Sponsors - awesome people of April!

I know I have had a bit of radio silence over this Easter Weekend... did you miss me?

Don't lie. Of course you did.

To make up for my quiet weekend in blogville, I have an awesome line up of epic sponsors for you to meet! So let's get stuck right in!



Ruby + Swallow

First up on the list of awesomeness is Ruby + Swallow - this is the creative blog and stationery design team headed up by Kim and Filipa. Ruby + Swallow is a real feast for the eyes and you can tell just by clicking over to their website that these girls have a knack for incredible design! Their blog is filled with lovely lifestyle posts, personal posts and a good lashing of their awesome design work and creative wedding ideas! I can tell you right now, these dynamic girls are going places! Feast your eyes on their awesome portfolio work - and stay tuned because they are offering an awesome deal for indieBerries readers! Details coming soon!

Facebook || Pinterest || BlogLovin || Instagram: Filipa || Instagram: Kim

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Femmegypsy

Femmegypsy is the blog of Tamzin Nel and her contradictory life. Tamzin's blog is awesome because she often shares quite philosophical-type posts which really get you thinking and questioning your own internal monologues (take this post for example!). She also writes really interesting content - reading about her job and the contradictions it brings about in her is fascinating! And lots of personal nitty-gritty type posts - which really take you back to what exactly blogging is all about. Each post of hers begins with an inspirational quote - which I absolutely love! Femmegypsy: corporate by occupation, hippy at heart. Dive in!

Facebook || Twitter || Pinterest || BlogLovin || Instagram

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Skype English Now

I've mentioned before, but I think Skype Engllish Now is such an awesome concept! If you are a second language English speaker looking to improve your English, be it conversational, business English or specific preparation for exams or tests - you can book a one on one English class via skype with one of the Skype English Now teachers. If you want to test it out to see if it's right for you, you can book a FREE 20 - 30 min class! And it's perfect because you don't even need to leave the comfort of your own home! If you have any important documents (resumés, essays, business docs) or less important docs (emails, blog posts, letters) that need proof-reading and editing - you can submit your documents to Josh who will ammend them for you! And all it takes for you, is a couple of button clicks!

YouTube || Facebook || Twitter 

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The Moss Letter Company

The Moss Letter Company is no stranger to indieBerries - they have been hanging out on the sidebar for a little while now and I LOVE having them! Their mossy letters are just too awesome! Think weddings, home decor, party decor - you name it! Also... a little while ago - Jodie, the awesome creative behind Moss Letters asked me if Warren and I would like to come get some "wedding snaps" for their Spring Mossy Collection - unfortunately, Warr and I were in South Africa at the time - but I recommended another lovely couple for them to snap! Head over to The Moss Letter Company home page to see if you spot any familiar faces!! (hint!). The Moss Letter Blog (actually one of my favourites for their "weekend reads" has also had a mini facelift - so go check it out!). (Also - this post on tips for a fledgling business - LOVE it.)

Blog || Pinterest || Facebook || Twitter || BlogLovin

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Tenpenny Dreams

This is a blog for all the wordy-lovers out there! I love this post on "substituting" that wild backpacking pipe-dream with getting lost in the exotic adventures of book. Amy writes with genuine food for thought and provides some super useful tips for aspiring writers. Take for example this post on deadlines - do deadlines make you FREAK OUT? Amy explores how deadlines can be used as a powerful tool for writing motivation and gives some awesome tips for using them to your advantage. I also love this post on "writers excuses" and what they really mean - which really can be replaced with just about any activity. Go delve into Amy's world of wordy-wonderland!

Blog || Twitter || Instagram || Facebook || BlogLovin || Pinterest

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And that's the round up for this month's awesome sponsors! As I mentioned, be sure to check back for Ruby + Swallow's featured post and their awesome deal for indieBerries readers! If you would like to advertise with indieBerries - check out the different packages here!

PS - I have some SUPER exciting things coming in the next two weeks! Including the last of the awesome Vintage Vineyard Styled shoot photographers, some funny cartoons and some WILDLY exciting BIG announcements! (I am BURSTING to share.... can you tell?!) Stay Tuned!

Eye Heart Travel - This month's main sponsor!

Katie is the free spirited, hungry-hearted lovely lady behind the blog Eye Heart Travel. Over the past little while she has been working on super yachts, soaking up the sights and sounds of the passing world through the lens of a porthole. Traveling the world, whilst earning a living is possibly the greatest job I could ever imagine for the wanderluster that is Katie. She has recently made a decision to leave the yachts and spent a little while traveling and getting up to all sorts of amazing things...and leaving loads of handy travel tips - (like this list of travel apps ) on her blog and she is now back in (sunny) South Africa.

I love Katie's thirst for adventure - and if you check out her travel bucket list - you will see how many incredible things she has already ticked off on her list! In fact, her bucket list has inspired me to think about and create my own! Take a peek at Katie's and then I'd suggest you get your pen and paper out and do the same!

You can tell by Katie's adventures that she is an "all-in", life-by-the-horns kind of girl. Her "5 things I learned in Nicaragua" describes how she is stung by a scorpion. Let me just make that clear: She gets stung by a SCORPION.



When she LITERALLY describes it as a bee-sting, (ok, ten times a bee sting) I actually nearly fell off my chair - but honestly her brave spirit is super contagious! Her other incredible travel adventures (um, biking down the most dangerous road in the world) make me want to pack up my bags and trek half way across the globe, immediately.

Katie is also a total yoga-babe. Having recently started fostering my own uber-love for yoga, I get SO excited when I stumble across blogs, instagram accounts, websites that have ANYTHING to do with yoga. Reading about Katie's incredible yoga experience at the Maderas Village is amazing! I love how she infuses the telling of the experiences with small tidbits from her own life and personal musings. (And you guys, how awesome is this view!?!)


Katie has touched down back in Cape Town - so South African readers can be sure to check out some of the new adventures that Katie gets up to in The City (I'm thinking free-wheeling down Table Mountain, planting new forests or fighting sharks off with a surf board) But, I'm guessing that with Katie's itchy travel feet, it won't be long before she is headed back out to explore the big wide world! I can't wait to read about all her travels! Pop on over to her blog to get a little taste of wanderlust!

Blog || Website || Twitter || Facebook || Instagram

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If you would like to advertise your blog or small business on indieBerries take a look at the sponsor options here.

Introducing... Mrs D!

Today, I have the pleasure of introducing you to a blogger far across the seas - living the dream -on the sunny Northern beaches of Sydney Australia.... MRS D! This month's main sponsor is the blog Mrs D plus 3 - featuring Mrs D - a South African born babe, living in Australia. Her blog chronicles all the events and happenings of her, her husband and their three kids as they negotiate the perfect chaos of every day life.

Mrs D is a true beach babe - and I challenge you to scour her blog for any snapshot where the whole family is not decked out in beach gear, surfboards, sun hats and sunglasses - because, I don't think you will find them! (I'm not joking, I'm not joking, I'm not joking)


I love the honest writing in this blog especially when it comes to being a mother (read this!) and if you ever feel like you're having one of "THOSE" days - read this (hilarious) post - you are NOT alone. I think sometimes mother's need these kinds of posts circulating on the internet - you know what I mean?
Apart from the family posts and honest parenting "chaos" this blog is filled with a stash of yummy recipes! Since Easter is coming up - take a peek at these Bunny Carrot Cupcakes - so cute and perfect for kids or grown-up kids! And you know what... I think that I might even try my hand at making these gluten and nut free muesli bars - they look so delish, healthy and easy! (I will let you know how it goes).
Even though I am not a parent - I love this blog for the awesome parenting tips and tricks - especially this "Marble Reward System" - I think I would dub it, "Use marbles, to prevent you from losing your marbles". If you have kids (or husband that needs rewarding) read it. (I have totes bookmarked it for when the time comes!) Mrs D also talks about the importance of being "off-duty" which I think is something we could all benefit from!

This blog is filled with foodie-cooking inspiration, parenting tips and tricks, honest writing, blogging and photography tips and general life musings! Definitely one to add to your blog list!

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Before I sign off - and leave you with your coffee break to enjoy Mrs D plus 3's blog - I wanted to share one of her pictures with the caption:

"I REALLY need to find a new place to store the breakfast cereals"

wahahaha hilar! (from this post)

Now go and enjoy some fab content all the way from Down Under!

Blog || Twitter || Facebook || Instagram


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If you're interested in sponsoring indieBerries,

you can find more info here - my main sponsor spot is fully booked until June!

(but there are loads of other sweet deals available! Take a peek!)
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March Sponsors!

I'm back with a little round up of some awesome people from around the web who are hanging out in the indieBerries sidebar this month! Tuck in!

 
If you're a second language English speaker and would like a little English booster - I have just the thing for you! Skype English Class Now - is a fun and easy way to book a fun 1:1 English class from the comfort of your own home!

If however, you are a first language English Speaker with a TEFL certificate or experience with teaching English - why not apply to become a Skype English Class teacher - where you can help others develop their language skills. Pop on over to their free grammar and writing guide if you need a little extra English boost!

website || youTube || twitter || facebook

Is it just me, or is everything getting a dash greener around these parts? SPRING is SPRINGING and I am SO uber excited! What better way to celebrate the upcoming "SPRING-NESS" than covering a little corner in your home with some lush greenery? I actually went to a wedding fair last weekend with a friend who is getting married and I didn't see anything like these gorgeous green letters anywhere - so brides... if you keen for a garden-chic wedding with amazeballs decor - I suggest you pop on over to this shop!

As always, Jodie's weekend reads are always filled with the most juicy clickable links. Take a jump on over to see exactly what I mean! (Including.. ahem.. "why you should be jealous of nerds")

Shop || twitter || blog || facebook

Little Outdoor Kylie is single-handedly making the internet a much greener place! I have been loving her outdoor exploring and weekly bird posts! (Am actually secretly waiting for her to do a post on the Lilac Breasted Roller) Did I ever mention, that when I was much younger we lived in Northern Zululand and I attended a very rural school? One early dewey morning during assembly, the headmaster led the entire school silently out to the sports field so that we could all watch a tiny Lilac Breasted Roller that he had spotted, sitting so quietly, high up in one of the nearby trees. Once the gorgeous little bird had taken off - showing off it's most glorious colours - it concluded our morning assembly - and the entire school sang All things bright and beautiful in our loudest proudest African voices. So much love for Africa!)

If you got caught up in the hubbub of Valentine's day and missed this post - do have a peek over at Kylie's post on The origins of Valentine's Day - it's super interesting!

blog || facebook || twitter

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Thanks so much to these gorgeous sponsors!
If you are interested in sponsoring indieBerries this month 

have a squizz over at this page!

Awesome People February edition.

I was looking through my "Sponsors" folder when I was saving images for this post and realised that I have had sponsorship on indieBerries for six months now! It has really brought a whole new dynamic to running this blog for me and I'm so glad I took the leap to do it, because it has really introduced me to a whole bunch of awesome blog to add to my reading list! So without any further dilly-dallying here is a round up of this months PEOPLE OF AWESOMENESS.


 Hooking up the main sponsorship spot this month is Mrs D plus Three - a South African born, baby mamma - who spent most of her life in England and is now living on the sandy beaches of Sydney (lucky bum). When Mrs D first got in contact with me a while ago about sponsoring indieBerries - I remember popping over to her blog and thinking, WOW. This woman looks so familiar to me... but WHERE do I know her from? Only after a few email exchanges between us did the coin entire piggy bank drop that Mrs D is actually the older sister of one of my very first EVER friends in South Africa (I'm talking preschool years aged 3.) After I had made the connection (and feeling rather sheepish that I hadn't put it together sooner - what with all my superpowers and all) I was so excited to delve into her blog!

 
Mrs D shares her family adventures  - (just yesterday she posted about the "great camping debate - which is really the HIS VERSION versus HER VERSION of camping - haha I can't wait to see how this one turns out!) she also shares the odd recipe here and there and loads of other useful tips (that are handy for bloggers and average family folk alike!) I love that she is always going on different conferences and workshops! Since Mrs D is my main sponsor this month - you can look forward to her own cartoon post coming soon!

 Also, I'm sorry but - aren't these kids just THE COOLEST.

(Pic caption left: "MOM. STOP TAKING PICTURES OF ME. URGH. I BET BEYONCÉ DOESN'T HAVE TO PUT UP WITH THIS!"

....more to follow....

blog | facebook | twitter | instagram

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Josh Shaman is an English teacher based in the USA. I actually met Josh when I was teaching English in South Korea and he has taken a really awesome concept and developed it across the globe to enable teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) to anyone from around the world. (#globaldomination) Skype English Now is a platform that allows you to have one-to-one english lessons in the comfort of your own home (or anywhere with some wifi).

The advantage of this is that you can learn completely at your own pace, in your own time and you can focus on specific areas that you may need help with (Conversational English? English geared for a business interview? Grammar correction etc). On the website there are also loads of free YouTube videos and English tutorials that you can watch and learn from even as a first language english speaker - they are quite interesting to watch! (And I quite like to hear all the different nuances between British and American English)

Also - I think we forget (as English speakers) how often we use language that is completely bizarre - "I'm going to make a killing" - how weird must this sound for someone who is a second language speaker!) So, if you know of anyone who might be interested in brushing up on their English skills - send them over to this site to sign up for a free class!

Website | Facebook | Twitter 

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Hello to tenpenny Dreams! Before I begin anything about this blog - let me just say - this girl can WRITE. If you are of the "writing inclination" I suggest popping over to Amy's blog because it is filled with useful tips and inspiration of the wordy kind. Also - I am loving her "Wednesday Word Day" where she explains a word of the day such as "DACTYLONOMY" - yeah - click that to find out what it means!


I Love the honesty in Amy's writing and especially her post on 21 things I learned in my twenties - because so much of it is so relatable! Her inspiration posts are also super awesome and she covers such a wide range of things including picture snapping and photoshop and Pinterest being the "social media for the soul".

 

Her writing is really beautiful and even the way she describes British Rain is completely romantic! I can genuinely recommend a good cuppa and a delve into tenpenny dreams - because it is a FEAST!

twitter | facebook | blog | instagram

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The Moss Letter Company has advertised twice before on indieBerries! (and it makes me so happy to have "return-offenders")! (I am also happy to announce that after advertising on indieBerries The Moss Letter Company made a sale of their gorgeous mossy letters all the way across the ocean to South Africa! yay sponsorship!). Well it is most definitely wedding season on the rise and these letters make such gorgeous decor! (Aside from that - how cute do they look as Big Alphabet letters in children's rooms?!


If, for some reason you are not in the market for a mossy green letter (you should be) then I suggest popping over to The Moss Letter Blog - I love the way Jodie highlights her journey of starting her own business and some of my favourite posts from her are her weekend reads - there are always LOADS of awesome, helpful and useful links that she shares every week - go take a look!

twitter | website | blog | facebook

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Kim from A Moving Story is back again this month! And.. before I even get into anything about her blog, I'd like to mention that she is giving away $200 in Paypal Cash right now! Yeah, you definitely want to click on over to that post! As always Kim's blog and her expat life musings in Mexico - is filled with good stories and fun adventures. I LOVE her post on her new inspiration for taking photos - "LOVE MY SELFIE!" - it is such a good concept and I think one that we should all adopt!  Kim's blog is full of inspiration and she approaches life with such courage and determination - as you can tell from her post about moving to the 13th house in 15 years of marriage or the one of her starting her own company! On Kim's blog this month you can also find some delicious Valentine's inspired cocktails! It's been lovely having you Kim!

twitter | instagram | google +

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Thanks to all the awesome sponsors this month - you guys are all rad!
If you are interested in promoting your blog or business on indieBerries - 

you can check out the packages here.

Heart of Iron

I'm so excited to introduce you to another one of this months main sponsors - Gaelyn Cokayne!

I have had such a good time trawling through Gaelyn's blog, that I thought I would just take a moment or two to highlight exactly the level of FIERCENESS that we are talking about right here. Because, I guarantee you, it will blow your little mind.

In 2011, Gaelyn went for surgery. She suffered from CECS in her lower legs (which you can read about here). This required a "usually" quite simple surgical intervention to correct it. However, the doctor operating on her, cut the main nerve in her leg - leaving her with a drop foot. (You can read the whole story here - and check out some graphic gory images here! A really interesting read)

So there was Gaelyn, after a surgical procedure that went horribly wrong - left with a drop foot. Or rather a left drop foot. Which, in a nutshell means, poor balance, paralysis of the muscles, dragging toes and excrutiating pain when walking or exercising. BUT. (and here's the clincher), instead of taking the world upon her shoulders, cursing the gods-of-karma, pointing fingers of blame and getting all -

SHE SIGNED UP FOR A TRIATHLON.

I mean.

really.

I have both my legs fully functional and I don't think
I would even CLICK over to a triathlon website.
So, that pretty much blows my mind.

To illustrate another "part" to Gaelyn's blog and personal journey, 

I have decided to share a little gif with you to give you the general idea:

That's correct.
She lost 35kg.
Thirty. Five.

(check out some of her before pics here -
you will hardly even recognise her!)

You can watch her weight-loss journey and all the ups-and-downs on her blog. She has also recently started a new weight loss program "A new weigh" which you can find more details for on the blog. What I love about Gaelyn's blog (and her program) is that it is super REAL.

Her story of "the triathlon that wasn't" shows you just the kind of fierceness and determination that this woman has - and it is honestly incredible. (HINT: you may cry).



Gaelyn isn't afraid to tell it like it is, to share her life - the ups and downs with a very definite GET BACK ON THE HORSE attitude! And incredibly, considering everything about her situation - there isn't a single shred "oh hey everyone, come over here and feel sorry for me". (And read her {step} daughters comment in this post - so beautiful!)

Take a few moments to go check out Gaelyn's blog - and delve back into her archives.

And, I can promise you, I am not just saying that because she's sponsoring indieBerries this month-
I'm telling you that because

she is awesome.

Gaelyn is attempting the 70.3 triathlon for the second time at the end of this month -
so, I suggest you go GIVE HER SOME LOVE.

Thank you so much Gaelyn for sharing your story and your journey - you are so inspiring!

Follow her here:

blog || instagram || facebook || twitter


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If you are interested in having your own indieBerries cartoon
or promoting your blog or shop on indieBerries -
check out the rates here.
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Smashing the Glass

To catch you up if you missed it - it was "the-incident-where-we-lost-all-our-wedding-photos-to-an-evil-canine". After discovering that our wedding photographs had been sabotaged by a dog, I went through a rather "dark phase". And by "dark phase", I mean dark. phase. In fact - I passed through a mulitude of emotions including: 

Mostly PEOPLE'S FACES -

but I was happy to settle for anything else which provided shattering, cracking or snapping.

I wanted to smash windows. I wanted to kick dogs. I wanted to punch babies. Mother tried to console me over the phone, I threw my iPhone against the wall. Father emailed me some words of comfort, I burnt my Macbook on the stove top.

Let's just say... it was a 

YEAH!!! I'm IN!!

WEDDINGS = BREAK SHIT!!

This girrrrl KNOWS what she's TALKING ABOUT!

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After a few days months, once the rage had cooled, I hopped on over to Smashing the Glass and discovered that 'This girrrrrl' does indeed know exactly what she's talking about - gorgeous, elegant and original weddings for style obsessed (Jewish) brides!

I must say - there is something really beautiful about looking at wedding photographs - they are always filled with such joy and emotion (this couple walking down the aisle!), and for me - it has been strangely cathartic to peruse through wedding blogs such as this one. (Also, kids at weddings are SO CUTE.)

  

Karen Cinnamon (above) is the founder of Smashing the Glass. (I drew you a little cinnamon diagram for extra clarity). The concept of the blog grew from her planning her own wedding and realising that there was a need for a wedding blog catering specifically for modern Jewish brides - a place where brides can come to gather ideas, whilst still maintaining elements of Jewish tradition.

Although Smashing the Glass is primarily focused on the Jewish Bride - it is an awesome resource for any couple planning their wedding and each wedding posted on this blog is filled with awesome ideas, interesting decor or creative ideas. Like this couple using their photographs as a timeline of their relationship and I LOVE the high-end feel of this wedding and the way they have incorporated cow-hide into their celebrations! Super cool!

I have learnt so much about Jewish weddings and traditions from reading Smashing the Glass - including the tradition of actually smashing the glass (read here!) and a full glossary of Jewish wedding terms here! (I have noticed though, that Jewish weddings tend to be glamourous and elegant - like this one! - Wow!)

Since the SEASON OF WEDDINGS is upon us - it has been so awesome having Smashing the Glass as a sponsor this month, Thanks so much Karen! I have no doubt it will be a give many indieBerries brides' hours of wed-spiration!

Happy clicking!

And PS, if we ever decide to get married again - I will just hit up her smashing suppliers list to book myself a photographer!

x

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If you are interested in having your blog, website or shop featured on indieBerries
take a look at my sponsors info page here.
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