along for the ride: Blog Swap with Scraps and Scribbles

Giveaway is now closed.

I'd like to introduce you all to Courtney from Scraps and Scribbles!

Her and I are swapping blog today (how fun)!

Could you tell my readers just a little bit about yourself? I’ve been married to my best friend and wonderful husband for almost 5 years now. We have one little boy and he keeps me more than busy. After over 2 years as a senior bank teller, I happily quit my job when my son was born to be a stay-at-home mom and 20 months later, I’m still loving it. On top of all that, I’m a full-time college student starting October 4th as I go back to school to finish up my bachelor’s degree (3 semesters to go!)

Tell me a little bit about your blog. What prompted you to start Scraps and Scribbles and why? Scraps and Scribbles is a mixture of all of the things that I like and love to do. It’s got a little something for everyone-crafts, cooking, sewing projects, DIY, home décor, tips, fashion and beauty. I originally began blogging via our family blog as a way to stay in touch with our family and friends. Then, as I found other non-family blogs, I thought, I could do that, so I started Scraps and Scribbles so I didn’t clutter up our family blog with all my crafty endeavors. Plus, I like keeping my family life separate from strangers. I’ll share things from my everyday life on my blog every now and then, but I mostly keep my personal life personal.

What inspires you? What type of things do you find yourself being drawn to? Photography-wise, I love nature. It is just so absolutely beautiful and yet so simple. I pretty much find inspiration all around me-I’ll see a swatch of fabric and my mind just starts thinking of all of the things I could make with it or I’ll see a pretty strand of beads and the same thing will happen (not always, but a lot of the time.) I love things that are pretty and simple. I also have a slight obsession with stripes, polka dots and plaid.

What are your favorite things to create? I love creating clothing and jewelry. It gives me the best feeling when someone compliments me on something I’m wearing and I can say, “Thank you! I made it!

What have you enjoyed most about blogging? I’ve enjoyed meeting new people and finding new inspiration. There are so many talented, amazing women out there and I love reading what they have to say and seeing the things that they come up with.

What do you hope your readers take away from your blog? I hope that my readers find something that “speaks” to them-be it a craft, a recipe, a tip or a photo.

If you could blog swap with any one person for a day, who would it be and why? Oh, that’s a toughy. There are so many amazing ladies that I admire in the blogging world that I would be more than honored to swap with, I couldn’t choose just one!

Do you have a favorite quote you'd like to share? My all-time favorite is “We must be our own before we can be another’s.”-Ralph Waldo Emerson

What one skill do you wish you were better at? I wish I were better with my sewing machine. It’s actually one of my goals this year is to familiarize myself with it and overcome my fear of my machine.

How would you describe your personality? I would say that I’m pretty laid-back person, but I’m kind of shy when you first meet me.

List your 3 favorite blog posts that you've written.

Silverware Garden Markers: http://scrapsnscribs.blogspot.com/2010/06/hand-made-goodie-of-week-silverware.html
Antrho-Inspired Ruffle Tee: http://scrapsnscribs.blogspot.com/2010/02/fashion-fridays-anthro-inspired-striped.html

Screen Printed Tees: http://scrapsnscribs.blogspot.com/2010/06/fashion-fridays-on-wednesday-screen.html

What is your favorite product that you have reviewed? I haven’t “officially” reviewed any products yet, but I’d love to! My favorite thing that I’ve tried and reviewed on my blog would have to be the Body Solutions products by Avon-they work amazingly and I would highly recommend them to anyone!

What advertiser would you like to work with given a chance? I love the handstamped jewelry craze that’s going on right now and I’d love to work with Lisa Leonard some more (she recently sponsored a giveaway on my blog and was such a joy to work with!)

What is one thing you wish you had known before you started your blog? How much time it would suck from my day! And how to better market my blog.

How do you balance blogging, family and free time? I’ve learned it’s a delicate juggling game and I’m still working on it, but my general rule-of-thumb is that my family comes first. My rule when I comes to blogging is that my family comes first. If I have too much going on at home, then I take a break from my blog until things get back to normal. Weekends, I’m pretty much absent from the blog scene as that’s family time-when we get to go do things, all three of us. I try to get as much done as I can when the little man is napping and at nigh after he’s gone to bed.

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As if getting to know her wasn't enough, Courtney is giving away one of her cute flower pendants!