The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey

My guest for The Happy Hour #126 is the incredibly gorgeous Sazan Hendrix. Digital media influencer and fashion/beauty/lifestyle icon, Sazan was born to inspire others. As one of the most recognizable and leading young beauty entrepreneurs, she is transforming the professional business of social and digital media all around the world with nearly one million loyal followers across her platforms in addition to the millions of views on her blog and YouTube channel. She has also become an exclusive digital media ambassador for Maybelline, and most recently has launched her very own monthly box subscription called Bless Box. On today's show, Sazan and I chat about what her days look like as a fashion and beauty blogger. If you have ever wondered what a day in the life of someone who lives in the digital world looks like, Sazan does a great job of describing it. She shares about how she and her husband work together and how they make it work. She also tells about her Kurdish background, and the costs and challenges with her decision to follow Jesus and marry an American man. She recently travelled to Israel, and shares about her experience and the digital backlash she received. For the full summary and links to the show, click the link below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE!

My guest for The Happy Hour #125 is Renee Swope. Renee is a Word-lover, heart-encourager, story-teller and grace-needer. She’s the best-selling author of A Confident Heart and A Confident Heart Devotional. Renee served as Executive Director and as radio co-host at Proverbs 31 Ministries for 20 years. She is a writer for (in)courage and contributor to (in)courage’s first book Craving Connection: 30 Challenges for Real-Life Engagement. Married to her favorite person on earth, Renee and J.J. live in North Carolina making memories with their three kiddos: Joshua, Andrew and Aster (their adopted daughter from Ethiopia). Renee loves pouring into, praying for and loving on women, in real life and online at www.ReneeSwope.com . I first met Renee by interviewing her for The Influence Network Podcast and fell in love and immediately invited her to join us on The Happy Hour. If I could describe Renee and this conversation with one word, it would be wisdom. This is the kind of interview that you'll want to grab a pen and piece of paper and take some notes. She shares some really valuable wisdom on using her gifts and skill sets in her home and with her family, when she was so used to using them in the workforce. Renee recently stepped away from her job to focus on her family, specifically her daughter with special needs. She shares about that decision and what she has learned along the way. Most of our conversation focused on Renee sharing about a difficult season with their middle son, as he shocked his parents by claiming atheism. Renee's wisdom and her patient self-control completely blew me away. I know some of you are right in the middle of these seasons, or for some of you, they are coming. The Spirit of God in Renee is so illuminating and inspiring. But, what I realized as I have thought more about this conversation is that it's easy to listen to people like Renee who are good with words, good with people, and think "I could never do that with my kid." And I want to encourage you that if you are in Christ, the same Spirit lives in you. My heart feels heavy today for those of you that are hurting because of difficult seasons with your kids. I hope Renee's experience and her wisdom is like water to your soul today. For the full summary and links to the show, click the link below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE!

Kat Armstrong is back as my guest for The Happy Half Hour #23. Kat is the creator of Baby Bow Tie, which she recently announced she is selling (you can find out more from the link below!) and the founder of Polished, a ministry sharing the gospel with women in the workforce. Kat is back today with a little update on what's going on with Polished and their goals for the new year. They are hoping to launch Polished North Austin and Polished Southeast Dallas and a second Polished Houston chapter, but to do so they need to find sponsors and volunteers. If you are interested, you can email Kat directly with the subject line: Polished Houston 2, or Polished North Austin, or Polished SE Dallas. She also shares about what God has been teaching her through her word search of bread in the Bible. You'll love it and can check out more from the link below. We also chat about what she would tell her 20-year-old self, what she wants her legacy to be and how she recharges. I am a huge fan of Kat and everything she has going on. I know you'll love catching up with her again. And make sure to check out the event that we are partnering up for February 2. Tickets are on sale now here. {You can listen to the show HERE. And of course, I would love if you would share with your friends. Just use the FB & Twitter links at the end of this post!} Links from the Show Baby Bow Tie: For Sale Polished Austin // The Happy Hour Event Polished Podcast Kat's I.Love.Carbs Bible Study Blog Series Hidden Figures The Power of the Other by Dr. Henry Cloud Connect with Kat YouTube // Instagram // Twitter Connect with Jamie Facebook // Instagram // Twitter Sponsor Stephanie May Wilson Having just moved to a new city, and busy with work and family, author Stephanie May Wilson knew there had to be an easier way of creating deep friendships as a busy adult. So she wrote out some questions, invited over a few girls she barely knew, and as they answered the questions, they began to share their stories. That first night they laughed, cried, and spoke God’s truth into tender areas of each other’s lives and before they knew it, strangers became friends, and friends became best friends. Those questions became a 6-week small group guide that has achieved the same friendships in communities all over the country. Whether you're looking to start a cooking club with old friends, to go deeper with new friends, or to help a group of girls you lead connect in a deeper way — our lives are so much richer when we have best friends to share them with, and this guide is the perfect way to get there! Click here to download a free copy of the first week.

Anne Bogel is my guest for The Happy Hour #124. You might know Anne from her blog (affectionally called "a lifestyle blog for nerds"), Modern Mrs. Darcy, or her podcast, What Should I Read Next? In our conversation today, we chat about the podcasting world and starting new ideas. But, I gotta tell you, most of our conversation is surrounding our latest and most favorite books. So, if you're looking for your next good read, you've come to the right place. Anne and I have some different tastes, so you'll get a lot of recommendations for all kinds of preferences. We also chat about our favorite podcasts and episodes. You'll find a lot of links below to help you find what you're looking for. Hope y'all enjoy the show and make sure to leave a comment if you read any of the books, and tell us what you think! For the full summary and links to the show, click the link below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE!

My guest for episode #123 is Lisa Bevere. Lisa believes in women and empowers them by weaving the practical with the profound truth of God's Word in award-winning curriculums and her best-selling books. Her heart breaks over social injustice. As an advocate for change, she rallies others to be an answer to desperate problems near and far. She and her husband John co-founded Messenger International, an organization established to teach, reach, and rescue. Lisa is the mother of four sons and grandmother of four. In our conversation, you'll love hearing Lisa share about how she started walking with Jesus, her first discipleship relationship and how the church first reacted to her. Lisa travels a lot, and she shares her wisdom in how she stays connected with her husband with intentionality during those seasons. She also talks about her four boys, and how she and her husband relate to their adult children and grandchildren. Finally, Lisa shares about her newest book, Without Rival, and what God is teaching her about how He loves his children. For the full summary and links to the show, click the link below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE!

My guest for the Happy Half Hour #22 is my friend, Amanda Brown. Not only is Amanda one of my favorite friends, she's also my assistant. Which is kinda weird, but also 190% awesome because I get to work with one of my best friends. Amanda made her first appearance on The Happy Hour on episode #3. She's back today with a review of her favorite episode from 2016, and some new happy half hour questions for 2017. You'll hear her favorite music, meal, and advice. She also shares what she would tell her 20-year-old self and where she'd love to live for a year. You may not know you love Amanda, but trust me, you do. Without her The Happy Hour would be a little less happy. Y'all enjoy catching up with Amanda, and make sure to tune in next week for my conversation with Lisa Bevere. {You can listen to the show HERE. And of course, I would love if you would share with your friends. Just use the FB & Twitter links at the end of this post!} Links from the Show The Tallest Man on Earth Man in the High Castle Founding Farmers Cookbook Connect with Amanda Instagram Connect with Jamie Facebook // Instagram // Twitter Sponsor Stephanie May Wilson Having just moved to a new city, and busy with work and family, author Stephanie May Wilson knew there had to be an easier way of creating deep friendships as a busy adult. So she wrote out some questions, invited over a few girls she barely knew, and as they answered the questions, they began to share their stories. That first night they laughed, cried, and spoke God’s truth into tender areas of each other’s lives and before they knew it, strangers became friends, and friends became best friends. Those questions became a 6-week small group guide that has achieved the same friendships in communities all over the country. Whether you're looking to start a cooking club with old friends, to go deeper with new friends, or to help a group of girls you lead connect in a deeper way — our lives are so much richer when we have best friends to share them with, and this guide is the perfect way to get there! Click here to download a free copy of the first week.

My guest for Happy Hour #122 is Rachel Cruze. As a #1 New York Times best-selling author and seasoned communicator, Rachel helps Americans learn the proper ways to handle money and stay out of debt. She’s authored two best-selling books: Love Your Life, Not Theirs and Smart Money Smart Kids. The daughter of Dave Ramsey, she joined Ramsey Solutions in 2010 and uses the knowledge and experiences from growing up in the Ramsey household to educate others. In today's conversation, we talk about what it was like growing up as a Ramsey, and the lessons she learned in a money conscious family. We chat about teaching our kids about the finiteness of money, and not letting our past mistakes with money keep us from making better choices in the future. Rachel also shares about her newest book about being content with your own life, and not coveting the lives around you. She shares how covetousness affects our finances and how she fights it with gratitude. For the full summary and links to the show, click the link below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE!

My guest for Happy Hour #121 is Erin Loechner. Erin is the founder of Design for Mankind, and has been speaking and blogging for more than a decade. Her heartfelt writing and design work has been showcased in The New York Times, Lucky, Parenting, Dwell, Marie Claire, Elle Decor, Huffington Post, and a two-season HGTV.com web special, garnering more than one million fans worldwide. She has spoken for and appeared in renowned international events for clients such as Walt Disney World, IKEA, Martha Stewart and Home Depot. Now nestled in a Midwestern town, Erin, her husband, and their children strive for less in most areas except three: joy, grace, and goat cheese. If our conversation sounds like a personal counseling session, that's probably because it was. God has been doing a lot in my heart about where I find my approval, and my conversation with Erin was so timely and therapeutic. We talk about social media - the benefits, but also the pitfalls and dangers. We also chat about her upcoming book, Chasing Slow, and her thoughts and pursuits of a slower lifestyle. I read her book earlier this fall and highly recommend it. You can pre-order today for it's January 10 release. For the full summary and links to the show, Click Here! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram

My guest for the Happy Half Hour #21 is Danielle Walker from Against All Grain. Danielle first joined me for episode #74, earlier this year. She's back today after the recent release of her newest cookbook, Celebrations.    On today's show, we catch up about Danielle's latest Netflix binges, the qualities she values in her best friends, how she recharges with naps, massages and quality time with her kids and the dream of being a never-realized dream of being a ballerina. I loved catching back up with Danielle, and I know you'll love hearing from her again. And from The Happy Hour team, very Merry Christmas to you and your family! We're praying the Lord would be near to your family this season and that you would experience the glory and grace of Jesus. {You can listen to the show HERE. And of course, I would love if you would share with your friends. Just use the FB & Twitter links at the end of this post!} Links from the Show Downton Abbey This is Us Instagram Beddit App Connect with Danielle Facebook // Instagram // Twitter //  YouTube Connect with Jamie Facebook // Instagram // Twitter Sponsor Noonday Collection Noonday Collection is a business that uses fashion to create meaningful opportunities around the world. When you purchase Noonday accessories, you create a marketplace for artisan businesses, enabling them to provide dignified jobs in vulnerable communities. They develop artisan businesses through fair trade, collaborative design, responsible financing, capacity building and long-term partnership. Together Noonday is building a flourishing world— come join!

My guest for Happy Hour #120 is Kennesha Buycks. Kennesha is a Southern transplant from Alabama to the Pacific Northwest. She and her family now live in the Seattle area. Kennesha has a heart and passion for connecting others, gathering, and seeing those around her flourish in ways they could never imagine. She often expresses this passion through various creative mediums, including inspirational styling and design. When Kennesha is not busy being a wife or a mama to her four kids, she spends her time writing, blogging, and encouraging others. Kennesha and I have been trying to connect for nearly a year, and the time has finally come! In today's episode, we chat and commiserate about being old enough for a 20 year high school reunion and our anxieties about actually attending. Kennesha shares about her life before Jesus, and her journey to following Him even at the potential cost of sacrificing a relationship. And you'll hear about her work with Restoration House and the balance and challenges of running a ministry and business. Finally, you'll love learning about Kennesha's children and how she and her husband are working hard to break generational cycles in their family. For the full summary and links to the show, Click Here! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram