill level.  XOXO