September | 2017
I'm back, ladies and gents! I realize we are well into October, so I'm pretty late on my monthly update post, but I must admit, it's been a nice break to be away for a while and allow myself to miss blogging and all the work that goes into it. Sometimes writing can start to feel more like a chore, and in turn keep me from really desiring to write, so having this time away has been an extremely healthy exercise for me. At times, I find myself coming up short in terms of content or ideas, and end up writing something subpar out of guilt to just "get something out there." But giving myself the time to just shut it all off and "be" has proved invigorating and helped reignite some of that passion back into me.
Now, if you're not up to speed, Tom and I jetted off on our first overseas vacation (and first vacation since our honeymoon over four years ago) for three weeks. We took in the raw beauty of Iceland, the old architecture and culture of France, and the food and wine and history of Italy. It was the trip of a lifetime and truly unforgettable. I'll be sharing about each country soon, so stay tuned for some fun posts on the little quirks of each place (culture, food, customs, awesome areas to visit, etc...).
The month of September, though, was mostly spent stateside (and included my birthday: post here). Let me go over a few highlights! Keep in mind, most of these photos are unedited - I just like to give you a real taste of what's been happening behind the scenes :)
Life Lately
CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE
Commentary:
I dyed my hair blonder
Hondo is enormous
I turned 28
We had lots of homemade crusty bread
We fit in lots of Berner snuggles before our long time away
We left early for Newark and looked a bit like packing mules
We saw Time Square at night...
...and saw NYC in the daytime
We made it to Iceland and chased waterfalls and lava fields for three days
Then made it to Paris (where we basically just slept!) and continued on to Dijon before October hit us
September Posts
Favorites Lately
Since arriving home, it's been so nice to eat more familiar foods. Not that we didn't have some great meals in Europe, but by some miracle, we've had nice, cool, fall weather here in Georgia since getting back. My favorite fall meal is chicken pot pie. Check out my recipe - I PROMISE you haven't had chicken pot pie that's this good, so give it a go. It's a beloved family recipe and I've got a whole pan in the fridge right now (it's even better leftover).
This cute, basic backpack that we used as a daypack on our trip, was super sturdy and lightweight. It was easy to just throw the day's necessities in it and go. Plus, I think it looks really nice!
Did you know about Target's "Finds" page? Check it out here. It's basically several collections of the stuff people find at Target. Hauls, Instagram hashtags, trends, product editions/topics... Just kind of a cool category of their site I've not noticed before!
All the fall things! I picked up a yummy Pumpkin Vanilla scented candle (at Target of course) and at this rate it'll be burned to the bottom by Thursday!
What're your favorites lately? What things make you really get in the spirit of Fall?
Don't forget to follow me on social media to stay up to date and connected. Feel free to message or email me with any content requests, ideas, or collaborations!
Twenty-Eight
In other years, I've written this post before my birthday. I've posted about 26 things I've learned in 26 years and a recap of sorts on my 27th year.
This year, though, mostly since I'm behind on everything, I'll show you what we did to ring in my 28th (yesterday). It's crazy to think I'm this close to thirty. THIRTY, you guys!
But if there is on thing that being twenty-eight has already taught me, it is that God is so good. He is present, even when we are not so present for Him. He is bigger than our trials, bigger than our joys, and bigger than our selfish selves. He is faithful, even when His path looks different from ours. He hasn't forgotten about you, and He has reminded me that no sin is too big to forgive. He has placed in my life, such incredible people. My loving, hilarious husband, our families, our caring friends...
God is good. In good seasons or bad. He is so good.
This past year has been all sorts of ups and downs and all arounds, but I have Christ as my rock, my husband as my never ending comedic relief, and a pupper to snuggle and annoy all the day long. 2017 has been a year to remember and cherish!
For my birthday, I had been dying to get to a new coffee shop that just opened in Atlanta. I had tried their coffee back around Christmastime, and was soooo grateful to finally get a taste of real coffee around here (I come from Milwaukee where roasteries are common) that I didn't need to spoil with milk or sugar. They have a gorgeous, new brick and mortar shop in Midtown and it was definitely worth the drive. Go give East Pole a try!
After our coffee stop, Tom also took me to the restaurant I've been waiting to try called Star Provisions. Oh. my. goshhhh. This place was amazinggggg. I had the Italian sausage on a hoagie, and Tom had the Prosciutto (that had butter so creamy we thought it was mayo for a second). We finished everything off with some bakery desserts. Not only was the food absolutely perfect, but the building and market was super cute and right up my alley. I could have gone to these places any old time, but I hate going places I know Tom would love too! So I'm glad I waited and we went together. Here's some photos of the day!
Did you really think I wouldn't include my big baby bear doggeroo?! Hondo has been everything we hoped for in our dream-dog and more. We just love this big bear to pieces and look forward to his butt-wagging wiggles each and every day. He has made a year of lots of valleys, one with a few more peaks. I never imagined I could love a dog so much, but you better believe this guy is a momma's boy and he gets so much stinking attention from me it's almost embarrassing! Thank you for bringing such joy to our home, sweet Hondo.
Beyond all that, I leave 27 behind with a "good riddance" and welcome 28 with a cheerful "hello." This coming year will be one of hope, hard work, change, growth, and so much love. Happy birthday to me indeed!
Ottica: Eyewear Co. Review
This is an honest review in exchange for the products received courtesy of Ottica. All opinions are my own.
As posts like these often work, Ottica reached out to me to see if I had any interest in trying their online store and ordering a pair of glasses on them.
Well, the funny thing is the timing.
Tom had recently been to the eye doctor and had been searching high and low for new specs for weeks. He tried on a few Warby Parkers, and even ordered a pair from another retailer (but the prescription was off and he just returned them). I, too, had been on the hunt for a pair of sunglasses for our upcoming trip, when Ottica dropped into my inbox. Normally, I'd have probably politely passed them by, but the timing was too fateful, so I happily accepted their offer (and I'm glad I did).
Tom ordered a prescription pair of the Weston and I ordered a pair of Carolina Lemke CL 7336 sunglasses in leopard print.
Review:
About:
Ottica is an online prescription glasses retailer, and they carry some amazing brands like Tory Burch, Burberry, and Michael Kors.
They also have a comprehensive guarantee, and that's something I personally require when dealing with something as finicky as glasses and prescriptions. We actually ended up using their customer service, which I'll detail in a moment.
Ordering:
When ordering from a computer, we kept running into an additional $30 fee being added once we were about to checkout. It was for an option called "Prism" which you can check or uncheck, but we made sure it was unchecked multiple times. Without fail, it would repeatedly add $30 - It was infuriating. However, Tom finally figured out that it's actually a bug within a button (he's such a smarty pants). If you click the bottom "Update Cart" button, $30 will be added... BUT if you click the "Update Cart" button in the righthand sidebar, you'll have no additional fees. We ended up ordering from a phone which must be responsive to the sidebar button, because we had no issues there. But Tom figured out this bug while I wrote this review. (See the video below to see what I'm talking about)
Shipping:
I suppose we're used to Amazon Prime shipping, but it took about a week for one pair to reach us. Tom's glasses arrived quite a few days before my sunglasses, which I thought was odd since they were in the same order, but they were packaged beautifully and were clearly great quality. Free shipping is always a bonus, so no complaints :) Overall, they were worth the wait!
Customer Service/Exchanges:
Though we loved our frames, Tom's prescription seemed off (again!) so back he went to the eye doctor and had his Rx adjusted for the second time. We were able to send them back to Ottica easily, and they stuck with their guarantee to basically right any wrongs, but it took over two weeks for them to change out the lenses and send them back. Their customer service has been very responsive, though, and we really can't complain beyond the waiting period. In fact, a big thanks to them for their patience amidst Tom's annoying prescription hang-ups!
Overall thoughts:
Ottica has countless options for men's and women's frames, special lens additions, sunglasses, Rx sunglasses, and more. Plus, they have a neat little option to virtually try-on frames which was really helpful (unlike most virtual try-on programs - haha)! Everything was exactly as we would have expected, but the quality even better. With some things to keep in mind in terms of their website's bug, I really would recommend giving Ottica a try. The quality and customer service far outweigh any wait times, and I know I'd be happy to order from them again. Especially because of the amazing brands they carry!
Plus, doesn't Tom look dapper in those new specs?!
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to try and honestly review your unique, custom-crafted eyewear, Ottica!
The Best Part of Marriage
In the months following our nuptials, I remember running into dear friends from college we hadn't seen since graduation, or older folks in...
In the months following our nuptials, I remember running into dear friends from college we hadn't seen since graduation, or older folks in our church home, or any numbers of people who would ask us,
"What's the best part about being married, so far?"
At the time, I remember rattling on about how great it was to learn how to live together, how it was the best feeling to finally get home to them after a long day at work (which reminds me - go read my post on why I'm so glad we didn't live together before marriage!), and how it felt like such an adventure to keep growing as an individual but with someone else by your side to witness it.
Though I still know and love the beauty of those sentiments, each season and year of marriage has consistently brought about new waves of "the best part."
I'm not sure if there's any one thing I could pick out anymore.
Would it be...
Trying new foods together?
Cooking crazy things?
Exploring new neighborhoods or cities?
Traveling?
Laughing over the most ridiculous inside jokes?
Waking up to one another, and kissing each other goodnight?
The fact that our personal space bubbles are practically nonexistant around each other anymore?
That bodily functions still manage to crack us up?
That our dog has become a shared joy and hilarious comic relief?
The weird, secret nicknames we have for one another?
The fact that our shared faith plays such a huge role in how we make decisions and see the world through a different lens?
The way intimacy changes and how beautiful that gift is in marriage?
How we constantly bond over something new? (currently, our love for homemade bread)
The way your dreams and hopes as couple change or adapt to each circumstance?
How we've learned to love each other more fiercely and more deeply with each passing day?
How we've learned that the work required for marriage is best done with laughter and patience?
...and on and on...
If someone were to ask me right this second, what the best part of marriage is, I don't think any one answer could suffice. I've mentioned in numerous other posts, how marriage has wrapped up in its core, so many tiny pieces.
Honesty, trust, patience, kindness, respect, laughter, communication, love, faith, etc...
The best part of marriage, to me, is the part where you realize the privilege you've been given to love and cherish someone for the rest of their life. That God is part of every moment, every trial, and every triumph. The best part is knowing, full-well, that this person may disappoint you as much as you might disappoint them, but that you are each given the same amount of grace and forgiveness by Christ, and you have the freedom to forgive and forgive and forgive (because you'll need it too).
The best part isn't just one part. It's a million tiny little parts. The part where you wake up and hug each other tight and make coffee. The part where one of you is grumpy, and the other one can cheer you up. The part where your crazy, soap-boxey rants are safe from the ears of anyone else, and your spouse validates your thoughts (but makes sure you know you're crazy). The part where you spend a whole day giving the cold shoulder about something stupid, and then three days later forget why you spent a whole day not talking. It's the part where you remember that your marriage was there before babies, and will be there when those babies move away, so it needs nurturing and affection through every dirty diaper and parent-teacher conference. The part where you do something really little - like bring them a glass of water without being asked - and give them a grateful smile of thanks for going out of there way just the tiniest bit for you. The best part is knowing what they'll order, or ordering your meal just so you can try each other's food (and maybe even switch plates). It's knowing that through every season, there will be a new one. That your spouse may change, and you have the privilege to watch it happen and change and adapt along with them, as they will for you. It's sacrifice and remembering that selfishness got checked at the altar (or before!).
Marriage with Christ at the center is the best part. Because only there will you have level ground when things get shaky (because you better believe my peak-and-valley emotions can get the best of me).
The best parts of marriage look different from one couple to the next. What are yours?
August | 2017
Oh my goodness. I am sooooo glad to leave August in the dust for one reason.... the WEATHER. Well, honestly, summer in its entirety, but August was particularly sticky this year. Nothing on earth makes me grumpy the way being too hot makes me grumpy. We all have our "things" that irritate us to an extreme, and mine is hot, humid, BUGGY weather. So I have no shame in admitting my qualms about it - haha - it's just one of those "things" for me and I'll never stop being a whine baby about it.
Overall though, August was busy around these parts. We ate a lot of good food, our trip is getting closer, digging into the actual places we're visiting is proving time-consuming but fascinating, and generally it feels like there hasn't been enough hours in each day. My mind has been swirling with ideas (of course, always the second I lay my head down at night) and it's been hard to prioritize what's worth pursuing and what isn't, or if I should try them all. Basically, I've felt like my mind is in a constant state of "elsewhere," if that makes sense? I suppose that's the curse of a restless mind and soul.
Life Lately
August Posts
Favorites Lately
La La Land. Surprisingly, Tom really liked it - maybe more than me! It was just done so creatively and the story was really cute and seemed more realistic. The music was great, and so was that choreography. We keep listening to the soundtrack and it gets majorly stuck in my head.
This amazingggg post by Hey There, Chelsie. She literally put words to my struggles as of late. She says,
"I’ve been only giving 100% on my good days and giving nothing on my bad days. And then I find myself full of rage because I’m just not doing everything I should be or could be. Does that ever happen to you? You go through the motions for a few days or weeks or months and then you are full of rage because of all the time you wasted or the opportunities that passed you by or the lack of personal growth you feel?"
Go read the whole post because my GOODNESS was it spot on, honest, and just beautiful.
This Ed Sheeran song is beautiful. And this Macklemore song is happy (and the video is ADORABLE and hilarious).
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Complete Guide to Packing for Europe in a Backpack
Hey guys! If you don't already know, Tom and I are going on our first overseas vacation this fall. We'll be spending nearly THREE weeks traipsing...
Hey guys!
If you don't already know, Tom and I are going on our first overseas vacation this fall. We'll be spending nearly THREE weeks traipsing around Iceland, France, and Italy and seeing all the things, and eating all the bread and cheese, and drinking all the wine. It's our first real vacation since our honeymoon over four years ago, and we are overflowing with excitement.
This post is a "dumping ground" of sorts, for all my packing tricks, videos, and details. I'll do my best to stay brief, but there's a lot to consider, and as we're doing the whole "backpacking" thing, I want to be sure I'm thorough and clear about everything so it will be as helpful as possible. Keep checking back to this post - I'll be adding as I go.
The packing challenge I wanted to take on was bringing everything. Seeing if I could sacrifice no part of my routine and still pack super minimally in my carry-on size backpack. I set out on this, knowing that I very well may have to give up on some conveniences, and the prospect of that was perfectly fine with me.... but I just wanted to try. Just to see if I could hack it and bring it all.
Spoiler: I managed it all with room to spare!
I'll lay out each section the same, with a detailed written portion on each of my topics, with the corresponding video below. I'll cover makeup, hygiene, clothes/shoes, daypack, and how everything fits together.
If you have any questions whatsoever, please comment below or send me a message. I'd be happy to answer anything you're extra curious about.
Trip Overview
- 3 weeks
- 10 separate flights (2 of which are red-eyes)
- 16 nights in accommodations
- 9 Airbnbs
- 1 46L backpack each
- 1 daypack to share
Quick Itinerary
- Arrive in Newark, NJ
- NYC during the day, then evening flight from Newark-Iceland
- Iceland
- Iceland
- Iceland
- Paris
- Dijon, France
- Dijon, France
- Châlons-en-Champagne, France
- Florence, Italy
- Florence, Italy
- Florence, Italy
- Riomaggiore, Italy (Cinque Terre)
- Barolo region
- Barolo region
- Pisa, Italy
- Beauvais, France
- Newark, NJ
- HOME
For reference, these are the main items I'll be mentioning.
The packing cubes, the Osprey 46, and the daypack.
Makeup
I did it. I managed to fit my entire makeup routine (with room to spare) in one small packing cube!
Using the smallest of the cubes in the 4-piece set, I have packed:
- primer
- foundation
- concealer
- tinted powder
- bronzer, blush, highlight
- translucent setting powder
- eye primer
- eyeshadow palette
- eyeliner
- mascara
- waterproof mascara
- lip color
- brush set
- foam applicators (Target)
- lash curler (Target)
- 1 week pill container with misc items/extra product (Dollar Tree)
This is what my makeup typically consists of vs. the condensed, minimal version:
So the challenge with this was the time-frame we'll be gone. Three weeks with sample sized products seemed like a stretch, so the pill container will act as a nice little catch-all if needed (like for extra primer). Plus, I can even throw some floss or ibuprofen in there as well.
I don't know if you're like me in this sense, but when I'm traveling domestically for a week or so, I'm always sure my nearly-full bottle of foundation WILL run out while I'm traveling so I pack two. It's so dumb, because when I'm at home, I know just how long any amount of makeup will last me, but once I pack it, it's suddenly near empty. Haha! So before going on a trip with limited packing space, realistically think this through.
I'd definitely suggest trying to get away with sample sized products if you can. A sample sized mascara, for example, should be plenty for honestly even a month. And if you're not going to some third world country, I'm pretty sure you'll be able to pick up more wherever you go.
My primer, mascara, lip color, and eye shadow all came in a great sample set from Smashbox (linked here).
I also grabbed a travel size concealer and brush set. The rest of the products (tinted powder, translucent powder, foundation, eye primer, waterproof mascara, eyeliner, lash curler, and contour set) are actually full-sized. I just looked for smaller ones or condensed sets. For example, I usually use three different products for bronzer/blush/highlighter, so having all three in one set is saving me tons of room.
Lastly, be sure you actually TRY the products before you blindly pack them. I bought a different foundation for the smaller container, tried it, and hatedddd it. So I'm bringing one that's tried and true instead. Practice using the new brushes, or bronzer, or whatever, and be sure it's something you'll like for the duration.
Below, check out the makeup packing video for a 2 minute summary and see how they all actually fit into that small bag!
Hygiene
This was the toughest area for me. The carry-on liquid limits (one quart sized bag per person, with products 3oz or less) definitely threw a wrench in my ideas, but I think we'll get by (barely). But, I did it again! I managed to fit my entire routine yet again. Here's the full list of my hygiene stuff (and Tom's liquids too).
Tom doesn't have any liquids beyond his shampoo, hair styling goop, and face wash (which we're sharing), so he's a gem and will take a few of my liquids as well.
Liquids (Bag 1)
- Contact solution
- Face wash
- Men's shampoo
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Toothpaste
- Tom's hair goop
Liquids (Bag 2)
- Dry shampoo
- Mousse
- Hair Spray
- Exfoliating face wash
- Contact solution
- Face lotion
We'll keep our liquids bags in a convenient location so we can pull them out easily for security checks, but once through security, I''ll move most of them to my hygiene packing cube for the sake of keeping things organized.
I also have a couple secrets...
I'm bringing a HALF bottle of shampoo and a HALF bottle of conditioner. If you look at the lower right-hand corner of the photo above at the small, clear, stacked tubs, there they are. Tom had the idea to dry them. The first ingredient in these products is water, so doesn't that make sense? I poured them on large sheets of parchment paper and let the water evaporate for a couple of days. This left me with gel-like substances that easily fit into less than 3 ounces. Just a small amount in the shower - where you (duh!) add the water back in - and it lathers up just the same as at home (I've tested this). It's a wonderful way to bring a lot more than 3 ounces in a concentrated form.
HOWEVER, because of the containers or the lack of labeling or whatever else, I could see TSA confiscating them. Oh well! Worth a shot. I'll be sure to circle back afterwards and let you know how it went.
Another concentrated item is our laundry soap (pink/red bottle, lower right photo). Several of our Airbnb's have washers (or else we'll be using sinks) and since we're gone for nearly three weeks, we'll need to do laundry. I didn't want to bring another liquid thing and we really wracked our brains trying to figure out what to bring. Then I remembered a sample of Norwex laundry detergent a friend had given me and I forgot about. For an entire load you only need a teaspoon, and since our loads will likely be smaller, we can probably get away with a half teaspoon. I think it'll be the perfect travel detergent.
Lastly, I really wanted to bring my hair straightener. Most of the places we're staying will have hair dryers (yay!) but I need a straightener to add texture to my hair (I actually use it to curl or add waves rather than straighten). Well, I discovered that even with a plug adapter, you would also need a voltage adapter so as not to blow fuses or break your appliance.
UNLESS you get a dual voltage appliance! After just a little bit of looking, I found this travel sized straightener (but not the teeny tiny kind) for only $11 on a lightening deal. It's about nine inches long - so just slightly smaller than a normal one. Every little bit helps! It doesn't have a temperature control, but it heats up to 410 degrees fahrenheit. I've tested it and am thoroughly impressed. Honestly, I'm pretty sure it's better than my usual one. Watch the video below to see what it looks like next to an average hair straightener.
The only thing I would recommend, is to buy a heat resistant case (which I did). I don't know about you, but I always do my hair last and then get stuck having to pack/awkwardly carry my hot styling tool. The case saves you that trouble and you can pack up your hot appliance and go. In fact, I should have bought one ages ago!
Below are the three main items I mentioned and the correlating video so you can see how all of this works. It's a bit longer than my last video but I wanted to be thorough :)
Clothes and Shoes
This took a little discipline to stay within a few boundaries, but I'm so glad I managed to stick to my guns. Clothes ended up being pretty easy for me!
Clothes List:
1 pajama top
1 pajama bottom
3 dresses
2 sweater cardigans
6 tops
4 bottoms (3 black pants, 1 pair of jeans)
1 blanket scarf
1 rain jacket
3 shoes (rain boots, cute flat/sneaker, tennys)
11 underwear
2 camis
8 not-socks
2 tall, thick socks
1 regular sock
1 pair of black tights
1 belt
1 swimsuit
In order to bring a lot of outfit options with a few pieces, I stuck to neutrals. You've probably heard this tip before, but make sure every top can go with every bottom and vise versa. I limited my colors to black, grey, green, and blue. Honestly, I typically wear this palette at home almost exclusively, so it wasn't that hard for me. I mixed it up by throwing in the patterned dress and a scarf, but I also wanted to leave room to buy a few small pieces overseas as well. I made sure I was realistic about what types of clothes I'm most comfortable in and how they would work together or layer. Layering is your friend - especially if the temps during various seasons can go up or down by the day. Since we're traveling in the fall, I decided to bring a mixture of dresses, short sleeves, and long sleeves. Easy enough!
My shoes are all insanely comfortable (which was my top priority) and they each have a purpose.
The boots will be used just for Iceland. I was sent them courtesy of Sperry, and they gave me free reign to choose what I wanted, and I couldn't pass them up! They're so cute and will be perfect for whatever climate or terrain Iceland throws at us. Though they're too bulky to pack, I was willing to wear them on each flight. That's not a bother to me, but maybe to others it is.
The pointed flats were sent to me courtesy of Dr. Scholl's and again, they let me choose. These just had the perfect sneaker/flat mixture I was looking for, and they were included on a bunch of lists online as "great travel shoes." They are crazy, crazy comfortable and I am super happy with them.
The lace-up sneakers are from Target and they are meant for days where we might go off the beaten path a little more. They're also very breathable, so if my flats get wet, they're a cute alternative. They even look cute with my dresses!
This video is longer, but I explain my shoes in detail and show them on my feet walking around. Plus I'll show you some outfit mixtures, and how all of my clothes fit into the last two cubes with ease. (Seriously you guys, buy yourself some packing cubes - they are incredible!)
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#sponsored #ad #affiliate #co isn't fake. Let me tell you why.
This is a post I've wanted to write for a long time. I don't typically "blog about blogging" mostly because I always hope to relate and reach people outside the blogging realm, but, I think this topic has been unfortunately tainted by influencers (bloggers) and has caused readers, followers, and even other bloggers to click away from and ignore certain content.
That being, sponsored content.
Ugh. You guys, this literally makes me so uncomfortable to talk about because it's so personal. But I'm going to dive in and explain what it is, how I approach it, and how I hope you view my sponsored/affiliate/ad content moving forward. Again, let me just reiterate, this is MY approach and every blogger does it differently - to each their own!
What is sponsored/affiliate/ad/CO content?
Sponsored or Ad content is typically made up of content that is paid. Sometimes it's just free items in exchange for a mention within a post, a product review, or social media shout out, but most of the time, the blogger is being paid to write positively about the mentioned product or business. Here is an example of this type of post on Joy Lynn: Vitamin Water. I was paid by a third party to write a unique post using Vitamin Water from Sam's Club. This was essentially an ad, but it doesn't mean that the post itself was "fake" - just that it had to mention the product. The other tips within that post are honest-to-goodness tips I keep in mind when I'm doing some serious thrifting. Think of it like product placement in movies. Just because the characters are drinking Pepsi, doesn't mean the movie is just about Pepsi. They just got paid to mention it.
Affiliate links are no more than a link to a product that, should you make a purchase, will give a small commission to the blogger. They're used all over the internet and are not unique to blogs or bloggers, but YouTubers, businesses, and more. They cost nothing extra, but affiliates are a very positive, passive way for bloggers to make a few dollars for recommending great products to their readers. Any Amazon link you find on my blog is affiliate linked. So if you click on the KitchenAid mixer in my sidebar and buy it, I get a little moolah from Amazon as a way for them to say to me, "Hey, thanks for sending someone over and giving us business!" However, if you click that mixer, decide you don't want it, but continue to browse Amazon and make a different purchase - without ever leaving that one session - I'd get a small commission on whatever you bought in that session. It has no affect on you, but it's the main way my blog personally makes an income and helps keep my running costs in the black.
C/O (compliments of, courtesy of) is nothing more than free product. Typically, this means an item was sent to a blogger because the blogger asked for it or the company sent a sample on their own accord hoping the blogger will like it enough to mention it. This doesn't usually come with any requirements and bloggers might like something they received so much, that they willingly write a review on it, share it on social media, or use it as a giveaway item. Companies might ask for a share on social media or a review, but no one is contractually obligated. The difference between free items in the C/O sense vs. the sponsored sense, is that free items that are sponsored are "in exchange" for a post/social media share/review. C/O items may or may not be used or shared at all.
What did you mean in regards to some of these being "tainted?"
How many times have you as a reader come across a post that's tagged as #sponsored, #ad, #afflink, etc... and immediately passed it by because those tags, to you, have become synonymous with "fake content?" Probably a lot. I'll even raise my hand for this one... I still do this.
The thing is, I get it. I understand why you do that.
It's because at one point you clicked on one of these posts and found the substance to be completely vapid and lacking, except when it came time to praise a product. The photos were filled with pretty staging and gaudy-labeled products as the star. The post, though intriguing by the title, ended up being nothing more than a glorified ad for chocolate milk from Wal-Mart. You felt used. Like you were the audience adding to the success of an online "figure" who just needs you for numbers and "support" for their ad company. This "trick" happened to you more than once, until finally, you developed an instinctive response to simply scroll right past any and all posts with "#ad" associated with them.
How are these approached on Joy Lynn?
I'm writing this post preemptively so that in my future posts, you aren't quick to judge. I want to communicate to you - you as an individual - how honesty and integrity works on Joy Lynn.
Sponsored/Ad Content:
Thus far, to be completely honest with you, I've not pursued many sponsored opportunities. There are various places you can land sponsored gigs for money, but because authenticity is of the utmost importance to me, I cannot bring myself to write a meaningful article about frozen dinners from Target even if it comes with a nice paycheck. I have a hard time feeling as though that's true to my blog and honest and valuable to my readers.
Pitching to companies I love is also insanely daunting - even small area businesses. As much as I, of course, feel that my blog and my readership would be beneficial to these businesses, it's hard to go in and say, "Hey, I love your business and I want to share about your products on my blog, but it'll cost you $---." And unless you have a massive following with huge social media numbers, the big brands you want to work with probably won't even acknowledge your existence, let alone PAY you. Sponsored content is not my strong suit. I am not very "salesy," I care very deeply about authenticity and only promoting products and businesses I absolutely love, and I never want to disappoint my sponsors or readers. Maybe it's a fear of failure, but more than anything, it's a fear that my readers may see my blog in a negative light should it become too "sponsored." I hope that in the future, as I perhaps pursue some of these higher paid routes, I'll have the support and understanding from my readers that these posts are necessary for my blog's success and they are still real posts.
Affiliate Links:
These links are the driving force on Joy Lynn. They are passive in nature, and I only link to products that I either own, are very similar to what I own, or would consider trying (like the ones linked in this post). I'm not pushy about them, they bring in only cents on the dollar, but are such an easy, positive way for readers to give back to this little online space. How many times do you order off Amazon in a month? Next time, I hope you'll think of me and click through one of my links before filling up your cart and purchasing :)
C/O (compliments of, courtesy of):
Though I think it's very important for bloggers to be paid monetarily for the hard work they put into their blogs, receiving products is also very fulfilling and can feel so rewarding. I've received several items over the years and only shared with you the ones I love. Social Print Studio, as an example, is a company I've purchased from for years, and when I pitched to them and they agreed to sponsor a post, I was ecstatic because they are such a genuine fit for my blog and I felt my readers would appreciate it too (here's that post). To this day, if I ever see someone looking for a great place to order prints, I point them to SPS because they are truly my personal favorite. Not because they worked with me, but because I genuinely love their company and products.
Really, it's just an awesome perk to be able to share with you actual items I would choose or purchase, but instead be given them so I don't go broke buying up all my favorite things. I have a few items for our upcoming trip that were sent to me, because I reached out to them, I picked their items, and I would have bought them anyway. If I didn't like them, I certainly wouldn't share them, but I do! And I can't wait to recommend them to you.
How do I hope you view my sponsored, affiliate, etc... content moving forward?
In terms of all the different ways I make a living off this blog, I hope with all my heart that you'll continue to be supportive. I don't push anything on my readers and never will, but in doing so I've sacrificed a lot financially, and in ways it's even held back my success. I do not buy followers (many, mannnyyyy influencers do) and I always want Joy Lynn to be 100% organic, authentic, and real. In order to keep this up, I need your support and trust. I need you to not ignore or skip those posts that are sponsored or affiliate linked or C/O, because those posts took a lot of guts, pitching, time, and energy to land. When I have the opportunity to share a brand with you, it's because I love that product and I think you really will too.
It hurts bloggers when they put so much blood, sweat, and tears into their online spaces, only to be shunned by their readers when they finally get a paycheck. As if readers suddenly don't appreciate their work if they get paid for it. How crummy is that? To work so hard to be honest and trustworthy, only to be pigeonholed by the word "sponsored" or "affiliate."
If you see sponsored here...
Know it took so much bravery, hard work, and dedication-to-authenticity to land and put together in a genuine post. It's 100% real.
If you see affiliate here...
Know it's one of the few ways this blogger can continue to follow her dream of creating a helpful, positive, wholesome online community.
If you see c/o here...
Know it's a product this blogger either asked for and chose herself, and feels so grateful to have the opportunity to receive and share it. Or she was given this product and really loves it and thinks you'll really love it too.
(Keep in mind: Not every free product makes it to the blog because it may not have made the cut in terms of quality/style/various reasons)
Finally, I just want to express my sincere gratitude for my followers and small, engaged community. Whether you're a blogger or not, I love having you here. I think about my readers on the regular, I love your comments, I write for you, and I share my heart here hoping it can bring something positive or relatable to your feeds of grim news and heartache. I do real here, and sometimes that means sharing hard things, but each and every day, when I open up my blog or my social media, I feel at home. I cherish the messages you send me and love when you tell what you like to see and read. I want to continue to nurture this space and take opportunities for growth, but I need your supportive words and presence to keep doing what I'm doing. I know it's easy to look at the life of a blogger (a career that many still think is bizarro - haha) or writer or creative freelancer, and think they have it easy and their life is just a staged photo, but behind the scenes are struggles, and insecurities, and many "no's," and few "thanks," and all for such little pay. But it's something I care for so deeply, in the way anyone cares for a work of their own hands or their small business. It's a place that feels worth the frustration and failure and slow growth when that one person reaches out and to say they feel validated, inspired, understood, or happy.
I hope I'm acting as a light for Christ, a light in the world, and a light to someone's day.
We need more lights, but you have to pay the bill to turn on the light. So please. Don't be afraid of #ad.
Don't forget to follow me on social media to stay up to date and connected. Feel free to message or email me with any content requests, ideas, or collaborations!
Hondo's Favorites
Welcome! If you’ve landed on this page, you likely landed here via Hondo’s Instagram. His Instagram was started when we first got him as a place for me (Joy) to picture-dump because I just knew I was going to take wayyyy too many photos of him. Well, that silly little page (that I made really for myself) has grown into a fun, positive community of people who get laughs and smiles from our favorite bear-of-a-fella. In fact, Tom (my husband) posts for Hondo pretty often now, too! We are so grateful and glad to have you following along on Hondo’s derpy adventures and we hope this page comes in handy for all you new - or not new - doggo owners! We own and use all of the items listed on this page, so this is certainly not an “ad” page. The crowd favorites (which you may have seen featured in some of Hondo’s videos) are the stainless steel rake and the paw-washer. Both are listed under “grooming.” My personal favorites are the magic fur remover brushes listed under “for the house.” They save you from those annoying lint rollers and the endless sheets that still leave hair behind. These brushes get ALL the hair off my clothes, the couch, bedding, etc. Truly magic! Anyways - so glad to have Hondo’s followers finding their way onto my blog, so if you’re curious, please take a look around my site. If you have any questions comment below, DM us on Instagram, or email me here.
This post contains affiliate links. Should you make a purchase through one of these links I may receive a commission, but at no cost to you. These affiliates are essential to the livelihood of this blog and help cover the expenses necessary for running Joy Lynn.
Basics
Grooming
Toys
Walking
For the house
