Weekly Photo Challenge: Change

Alright my lovelies, this week the challenge is Change, or more importantly a change in process. I actually really like this challenge, it brought to mind so many wonderful memories and I’m so happy to relive them and share them with you 😀

First, one enormous change just this past year was the wedding of my awesome Bestie to her awesome husband (my Bestie-in-Law as we’ve dubbed one another) earlier this year. In truth, I found the idea of her getting married just as terrifying as I did exciting. I mean, what if our friendship changed? What if he and I didn’t get along (which was a silly fear considering I already thought of him as a great addition to our group lol)? But then, how could I not be happy and excited for one of my most favorite people on the Earth marrying the man who made her happy? And in the end, their marriage did change things, she and he moved further away (a mere hour and a half, but still, no more random visits) and I gained a wonderful Bestie-in-Law, so like in all things, it was a give and take. But ultimately, this change was a thrilling experience — even the scary bits — and I love the results! Besides, I was one awesome Maid of Honor, if I do say so myself.

And I do.

And there’s also the fabulous new addition we have to our family this year, my cousin had her first baby a few months ago and I was so thrilled to welcome the first of the next generation of our family into the world! He’s a wonderful, adorable, and downright cute as all get out, change in progress!

Here’s a little picture I snapped at his baby shower:

And of course, one of the biggest changes of my life was the adventure that was my years spent at FSU 😀

Any changes in your life my lovelies? Let me know in the comments 😀

Blogger Recognition Award

Hello again my lovelies, hope y’all had a delightful weekend, I know I did! Not only did my bestie of nine years get married to a wonderful guy (with me as the Maid of Honor), but I came home to discover that I’d been nominated for a new blog award!!! Pretty dresses + blog love = a pretty great weekend for me all around. 😀

Here we are near the end of my Senior year in high school! This was year one of our friendship, can you believe it?! I can’t!!!

I want to say a big THANK YOU to Jamie over at Through Two Blue Eyes, for nominating me for this award. If you haven’t visited her site yet then you’re flat out insane because I’ve been telling y’all to check out her awesome blog for years! So go ahead, head on over there and I’ll be right here when you get back…

See what I mean, awesome right?! Told ya 😉

Rules and regulations:

1. Select 15 blogs to nominate
2. Thank the person who nominated you
3. Give a brief story of how your blog got started and a piece or two of advice for new bloggers.
4. Attach the award
5. Comment on each nominee’s blog and let them know that you’ve nominated them
6. Provide a link to the original post on Edge of Night

How my blog got started: Well my blog got started mainly because I was in a rut writing the sequel to my first novel and I saw how much fun my bestie had writing her blog and I thought…why not give it a try?! And so Moonstonemaiden was born and I’ve had more fun and made so many great friends from this experience that I can’t imagine not having this blog! You guys are just awesome and you make life a happier thing 😀

Advice for new bloggers: Read other people’s blogs and find those that intrigue you and for the love of the blogosphere: COMMENT ON THEM! And I don’t mean a generic comment that’s more of an ad for your blog, but really comment and give that blogger some feedback or appreciation because that’s what you want for your own blog. This allows you to start conversations that led to friendships and before you know it you have your own group of writing friends and supporters that make this whole experience worth while. And once you’re done with all of that, lol, try your hand at new and different posts, you’ll be surprised with how a little diversity opens up your blog to new readers and new opportunities. I like participating in the Weekly Photo Challenges personally. It gives me a chance to play with photography and memories and allows for new viewers to visit Moonstonemaiden who might not have seen it before!

My nominees: The lovely ladies over at Mystic Cooking (who just got an agent recently so BIG KUDOS to them!!!), the ever inspiring Juliette from Vampire Maman, one of my all-time favorite bloggers (like seriously): Fredrik Kayser, and the hilarious angelic/demonic counterparts of R.b. Holbrook over at Angel vs. Demon! Go check these bloggers out my lovelies, they are some of the best out there! (Jamie included of course!)

Thanks again for the blog love my lovelies!!! And a big thank you to forgottenmeadows for nominating me for my second Sunshine Award, and Rain’s Writing Realm for nominating me for another Liebster Award! I’m so sorry it took me so long to respond, I wasn’t blogging regularly and I accidentally forgot to write up a post once I started writing again. My bad! Thanks so much ladies!!!

(And more on the wedding in another post, I have to wait for the pictures to be sent my way LOL! I’m so not a patient person…)

This is not from the wedding, but it is one of my favorite pictures of us!