7 Blogging Tips and WIN the June Sponsors Giveaway!

Happy Monday!!! To be sure your week starts off right, here are 7 beautiful faces to 7 awesome blogs!
Each one is offering their favorite blogging tip and a gift for you!

Enjoy the advice, 

make new friends and GOOD LUCK in the giveaway!!!

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Ashley's blog has tips ranging from must read books to must have products, family fun and fitness! Sure to become a favorite! She gives great advice in her 100 healthy snacks post and to keep things fun she always encourages playing with your food ;) You will also find green alternatives throughout her blog like ways to make your own makeup remover.

blog // etsy shop

Born and raised all over cities of California she settled into Georgia... talk about culture shock! Tessa blogs some really fun crafts, like one of a kind, canvas wall art for your home and is rocking neon in ways you might not of thought of yet. But, if crafting isn't your thing just visit her etsy shop for fun finds! Her blog is filled with real life and great tutorials, she even finds ways to be creative in the kitchen!

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Kalyn's blog is dotted with humor, I can always count on her to start my day with a laugh. She and her man love some football (and wine) but also value a fit lifestyle. Her gym thoughts will get you motivated and keep you motivated. And their adventures on 8 mile bike trails (wow) will inspire you to try new things even if it means falling off multiple times! She's not yet married but has had plenty experience with being a bridesmaid, she'll leave you in horror or stitches of laughter in her post what not to do as a bridesmaid.

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Nicole, speaks truth in all things love, life and changing times. Her confidence and motivation is contagious. Married and a mother of one she knows the value of keeping the spark and impressing her man everyday. Her blog has many tips like quick and easy, delicious recipes and any of us mothers or soon to be mommies can appreciate all of her heartfelt parenting advice. Each month Nicole hosts an exciting Monthly Measures link up, so if you're looking for a place of accountability and encouragement you've found it. Be sure to link up with Monthly Measures next week on Monday!  

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Lauren to the fashion crisis rescue! Her blog is a go-to for all things classic and trending and so much more. Her Style Sessions link ups have become a weekly event for me, every Tuesday I can count on hundreds of style posts full of fashion inspiration. She also shares her travels with us, her dreams and notes on the sweetness of chivalry, something all of us women deserve. Knowing how busy we all tend to be she also reminds us that slowing down may actually result in getting more done. 

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If you never believed in fate, this is the girl who will change your mind. One look at Katie's love story and you'll see why. She knows her way around deployments (now going through her third one) some of her post are just for her husband and many of them will help you send your love overseas or wherever yours truly is! When her husband is home her blog is full of their adventures, a must see was captured in Chili on video! 

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Shannon, a wife and mother to two, one was just born this past week (Go and give Congrats!) captures life perfectly in her blog. She has a beautiful story for any working mom turned SAHM and a reassuring story to help calm us people trying to be all things to all people because really that's not possible. She empowers us through life challenges by reminding us to do it anyways afraid or not and gives us ten ways to keep positivity and knock out the negatives. Get to know her better and the dedication of her bloghere.

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...happy to have Shannon with me this month...

Meet,Greet and WIN the May Sponsors Giveaway!

Have you met Heart Shaped Sweat's May Sponsors?
I feel so blessed and lucky to have them with me this month!!! 
This month (just like last month) lead me to some amazing blogs.
I truly hope you've taken the time to click and see for yourself.
In case you haven't lets hit 'em up one at a time and then you can get in on the giveaway fun :)

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Grace for Gayle is one of the first blogs I started reading. Gayle has an insane amount of courage and grace in all that she does. She takes a strong yet delicate stand in what she believes in, awesome example is in her "must read now" post when she talks about her boobs. Her Perfectly Imperfect Series has blown me away by the real, raw life stories people have shared with us via her blog. She is beautiful and open with her steps in faith and things she doesn't know but is learning as she goes.

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Ashley... as sweet as they come. Her blog's name is perfect, as she walks a life that sets an example for us to always make the best out of any situation. She's a teacher and quickly approaching her one year wedding anniversary to her perfect partner for life. Her Thankful Posts are so genuine and sincere, making big of even the smallest things in life. And any one of her Dear Friday Posts will make you smile and laugh and get ya in a good mood for the weekend! She's also on a fit journey and this post will motivate you for sure!

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Kamila, better known as Kammie is here to help you in the kitchen. Her recipes are delicious and mindful, that's a balance we all want. Great example is the Chocolate Peanut Butter Pudding recipe, you'll be surprised by the healthy twist she puts on that classic recipe. She rock and rolls this blog along with her photography blog (must see) and even has a YouTube channel full of tips for relieving stress, cooking and just living well. Get to know more about Kammie here!

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Um, where do I start? Nadine is gorgeous, funny, way clever, thoughtful and smart. My opinions but I think they're pretty accurate. She reminds us of the right way to comment on blogs and shows us how the Kardashians can teach us a thing or two about blogging. Nadine doesn't want a life of mediocrity, wasn't afraid to drive cross country for a new life and speaks in third person perfectly, oh and the motherload of furball cuteness you'll find on her blog answers to Archie.

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Myranda, a beautiful momma to 3 beautiful girls. I love the way she tells the truth about her job, something all of us moms can appreciate. She's a couponing queen and jokes about the downfalls of being a couponer. Her Three Things Thursday Link Ups are a favorite by many, the topics always entertain and change each week! With a large family you can imagine the number of photo's that have piled up. She found an easy fix to this and now prints and shares with Groovebook, something I will definitely look into, you should to!  

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Sarah, she pretty much nails the "think like a man, act like a lady" way of life. She's your hook up for all things sports and all things blog design. Her Saturday Sessions are packed with blogging tips and freebies, and her Thirsty Thursdays will help you make the best of any night. Crack up over posts like what your gym clothes say about you and all the things she admires. Get to know more about this Vol's girl here and make sure you get on her birthday invite list.

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Jill, she has found her voice and I love to read along and catch up with her. She's a sucker for vintage and quaint thrift-iquing, a lover of coffee and cream. One heck of a styled momma with a happy crafting heart.  Posts like failing parenting 101 and not being a supermom will melt your heart and she'll remind you to shine in your most beautiful light no matter how hard times are. She works hard, writing for a magazine and making a gentleman out of her sweet little boy Jax.

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Sharon, little miss trend setter! Her blog's a go-to for styling tips and all things fashionable. She co-hosts a really fun link up, Look At What I Got each Thursday because some of the best pieces cost the least amount. Like this floral and denim daytime look is fun and casual but the skirt brand new was less than $6! And this peplum and stripes look for a night out was a frugal yet stylish find. Get to know more about Sharon, life at the beach and her cute family! 

Enter below for your chance at a $50 gift card of your choice!

Good Luck!

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...happy to have Max with me this month...

$100 Victoria Secrets Give Away!!

A few of us girls from the Groupie Ad's got together 

to offer this shopping spree to you!

Victoria Secrets has you covered for summer fun. 

Enjoy shopping for the perfect beach bag, 

summer trends, and the just right for you bathing suit. 

Or take on their makeup line and style products.

Be tempted by their workout gear but buy into their lingerie collections.

It's up to you 

and it's on us!

  Ashlee // Lindsey // Erin                          Melissa // Ashley // Cortne                  Stephanie // Kristine // Lauren 

Good Luck!

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...happy to have Max with me this month...

Meet, Greet and WIN the April Sponsor Giveaway!

Have you met Heart Shaped Sweat's April Sponsors?
I feel so blessed and lucky to have had them with me this month!!! 
This month (just like last month) lead me to some amazing blogs.
I truly hope you've taken the time to click and see for yourself.
In case you haven't lets hit 'em up one at a time and then you can get in on the giveaway fun :)

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Rebecca. I met her through Big and Littles and couldn't have asked for a better partner. She's an infectious person...meaning her happiness is contagious! One conversation with her will send you off in the best of spirits. You might remember her guest post on the benefits of laughter, there she reminds us to live life happy and never be to serious to miss a chance at a fall-out-laughing-fit. I could link you to various posts, but I'm just gonna link you to her blog. Go see for yourself. Her happiness beams through every post.

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Bonnie guest posted about his Biggest Looser tryouts and Crossfit journeys. He's proof that making little changes towards healthy living can produce some big results. He teaches us the keys to success by reminding us of the 5 key people every one of us need in our lives. Bonnie is a Roden and Feilds Consultant and clearly knows a thing or two about marketing, even scoring profits by simply using Pinterest.

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Natalie, girls got a voice that should be heard! Her blog covers everything from fashion to current events. She's got tips on how to win a giveaway for all of us that feel overwhelmed by the options to enter and the simple math required to know when the odds are in our favor. I cracked up over her post detailing letters from prison. Yes, her husband knows about this too! And was enlightened by her voice on dealing with others negativity, being true to yourself and standing behind your blog.

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Chrissy, one of the queens for blog hops like That Friday Blog Hop and Thirsty Thursdays! Her blog is filled with posts that show a woman's real side. I love her makeup tutorials and adore the fact that she's not afraid to show the real her, makeup free! She shares her fertility struggles and the tough family decisions that come along with such a sensitive issue. And then, she'll send you off into hysterics by showcasing the way best friends get down!

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Carolyn, a busy woman who does it all with style and grace. Her other blog showcases her incredible photography skills and over at CC Makes Stuff you'll find one of kind necklaces, headbands, rings and more, each handmade! Her posts will renew and restore your faith and give you courage through the times that hurt. And if you're feeling crafty, in DIY mode any one of her before and after posts will inspire you and help you along!

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Martha a mother of four holds the oh,so funny answers to every child's "that's not fair" scream. Don't let the pretzels and glass of wine for dinner fool you, she's sprinted many races and knows her way around the athletic department. She's got dreams for a WhatTheWhat kind of link up, you know for posts that go a little like this... And for all you pup lovers out there, she's rescued one that gives the best doggy hugs ever.

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Jill a sucker for vintage and quaint thrift-iquing, a lover of coffee and cream. One heck of a styled momma with a happy crafting heart. There that's it in one sentence. Ok two. Jill's a one stop shop for melt your heart in posts like failing parenting 101 and not being a supermom and she'll remind you to shine in your most beautiful light no matter how hard times are. She works hard, writing for a magazine and serving in a saloon and while she's far up in the mountains, I have a map and would love to one day enjoy a cup of joe with her.

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Sarah, she's forever sprinkling us with genius words, inspiring the best in each of us. You know those words that just make you think, ponder and quietly change perspective.  Her blog delicately delivers those to you. She talks about a tugging at the heart for change and the beauty in the world that spins around completely unaware. There's a poet air about her, a calming effect in each post. Snapshots of her home that need no earlybird filter and a weekly On the Inside Series that will send you swooning.

1 WINNER TAKES ALL!!!

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Love Me a FRIDAY and a Giveaway!

Over the last few weeks I've gotten more brave with just hitting "publish" on my post instead of combing over them one (really ten) more time. On twitter I'm trying my best to not over think tweets and/or wonder what others will gather, instead I'm just opening up more and sharing pieces of the days worth in an attempt to just be more there. I've gotten back into Instagram. I had IG (and twitter) long before my blogging days and seriously - I fell in love with IG, like hardcore, then life got busy Pinterest erupted and stole time from IG. But I've gotten better at taking a few minutes to share what's happening and document life, it's been fun! Within minutes I can easily catch up with friends and fave bloggers.

Now, even bigger than all of this is sending out emails. Can I just say how important it is to reach out to other bloggers? Just checking in on bloggers and following up with more personal notes, really taking time to let them know you care makes a huge difference. It's funny because all of this is most likely easy for others but I've def struggled with a/ balancing time and b/ just being more me and vocal. It's a safe place to hide behind the blog but it's also a very boring place.

It has all made a big difference in my blogging journey. It's made this place more real and tangible. It's helped me be more secure with my decisions here and more creative with my future wants. People are kind, people are nurturing  they want to help, they want to encourage. They want to know you. I for one am ALWAYS open to emails and having more sideline talk....I've yet to meet another blogger who isn't the same. So as you blog on, I encourage you to reach out :)

Things I'm loving this week.....

1// hubs breaking away from work for a random lunch with me.
he never does this! total work-aholic that man... seems he was having a debbie downer day in the office and needed some wifey time. I ate up every french fry and every minute of extra time with him :)

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2// enrolled in the AFAA certification class offered at my local gym!
this is more exciting than you may think. It's been a bucket list item for sometime and I've always hesitated to go through with it. But, something just clicked this year. Maybe it's the pending move, maybe it's frustration with the same job field for 13+ years, or maybe it's just time I step up and focus on my passions.
AFAA certification is globally accredited and applies to all gyms. There's a lot of studying involved and much more required than this one day but this is a necessary achievement to make my way towards possible group fitness instructor or personal trainer :))

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3// FINALLY freed up storage space on my iphone by using Dropbox. People I had soooo many photos on my iphone that I couldn't take another one -much less update. But, I can't stand not having my pictures available on my phone. Dropbox and all you twitter loves helped me fix my phone and not loose a single memory! thank youuuuuuuuu :)

4// Hydrated like a maniac this week and dropped to just walks, in prep for Saturdays 10K.
I really missed my workouts and runs this week but with being so busy and knowing that an hour long run was ahead of me, it was the right thing to do. Last year hubs carried his 60+ lb. ruck sack for the race...we did intervals to make the distance more manageable. This year we're leaving that sucker behind and running the whole 6.2 miles. I love to run for about 30 minutes, after that I start wondering "why am I still running?" (hehe) but this race is full of energy that pushes you through to the finish line! Wish us luck!!

5// Wishing a HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my youngest! You may have already caught this but he's turning 2 this weekend. These are pics from last years big 1st bday :) He loved every second of smash the cake and totally cheesed for me through almost every picture. This year I'm not so sure I'll get as lucky with the photo's, the boy is an explorer, a curious one, and strong willed active tot. He's my little sweetie, love him to pieces and can't wait to celebrate his 2nd birthday with family and friends!


*Take a moment to reflect on the big and small things that make your week more beautiful.

I know this weeks H54F looks a tad different, just felt like changing it up! Hope you don't mind!
Another little twist on this Fridays post.... a GIVEAWAY!!!

Kara at Happy Go Lucky is hosting this Fun Friday giveaway along with me and 7 other funtastic bloggers!

Be sure to say HELLO to Kara!  

Her blog is rich in DIY's, fun linkys & hops and family//kid friendly treasures!

Classy Living / DC in Style / Happy Go Lucky / Heart Shaped Sweat / In Her Boots / Nestful of Love / Simply Lulu / Trusty Chucks / With Love, Rachel 

Use rafflecopter to enter:

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AND Weekend Bloglovin Hop

Tory Burch - Giveaway -

Anyone feel like splurging?

When Lisette and Raven joined with the FAB idea to giveaway a $300 Tory Burch Gift Card I knew immediately that I wanted to enter bring it you too!

Above are just a few ideas of what you could do with your winnings. But the combinations are endless and with $300 a girl could really get herself hooked up!

If you haven't already, meet Lisette and Raven along with the rest of us bringing you this treat!

1// Lisette 2// Raven 3// Rachel 4// Catalyn 5// Erin 6// Stephanie 7// Lindsay 8// Jess 9// Samantha 10// Martha 11// Nicole 12// Shannon 13// Rachel 14// Nadine 15// Kristine 16// Lisa 17// Stevie 18// Marquis

Giveaway Info

- Entries will be verified.

- Open worldwide.

GOOD LUCK!

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