New Column! Blog Discussion:

Thanks to MyMonography for the beautiful photo above!

Hi friends! So in the spirit of promoting community, I've decided to start this new column titled "blog discussion" - where a topic is posted and we discuss it! Super simple. The topics will be mainly related to blogging, since that's what we all have in common, but there may be some other topics thrown in along the way. Some of them may be controversial. But I know you guys and trust that we can all be nice and respect one another's opinions :)

The reason this came about was because I recently had a situation where I faced with what we're talking about today. I honestly did not know what to do and I wondered what you, my dear readers, thought about the subject.

So today's blog discussion is: receiving items for free (aka gifts) in exchange for some sort of blog post/advertisement/promotion.

In my situation - I was basically invited to go on a trip to attend a conference. The subject of the conference was not really related to my blog, and there was really no way to spin it where I could tie it in. A trip did sound really fun, but I just couldn't do it. Occasionally I'll get an email from a company that wants to send me their product in exchange for a blog post or review. I usually just turn it down because even though it may be a cool product, it's just not related to the content of my blog. While I don't want to compromise the integrity of this blog, at the same time I think it's fun to get free stuff ;)

I think that at a certain point, if your blog gets to super-star status, lots of shops will shower you with free stuff in hopes that they'll get a post on your blog. I think that's understandable.. One speaker at ALT told us about how she gets lots of things sent to her, and I'm sure her readers know the items she blogs about are things she receives for free. But some blogs I come across have a disclaimer stating that they don't accept things in exchange for blog posts.

We learned at ALT that trust with your blog readers is #1. If I started posting about random things unrelated to this blog only because I was getting free stuff, would that upset you? Cause you to unsubscribe? Would you care? If it was fully disclosed in the blog post, would that be okay? Perhaps there are some of you out there who are all for accepting free things! or don't care if a blog accepts free things & posts about them. I don't know, but I am quite curious to know your thoughts! Have you ever accepted anything in exchange for a blog post? How did it go over? How do you feel in general about the overall topic?

So yea, based on how this discussion goes, next week I'll post about a free car I got. just kidding! I wish. That would be pretty awesome though, huh? ;)

a book of notes, for my mom:

Has anyone been reading my blog since the original book of notes? That was quite some time ago. But I remember going from 100 views a day to 3000 or something that one day, for that post.

So you may remember last year, I shared that my mom was diagnosed with cancer. Over the months, everyone was so encouraging and sweet. Your notes and comments about my mom were such a blessing. We were able to go to the chemo sessions with my mom, but on her very last treatment, Nick and I were on our honeymoon. So since I couldn't be there, I put together some notes for her. I also got my brothers in on it, and since they're boys and this is really not their thing, it was even more special that they wrote sweet little notes for our mom.

Thought I'd share this book with you. Hopefully you can be inspired to make your own book of notes for a friend or loved one. They make great heartfelt gifts. I would love to receive one from.. nicholas ;)

In the Chinese culture, we have animals for the year we are born. I am an ox, my older brother is a tiger and my younger brother is a rabbit. So I had these martha stewart animal shapes laying around and we each wrote a note on one. Well, I improvised using a cat for my older bro, since there weren't any tiger shapes ;)

My older bro typed his letters and glued them onto the cards I gave him. lol. I tried to use lots of yellow, since that is her favorite color. It is always fun to make these little books, and more importantly: my mom is now cancer free! We are truly blessed.

collections / business card round up #2:

Thought it was time for more business cards, I mean because really, pretty business card posts won't ever get old. If you're new to the blog, be sure and check out the business card archives for more business card inspiration posts!

Ellie's japanese tape diy cards from mint design blog

Homemade business cards from Ethan Martin

Student project publishing company cards from laumette

Creative twitter business card from Mark Pannell

Old Faithful shop card design from ptarmak.com

Best creative cards I've seen in a while: Glammer Education cards designed by Y&R Thailand via itevenhasawatermark.com

Watercolor letterpress business cards from Jordan Ferney

DJ Mohit's turntable business card via Business Card Design Ideas

Ziplock Terrarium business cards from Whitluxus

Business Card from cartoulesletterpress

The Royal Chains - business cards, source unknown.

Jason Permenter cards via dailypoetics

Haven Business card design via Stitch Design Co

Awesome business card design via Simple Pretty

featured sponsor - no 144:

Today's featured sponsor is the shop at No. 144 which is full of beautiful modern accessories, perfect for weddings! I love everything at this shop: the fabric flowers and textures and colors are so lovely. Fabric flowers are so pretty, the way the fabric ruffles and folds together, forming beautiful shapes! Be sure to check out No. 144 at facebook too! Sponsors really help keep oh, hello friend going, so support us by supporting our sponsors: No. 144!

good cheer deal, Edor:

All of the items in Edor's shop are so simply beautiful! This week's good cheer deal is your choice of 4 necklaces from Edor, choose your chain length too! Edor is kindly offering free shipping on all orders - anywhere in the world! Only 12 of each style are available so act now!

Item: Your choice: icing, floret, stargazer, or cherish

Retail Price: $23

Good Cheer Price: $14 w/free shipping!

choose necklace

Stargazer $14.00Icing silver $14.00Floret $14.00Cherish grey $14.00

choose length

15 inches 16 inches 17 inches

- only 12 necklaces available of each style!

- This deal is open to all countries! Free shipping, anywhere!

- This deal is open all week long, or until items are sold out.

- Please be sure to visit Edor and support!

- Click the 'buy now' button to purchase this deal. Use your paypal

account to make payment directly to seller and enter your shipping

information. Then your good cheer will be on it's way!

- If the 'buy now' button is no longer working, it means the item is sold out.

happy friday / cakes:

These little bundt cakes are pretty great. Nick & I handed them out at our wedding. We stopped by our local farmer's market this past week and picked up all our favorites. This flavor is Italian butter rum with pecans and poppy seeds, yum!

This weekend we are headed on a little getaway weekend to Mexico with Lillian and Mardy! We're going to relax, hang out, watch movies, eat, have a rooftop dinner & possibly make it to the beach if it doesn't rain!

Don't have any plans for the weekend? Here are some random ideas for you! (a couple from here, a couple from me) Play a board game, Bake a loaf of homemade bread, Visit your community library, Take a walk at a park, Take a break from your computer for an entire day and do something you've been meaning to do. Have a beautiful weekend, friends. xo, danni

diy with Brittni:

Good morning lovelies! Brittni here from papernstitch, jumping in to today's diy roundup, with something that hits close to home (no pun intended). My family is coming to visit this weekend, so naturally, I've been busy making sure that the house is in order before they arrive. Cleaning, vacuuming, and everything in between. It wasn't that dirty to begin with, but whenever we have people over, I like to go that extra mile to make it look "better". So anyway, now that the heavy-lifting is done, and the house is sparkling, I am thinking of trying to squeeze in a teeny home decor project before they come by tomorrow. These are a few of the things I am considering.

What would you pick?

Cheer up a worn frame with a groovy piece of fabric, and feature your favorite photos in updated style.

Take a trip to the hardware store and pick up all the supplies you need to make these industrial candlesticks, for a new statement piece on that once boring fireplace mantle.

And speaking of hardware stores, Home Depot, of all places, shows us how to make a stylish scrollwork mirror in a weekend. Great for an entry room or hallway.

Display pictures of loved ones with this ridiculously easy photo board diy. Swap pictures out as often as you take them, and you'll have your own rotating mini gallery.

Curl up by the last fire of winter with a giant crochet floor pillow. And when spring really hits, take these durable pillows outdoors for casual outdoor seating.

And finally, add a little charm to those tired walls with this no sew paper bunting idea. Change out the papers with your mood or the seasons, whichever comes first.

--

About Brittni: She is the founder of the handmade exhibition site, papernstitch and is also the editor of a handmade blog, by the same name. When not working on papernstitch, she is dreaming up fun little tutorials and crafting projects for her home. If you love DIY as much as Brittni does, visit her free diy projects and tutorials section for more than sixty quick and easy projects.

The Handsome - Ken from Design for Mankind:

I'm sure you all know Erin from Design for Mankind. If you've been lucky to meet Erin, you know she is the biggest sweetheart ever! I'm so excited today to have her husband on the handsome: Ken, who just seems super sweet as well! I think they make for one pretty darn cute couple! Right now you can follow Erin & Ken at hgtv as they're renovating their house! Enjoy!

Please tell us a little about you and what do you do. I'm a self motivated perfectionist that has decided that life is too short to spend working like crazy JUST to make a buck. Sure, everyone has to pay the bills, put food on the table and plan ahead so they're not forced to shake hands as a Walmart greeter on their 90th birthday. But, both Erin and I are over stressing out for excess. Make do/make pretty...and while you're at it, make it functional. :) Which leads me to my current gig.

Right now I'm renovating our house full time (with some film editing on the side)...and am alllllllllllmost finished with the first floor. If I wasn't almost finished this feature would have to be "ex-husbands of bloggers." ;) It's been a long time coming, but to say I'm proud of all the work I've done would be a gross understatement. I've had a blast and I'd do it all over again. However, next time, I'm thinking cabin in the woods. (You like that, Erin?)

What are your thoughts about blogs + blogging? Blogging has changed a lot from when I first read Erin's Xanga page back in the day. I think blogs are powerful, useful, organic and incredibly misunderstood in terms of their road to success. If one more person asks Erin how to get things donated to their house renovation "for free"... I might kick 'em in the teeth.

For one, "stuff" isn't free -- Erin spends a lot of time managing relationships, documenting and pitching her projects. And all that adds up to more hours in a day than most would care to spend. For two, when people wish to start a blog just to get free stuff (and can't invest their time into Googling "how to start a blog" before asking Erin), I get a little defensive (another gross understatement). ;)

How many hours a day does your wife spend blogging? Well, she eats a couple times during the day and I'm about 93% sure she uses the bathroom. So, I guess whatever is left is how much time she spends blogging and advancing her position in the social media world. Now that's devotion. :)

What do you do during this time? Work on the renovation, or film/edit renovation videos for HGTV.com. Now, I know what you're thinking, "How does he keep up that rockstar lifestyle?" All I'll say is I can't find a 2x4 long enough to fight off all the swooning women. ;)

Any silly/crazy/funny stories or experiences related to blogging you'd like to share with the readers: I honestly don't have any. Man....how crazy is that? She's pretty sane (most of the time) and likes to keep her blog and personal life separate. I mean, a few of our friends don't even know she blogs!

Is there any one thing that annoys you most about having a blogger wife? Just that I feel like I have some sluggish finger condition during the times she's watching me type. 117 words a minutes is something these hands will never achieve.

featured sponsor - vintage seventy five:

Today's featured sponsor is a simply fabulous vintage shop: vintage seventy five. I stumbled upon this shop while on my many vintage search quests and was drawn to all the unique & wonderful things vintage seventy five contains! Ray is super friendly and accommodating too: head over to vintage seventy five and be sure to favorite his shop since new wonderful treasures are always being added! Stop by their twitter & facebook too!

inspire: lovely.

Haven't done one of these posts in several months, but thought I'd bring it back. inspire: lovely posts contain positively lovely images from all around the wonderful world of web. Hope you're inspired today, friends! :)

via somethings hiding in here


via theberry.com


alyssa nassner


Source unknown for the rest of the images,
please comment if you know it & I will update the post: