Featured Blogger + New Contributor
At the beginning of the year, I shared that 2013 was going to filled with new and exciting things here on the blog. I’ve had new sponsors, giveaways, hit some record breaking numbers and added my sister, Krista, as a contributor to the blog. As some of you know, she got an amazing job offer in San Francisco a couple months ago and has been living there ever since. She was optimistic that she would still be able to join me occasionally for posts, but alas, her schedule it quite busy. She gave me her blessing to start looking for a new contributor and that led me in the direction of my good friend, Tawsha {the ultimate networking person }. A rundown of information, a couple emails and I became connected with the amazing lady I’m featuring today.
I’m thrilled to be announcing that Hilari from Be Sweet will be joining me as a contributor here at Pretty Pink Posh. The moment I saw her blog, I fell in love. You can tell she’s passionate about what she does, and her recipes all sound so delish {and relatively easy}! I wanted to take the time to allow you all to get to know her and also share a few of her recipes that caught my eye.
Tell us about your blog. When and why did you start it?
My blog is called Be Sweet, and its essentially a compilation of everything that makes me smile… which is a lot of things! I used to have a smaller, personal blog, and so many people told me I should make it bigger, better! So that’s what I’m trying to do. My goal is to fill life with joy through all of the things that make me happy. I blog about sweet treats, simplified entertaining, and tips and tricks for adding joy to everyday living! On my site, you will find creative ideas that add joy to my life… and I hope yours, too! Ranging from kitchen to friends, from family to home, and travel to photography, I will share what makes me smile each day. It is my dream to spread joy to others, and by stopping by, I hope Be Sweet can put a smile on your face, if only for a few minutes out of your busy day! I’ve been officially blogging on Be Sweet since January, and I’ve learned so, so much along the way, and continue to learn and soak up as much as I can throughout this adventure!
When you first started your blog, did you have any specific goals or dreams for the future of your blog? If so, what were they?
I still feel like I’m first starting! I think my goals were (and still are) to simply make people happy. I’d love to see where this takes me, book writing, photo styling, magazine editing… the possibilities are limitless. But, I do want to stay true to me, my core, and what fires me up when choosing which future ventures to embark on- I want wherever this might take me to make me and others happy!
You bake so many delicious looking items….is there a specific recipe that’s your favorite?
Without a doubt, my favorite recipe is for Mrs. Schae bars {Here, they’re called Be Sweet Bars}! Growing up, my mom made these for skating competitions, school parties, lunch treats, and so many other wonderful activities. It’s these fabulous memories combined with the sweet and salty flavors that make this hands down, my favorite recipe!
Do you visit other blogs? If so, what are a few of your favorites?
I love to blog-hop, and so value the time, effort, and dedication blogging takes! A few of my favorites are The Be Present Project {Jessica provides such an honest and hopeful view of parenting, raising a family, and staying true to values}, Pomp & Circumstance {a gem I’ve recently discovered!}, and Amber Housley {one of my favorite lifestyle blogs that is incredibly well done!}, just to name a few!
How much time each week to you dedicate to your blog {approximately}?
Weekly, I spend anywhere from 15-20 hours a week dedicated to my blog. This varies depending on if I’m baking, recipe testing, or actively working on a craft or DIY project. All of this, combined with the writing, editing, and photography aspects can really add up! Oh, and social media… enough said :)
What has been your favorite part about blogging?
Definitely connecting with other bloggers! I have been fortunate enough to meet some of my favorite bloggers in person, form wonderful friendships, and really connect on a personal level that is more than just “screen deep.” It’s amazing to me the talent and skills so many women {and men!} have, and I feel lucky to be part of a community surrounded by all of this positivity.
Okay, now onto some fun questions that are non-relevant to blogging…..
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Well, I love to bake. But I think you got that message! My family means the world to me, so we love spending time together, playing games, cooking, and going on adventures. I love to travel and explore the world. I love to run, and am starting to get really into half marathons {thank goodness, otherwise all of those desserts are going to catch up with me!}. I also love just the simplicities of daily life, which include cleaning, laundry, and all of the “boring” things. To me, being organized and ready for the day ahead is one of the things I enjoy most!
You have a free Friday night, how would you spend it?
I’d head to my favorite restaurant, Local Taco, sit outside and enjoy a margarita, chips and salsa, and fish tacos. Then, Grant {the most incredible person in the world} and I would go for a walk, try a new dessert spot, and head home to watch a movie or catch up on our endless TiVo-ed shows! Not too exciting, but so wonderful!
If you could be a celebrity for a day, who would it be? Why?
Reese Witherspoon. I have always considered her a role model of mine {classy, put together, and always cheery!}, and her wardrobe… FAB!
You get to spend an unlimited amount at three stores, which stores would you pick?
1: Nordstrom. My goodness I could {and usually do} go crazy there! 2: Michael’s. I love to craft, use ribbon and glitter, and bake. The perfect store. 3: Sur la Table. Fortunately, there isn’t one in Nashville, otherwise I really would be in trouble! I love their cooking utensils, linens, and fun bakeware!
Name 5 things that you are most passionate about:
- Relationships
- Healthy Living
- Organization
- Exploring and seeing all the world has to offer
- Positivity and making the most out of each day!
As promised, I have some Be Sweet recipes links to share with you. Beware: you shouldn’t look at her site on an empty stomach. It’s dangerous! :)
As soon as I got connected with Hilari, I followed her everywhere and have loved every single thing I’ve seen. She’s super sweet and I know you all will really enjoy getting to know her.
In addition to all of this, Hilari is part of a great link-up party each week and has many more recipes that I couldn’t include in this post. Stay tuned, her very first contributing post will go live NEXT Monday. In the meantime, be sure to visit her blog and other social media sites!