Guest Post {and here's to you, Mrs. Robinson}

I'm so happy to introduce today's guest poster to you guys! Megan is such an amazing lady, I've adored her in every way ever since the first time we spoke. You can just feel her amazing spirit, and you know she has a kind heart!!! She's a full time mother, blogger, wife, and even helps with other businesses, yet she always somehow finds the time to respond to my silly emails with questions. She's never gotten upset at me for coming to her for help, nor has she ever made me feel bad for doing so! She's just wonderful, and I encourage each and every one of you to head over to her blog after reading this post and see what else she has to say -- you won't regret it!

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I'm excited to be posting on Rachel's blog today!
I met Rachel when she won an ad giveaway on my blog & I have loved her ever since!
She is INCREDIBLY and AMAZINGLY talented even at such a young age, it just blows my mind!
And not only is she talented behind the camera, but she is a talented writer as well.
I feel so privileged to know her and be able to work with her and even more honored to share her blog today.

I guess I should introduce myself.... :)

My name is Megan Robinson and I blog over at {And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson}.
I love to have a place where I can go to express my thoughts, share my stories, and hopefully inspire and uplift other women. I like to talk about womanhood, motherhood, marriage, and everything in between! I believe that through blogging we can create a strong community of women that can support one another through the good and the bad.

 I was asked me recently how I got started writing. And to be quite honest, the answer has truly eluded me.The only way I can honestly reply is,“I just did.”

 For years I had a dream to write for women, couples, and families.It took me 6 years, 3 different majors, a husband, and a baby later to finally find my voice. And it will probably take longer still to truly be confident with it. [But I’ll get there].
I don’t have any professional writing background unless you count hundreds of term papers and articles I wrote throughout my college career. But I knew I wanted to be a writer. 

One day, I was talking to my husband {then boyfriend} and told him what I hoped to do with my life when I graduated college. He supported my goals and even influenced me to choose the degree I ended up graduating in. He even said to me,“Why don’t you use your (then silly, personal) blog to reach out to others?”
I thought about that for years. It’s hard finding opportunities to share your voice without having to climb some kind of corporate ladder first. So I just patiently waited for an opportunity to arise and I would pounce on it right away.
The problem was, my dream job didn’t just show up! 
I didn’t just find a website one day that said
LOOKING FOR INSPIRATIONAL WRITERS, APPLY TODAY! Though that would’ve been amazing, it’s not realistic.
 Instead, the opportunity came when I started to feel deep, dark emotions after having my son that I couldn’t keep quiet about anymore.
My depression hit me like a railroad train and keeping quiet about it made it all too difficult to bear.
So I wrote. 
I wrote and wrote and wrote…

I wrote about my happiness.
I wrote about my fears.
I wrote about my struggles.
I wrote about my frustrations.
I wrote about the sweetest experiences that I hold dear to my heart.
When I started really getting into blogging [I've had my blog for about 4 years prior], I made a promise to myself and my {50 readers} that I would be real & genuine. I didn't want to just talk about the good things in my life, but I promised to talk about my struggles as well.
And I was. I opened my heart to the {blogging} world and from there gave myself the title as writer.
I have since had some amazing opportunities to work with StrongerMarriage.org as a freelance blogger sharing my experiences on marriage and giving advice & encouragement to other couples.
I have also been working with Ashley from After Nine to Five as her virtual assistant helping her follow her own dreams and by association mine as well.
 I am not confident in a lot of things in my life.
Sometimes I’m not all that confident in my own platform. 
But one of the things I’m most confident about is writing.
When you are truly doing the things that you love,
great things are bound to follow.
You just have to go for it! 

~~
Isn't she incredible? This post made me want to cry, but at the same time it gave me hope. She's so inspirational, and I'm so honored to have her as a friend!!

Amanda of RDD (Guest Post + Giveaway)

Are you guys just the luckiest readers or what?! You know why? Because you're reading my blog. Duh. ;)

Hehee I'm just kidding!!! Today I have another fabulous lady guest posting!! Can you guys guess who??

Can ya can ya can ya????

Probably not. Because you know, she's kinda a big deal in the blogging world. And I'm just starting out. So you're gonna be like, "no, she's not posting here!" and Imma be like "uh, yeah she is! *insert hair flip here* people just love me, okay." ...okay I'm just kidding. {maybe}. But she is a big deal!!!

Do you guys know Amanda over at Royal Daughter Designs? I'm sure that you do, she's amazing!!! I kinda flipped for joy when she agreed to guest post! And then she threw in something that surprised me!

~drum-roll please~

A faaaabulouuuus giveaway!!! {yes, I did say that as if I was announcing you guys won a braaand newww carr!!!}

I didn't think she was going to, because did you know she had 30 days of giveaways on her blog?? It was insanely awesome. OH OH and I won something from it!!! Can you guess what?

A blog design from Amanda herself!!! So keep your eye out for some amazing eye candy changes around here. I can't wait! Anyways, enough with my ramblings. On to the star guest!

~~~

Hi y'all! I'm Amanda, the creative mind behind Royal Daughter Designs. I'm a country girl, farming and ranching on eight beautiful Texas acres. My husband, Mr. E., is a minister and a seminary professor and I'm a small business owner and a graduate student. I'm a has-been foster mom, a self-proclaimed animal lover, laundry procrastinator, sweet tea junkie, and high-heel hater.

Last September my husband and I became first time parents to three foster boys, ages 10, 11, and 15. (My husband and I aren't even old enough to have a 15 year old!) Our boys lived with us for almost six months, and throughout their stay with us people told us how brave we were.

I'm not brave.

Really, I’m not. But for some reason people kept telling me how brave I am. As if doing something completely crazy is automatically equated with bravery.

Three boys.

Three.

Boys.

How is it that the idea of taking in three boys is both reminiscent of a classical piece of literature and a modern day suspense thriller movie at the same time? 

How is it that my heart was filled with love and compassion for them, yet also afraid for them? How is it that my mind knew the craziness of it all, and knew that if it was His will, it wasn’t crazy? How is it that my heart was filled with excitement when the paperwork came in the mail, yet sank in fear at the thought of sending it in? The dual-mindedness was quite vexing!

I wanted my motives to be

pure

righteous

honest

God-honoring

selfless

I wanted to be obedient and surrendered to Him. If He asked me, I wanted to say yes.  And only if He asked. I didn’t want to say yes to anyone but Him, the only One who has the right to ask me to such a thing. That endeavor was so much bigger than me. So much beyond my ability. No one else had the right to ask that of me. And when He but whispered, I was compelled to say yes.

And in our hardest times with our boys, I always heard Him.

Trust me.

He'd nudge my soul with the reminder to trust Him.

To trust that if He asked me to do this:

I will never be alone.

He will equip me.

He will uphold me.

He will sustain me.

He will empower me.

He will give me wisdom.

He will receive the glory.

Throughout the process I realized that it wasn't about me, or our boys at all. It was always all about Him.

Thank you Rachel, for allowing me to share a little piece of what the Lord has taught me over the last year. Y'all can get to know me better over at my blog, as well as on Facebook and Twitter.

~~~

Isn't she amazing? And I must say. Not many women can pull off brunette and blonde! I'm totally jealous. Head on over to her blog, follow her, and say hi! You won't regret it!!! Okay, ta ta for now!

psych.

You didn't think I forgot about the giveaway did you? Amanda is generously giving away the following prints!

Mannn. I'm jealous. I want to win these!!!

And you know what's even better? She's actually going to print them out and send them to the winner. How amazing is that?? So getta entering!!!! {oh, and puhlease be honest. I will be checking. Loves and hugs!}

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Sponsor Spotlight + Giveaway! (Necks to Nature)

You guys know Shawne from Necks to Nature. You know, the creative genius behind these creations....

Yeah. She's fabulous. Really. And oh my chocolate sunday, do we have something fabulously amazing for YOU!!! Here's Shawn to tell you about it....

~~

What girl doesn't just LOVE a charm bracelet? The Modern Girl Vintage Collection is filled with beautifully handcrafted pieces inspired by all things past . . . timeless & classic in design . . . hand selected and hand cut vintage inspired fabrics . . . all uniquely different ..... Select fabric & charms for ALL bracelets, necklaces, earrings & rings ~ the possibilities are endless !

Shown here - The BLUSHING Charm Bracelet – $3O.OO - approximately 7.5" - however you can order a specific size if required!

HIDDEN BEAUTY PHOTOGRAPHY GIVEAWAY . . . The lucky winner will get to select their very own Modern Girl Vintage Charm Bracelet – YOU select your fabric and YOU select your charms :)

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Yes, you read that right!!! You get one of these fabulous charm bracelets, and you get to customize it {click here to see all the different options}!!! I have one myself, and I adore it!!!

Not to mention everyone else does too!!! I always get a million and one compliments when I wear it (and anything else from Necks to Nature. "Oh my goodness, that's the cutest thing I have ever seen!!! Where did you get it?!")
Plus, just working with Shawne will make it worth it! She's one of the most amazing ladies ever!! We became fast friends :) {and no, I don't think it's weird that I always seem to become good friends with ladies older than me. I guess I'm just awesome...hehe!}

Psst... Don't forget to head over to Shawne's Facebook page for the Sweet Treat of the Week!!! Free shipping on orders over $50[Canada] and $60[US] (if you're overseas, just email her to find out yours!) all summer long, and this week (June 11-15) BOGO on all earrings!!! That's right, buy any pair of earrings and get one free!

Alright, get entering to win an amazing bracelet!!!

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Melissa (Life of a Not So Ordinary Wife) - Guest Post!

I've got another special person here today! As soon as I saw her camera strap covers, I knew I wanted to have her guest post on my blog. and she said yes!!! I've been drooling over covers for the longest time, and I looove these!!! {because unlike most people nowadays(it seems) I still use my camera strap. And it's kinda ugly. Okay maybe more fugly.... Sorry Elaina, but your strap is gross. I don't like it! But I love you too much to go without the strap.} OH and Elaina is my camera, if you didn't already know :) Anyways, let's get to the good stuff!!! *insert epic scene change music*

Hello! I am Melissa and I blog over at The Life of a Not So Ordinary Wife. I am a not so simple girl who obsesses over a new hobby about every week or so which let me tell you comes in handy when you're looking for new blog material! I've been married for 7 years to the love of my life and have been a pastors kid almost my full 27 years of living. Exciting, I know! I also have the whole sarcasm thing down pretty well ;) I have been blogging since February of this year and it has already taken over my world. HA, I LOVE it, like seriously love it. Oh and the friends I'm making while I'm doing something I love... ya, crazy, I know.

Enough about me, today I am here to tell you about my new pride and joy, my new baby, the cheese to my macaroni, the icing to my cupcake, the pop to my tarts... Bet you are wondering what I'm talking about right about now. You guessed it! My new shop!!!!! AND THE CROWD GOES WILD! 

I am so beyond excited to introduce to you The Not So Ordinary Shop. In the shop I am selling some fabulous Camera Strap Covers. 

Why Camera Strap Covers? Well I bought my first DSLR about a month ago and I sewed a strapped for it because the Canon strap that it came with was totally DRAB. I first looked online everywhere for strap covers and I had a hard time finding really cute ones for under $25. I thought it doesn't seem like they should cost that much. So I started thinking about starting a shop where I could sell fabulous camera strap covers at a price everyone could afford. As soon as I told my husband he was behind me 110%, I mean he was writing notes and building equations, I was impressed. I said, if you are in, I am in... SO HERE WE ARE! 

Now who doesn't need their camera all glammed up?  The camera strap covers are easily changeable and simply slides over your existing camera strap! The default measurements are approximately 25" long and 2.5" wide and will fit any DSLR or SLR camera. We also do custom measurements at no extra charge on certain straps.

We have a lot of different designs in the shop right now, but there are no "set" designs, so when you see one you like grab it because it might be the last time you will see that exact one. We will be getting new designs all the time, so keep checking back.

SOME GOOD NEWS...

In the store the covers start at $10 each plus shipping, but in celebration of the grand opening you can use the code "CELEBRATE" and get them 25% off, which means some are only $7.50 plus shipping!!

Don't forget to stop by my blog and/or shop and say Hi!

Aren't they just the cutest?? I'm seriously craving one. A lot!

The Lovely Cassie! (Guest Post + Giveaway!)

Oh my goodness you guys, I have the best treat for you today! And her name is Cassie! She's the sweetest lady ever! I did a short review about her work a little while ago--if you don't remember, click here! I've gotten to know her, and I can honestly say I'm so so so happy that I have! I feel so blessed! She's one of those people that you say thank you in your prayers because you met her. So, here's what you came you for! Stick through the whole post.... Not only because she's fabulous and you want to know her, but because there might be a giveaway at the end. Just maybe. ;)

Hey all you Hidden Beauty Photography readers! I'm Cassie & I blog over at Live.Laugh.L0ve.

I share our journey through this beautiful crazy life! Today I am going to share five things about me in hopes you can get to know me! :)

1. I own a shop called The Spontaneous Designer. I design a wide variety of products and they are all made with love! You can find hand stamped jewelry, digital subway art, rings & crocheted items! I just listed the necklace below!

2. I love life. Really I do! Everything about it and I try and embrace it completely! I love enjoying every possible moment I can and laughing as often as I can!

3. I want to be a published author. It is my dream and I fully believe in living my dreams! My fingers are super crossed on this one! ;)

4. I like sonic drinks and junk food. It's true. It's awful and bad, but I'm addicted. Cherry coke from sonic is my favorite and chips are my go to junk food. 

5. I'm giving away a little something today! I'm giving away a medium ad space & a custom digital subway art! The one below is the one I did for miss Rachel herself! 

Use the rafflecopter below to enter! Good luck!

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