Sweet Tea Social

Hey y'all!

(or should I say ladies, but this is for Texas women so y'all seemed more appropriate)

I am excited to join this new community of bloggers!! Bloggers have to be one of my favorite groups of people, not only because I am one of them but because they are usually creative, fabulous and jacked up on coffee, or in our case...sweet tea.

Should I also reveal that my older sister is Brandi of "Realities With Brandi"? Because she is.

I am excited about our tea party, mainly because I am not a coffee drinker and I am excited to see another blog embracing the idea of drinking tea!

If we were sitting on a porch, rocking our chairs out in the Texas sun, these are a few things I would reveal to you about this past week:

1. I am training for a 5K! I am not a runner, and living in Austin where every one and their mom runs races makes me a tad embarrased to say I have to train for a 5K. But I am and I'm owning it!

2. I'm going to start doing yoga. Mainly so people can call me "Yogi Barrera". Kidding. But this recent yoga kick is brought to you by my (totally hipster) neighborhood grocery store offering free yoga classes on Monday nights! Are any of you ladies yogis?

3. I'm reading an awesome new book by my pastor Matt Carter and former UT football player- Colt McCoy. It is a book on Biblical manhood but as a single woman it is teaching me a lot about the man I should be looking for.

4. I would also ask you if you have any tips for getting your dog to take his flea medicine. Mine has learned that those huge, yet delicious, peanut butter sandwiches have a nice, big chopped up pill hiden in them. You can only imagine what me on the floor wrestling with a 60 lb. pit bull-mix would look like. This is what I have resulted to, people!

5.  Lastly, I would ask you about your week. Something to know about me is that I love coffee dates (the ones I drink tea on but you get the point). I love investing in friendships with women and being an encouragement to them in their daily lives.

So how are you new friend?

Hope we get to chat soon, and maybe next time it won't be so dang hot outside.

Adios. :)

Get Down To Business With Cards From Tiny Prints!

Photo Credit: Tiny Prints

As a freelance writer, blogger, and copywriter based out of Austin, TX I knew I wanted business cards as creative and unique as the city I live in and that’s where Tiny Prints comes in. Tiny Prints is a sister site to Shutterfly so I knew they'd be a great company from the get-go. I was thrilled every step of the way, from first discovering their website all the way to seeing the little turquoise package on my doorstep. The process of picking out my business cards was not only easy and pleasant but it was fun too!

My fabulous cards are just my style!!

With that being said, here are five tips that I’ve learned along the way to help get your business cards out into the world of networking!

1.    Be You.

So you have a blog and you have your business cards, but now you’re wondering how you get them out them out there? First things first, just be yourself! Tiny Prints offers a variety of different styles that range from professional and modern to creative and stylish! The best part of finding a card that brings out your inner social butterfly is that Tiny Prints allows the option to custom design your cards. So not only can you make it trendy but also you can make it “you”- literally! You can upload your own picture or logo on your card, which will be sure to make you memorable at conferences or meetings with large numbers of people. I have never been more confident to approach people I didn’t know at a conference and be able to hand them a card that truly represented me and of course, my blog. It makes networking more fun when you have a card that stays true to your personality!

2.    Get Social

As a blogger there is one thing I know how to do and that is “get social”. I’ve learned that social media is such a powerful tool in the world of networking. So how do you incorporate your business cards into that world? It’s easy! In the blogging community bonds run as tight as families, or at least from my personal experience, and we are always looking for ways to help each other out. A popular blogging practice is called “swapping”, for example: book swaps, coffee mug swaps, or anything other item that one blogger swaps with another just for fun. Next time you’re a part of a blog swap include some business cards in your package and let the other blogger send some to you as well. This is a great practice for getting your cards out across the country without even having to travel!

3.    Work It

When I’m not freelancing, blogging or getting my social media hustle on, I work for a big time coffee company. Since there is not a conflict of interest between this big time coffee company and my writing career I like to take advantage of all the connections I make with my customers. I have had the opportunity to meet a variety of different people ranging from small business owners, philanthropists, actors, musicians and even other writers. With that many creative people coming through the doors, I like to keep my business cards handy in my apron pocket. I have met several people who have helped me with where I am today in my freelance writing career and will continue to do so with the help of my business cards! So the moral of that story is- don’t be afraid to work your business cards because you never know whom you might run into next.

4.    It’s All Relative

Relatives are a great way to get your business cards out there! Seriously, is there anything better than having your cards in the hands of people who really believe in your blog? The best part about this tip is that it’s free advertising for you! Each member of my family has my cards on them at all times and after convincing my brother that it wasn’t for him to give to guys he thinks I should date, he came up with the brilliant idea to hand them out to the sorority girls he networks with on his college campus. My family may be spread out across the Lone Star State but it’s nice to know that with the help of my relatives and my cards- the eyes of Texas are upon my blog and me!

5.    Do It Yourself. Literally.

Are you a blogger with an Etsy shop or specialize in any other DIY business? If so then this tip is for you! Next time you ship out a package put a couple of your business cards in with your shipment. This is a fantastic way to get your cards in the hands of people who enjoy your craftiness! I can’t tell you how many times I have asked someone where they got a certain item and we fumble around for something to write the website address on. How great would it be for your customers to be able to help you advertise for a product they really enjoy? Be sure to also utilize your cards as coupons. Include a discount code on your cards and people will be willing to take them off your hands in no time!

Tiny Prints makes it easy to find business cards that compliment your blog!

I hope these tips help you get your business cards into the hands of the right people. The best part about having cards from Tiny Prints is they are not only going to be fabulous but durable too, allowing you to tote them around at all times and be fully prepared for whatever networking opportunity may come your way!

So what are you waiting for? Check out their site and find out how you can start getting down to business with cards from Tiny Prints!

That one time when I got super crafty and forgot to document it...

Hey y'all!

As most of you know (or should know) I moved into my new apartment this month!! I am loving the extra space and living in a "big girl" place but I will miss my studio apartment, fo sho!

The best part of moving? Decorating, of course.

I tackled my first DYI furniture project and what do you know- I forgot to document it! Such is life.

I am proud to say that I did most of this project myself, with a little help from my dad. 

Growing up I had a chest of drawers that was painted baby blue and white (let's just say it was ugly for dramatic effect) and it had a little damage throughout the years. I really wanted to keep this piece of furniture because it such a durable piece of wood and it is something I've had for many years. And let's be honest, I've always wanted to do a DYI furniture project that I could document on Pinterest and get a ton of "oooo's and aaaah's". But I failed at that.

So here it is, my chest of drawers that I painted for my new apartment

*For a before picture just imagine an old piece of wood painted white and baby blue. So very very ugly. And then there's me- hair in a messy bun, sweating in the Texas sun, with spray paint on my arms and fingers (and shoes and shorts)*

What DYI projects have you done?

Have you ever fallen victim to "failure to document" like I have?

Even if you haven't say yes to make me feel better.

Ode to Stephen Curry's eyes

Photo Cred: BleacherReport.com

My dear friend Mallory requested that I write a blog post about Stephen Curry's eyes. So naturally, I obliged and this ridiculousness was born. Enjoy my fellow sports fans (and females who are fans of pretty eyes).

Dear Stephen Curry,

Though I write this in a hurry

it doesn't take away from the love us ladies have for your eyes

they make us weak in the...thighs? (It rhymes, okay.)

But I have one question:

Exactly what color are they?

Are they hazel or are they grey?

Or are they blue?

I hope that last one is true.

They seem to match your uniform at times,

which is what inspired these sick rhymes.

Let's be honest, we may not all be Warrior fans

but most of us ladies fall

for your beautiful set of two eyeball(s).

In conclusion,

I hope you beat the Spurs

and hang them out to dry like furs.

If you ever see this, I think you are a balla

so feel free to holla.
(Except that you're married, so for rhyming purposes just ignore that)

The End.