I'm excited to be able to introduce you to a new friend of mine. Gina and I have gotten to know eachother over the past couple of months. She has such a great heart!

My Blog:  29 Lincoln Avenue modsquadblog.com
Twitter:  @stacey29lincoln
Facebook:  29 Lincoln Avenue
Email:  29lincolnavenue {at} gmail {dot} com

My name is Stacey.  I am the wife of Mike, a motorcycle riding techo genius, who has served with Campus Crusade for Christ for the past 17 years.  Together, we are raising our four vibrant girls ages 8 months to 10 years.  Most days, I try to teach them a thing or two about loving Jesus, having a Biblical worldview, math and language.  I love the Word of God and connecting with women.  You can  find me blogging at 29lincolnavenue.com or modsquadblog.com.

Name: Cindy Dyer

Blog: Get Along Home

Twitter: @getalonghome

Facebook: http://facebook.com/getalonghome

3 Words that describe me: Random, Off-beat, Independent 

When did you first start blogging?:  Get Along Home is my third attempt at blogging. The first, a political blog, was back in 2004. It was really bad, and I'm thrilled that even the Wayback Machine doesn't have it in its archives. I don't agree with most of what I wrote back then! Chalk it up to youth, I guess. My current blog had its one-year bloggiversary on September 21 this year, and I promise not to delete it the way I have the others. 

My reason to start blogging: Just keeping up with the Joneses! Blogs are my preferred way of getting news, advice, and entertainment, so it's just natural that I'd want one of my own. Can't let everybody else have all the fun! Really, I just love to write (when I can find the time), and blogging is the perfect medium for an attention-challenged person with no real expertise in anything.

What is the "niche" for my blog?: I guess that depends on how you look at it. I'm just kinda me. That's a pretty exclusive niche, since no one else does mequite as well as I do! So, yeah, I don't really have a niche. My posts revolve around motherhood, homeschooling, and the occasional recipe. I have lots of thoughts about other things, but somehow they don't usually make it to the blog. I also do giveaways and reviews, because I like getting free stuff. I haven't really defined my blog yet. Everybody says I need to, but I've never been very good at following instructions.

Do you have a phrase or catchy phrase for your blog?: Not really, but I find myself using the word "hillbilly" a lot.

My family! Love 'em! Jesse is a software tester, which means he finds bad code for a living. I like to joke that his job is breaking computers, and he's very good at it. I'm just Mom. The kids are just kids. David is 6, Jonah is 3, Audrey is 22 months, and Benjamin is 5 weeks old. 

Hobbies: I have a secret love for video games. I say it's a secret because I haven't had time for games, so no one has actually witnessed me playing for several months now. I also love to enter sweepstakes and giveaways.

Advice for other bloggers: Run away! If you won't take that advice, I have this: consider the feelings of your readers, your loved ones, and your future self before you hit publish. The internet is forever! I once read a blog post by a lady who wanted the whole world to know she had peed on her own head. Really. Think before you click that button. Who needs to know that stuff?

Fun facts about me that I'd never share without being asked: Thanks for asking!

•  I have attention deficit "disorder". The scare quotes are because I don't believe I am disordered. It's the rest of the world that's doing it wrong!
• I have a terrible brown thumb. I've killed everything I've tried to grow except a very stubborn thyme plant that has unaccountably survived for two years in a pot at the bottom of my steps.
• I'm terribly shy. 

Top 3 favorite blogs: Only 3, huh? It's hard to choose! I love The Common Room for all-around bloggy goodness. Free Money Finance keeps me in the money loop, and Vox Popoli is where I go for politics, though I'm not brave enough to dive into the comments there. Some people find Vox Day arrogant. I do, too, but since his thoughts are usually very close to my own, I'm not bothered by it.

Where do you see your blog in 1 year/5 years: Gosh, is this one of those 7 Habits I'm supposed to be working on? I don't really have a game plan. My vague hope is that I'll have a few more subscribers and sell a few ads. I'm going to leave it at that. :-) 

Anything else? Isn't that enough? Thanks for interviewing me! 

http://getalonghome.com
http://twitter.com/getalonghome
http://facebook.com/getalonghome

As a Christian woman, do you find it difficult to find just the right clothes that flatter your coloring, your figure, your budget, and your modesty?  You are not alone!

I often feel like a "fashionista failure" when I go shopping.  I quickly become overwhelmed because I don't know what colors look best, what matches with what, where to find the best fitting jeans, ugh...the list goes on and on!

I was at a Hearts at Home conference as part of the staff in the fall of 2009, and I met the most wonderful woman, and she can solve ALL of our fashion problems!!  I would like for you to meet Proverbs 31 Speaker and Author Shari Braendel.
Shari is a regular contributor and speaker for Proverbs 31, along with being the fashion editor for Susie Magazine.  She has been involved in fashion from a young age, and can think of nothing better than teaching women of God how to be the best they can be!

I recently had the privilege of sitting down to dinner with Shari and picking her brain about everything fashion!  So let's jump in:

ME: What is the most common mistake women make in their wardrobe?
SHARI: We buy only because things are on sale, and too many women wear black that shouldn't!  They then end up with clothes that don't fit right and are the wrong color.  Black does not just make you look thinner, but it also makes you look OLDER!  It is too harsh for most complexions.  It saves you time and money when you know what colors look best on you.

ME:  You recommend dumping the "mom jeans"  Give us a definition.
SHARI:  Mom jeans are high waisted, pleated in the front, light blue and peg leg at the bottom. (says to me, "you don't have those on do you") {insert MY nervous laughter}
ME:  Thankfully I think my jeans are ok!

Shari has devoted a whole chapter in her book on how to buy the right kind of jeans at the right price and even gives you the brand names that look the best on your body type! AMAZING!

ME: For women who hate to shop, do you have any encouragement?
SHARI:  Yes, if you know your body type and your colors, shopping becomes much easier and you'll be happier with what you find.  When you know these things, you have a plan for shopping.  On my website, there is a tab called "Free Stuff" and you can download a stylesheet to help you.  You should never shop on impulse, but shop on purpose.  Keeping a list of essentials that you need so that when you are shopping, you know exactly what you are looking for and in what colors!

ME:  How do you teach women to be confident no matter what their body shape?
SHARI:  You must be ok with your body.  God did not make a mistake when he made your body.  He didn't make everyone the same.  We aren't all petites, or a natural redhead, or 5'7".  Understand that we are made in God's image, and unless we get that down deep within our heart, we won't be able to get it.  Women have so many issues with their outer appearances because of what people have said to them in the past.  We need to be careful how powerful our words are, especially in talking with our daughters!  I hope to inspire them to new levels of confidence based on what I can teach them about fashion.

Ladies, this book is absolutely fabulous!  Shari has covered every topic imaginable in this book in easy to understand language and great photos to help you.  Her chapter topics include:   determining your body type, finding your true colors, choosing accessories, the art of undergarments, swimwear, hair, makeup, jeans, a shopping guide, and helping your daughters dress as well!!  It is all in here!!




You will not be disappointed in this book, I can promise that!  Have you had enough?  I didn't think so!

We're continuing our discussion about fashion over at my blog, Heart and Soul Reflections, with more information about color analysis from Shari Braendel.


Then you can stop over at Gather Inspirit to get some handy tips on packing for a conference or weekend trip!

You can read more about Shari over at her website and she posts Mondays and Wednesdays on her personal blog.  Friends, she is as real as it gets.  You'll absolutely love her!

My great thanks to Shari Braendel for hanging out with me!  You, my dear, are a TRUE FASHIONISTA!!

Erin is such a great friend of mine. I hope you enjoy getting to know her just like I have. Head on over to her blog and check out her amazing posts there - you definitely won't be disappointed. She can lift your spirits and encourage you just from her writings, then wait till you get to know her - you'll be blessed even more. You can find Erin on: Twitter , Facebook , Blog , MOB Society