Natasha over at Epic Mommy Adventures posted this fun Blogmopolitan Quiz that she participated in via Two Thirds Hazel. I couldn’t help but participate, because I’ve always loved those quizzes in magazines like Cosmopolitan and Seventeen (when I was a teenager of course!). I’ve always been more of a magazines reader than book reader. Maybe it had to do with all the pretty pictures that were so stimulating. At one point I had a subscription to nearly every teen and women’s magazine out there. These days, I keep it to one or two subscriptions that I barely get around to cracking open. When I find the time still flip through and get a good read. The nostalgia in me made me not able to pass this fun quiz up, so here goes: Continue reading
Category Archives: blogging
On Blogging | Link Parties & Blog Memes
Blog Hops and Link Parties
Blog Hops and Link Parties are an excellent way to connect and share with other bloggers, as well as get exposure. Back when I first started blogging in 2008-2009, there was no such thing as a link party or blog hop. I mainly blogged in the fashion and beauty niche back then, and even dabbled in the food/baking niche. I found it very difficult to connect with others in those niches and share and connect. Twitter had just started up, Facebook Fan Page were new as well, and there was no Instagram, Google +, or Pinterest. I mainly connected with those in my niches via Flickr, ning networks, and Youtube. Since I’ve returned to blogging about 5 months ago, I was pleasantly surprised to see the many ways in which bloggers now connect. Bloggers have maximum exposure giving platforms to utilize such as Pinterest and super quick ways of connecting and sharing through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. They also have Google +, which is a great resource for SEO and exposure as well. Additionally, we have these great things called link parties (memes, blog hops, etc…). I think they are a great idea, but a few months back I came across a very negative post them, and blogged about it here. I was enthralled with this link party idea and didn’t understand why the blogger was so negative toward them. Apparently, I was out of the loop, not having blogged for several years, in knowing that these things were not new. I’m not sure when the idea of a link party was originated or who did it, but they were definitely on to something. Continue reading
Are You Consistient With Your Quality Posts?
Do you have a publishing schedule for your blog posts? If not, you should! It allows you to remain consistent and gives your readers a routine of when to expect your posts. Its debatable in the blogging community how often you should post, and a lot of the time it comes down to consistency. So, whether you post once a week or seven times a week, consistency is a must. It is so easy to get overwhelmed and un-motivated trying to keep up with posting. Continue reading
Pins of the Moment ~ Current Faves & Finds
I don’t know one person in my circle (or at least my blogging circle) who doesn’t Pinterest. Lately I’ve been pinning like its nobody’s business and thought to share with you my most recent pins.
I love Pinterest for the sheer fact that it is a one stop shop for nearly any and every thing you can think of. My pins range from crafts, to jewelry, to blogging tips, to just plain pretty things. That’s the beauty of the website and why I can spend countless minutes (…okay hours) on there.
Pattern Glossary
via
The Marketer’s Cheat Sheet for Social Media Cover Photo Dimensions
![The Marketer's Cheat Sheet for Social Media Cover Photo Dimensions [+ Pre-Sized Templates]](https://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/4f/37/ca/4f37caaeef2997996f6ce0173ee18476.jpg)
via
Triple Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix Cookies
via
via
Funfetti Cake Pops
via
via
via
*Pins were randomly picked from my own recent pins. All have been properly backlinked to the original pin.
Want you pin featured in my next collection? Shot me the link to the pin and if I fancy it, I just might feature it, your blog, and you!
Happy pinning!
xxoo,
Bloglovin or Feedly
Or
So I know this topic has been long discussed with the extinction of Google Reader on July 1st, but I wanted to get a little bit more insight into what readers you all are currently using to keep up with your blogs. I use both Bloglovin and Feedly, and I have to admit that of the two I like Feedly better for actually reading posts. While I like Bloglovin better for building a community and keeping track of followers which you can’t do with Feedly, or at least I haven’t figured out how to. When I go through to read my blogs, whether it be on my phone, iPad, or laptop I can easily scroll through and click on posts with Feedly. It opens up in a new tab or window to the full blog post, without the frame that Bloglovin has. I hate the fact that you cannot connect from a social media standpoint with Feedly, so I often end up following blogs on both.
So my question is: What reader do you like best? Which one fits your reading needs and follow-tracking needs?
Maybe I’m missing something here, help me out!
xxoo,
Just Thought to Share
Greetings all and HAPPY MONDAY!
As I get my day started at work I always check out CNN.com for the most recent news. As I was scrolling down the homepage, I saw an article of the BlogHer ’13 conference. Of course I had to click on it, since I vicariously attend the conference through all the posts, articles, and tweets about it. The article itself was pretty straighforward and had nothing altogether too negative or postive about the conference or bloggers for that matter. It gave some surface level insight into the current blogging world, mainly focusing on how the bulk of these bloggers are “blogger mommies”. They describe these women as stay-at-home moms who pretty much are able to make a job out of their blog and draw some substantial income, comparable to that of a full-time job. This is the true for many in the community, but not all. I’m an active duty service-member who works full-time and blog part-time. I’m also an expectant mother, that has been blogging for years, but this is the first time I’ve actually stuck with it and gained a following. I will soon be taking on the role of stay-at-home mom once baby gets here and if I can still contribute to society in some way inside of the home,while drawing an income then hey, I’m all for it.
Anyhow, just wanted to share the article with you all since the comments were pretty colorful. I even logged in an replied to one, because it was such a silly one putting down bloggers, or at least “mommy bloggers”.
Here is the original article for your viewing and reading pleasure:
http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/26/living/women-blogher-conference/index.html?hpt=hp_bn11
Happy bumping!
xxoo,
The Liebster Award
I’ve been nominated for the Liebster Award by 3monkeysmommy a few days ago and am totally honored!
A little bit of background about the award:
It’s received by bloggers who have less than 200 followers. It facilitates in bloggers getting a chance to network and recognize each other, while building reader/followership. All in all, its way to build community and pay it forward.
So what is the Liebster Award, you ask? It is an award given to up and coming bloggers with less than 200 followers. The rules of the award are:
1. Link back to the blog that nominated. – CHECK 2. Nominate 5-11 blogs with fewer than 200 followers. – CHECK 3. Answer the questions posted by the nominator. – CHECK 4. Share 11 random facts about yourself. – CHECK 5. Create 11 questions for my nominees. – CHECK 6. Contact my nominees and let them know they have been nominated. – CHECK
11 Random Facts About Me
1. I’m the only girl out of my siblings and the youngest
2. I’m in the military
3. I live 600 miles away from my home state
4. I hate cold weather, love warm weather…like 85+ is what I’m talking about.
5. Diamonds are my favorite gem
6. I’m a chocoholic
7. I’m arachnophobic
8. I’m 3 months older than my husband
9. I’m both excited and anxious about having a baby (due in October)
10. I drive a Nissan Altima, but have always wanted a Chevy Camaro since the new one came out after Transformers.
11. I’m really big on taking care of my fingernails. I file and paint them at least once a week, if not twice.
11 Questions from 3monkeysmommy
1) What inspires your blog? Impending motherhood mostly, but a little bit of everything. I love cooking, especially baking, arts & crafts, entertainment, travelling, shopping, beauty, fashion…I could go on forever!
2) Are you right- or left-handed? Right-handed
3) How many wallets do you own? Two, I use a card case on a daily basis, because its handy in uniform. I have a larger wallet in my purse with credit cards and such in it.
4) Fav tv show? Too many to pick, but for the moment its Pretty Little Liars.
5) What’s your idea of the perfect Saturday night? Anything that involves spending time with my husband.
6) What is your most prized possession? Material – my car, because I actually own it. Personally – my husband and baby
7) Shaken or stirred? Hmm…neither, I don’t drink. If I did drink it’d probably be shaken, because I’m adventurous.
8) How many projects do you have on the go right now? Too many!
9) Who’s your celebrity crush & why? Oh goodness…this is another one of those ‘too many to name’.
10) Best book you’ve read lately? The Bible
11) Fav movie of all time? Again, another too many to name.
And now, I’ll announce the nominees:
Thirty.Seven.Four
…and anyone else who has less than 200 followers I nominate you for this award. Please pay it forward and link back to me! 
11 Questions for nominees:
-
What is your fave food?
-
Sweet or Savory?
-
Winter or Summer?
-
All time favorite movie?
-
Fave holiday?
-
What’s your favorite thing about blogging?
-
What do you want to be when you grow up?
-
What’s your summertime jam right now? What song got you bobbing your head?
-
Chocolate chip or Sugar?
-
Pants or dresses?
-
The mountains or the beach?
Happy bumping!
xxoo,
