Hello Monday, Mother’s Day & World Market

Hello Monday!

Hello hubby being gone on Mother’s Day weekend, but this momma still managing to get some relaxation time.

How was your Mother’s Day?

Hello to stressing out every year trying to find the perfect Mother’s Day gift.

Hello to finding some amazing, unique and special gifts at Cost Plus World Market this year for the special Momma’s in my life this year.

Hello bold and bright colors that make it difficult for me to walk through there and not want to buy one of everything they have.

Hello beachy hurricanes that make me miss Hawaii.

Hello gifts that turned out beautifully… complete with a pineapple scented candles and aqua and white seashell decor, that say “let’s go back to Hawaii.”

Hello to spoiling myself a little too!

Hello beautiful accessories that will match my new favorite mint denim skinnys, a cake stand I’ve been eyeing and some vintage jewelry holders.

Hello awesome sweepstakes…

Right now Cost Plus World Market is running a pretty awesome sweepstakes where you can win a trip for two to Rio de Janeiro and $100 gift cards they are giving out daily. So go like them on Facebook, and enter to win that amazing trip!

And… if that’s not awesome enough, World Market has given me a little somethin’, somethin’ for me to give to you!

a $100 gift card!!

Umm …. seriously how awesome is that? You know you’re all getting excited!

So here’s how to enter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

“I received gift cards from Cost Plus World Market for this shop, but all my opinions are my own and I love this store!”

Posted by Rags to Stiches | 26 comments

In Case You Missed it.

Happy Saturday Friends!

Kyle’s gone this weekend on a business trip, but this morning the kids and slept in and headed to World Market to do a little Mother’s Day shopping. More on that fun trip on Monday.

This week has been a busy one but I thought I’d stop by and let you know.

In case you missed it:

Monday: I announced a giveaway with Uprinting.com. They are giving awash 250 die cut business cards. Giveaway ends at midnight tonight so hurry and enter.

Tuesday: Tuesday I had the opportunity to partner up with some amazing blog and shop owners for a month long giveaway. If you haven’t checked it out there are some amazing prizes you can win…. including a Neon Bow Clutch from my brand new collection launching next Wednesday.

I also shared a special edition outfit post with pictures from our wedding 7 1/2 years ago.

Wednesday: On Wednesday I shared some pictures from our trip to Hawaii last week and asked you if you feel a special connection to your home.

Thursday: A couple weeks ago I attended SNAP Conference and on Thursday I shared some Blogging Basics from one of the sessions I went to. It was really helpful, so read it, pin it and share it with your friends.

Friday: Yesterday I talked about having a sensitive heart and my worries about being a wife, mom, business owner and blogger. Can you ever relate to the fears I struggle with?

I hope you’re having a wonderful weekend and to all my mommy friends, Happy Mother’s Day!!

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Coffee Date: You Wouldn’t Expect

You probably wouldn’t expect me to tell you that I have a sensitive soul.

And that out of that sensitivity often come tears, quick frustration, a need to defend myself and often times an inability to take risks putting myself out there.

I will always tell you there’s someone better than me.

More talented… more creative…more of a risk taker.

I will share my dreams, goals… aspirations yet I’m often too scared to take the next step forward.

Then I get frustrated and want to smack myself in the head.

If you ever hear me talking to myself, it’s because I’m most likely giving myself a pep talk.

I worry about hurting others feelings, even if my feelings have already been hurt.

There are days when I can and will cry at the drop of the hat, sometimes for no reason at all.

My feelings hurt easily, especially by my children.

I take each word or physical act of rejection personally.

I hate to punish them because it makes me sad.

Yet I know that if I don’t they will steam roll over me and that makes me sad too.

I have days when everything is going well, but self doubt consumes me all over and I find myself questioning if I’m doing the right thing for myself and for my family.

I agonize over decisions I’m making.

Make pros and cons lists in my head.

I’m like a tetter totter, one minute I’m jumping for joy and the next I’m crying over fear of failure.

I worry about the kind of people Katelyn and Brayden will be when they grow up.

Will we have taught them to stand by their morals and values?

Will they value their relationship with Christ as much as Kyle and I do?

I wonder how to foster Katelyn’s independent and stubborn spirit while at the same time opening her up to a world of people she can bless with her gifts.

Her personality draws people in and my prayer is that she can use it to lead others to Christ.

I see the same sensitive soul and need for physical and verbal affirmation in Brayden.

He will have days when he’s just “off” for no reason at all.

I can see it almost immediately in his body language and all he needs is a quiet moment filled with snuggles that only mommy can fulfill. And I love that about him.

I pray that his sensitive heart with lead him towards ministering to others and bringing people to the Lord.

I think sometimes it’s in these sensitive moments, that God is able to use us and mold us the most.

It’s in these moments when I am weak that He is able to pick me up and carry me… to encourage me… and to speak into my life.

“They are weak, but he is STRONG.” – Jesus Loves Me

Sometimes I underestimate the power of those words.

Maybe being sensitive is a good thing.

Maybe it’s good because it allows us to be vulnerable when we don’t want to be.

Maybe it opens doors for us to put others before ourselves.

And maybe, just maybe it opens our hearts to hear what God wants us to hear.

Do you ever let worry keep you from accomplishing your goals and dreams? What are you dreaming about today?

I you’re linking up with me today please be sure to:

1. Link up to your post not your blog

2. Link back to my blog so others can join in

3. Visit and have coffee with someone else this week too.

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SNAP Recap: Blogging Basics

A couple weeks ago I attended my first big conference, Snap! the Conference in Utah. It was an incredible experience and not only did I meet amazing people, but I also got to attend  some pretty amazing and informative sessions while I was there.

I though it would be fun over the next few weeks to share some of what I learned with you.

The first session I attended was all about Blogging Basics and we got to hear from an awesome panel of speakers: Amy, Cheri, Cindy and Kari.

Finding Your Niche

• Follow your passion
• Ask yourself, what would I be able to work on daily?
• Identify your strengths
• What is your traffic potential?
• Pick an angle
• Come up with a Mission Statement for your blog and stick to it!

Branding Your Blog

• What do you want to to be known for?
• What differentiates you from others?
• Use 5 adjectives to describe your blog? This one really got me thinking because I’m not sure I would be able to come up with 5 right away.
• Be sure to use consistent messages, images and values on your blog.

Building a Community

It is SO important to build a community when you are trying to grow your blog. After all, why would people want to follow you if they don’t feel like you try to connect to them as well. Here are some great things you can do to create a community.

• Comment and ask questions: visit others blogs and not only leave a comment, but as a question that warrants a response.
• Center posts around readers: write posts your readers would be interested in reading
• Feature others and share links: share, share, share. It’s all about paying if forward
• Participate (discussion groups, chats)
• Challenge readers
• Social Media: know what social media outlets your readers use and interact with them on those sites. If your followers enjoy Facebook more than Twitter, make it a point to spend time interacting with them on Facebook daily.

How to Stand Out

• Blog Design: In my personal option I enjoy reading blogs whose headers says something about who they are, whose layouts are clean, easy to navigate, and blogs who include clear and large pictures.
• Writing Personality: Be the same person you are on your blog in real life.
• Unique information or perspective
• Be YOU!

Working with an Ad Network

Working with Brands

• Reach out to relevant brands
• What can you offer?
• Create a Media Kit. (this is also really good when reaching out to potential sponsors)
• Be Professional
• Be honest, but do it in a tactful way. If you don’t like a product simply send it back rather than dragging it through the mud on your blog.

Affiliate Programs

• Ad Networks (such as BlogHer, Collective Bias, Clever Girls Collective, Rivit, or Social Spark)
• Affiliate programs
• Selling Goods/Services
• Sponsored Posts
• Ad Spots

Pinterest

• One thing I learned that I never realized is that when you do a tutorial you are hoping people will pin to Pinterest, use a vertical picture!
• Post a finished picture at the TOP of the post!! Do NOT hide the final product at the bottom. You need to catch peoples eye from the get go.
• Have a pinboard for your blog
• Truncating

The Management Side of your Blog

• Learn when to say NO!! It’s not always fun to say no especially when you’re trying to grow your blog, but if you are too busy you need to learn to say no rather than over committing.
• Use a blog calendar. It will help you keep track of your month
• Working in Advance. Schedule out posts when you have extra time to do so.
• Be Patient!

I hope you are all able to find these tips helpful. Please feel free to email or leave a comment with any other questions you have and I’ll do my best to answer them all.

Did you see anything you already want to change about your blog or how you manage your time?

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Today.

Sometimes I feel as though I struggle to always find the right words for what I want to say. I try so hard to share these perfect moments, yet many times the words don’t see to form the way I hope.

I feel as though I stumble over my feelings and all the things I want to say seem to swirl around in my head.

I just hope that one day when my children sit down to this legacy I’m hoping to leave them, that they see into my heart.

That they will be able to read between the lines.

Today…

I’m missing Hawaii.

The coolness of the breeze.

The laughter of my kids as they swing in the hammock.

Theres a connection I can’t explain when I think of Hawaii.

Maybe because I was born there.

Maybe because I’m part Hawaiian.

Just being near the ocean, the sand, the people fills me with childhood memories.

Memories that I was able to share with my kids.

A piece of their heritage, a core part of who they are.

Today…

I’m enjoying this innate part of who we are.

I’m reminded of the joy that lit up my children’s face as they collected hundreds of little rocks on the shore.

I’m missing the splashing water as they ran in and out of the waves.

Today…

I’m remembering the smell of the sand and sunscreen at the end of the day.

That same smell that lingers in their hair long after it’s been washed.

Today…

I miss having no agenda.

No place to be early in the morning.

No beach to overlook while drinking my morning coffee.

Today…

I might vow to spontaneously skip all responsibilities and head to the beach.

Kiss my children once every few minutes.

Tell them I love them till they are giggling non stop.

Treasure every moment we have together.

Love more wholeheartedly.

Do something to bless someone else.

Today.

Do you ever feel this way when you visit home?

Posted by Rags to Stiches | 18 comments