Showing Appreciation + an Award

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (NIV) – 1 Thessalonians 5:11

You guys, let me first start off by saying that RIGHT NOW, like this VERY second, I am on an AIRPLANE. For reals. I kid you not.

I’m on my way to Las Vegas for InfoComm 2012 for work. I work in the AV industry and this tradeshow is one of the largest in the world. I’ll be gone for a week (sad town… I miss the hubs already), but it should be a really good show – getting my geek on and whatnot.

Don’t worry. You’ll have plenty of blogging goodness to look at this week. I’ve got some pretty amazing guest bloggers lined up and some stuff of my own. 🙂 You know I can’t stay away too long.

Anywhos. Enough about #TheFuture, on to RIGHT NOW. Today. This minute.

I was SUPER pumped / excited / humbled when the amazing Ashley of Magnolia Grace Style awarded me the “Reader Appreciation Award” – this girl is hilarious, super sweet, and just all around fabulous. You should check her out. For reals.

And, well, since I am one to always pay it forward, I thought I’d show some appreciation of my own. 🙂

The rules are simple:

• Tag the person who awarded you
• Post the award
• Share the love

That’s what I’m doing. I’m sharing the love.

Here are some amazing bloggers I wanna show some Reader Appreciation love to:

Yi-Chia of Always Maylee. – You guys, this girl is SO ADORABLE. I love her style and she’s such a great reader! She comments on everything I post and it seriously means THE WORLD to me. But for real, I kinda wish this girl and I were friends in real life, cause she is so sweet. Yi-chia, you are awesome.

Katie of …For Lauren and Lauren. – HOLY MOLY I LOVE THIS GIRL. She has such a big heart and she is so kind. She’s one of those people that every word you read of hers makes you want to be a better person – even when it’s just a simple outfit post. She’s got great style, she keeps it real, and I just think she’s the bees knees. Check her out.

Jamie of The Blue Hour Fashion. – Jamie is probably one of the nicest people I’ve ever met in the blog world. This girl is another one of those devoted readers that is every bloggers dream. She comments a lot, she’s encouraging, and she always has a positive or insightful or helpful word to offer.

So yeah, just wanted to show some love to a few people – but do know that every single one of you – any one of you – every tweet, comment, share, encouraging word, pin, etc. means the world to me. You have no idea how much I appreciate it. It’s crazy to read the emails and random messages I get from people who tell me they read this thing and it is so so so so so uplifting.

On a related note, the award, and some messages I received lately, and whatnot, just got me thinking lately… I have felt like there’s so much negativity out there. And yet, this little blogging world I’m in has been filled with positivity and encouragement and people supporting one another. If only the rest of life were like that. I mean, really.

It convicted me.

Am I as encouraging to others as I am behind the keyboard of my computer? I like to think that I’m positive and encouraging to my blogging and social media friends… but am I that encouraging to the people I interact with in person?

I love 1 Thessalonians 5:11 it’s one of my favorite verses of scripture because it just continues to show that encouragement and unconditional love are, at the end of the day, the best thing you can do for another person. Be genuine. Show love. Support each other. Stop building walls and start building bridges. Stop tearing each other down or comparing ourselves to one another or living in a world of have not and feeling dissatisfied and start living in a world of building each other up, improving ourselves, and being grateful for the here and now.

 Anyway. I’m not trying to sound preachy. It’s just a thought.

Maybe the altitude has done something to me. I am 30,000 feet in the air right now, after all.

Proof. I’m on an airplane. WOOP.

Happy Sunday, y’all.

xoxo, all for now.