Annual Virtual Gift Exchange: 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires

For the past two years, I’ve participated in a different kind of gift exchange.  It didn’t require rushing out to the store to buy a gift or even purchasing one online. For that matter, it didn’t even require money.

The idea behind the Social Fabric Virtual Gift Exchange is an opportunity to exchange one of a blogger’s most treasured assets – You, my readers – with another blogger. And at the same time, share another blogger with you. You can read my last two posts for 2011 – and 2010 – to get a better understanding of how the whole thing came about.

This year, I drew Karen Coutu from 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires. She’s been a member of the Social Fabric community for just almost four months and in that time, has participated in three campaigns that I have lead for Collective Bias. That’s actually how I met her… she applied for a campaign I was running and I thought she would be a good fit for the client. I was right. She was. Her posts have details and personality – not to mention awesome photographs.

When you venture to Karen’s blog, the first thing you’ll see is a long list of giveaways. That’s only the very tippy-top of the iceberg. There more you dig, the more you’ll find.

For example, 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires has a lot of meat to it. When I say meat, I mean food. She has a recipe tab that’s, well, about recipes. It’s my recommendation that you not go there hungry. Like I said before, her photographs are awesome. Mix awesome photos with food and you have a killer combination. Diet killer, to be specific.

That’s not all though. She has a series called “For Better or For Worse” that is dedicated to her husband. It’s where she talks about him, what he does and how she feels about it. It’s heartfelt and fun to read.

Karen also has a bit of a split personality where she talks to herself. At least that’s what I’ve always considered it to be. In her “Letters to Karen” series, sometimes it is silly and poking fun of herself but sometimes it goes a little deeper.

There is a lot to Karen and to her blog, 3 Garnets and 2 Sapphires. I encourage you to swing by and see what all she has to offer. Whether it be for her crafts, view on autism, or any of the stuff I’ve mentioned already, I’m sure you’ll find something that draws you in and makes you want to return. I’ve enjoyed her work and hope you will as well.

Aside from her blog, you can find Karen on Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook and Google+. She has additional social media presence on YouTube, StumbleUpon and Polyvore.  You can also find Karen at A Blog of Goodies.

Photo credit: Photos used in this post belong to Karen. If they look good or interesting, it’s all the more reason to swing by her blog!

Unlike prior years, I was the one putting this one together. I asked who wanted to participate then used a randomizer to assign Secret Santas their gift recipient. I’m looking forward to reading about the other bloggers. I encourage you to use the Linky below to visit the other participants and read about these fantastic women. They’re a great group and I’m proud to call them colleagues and friends.

Happy holidays!