Featured at Frock Files

Do you guys know Joy from over at Frock Files? She is a beautiful storyteller who writes about life lessons, recipes, and style. Joy is a rare blogger whose every post is both intentional and beautiful.

I love this quote from her about page,

Early on, I inherited the gift of functionality from my mom — does it do anything to make your life better? No? Then let it go. Yes? Then invest in it. In my life, I eliminate as much of the “extra” stuff as possible so that I can devote myself to the relationships and projects that enrich my life. This is the philosophy behind Frock Files.

When Joy asked if she could feature me on a Bright Lights post, I was super excited and honored to be featured. The ladies she has featured in the past have all been stylish and so well put-together. I hope I live up to their standard!

What are you waiting for? Go visit Frock Files to learn a little more about me & the products I love!

Guest Posting @ Stripes & Polka Dots

Do you guys know Kate from Stripes & Polka Dots and Katelyn Brooke Designs soon to be Katelyn Brooke Blog? She is one of the first "designer" friends that I made and she constantly inspires me on both her personal & design blog. She recently posted this image to help explain her move:

Kate asked if I would guest post while she is on vacation at the beach and I was happy to oblige. Today, you can find me over here talking about how living near the beach these last two years has changed me. 

Have you ever lived near the beach?

Artist Sheanna Marie + Giveaway!

It's been a while since I shared a blog makeover with you guys! Last month, I worked collaboratively with Sheanna Marie to digitally incorporate pieces of her artwork into her blog design. It was a blast to use lots of texture and color in this design.

Today, Sheanna and I are swapping posts. I'm over at her blog talking about What's in my Designer's Toolbox and she is here to tell you a little about her artwork.

Hello To All! First, I would like to thank Katie for sponsoring and doing a blog swap with me. Now, to let y’all know a little about myself and my artwork. I am what you consider a self-taught artist. I have no formal or college training in art. I actually went to college for business tech/management and entrepreneurship.

On that note, when painting, I mostly use acrylic mediums. I try to keep the strokes loose so that they can still be seen in the end product and allow the colors to mix themselves during the painting process. As well, I often use mediums that enhance the texture of my paintings. I know that when I connect with a piece of artwork I immediately want to reach out and touch it and grasp a deeper connection with it, I want my viewers to do the same. I find that I primarily use brighter more saturated colors and primary tinted tones. Usually, I have an emotion that I feel is represented by a particular color.

I would say 90% of what I paint is what I call ‘prophetic art.’ Prophetic art is art that is created from a direct connection with God. I often find while praying and or worshiping in song and dance that God gives me visions/pictures that I can see in my “mind’s eye” that have a specific meaning and truth to them. The other 10% of my paintings, basic landscapes and such, I paint just to see if I can as well these are the kinds of paintings I teach to my private students who are often beginners. - Sheanna Marie

blog | twitter | etsy

I am so excited to announce that Sheanna has generously offered to giveaway an 8x10 matted, signed print of the beautiful peacock feather painting that inspired her blog makeover!! {seen above} This beautiful print will be given away to one lucky visitor, through the rafflecopter below! The winner will be announced Friday the 15th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Guest Posting at C Squared W

Today is the day! As you are reading this, I'm on my way to St. Maarten. {insert happy dance!} I have some awesome guest posts set up for you over the next 3 days, but today I'm guest posting over at Clare's while she is in Rome.

Head on over to C Squared W to read about the trip I took to Rome before my semester at Oxford. You'll even get to see some old-school pictures of me, circa 2005! 

{This one didn't make the cut!}

Guest Posting at Hope Squared!

When Emily Hope asked if I would write a guest post about ex-pat life, I was really excited, but I wasn't quite sure about the title of "ex-pat." Even though I've lived in Dominica for almost 18 months, I guess I don't really consider myself an ex-patriate. So, I googled it:

Sure enough, that's me for about 4 more months. It also describes Clare from C Squared W who I teamed up with to write this guest post about #thirdworldproblems. Here's a sneak peak:

Head on over to Hope Squared to see the rest!

Emmy June {born in May}

☝ visit Emmy's blog!

Have you guys been to Emmy June's blog yet? I have a soft spot for her, because she is living internationally right now in Sydney, Australia. International bloggers need love too, we get to listen to all these fun stories of bloggers attending AltSummit and BlogHer, but never have the chance to go ourselves. I guess the flipside is that bloggers in America have to listen to the internationals talk about their fabulous travels. Eh, I guess it's even.

Speaking of fabulous travels, Emmy is doing a fabulous series called Tuesday Travel Diaries where she asks people to write a bit about their recent trips. She asked if I would do one about Dominica, even though it has been my home for about a year and a half now. How could I say no?

☝ read my guest post

My first Guest Post!

Nikki from Life of Ikkins invited me to do a guest post on her blog.  You can read the guest post here: Live from Dominica Part 2.  It's all about what life has been like living in Dominica as a medical student's wife.  Check it out!