Tuesday, July 17, 2012

66 What a Week at IHeart Organizing!

All sorts of lovely wonderful things are happening and I am so excited to be writing up this post!  It's absolutely a milestone of a week here at IHeart Organizing, one that I never would have expected when I started blogging just a few years back!


I am beyond giddy excited to announce to you your new IHeart Organizing contributors!


Let me start out by saying that I was overwhelmed with the amount of interest that we sparked when I made a call for contributors.  I had over 200 applicants and found an overwhelming amount of talent and incredibly inspirational individuals {along with oodles of new blogs to stalk!}  It took me days to make the final selection {talk about an awesome challenge!}, so a huge congratulations and warm welcome to those that will be writing some fabulous and fresh new content!

Say hello to these lovely ladies! 

"I'm Ashley from 7th House on the Left - a blog where my husband, Greg, and I talk about renovating, decorating and living in our first house here in Hanover, Virginia. I’ve been an interior design enthusiast and a long-time fan of all things organizing. Yep, I was the kid with the perfectly arranged Disney stuffed animals, alphabetized coloring books and the categorized and color-coded sticker book. When I'm not busy writing or doing projects around the house, I love classic TV shows (particularly I Love Lucy) and curling up with Greg, Bentley (our 9-pound Pomeranian), a blanket and a good black and white classic movie – I’m a complete sucker for Audrey Hepburn, Doris Day, Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant films. I'm thrilled and honored to be a part of the IHeart Organizing team and excited to get to work!"


"Hi, I'm Cassie, a DIY and design-obsessed Texas girl, and lover of travel, fashion, sarcasm and Mexican food. When I'm not hanging with my sweet and funny family, you can find me kicking the '80s out of our home, one budget project at a time, on my blog Hi Sugarplum!"


"Do you believe in love at first sight? I sure do because when I first stumbled upon I Heart Organizing I immediately fell in love with Jen's mad organizational skills. I think we all long for a calm, organized, well styled life. I am the author of A Thoughtful Place blog where I dish on all things related to decorating, organizing, entertaining, and of course DIY-ing! To be quite honest, working on making my house a home is my happy place. It fulfills my need to be creative and I love sharing ideas {both big and small} with my readers. Along with my blog, I am a contributing writer to House of Fifty and have recently started my own decorating firm, Casey Grace Design, LLC,  with my talented sister.  I call Orange County, California home where I live with amazing husband and two children. At the end of a busy day, I love to enjoy an ice cold beer on the front porch with my hubby while we watch our children ride their bikes or run around. Life is sweet and I am thrilled to be a part of the IHeart Organizing Team."


"I am Serena Faber Nelson, a television producer, writer and fluffy dog owner.  Obsessed with home décor, fashion, lifestyle and dogs – I set about creating Pretty Fluffy as a go-to guide for the modern pet owner.   Featuring a range of stylish products, celebrity pooches, DIY projects and handy hints, Pretty Fluffy is a daily stop for smiles and inspiration, giving readers the tools they need to enjoy full and happy lives with their furry friends. 

My greatest loves include fresh peonies, Dirty Dancing (Nobody puts Baby in a corner), Banoffe Pie, spending waaay too much time on Pinterest, and hugging random dogs at the park.  I currently live in Sydney, Australia with my husband, Andy, and her 11 year old Border Collie, Soda. As a long time fan, I am super excited to be joining the IHeart Organizing Team!"


"Hey friends!  I'm Chelsea from Two Twenty One!  I'm a twenty-something living in Indiana with my husband, Brad, and our crazy mutt, Jack.  My loves are photography, travel, DIY projects, baking, wine, sarcasm and my iPhone.  The husband and I are attempting to make our home a little less cookie cutter and a lot more awesome.  My little slice of the internet, Two Twenty One, is where I share my latest home improvement projects, furniture makeovers, crafts, recipes and home & seasonal decor ideas.  I am beyond excited to join Jen and the rest of the IHeart Organizing team!"


"My name is Sarah Eelkema and I live in a suburb of Minneapolis, MN with my husband of almost two years, Eric, and our two adorable Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Hermes and Brontë. I am a Communications Consultant by day and by night/weekend/any spare moment, I indulge in my passion for writing, crafting and organizing. I am honored to share with all you dedicated iHeart fans my tips, tricks and secrets for organized crafting, which will not only help you get control of your craft clutter but also allow you to make more efficient and productive use of your precious crafting time. While I am blessed with an entire craft room, I promise to explain how all the solutions I share can be tailored to your specific situation, whether it be a dedicated room, a small storage space or mobile crafting. In the meantime, Happy Crafting!" 



"My name is Megan and I am a lawyer by day, design and decor lover by night, and Mama to the sweetest 2-year old boy you've ever seen. I'm passionate about fitness (and chocolate!) and could not live without my relationships, girl talk, and my morning coffee. I've been blogging for two years over at Honey We're Home, sharing my love of keeping things organized and beautiful at our house.  My efforts to live in the moment and cook more are an adventure in progress."




"I’m Ashli from Mini Manor Blog. I live in Big Beautiful British Columbia with my Husband Lee and our 5 lb yorkie Max.  I have an organizers heart, I am a bin-aholic, and I’ve never met a wicker basket I didn’t love. During the summer I can be found lounging in the garden or at the gym . . . one of those was a lie. And in the last 5 years I’ve made more then 2000 cupcakes. I want to bake, eat and organize. Hand me some eggs, flour and an unorganized kitchen, that’s my idea of a great weekend, okay go ahead throw Ryan Gosling in there too."


You will notice throughout the week that they will be added to the sidebar and also to the "My Team" page, and will be rotating their awesomeness once per week.  I can't wait to see how they mix thing up around here and bring us some super fun and fresh organizing projects to drool and swoon over {no pressure right?!}



I am pleased to announce that I {along with you!} am participating with an awesome group of blog friends, in a huge PINTEREST scavenger hunt!

Who is ready for some great Pinterest fun?  Who is ready to win some aaaaaaaaamazing prizes while we have some great Pinterest fun?  Eeeeeek!  I AM!

Welcome to the GREAT PINTEREST HUNT!

 

Meet the Great Pinterest Hunt Crew

I've teamed up with a handful of the most amazing blogs on the block to put together this fun Pinterest scavenger hunt.  Let me introduce you to the crew..


Kari Sweeten: "I love to create pretty things, redecorate my home with DIY projects, blog and find endless inspiration on Pinterest!  Come visit me over at  U Create!"  You can also find Kari on Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter!



 Jennifer Hadfield: "Hi!  I'm Jen from Tatertots and Jello -- a craft/decorating blog.  I love to share a new tutorial every day.  From crafts to DIY home projects & recipes!"  You can also find Jennifer on Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter.



Jamielyn Nye: "Real life, crafts, baking, creative home decor on a budget, free printables and more!  Visit my blog I Heart Naptime."  You can also find Jamielyn on Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter.


Heather Thoming:  "I'm Heather... Wife, Mom, Blogger at Whipperberry.  I have a strange love affair with Wheat Thins and spray paint {not together!}  I blog to make real life BEAUTIFUL!"  You can find Heather on Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter.



Linda Gardner:   "Hi!  I'm a Mom, craft addict, DIY decorator, holiday lover, shoe & fabric hoarder.  And the addict behind Craftaholics Anonymous!"  You can also find Linda on Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter.


Michael Wurm, Jr:  "A freelance lifestyle, craft, food and DIY blogger at Inspired by Charm."  You can find Michael on Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter.



Nikki Barton:  "I am a stay at home mom that can often be found in the kitchen cooking delicious food!  If you are in need of any type of recipe or food inspiration, come visit my blog, Chef in Training."  You can also find Nikki on Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter.

The Great Pinterest Hunt Sponsors


Join us Tuesday when all the fun starts and get ready to get your Pin on!!



Along with the amazing Pinterest scavenger hunt and giveaway, I am also partnering up with one of my other favorite blogs, Modern Parents, Messy Kids, for one of my biggest giveaways yet!  Stay tuned for Tuesday afternoon!




I am doing my best to hold back happy tears as I type this, however, it isn't all that easy....

For the next few days I will be hosting a few darling folks from Better Homes & Gardens STORAGE Magazine!!!!


I will be back soon to share more details and some behind the scenes action of the photo shoot, but long story short, I was contacted by the amazing crew over at BHG and asked if I would be interested in a feature!  I was like, wait, you must have emailed the wrong Jen Jones at IHeart Organizing!?!?  Because seriously, this is my all time FAVORITE publication.  The one I am consistently stalking newsstands for each quarter.  The one I run home and devour every last page within ten minutes, only to re-read and oooh and ahhhhh over and over and over again until the next one comes out.  The magazine that has it's own special stack at my desk.  The mecca of home organizational magazines.  And they contacted yours truly.  Talk about a life altering moment that I am eternally excited and grateful for.  So this is the week!  They are here and already stopped in to walk through our home and drop off some of the fresh flowers for the shoot! 


I really have you all to thank for helping make all of these magical moments happen.  Without your daily love, I wouldn't be writing this here blog and preparing for one of the coolest opportunities ever.  So THANK YOU to you all for popping by each day and for your daily words of encouragement, for sharing your ideas, for dropping a sweet line on my facebook wall or tweeting something special.  From the bottom of my super smiley heart, I know these amazing milestones {contributors, great giveaways and Storage magazine!?!} all happen because of YOU and your daily love. 


66 comments:

  1. OMG, Jen!! So excited and happy for you!! :) I have been a follower for a long time and is so nice to see how far you've come (and how much I have organized since following you)! LOL! An amazing moment for you, for sure!! Enjoy! :)

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    1. Thanks so much Ann! I am pinching myself very frequently around here! :)

      xoxo,
      Jen

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  2. what wonderful news! Congrats on it all! Can't wait to follow along with all of these new and exciting things :)

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  3. WOW!! That's a ton of exciting news!!!!
    Storage Magazine is my Favorite Magazine!!! And I am so excited to be a part of the I Heart Organizing Team!! YAY!!! I can't wait!!!
    Lots of Love
    Ashli

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  4. Just when I think there is enough excitement you add some more. Well done Jen, you truly deserve it. I am so excited your dreams are coming true. It's also nice to see some fellow Aussie contributing. Representing Australia.

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    1. Thanks so much! The number of opportunities and experiences that have come my way have been a blessing! <3 Loving every moment!

      xoxo,
      Jen

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  5. So much exciting news Jen! Big congrats on the BH&G feature!!
    I am SO honored to be coming on board your amazing team! Thank you for your lovely warm welcome, and I feel blessed to be amongst such wonderful blogging company.
    Can't wait to get started! xx

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    1. So excited to have you Serena! Hugs from afar!

      xoxo,
      Jen

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  6. Wow! Congratulations on all of your milestones, I am way super excited to see all of the many projects in the near future. Thank you for sharing.
    xoxo
    claudia

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  7. So much fun, all at once! The real reason this is all happening is not because of us though... it's because of you Jen, and all your hard work and great ideas. Well done.

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    1. Thanks so much! I still give much credit to you fab readers, since you all can be so encouraging and inspiring! <3

      xoxo,
      Jen

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  8. You've created this good karma for yourself, no one else! Enjoy and savor every glorious moment. You deserve it!

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    1. Oh, totally savoring each and every second. :) Thanks so much Daisy!!

      xoxo,
      Jen

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  9. Well done to all your new contributors, I am excited to see their projects! Also, a big congratulations to you, Jen. Your success is very well deserved, in my opinion, and I have no doubt you will continue to build on your achievements in the future.

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    1. Thanks Antonia!

      They are a fun and talented group of ladies! Thanks so much for your sweet words! <3

      xoxo,
      Jen

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  10. Very exciting news!!!! Congratulations!

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  11. So excited for you Jen. You deserve it!

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  12. Congrats Jen!! Yours was one of the first blogs I remember reading...and I read it like a book, I was in awe of your MAD talent! My husband would also like to thank you for giving me the inspiration to get our house so organized! I have just started my own blog after being inspired by so many of you creative women. You seem like a real down to earth blogger! Try and enjoy all your hard work!


    www.stillroomtogrow.blogspot.com

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    1. Thanks so much Kate! It makes my heart smile to know that you have been along for the ride! <3 Glad you are finding some tips and able to use them in your own space!

      xoxo,
      Jen

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  13. gosh look at you go! I've been a follower for the last 6 or so months and you have grown leaps and bounds. how exciting for you. You are a true inspiration!

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    1. Thanks so much Holly! It's been a fun and crazy ride! <3
      xoxo,
      Jen

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  14. I can't wait to get my grubby little hands on that magazine when it comes out. So so proud of you and very honored to be a part of your team. Can't wait to get to know all of the other bloggers as well.

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    1. Thanks Courtney! I am SO excited for it to come out, they have taken some great shots. I will be stalking the newsstands extra close next time around! <3

      xoxo,
      Jen

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  15. omg!! you're a huge celebrity now jen!! congratulations :) your hardwork is now reaping its fruits!!

    smart momma

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    1. Awww, it's still just me! <3 Thanks for making me blush my friend! <3

      xoxo,
      Jen

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  16. wowza -- this is a lot going on over here!!! so thrilled for you and all your well-deserved recognition....thrilled for me to be a contributor here and to read the new bhg issue with my friend in it!! xoxo

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    1. I am thrilled to have you as a contributor! I can't wait to see what fun Cassie pizzazz you bring to IHeart! <3

      xoxo,
      Jen

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  17. Congrats! Congrats! Congrats! How exciting! :) So happy for you & your family!

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    1. Thanks Amy! It has been a really surreal experience!

      xoxo,
      Jen

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  18. That is fantastic news about the BHG magazine- a favorite of mine too! I'm really looking forward to contributing to your blog Jen- thanks again for the opportunity! And those flowers are gorgeous!

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    1. Thanks Megan! So so happy to have you and your love for beautiful organization on board! <3

      xoxo,
      Jen

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  19. Congrats to you Jen! This is all such exciting news! But most of all, I really can't wait to see your home in the BHG magazine! So exciting!! ~ Aby

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    1. Thanks so much Aby!! <3 I can't wait either! ;)

      xoxo,
      Jen

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  20. This is so exciting! I just love, love, love your blog and it's wonderful to see you having all this success! Can't wait to read more!

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    1. Thanks so much Keltie!! So happy to have you as a reader!

      xoxo,
      Jen

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  21. Awesome-- and all of it well deserved! Congrats!!

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  22. Congratulations. You have worked hard for all the 'good things' that are coming your way. Your blog is one that I can read and re-read. There are so many good ideas and you've made then all so attractive. The best part for me is that you live in a modest home and made it live big.

    Barbara in CT

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  23. Congratulations! That is all so cool! Ditto what Barbara said above me, I love that you make your small home look beautiful and work well for you all. I am currently trying to do that now in my teeny house! And you are a HUGE inspiration in pretty much every move I make in my house lately!

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    1. Thanks Amy! Hopefully you can find all sorts of tips for small space living. We are fortunate for the home we have, it's no McMansion that is for sure, but we do what we can to make it work for our busy fam of five {plus two furry friends}.

      xoxo,
      Jen

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  24. HUGE congrats, Jen! I want to cry happy BHG tears for you! Please tell me that you get to keep those gorgeous flowers! I'm so excited to join you and the rest of the IHeart Organizing team!

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    1. So happy to have you and all of your awesomeness!! :) Thanks for being excited with me!

      xoxo,
      Jen

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  25. i love that magazine too jen! keep us posted when your feature comes out. :)

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    1. Oh, no worries, I am sure I will be screaming it from the rooftops! :)

      xoxo,
      Jen

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  26. Jen I'm so excited for all these amazing things going on for you. Your giving me so much inspiration and now there are so many new ladies for me to learn from. I'm new to blogging and am loving following your journey as a blogger and am learning so much. Congrats on all you have achieved.

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    1. Hi Karissa!

      Thanks so much for the kind words! I hope you enjoy your blogging endeavor and that you find many smiles along the way! That is what it is all about! :)

      xoxo,
      Jen

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  27. Congratulations!!! You deserve it for inspiring us so much!!!

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  28. Wow! Congratulations on everything! I only hope to be as successful with my blog someday. =)

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    1. Thanks so much! Just fill it with what you love and are passionate about and people will feel it and be inspired! :)

      xoxo,
      Jen

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  29. Congratulations on your magazine feature, so exciting!! You've put together a great list of contributors, I love that so many of them have a dog in their lives!! Looking forward to hearing more from each of them :)

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    1. I love that too! We are furry friend lovers here!

      xoxo,
      Jen

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  30. Wowza! What a series of amazing events! Congrats on all of your success, now and future!
    Sabrina

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  31. Congrats! I get mag delivered to my door... I can't wait! ( but I'll probley have too...did they tell you what month you'll be featured?)

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    1. Hi Shelbi!

      I believe it will come out right around Christmas time. That will feel like forever, but I know it will be worth the wait! :)

      xoxo,
      Jen

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  32. Congrats, Jen. So happy for you. You are such an inspiration. :) Thank you. Since I saw you on HDTV in late March. You have motivated me and inspired me to get my house organized. I am forever grateful. I am faithful follower. Love your blog and it was the first blog I ever followed. :) Cheers from CT.

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  33. Congrats Jen!!! First, that is quite an impressive group of contributors! Also, I am over-the-moon for you and the BHG shoot. What an amazing experience. Enjoy it all!

    xo,
    cristin

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  34. Congrats to you Jen and your team. I have been a loyal follower of your blog ..I never was into organizing before this! Looking forward to many more exciting posts from you and your team!

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