Blogger Bliss #1: Meet Leslie

Happy Thursday Y’all!! Welcome to the Blogger Bliss series. This series is all about building relationships with my fellow bloggers and getting to know them better. I find that having blogging friends is so important. I think all of y’all would agree.

Today, I am so excited to be featuring my dear friend Leslie from Peaches & Willow. Leslie and I met through a blogging support group and since then we have been blogging besties. She has been one of my biggest cheerleaders and someone I can vent to when needed. She and I are always bouncing ideas off of each other and we are currently working together on another blogging series. She is such an amazingly sweet person! Grab your favorite drink and make yourself cozy while I introduce you to Leslie.

1. What are some blog posts that readers should start with to get to know you better?

The Happy List
Coffee Talk
10 Ways to Rock Your Self Confidence

2. What inspired you to start a blog? How did you come up with your blog name?
Peaches & Willow is a combination of where i’m from and my puppy’s name.
Peaches because I’m from Georgia; We’re known for growing peaches so ladies are often called Georgia Peaches and Willow is my mastiff/shepherd mix’s name. When I was re-doing my blog last year I wanted a change that was a reflection of me and this just clicked.

I originally started blogging when my son started kindergarten as a way for our family out of state to keep up with us. A couple years later I figured out that I could make blogging a public thing so I took a huge leap and re-designed my blog and changed directions with the content I was publishing. It became a way for me to get things out of my head and off my heart. My blog is my happy place because I love sharing my honest, raw, most vulnerable self.

3. What motivates you to keep blogging and growing your site?
When I was younger I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life but I always knew one thing, I wanted to change someone’s life. I wanted people to know they’re never alone. I’ve got a heart for sharing small businesses and its ideas like I read on https://www.salesforce.com/solutions/small-business-solutions/resources/small-business-software/ and cheering other women on progress which I can do that with my blog.

Peaches & Willow is my safe place, it’s something that is truly all mine. I want it to be the kind of place others can come for inspiration and openness without judgement. I strive to make it the kind of place that feels like getting cozy in your best friend’s living room for coffee and lots of talks. I want you to leave feeling inspired, refreshed and happy.

4. What are your favorite topics to blog about?
I love what I call, heart moments; those little things that can’t be scheduled because they just come to you in a random moment that excites you and makes you feel like you just have to get them out. Those are my favorite things to blog about.

5. What has been your biggest/ proudest blogging moment?
This year has been so full of amazing blogging moments. One of my proudest blogging moments was when I scored my first sponsor last month. It was a goal I had wanted to accomplish for a really long time but I was so scared. I had no idea where to start but another blogger friend of mine gave me some advice, I followed it and started e-mailing companies my pitch. Before I knew it I had nine companies that said yes. The first one felt so surreal because it was a dream come true. I still get butterflies and do a little happy dance when I get those yes messages.

Twenty seventeen has been a huge blessing for my blogging dreams because another fellow blogger saw a post about my goals for 2017. One of them was to host a link up so she invited me to be a co-host in their link up, called Welcome Home Wednesdays. The first couple weeks Betsy had to walk me through step by step but she taught me so much about coding (another blogging goal) and the posts that used to take me two hours to do now only take me about 20 minutes. I feel a huge sense of accomplishment every week when I hit publish on that post.

6. What are your long term goals for your blog?
I would love to start making money off of it but only if I still am enjoying it. One of the podcasts I listen to said that when your hobbies start to feel like a job and the joy of them is gone, you’re doing them for the wrong reasons. I never want to reach that point and if I do then it’ll be time to re-evaluate what I’m doing and why.

7. What are your hobbies besides blogging?
Does being a beach bum count because I could totally do that all day. every day. But really, my other hobbies are making jewelry and making cute tee shirts and mugs with my Cricut. I also really enjoy cooking with my husband, he’s an amazing cook so we just get in the kitchen together and have fun.

8. What is your dream vacation spot?
Well, I’ve already been to mine but I dream about going back or even living there. On our honeymoon my husband & I went to Kauai, Hawaii and fell in love with it. Everything is like paradise there. Even the rainy days were beautiful. You could drive the whole island in one day if you didn’t stop. You literally drive until the road stops. I was so in love with the small town life in the little cities because everything is so close and so safe that the kids still walk to school. On out first day there my husband and I were eating lunch at a small cafe when the owner’s daughter came in after school, changed into her soccer uniform and headed back up the hill to school for soccer practice. That’s the kind of life want for my children.

In Stephanie May Wilson’s book, The Lipstick Gospel, she talks about where she found God. I think this is where I fell in love with God again. It was the most beautiful and humbling trip I’ve ever had and the people, Oh the people! They were so nice and cheerful all the time. They say the South is known for its hospitality but Hawaii takes the cake on that one (and I’m from the South).

9. What are some of your holy grail makeup products?

W7 Colour Me Nude Eyeshadow Palette
(this one if from their website, which is based out of the UK but I found mine at Marshall’s for $6.99

Essence Say No To Dark Circles

Wet ‘n Wild 1 Step Wonder Gel Polish in Air Apparent

For Daily Youth Moisture Lotion
I just found out that they’re no longer carrying this product but The Fab Pore has taken it’s place.

Trust Fund Beauty Rude Nudes #2

Beautifully Bare Natural Glow Face Palette

Essence Lash Princess False Lash Mascara

Wet ‘n Wild MegaGlo Blush Stick

Tarte Swap Queen Palette

NYX BB Cream Foundation

Soap and Glory Peach Party

Wet ‘n Wild MegaGlo Make Up Stick

Milani Amore Matte Lip Creme in the color Pretty

Bare Minerals Original Foundation

10. What are some of your must have items for Spring?

Spring time means lots of outdoors time. It also means a lot of time spent in our Jeep, top down so I’m always carrying a cute cap with me. It makes pulling my hair up cute because yes, Jeep hair don’t care but I’m still a girly girl.

I also always have cute sunnies, too and my Perk! stick from Perfectly Posh because all this pollen gives me such bad headaches but I refuse to stay indoors when it’s this nice outside. The Perk! stick helps combat those pesky headaches so I can get back to all the fun in the sun.

A good book and cute earrings are always at the top of my list. These super cute earrings from Target for $9.99 are hands down some of my favorites. They’re so fun and bright.

Hello sunscreen. This one is a no brainer with all the time spent outdoors but I recently did a collaboration with Coola and learned so much about sun care products. Coolas Classic Sport SPF 50 Mango Moisturizer will be in my bag all spring and summer because it smells good, is SPF 50, protects against sun damage, balances skin tone and defends against anti aging. Coola’s Mineral Liplux SPF 30 Nude Beach is also a new favorite of mine. I always need something on my lips so why not pick a product that moisturizes, protects your lips and gives you a hint of color?

I always need a cute water bottle, too because I always carry water with me but I like to keep it cold so a cute water bottle solves that and I can drink in style. And who doesn’t love fun, bright, poppy nails in the spring and summer?

Connect with Leslie: