Revolution of Love

Revolution of Love

Do small things with great love.

2019 in 12 Photos & Link-up

I love End of the Year recap posts but the photo year in review is my favorite! Years ago, Dwija over at House Unseen hosted the link-up, but she has kindly passed the baton to me. So let’s get to it!

(Note: I cheated on several of these by making the “one” photo into one collage instead. Feel free to do the same if needed.)

January was overrun by the death of my mom and her funeral. It was heartbreaking, but the bond of our family and the beauty of her funeral eased the pain a little.

* * * * *

February had us visiting my sister Bridgette and experiencing snow for the first time!

* * * * *

March was dominated by Lent and Matthew making his First Reconciliation. He was so pleased to finally be able to join the family for monthly Confession.

* * * * *

April was a celebration of the Easter and the publication of Blessed Is She’s Rise Up, a devotional book for kids. I was honored to write the chapter on obedience. 🙂

* * * * *

May is always one of our busiest months! We celebrated Matthew’s First Communion, the school May Crowning (where Matthew was chosen to carry Mary’s crown), Andrew performed his first school violin solo, and Bella and I went to see the Fiddler on the Roof musical, a favorite of my mom.

* * * * *

In June, my sister Jacinta and two of my brothers came to visit and we filled the days with family fun.

* * * * *

I’ve always wanted to have a big 4th of July family party and this year it finally happened. Most of my family met up at my sister Bridgette’s house and it was filled with family, siblings, and numerous cousins. I loved it!

* * * * *

August was the beginning of the new school year. We now have kids in 3rd, 4th, and 6th grade and a senior in high school. It was a milestone birthday month for me and my biggest gifts were my hubby and kiddos. <3

* * * * *

In September, I attended the Blessed Is She team retreat in Arizona and it was one of the highlights of my year. I still pinch myself when I consider how blessed I am to be a part of this sisterhood and ministry!

* * * * *

In October, we celebrated Bella turning 18 with a girls road trip to a Halloween party at Disneyland. We even dressed up! I was one of my fave characters – Edna Mode. 🙂

* * * * *

In November my dad and sister Jacinta visited us and we made lots of family memories. While enjoying an ice cream treat, we recreated a memory of the past.

* * * * *

The highlight of December, was definitely Brian and I celebrating 20 years of marriage! These past 20 years have been filled with joy and some pain, particularly this year, but we have been greatly blessed and pray for many more happy years together.

Thanks for sharing some memories with me. I look forward to seeing your own memories so link up below! If you aren’t a blogger feel free to share your favorite memory of 2019 in the comments, on Facebook, or on Instagram using #2019in12photos.

Have a very blessed 2020!!!

PS – You can follow RoL on Bloglovin, Feedly or another news feed. If you are a social media fan like me, we can stay in touch through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, GoodReads, Letterboxd, or Spotify, 😉

Are you ready to link up?? Here are the rules.

1. Create a post with a photo to represent each month of the year. (As you can tell from my post, cheating is allowed.)

2. Add a link back here so others can play along.

3. If you want to use the graphic, right click and save the image to your computer or copy the html into your blog’s html/text page.

<img class=”aligncenter size-shareaholic-thumbnail wp-image-11386″ src=”https://revolutionoflove.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/a_rol_logo_recap_2019-640×644.jpg” alt=”” width=”640″ height=”644″ />

4. Link up below. Make sure you’re sending us to your actual post, and not to your general blog address.

The link up will be active until January 31, 2020. Have fun! 🙂

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Click here to enter



2018 Recap (Part 2) & Friday Favorites: Top Posts & IG Photos of 2018 & Link-up

It’s time for End of the Year Recaps! Today we are reviewing the Top 10 posts of 2018. Granted, I posted a lot less this year than in the past, but you still had your favorites.

After that, I share the Top 9 posts on Instagram. Yesterday I posted photo number 3,000! It’s safe to say that I may not blog much, but you can usually find me active on Instagram @bobbi_rol. 🙂

Yesterday -2018 Recap (Part 1): 2018 in 12 Photos (hashtag #2018in12photos)

Today – 2018 Recap (Part 2): Top Posts and Photos of 2018 & Link-up

If you are a blogger, join the fun and link-up!

Top 10 Posts

#1

How I Use My Blessed Is She 2018-2019 Mini Liturgical Planner

 

#2

The Blessed Is She Bible and Bible Journaling Tools

 

#3

My 2018 Word and Saint of the Year

 

#4

2018 Reading Challenge and A Review of the 2017’s Book Reading

 

#5

Friday Favorites & Link-up (Vol 6): A Collection of Catholic Graphic Novels Reviewed

 

#6

How I Started Setting Goals & My Mid-Year 2018 Goals

 

#7

Friday Favorites & Link-up (Vol 9): Blessed Is She “Wild” Retreat Edition

 

#8

In the Kitchen: Trader Joe’s Wonton Soup

 

#9

Online Daybook/ Currently/ 7 QT: June 2018 Review

 

#10

Prayer Request: Rosaries for Dolores

 

Instagram: My Top 9 Photos

The Top 9 of Instagram provided by Top9.co. My top photos include:

  • The Lord is close to the brokenhearted. I’ve been leaning on this a lot lately.
  • The litany line of our family saints.
  • I love that 19 years later, Brian still reaches over to hold my hand. <3
  • I had to go to AZ to meet some of my Cali friends in person at the Blessed Is She team retreat.
  • Brian and I at my brother’s wedding. He still takes my breath away.
  • Quiet time with Our Lord reading Scripture.
  • My mom has always been my biggest supporter in life.
  • My biggest blessings in life – Brian and my kiddos.
  • Praying for our priests, especially the innocent ones suffering through the shame of their guilty brothers.

Well, there you go! If you are a blogger, write your own post and link-up. You can do your #1 Post or your Top 3 or Top 5 or Top 10! Whatever suits your fancy. I look forward to reading it. 🙂

PS – You can follow RoL on Bloglovin, Feedly or another news feed. If you are a social media fan like me, we can stay in touch through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, GoodReads, Letterboxd, or Spotify, 😉

Are you ready to link up?? Here are the rules.

1. Create a post with your top post(s).

2. Add a link back here so others can play along.

3. If you want to use the graphic, right click and save the image to your computer or copy the html into your blog’s html/text page.

<img class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-11127″ src=”https://revolutionoflove.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/1_logo_2_2018_year_end.jpg” alt=”” width=”640″ height=”483″ />

4. Link up below. Make sure you’re sending us to your actual post, and not to your general blog address.

The link up will be active until January 31, 2019. Have fun! 🙂



2018 Recap (Part 1): 2018 in 12 Photos & Link-up

It’s time for End of the Year Recaps. Join me today as we review over 2018 and share the good, the bad and the funny. Tomorrow will be Friday Favorites with your favorite blog posts and Instagram photos (determined by most clicks and likes) on my Instagram account @bobbi_rol. Both posts will be a link-up for you to share your own thoughts, memories and top posts of 2018.

Today – 2018 Recap (Part 1): 2018 in 12 Photos (hashtag #2018in12photos)

Tomorrow – 2018 Recap (Part 2): Top Posts and Photos of 2018 & Link-up

* * *

I love End of the Year recap posts but the photo year in review is my favorite! Years ago, Dwija over at House Unseen hosted the link-up, but she has kindly passed the baton to me. So let’s get to it!

(Note: I cheated on several of these by making the “one” photo into one collage instead. Feel free to do the same if needed.)

The beginning of the year started out with a desire to deepen my spiritual life and spend more time reading Scripture. Blessed Is She was a huge help with that!

 *  *  *  *  *

Bella and I have continued our tradition of taking a number of girls’ road trip to Disneyland throughout the year. We’ve been blessed to have my mom and my sister join us for most of these trips. Our last one with the four of us was in February. Little did I know then, it would be the last Disneyland trip I would take with my mom.

Disneyland with my mom then and now.

That weekend will forever be etched in my heart.

*  *  *  *  *

March was dominated by Lent and preparing for Easter.

*  *  *  *  *

April was a celebration of the Easter season and enjoying fun times during Easter breaks. Bella and I took a quick trip to Disneyland and the boys and I joined the Read Aloud Revival. It has become an anticipated part of our evening ritual.

*  *  *  *  *

May was definitely our busiest month of the year with so many big family events. John-Paul made his First Communion, Bella made her Confirmation (my sister was her sponsor) and my brother got married. I also attended my first Blessed Is She regional retreat and it was spiritually life changing. I was able to attend the retreat with my mom, which was an added blessing, and the following day we celebrated Mothers’ Day together. In fact, with all these family events, I was able to spend almost every weekend with my parents as we traveled the 400 miles back and forth. It was as if God was giving us our last precious moments together before we had to carry a heavy cross.

*  *  *  *  *

In June, all our plans changed when we found out my mom’s cancer aggressively returned. We decided to have a family reunion to celebrate my mom’s 70th birthday and to support her as she prepared to start her cancer treatment.

*  *  *  *  *

For the last four years, cancer has been an unwelcome thief in our family. However, in July, we received welcome news that Brian was cancer free for the fourth year in a row. That was a benchmark diagnosis and Brian can now reduce the frequency of his testing. My heart was overjoyed to hear the news.

*  *  *  *  *

August was the beginning of the new school year. (Remember as kids when school didn’t start until September?!) We now have kids in 2nd, 3rd, 5th grade and a junior in high school. I went back in full swing as a room mom and library volunteer. My parents also celebrated 50 years of marriage. They had to cancel their anniversary plans and instead spent the day with my mom getting chemo, but they were just happy to be together. They are a living testament of loving each other for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health. I love them so much!

*  *  *  *  *

Photo Credit of the group photo: Blessed is She and Lexy Popa Photography

In September, I attended the Blessed Is She team retreat in Arizona and it was one of the highlights of my year. I still pinch myself when I consider how blessed I am to be a part of this sisterhood and ministry!

*  *  *  *  *

In October, I enjoyed my favorite season – autumn! There was plenty of pumpkin spice and Halloween fun. Although my days were busy, I made a greater effort to spend time in prayer, including weekly Holy Hours. At first I was worried I wouldn’t be able to occupy myself in prayer for an hour, but I’m learning to love this time to quiet myself and be with Our Lord.

*  *  *  *  *

For over a decade, we have been going to Disneyland as a family during Thanksgiving week. I came across this photo collage I made two years ago. It was funny to see the kids looking so young!

RevolutionofLove.com - 31_days_2016_dlw2

This year, I thought about canceling our trip since my mom was sick and we were unable to spend Thanksgiving with my parents (for the first time in my life), but my mom encouraged me to go anyway and make memories with the kids and to send her lots of photos.

So we did. 🙂

*  *  *  *  *

Christmas holds so many memories and family traditions. I have to be honest, it was a season of fun and laughter, mixed with moments of tears and worry as my mom’s health became worse. I knew the best way to make her happy was to give her grandchildren lots of simple fun and happy memories… and to send her lots of photos.

It’s been such a bittersweet year, but despite the hard moments, there have also been many, many happy ones and for that I am truly thankful. I hope you have a blessed New Year filled with many happy memories to temper the rough spots.

Thanks for sharing some memories with me. I look forward to seeing your own memories so link up below! If you aren’t a blogger feel free to share your favorite memory of 2018 in the comments, on Facebook, or on Instagram using #2018in12photos.

Have a very blessed 2019!!!

PS – You can follow RoL on Bloglovin, Feedly or another news feed. If you are a social media fan like me, we can stay in touch through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, GoodReads, Letterboxd, or Spotify, 😉

Are you ready to link up?? Here are the rules.

1. Create a post with a photo to represent each month of the year. (As you can tell from my post, cheating is allowed.)

2. Add a link back here so others can play along.

3. If you want to use the graphic, right click and save the image to your computer or copy the html into your blog’s html/text page.

<img class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-11110″ src=”https://revolutionoflove.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/1_logo_2018_year_end.jpg” alt=”” width=”640″ height=”640″ />

4. Link up below. Make sure you’re sending us to your actual post, and not to your general blog address.

The link up will be active until January 31, 2019. Have fun! 🙂



2017 Recap (Part 2): Top 10 Posts of 2017 & Link-up

It’s time for End of the Year Recaps. Join me as we review over 2017 and share the good, the bad and the funny. Both posts will be a link-up for you to share your own thoughts, memories and top posts of 2017.

Wednesday – 2017 Recap (Part 1): 2017 in 12 Photos (hashtag #2017in12photos)

Today – 2017 Recap (Part 2): Top Posts of 2017

 

* * * * *

I did not blog this year as much as I have in years past but readers’ favorites are still the posts about planners. 🙂 Here are my Top 10 posts of 2017.

#1

© RevolutionofLove.com - planner_bujo_jan_17_logoHow I Use a (Blessed Is She) Planner and a Bullet Journal

(January 2017)

I have been a planner and journal lover since I was a little kid and learned how to staples pieces of paper together to make my own journal. In the winter of 2015, I switched from a traditional planner to a bullet journal and fell in love all over again. I had no intentions of going back to a regular planner. However, when Blessed Is She came out with their gorgeous liturgical planner I was really tempted to give it a try but didn’t want to give up my bullet journal.

As I debated about it and reviewed over the bullet journals I had filled over the year, there was one thing that bothered me. I loved looking back at my monthly logs, various lists and journal entries but I really had no need to go over all my daily To Do lists. They were taking up space.

That’s when I decided to use a traditional planner to keep track of all the appointments, To Do lists, grocery lists and such that I didn’t want to keep for the future. For my bullet journal I would keep all my monthly logs, monthly reviews, journal entries, workshop/podcast notes and the things I wanted to keep for the future. Here is a peek at how I set it up. (Read more…)

* * *

#2

How I Use My Blessed Is She Liturgical Academic Planner 2017-2018

(July 2017)

For as long as I can remember, I have been a paper lover – stationary, stickers, journal, planners, etc. One of my favorite times of the year was when I got to shop for new school supplies – bouquets of sharpened pencils. Sigh. 😉 Things haven’t changed so when the new Blessed Is She Liturgical Academic Planner 2017-2018 came out I was giddy with excitement. It is the perfect combination of beauty, organization and liturgical goodness!

The planner is beautiful just as it is and can be appreciated by those who like a clean, streamlined look with a touch of lovely hand lettering. However, it also endears itself to those who want to embellish their planner with washi tape, stickers or drawing.  Whichever team you’re on, this planner is sure to please. 🙂

Currently, I use a bullet journal for lists and long term items but I use the Blessed Is She Planner for my day to day living and organizing. Since I am a fan of personalizing a planner to make it your own, I’ll share with you how I use and decorate mine. We’ll start at the beginning. (Read more…)

* * *

#3

My Favorite Stationary, Pens, Stickers and Planner Supplies

(July 2017)

Whenever I write a post about planners, journals, snail mail, or lettering, etc, I always get messages and emails asking me about the supplies I use and where I bought them. To make it easier for you, I compiled a list of my favorite stationary supplies. Hopefully it will help you find a new favorite. 🙂 (Read more…)

* * * *

#4

How to Use Instagram’s Stories

(July 2017)

Instagram has been a favorite of mine ever since I joined in 2012. Unlike other forms of social media, there is no (or very little) negativity on my feed or in the comments. There are just lovely photos of nature, home life and cute kid shots that make me smile.

When Snapchat started I gave that a try and it was fun to have a less formal outlet to share funny moments and random thoughts that would disappear from my feed in 24 hours. However, very few of my friends were active on Snapchat. So when Instagram started something similar (okay, exactly like it) with Instastories, I was eager to participate in hope that more friends would also.

I am pleased to say that Stories is a hit and many of my friends are active on it. However, there are still those who are reluctant because they feel intimidated and aren’t sure how to use it. I’m hoping this primer on how to use Instagram’s Stories will help ease them into it so I can see their lovely faces on my feed soon. 🙂 (Read more…)

(NOTE: This post needs to be updated since Instastories have many new features since writing this post but it will give you the basics.)

* * *

#5

Online Daybook/ Currently/ 7QT: June & July 2017 Review with Fave Movies, Books, Links and More

(August 2017)

The latest happenings and a review of my favorite movies, books, links and more.  (Read more…)

* * *

#6

RevolutionofLove.com - goals_2017-series_part_1

2017 Goal Setting Series: Part 1

(January 2017)

Back in the summer of 2014, I started thinking about making goals in my life. It was a rather foreign concept at the time. I said back then:

I never gave much thought to having life goals before now. (Well, except for the huge goal of finding a good husband when I was still single. ;-)) Seriously, I always imagined “goals” as being grand, lofty things like starting a business or going back to school or writing a book or something. It seemed ridiculous to make those kind of goals when I was just trying to make it to the end of the day with my sanity and perhaps a clean load of laundry. Lately, I’ve definitely been surviving, not thriving. Then I read what Elizabeth Foss said here:

What do you want your life to look like? What do you see as your unique calling? These might be grand, lofty, complex things, like starting a ministry or taking a mission trip. But they might also be less grandiose, but deeply textured things like running a well-ordered home and opening your doors to your neighbors. Honestly, for right now, in this season, one of your primary goals might just be to get some sleep!

Elizabeth recommended Lara Casey’s Powersheets and I decided to give them a try.

(Read more…)

* * *

#7

Online Daybook and 7QT: April 2017 Review

(May 2017)

The latest happenings and a review of my favorite movies, books, links and more. (Read more…)

* * *

#8

Book Reviews for 2017 (Part 1): January – March

(April 2017)

I am doing the 2017 Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge (the “reading for fun” version) this year and I pledged on Goodreads to read 24 books in 2017. I am on schedule with 9 books so far. Here are the books I’ve read from January to March.  (Read more…)

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#9

RevolutionofLove.com - sept_oct_goalsSeptember/ October 2017 Goals

(September 2017)

September is speeding by and today is the first day of Fall! This time of year always feels like a fresh start to me, even more than January 1st. After the care free days of summer, I am ready to get back into a routine of school and fall activities. At this point I also like to re-evaluate the goals I made at the beginning of January. Some goals still need work. Some goals were accomplished, so I can focus on a different area. Taking some time to review helps me to make the most of these last months of 2017.

(Read more…)

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#10

RevolutionofLove.com - mr_knightly_logoHow Mr. Knightly Helped Me Find Mr. Right

(April 2017)

Like many women, my love of Jane Austen began in my teen years but it wasn’t until my 20’s that the lessons of her heroines and their leading men started to affect the way I viewed dating in my own life.

Back in the 90’s when I was in college and began to date more seriously, I had fallen away from my faith and dated guys without much thought to the type of men they were. If I were to relate to any of Jane Austen’s characters, I would definitely have been Marianne Dashwood dating a string of wrong-for-me Willoughbys. I had a knack for falling in love with man-boys who were poetically trying to “find themselves” and didn’t have any direction in their lives.

In my early twenties, I came back to the faith in a strong way and narrowed the dating pool to Christian men. However, when it came down to getting more serious, our differing faiths always stopped us from continuing the relationships.

(Read more…)

Well, there is my Top 10 of the year! If you are a blogger, write your own post and link up. You can do your #1 Post or your Top 3 or Top 5 or Top 10! Whatever suits your fancy. I look forward to reading it. 🙂

PS – You can follow RoL on Bloglovin, Feedly or another news feed. If you are a social media fan like me, we can stay in touch through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, GoodReads, Letterboxd, or Spotify, 😉

Are you ready to link up?? Here are the rules.

1. Create a post with your top post(s).

2. Add a link back here so others can play along.

3. If you want to use the graphic, right click and save the image to your computer or copy the html into your blog’s html/text page.

<img class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-10236″ src=”http://revolutionoflove.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/logo_top_ten_posts_2017.jpg” alt=”” width=”640″ height=”427″ />

4. Link up below. Make sure you’re sending us to your actual post, and not to your general blog address.



2017 Recap (Part 1): 2017 in 12 Photos & Link-up

It’s time for End of the Year Recaps. Join me today and tomorrow as we review over 2017 and share the good, the bad and the funny. Both posts will be a link-up for you to share your own thoughts, memories and top posts of 2017.

Today – 2017 Recap (Part 1): 2017 in 12 Photos (hashtag #2017in12photos)

Tomorrow – 2017 Recap (Part 2): Top Posts of 2017 & Link-up


* * *

I love End of the Year recap posts but the photo year in review is my favorite! Dwija over at House Unseen hosted the link-up in the past but has passed the baton to me. So let’s get to it!

(Note: I cheated on some of these by making the “one” photo into one collage instead. Feel free to do the same if needed.)

 

January is the month of fresh starts and new resolutions! I chose my saint and word of the year.

* * *

In February we had our first really big winter storm – our fence and neighborhood trees fell, power was out and schools were closed for the day but within a few days we were back to our normal California weather.

* * *

In March Lent was in full swing. It was a time for prayer, reflection and penance.

* * *

In April we celebrated spring and Easter, although I was missing my FIL on the anniversary of his death. Instead I tried to look for the positive and be thankful for my blessings. (This shot was for a photo challenge that made creative use of a cloud.)

* * *

In May, Bella and I went on our annual mother-daughter trip to our favorite place to visit. I absolutely love our girls’ weekends together. And the boys love the guys’ weekend with their daddy.

* * *

The travels continue with a family trip to Lake Tahoe once school was out for the summer. We’ve been visiting every summer for nearly 15 years. It makes it even more special when my parents are able to join us. Family memories galore. 🙂

* * *

In July Brian and I took our first overnight date in 15 years! We’ve never left the kids alone so we made up for lost time at Pebble Beach. The view from our room’s deck was amazing.

* * *

In August the kiddos were back in school. We now have grades 1, 2, 4 and 10! Meanwhile, mama got back to writing more.

* * *

In September, I was on a plane headed to Minnesota/Wisconsin to attend the Blessed Is She Team Retreat. It was a much needed time to spend time in prayer and to reconnect with my BIS sisters. They amaze and inspire me. I sometimes still feel like a fangirl when I am with them. The only downside was getting back home. There were plane malfunctions, numerous delays and general pain-in-the-arse circumstances that delayed my arrival home by almost 24 hours. Well, at least I finally made it home in one piece. 😉

* * *

In October, Bella celebrated her 16th birthday with a girls weekend at Disneyland. We met my mom and sister (Bella’s confirmation sponsor and fave aunt) and had a great time together. I couldn’t help but think about the first time I took Bella to Disneyland 12 years ago. My hope is to one day I’ll be the grandma going to Disneyland with my daughter and my grandchildren. 😉

* * *

In November, eight of my nine siblings and their families met in SoCal for a surprise 70th Beach Boy themed birthday party for my dad. We were able to catch up with family and meet new cousins/nephews/nieces. We also fit in one more trip to Disneyland before the year’s end. (Can you tell we are a Disney family? LOL.)

* * *

December came after a year of gratitude and joy. I am so thankful that we are all in good health, that Brian’s cancer screening came back clean, that my mom is doing well, that my little nephew Joseph who was seriously ill has recovered from surgery and is thriving. Plus, I was able to make a number of trips to see family and loved ones and have made lasting memories.

With the pain we went through last year, especially with my father-in-law’s passing and my mom’s cancer, it was a blessing to have a respite year filled with thanksgiving. This year there was a theme of togetherness and spending time with loved ones. Being reminded that life is fragile has encouraged us to make the most of the time we have together.

So to close off the year we enjoyed a relaxing Christmas and on the 28th Brian and I will celebrate 18 years of marriage. God is good. All the time.

Thanks for sharing some memories of this year. I look forward to seeing your own memories so link up below! If you aren’t a blogger feel free to share your favorite memory of 2017 in the comments. 🙂

Sending hugs to you, my friends. Have a very blessed 2018!!!

PS – You can follow RoL on Bloglovin, Feedly or another news feed. If you are a social media fan like me, we can stay in touch through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, GoodReads, Letterboxd, or Spotify, 😉

Are you ready to link up?? Here are the rules.

1. Create a post with a photo to represent each month of the year. (As you can tell from my post, cheating is allowed.)

2. Add a link back here so others can play along.

3. If you want to use the graphic, right click and save the image to your computer or copy the html into your blog’s html/text page.

<img class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-10221″ src=”http://revolutionoflove.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2017in12_logo_640-1.jpg” alt=”” width=”640″ height=”424″ />

4. Link up below. Make sure you’re sending us to your actual post, and not to your general blog address.

The link up will be active until January 31, 2018. Have fun! 🙂