meet the sponsors: may edition.

can you believe that may's almost over? i mean really. 

obviously, i havent been around much, because, well, things have been kind of insane (but good insane!), id like to talk more about that right now, BUT now is not the time for that. 

now is the time for you to meet mays sponsor ladies! 

first up we have the ever lovely laura of side street style: 

twitter / facebook / instagram

We are a creative couple who are enjoying life as parents to a cool little dude. We love to travel, explore new places and the outdoors, eat good food, try new things and indulge in our passion for fashion and interiors. John is a bearded man and barber while Laura is an expat South African living in Wales. The blog is their little space on the big ol' internet, so come over and say hi

read more: creating a space to entertain in five simple steps, brussels - a cultural city break, breakfast treats for yogurt week

and next we have the amazing carrie ann of little big (who i still CAN NOT believe is sponsoring little old me, but thats beside the point):

instagram / twitter / etsy

Hi there, my name is Carrie Anne Castillo. I used to be a librarian, but these days I have adventures with my punk pixie of a 5-year-old, Isobel, and my newborn son, Elias. My evenings are spent in nerdy pursuits with my husband. There is nothing I love more than a questionable thrift store filled with cheap treasure, or an estate sale featuring the sign “selling entire contents of home.” I inherited a strong love of the absurd and ridiculous from my father. My husband describes my swearing as “nautical.” I am deeply irreverent.

Little Big is my daily journal about stylish, thrifted living, creative domesticity, and making the most with what you have. Here I share practical applications of thrifted living, favorite recipes, my adventures and projects, vintage thrifted inspiration, and snapshots of our daily life. It's nice to meet you.

top posts: bohemian ramen recipe, thrifted maternity closet - week 31, DIY living room pirate ship

since our theme for may is "out", our discussion question for the month is: "how do you create a memorable family outing?". heres how everybody answered: 

laura: just be open to any kind of adventure - the best memories we have are often the ones that have been unplanned. Don't take life too seriously, have fun and laugh a lot, this is usually a good recipe for any family outing.

carrie anne: What makes a family outing memorable is imagination and curiosity. Fortunately for us, they are free and we have them in abundance. For example, we were lucky enough to be invited to go sailing with my inlaws, and Isobel was really into pirates at the time, so we called the sail boat Grandpa's pirate ship and he created a treasure map for Isobel. A walk around the neighborhood,  or trip to the zoo  becomes a safari when we bring binoculars, a magnifying glass, and a safari hat. Someday the kids will outgrow our games, but I hope we can keep the sense of fun and adventure as they get older. 

me: Always be on the lookout for the opportunity to learn something new, youd be surprised at how interesting and educational a simple trip to the beach can be, and dont be afraid to take your time to really enjoy your outing without pressuring yourself (and everyone else) to see ALL THE THINGS. its better to soak in and enjoy half of the museum than rush through the whole thing, not learning anything and making everyone miserable. 

now that weve answered, i want to know what you think: how do YOU create memorable family outings?

(and dont forget to check out/follow laura and carrie annes blogs! you wont regret it!)

sponsor spotlight: lauren of sincerely, lo

happy tuesday everyone! today i have the very special honor of introducing the beautiful lady thats been gracing the bottom of my posts this month, lauren of sincerely, lo:

im so, so happy to have lauren here on poverty luxe, and i really hope that all of you guys have as much fun getting to know her as i have!

why don't you start by introducing yourself to my readers? 

Hello everyone! I'm Lauren and I blog over at Sincerely, Lo. My blog is a lifestyle blog that is full of Jesus, my adorable husband and our newlywed journeys together. I am a Southern girl at heart and home. 

how long have you been blogging, and what got you started?

I have been blogging since October of last year. I have many friends who are also bloggers. I constantly read and fell in love with their blogs so one day, I decided to create my own! 

what are your favorite blogs to read and why?

Oh goodness, I dont know where to start. Some of my favorites are Mr. Thomas & me, Love Danica, Oh Simple Thoughts, Lovely does it, Happily Ever Strader, Bloom and of course the lovely Poverty Luxe. There are many reasons I love all these blogs. First off, they are all such sweet girls that I have had the blessing of knowing. Secondly, I just love their blogs! I love the topics, the character, everything! 

where do you find your biggest inspiration?

Some of my biggest blogging inspiration comes from girls who are 100% real. It is so easy to only tell the good things that happen. I love open and honest writers who literally write about it all. It inspires me to get on a more personal level with my readers so they can feel like they have someone to relate to. 

whats the biggest lesson you've learned from blogging, and advice do you have for new bloggers starting out?

I have learned to put yourself out there. When I first started, I had no clue how so many bloggers were able to sponsor people and meet so many new friends. Find bloggers you love and email them. The friendships that you will create and the advise they will give you about blogging will be wonderful! 

what  are your hobbies/passions outside of blogging?

Outside of blogging, I am a full time worker and a full time student. I enjoy photography, remodeling furniture and anything that has to do with interior decorating! 

five random facts about you:

1. I am a management major, seeking a degree in radiological technology and earning my real estate license on the side. A lot to handle is an understatement :)

2. I get told I look like Taylor Swift at least once a week

3. I am known to have an old soul. Seriously, the things that happen in the world shock me 24/7

4. I am terrified of spiders, heights and airplanes

5. I am a horrible cook. Ask my husband.

you can learn more about lauren over on her lovely blog, and be sure to follow along on facebook, twitter, and instagram!

want to get featured in a future sponsor spotlight post? just check out my sponsorship page for details!

meet the sponsors: march edition

hey everyone! its that time again, time for you to meet all the wonderful humans that have been hanging out on my sidebar! im super stoked to introduce this bunch, so lets get started, shall we?

first up we have ashten, of always ashten:

bloglovin / facebook / twitter / instagram

hello ashten! why dont you introduce yourself to my readers?

My name is Ashten, and I have a lot to say. Since most of my friends got tired of listening to me talk, I started a blog called always ashten, where I write about my life, lessons I've learned, celebrities I've met and the dog I love named Warner. My life is a work in progress, and I hope you'll come take the journey with me!

now that spring is finally coming, whats your favorite way to get out and play?

Walking my dog, Warner! We live by a little man-made lake and we try to get out and walk around the lake on weekends

favorite posts:

if you dont like the show, change the channel, the definition of beauty, if i ever met leo

next we have the always wonderful allie of call me sassafras:

twitter / bloglovin / Facebook

tell us a bit more about yourself, allie:

Hey babes! I'm Allie + I blog at Call Me Sassafras. I like folk music and science and sleep. I think Grumpy Cat is my spirit animal. I'm passionate about creating (+ helping YOU create) a positive + productive lifestyle. Naturally, you'll find my thoughts on living a happy + productive life and snippets on my design work, with a little music, science and sarcasm thrown in

and how do you like to spend time outdoors?

I'm a big fan of getting outdoors so getting out to play is right up my Allie (heh...see what I did there?!). When the weather is nice, I like to go hiking or kayaking. Even when it's not so nice out, I love to play soccer! I've got a group of lady friends that are always happy to make an impromptu pickup game! 

good reads: 

honest thoughts on blogging and balance, 10 prompts for gratitude journaling, 4 ways to have a productive day off

and now its time to meet nicole of treasure tromp:

twitter / bloglovin / pinterest / instagram

so nicole, what do we need to know about you?

I'm Nicole, the lady behind the blog Treasure Tromp. When I'm not working on my PhD program, I pretend that I am a world traveler, like to hike and camp, obsess over hedgehogs, and make a mess in the kitchen. Latest adventure? I just returned back to the US after living in South Africa with my fiancé. On my blog you'll find some  thoughts on blogging, organization tips, and a lot of adventures. 

whats your favorite way to have fun outside?

I love to go hiking and camping! While I love a good hike through the forest, I recently fell in love with camping and hiking in the desert. My love for the desert may be because it is the place where I got engaged.

read more: 

speakeasy party, envelope system for budgeting, 7 stages of long travel

up next we have jessica of the reinvention of jessica:

twitter / Facebook / bloglovin / pinterest

tell us more about yourself, jessica:

The Reinvention of Jessica is about my adventures in becoming the person I know I can be.  I'm a new mom, a new homeowner, and a newlywed, so I've gone through a lot of life changes in a relatively short amount of time.  I write about whatever happens to be going on in my life at the moment and what I'm doing to be less of a red hot mess.  I talk a lot about my son, Jack, and all the DIY projects my husband, Dennis, and I have going on around our house.  Come check out my little corner of the internet and see what all my crazy is about.

and whats your favorite way to get out and play?

My favorite way to get out and play is to take my son to the park or to the zoo.  Especially if it's a family outing.  I'm happiest when I get to spend time with my guys whether it's at home or having an adventure around town.

be sure to check out: 

diy magnetic chalkboard, operation wear my closet: be my valentine, we bought a house 

and finally, we have laura of side street style:

twitter / instagram / bloglovin

hey laura! why dont you tell us more about you and your blog?

We are a creative couple who are also parents to a cool little dude. We love to travel, eat good food, enjoying spending time outdoors

as well as indulging in our passion for fashion and ethical products, all whilst attempting to be great modern parents. Laura is a travel addict and freelance photographer while John is a traditional barber and loves the simple delights of home. We love to bake, try new things and try and live life to the full, Our blog is a place were we share all our adventures, inspirations and ideas.

and how do you like to spend time outside?

We are lucky enough to live near some amazing countryside parks and wild spaces and we love putting on our wellies and adventuring outdoors to collect bugs, sticks and things for our nature table, or simply jumping in puddles. A family hike or adventure is always a must on the weekends.

top posts:

hello spring, the record nook, our chic short break to london

and what about me? how do i like to spend time outdoors?

at the beach. obviously. or maybe disneyland (that counts as outside, right?). or the park. or just taking alice for walks around the neighborhood. really anything to not be in our shoebox apartment when its a million degrees out (which it has been lately, apparently summer is VERY early this year)

i just want to say that i am so, SO happy to have such a wonderful group of ladies on my sidebar this month. seriously, all five (!) of you have been fantastic and I've had a great time getting to know you through your blogs!

do you want to get featured next month? check out my sponsorship page for pricing and details!

sponsor spotlight: gipsy dharma footwear

today i am super excited to introduce you to this months in-post sponsor, gipsy dharma. 

gipsy dharma is a company based in the uk that makes beautiful handmade leather boots:

now, youve probably noticed from my outfit posts that im just about always wearing flats. in fact, if the situation doesnt absolutely require shoes, im barefoot.  honestly, im really not that into fancy shoes unless theyre SUPER comfortable. id rather wear moccasins. 

but sometimes you need something more attractive than moccasins. these boots seem like the perfect happy medium between attractive and comfortable (seriously, they look SO soft and comfy!) and they come in SO.MANY.COLORS. my favorite is this purple suede pair:

what i really like about gipsy dharma (besides the super cute boots, obviously), is that they have a VERY thourough faq page with EVERYTHING you could possibly need to know about their sizing so that you can be sure to get the right fit (as well as anything else you want to know), because for me, buying shoes online is always kind of scary. gipsy dharma goes out of their way to make sure its not. 

like i said, gipsy dharma is located in the uk, so all of their prices are in gbp. HOWEVER, they do ship worldwide AND have a handy-dandy currency converter right in the site so you dont have to look up the exchange rate, which makes international shipping a whole lot simpler. 

oh, and one more great thing, they give away a COMPLETELY FREE PAIR OF BOOTS EVERY WEEK on their Facebook page. free boots! every week! how awesome!

be sure to check out the gipsy dharma shop, and dont forget like them on Facebook (especially if you want to get in on the free boots giveaway!). 

seriously though, i wish we had room in out budget for the purple pair. which pair is your favorite?

meet the sponsors. february edition.

you know what time it is? its time for you to meet all the beautiful ladies that have been hanging out on my sidebar this month!!!

first up, we have beka of the i love yous. i first "met" beka through my post about how much i hate being gluten free. and you know what? she hates being gluten free too! so, obviously she's my new best friend. 

blog / twitter / instagram

why don't you tell us more about yourself, beka?

Hey! I'm Beka Castille, & I'm a young newlywed living in the South. I love people, coffee,The Office, and cheesy holiday movies. I blog because if I don't write, I might die (seriously). My husband and I work at a local home & garden center, and in my free time I blog, sell on eBay, and read. I'm also working on starting up my own independent Pampered Chef business. The posts I write are mostly random in content, but I tend to focus on these topics: Biblical femininity, marriage, homemaking, counseling, and how to live joyfully and contentedly no matter what season of life I find myself! 

since valentines day is coming up, how do you show your loved ones that you care?

I'm a big fan of figuring out people's brain types & love languages and you'll often have me ask you within a few minutes of meeting me! I think that people feel cared for in different ways, and I love to discover how my loved ones feel most cared for. My husband feels most loved when I listen to him, and encourage him. My mom on the other hand, just loves me to be around with her & go shopping with her. My sister-in-law is a gifts kind of person - so if I want her to know I care about her - I'll give her chocolate or buy her coffee! 

favorite posts: The Empty Shelf Challenge, That Day We Got Engaged, How We Bought $248 Worth of Clothes for $0.40

next up is aukele of 91 dash. aukele is actually the first blogger that i ever sponsored, so I'm really happy to have her sponsoring poverty luxe this month!

bloglovin / facebook / twitter / instagram / pinterest 

so aukele, tell us more about you and your blog:

91 Dash is an ever evolving blog.  It is growing into a community where women can feel completely comfortable in their own skin, encouraged to reach for the stars, and motivated to do something to make their life worthwhile.  In between that, I share recipes, lessons learned through past experiences, life hacks and trends that I'm currently loving.

and how do you make your loved ones feel special?

I show loved ones that I care by doing small gestures without them knowing or asking for it: picking up something for them, cleaning up a mess for them, bringing them lunch, surprising them with their favorite snack.  Things like that.  One of my love languages is definitely touch - so I definitely show love by doing that, a rub, massage, etc. 

favorite posts:

On Being Single - So Worth Loving,  I Lost 23 Pounds,  Focusing on JOY

next we have codi, who blogs over at the art of balance, codi is BY FAR the nicest lady on the internet, if you don't know her already, be sure to take some time today to get to know her, i promise you'll love her!

twitter / pinterest / Facebook / bloglovin

why don't you introduce us to your blog, codi?

My blog is where I share my journey to living a happy life in spite of having anxiety. I write about my successes and failures managing anxiety while hoping to connect with others around the world who've experienced any level of anxiety. I also write about my love for books, animals, and helping others. My blog is a way for me to cultivate more creativity in my life and I hope to inspire others along the way!

and how do you like to show your love?

My fiance and I actually just finished out pre-marriage counseling through our church and during our last class we talked about the 5 Love Languages. I learned that I show my love best through giving gifts. I often spend a lot of time picking out gifts that often have lots of meaning behind them, and I love seeing peoples faces light up when they open my present. I don't believe that presents have to be extravagant at all. For me, it's truly the thought that counts.  

favorite posts:

the truth about my weight, the day my life took a turn, your voice - take it back

and finally, we have allie of call me sassafras. you may recognize allie as the wonderful lady behind my blog design, she's the best, really. 

twitter / bloglovin / facebook

what do we need to know about you, allie?

Hellooo my name is Allie + I blog at Call Me Sassafras. I like dinosaurs and folk music and sleep. I might live off jelly beans. Grumpy Cat is my spirit animal. I like to think that Call Me Sassafras is a blog that celebrates uniqueness, so you'll find all sorts of topics. I blog about music, science, my design work, sarcasm and thoughts on living a happy + productive life.

and whats your favorite way to show family and friends that you care?

I love picking out activities to do with my family and friends. My mom and I have been practicing calligraphy together and my sister and I love to FaceTime because we live far apart!

favorite posts:

On Patience: in life + in work, 4 Ways to Get More Out of Your iTunes Library, Why I Actually Like Jerry Springer

im so, so happy that these ladies have chosen to hang out on poverty luxe, and i just wanted to take a minute to say a big THANK YOU to everyone, because theyve all been such wonderful sponsors!  

and i hope that you'll take some time to check out their blogs, you won't regret it!

and what about me? I'm a gifts person. theres nothing i love more than finding the perfect unique gift that i know the other person will love (and use!), like organic vegetable seeds for my mom or high-end flip flops for james. obviously this has been quite a challenge lately with us being poor and all, but picking special gifts to make the people i love happy REALLY makes me happy. 

p.s. want to be featured next month? awesome! check out my sponsorship page for details!

sponsor spotlight: katie of something winnderful.

hey everyone! I've got a really special treat for you guys. today you get to meet the lovely lady thats hanging out at the bottom of all my posts this month, katie of something winnderful:

ive had a great time getting to know katie, both before and during her sponsorship, and I'm REALLY excited to introduce her to all of you! shes got a very special guest post coming up later everybody, say hi to katie!

Hey there! I'm Katie Winn and my blog is Something Winnderful (get it? 'winn'derful?).  It is a lifestyle blog where I write about living a positive, loving, and healthy life.  I'm doing my best to plan a wedding, simplify my home, spread love and positivity, and become healthier both mentally and physically.

how long have you been blogging, and what got you started?

I've been blogging off and on for the past few years, mostly to just practice the skill while I was earning my communications degree.  Last January I decided to officially commit to writing a blog as a way to keep my writing and social media skills in check and to promote an Etsy store I had at the time.  In June I decided to commit to self hosting and changing the focus of the blog.  This past year has taught me a lot about blogging and I finally feel as though I've finally found my groove.

what are your favorite blogs to read and why?  

I'm super into learning and the whole self help genre (don't judge me).  I'm going to be all over anything that teaches me about blogging, writing, entrepreneurship, or freelancing.  I'm in the process of starting my own side business and I've been pouring through any freelancing entrepreneur blog I find.  I also love lifestyle blogs that I can relate too and have a real positive and happy vibe.  If the blog makes me laugh or smile, I'm all for it.

whats the biggest lesson you've learned from blogging, and advice do you have for new bloggers starting out?  

The biggest lesson I've learned from blogging is that you don't ever really have it all figured out.  Especially when it comes to your niche.  All the blogging tips preach how important it is to find your blogging niche, but I never realized doing so was more of a process as opposed to a decision.  In the beginning I would post about fashion and different products I liked...and I'm ashamed of it.  I love clothes and style, but fashion doesn't get me pumped and it sure as hell doesn't make me want to write a blog post.  If I could give advice to a new blogger, I would say don't feel like you have to know 100% what you are going to blog about immediately.  Just start writing about what excites you and the purpose of your blog will eventually reveal itself.

what do you like to do outside of blogging?  

I love dancing.  I work as a dance teacher and it's so much fun watching my students learn and grow while having so much fun.  I also have a fiance and a big 'ole yellow lab that I'm obsessed with.  I've become one of those people who refer to their pet as their child, and I feel no shame about it.  I love adventures and trying new things.  I much rather collect experiences over things.  I want Carl and I to become an old couple with lots and lots of stories and pictures of the crazy things we've done over the years, as opposed ones with a house full of items they never used.  

five random facts about you:  

1. I have exercise induced hiccups.  Seriously.  They used to be considered chronic hiccups (my doctor literally called them chronic hiccups) because I would hiccup 15-100+ times a day.  Now that I don't dance 8 hours a day they've reduced significantly.  To make things stranger, I inherited it from my dad.

2.  I grew up on a coastal town but only went to the beach maybe 10 times.  I've probably doubled that since turning 18 and going to school, but I still haven't gone near as often as someone who spent 18 years living right by the water should.  My parents were never into the ocean and didn't want to have to worry about us getting caught in a current or anything.  I'm sure number three also played a big role in my lack of beach adventures.  

3.  I'm terrified of the ocean.  For some reason I was a 4 or 5 year old watching Jaws (I'm sure my sibling were to blame) and I vividly remember the scene where the guy in the lake gets eaten.  Scarred me for life.  I'm talking I was afraid to walk on our blue carpet or sit on the toilet type scarred.  My siblings noticed this and terrorized me in the pool.  Being the youngest is great isn't it?  I've since gotten over my fear of touching anything blue or water-like, but I still can't go in the ocean, lakes, ponds, or deep end of the pool without a panic attack.  

4.  I'm a ginger so I have lots of freckles, particularly two really dark (but still small) ones under my left eye.  I've been asked if they are tear drop tattoos more often than I ever thought I would.  Sometimes I say yes just so they'll think I'm that badass.

5.  I'm lactose intolerant but I can fortunately have dairy in little amounts.  I don't know if it's because I'm lactose intolerant but I've always been weirded out by milk.  Once it gets to the expiration date I don't want anything to do with it regardless of how it smells or tastes.  I do love organic chocolate milk and milkshakes though.  If I wasn't lactose intolerant I would live off of them.

isn't katie the greatest? i hope youve had as much fun getting to know her as i have, and please don't forget to check out her blog, and be sure to follow her on twitter, Facebook, instagram, and pinterest!