// The Genius Blogger's Toolkit - Ultimate Bundles - 98% Off This Week ONLY!

THE GENIUS BLOGGER'S TOOLKIT

So I've been a ~"professional" blogger for over 7 years, right here at this little web address. It's crazy to think about what all this blog entails - beginnings, endings, adventures, transformations, etc. I'm so grateful for all of the opportunities I've been given because of this blog. I've met some amazing friends, I've traveled some amazing places, and I've worked with some amazing brands. And I've been able to do most all of that on my own time, at my own leisure, and boy that feels good. It's no secret that I've been a bit MIA from here for the past little bit, but I certainly have the blogging fever. I've been working my way through the Genius Blogger's Toolkit since I got my bundle last week, and I love reading about other people's passions - and since they're all blogging related in this bundle it's making me really miss that kind of dedication and community. I don't know exactly what this means for me yet (as written in yesterday's post), but I know it's had me thinking. 

Anyway, my PR + Marketing Ebook for Bloggers is included in this bundle, but man oh man I feel like it pales in comparison to so many other resources included! I'm so inspired and motivated after only having read a few of the Ebooks. There are 62 ebooks, ecourses and printable packets included, and they're valued at $3,665.40. There are also 17 digital bonuses valued at $1,387.00 - Together that brings the total value of this bundle to over $5,000! And it's currently $97! (But it's only available for 7 days!)



Topics covered include: photography, content creation, monetization, partnerships, passive income streams, email marketing, ebook/ecourse creation, branding, marketing. Of course that's far from an exhaustive list but you can see everything on the sale page.

I buy a lot of "bundles" like this for my design business - typography, templates, graphics, etc. I'm such a fan of how bundles operate and I love knowing I am getting a crazy high (98%) discount. I can't vouch for the entirety of this bundle since I haven't finished it yet, but I can say that it's fan-freaking-tastic so far and I've already dove into over $450 worth of resources - with plenty more to go. 

If you do any kind of blogging - professional, photography, small business, food, craft, whatever! - you could probably find so many things beneficial in this collection. It's worth checking out at least! Feel free to share it with anyone you might know who would be interested. There are 2 other options available where you can get in on the 12 week Mastermind sessions and all that jazz - they're currently up for Early Bird pricing but only until Thursday night I think. You can see all those details HERE. Happy blogging!

THE GENIUS BLOGGER'S TOOLKIT

xo KB

// 5 Blogging Tips v.2

In the second installment of 5 Blogging Tips I wanted to break up my typical format and go slightly more in-depth on individual bullet points in hopes of giving you the most information I can. While I won't be listing out 5 exact tips, I'll be sharing many on one topic. Today that topic is Purchasing Advertising Space! Spending your hard earned dollars on a little graphic in someone's sidebar might seem scary (and it sort of is at first!), but I'm hoping to help make the whole process easier to understand. When you break it down into easy to tackle tasks, it becomes a lot more transparent.

If you're a blog or shop and you want to get more eyes on your brand, advertising is often the way to go. There are many forms of advertising in the blog world: sidebar banners, sponsored content (features and giveaways), product reviews, interviews and guest post opportunities, and product integration. If you're a blogger (without a product to sell), those options get smaller. Even still, there's a wealth of opportunities out there, but you have to be sure that the exposure you're paying for is worth it.

I haven't advertised my blog in years, but I find news blogs I love the same way I'd recommend many of you find new blogs to sponsor: Use the Passionfruit Marketplace. Not all bloggers use Passionfruit, but it's a great place to get your toes wet if advertising is a new venture for you. I love the Marketplace because it allows me to see a screenshot of the blog and a range of ad prices right there on the first page. Not to mention it allows sponsors to purchase ad space right then and there! (The only con: You shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, and you might miss out on a highly trafficked blog with really great content because you overlooked it as "too bland" or "too expensive" or vice versa). If you're going to advertise on blogs, I suggest making a running list of blogs you really enjoy that have a similar demographic to what you're aiming for. You can hock a product on a huge blog all day long, but if those readers don't overlap with your demographic, it's a lost cause. Money down the drain! When you have a list of blogs you love, start comparing their monthly page views, price of their ads, and the perks they give you. I've even gone ahead and made a (very) simple worksheet to help you do this. Feel free to click the image below and save it to your desktop to print!

One very important thing to remember: You should always set a budget! Set a number and stick to it. Sometimes that budget will allow you to advertise on 3 smaller blogs at once, and sometimes it means you'll have to risk it all on one ad on a much larger blog. It's really all trial and error at first. Find what works for you and your brand. But don't be afraid to go big... Sometimes that pays off more than 3 small blogs with similar readership will. (Remember, a lot of blogs share the same readership, so if you sponsor 3 blogs that are too much alike, you're basically paying to advertise to the same reader 3 times! Try not to overlap these too much!)

Be wary of blogs who have a ton of ads in their sidebar, or are constantly posting giveaways or reviews one after the other. Not to be snooty, but it's likely that they're in it for the wrong reasons, or their sponsors aren't getting a lot of dedicated attention. I've seen blogs whose content is buried beneath a million product reviews a week... I bet their readers are sick of those reviews. At least to a certain point, don't you think? Try to get the best bang for your buck. Make sure your product or ad will have the most eyes on it as possible. Ideally a blogger will open an advertising program because she wants to actually help the sponsoring brand. Not because she thinks she'll get some free swag from it. 

When you buy a sidebar ad, put a lot of thought and time into your ad graphic. This will hands down make or break your sponsorship. People don't usually click on pixelated, "ugly" ads. If you're not skilled in Photoshop, find someone who is! A lot of bloggers offer to make the ad for you (After all, it is their sidebar it'll be going in! They want it to look nice!). Some bloggers will allow you to put a discount code right on the ad, too. This is great if you're looking to gain new clients or customers. Plus everyone who looks at it will be aware of your deal!

Don't forget to calculate in the "perks" of certain sponsorship options. This is something I learned pretty quickly when I advertised for my blog back in the day. I'd throw down loads of cash on a huge blog, but they never did anything for me. Sure, my graphic sat in the sidebar for 1 month, but they never did anything to call attention to it. Then I opted to purchase ad space on a slightly smaller blog (but still pretty big), and she made it a priority to highlight me at least 2 or 3 times a month. Not only was the ad space cheaper, but it was more beneficial to me as a paying sponsor! This inspired me to ensure every ad space on my blog has a perk with it. I always over deliver, too, because that blogger showed me the value of a mention. Also keep in mind there are many readers out there with AdBlock installed and/or they read strictly from an RSS feed! In this case, sidebar ads won't show up for them. If the blogger you're sponsoring doesn't offer "in-post" mentions or social media shout outs, that should weigh on your decision, too!

Take advantage of any and all deals bloggers are offering! Does it make sense to buy 2 or 3 months at a time? If you're saving a hefty chunk of change, totally! (Just be mindful of your budget and make sure you can move the money from the following months!) Not only will this save you money, but you'll also become a staple on that blog! I have a few sponsors on my sidebar that have been there for a year or more... over a year! Without a break! Okay so I don't mean to brag, but thinking of that just makes my day. They feel like it's a worthwhile investment to be here, month after month. And my readers have grown to know them. Exposure doesn't necessarily happen overnight. Sometimes you just have to show up, time after time, in order to gain that brand recognition. Personally I'd rather have a steady stream of daily hits over one or two days of "WHOA!" that fizzles out. But that's a personal preference and before you advertise with anyone you should think about what you would consider to be a "successful" sponsorship! That means something different to almost everyone. One thing I always like to make my sponsors aware of is: I can bring you to my readers/my readers to you, but I can't make them stay. It's like the old saying "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink." When you advertise on someone's blog, it's THEIR responsibility to make your presence known, but it's YOUR responsibility to deliver the goods (whether it's quality content, great products, and/or friendly service). A blogger can't make someone buy into a brand. They can only make them aware of it!

If you're still nervous about throwing a bunch of money down at the prospect of a wider audience, start small! There's nothing wrong with starting off with the smallest ad or a smaller blogger. Don't feel like you have to go "balls to the wall" in order to get great results. At the end of the day (err, month?) it's all about how you feel your money was spent. If it was less than stellar, make note of that on your worksheet and move on to a different blogger. There's no magical equation for success in the blog world. Most of it boils down to being willing and dedicated!

That's it for today! A few more blogging tips to help you get your blog in tip-top shape! If you missed the first installment of 5 Blogging Tips, click HERE! I'll be sharing more in the coming weeks, but as always, if you have any specific questions you'd like addressed, feel free to give me a shout! You can leave them in the comments, @reply me on Twitter (@kaelahbee) or get in touch via email! I'm happy to try and help shed some light on anything you might want to know!

// 5 Blogging Tips v.1

I receive a lot of emails enquiring about blogging tips and advice, so I thought I'd compile another post around some of the most frequently asked questions and topics. Blogging is super relative and it means different things to different people. The approach and execution of two blogs are rarely ever the same (at least they shouldn't be since it's an endeavor unique to each person).

1. Unique, original content. This one is hard to do because the internet is so big! Regardless of what idea or topic you come up with, chances are it's been discussed 500 times before. However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't write about it! Every person has a unique perspective. Even if there's a DIY out there you've dreamt up but then realize so-and-so did it six months ago, don't let that dissuade you from doing your version! No single person owns every piece of content on the internet, so put your spin on an article or project and share it with your readers. If you're directly influenced by someone then be sure to give credit where credit is due! But otherwise, don't cloud your creativity with everyone else's version. Of course if you want to ensure that you're not subconsciously recalling another blogger's idea/words then give it a Google or try using Grammarly. (Not only can you check the grammar in your blog posts, but you can also use their plagiarism checker because no one wants to be a second-rate version of someone else!) If you want to check out the other versions of your idea, wait to look them up until after you've written your own! That way your content won't be influenced by someone else's. You could always link to your favorites at the end of your post.

2. Promoting your posts. There are a million different ways to go about promoting your own posts in order to get more eyes and ears on your content. There are so many social media platforms today that it's a bit overwhelming when you try to think of them all. Don't feel like you need to flood the internet with your "New post!" announcements. Rather than half-heartedly hit every social media platform, choose your favorites (based on your personal preference or the ones that perform the best) and really push them there. No one likes to 15 tweets in one day letting them know about your new post, so keep it simple. One at the time of publishing, and then one maybe 12 hours later. I think 2 pushes on Twitter are acceptable due to time zones and work schedules, but I wouldn't push a post more than once on Facebook, Tumblr, or Instagram honestly. But that's just my personal opinion! Some people like to utilize hashtags on Instagram, but they're not my favorite. I use them on our Him + Honey work just to connect with similar photographers, but otherwise I usually steer clear of them. Tumblr can be a great place to build a second following especially if you're a fashion/style related blog. Facebook has always been the trusty go-to but due to their change in algorithms, now only 10-15% of your "fans" are seeing your posts. I still utilize Facebook but I don't have a whole lot of personality over there (I reserve that for IG, Twitter and Tumblr!)

The best way to handle your promotions is to test the waters and different times of the day, and use different wordings to see what sticks. I only promote original content on Instagram and Tumblr, but all posts get published to Twitter and Facebook. This works for me since IG and Tumblr rely heavily on visual aides. There's no promotional plan that is "one size fits all." It takes effort to find what works for you and your blog. Ninety percent of the time I like to post at 7am CST. That way people can catch up on my blog while they drink their morning coffee or when they settle into work. On days that I don't pre-schedule my posts, I try to have them up by 9 or 10am CST. Then there are days like today where I let life's other responsibilities get in the way and I don't publish until mid-day. Usually I don't post anything if I can't post it by 10am, but sometimes I make exceptions. Find what time(s) work best for you and your readers.

3. Bringing in new features. Regular features are a great way to grow a loyal audience. I was far from the first person to do Things I Love Thursday posts, but over time and through a lot of "dedicated" to the feature, I've garnered a lovely group of readers who come by every Thursday just for that feature. If you want to start a feature, even if it's not super innovative or new, give it your own spin. Try to make it as unique as you can to you. Also try to make sure that your features are relevant to your readers in some way. Chances are if you're reading a blog about "blogging tips" then you want to grow your blog and it's not necessarily a place just for you. This means you need to pay attention to the types of readers you attract. Even though I've only done one installation of Rad Gal, Rad Gig so far, I'm so stoked at the response and I'm so inspired to keep meeting neat girls! That feature really fits with my demographic because I have an almost exclusively female readership, and if I'm being honest, my readers are pretty rad... so, naturally I want to showcase their awesome hobbies and talents. I'm inspired by them and it goes full circle!

You can try to dedicate a specific day each week or month to your feature, or you can do it when the mood strikes. I think it's great to have a set day when you can, that way your readers will learn to expect it and they can always drop in when it's time for that feature.

4. Nixing features that aren't exactly home runs. I've had a few questions about this specifically: What do I do when I'm so excited about a new feature, but no one else is? Man, that's the worst! I hate when you get all hyped up about something and you spend a ton of time on it, thinking "They'll love this!" and then it seems to fall on deaf ears. It can be super heartbreaking and it can bruise your ego a little bit... but you have two choices: Keep it going because you love it, or let it go. It can be tough to say goodbye to something that really inspired you, so if it's worth the time and energy for you to do it personally, keep on keepin' on! You may not get the pageviews and comments you were hoping for that day, but you'll feel awesome for having done it. If you're not a fan of feeling like no one cares, think about why your readers didn't jump on it the way you did. Different strokes for different folks, seriously. You can try to think of ways to tweak it, or you can move on to the next great idea.

Believe me, if I didn't care who read my blog, my blog would be ALL SHARKS, ALL THE TIME! But I also realize that most people don't care about sharks the way I do. Sure, I'd feel totally inspired by the content, but I don't think everyone else would haha

5. Think about aesthetics! Whew! This one is a big one for me. I've made all of these mistakes, so please don't think I'm on a high horse here! In fact, I still make a huge cardinal sin daily on this blog and I just like the way it looks so I don't care. (I justify all of my blog posts... despite knowing it's not the best way to set text. I know, I know! But I really like it so I do it anyway!) A few things you should keep in mind when you format your blog posts: Centered text is almost impossible to read if it's longer than one line length. Centered text is fine for photo captions or calls to action, but please don't center your entire blog post! Our eyes aren't meant to read type that way. It makes us lose our place and gives us a headache! If I see a blog post in centered type, I never ever read it. It just takes too long and too much effort. Make sure and post your photos to the FULL SIZE of the blog post! I didn't do this one for a long time (go back in my archives... anything without a "//" in the title means that the images are smaller than the body!) You'll be amazed at how much of a difference it makes in the look and quality of your blog. When things are aligned on the sides, it becomes so much easier for the human eye to follow. It gives a nice consistency to your blog! Here's a pretty outdated blog post about making your photos the full width of the body on your blog. Also avoid cluttering up your sidebars or putting them too close to your body content. Don't be afraid to leave some white space so your blog can "breathe". Your readers will thank you!

That's it for today! 5 blogging tips to help you get your blog in tip-top shape! I have loads more to share over the coming weeks, but if you have any specific questions you'd like addressed, feel free to give me a shout! You can leave them in the comments, @reply me on Twitter (@kaelahbee) or get in touch via email! I'm happy to try and help shed some light on anything you might want to know!

This post was in partnership with Grammarly. All opinions are my own 

(and I actually have a Grammarly account!)

// Blogs... And Why We Write/Read

Blogging is one of those things I've always found to be sort of fascinating. I mean, in a way they're like mini-magazines or tv shows. Some bloggers develop scores of fans and go on to become authors, appear on tv, or land huge brand collaborations. Of course a ton of hard work (and maybe a smidge luck) goes into each instance, but what's the one thing all blog have in common? All blogs started at the very bottom. Zero pageviews. Zero comments. Zero content. It doesn't matter if you were super popular online before launching your blog, you still had to start with nothing. When you think of it that way, it's totally fascinating to see how far blogs have come. I'm always wondering "Why did so-and-so start blogging? What made her say 'Oh this looks fun!'? What lead her to certain choices? What has she gained from it?" - And not in a judgmental way! I really mean that in a sincere and curious manner.

For me, I have to think back to my LiveJournal days. Well, DeadJournal if I'm being totally honest! And maybe even Xanga before (after?) that! While I tended to keep my online journals "friends only," I started racking up friends left and right, so basically anyone could read what I wrote. I was the queen of the overshare, I'm sure of it. I had just turned 21 and I was getting ready to move to NYC to work at BUST magazine for the summer, and I wanted my friends and family to be able to follow along with my shenanigans in the city but I certainly didn't want them reading my LJ. A compromise (this blog!) was born. 

I didn't go into blogging with the clear cut idea that I was going to make it a "job" and monetize. In fact I'm not even sure I knew what that word meant haha! I was simply interested in sharing my adventures with anyone who wanted to read. I remember making the conscious decision to monetize around the one year mark of my blog. I think I had around 500 or so followers and I thought that was a decent following. The next Spring I decided to share outfits. Then it was doing design for hire via my blog, and various other online shops and ventures. I had/have the opportunity to work with brands, big and small, and sort of hone something I've been working on for nearly 5 years. While I recognize the ability to monetize and make my blog a job, I also recognize that I do it for several other reasons...

For instance, I share outfits not to just hopefully "inspire" people (that's not it at all actually), but to help me find confidence in myself. It's easy to feel like the odd duck when you're a short, curvy gal and sometimes straight sizes are limiting but you also still can't wear most plus size brands. There's actually a lot of gals like that in the blog world, so it's refreshing and makes me feel less strange. In a way sharing outfits on here also keeps me accountable... for getting dressed during the day. That probably sounds a little sad (it sort of is...) but if you work from home then you probably understand. Over the years that I've shared outfits here, I've grown so much more appreciative of myself. The little quirks and flaws that I'm made of. And it's those "quirks" and "flaws" that make me adore other bloggers, as well. Sure, model-esque fashion bloggers can be great, but they don't particularly inspire me. I read so many blogs of just regular ol' everyday gals and I love them. Even if their style is so unlike my own. I love to read about their journeys and adventures.

I love to write about being self employed and owning several small businesses because 1) it's what I'm passionate about, and 2) I want other people to know you don't have to go the traditional route to have a happy and fulfilling life. You can have a family, nice home, a well-adjusted life, etc, and be self employed! In turn I love to read blogs that sort of share that belief.

I could say that I write my blog solely for my family and friends, but that's be a big ol' load of crap. At one time, yes, that was the driving force. But now it's to connect with people who share similar interests and stories, and even people who are a bit kooky and live a life I'd never dream of. It's a way to connect with those like me, and those who intrigue me. --- To be completely honest, I'm not sure I read any "big" blogs. I mean, there are a few that I read that are around the size of my own, but I don't think I read any blogs of any "blog famous" people. They just don't speak to me the same way smaller, more personal blogs do. That's why each week, when I sit down to return comments on my blog, I end up finding tons of new, amazing gals to follow. Whether we're on different sides of the globe or in very different stages in our lives, there's almost always something I can say I'm inspired by when I visit each of these blogs. That's why I read. and that's also why I write. 

I guess what I'm getting at here is: I'm curious. Why do you read blogs? What sets a blog apart from the others for you? What drew/draws you to the ones you frequent? And even better: Why do you blog? What do you feel like you gain from sharing what you do? In what ways have you grown since starting your blog? (Or how do you hope to grow over time?) -- The world of blogging is equal parts fascinating, weird, silly, and amazing. Some of my life's best opportunities and friendships have come directly from this blog. I'd be lying if I said there weren't times I've thought about throwing in the towel, but ultimately I know I've made these connections because I've persevered. I'm not necessarily one to network or beat down virtual doors for partnerships, but I'm more than pleased with what this little blog has brought into my life. But I think I'm just waxing poetic honestly haha!

PS; Those pictures of the furry things are totally unrelated, I know. But I like any excuse to share photos of those silly things.

// The Evolution of Blogging

Have you noticed a shift in the blogging world recently? Part of me has been wondering if it's a widespread thing or if it's something that I'm sort of projecting due to my own feelings toward blogging. While there was no specific "start" date for the shift, I attribute a lot of the change to the end of Google Reader. Many bloggers publicized the ability to subscribe to their blog via Feedly and Bloglovin. While I love Bloglovin (and feeds in general) and read blogs exclusively this way, it has completely changed the interactions on blogs. 

Truth be told, I was never super invested in Google Reader. It was never my main method of blog reading. My GR was filled with too much junk and unsubscribing to blogs was a bit too time intensive honestly. For this very reason I read blogs via bookmarks -- yeah, old school. Once I started using BlogLovin (post GR), I became very intentional with my subscriptions. Currently I only subscribe to about 13 blogs. That doesn't mean I'll only read those 13 blogs, but I've been very slow and meticulous about what blogs I add and why. It's a stark comparison when you consider I subscribed to over 300 in GR/Blogger... I never read that many blogs! Opening GR to me was like immediately setting myself up for failure. BlogLovin (and Feedly) allows me to have a "fresh start" with blog subscriptions, and I really like that.

I've witnessed (and participated) in several conversations about this shift in blogging recently. Mandi of Making Nice In The Midwest recently posed the question "Do you ever just have one of those nights where you wonder if you're even relevant any more? Like, internet wise, not like real life wise." I feel like that's a potentially loaded question, but it was born simply due to dwindling blog stats. Many bloggers (including myself) chimed in and mentioned that they've had these thoughts, too, and that Mandi certainly wasn't alone. Even "professional bloggers" nodded in agreement and expressed their thoughts on the issue. Mandi suggested the change came with GR dying and people opting to follow less blogs. I mean, that's what I did, so it seemed to make sense. I added to the conversation by saying that the slack in the blog world helped me feel more comfortable stepping away for a few days at a time. I don't feel as pressured to create content every single day. In the 4.5 years prior I felt like I needed to keep on the grind in order to keep up with everyone else. So in one way it's a blessing that blogging is letting up, even though my thoughts were totally self-imposed. There were/are tons of other bloggers out there who can go days, weeks, months between posts and still have an engaged and excited audience. I think being okay with those breaks as a blogger is actually what's so surprising, ya know?

Are you a blogger? Have you noticed a change in your blogging stats and the interaction on your blog? Do you publicize BlogLovin or Feedly as a way to subscribe to your blog? This is my theory: These feeds allows an alternative way to read blogs. Readers no longer have to visit the blogs themselves, and they don't even have to read truncated feeds. I've read contrasting opinions and "facts" on whether or not BlogLovin hits actually "count" as pageviews if the BL navigation bar is still in play, so to play it safe when I visit a blog via BlogLovin on the computer I always click the little [X] in the nav bar so I'm just reading the blog as is. I read blogs because I truly enjoy them, and I want those bloggers to see that reflected in their pageviews. Clicking out of the little [X] (even if it does nothing more than give me peace of mind) literally takes no extra effort. However, I do almost all of my blog reading on the BlogLovin app... where I can see the whole blog post at a glance. I've yet to find a source that says the BL app gives those pageviews. I hate the fact that the easiest way for me to read blogs means that I'm skimping out on giving bloggers pageviews (and pageviews = profit!). I also found it difficult and tedious to check out the comments on the app. (You can fix this by going into your BL app settings and turning off "mobile view" - the blog will load as though you're viewing in a browser, and you can quickly access comments, too!) 

Feedly is also a popular blogging feed that many use. Feedly gained insane amounts of popularity when GR was going down (so much popularity that the site crashed for a while!). I love the way Feedly allows you to customize the reading experience, but Feedly doesn't count toward stats at all. That was the reason I decided to ditch my Feedly account. I felt like it wasn't fair for the blogs that I was reading.

In my opinion comments and engagement have also dwindled due to the switch. Maybe a lot of people are just "over" blogs (I totally get it!) and maybe the blogging bubble is about to burst. Who knows! I've been a little shocked at how many "huge" bloggers I follow whose comments have dwindled by upwards of 40-50%. I've noticed it on my own blog, too. I've even noticed it as a blog reader. I'm more of a quiet reader myself, but I try to be mindful of my presence and comment any time I have something to add to the conversation, but doing so through feeds is more time consuming, thus making me less likely to do it. Mandi's blog is one that I read regularly, but because I don't like clicking through and waiting for multiple pages to load, I rarely comment. (And if you want to get technical, that means I'm contributing to her bummer feelings toward herself/her blog because I don't interact. And I say "her" as a universal pronoun which encompasses all blogs that I read!) 

No one wants to be that entitled person who feels like they're owed something by their readers. After all, it's only blogging. Yet at the same time I think people want to understand why blogging is going the way it's going. Is it silly to invest all of this time thinking and worrying about it? Well, that depends on who you ask. I think in this day and age there are so many "professional" bloggers who basically do their blog for a living. I know it's a goal for a lot of people. There's nothing wrong with the job and there's nothing wrong with the goal - but much like the 9 to 5 job market, you have to be hyper-aware of what's going on around you in order to "make it." 

A large part of me wonders where blogging will be in 6, 12, and 24 months. Obviously blogs will always exist, but I'm speaking more in terms of being digital influencers. One or two years ago, blogging was at an all time high. Bloggers were "celebrities" and brands flocked to them at rapid speed. Many brands severed their blogger programs all together and even more cut back on their outreach greatly. I'm wondering if it's a sign of the times or if it's just a coincidence... What do you think?

I plan to continue blogging as long as it's fun for me. I blogged with less than 5 readers for quite a while in the beginning, and while those posts are uber embarrassing, they were honest and authentic. I wonder if we'll start seeing as rise in authenticity in the blog world again? I'm probably just reading too far into it... It's all speculation and nonsense at this point anyway! Haha

Edited to add: Another potential culprit of blog engagement: Instagram and Twitter. So much is shared quickly on those two platforms, it's almost pointless to go read a blog now. Not only that, but 90% of the time when I ask a question via the blog, my readers will engage with me on Twitter or IG instead. Interactions are quicker and more likely to get noticed. I don't know how I forgot to include these in my post! (Thanks to Danielle + Melissa for reminding me!) -- Is Instagram the new blog?!

// 10 Ways To Spread The Blog Love

Part of my 25 Before 26 goal list this year was to spend more time reading y'alls blogs and returning all of the sweet comments that you leave here on LCH day after day. I try to dedicate an evening each week to poke through the comments left that week and spread a little kindness your way. Since I've started doing this, I've noticed a huge change in the way that I view blogging. It's going to sound so silly (side-eye me if you must!) but it's true. I've noticed this new, refreshing feeling when I open my Bloglovin' account or Blogger dashboard. Not just that, but I've also found *so* many new blogs and shops that I'm crazy about. For the past while I've honestly felt jaded and disenchanted by the blog world. I think I let a little bit of negativity breed into something much bigger, and then it sucked the fun right out of it. I've taken certain measures these past few weeks to really try to get my blogging mojo back (whatever that is) and I'm hoping a few of my suggestions will help you feel (and share!) the blog love, too. Everyone enjoys blogging more when it's fun. Let's try and keep it that way! 

Here's how you can help spread the love in the blog world:

1. Spend an evening or afternoon perusing your own blog's comments. Click through to the names that you start recognizing. Not only will this help you notice some loyal blog readers, but it's a great boost of self-esteem to read kind and considerate words. Read your readers' blogs. Leave them sincere comments in return. You'd be amazed at how many people you share interests with!

2. Search through their blog and find a post that resonates with you. Scout out their shops and take note of the awesome products they're creating. Share these finds with your readers! On Twitter, Facebook, or your own blog. It's highly likely that your audience would enjoy these things, too. (I'm working on an ever-growing list of new favorite blog finds! Yours might be on it :P)

3. Try and find at least one new blog per week that you really dig. Subscribe! 

4. Check out their sponsors and friends in the sidebar or blog roll. Click through to a few that look interesting. Find new blogs and shops that appeal to you, all the while supporting the blogger and their advertisers/friends.

5. Reach out to someone who inspires you. Whether they have 50 blog readers or 50,000 - Let them know that you love what they're putting out into the world. 

6. Clear out the clutter! Unsubscribe from all of the blogs that you feel don't add anything of value to your day (even if that includes LCH!) Make room for the inspiring, creative bloggers you've yet to discover. 

7. Don't be afraid that you'll "give away your readers" by linking out to someone else. Your readers will be grateful that you shared an awesome new blog or shop. There's enough room on the internet for everyone.

8. Truly read the blog posts of others. Really take it all in. Don't just skim over the body copy and then leave a generic copy-and-paste comment just so you can plug your own blog. Other commenters will be more likely to click over to check you out if you're giving insightful and sincere comments.

9. Engage in the conversation. Did you see a blogger ask about a beauty product or song recommendation? Have you be in the same boat as a fellow blogger and want to share your perspective? Get to talkin'! Don't be afraid of being repetitive or losing your voice in the crowd. The only way you can be heard is if you speak up!

10. Be a source of encouragement and positivity for those around you. Promote what you love instead of bashing what you hate.

Can you think of other ways to spread the blog love?

PS; A very very special Happy Birthday goes out to one of my oldest and truest best friends, Shannon! I wish we weren't separated by 700 miles, but I hope I get to see you soon! (Psst - her blog is the bomb dot com! Share some of your newfound blog love by popping over and telling her happy birthday!)

// OhLife - Write In Private About Your Life

Things have been quiet around here this weekend. I'm (hopefully) coming off of an icky stomach flu and that's seriously my least favorite feeling in the world. I slept 21 of the past 24 hours and have only eaten a small handful of Saltines in that time. At this point I'm starving and feel like I could go 3 days without sleeping haha But I wanted to share a blogging platform with y'all today because I think you might like it!

I will always love LiveJournal. Always. I started blogging on LJ in 2002 and to this very day, I still have an active account I log into daily. I don't update my actual journal anymore, but I still spend time in various communities, etc. One thing that I loved about LJ is that I could be as open and raw as I wanted (and I often was... Not exactly the best idea when you start friending a lot of people on there!) But LJ saw me grow up. Relationships, break ups, school drama and regular ol' worries. Even though I cringe at the sheer thought of it, I often like to go pick a random month in my archives and read all about what was hyping me up at the time. I do miss that private glimpse into how I really felt at any given moment. I guess I could easily keep a written journal, but I've never been able to stay consistent with those. When I found out about OhLife in early March, I decided to give it a go and see what it was all about.

OhLife is a private journalling platform where you can write in as much, or little, detail as you'd like. OhLife sends you an email once per day, at your designated time, and you simply respond directly there in your inbox. You write whatever you want to include, hit "Send" and voila! A new blog post. 

I have my emails set to be delivered at 8pm because that's usually around the time our whole family winds down. Toby comes in from outside and gets ready for his bath. Mike starts cooking dinner. And I work on finishing up my last bit of lingering work. Some days in my OhLife are dramatic and awfully emotional, while other days are "Went to the grocery store. Played baseball with Toby. Took a long bath." Some days I don't even respond to the email.

To me, OhLife is the perfect balance of how to remember the past with the key details, all the while venting when I need to vent. Sometimes there are things that I see/experience from blogging that I wouldn't feel comfortable divulging on LCH. I'll tell Mike, and I'll tell a friend perhaps, but when I really want to just "get it all out", I'll put it in my OhLife journal. I also love that it's 100% private. No friends to add, no journals to read. It's just for you, the author. So many blogging platforms today are based on what you as an author can do to attract other readers, but not this one. This one is solely for your benefit.

I know loads of you are from the LiveJournal generation, too, and that's why I wanted to share this platform. I have so many micro-blogs going it's hard to remember them all, but I can see this one being like LJ - sticking around for a while. Blogger is great for socializing, LJ is great for the communities I grew up loving, Tumblr is great for photo inspiration, and Jux is great for a drama-free "happy zone"... but OhLife is great for being real. I love that. You'll have to let me know if you decide to try it out!

PS; I wasn't compensated in any way to write this post. I know that's the first thing people assume when they see a post full of adoration for a product. I just really dig it!

Currently In The Works...

As silly as it sounds, I've been hard at work on a little blogger e-course since March. The subject: PR for bloggers and small online businesses. The idea first came to be when Mike and I were driving in the car way back when. Like some random bolt of lightning it just dawned on us. I'm not sure how the conversation started... maybe something like me expressing my distaste for the blatant lack of professionalism on both sides of the fence when it came to partnering up with other brands/bloggers. Either way, we started snowballing ideas. Days passed, weeks passed, and then months. I was so overwhelmed by how much information there was and how I was going to manage to localize it to one place. Six months later and it's still not finished, but it's well on it's way! 

I've searched high and low for an ecourse/ebook like this and I simply haven't found one. Darren Rowse (ProBlogger) came out with one called Guide to Blogging about your Business as well as one called Guide to Online Marketing (each of those links actually gets you 50% off the prices). I'm almost always into Darren's stuff but these were just too expensive for me (they're regularly $100!). I haven't read them and instead I've decided to write my own. 

Blogging can be a tough game. Especially if you're into a niche market like fashion, tech or travel. That kind of spending can add up fast! There are a ton of blogs who are successful on little cash, and that's awesome! Most of us have to shell out money for an awesome layout, sponsorships, business cards, etc etc. We don't have $50+ to throw into an ebook. 

My Blogging PR ebook will be designed with multiple niches of online personalities in mind. Maybe you're a fashion blogger, craft blogger or an Etsian, whatever! I hope I can share some bits about how to successfully manage your blog while exceeding your growth potential!

Topics will include things as important as sponsorships (offering them and buying them), understanding your traffic and stats, blog/brand branding, how to handle "haters" or hate mail, how to attract readers (and more importantly: how to keep them!), honest and unbiased reviews, how to politely decline/turn someone away for sponsorship/review/etc, ways to promote yourself without being "spammy", working with/contacting brands, and professional etiquette just to name a few! 

Blogging takes a lot of time and effort. It's not for the faint of heart. If you're investing a lot of time and money into your blog then you hope to reap some sort of reward/benefit, right? Hopefully my PR ebook will help! I'm not some professional, know-it-all, expert or anything but I'd like to think that my knowledge of said pieces has increased ten-fold since I started blogging seriously a handful of years ago! 

The ebook will also feature a much more extended (and refined!) version of the DOs and DONTs of Blogging! It'll be a labor of love but I can't wait to share it with you! 

Is this an ebook that you would be interested in? What topics would you love to see covered?

(Above picture via Tumblr... and totally unrelated)

ETA: Since there's already been a buzz about affordability/pricing, the ebook will be priced absolutely no higher than $25 USD! Depending on the range I'm able to achieve with the ebook, it will absolutely be priced accordingly! Thank you for all of the support thus far! Obviously blogging wouldn't be quite as fun without you! &heart;s

Blogging Tut: Streamlining Photo Size

Blog design and aesthetics are a kind of a big deal to me. I'm a stickler for having all of my pictures being the same width because it creates an orderly, streamlined feel. Now, go back a year and a half or more and you'll see photos of all widths. I'm still embarrassed by this. I was in school for graphic design for goodness sake! (I'm still tempted to go edit them manually and fix it!) Okay, so aside from "How do I get more readers/followers?" question, the one I get most often is "How do I make all of my photos the same width?" I guess I scared people into insecurity with my Blogging DO's and DONT's post! That wasn't my intention, but if you've noticed you don't really like the look, I'm happy to help! It's undeniable that an audience likes big, full pictures. So let's give it to them! I promise it's a painless, super easy fix and you don't need to be a graphic design/coding pro to figure it out. Just follow these short and simple steps and you, too, will have a fabulously streamlined content area! It can also help boost your traffic and Google rank! *This tutorial is for those of you who don't want to Photoshop all of your pictures to the exact dimensions! I hate doing that and like keeping the original file so that's why I created this! xo

this is what you don't want it to look like!

First up, we need to determine what pixel area we're working with in our content area. The content area is the space where your blog entries show up. Generally to the side of, or in between your side panels. If you have a Mac, you can do a Shift+Apple+4 and "measure" the pixel width of this area to get a general idea. I'm working with a 490px content area. I know this by going to Dashboard --> Design --> Edit HTML and searching for "#main-wrapper" and it should tell you the pixel amount. (If your layout doesn't have this CSS in it, leave a comment below and I'll be happy to measure your layout for you! Just be sure to check back to see the answer and measurement!) You can also skip the measurement all together and just play around with a width number in your Blogger update. (For example, start with width=400 and if it's too skinny, go 450. if it's too wide, go 375. Play with it until you get a width that you think looks attractive!)

it should look something like this

Now that you know that, we can move on! I don't suggest hosting your photos with Blogger. AKA Don't start writing your entry and then use the little landscape button up there in the text editor to upload a photo. Why do I say this? Blogger compresses your photos and makes them grainy. Blogger also chooses preset sizes for "Small/Medium/Large" You can edit them, but they will be grainy. 

I suggest using a third party host such as Photobucket to host your files. (I know many will disagree with me, and even I did myself not long ago, but Photobucket is a great resource for someone who doesn't need a professional/ton amount of space and it's free. Even if you need unlimited bandwidth, it's like $2-$3 a month! Flickr is also a good alternative but unless you're a bit more familiar with coding, it can get a tad bit trickier!  There are several more steps involved with Flickr. (So for the sake of this tutorial, we're using Photobucket.com!) You can use any hosting site that gives you a direct link! For example, ImageShack, TinyPic, etc!

Now upload your photos! When you hover over the picture you want to select, the Direct Link will be copyable. Copy it and head over to your "New Post" page on Blogger.

Write up your post as normal and then find the places you want to place the pictures. Copy and paste this code below to put in *each* spot for the photo! ** Be sure to change the "490" number to the size of YOUR content area! If you want to give it a little padding, reduce it by 5 pixels and center the image! Be sure to delete the asteriks before using! **

<*img src="Direct Link URL Here" width="490" alt="Description of Photo"*>

* The ALT tag sends this message to Google/search engines when people are looking for something specific. If I tagged mine "Kaelah Bee Honeybee Outfit" then my photos would show up when someone Googled "Kaelah Bee". If you blog a rad recipe then add that description! You've got new readers just waiting to find you! The alt tag is completely optional!

* The reason we use "width" tag and not a "height" one or both is because your browser will automatically resize your image proportionally to fit the area and since we're more concerned with them lining up width-wise, that is all we take into consideration!

If you follow these short handy tips then your layout is for sure going to look like a million bucks!

A Few More Photo Tips...

* When editing your photos, make sure the file size is 72 dpi and not 300! This will help with layout loading time! 

*Change up the composition by putting two photos side by side in the space of one! This helps break up the monotony of really big pictures! 

*If you'd like to make your photo a clickable link (for a click-through source) then use this code below: (just remember to remove those pesky asteriks!)

<*a href="URL to Page/Source Here"><*img src="Direct Link URL Here" width="490" alt="Description of Photo"*><*/a>

Overall you should just use your blog to expand your knowledge of everything! Don't feel resigned to having something on your layout that you don't like. It should be an inspiring place that you love to contribute to, and it should be an aesthetically pleasing place for your readers to encourage them to stay a little while. If you don't know how to do something, Google it! I'm graduated with a BFA and I still have to Google certain things!

PS: I really wasn't sure how "easy" to make this so if you have questions, please chime in in the comments below! I'll be happy to try and answer those! Just be sure to check back every so often! Happy Blogging! 

Battling Blogger's Block

So I sat here for a little while staring at my computer and my blog book thinking "What am I going to possibly write about today? What on Earth could I say?" because truth be known: I don't have anything to say really. Nothing profound or exciting, nothing that seems interesting. Then I realized that we all face this... what to post and what not to post for fear that our words would fall upon deaf ears. "What if they don't get it the way I intended it?" I think these fears permeate the very core of every blogger at some point or another. Today's issue just seems to be that I don't know what to talk about. So here I am, rambling about not knowing what to say. Blogging about blogger's block! Ironic, much?

Last night's speech by President Obama was profound. I hope that all of the families affected by 9/11 can find some closure. Many thanks all around to our troops who are doing spectacular work! They get stuff done! Would you laugh at me if I told you that I spent most of the morning reblogging pictures of Obama riding a unicorn with rainbows shooting from his palms? It's true. I did.

To try and combat the blogger's block today I opted to work on some fascinators for the shop update later this week. I went out and bought some gorgeous lace this weekend and so I used a champagne lace for this one. No tulle underlining but just simply lace. I like it. It's very dainty and sweet (in my opinion). I also have white, antique white, brown and black to play with!

Anyway- back to my original point: I have a whole list of To-Do's and potential blog topics to write about in my little book (it's color coded, by the way! Organization FTW!), but I just can't seem to find something that fits into my schedule today or they simply just don't sound good enough right now. I have several DIYs to do, organizing through the house, and company to get ready for... do you ever feel like blogging has to take a backseat? (It definitely should, of course! Life is much more important!) But my point is to ask you this question: How do you combat blogger's block?

Any fool proof tricks and tips you've picked up along your way? I've asked you all what you wanted to see on the 'bee, and I loved your responses! All of them are on my list, but if you didn't get a chance to chime in before, What would you like to see on the 'bee?

I could really use your tips today! ;)

The DOs and DON'Ts of Blogging!

One of the most frequently asked questions I get is "How do I get more readers to my blog?" or some sort of variation. While I don't believe there is a fool-proof way to go about it, I think there are certain things you can do to keep you on track of having a successful blog. (Plus, even if there were a fool-proof method, I wouldn't feel worthy enough to preach it.) I think one of the biggest hangups of the term "successful blog" is that people tend to judge success by the amount of followers one has. That's obviously not a direct measure of a blog's (or bloggers) worth! I don't believe success should be measured by followers, sponsors, or free products... instead it should be measured by the amount of happiness it brings to the person writing, the quality of the content, and the conversations between the audience.

Still, it can be hard to find the motivation to blog when you've only got 4 or 5 followers. I know this because I was definitely there. Heck, even with the amount of amazing readers I have now I still find it hard to motivate myself sometimes (like right now).

While there may be certain things you can do to ensure that you make the most of your slice of the blogosphere, things like this are always open to criticism and argument. What I'll share below is simply what works for me. The next blogger may have a totally different approach to how they do things.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Here are some tips and tricks that I've used (and still do!) to help keep my blog running smoothly. Maybe some will work for you, too! Here are my DOs and DONTs! (Seriously... keep in mind this is purely my opinion!)

DON'T let the lack of readers hinder you from creating great content. For the first six months that I had Little Chief Honeybee I was writing to the same 10 or 15 people. 95% of my posts received 0 comments. (You can go look for yourself!) Still, I stayed consistent and I put forth that effort and eventually the readers came.

DO be consistent and sincere. These are two very different things, obviously, but they're both important. Being consistent allows readers to stay engaged to your blog. When bloggers go weeks or months without posts we tend to forget about them and we're not so likely to check back. The best way I found to keep my blogging consistent was to set a blogging schedule. Every Monday I'd blog about music, every Wednesday would be weddings, every Thursday would be a list of things that I love that week, etc. This helped me when I was feeling less than inspired and it also let my readers know what to expect on certain days. If someone loved music they could come by on Mondays and they knew they'd find some tunes. When I speak about being sincere I mean being honest, open, and, to a certain extent, vulnerable. People like to relate to other people. They like to see into the lives of other people in the world and they like to know they're not alone. By being honest and real you're sharing part of yourself that these strangers may never see. Blogging about things that make you feel vulnerable helps show that you're a human. You're not a super-blogging-robot who does everything on an auto-function. You have emotions, you break down, you celebrate, you cry and you aren't invincible. You'll be surprised at how many others can relate to you and help you in your time of need. Plus, people can smell a fake blog from a mile away.

While we're on the topic of being genuine vs. fake... DO Blog about what inspires you. Don't blog simply to appeal to the masses. If you're not a girl who loves whimsical pictures, fashion and romance, don't blog about it! If you love metal, live music or certain animals, share those! You may not be an overnight success and you may not garner the amount of attention that someone who blogs only bows and cupcakes does, but your readers will be genuine! They will be there for you and the content. If you're constantly blogging about things that don't inspire you and keep you interested then your lack of enthusiasm will show through your work. If you blog something and your readers just "don't get it" don't worry about it! Make sure your blog is FOR YOU.


DON'T get into blogging to make money, get famous, get free stuff, or get invited to places. Those who get into blogging solely for those reasons are destined to fail. Readers will see right through your persona and realize that you're just in it for the "stuff." Don't rush into accepting sponsors! I didn't even think about accepting sponsors until I had well over 500 or so followers. Even then I was so afraid! Who am I to ask people to pay me to put their button on my blog?! I still feel that way! When you start to put a price on your blog you're also turning it into a business. It's no longer a "I'll just blog when I feel like it" or "I'm just going to stop" sort of thing. It's a "I'm promoting a business and I'm getting paid to do this, so I need to do it." That's not to say you can't have a day off. I take days off all the time. If I just don't feel like doing it, I won't. But unless something big happens I never go 2 days without blogging.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

DO treat your readers and sponsors with the utmost respect. They are the ones who come back day after day and they are the ones who invest their time and money into you and your creative endeavors. Don't write them off or treat them poorly! Show your gratitude with an awesome giveaway now and then or a special treat!

DO source your pictures and content and always link back to other blogs if you get an idea or inspiration from them! Don't worry, your readers will not leave you simply because you linked to someone else! On the contrary, they'll probably love you for it and they'll think you're awesome for sharing another awesome blog with them! If you don't know the original source for your pictures, etc, be open to someone sharing it with you! Then link appropriately!

DON'T overload your blog with ads, giveaways, reviews, and unnecessary mumbo-jumbo! While they're great for treats and to help get your voice out there, they're not the best quality content.

DO network! Get your name out there in ways such as networking, saying hello or emailing your favorite bloggers, asking someone you admire for an interview, trading buttons with someone with a similar readership as you and even taking out sponsorships on larger blogs that have a following you wish to have! Don't be afraid to branch out to other "genres" of blogs... crafting, recipe/food, fashion, mom blogs, etc!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

DON'T feel like you have to be a fashion blog to be successful! I don't think I could ever run a full-fashion blog. I like sharing too much to limit it to just that, so Little Chief Honeybee is a lifestyle blog. My lifestyle just so happens to include outfit posts a few times a week! Don't feel like you have to limit yourself to just one area to gain followers. Also- Don't feel like you have to be a size 2 to rock some outfit posts! You don't need designer outfits, skinny jeans or platinum blonde hair to get noticed! Show your personality and your personal style!

DO find something that makes you unique and run with it! Whatever it may be... maybe you live in a really cool town/state/country... maybe you have crazy colored hair on the daily... maybe you wear only the color green... Whatever it is, play it up!

DON'T feed the trolls! You will get haters.. You will. It's the simple (and sad) truth of blogging. It may take them a while to find you, but you'll tick someone off for no reason whatsoever and they'll set out on a mission to tear down everything you've worked so hard to build up. Don't let them! If you receive a negative, rude, malicious or just unnecessary comment on your blog, you have three choices: 1) delete it and go about your business. 2) leave it and let the tension build with other commenters (I've realized that this is never a good thing. While it's nice to know my followers are willing to stick up for me, it's no one's battle but my own.) or 3) You can feed right into their trap with a reply/blog entry/etc. This is something I've also learned firsthand is never a good thing. Don't let a "hater" control how you feel about yourself or your blog! They will look for any way to weasel into your confidence whether it's telling you look bad, have crap writings or that your blog sucks... don't listen to them. Anyone willing to waste their time bringing down others isn't someone you want to please with your blog anyway. Easier said than done, I know, but establish a protocol for how you handle mean comments and stick to it!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

DO get business cards with your blog link on them! Don't be ashamed of your writings or blog! It's still so hard for me to share my blog with people I know in "real life" but they find it eventually and it's fun to get emails from people I know who say they've been reading for months. Don't be afraid to share it with people you meet! It's a great way to keep in contact and yes, "blogger" is an acceptable job title!

DO be engaging with your readers! Ask questions and be sure to follow up to comments left on your posts! I wish Blogger had a better way to reply to comments (C'mon Blogger! What's the deal?! Should we start a petition?!) but since there isn't, I tend to either respond in the comments or I find the commenters blog/twitter and reply that way. Every blogger handles it differently but it's important to not leave your readers hanging! Why would you want to talk to someone who just ignores you?!

DON'T spam other blogs with your link! Nothing is more infuriating than someone leaving a 2 word comment (if anything at all!) and then 3 long lines with their blog link and why everyone should go check them out. That's just a no-no in the blogosphere! If you leave a thoughtful and sincere comment, you should absolutely link back to yourself so the blogger can check you out! But don't spam every comment with a lot of nonsense about following you. Some bloggers have a comment policy on their blog so be sure to pay attention to this if they do! (I allow links in comments on my blog, but I only approve them if the person isn't solely fishing for followers). I'll say that it's totally okay to leave a short comment... absolutely! Just knowing you're out there reading is awesome... my point is to not let your link and request for followers overpower your statement. It's totally fine to say a short something and leave your link, but I think we can all decipher the difference in a sincere short comment and a "I'm just going to say 'cool post' so I can leave a 3 page long link and plea for you to come check me out" haha!

DO have great quality pictures! While not everyone can afford a luxury DLSR camera to take outfit/blog photos, you must realize that people will judge your blog based solely on the quality of the pictures! There have been many times I had to rely on my iPhone for blog photos and it's okay in small doses, but you can't base your entire blog off of that. There are plenty of quality point-and-shoot digital cameras available and as long as you photograph them on the highest quality with good lighting then you should be good to go!

DO pay attention to the aesthetics of your blog! Just like your pictures, people will judge you based on what your layout looks like! Don't choose colors that are too bold. Don't choose patterns that are too wild. Don't choose typefaces that are too hard to read. Do choose simple and calm color palettes. Do choose to make your look consistent. Do make sure all of your photos are the same width! (This is such a big one for me! I feel like if you use your content area to it's utmost potential then you're sure to see results! Nothing annoys me like pictures that aren't the same width in a blog post! Then again, I'm a bit anal about those things! Several website applications such as Picnik can be used to make the pictures a certain width!)

ETA: DON'T have auto-play music on your blog! This tip comes courtesy of Miss JLYoungsma and she's so so right! Just don't! That's the quickest way to ensure someone will leave faster than they arrived! If you're going to have a playlist on your blog, put it conveniently on the side and make sure the auto-play function is turned off! Nothing is worse than hearing someone else's music over your own!

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While I could probably go on for days about things you should and shouldn't do, the truth is that it really all depends on who you are and what you decide is best for you and your blog! The only wrong way to blog is to not blog at all so I say dive in, get dirty and fall in love! Blogging has opened up so many doors for me and it's let me meet some of the most incredible people.. people that I call my best friends even! It's taken me all around the country and it's brought me an immeasurable amount of happiness. While it may feel like a full-time job (it really is!), I couldn't imagine my life without it!

With that being said, maybe you'd like to share some of your blogging DOs and DON'Ts in the comments below?! Even if you're not a blogger yourself, what are some things you love/hate about blogs? (You don't have to name names! In fact, you probably shouldn't, but please share!)

What tips would you give to new bloggers?

Also- leave your blog link along with your comment so I can visit! xo

Fashion Blogs vs. Fatshion Blogs: The Line

While yesterday's little paragraph is still fresh on my mind thanks to some truly wonderful comments I received, I wanted to touch base on a few things and really get my opinion out there about something. What is with society's obsession with other people's weight?! It's one thing to self-obsess and worry about every calorie you consume, but to go do that about a total stranger is another entirely.

I marked the comment I received from "Anonymous" as spam because that's exactly what I saw it as. Spam. Spam from today's obsessive society trying to brainwash us all into thinking we're not good enough or that we need to be better, thinner, tanner, blonder. It's just not right. The real kicker to the anonymous comment was how it was worded. Anon wanted to seem like a concerned friend. For the sake of the post, I figure I might as well subject you to the ignorance as well:

"do you feel like you're gaining weight? i mean, wearing tights and dresses every day can be easy because tights and dresses are loose fitting so it accommodates weight gain. but looking at your photos from when you dated adam, you've gained at least 15 pounds, you are a lot heavier. maybe you should try and wear jeans more often, or go to the gym again! it seemed motivating for you before! wearing pants that make you feel a little uncomfortable can be a good reminder to not eat so much, just a friendly tip because i see your arms getting bigger too and you wouldn't want to stretch out your sick tatts!"

Truly ballsy, aren't they? Because if someone gains weight it automatically means that they eat too much. Or if they gain 5, 10, 15 pounds their entire body will be stricken with stretch marks. Because dresses means I can eat as much as I want and never have unbutton my pants. WHAT?! What is this garbage? I LOVE that they're telling me to wear something that makes me feel uncomfortable all the time so I'm constantly reminded of how much I weigh or what I look like! I also love that they try so hard to sound so sweet and sincere, when all they're trying to do is get a rude, malicious comment out there. "You're fat!" is all they're saying. Like I said yesterday, are you aware that I do indeed own a mirror? I see my pictures. In fact, I see the ones that are far less flattering than those posted… but I still post them. Why? Because I'm okay with me. I like me. I think I'm a rather cool gal. 

Am I healthy? You betcha! Am I intelligent? You know it! Am I educated? Sure am! Am I driven? Oh yeah! Am I a good person? I'd like to think so. Who cares if I'm fat or skinny or black or white or asian? I don't… so why do you?! Why are you so wrapped up in what I do with myself? I'm merely pixels on a screen to you…

Anyway - that's not the point of this post. The point of this post is to celebrate everything we are. Whether others see it as a good or bad thing. We are who we are and it's completely irrelevant if they approve. 

I had this conversation with Mike a few weeks ago how it bothered me that a normal girl, or chubby girl, or fat girl is automatically lumped into the "FATshion" bloggers category if she posts about her outfits. I wear normal clothes. I don't shop at Torrid or Lane Bryant or any plus-size specific chains, not that there is anything wrong with that in the slightest. (I do own those Faith 21 jeans from Forever 21 though and they are brilliant for $12!) I can walk into any department store and get dressed most of the time… so why are there people pressuring me to label myself as a Fatshion blogger (when I'm not even a fashion blogger to begin with)? Why do there have to be distinct lines? Last time I checked, the average American female was a size 14… I wear a 12 (not that it matters), but I still get bullied. No, I'm not tiny. I probably never will be. I've got hips for days and I could starve myself skinny but I'd probably never be smaller than an 8 because of how my body is made. I'm okay with it. You should be, too.

Do I read some fatshion blogs? Absolutely. Do I feel inspired by the way a 200 or 250 pound gal can dress herself and still be chic and stylish? You know it. Do I simultaneously feel inspired by the 115 pound 5'7" girl rocking her clothes? Of course! We don't have to limit ourselves or our inspirations from things that are exactly like us. I'd like to think a 100 pound girl could read my blog and still be inspired. Or the 250 pound girl. Asian, white, black, Latino, etc. Why is the weight card the only one that seems to be so prominent among blogs?! 

If you want to label yourself a plus size blogger or a fatshion blogger, by all means, go for it! But don't feel like you HAVE to simply because you wear something bigger than a 10 or a 12. That's nonsense. I've met so many wonderful girls through blogging and it's been the best experience. But you occasionally have those pig-headed folk who try to waltz in and make everyone else feel bad about themselves. Why? Why do you do it, anonymous? I bet someone made you feel bad about yourself at one point in your life. I bet they pointed out your big ears, lovehandles, freckles, or crooked eye… and for that, I'm truly sorry. I'm so sorry that someone could be so mean to you. But you also have to understand that rushing back out into the world to spew off the same ignorance to other strangers won't make you feel good about yourself. Instead, you're just going to feel lonely and sad and cruel.  Why aren't we spreading more love around the blogosphere?

If you think I'm fat, that's cool. You're totally entitled to that opinion. You are not, however, entitled to spout off that load of nonsense on my blog and to my readers. They're not here to be brought down by your bigotry. 

Someone in my Formspring asked about some plus sized bloggers the other day and I have a small list of ones that I follow. I also snagged some from thefatgirlsguide.com (Don't worry, you don't have to be a fat girl to be inspired by these wonderful ladies! Their blogs are full of fashion, food (how taboo!), events, and inspiration.) If you'd like to add any to the list, please leave them in a comment below!

• pluseyes.tumblr.com
• therotund.tumblr.com
• heyfatchick.tumblr.com
• http://thefatgirlsguide.com/
• messycarla.blogspot.com
• definatalie.tumblr.com
• curvesahead.tumblr.com
• fakefuckery.tumblr.com
• fuckyeahangryfatgrrrls.tumblr.com
• kitchenknivesandcherrybombs.tumblr.com
• ilovefat.tumblr.com
• fatgirlsguide.tumblr.com
• prettyhotandthick.tumblr.com
• riotsnotdiets.tumblr.com
• mohandasghandi.tumblr.com
• weighty.tumblr.com
• donewiththisshit.tumblr.com
• bbwprincess.tumblr.com
• genderbitch.tumblr.com
• thef-word.tumblr.com
• fiercefatties.tumblr.com

I think the important part of fashion blogging or just generally getting dressed is to be sure you're dressing for your body type. Yes, I wear dresses every single day, but that's because dresses flatter my smaller waist and my big ol' hips & booty. I don't get the same satisfaction out of high waisted skirts or shorts. While I definitely make my fashion mistakes (oh believe me, I do!), I like to think I have a general understanding of what is totally wrong for me (and thus I avoid it). You could be a size 4 and wear the wrong thing and end up looking like a size 12... just like you can be a size 16 and wear the perfect silhouette and look like a size 6. No one else knows what is on your tag! Dress in stuff that fits! Even the tiniest girls wear some of the tightest things and it just hugs them in all the wrong places! Don't be afraid to buy a size up simply because of the number on the tag! You'll end up looking 3 sizes smaller because it fits! Don't squeeze your butt into a size 11 if you need a 13! You'll look like you need a 15! 

With that being said, I want to thank all of you who were so kind and sweet in yesterday's post, but I also hope you realize that I'm not upset about the comment. I'm more upset about how blogging is turning some people into catty high schoolers and such. I don't let silly comments like that through (though I've only received 2 in the past few months, knock on wood) because I don't need an army of blog readers to defend me or tell me I'm not fat or whatever. I'm perfectly capable of letting things like that slide off of me because I know there is no merit in their words. My comment policy allows people to state their mind, but there is a line drawn when it's just meant to be malicious or hurtful toward me or anyone I feature. :) Hope I didn't talk your ears off, y'all! Bare those arms, ladies! Even if they jiggle! And always remember – You are 100% worthy of wonderful things in life and you are beautiful exactly the way you are!