Sloanbook: Guest Post

Hey lovelies...guess what?!  I have another guest post today!
Featuring the ever-so lovely, Ashley from SLOANBOOK is being featured today!
We are like best blog friends since we are both named Ashley, oh and I love the fact that she has a pup named Katinka!  What a cute name, huh?!

I love reading Ashley's blog, she's so witty and clever and so sweet!  go show her some love...after you read her post of course!

Hey hey readers of All Things Ashley!
I am excited to be here!
Guess what? My name is Ashley too...
we both rock because of that :)

Anywho, I'm Ashley from Sloanbook, the blog, here. I blog about my husband, Kevin, and I and our little long-haired chihuahua, Katinka! We both just graduated from BYU in Business and just moved from Utah to Colorado! I post on our random happenings so you never know what you will get :) I guess I am biased but I think it is a fun blog haha...decide for yourself!

Today I am going to tell you why I blog!
Fun right?

1) Document Our Lives:
I started this blog the summer of 2009. Kevin and I got married August of 2008. I didn't start a blog as soon as we got married because I didn't know much about them. My sister-in-law, Tara, had a blog then and still has a super cute blog where she documents her family and their life by sharing pictures, thoughts, and stories! I thought that it would be a fun idea to make one so I could document things that Kevin and I did on the weekends and share funny stories. For me, it is easier than writing in a journal by hand. It is just so fast to type it all out! So my main reason of starting this blog and still is, is to document our lives. I think it is so important to do that, not only for ourselves, but for our posterity. I know that someday my kids and grand-kids will think I am a weird/funny lady with a chihuahua lol.

2) Inspiration:
I don't know about you but I am not very creative or crafty...okay...I bet I could be if I tried, but I am too lazy haha. I love discovering new blogs that have tutorials on how to sew, re-do furniture, decorate, organize, and cook yummy fun meals! I also love fashion blogs because I love to see how other girls put together outfits. I have gotten some great ideas from other bloggers on how to use pieces of clothing that I already have in different and unique ways! If it weren't for these awesome blogs and Pinterest, I'd be lost! http://pinterest.com/ashley_katinka/">Pinterest friend, much? :)
 

3) Friends:
I have taught so many of my friends how to make blogs, how to write posts, how to add backgrounds, etc...because I love blogging and I love that lots of my friends have blogs! I love being able to see what friends are doing after graduation in their new area! Not only is it great to help keep up on your friends' lives but it is a great way to MEET friends! I have found some really great girl friends through blogging! So great that I even helped host a blog party to meet them! Sweet Ashley (not me but Ashley from this blog) was helping and got sick so she couldn't go so that was way sad! Maybe someday we can meet at another blogger meet up :) Positive thinking right?

Anyways, there are numerous reasons why I blog but I just had to narrow it down to those 3 otherwise it would be way long!
Thanks so much for having me Ashley! You are so sweet! :)
I love making new friends so if you'd like, stop by my blog here!
 Say hi!!! Happy day all!

Why do you blog?

why i blog by {gentri lee}

One of my favorite bloggers is being so generous to be a guest blogger today: GENTRI LEE
holla girl! i love this lady! she is so inspiring, creative, goregous, takes amazing photos, spiritual, sweet, caring, kind, etc, etc. 
i echo her when i say we are BBFF's (best blogging friends forever) i have come to love this girl!  she's so inspiring!  so if you don't, head on over to her blog right now, well after you read this post of course!

. . .

Hello Ashley's wonderful readers! I am so excited to be here today! I love Ashley and am honored to have this opportunity to guest post on her blog. I would consider Ashley one of my BBFF's (Best Blogging Friends Forever). I can't wait for the opportunity to meet her in real life!


My name is Gentri and I blog over at Gentri Lee. Today I'm going to talk about what I have gained from being a blogger. This is such a wonderful world that we are all so lucky to be a part of. I have definitely grown in many ways just since I started blogging.

Before I became a serious blogger I was going through a really hard time. A while ago I had my heart broken and had a really hard time recovering. I eventually got over it, but I was left with a shrivel of a human being. I had completely let myself go. I didn't have a job, I didn't have many friends, I had become so unhealthy in every way possible.

I needed somewhere to gain inspiration from and I just happened to stumble upon some wonderful blogs. I kept clicking and found out there was an entire world of bloggers who post about all the things I love... Or had loved. I started following them and reading and loving. Soon I had decided to take my little ol' blog that maybe two people read and join in this magical world.

I learned about photography- something I never really thought I'd get into, cooking skills, fashion tips and tricks, home decor, and so much more. Just tapping into my creative side made me feel alive again. I have grown and expanded my horizons. I have direction in my life again. I've explored and become adventurous once again. Blogging has opened up so many windows and I've learned so much.

Not only was I able to gain personally, but I was able to reach out to others. To make friends from all over the world. People I would never have ever known otherwise. We're friends! We email and send each other presents! We help with words of encouragement when one of us is having a rough day. I know there are people I can count on to make me smile. I even took it so far as to meet a bunch of bloggers from my area!

Just from blogging I've learned that it's the little things that really matter. It's that sunset that makes your breath catch, that thank you note you received in the mail, the hat you bought that had been on your wishlist for so long, the cake that didn't quite turn out, the way the blueberries burst in your mouth, the taste of garden fresh vegetables, the bright colors of balloons. I could go on forever.



I'm not saying that blogging is the ONLY reason that I've become what I am today. Because that would be a lie. But blogging is what made me feel alive again, and I believe that it wasn't just coincidence. I know that I've met people through blogging for a reason, that I am gaining skills to use in the future, etc. By exploring the blogging world- my normal everyday life has become more beautiful.
So basicallllyyyy I love blogging. I'm a blogging nerd and I don't care who knows it!! I love being "surrounded" by others who love the same things I do and who can inspire me every single day. So thank YOU for taking the time to blog and for saving someone like me. :)

Thank you Ashley for letting me express my gratitued for the blogging world by guest posting on her blog. And thank you to all who read this. I'd love to "meet" you sometime! So stop by my blog and say hello! :)


Love,

Gentri

why i blog: Becca

today i have a guest blogger - one of my friends Becca.
I actually met becca a few years back when i was living at a nasty ghetto apartment complex
in provo.  she and her roomie were friends with my roomie (brooke) and we'd go swimming a lot at night.  love this girl.
she's amazing, gorgeous, funny, smart, talented, caring, etc.
without further ado, here's Becca explaining why she blogs:



 

I have a love/hate relationships with a couple blogs out there in the online blogging world. I love the cute outfit ideas, but hate the perfect, thin, and gorgeous girls wearing the clothes. I love getting cute ideas for home decor, but hate the beautiful, lush, and perfect homes. I love laughing at ridiculous blog posts, but hate the braggy-brag-brag ladies who's days consists of perfect shopping trips, children, and girl night outs. Do we see a word trend here? Yes, perfect.


My wonderful friend Stephanie just posted the most wonderful post on her blog. Check it out. Not only did she share her wonderful Birthday weekend with us, she shared the reason why she began blogging. Her post really got me thinking and inspired me. I loved how she brought up the reason she blogged was for herself.


The good days.


The bad days.


The everyday simple pleasures in life.


I realized that I loved blogging for those reasons as well. I enjoy sharing our life, adventures, and even the hard times with those who read my blog. I like to think of it as my journal. I have never been one to write, because when I do, I start to doo-doo-doodle away. So, let's ask ourselves the question... Why do I blog?


I blog for me,


because my life isn't perfect.

why do you blog?

i had someone ask me the other day what inspires me to blog?
well my answer for you, is that i blog because i feel like it.
blogging is my equivalent to going and seeing a therapist.
i have to talk out my feelings (usually with myself) and i know that i am usually not the only person who deals with feelings of this magnitude (whatever the situation may be)

today i was reading one of my favorite blogs, Stephanie and Such, (shout out) and she
had blogged about a blind date gone horribly wrong. AMEN sistah.   i think we can all relate to a terrible blind date story.

i just love blogging.  i have met so many friends via blogging that i wouldn't have
had the opportunity to do so in any other situation.

i had a friend, from blog land, Shay, write me and mail me a card a few months back
when i was having a really difficult time and really down.  it totally made my day and
let me know that i am loved by friends who care.

another friend, Gentri, has emailed me countless times, especially while i've been
figuring out my stomach issues, and has been so sweet to me.

blogging is just a wonderful thing people.
i am looking for GUEST BLOGGERS.

more specifically, anyone who wants to share their story of why they created their blog,
why they chose a specific theme to their blog, your favorite thing to blog about, stories about friends you've made while blogging, a blogger who inspires you, etc.

basically, there is no wrong or right answer. 
i just want to know what you love about the blog world.

you can include photos, music (yes please!), just about anything you want.
i just want to hear from YOU (my awesome followers) and get a feel for
why you blog.

So, if you're interested in being a featured guest blogger on All Things Ashley, please send me an email: ashley(dot)warner88@gmail(dot)com

I hope you're having a great Friday and are looking forward to yet another lucious FALL weather weekend.  I know I am.