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! 

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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

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This Ain't the Cha-Cha It's the Tuesday Tango!

The Tuesday Tango is a multiple link-up post for everyone to meet new people and grow your audience. There will be six link-ups you can add your link to - Twitter, Facebook, Hello Cotton, Bloglovin, Instagram, and Pinterest. All you have to do is follow the host(s) for that week and then add whoever else you'd like to!

Permanent Hosts:

After Nine To Five | From City Corporate to Suburb Mama

This Week's Rotating Hosts:

Baxtron Life | Treasure Tromp | My Musings

Directions:

Follow the host(s)

Add your links to any/all of the link-ups

Add at least 5 people from the link-ups

- - -

Want to host one of the weeks? Let us know!

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When Life is Too Loud Life of a Pint-Sized Mama

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.

***

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.

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.

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:

Blog / Facebook / Twitter / BlogLovin'

Blog Freebies DIY Blog Design

"Pinning!" is a Weekly Pinterest Link-Up

(Share pins, meet others who love "Pinning", get inspired!)

First Time?  It's simple just follow these rules:

 Please follow your hosts: Courtney & Kimberly

And your Co-Hosts:

Stephany // 'ol Mother Hyder

Amanda // Bullfrogs and Bulldogs

Paige // The Eloping Stethoscope

then

 Link up your Pinterest Inspired Post & Profile below

and

Make sure you link back to the party!

<center><a href="http://www.baxtronlife.com/search/label/Pinning" target="_blank"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gbvryU40_Qo/Ty_cGnh2JNI/AAAAAAAAB9k/iwfB9OZ7SFo/s200/PinningHalf.jpg" height="150" width="150" /></a></center>

Each week a winner will be chosen to flaunt the title of "Pinning-est" for successfully wowing us with the best Pinterest find.  The winner will be featured/announced in the following week's post!

***

Welcome to the newly redesigned Baxtron{Life}!  <3 What do you think?  :)

I thought with the redesign that today would be a good time to share some awesome blog freebies found via Pinterest and the Web.  Is it time to Pimp out your Blog?  These awesome goodies are made by bloggers and designers who have graciously offered up their talents to help us spruce up our spaces. Visit the links to pin to your boards!  Check out more freebies via my Blog Stuff Board on Pinterest.

Blog Headers

Water Color & Bokeh Textures

Washi Tape Label

Think Design Blog

Fonts!

Labels

Pugley Pixel

Photo Layouts

Pink Moustache

Social Media Icons

JuneLily

Backgrounds & Layouts

THANK YOU to all who linked up last week!

I chose this week's "Pinning-est":
Elizabeth from "Love is the Adventure"

She pinned a lovely collection of images and inspiration related to being kind to yourself.
I felt so refreshed after looking at her post!  And this picture here reminds me of what Zion may look like when she is older! ~ Courtney

WANT TO BE A GUEST JUDGE or HOST? 

Email us!

Elizabeth! Feel free to grab the button, and flaunt it!

Are you "Pinning"?  

Come on, everyone is doing it.  

Join us MONDAYS for weekly sharing of Pinterest finds.  

***

Link up your PINTEREST INSPIRED POST below:

***

Link up your PINTEREST PROFILE below:

Lovely July Giveaway

I'm honored that these lovely ladies have generously donated great prizes for my group giveaway this month.  Click on the images below to visit their fabulous blogs!!  Happy entering!

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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.


-----------------------------------------

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

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.

Brooke | Covered in Grace / @CoveredinGrace / Facebook / BlogLovin' / HelloCotton

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.

Lish | Imprintalish / Shop / @Imprintalish / Facebook / Pinterest

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.

Megan | Absolute Mommy / @AbsoluteMommy / Facebook / Pinterest / Instagram

Weakness:

Headstrong. It causes a lot of problems.

Strength:

Love. To love and be loved.

Yesenia | Then There Was Us / Facebook / BlogLovin' / Pinterest / Instagram

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!

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7.26.12 The Weekly Wrap

 Row 1 >> $13 Payless Run // Longing // Mosaic // Julep Nailcolor

Row 2 >> Cool // Cute // Park // Shades

Row 3 >> Berries & Cream // Rules of the Inn // FishNChips // DateNight

Row 4 >> Mosaic (Loom app) // Cheese // Mosaic Again // Yummy Eats

Row 1 >> Moi // Minty Fresh Skinnies // Ribbit! // Monument 

Row 2 >> Favorite Pitcher :( // Haricots Verts // Florence+TheMachine // Yellow

Row 3 >> Jest // New Top // FroYo // Cheeseburger Pockets

Row 4 >> New Fridge // Rest // J&M's Eye Candy // Playtime

 Row 1 >> PB & Dark Chocolate // FauxHawk // Bedtime // Fancy Coffee

Row 2 >> Sandbox // Giveaway // Dreams // Steamer Clams

Row 3 >> Grandma's Style // Focus // Toddler Battles // Favorite Verse

Row 4 >> Good-byes // Italiano // Work // Morning

 Row 1 >> Forgive // Silly Faces // FloorNap // Chocolate Chip Cookies

Row 2 >> Mini Cone // GQ Hubs // Toybox // Stickers

Row 3>> Candy // Balance Ball // Always with You // Close-up Stickers

Row 4 >> Pray without Ceasing // Sleep-eating // Watercolor Mani // Swings

Row 1 >> Old Church // Trusting Obedience // Wedges // Red <3Row 2 >> Golden Jellies // Fortmaking // Hot City // She & IRow 3 >> Wild Hair // Long Hair // 5 Randoms // Still Loving ItRow 4 >> Handmade Skirt // Garden // #SMH // Beatles Coverband
How was your week? 

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