Category: Friends, Meetups, & Linkups

DFW Blogger Meetup: All About Me

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What is your name, blog name, and URL link?

Becky Branch.  The Java Mama. www.thejavamama.com

When and why did you start blogging?

I started blogging in 2006.  My twin sister actually started and blog and then we both started doing it for fun.  Now I’m thankful to have it because my family doesn’t live near us and they are able to see what’s going on in our lives just by clicking on the website.

How old were you in 1993?

12

What do you hope to get out of the DFW Bloggers community?

Friendship 🙂

How much cash is in your wallet right now?

like 3 bucks

Tell us about the most controversial blog post you’ve published and why it caused such a stir. You gotta share the link too!

Oh gosh this is hard!  Probably the post where I posted a video of Connor throwing a fit in Target.  A lot of people didn’t like it or thought it was wrong.  Honestly, I go so much feedback and advice it helped so much.  I used the advice other moms gave on our next outing and it went a lot better!

Post is HERE

Are you a professional bowler?

OMG. No.  I hope we have gutter bumpers right?

What is your shoe size?

8

How do you earn money?

I work full time at a bank.  Occasionally I find change in our sofa.

What are you wearing at the moment?

A green night shirt

What’s your favorite beverage?

Iced caramel macchiatto (coffee), Dr. Pepper (pop), Cherry Vodka Sour or Strawberry Lime-a-rita (liquor)

Do you have kids? If so, how many and how old are they?

Yes, one.  He’s 3 years old.

If you were another person, would you be friends with you?

DUH!

Name 3 goals you have for your blog in 2013.

Well, I just switched from Blogger to WordPress.  That was one thing I wanted to do.  I hope it was worth it!  I hope to meet new friends.  I hope that in some small way my blog is a help to someone else.

What’s the first thing you notice about people?

Smile 🙂

Can you change a flat tire?

Nope!

If you could spend the day with a celebrity, who would it be and why?

I sort of have a crush on Stephen Amell right now.  He’s on the TV show Arrow.  He’s so cute and seems like the perfect mix of looks + brains….current Hollywood crush.

Which social media site (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc.) do you use most?

Probably a tie between Twitter & Facebook.  I work a lot during the week so I can only get on at night.

What are you most looking forward to at the DFW Bloggers’ Spring Meet Up?

Meeting new friends and seeing people I’ve only “met” online in person.

DFW Bloggers Meetup

I am excited to announce the next DFW Bloggers Spring Meet Up is Saturday, April 27 in Fort Worth’s West 7th Street Development. We’re bowling at Lucky Strike and eating dinner at Brownstone Kitchen + Bar. You don’t want to miss this!

Use EVENTBRITE to reserve your spot … space is limited to 20 people.

springmeetup Here are the specific details again:

Saturday, April 27

5:30 – 7:30pm Bowling at Lucky Strike 8:00pmDinner at Brownstone Kitchen + Bar

This event is limited to the first 20 people who sign up. To reserve your spot, go to EVENTBRITE and register. I will also send you an email confirming that I’ve received your information and your name is on the guest list. Easy-peasy! Lucky Strike has graciously waived all lane and shoe rental fees, so each person will bowl FREE. If you want drinks or food at the bowling alley, you’ll have to pay for your own. Each person is responsible for their own dinner + drinks at the Brownstone. I suggest car-pooling (don’t forget a designated driver if you plan to consume extra adult beverages!!!) and there’s a FREE parking garage available too. Pretty sweet deal, right?! If you have questions, or want to provide take-home gifts for 20 of your nearest-and-dearest blog buddies, contact me at nicole.m.hutchison at gmail.com with DFW Bloggers’ Spring Meet Up in the subject line. Oh, and there will be prizes for bowling and other random nonsense too. If you want to join the fun, go to EVENTBRITE and reserve your spot. RIGHT.NOW. I hope to see YOU on April 27. =) springmeetupSMALL

Dallas + Fort Worth Bloggers: if you would be so kind to re-post this info in a blog post and/or sidebar button, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!

2013

Blissdom 2013

I came, I saw/heard, and conquered.

 

Blissdom 2013

 

I’ve always wanted to go to a blogging conference.  They always seem to be on the East or West coast, so I was thrilled to find out Blissdom was going to be here in DFW this year!  Of course I had to go because it was so close.  I got to meet so many fabulous gals I talk to online in person.  It was awesome!  Everyone was so nice and I had a great time.
 
Here are my roomies Lindsey, Leah, and Heidi

These girls were so much fun!  We stayed at the fabulous Gaylord Texan.  I’ve always enjoyed staying there and it’s a great place for conferences and events.  The rooms and service are wonderful.

 Our room
 View from our balcony into the atrium
 Goodies from my wonderful sponsor Milo Paper!

(If you didn’t get some of these pretties from me at Blissdom you can still use coupon code “BLISSDOM” for 40% off & go like their Facebook site!)  Thank you Milo Paper & Picture Keeper for sponsoring me.  If I got your blog card I’ll be drawing a few winners for a PK4 Picture Keeper too!

 Meeting some of my favorite bloggers 🙂

Heading to the handmade marketplace.  Very cute stuff in there.  Megan and I got sparkly bracelets from The Shine Project.

 Registering for the weekend
 One of my fave DFW bloggers Meagan

We then headed out to dinner for some yummy Mexican at the Gaylord.  Thank you so much Polka Dot Posies for dinner and wonderful conversation and laughs.  You.are.awesome.

 Night in sponsored by Bissell

 Sweet ladies with their Milo Paper notepads 🙂
After the Bissell event all the sponsor booths opened & that was a lot of fun!
 
 Duck Tape dress and shirt/jacket like on Project Runway
 Famous Footwear and yummy cupcakes
 Johnson & Johnson gave us lots of goodies for our babies back home.
 We got lots of goodies from all the sponsors at Blissdom
 Hair and makeup lounge in the One2One suite
 Mandy getting her makeup done.

Me after my makeup & eyelashes.  I have never had eyelashes put on and I forgot about them until I thought I was losing hair in the shower the next day!

 Blissdom had some great motivational speakers
 The Gaylord atrium

 I cannot wait until Despicable Me 2 comes out!  Can’t wait to take Connor!

 I won some Coach perfume at the Ebates booth woohoo!

My favorite breakfast was sponsored by Seattle’s Best Coffee.  This giant coffee mug was so much fun!  Their new blended iced coffee was amazing!

 Whip it!

I picked up Megan at the airport.  She is so precious….and not to mention she is Mama to the cutest twinsies ever.  Her plane got struck by lightening and then I think I may have freaked her out a little bit driving in Dallas….but it was fun spending time with you Megan!!!  I’m sad I didn’t get to say goodbye, but glad we got to have a fun weekend together 🙂

 Yummy Sbarro pizza
Thank you Blissdom gals for a great weekend and fun memories.  ALWAYS a good time and I think I just about saw everything besides having to leave early due to a sick kiddo and hubby with food poisoning….yeah he hasn’t been out of bed all day.  Fun times. 
 
It’s been real….until next time!
 
DFW loves you come back soon!

Fabulous Wardrobe

Hey y’all! I’m Taylor and I blog over at Pink Heels Pink Truck. I’m excited to be sharing with you all today a brand new dream that I’ve turned into reality. Meet Fabuless Wardrobe!! FabulessWardrobeSnapshot1
This site is an online consignment shoppe. But not any online consignment shoppe.

This concept is different. 🙂

At Fabuless Wardrobe, you purchase an ad spot for $1.00 per item. Each item is listed for 30 days for that $1.00. If your item sells, you will be forwarded the money (via paypal) without any additional fees (well, less paypal’s original fees). The only fee you will incur is the upfront ad spot purchase!

All items ship for free, so you build your shipping into your listing price. 🙂 This site is basically a place to list your gently used items (even maternity!), no more than 2 years old (preferrably..it’ll only help you sell!). You might even have stuff you’ve never worn before or even still has tags on it. So why not put it up for sale and see if you can add some cash to your pocket! 🙂

There are a few items already for sale in the shoppe, so you must head over and check it out. And if you are ready to get to listing your own items, click on the Sell Tab to get started!! You’ll tell me how many items you want to list initially, and I’ll send over an invoice and then the link to where you can start uploading your stuff!

I would love for you to follow Fabuless Wardrobe’s social media channels so you never miss a new item added to the shoppe!! Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest Thank you Becky for allowing me to share my brand new dream-turned-reality!! 🙂 And I hope to see you all selling your items soon!!

Pink Heels Pink Truck

She’s Ready to get Hitched!

Saturday night I attended the bachelorette party of Kindra.  My work BFF and good friend 🙂
 
We stayed at the Marriott in Plano and the room was awesome.  Her maid of honor Lauren made the Bride’s cup and she just started an Etsy store here.  It was sooooo cute and most people that saw it filled it up for free for her that night! 
All the party favors.
Our super fab room
The decor and cupcakes! 
They did a great job. 

Maid of honor-Lauren, Kindra, and Bridesmaid Nicole
Kindra & Bea
Moi.

Kindra’s Mom getting groovy with it!  Ha ha!  She is hilarious.  We had a great time.  She also had a beach shower instead of a lingerie shower because her wedding is in Florida. 

I tell you what girls….I had a good time but my party days are over.  Kindra’s Mom and I were the first ones to head back to the hotel for sleepy time.  Ha Ha….if that ain’t a sign you are getting old I don’t know what is!  We had a great girls night out-Taco Diner, and listening to bands…..and the rest is to be held in the “Kindra’s Bachelorette Night” VAULT forever! J/K.

When I got home my boys were so glad to see me and I was glad to see them too!
 
The countdown is on! 
Kindra and Clint are a great couple and I wish you many happy years together!!!! 
 
 Muah!  Becky
 
BIGGEST LOSER POST WILL BE UP LATER TONIGHT…..

DFW Bloggers Christmas Party

This group of girls is the bomb diggitty. 
For realz.  Every.Single.One. is awesome!

Megan did the best job ever on the decorations and without her and Julie this affair would not be as fabulous as it turned out!  They did a great job!

We had fun wining and dining.  Mingling and jingling our ornaments around.  It was so much fun.  The food was great, the wine was excellente’!!! 

We had an ornament exchange.  We decided to do it dirty Santa style.  Some people got switched up on several times….but regardless all the ornaments were beautiful and it was fun!

The yummy pizza
Everyone opening their ornaments!

 Thank you girls for a great time!

 

I can’t wait until our next get together that someone else will hopefully plan 🙂

 

And thank you to Sarah for the photos…I freaked and forgot my camera (which is usually attached to my hip)…..so thank you so much Sarah for sharing the photos with all of us!

 

xoxo Becky

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!