Welcome today to my January Intriguing Confessions Sponsor Spotlight. I feel honored and humbled to have some of the best sponsors for my blog and want to share a few of them with all of you today. So please sit back and get to know these lovely bloggers in their own words now.
I’m Heather, owner and curator of CraftLoveWin.com I live in the suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri with my ginger husband, four children and our beloved dog. My professional background is in communications and marketing, and during the day I work for an emerging business that had humble, kitchen table beginnings. Artisans, innovators and work from home moms inspire me and I love to read and share their stories.
Craft Love Win began as a shower epiphany. (Isn’t that the only place a mom of four truly gets to think her own thoughts?) I had noticed two interesting things happen on Facebook. First, my friends were asking for referrals for artisans and Etsy shops for gift giving occasions. I love shopping with and supporting small businesses, so seeing this activity was really exciting to me. The second thing I noticed was many artisans are sticking to strictly social media these days, rather than having a website or blog. With current Facebook regulations, this can make hosting giveaways to spread the word about their items very tricky. I was watching some of my favorite artisans unknowingly host contests that could potentially cost them their brand pages. I wanted to find a way to help them spread the word, but without having to invest even more time in administrative tasks. Craft Love Win was born out of a desire to connect and serve these two groups. It took a few months of research and hard work behind the scenes to iron out the details, but I was launched Craft Love Win in late December of 2012.
If you are a shopper like me, you can watch current giveaways or use the labels to see past featured shops to find just the right kind of item you are looking for. If you are a shop owner, you can submit your giveaway to be featured or if you are in need of a temporary internet home, I can host your giveaway in a way that works with the current guidelines on all major social media outlets. We’re still growing, but I’m really excited about the reception we’ve received from both artisans and shoppers. I enjoy meeting new bloggers and artisans along this journey. Also, if you follow us on Facebook or Twitter, we send out reminders near the end of each giveaway, so you don’t forget to enter! Since I’m so forgetful, this might be my favorite feature of Craft Love Win. Thanks for taking time to read about our site and feel free to share it with those in your life who love handcrafted items!
Hello, my name is Erin. I write for the somewhat new blog Erin the Irish Mama. I am new to the blogging world but I love it a little bit more each day. For the past 5 years I have been a stay at home mom to two little monsters. Five years ago this past Friday I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, Benjamin. Nineteen months later, we had Sean. It’s been a wild ride ever since! Thank goodness for some good wine and a supportive husband.
I will admit that staying home with both of the boys has been overwhelming. I was in a new town with no friends and really had to put myself out there (which is not something that I am comfortable with). When I finally found an awesome core group of friends, I felt comfortable again. When all of my mommy friends started branching off into other hobbies & jobs, I finally decided to start my blog. Why not? I needed an outlet to share all of the funny stories, pictures and quotes from my kids. Little did I know that this would turn into a full time job (without the pay and benefits). I am loving every minute of it. In between running both boys to preschool, I try to keep my house clean, my family fed and my blog full of funny stories. Now I only wish that I started this thing a few years ago – I had a lot of good stories to share last year! Sean alone could have his own blog.
Now I wasn’t always a stay at home mom. A long, long time ago before I got married and had kids I lived in Delaware. It was the place that I called home my entire life. I worked in Marketing at a local bank and that’s where I met my husband. Shortly after we were married though, we packed up and moved to the big city. New York City. I spent three years living and working in the Big Apple. Ralph Lauren was the place I called home. I loved it there and would go back in a heartbeat if we lived closer to the city. My husband still commutes 2 hours each way to NYC but I could never do it. One day we will move back – I am sure of that (or we will at least have a second home there someday).
But I am so thankful for the blogging world. I have finally found a voice and an outlet for my life. I have met so many wonderful people who I know call my friends! Mommy bloggers are somewhat of a cult (but in a good way) and I am so thankful to be part of it.
I hope you enjoyed getting to know these lovely ladies and if you would like to advertise with me please check out my advertising page here for my rates. Also, I am running a 20% off special for the month of January by using the code SPECIAL20.
I have entered another contest, which run through February 13th. Please click the button below or the one on my sidebar to vote for me their as well. Thanks!!
Don’t Forget to Vote. Your Vote Counts and Is Appreciated!!
Please Visit my Sponsor of The Month:
[amazon_mp3_clips widget_type=”Bestsellers” width=”250″ height=”250″ title=”” market_place=”US” shuffle_tracks=”True” max_results=”” browse_node=”” /]
[wp_ad_camp_2]
Cyndi says
Cool! It's fun to highlight new and awesome bloggers! Way to go! Happy Monday, too. 🙂
Janine Huldie says
Thanks Cyndi and totally my pleasure to highlights these wonderful women here today!! Happy Monday to you, too 🙂
Janine Huldie says
Thank you so much Monica. I just liked you on Facebook, signed up for your blog and left you a comment on your blog. Happy Blogiversary, too!! So happy to be following you as well 🙂 🙂
Bill says
You seem to be doing quite well with this blogging thing. I'm happy for you. I'm spinning my wheels and wondering what the hell is the point of writing and having very little to show for it. I have some decisions to make. 🙂 Have a great day, Janine.
Janine Huldie says
Oh Bill, I still have such a ways to go and feel that way often at times too. Please know you aren't alone and we need to worry about buying a house in the future for our family. So there are days that I too have my moments. Just know that you have friends and we are here for you 🙂
Emily says
Great background on your sponsors and so interesting to hear how others start in this crazy, blogging world. And will definitely go vote for you again today too!
Janine Huldie says
Oh thanks Emily and I loved learning a bit more here how both got to where they are today. Thanks for the votes and have done the same for you, too!! 🙂
erintheirishmama says
Thanks again for the shout out! I love it!!!! I also voted for you of course on your two pages! Good luck!!!!
Janine Huldie says
My pleasure Erin and so happy to have you here on my page and as a friend, too. Thank you for the votes and you know I vote for you daily, too!! 🙂
Melanie Chisnall says
What a fantastic way to highlight some of your sponsors! I loved reading a bit more about them, and I think you're doing an awesome job! Keep going Janine….you can only go up from here 🙂
Janine Huldie says
Thanks so much Melanie. I really loved having them share from their own words and think they can totally do themselves more justice than I ever could. Also, thanks for saying that. I am trying and that is all I can do I suppose 🙂
Janine Huldie says
Thanks amy and it was truly fun for me to hand this one over to them to actually get to know them that much better. Glad you enjoyed, too 🙂
Kat Biggie says
Both look like great blogs!!!
Janine Huldie says
Oh thanks Alexa and they really are awesome blogs!! 🙂
Janine Huldie says
Awesome Kelly and definitely check her out, because her site is just great and she is just such a lovely person, too!! 🙂
Ruchira says
Awesome Janine. I like how you share interesting things about your sponsors.
voted for you for both TPM and Funny mom 🙂 cheers!
Janine Huldie says
Oh thanks so much Ruchira for the votes (I always vote for you too daily) and glad you enjoyed learning about about these wonderful women!! 🙂
Kelly says
Always good to meet a fellow Irishmom 😉
Janine Huldie says
I agree Kelly and even though I am only part Irish, the Irish part loved this Irish mama from the moment I laid eyes on her blog 🙂 😉