Meet Jen of the Arizona Russums + a Double Giveaway!!

So excited to introduce y'all to the ever cute and clever Jen of the blog, the Arizona Russums.  Hopefully you are already well acquainted with her - because if not, sad to say... but you've been missing out!  We did a little Q&A session for you to get to know her a bit better + stay tuned through the end of the post for a chance to win a double giveaway!... One winner, two prizes!



Q:  Why do you blog?
A:  I started blogging when my husband and I got married and moved from Seattle to Phoenix immediately upon returning from our honeymoon. We were excited to become the Arizona Russums and document all our adventures. However, blogging took an unexpected twist for me about six months later when I became so fascinated by this community that I began researching blogging for grad school. Most importantly though, I use my blog to share God's Word and encourage other women to live joyfully for Christ.

Q:  Tell us something fun about you that your readers probably don't know?
A:  I am super particular about my food. I don't like any condiments {ketchup - ugh, mustard - sick, mayo - eeek!} and I will not pour liquids over dry foods. This means no syrup on pancakes and no milk on cereal. The thought of eating soggy food makes me want to throw up! Weird, huh?

Q:  If you had $5,000 and had to spend it on yourself in one day - how would you spend it?
A:  On myself? Okay, if I had to spend it on myself I would probably hunt for new furniture and home décor goods around Phoenix. I would explore all the fun vintage and shabby chic shops I've heard about but still haven't visited since living here, and if there was any money left after this adventure, I would run over to Pottery Barn and Crate & Barrel. Good thing I have amazing shopping stamina.

Q:  Favorite beverage, favorite comfort food, favorite candy?
A:  Umm... do I get to pick one of each?! Favorite bev is for sure the white chocolate mocha I make myself every morning on my little machine. It pairs perfectly with the Bible. // Favorite comfort food? Kraft Mac and Cheese on a sad or rainy day. // My favorite candy has been Sour Patch Watermelons since high school, but now I am obsessed with eating Twizzler Nibs in my night classes.



Q:  One piece of advice for newlyweds?
A:  Your spouse is not perfect and they never will be. You knew that going into it, but it's so easy to get caught up in ideals and expectations in those first weeks, months and years. I clung to I Peter 3:1-2 during my first year of marriage: "Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct." No matter how my husband is acting, I am called to obey God and respect my spouse. Usually this means silencing my tongue when I want to justify myself, point out Micah's mistakes, or spout off in anger.

Q:  One piece of advice for new bloggers?
A:  Have boundaries. If it stops being fun, take a break for a while. If responding to reader comments is taking over your life, don't respond to them unless a really special one jumps out at you. And while it's awesome to document life and share things online, its okay to keep some things private as well. You can be the "real" you on your blog and still have boundaries with what you post about your life at home.

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One thing I love about blogging is making "blog friends," Jen being one of them... but man-oh-man! don't you just wish you could be real life friends with this gal & grab a white mocha with her? um... i do!  but since that may not be possible (although, who knows!) in this life time for most of us you can alway find her here:

blog  |  twitter  |  facebook

oh yea,... the giveaway! ...

 Jen is giving away, to one winner:
$15 gift certificate to DownEast Basics
{to be used in store or online}
+
1 XL ad space on her blog
{see details here}

To Enter you must be a follow (new or old) of Jen's Blog

One additional entry for each of the following:
 {make sure to leave separate comments for each entry, or example one comment for following me and another separate comment for either of us on twitter...}
* Follow Wild & Precious
* Follow either of us on twitter @blairita & @jenrussum
* like either of us on facebook: jen HERE & blair HERE
* tweet about the giveaway using @jenrussum @blairita & a link
* add jen's button to your sidebar
* blog or facebook about this giveaway

Winner will be chosen using random.org on sunday 1/29/12 @ 11:59pm central and contacted via email.  PLEASE make sure to leave your email address -- or you see, i won't be able to tell you that you won & i'll have to pick someone else & that would be very sad...

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alright blogger gals -- so glad to have gotten to introduce you to Jen!  I hope you liked our little Q&A (I love the advice she gave)!  So go check her out and check out DownEast Basics too! -- they have some super cute (and affordable) fashions I think you will really like! xo & happy friday...

Comments

  1. I'm following Jen's blog :)

    putdar2610 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm following your blog :)

    putdar2610 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm following you on Twitter :)

    putdar2610 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I like The Arizona Russums on Facebook :)

    putdar2610 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I like Wild and Precious on Facebook :)

    putdar2610 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm following Wild & Precious :)

    dhynhanarun at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm following @blairita :)

    dhynhanarun at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm following @jenrussum :)

    dhynhanarun at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  9. LIKE The Arizona Russums :)

    dhynhanarun at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  10. LIKE Wild and Precious :)

    dhynhanarun at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm following Jen's blog :)


    dhynhanarun at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  12. added jen's button to my sidebar :)

    dhynhanarun at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Tweeted it :)
    https://twitter.com/#!/dhanarun/status/160241411147563008

    dhynhanarun at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Facebooked it :)

    http://www.facebook.com/dini.y.nurhasanah/posts/286037441454879

    dhynhanarun at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  15. I'm now following your blog too!

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  16. I follow your blog (okay, I think im done :)

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  17. I already follow the Arizona Russums... Getting an ad space would sure be neat! My blog is a small one!!


    Glad I found yours
    Erin :D

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  18. New follower of Jen's blog, thanks!
    farrah dot ritter at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  19. I follow W&P thanks!
    farrah dot ritter at gmail dot com

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  20. I follow blarita on twitter (momofthreeunder)
    farrah dot ritter at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  21. I follow jenrussum on twitter (momofthreeunder)
    farrah dot ritter at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  22. I like Jen on FB
    farrah dot ritter at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  23. I like blair on fb (farrah r)
    farrah dot ritter at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  24. I am now following you on Twitter!

    Oh & my e-mail is Cassielivelaughl0ve@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. I tweeted about the giveaway!

    https://twitter.com/#!/C_LiveLaughL0ve/status/160589405915066369

    ReplyDelete
  26. I follow you both on Twitter via @dotinthecity

    ReplyDelete
  27. I like you both on Facebook

    beth@bbgoad.com

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  28. Tweet:
    https://twitter.com/#!/dotinthecity/status/160719947323027456

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  29. Love the advice for new bloggers! We're newlyweds starting our blogging adventure — yours is an inspiration!

    Erin
    www.erinandreweverafter.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. I follow wild and precious!

    breanna.6218@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  31. tweeted!

    https://twitter.com/#!/sandyalamode/status/161065794128719874

    ReplyDelete
  32. blog follower

    brookehell at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  33. twitter follower of both

    brookehell at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  34. https://twitter.com/#!/brookelynmu/status/161066259121836032


    brookehell at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  35. I follow Jen's lovely blog via gfc

    sarah at yesteachercrafts dot com

    ReplyDelete
  36. I follow wild and precious!

    sarah at yesteachercrafts dot com

    ReplyDelete
  37. I follow you both on twitter (@yes_teacher)

    sarah at yesteachercrafts dot com

    ReplyDelete
  38. Jen's button is on my sidebar! http://yesteachercrafts.com

    sarah at yesteachercrafts dot com

    ReplyDelete
  39. tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/yes_teacher/status/161066914829975552

    sarah at yesteachercrafts dot com

    ReplyDelete
  40. Shared on FB:
    http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=263192947080629&id=100000351623459

    sarah at yesteachercrafts dot com

    ReplyDelete
  41. Following Wild and Precious via GFC as Gaby
    Email: gabjuk@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  42. Following you on Twitter as @g_gaby_gaby
    Email: gabjuk@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  43. Following other on Twitter as @g_gaby_gaby

    ReplyDelete
  44. Following other on Twitter as @g_gaby_gaby

    ReplyDelete
  45. Liked Jen on Facebook as Gab Juk

    ReplyDelete
  46. Liked Blair on facebook as Gab Juk

    ReplyDelete
  47. Tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/g_gaby_gaby/status/161068510783614976

    ReplyDelete
  48. https://twitter.com/#!/brookelynmu/status/161422968394756096


    brookehell at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  49. new follower of her blog.

    jlaw1407 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  50. i'm a follower of w&p.

    jlaw1407 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  51. and following both on twitter.

    jlaw1407 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  52. I follow Jen's blog. Heather@heatherboersma.com

    ReplyDelete

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