4. Go out and do something new

Putting yourself in new situations totally helps me feel fresh about life and in turn about my writing. For example on Thursday I am doing something that really scares me and I have been so creative for that event. I will tell you more about it later, but in short I think I am going to do a little stand up comedy at an open mic. Oh my God I just said it I guess it is real.

5. Write for an audience

This is just a good writing tip. Know who your audience is or who you would like you audience to be and write for them. If people not in your audience do not read you blog do you really care? Maybe a little but you will get over it. If the people you want to read your work are reading it and loving it mission accomplished.

Please join me for Listed Tuesday and make sure to check off each item on the list below:
- Write a post about anything you want that includes a list of sorts
- Add the Listed Button to your post
- Come by Erica Jacquline on Tuesdays and add your link
- Read other posts, comment, and make new friends
- Shower, rinse, repeat each week.
- Follow your hosts!

Erica Jacquline

Twitter

Julie from Artwork by JM

Bloglovin

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Listed Tuesday: Instead of Writing a Post

I have really been enjoying my little hiatus from blogging the last few days. I am telling you I do not know what I would do if I had to blog every day. I am sure after next week things will calm down and I will want to blog more, but for now I really had a hard time sitting down to write a post for Listed Tuesday.

So because I am beyond creative I am going to tell you everything I did in order to avoid writing a post today, cause that sounds like a rip roaring good time!

1. Went grocery shopping for the first time in three weeks.

2. Had a little counseling session about teenage relationships (cause that is fun)

3. Made a real dinner, like on the stove and everything.

4. Ate my dinner with May and had a real good conversation.

5. Took Penny for a long walk.

6. Called my mom.

7. Watched the Ducks rock the Kings in Game 5!

8. Walked in place during the second period of the game.

9. Ran a mile on my elliptical.

10. Cleaned the living room.

11. Played ball with Penny.

12. Did two loads of laundry.

13. Wrote drafts for three other blog posts.

14. Watched one too many Farmers Only Dating Website commercials.

15. Alienated all my Ross loving friends on Facebook and Twitter.

https://twitter.com/EricaJacquline/status/465964852607844353

16 Alienated all of my Ross hating friends on Facebook and Twitter.

https://twitter.com/EricaJacquline/status/466026030525054977

Please join me for Listed Tuesday and make sure to check off each item on the list below:
- Follow Erica Jacquline on Bloglovin (It is only polite)
- Write a post about anything you want that includes a list of sorts
- Add the Listed Button to your post
- Come by Erica Jacquline on Tuesdays and add your link
- Read other posts, comment, and make new friends
- Shower, rinse, repeat each week

What are some ways you avoid writing?

Also go on over and check out my post for Ember Grey today! I love Emily and was thrilled she asked me to guest post this week!

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Erica Jacquline On Hiatus

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"]

via[/caption]

Happy Monday Blog Friends! How was your weekend? Mine was really good. I just got stuff done. You know what I mean right? LIke things you put off for a whole year and in one weekend you begin to tackle all of it. Let's just say my guest room is finally acceptable for humans to come for a visit. So pack your bags and come on over! Sorry it is not cute and Pinterest inspired so I didn't take a photo of a standard room. Imagine the most basic bedroom in your house and then picture it in California, There is your mental photo.

Over the weekend of productivity I a lot of time reflecting on where I am in my life and what I want to accomplish. I am feeling really good about things right now and I want to keep that feeling alive. Part of me loving how I felt this weekend was really disconnecting from technology. I spent time at the pool listening to a neighbor laugh out loud at every text he got, at lunch with my family today, at the mall buying things for an upcoming bachelorette party, reading a book (I have only read 1 book in 2014 and it makes me sad), and not being on the computer or phone. It was glorious.

I really started to feel a little too acttached to my blog and social media. Like if I did not write a post every weekday I would stress out and think about my numbers plummeting and everyone jumping ship to go read posts from a blogger who had her ish together. One of the things I really loved, blogging, had become a chore and a stress for me. And tho sweetened I sat down to figure out how to help alleviate that.

I decided for the month of May I will take a hiatus from blogging. All I mean is that if I don't want to write a post one day I won't. If I do want to write a post I will. May is notoriously terrible for teachers and this year I know is going to be so far beyond crazy that I needed to let something go to help me make it through.

I will not be having sponsored posts this month as I did not think it was fair to my sponsors to have a blogger that is not sure when or if she will post. However, they will still be there on my sidebar for you to pursue their blogs and show them some love. And in June I will be back in full force posting like a fend again and sharing some amazing bloggers with you all. That is unless California falls in the ocean by then or I run away with some hunk to Hawaii and start a whole new life off the grid. Either way things are bound to be exciting round these parts.

In sort I will be posting this month and it will just be when I feel like writing will bring me life and joy instead of take it away. So I hope you will stay around through this month and enjoy the posts that may or may not be coming!

You also should watch this video on social media and technology. I watched it as I was thinking about all of this and it might have made me cry.

PS the one thing I will do for sure each week is Listed Tuesdays. So make sure you come back and add your link to a post that is a list, that is it!

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

So You Want To Start A Blog - Blog Like You Mean It

Today I am going to conclude my So You Want To Start Blog Series, at least for now. I have really enjoyed writing these posts and I have more ideas, I am just ready for a break. At the end of this post I will provide the links for all the other posts in case you missed any along the way.

As kind of an all inclusive post I am calling this one "Blog Like You Mean It" I know that there are a million different reasons we have started blogs or read different blogs, I know that we all have different goals with our blogs and I know that some bloggers just blog for fun while others pay their rent from their blogging income #dreamsjob. Whatever boat you are in I think that blogging takes an insane amount of time and energy and it is important to value yourself and your time and bring intention into your writing.

Six Ways To Blog LIke You Mean It.

Start a Blog Week 10 Blog like you mean it

1. Be Intentional

As my dear friend Jillian Michaels told me a few times (at during a workout video) bring intention to your workout and every part of your life. Why do something and put a lot of effort into it if you do not put your full effort into it? Try your best, make yourself proud of what you produce, make your mom proud of what you produce so she will share it on her Facebook with the moms who run Facebook now. Bring intention into your writing, advertising, and your work and you will see it take off. Others recognize hard work and effort too and appreciate it.

2. Be Creative

I am not going to lie it is hard to think of something to write about every day. It is hard to think of ways to feature your sponsors that is different and special. It is hard to come up with a blog design. Yes all of these things are difficult and next to impossible if you do not allow yourself to be creative.

I am one of the least artistically creative people ever. I have clear visions for things and then I have no way to implement them. Where I lack creativity artistically I think I make up for it with my ideas and words. I love coming up with new posts, link ups, or sponsorship options. I have some really big ideas for later down the road that I would love to implement too.

The thing about creativity is that you have to make time for it. I have gotten in the habit of turning off my car radio one day a week and letting my mind wander as I drive to and from work. Honestly, this has been one of my favorite ways to come up with new ideas. I also have cut back on my TV watching and use that time to write, clean or walk around. The more I am out in the world doing things the more creative I feel

3. Be Open

Sometimes we can get too comfortable with a way we are doing things and it is hard to see that it could be even better. Or we might see that it can be better but we do not know what to do to take it to the next level. As with our lives sometimes it is easier for others to see what can be done to improve something. If this is the case we need to be able to put our ego aside and let others help us. Some of the best things I have done to just get myself out of a rut is to network and talk with other bloggers. Happy Hour with Erin gave me a ton of energy to love blogging and Orange County Blogging Meet Ups always lift my spirits.

4. Do Not Be Afraid

Yes I just quoted the Bible at you in the context of blogging, sorry Jesus.

Try new things, make a new button, reach out to a blogger you admire, email a friend and tell them about your blog, put yourself out there. Sure there are people who may not like something you do and may criticize you, but they probably are dealing with their own issues. Sure it can stink when you come up with a link up and you are the only one who posts a link #personalexperinece, but the good news is in the land of the blogs everything changes in a day. Take a risk, if it worked keep on that track, if it did not tweak some things and try again.

5. Be Yourself

It can be daunting to try and figure out how to get people to read your blog. One thing that I know is tempting is to try and emulate other bloggers you look up. Obviously they are doing something right with their thousands of page views and followers maybe you can do what they are doing. I will just say that trying to be anyone other than yourself will only lead to frustration. I think people are smart and will see through your writing. It will not have a strong and confident voice, and it will be easy to ignore because someone else is already doing that, and maybe doing it better.

Figure out your style, which will take time and posts that are hit and miss, and just embrace who you are. I love posting things that make me laugh and hopefully make others laugh. I have tried serious and I have tried wedding posts (just kidding) but they do not feel true to me. I have to love what I am putting out there and just let the world accept it.

6. Be Joyful

So writing negative rants all the time might be fun (maybe if they are all a joke), but if you are seriously that upset every. single. day. you might want to consider a therapist. Blogging is a lot of editing of your life and only letting people see what you want, and for most of us that is the happy parts. I am a firm believe that this is OK. It is important to talk about things that make us upset or mad or are wrong with the world, it is also important to talk about how to change those things.

I also think the more joy you have in your life the more resilient you are to those things that come up that try and steal your joy. Whenever I can in my life and on my blog I choose joy and light. It is easy to be dark and heavy, it is hard to be light (Just ask my chair)

Links for Posts in This Series

Before You Write One Word

Basic Blog Design

Content

Social Media

Be The Blog Reader You Want To Have

Sponsoring Other Blogs

Time Management

Accepting Sponsors

Blog LIke You Mean It

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Could I Be Anymore Excited? (A New Blog Design)

No I could not be anymore excited! Perhaps you have noticed a new blog design round these parts? The lovely and talented Melyssa over at The Nectar Collective worked her magic and gave this little space some much needed sprucing up. I sent her my ideas, they were probably weird, I essentially told her I like twinkle lights and bright happy colors and somehow she created this. I would recommend Melyssa a million times for anyone looking for a great WordPress designer and blogger too!

This is my last week of work before spring break. Since January I have been fighting off a cold or allergies or something and I just couldn't do it any longer. My body quit and let the germs attack me. I have had to run standardized testing for the whole school this week while sneezing every two seconds and hearing the kids say, "Ms. T, you look tired." Is there anything worse than being sick and then people telling you, you look like crap?

I only mention this because I had to take some photos today to show off some loverly earnings. I had to wear my sunglasses to hide my "tired eyes." I am sure you will forgive me just this one time, right?

Today I am also excited to share with a new blogger on Erica Jacquline - Miranda from Mermade Moments.

Hey! I'm Miranda and I blog over at Mermade Moments. I write about DIY projects/crafts, baking, fitness, and life in general. I started my Etsy shop to try and get my craft supply addiction under control. I was running out of space and knew I had to do something. Everything in my shop is handmade with love and care. You can find things like cupcake liners, party supplies, jewelry, hair accessories and even a canvas from time to time!

Here are some of the super cute things that Miranda has in her shop at very affordable prices!

Also Penny jumped on my lap and wanted to write a review for the earnings Miranda sent us.

"d v" (Really, Penny just jumped on my computer and that was what she typed.

You can follow Miranda on Bloglovin - Twitter - Instagram. AND because Miranda is such a gem she is offering 15% off all items in her shop just for my readers! Use code ERICAPENNY today through next Thursday the 24th!

Monday, April 14, 2014

So You Want to Start A Blog - Accepting Sponsors

I took a little break from my So You Want To Start A Blog series last week and I am pretty sure it is because today's topic is so daunting. It is the part of blogging that I have learned to love and I am very grateful. It is also the part of blogging that has taken years off of my life already - Accepting Sponsors on your blog .

Maybe you have been blogging for a few months, years or decades and you have a few hundred followers. You are thinking it would be nice to make some money from this hobby you have become addicted to in order to fund your addiction. It is a vicious cycle.

Below I will tell you what I have learned in the last four months of accepting sponsors. I would in no way say I am an expert and I am sure there is so much more that I can be doing to make my sponsors feel even better about spending a few bucks to advertise on my blog.

1. Time Commitment

Only open your blog up to sponsors if you are able to commit extra time each week to your sponsors. This looks different for every blogger, but make sure you actually have time to email your sponsors, plan giveaways, collaborate with others, and still post great content for your own blog.

2. Know Your Limits

This is similar to the first one of accepting sponsors being a time commitment. If you do not have the time to work with 10 different bloggers every month do not offer it as an option. If you only have time for two bloggers a month then have two sponsors and do a good job with it. I know we are all inclined to go over board with the sponsorship options, but it is better to do a good job with a little than a crappy job with a lot.

3. Interact With Your Sponsors

Not every blogger does this. In fact I can think of many who do not do this. My motto is that if someone is going to pay me money to advertise on my blog I need to honor that and spend time getting to know them and read their posts. It makes my write ups about their blog even better and genuine. I can actually feel good about a social media shout out I provide because I actually choose a post that stood out to me as great. The bigger blogger that I learned this from is Helene. When I have sponsored her, she read most of my posts and took the time to comment on them too. I personally really loved that she took the time to do this and decided to emulate her style of interaction when I offered sponsorships. If this is not your style that is cool. You do you.

4. Only Promise What You Can Deliver

Sure it might drum up a ton of initial sponsors if you promise 12 twitter shout outs a month, but if you do not deliver business will dwindle. Word of mouth, or word of email, travels fast. I have a few bloggers that I sponsored that were unable to fulfill their promises when I signed up to sponsor them. I am not going to publicly write about them, but I would tell you in an email which bloggers I would not work with again. I also am more than happy to write about great blogs to sponsor. In fact I have already done that here.

I personally only offer a few social media shout outs as I know that I do not want to take a lot of time to do that. I also am very upfront and let my sponsors know this. So far no one has written me a mean email telling me I am a terrible human so I guess that is good.

5. Pricing

I don't know what to tell you on this one. The only advice I can give is to look at similar blogs and price appropriately. I know some bloggers have spots for over $100. Chances are that is not you. I will say that unless you have at least 1000 followers charging more than $10 for a spot seems a little unreasonable. If you can actually get people to buy your spots though then do what works for you.

The first two months I did sponsorships I offered the ads for free until I could feel confident that I was ready to charge. The next two months most of my ads have been sold at a discount, but that is less and less. It takes time for word of mouth to spread and the money to come in.

6. Organize

I have an excel spreadsheet I use to keep track of who is sponsoring me and what I have done so far. I have a hard time keeping track of things if I do not write it down and actually pay attention to what I am doing. If you can just email and keep it all organized in your inbox more power to ya! I think using a planner and spread sheets are a must.

7. Persona - Image Is Everything

At the end of the day you are offering sponsorships in order to make some money. Since I have opened up sponsorships I have thought of my blog as a business. I need to post every weekday, because people are paying me to advertise for them. If I do not post, then they do not have as many people looking at their ad.

Along with this is how we present ourselves to others. I love that lifestyle blogging is very much up to each blogger to define. I love learning about other people and how they do life. With that I feel like some people are not as savvy and air too much out for us to read. Maybe it is just me, but I am not likely to sponsor a blog where the author says they are drunk or hungover in every post. I just can not trust that they will fulfill their promises. Remember you are running a business of sorts and the way you present yourself matters.

8. Offer Ads That You Love

You do not have to do what everyone else is doing. If you do not like having others take over your blog with their own content for a day do not offer it. I learned that I do not like to do a regular post and tag a sponsor feature on the end. I got rid of that option and have focused on a Spotlight feature. I do a short intro with a little blurb and a photo and then give the blog to my sponsor. I like this much more and have gotten a better response too.

I also thought about what I could do to be a little more original. I realized I love dogs and I love blogs and I wanted to combine that somehow. Then Dog Behind The Blog started and I have enjoyed these posts so much.

9. Don't Jump Ship

Obviously you could offer up your blog for what ever amount of sponsorship you desire. If you want to have sponsored posts everyday that is cool, just plan to lose some readers. I try and limit my posts to one maybe two during the weekday and one each weekend. That leaves 3 - 4 weekday for me to keep my content fresh and my own.

10. Friends

I will say that my connections to other bloggers has become so much stronger since I have had sponsors. I have made some great new friends out of my sponsors and I am so grateful for the community my blog has built me.

One thing I started to do is offer a discount for repeat sponsors. Again showing people that I value them and their money is huge for me and I have seen nothing but good things come from letting others know I value them.

What do you think? What did I leave off the list or what would you add?

Interested in sponsoring Erica Jacquline? Click here to find out more!

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Inspired

Last night I had the wonderful opportunity to participate in Blogger Happy Hour with Erin from Living in Yellow and Taylor from The Daily Tay. If you have ever wondered about doing one of these I can tell you that it is a great time to meet other bloggers and to learn a little more about this whole blog world.

Before this week I have felt a little, OK a lot drained the last few weeks. I have desperately needed Spring Break to be here for like three weeks just so I can sleep for long long periods of time. I still have two weeks until Spring Break and everyday I get out of bed a little later. I have been feeling a little out of it in terms of my life and my blog.

Three things have really helped me pull out of my mini soap opera: 1. going on a mini vacation to Vegas 2. exercising almost regularly the #1800minutechallenge has been great at keeping me motivated 3. Blogger Happy Hour.

[caption id="attachment_1262" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

Penny is such a great trainer she makes me carry her to add some strength training to our walks.[/caption]

After talking with all the ladies that participated in the Happy Hour I felt my blogger spirit renewed to keep on trying and making this little blog better with every post.

Another thing that inspires the heck to of me is other bloggers. Today I have three ladies to introduce to you and I really hope you visit their blogs and get to know these amazing bloggers a little more.

As always I asked the ladies the same four questions that I will share with you along with all the ways you can connect to them.

1. Tell us about your blog.
2. What is one post you would want a new reader to read and why? (provide link)
3. What is one item in your life you cannot live without?

4. What is goal you have for yourself this month and how you will achieve it?

___________________________________________________________________________

blog - bloglovin - instagram

1. Be a Warrior Queen focuses on overcoming the challenges, focusing on the positive and giving back.

2. Ah! I can't decide but I am going to go with this post: Always Wear Your Invisible Crown, Warrior Queens. I think this post embodies my blog, movement and myself to a T.

3. My cell phone because it keeps me connected to everything.

4. This month is a big month for me; my goal is to remain calm and not let me anxiety get the best of me before and after our wedding. I plan on using mantras and choosing happy to keep calm!

___________________________________________________________________________

blog - bloglovin - instagram

1. My blog is my little corner of the Internet where I can talk about anything and everything that pops into my mind - one rule: there are no rules!

2. I think I would have to say a recent one, Carolina Cup/Stage 5 Hangover, because I think it's my first post where I kinda just let go and wrote EXACTLY how I would talk to my friends and didn't hold anything back. It felt good to truly be myself (not that I wasn't before, but more...blunt?) and see people like it!

3. A physical thing? My phone, absolutely - cannot go anywhere without it. Something a little more abstract? Love - I'm a Cancer through and through - need nurturing and comfort.

4. My goal is to go 100 days without eating fast food. April 10 is the 100th day, so only a few days left!

___________________________________________________________________________

blog - twitter - pinterest

1. Blogging about crafts, DIY projects, recipes, and life's adventures - venturing through motherhood and getting through it all on a strong cup of coffee!

2. Why I Blog (so original, right?) would be the post I would want new readers to check out because it shares my blogging journey.

3. I could not live without my childhood cabbage patch doll - he was a world traveler and has retired to a nice, quiet home in our closet.

4. A personal goal is to exercise every day but because running or walking every day would get boring, I plan on trying different activities to help achieve that goal.

___________________________________________________________________________

I told you these ladies are great! I seriously have had some of the best sponsors and I love being able to share them with you all. If you are interested in seeing your blog here please look at my sponsor page.

What is something that you have done or read or a person you have interacted with that has inspired you lately?

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

So You Want to Start A Blog - Sponsor Other Blogs

So we are getting down to it now. I have talked about content, social media, reading other blogs, and basic design. All of that is wonderful and it will greatly help the growth of your blog and your social influence on the internet.

Once you have been at it for a while and you want to keep at it most of us hope to gain more readership I honestly think sponsoring some blogs is a very good way to do that.

If you are confused about sponsoring, essential it is buying an ad on another blogger's site. If you feel like it is weird I guess it kind of is. I think of my blog as an up and coming business and when I think of it that way I am paying to advertise my business. All companies and businesses and writers advertise, it is normal business behavior.

6 Tips To Help You Start Sponsoring Blogs

1. Have a button or two or three

When you choose to sponsor a blog most of the time you will get a button, ad, on the blogger's side bar. Every blogger has different requirements. For example all of my options are 300 pixels wide and have different height depending on the spot you buy. If you do not know what that is look to the right on this page or almost any bloggers page. All those ad are for other blogs and clicking it will take you to their blog!

I recommend you make a button for whatever size ad you buy. A stretched out button never looks good and will not bring people to your site. I would recommend using picmonkey and looking at this tutorial for how to make a button by Sarah at Venus Trapped in Mars.

2. Look for blogs you love to read

When you are looking for blogs to sponsor it might be tempting to shell out the big bucks to sponsor the big blogs. Sometimes this is a great idea, sometimes it is terrible. If you are looking for blogs to sponsor I think you should sponsor blogs you like to read and ones that are similar to yours.

For example I would not advertise on a recipe blog. I have never posted a recipe and I do not think that people looking for recipes everyday would want to read my blog everyday. Just kidding I think everyone wants to read my blog everyday.

But for reals, sponsoring blogs that are similar to yours will generate readers who want to read similar content.

3. Look for prices you can afford

It can be expensive to sponsor blogs! The bigger the blog the bigger the price tag, usually. Do not break your bank account or budget to sponsor a ton of blogs. Start small. Try one blog and see if you like it. If so try a couple more. Do not sponsor so many that you lose track of the blogs you are sponsoring.

Write down what blogs you are sponsoring and what you are supposed to get in exchange for sponsoring the blog. Be aware of the product you are buying and what you have been promised.

4. Look for perks that work for you

Not all sponsorship options are the same. Do you really want someone to promote the crap out of your blog on social media? Look for a spot that promises a lot of social media shout outs. Are you looking for a guest post? Look for a guest post option. What to write a dual post with the blogger, look for that! There are a lot of bloggers out there and a lot of sponsorship options that you can find a lot of spots that work for you too.

I like it when I can be featured on a blog and be included in a giveaway during the month. Yes giveaways are a little controversial sometimes, but again it is advertising. If you get on someone's radar and they click on your blog one day and are hooked it paid off. I think a giveaway is a good way to initially get people to your site, and you have to write good content with catch titles and photos to hook them after.

5. Be an active reader

The best sponsorships I have had have come when I actively read and comment on the blog I am sponsoring. As someone who also takes sponsorships, I love it when I know my sponsors are reading my blog. We have more of a connection and it is easier for me to promote them, because I have a better sense for who they are.

I am not always the best at this myself and the blogs I sponsored, but did not read or comment on did not bring me a lot of readers or success. I truly believe if you take time and invest in a blogger, they will take time and invest in you.

6. Let your voice be heard

As I mentioned before keep track of what you have been promised when you signed up for a sponsor spot. If you did not get the post your were promised, or any social media shout outs, ask for it. I have had some bad experiences and called the person out on it. In some cases I had my ad time extended or they refunded the money, in other cases I never heard back.

My biggest piece of advice is sponsor blogger's that you trust. If you do not like the way they portray themselves online do not trust them with your money. If you have seen what they have done for others and like it then go for it. Start small and then keep adding and growing.

Sponsoring other blogs is probably the fastest way to grow your readership, but it takes time, money, and awareness to maximize your advertising.

In case you are looking for a wonderful blog to sponsor, shameless plug, might I recommend my blog! I am currently running an ad sale for 50% off all spots for April. Visit my Sponsor page select which spot works for you and use promo code AprilShowers at checkout.

Monday, March 17, 2014

So You Want to Start A Blog - Be The Blog Reader You Want To Have

Well that was one heck of a long title. If you managed to make it through all those words thanks for sticking with me.

For today's topic in the So You Want To Start a Blog series I am tackling the topic of how to get people interested in your blog. For me the hardest part is not coming up with content, or using social media, it is getting people to read this little thing I write.

To be really honest with you today I feel a little weird writing about this topic because I have seen my page views drop the last two weeks. It has not been that drastic, but I pay too much attention to those stats and I have been a little (or a lot) discouraged about it and have been trying to figure out if I have been doing something wrong or if I just lost the blogging touch.

Maybe I lack self - blog - awareness, but I think one of the huge reasons I have seen a little drop is because I have been a little not reading all the blogs the last two weeks due to extreme exhaustion at the end of my work day.

In order to get blog readers you have to be the kind of blog reader you want to have. All I mean is if you want people to read your blog and make a thoughtful comment, you better be doing that around all the blogs. Here are my blogging tips for getting interest to your page and having people comment again and again on your blog.

So You Want to Start A Blog Week 5 Comments

1. Read all the blogs

I think it is really important to read other blogs and to comment on them. Bloggers have no idea that you read their blog unless you make some sort of a comment or reach out to them. Sure it might seem weird or creepy or stalkerish, but put yourself in their shoes. If you got a great comment you would not think it was creepy you would think it was awesome.

2. Leave a meaningful comment

Actually engage with the material a person has spent a hour or more writing so you will read it. Just posting "cute" usually gets a "thanks" from me in reply. While i like that you commented I don't really know what you thought was cute, although we all know it was Penny. Part of commenting is building a community that wants to read what you have to say and vice versa. I love it when a reader writes about something That resonated with them from my post. It is actually the thing I love the most about blogging, is the dialogue that evolves around sometimes the silliest posts.

3. Leave your blog address in the comment you write

I am torn on this point sometimes. I actually like it when people do this for me if they are new to my blog. It makes it easy for me to find them and read their blog. Personally I love taking the time to read blogs of the people who read my blog. I sometimes do not leave my link in a blog comment because I worry it looks tacky or I am only looking for people to read my blog. While I am looking for people to read my blog I also genuinely really wanted to write a comment. I will usually leave my link about 30% of the time I am reading a blog that does not know about me or my blog. Maybe I am shy, but that is what works for me. I am sure many others are much better at this than I am.

4. Reply to comments people make on your blog

If you are on blogger it is super easy to reply through the email you receive noticing you you have a comment. On Wordpress I am not a fan of the comment system that comes with WP. I am not sure how people reply short of copying and pasting an email address into their new message. I use Disqus because I can comment back and it is delivered to their email. I have had a few issues with Disqus the last few months, like it not uploading all my comments from when I switched to WP, but overall it is the best solution I have found.

5. Reply to comments in a timely fashion

I know most of us have real jobs and blogging is a hobby. Life gets in the way and you do not have time to reply to all of your comments all the time. The more often you are consistent with replying the more often people will come back. I try and reply within the day and often if I can within the hour. If you stay on top of it it is totally manageable. If you neglect it for two weeks I do not think you will ever catch up.

6. Ask a question at the end of your post

So what do you think? What are you tips for having people come back to your blog and engage with you and your writing?

In case you missed the other posts in the series check it out here:

Week 1 - Before Your First Post
Week 2 - Basic Blog Design
Week 3 - Content
Week 4 - Social Media

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

March Sponsor Spotlights

Another month another group of wonderful ladies to introduce you to. I personally love these ladies and I love the unique views they bring to blogging. Below you can read a ittle more about them and find their blogs. Please go by and say hi to the ladies of March Sponsor Spotlights.

This Month's Questions:

1. What is your blog about?
2. What is one item you can not live without?
3. What is your favorite St. Patrick's Memory?

Ameliorer la Vie - Twitter - Bloglovin

The Shelby Lens - Twitter - Instagram

The Grand Adventures of Me - Facebook - Twitter

To Travel and Beyond - Twitter - Instagram

Now for some fun! I asked each of the ladies to share their favorite quote. I thought it could be a fun little game to randomized the order of the quotes and have you guess which blogger loves each quote.

1. "Science only goes so far, then comes god" ~Noah from The Notebook

2. "Life is not about the breaths you take, but about the moments that take your breath away."

3. "You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing, there will be no result." ~Gandhi

4. "So long as you write what you wish to write, that is all that matters; and whether it matters for ages or only for hours, nobody can say." ~Virginia Woolf

Want to see yourself featured here next month? Check out my sponsorship options here.

Monday, March 10, 2014

So You Want To Start A Blog - Social Media

In case you have not been here for very long here are the other three posts in the series.

Week 1 - Before You Write A Word
Week 2 - Basic Blog Design
Week 3 - Content

This week I am going to keep it short and sweet cause occasionally my real life job, the one that supports my blogging addiction, gets really busy and I need to work from home for an evening.

If you are starting a blog or have had a blog for a while here are my tips to make yourself known to the world. Anyone can start a blog, but it takes a ton of self promotion. One of the best ways to grow your blog and get readers is to be active on social media.

If you are a secret blogger I guess you should make new social media accounts. I personally like it when people in my real life know about my blog and talk about it. I spend so much time blogging that it would seem strange to not be able to have that conversation with people.

With everything social media related there is a fine line between being informative and being annoying. It takes time to figure out the balance and it might even change from day to day. My go to for promoting posts is this 4 tweets in a day, 1 Facebook post, 3 Instagram specific posts, and as many pins as I can muster a week. This is a loose guideline and it changes daily.

Email
I think that you should make an email for your blog. I used my personal email for my blog and it was just confusing and too much.

Bloglovin'
I personally love bloglovin. It is by far the site that generates the most traffic to my little blog. One of the strangest things that I have seen is blogs that are looking for followers but do not have a link to bloglovin'. If you do not have Bloglovin' I am pretty sure you do not care if I follow your blog.

Twitter
Next up is my twitter account. I think it is probably the most used social media site for the bloggers of the world. If you are going to give a shout out to someone, it will probably be on Twitter. If you want to say "Hey I like your blog and if we met in real life we would be best friends #notcreepy"

Pinterest
If you have some extra time I highly recommend you make your images in your post "pinable." For this series I pin the main image and I have actually generated a lot of traffic from Pinterest once a week. I am not a graphic designer and I do not have a ton of time to spend making things look Pinterest Perfect, but once our twice a week I take a little extra time to do this one thing to help my blog grow.

Facebook
I guess people still use Facebook. I might have a different take on Facebook than other people, but I sometimes feel like it is a waste of time. I will say that when I first started blogging Facebook was my favorite way to promote my blog. I would post it on my personal Facebook page and my mom and family would read a few of my posts. After a few months I started a blog page and only people who follow that page can see my posts. Create one if you want to, update it with your posts, and move on.

Instagram
I think Instagram is my favorite form of social media. I love that I have a more personal connection with some followers and I can see what they are up to. I do not think it brings people directly to my blog, because you can not put links in your photo captions. I really love Instagram though and I think it helps readers get a more complete picture elf you as a person.

Google+
So I do not really get Google+ but I will use it. I post all my posts on Google+ because I think it helps them get higher in search engines when you google. It makes sense right, Google+, Google same thing man!

So what do you think? Is there any social media that I missed that you would recommend to a blogger? What is your recommendation for self promotion across social media.

Monday, March 3, 2014

So You Want To Start A Blog - Content

I have really enjoyed writing these posts each week. Even though I know most of my readers already have a blog and know everything I am writing about, it has helped me feel focused and more purposeful as I write. If that is all I take from this series I will be a happy blogger.

For those of you who are new around here, maybe due to miss Jackie at Jade and Oak, here are the other two posts I have written in the So You Want to Start A Blog Series.

Week 1 - Before you write your first word
Week 2 - Basic Blog Design

So You Want To Start A Blog - Content Is Key

This week I am talking about the most important part of blogging - content. Without actually having words in a post that you push publish on you really are not blogging, you are talking about blogging. It can be scary to type a post and let the world read it, but it can also be exhilarating. Below are some of my tips for figuring out what your content will be and how to figure out what to write about when you have run out of ideas.

1. Just write

When you are first starting out I just advise that you write what ever you can. Fill out some posts, get a month or so of your ideas out there for others to read, and figure out what works for you. Most of us bloggers did not have the clearest of ideas as to what it would be like to write a blog post 3-5 times a week and it takes time to orient yourself with everything that is available for your posts. Take it slow and have fun. I am pretty sure very few people will actually happen upon those first posts (sorry if you thought they were going to make you famous, it takes a while to gain attention and readers) so work it out and have some fun.

2. Write about what makes you happy

After you have written out your posts that made you want to start a blog in the first place you might be struggling for content. If you like the whole blogging deal I recommend you figure out what makes you happy and find ways to blog about that.

One of my favorite things to do is make others laugh so I try to write posts that are funny, even if they involve way to many K9 bowel movements. I would say that finding the light and joyful parts of life and coming up with a way to convey that with my readers is my first goal when I write for my blog. I guess I made it a little bit of a comedy blog (please don't laugh at that.)

I also love to do things like travel, go to concerts, read books, and watch too many movies and share what I loved about these things with others. doing things and sharing how others can do it is my secondary goal for my writing on my blog.

One last thing I like to do is get to know others. I have spent a little time connecting with other bloggers and this has really shaped where I want my blog to go in the future. I have some ideas in the works that would involve a lot more collaboration for bloggers which I would like to parlay into a book or magazine article, eek I have said too much!

All of that was to say, take time to figure out what you like and what you like to write about. Try your hand crafty blogging, music blogging, sports blogging, comedy blogging, mommy blogging, animal blogging, travel blogging, fashion blogging. Try it all and see what clicks and resonates with others. If you love it then keep doing it. If others happen to love it to I call that a win win.

3. Find your voice

Figuring out what you want to say and how you want to say it takes time. Once you know what you like to write about your voice will become more clear. Like figuring out what you want to say figuring out how to say it takes time and practice. Do not be afraid to try something new and see where it lands you. Maybe you can write from a sarcastic point of view and others will get it. Maybe you will write in mostly hashtags. Maybe you will write formal reviews of films. Whatever it is you have to keep trying and refining.

The largest thing that worked for me was to think about how I spoke when I told stories I was going to share on my blog. Sometimes when I write I under explain a situation and it leave readers confused. I realized when I tell a story i share a lot more details to help paint a fuller picture. I describe where I am, what the mood was, develop the characters etc.

Writing like I am talking to a friend was one of the things that helped me the most. I honestly think I am still finding my voice in my writing every day.

4. Proofread

Perhaps my biggest downfall is proofreading. I drove all my professors crazy because I would proof the first page of each paper and then get bored. Yes, editing is a pain in the butt! But the proof is in the details, if your writing flows and people do not get tripped up on your spelling, grammar, duplicate, or omitted words you will be more successful.

In order to be taken seriously I spend the extra 10 minutes to reread my work and make sure it is what I want to be sending out to the world. I promise it is one of the most effective ways you can help your blog and your writing overall.

5. Take risks

Try some thing new whenever you can. The first time I wrote from Penny's point of view I was sure I was going to be laughed off the internet. However, I received a lot of positive responses and I was encouraged to try it again. Now the posts that Penny writes are some of my favorites and my readers favorite too. I think it is because it is so easy for me to write in Penny's voice. She says all the sassy things I want to say. She can get away with it because she is a dog.

I know it is a little scary to take a risk. What if someone doesn't like it? What if my mom texts me to tell me it was to risqué? What if no one comments on my post? Those are all questions and situation I have been in when I took a risk. I have had people not like my post. My mom has texted me and told me she didn't like something I wrote. I have many posts with no comments on them. You know what it is cool. You are going to write another post in a day or so and all is forgotten. I love that blogging gives me a chance to fail publicly now and then and to come back the next day and try again.

6. Be Interesting

I think this is the most important one of all. If you love what you are writing about then others will love what you are writing about…. but you have to present it in an interesting way. Add a photo or two hundred, tell a joke, talk like a pirate, do something that makes your post about The Bachelor (etc.) the one people want to read. The only advice I can give to do this is to be yourself. You are different than any other person blog or no blog. Only you know what makes you you and why you love it. Figure it out and share it with us.

7. Ask for input

I mentioned that my mom has texted me and told me that my post was off or there was a typo that needed fixing. I also have friends at work that read my blog and obviously Penny reads it too. Although, I am going to do what I want to do I love the input that I get from others. I can get very "in my own head" and miss somethings that are important or not clarify things very clearly and it helps when others point out what they were confused with or thought was not good.

The bottom line when it comes to your content is that it is YOUR content. There is no right or wrong way to blog and there is no right or wrong thing to write. I share just what I have found works for me. At the end of the day you are doing something that I think is incredibly brave and sharing your story with others because you recognize that your story and other's stories are worth telling. Keep on typing and keep on sharing.

8. Be Relentless

Do not give up. If your post that you spent five hours writing only got a few reads, do not quit. Just get back at it and try again tomorrow. Promote yourself and love what you are putting out there. If you, the writer and originator of you content do not believe in it it is never going to reach many people.

Whenever I feel down about writing or that I am just not hitting things the way I want to I think of the following quote and remember that my story is important and so is yours.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="382"]

via[/caption]

Thursday, February 27, 2014

February Sponsor Lovin'

One of the things I decided I wanted to do when I opened Erica Jacquline for sponsors is to help promote my sponsors in a unique and creative way. I want my promotion of my sponsors work to come across and genuine and real. I promise to only promote things that I really do like.

With that being said I decided to try something new. I just reread all my sponsor's blogs this past month and found my favorite post of theirs. I would like to share them with you in the hopes that you go read these posts and follow some amazing ladies.

Allusional - Danielle wrote Stories for the Fighters for the people in her life that have fought and battled cancer. I loved her wisdom and kindness that shone through her writing here.

Becoming Bailey - I loved this piece about finding a balance between work and life and the importance not letting our work take over your life.

Be A Warrior Queen - One of the things I love most about Raewyn is that she loves herself and loves to help others. Her challenges to do good for the world and those around her is admirable. This one was my favorite this month.

Route Bliss - Christina always makes me want to pack up my things and just hit the road. Her post on using a DSLR camera made me want to go snap some travel photos pronto!

So Fill Your Heart - Renee is one of the sweetest bloggers out there. Her love for her family is apparent this month as she wrote about her dad's birthday and this touching post about the passing of her grandfather and what a wonderful man he was.

TMInspired - Taylor takes some beautiful photos! This engagement shoot was great! Taylor is located in Orange County if you are looking for a local photographer.

Kimchi and Sweet Tea - Her post about Stay At Home Moms needing a business trip was so true and funny!

And So I Did - Madi is a smart woman as evidenced by her buying a barbecue grill for her husband for Valentine's Day. She just hand off the cooking duties!

You Gotta Have Hart - I loved Jaime's The Kind of Girl Who post. She focused on the positive and laughing through life which is something I can get on board with.

Sew Craft Cat - Kelly posted so many great craft ideas this month. I actually loved her post yesterday about marketing your Etsy shop. She has an Etsy shop by the same name and knows what she is talking about.

Mer in America - Meredith is a great gal going to grad school, loving country music and getting fit! Her Luke Bryan concert experience made me remember when I saw him this summer and how much fun that was.

The Grits Blog - Ashley wrote a post about losing her dog last November. It was so sweet and sad. It made me appreciate Penny more and my time with her even if she is being a pain right now.

I had a great time getting to know all of you this month and I am looking forward to many more months of blog reading in the future!

Thank you so much for sponsoring Erica Jacquline this month and I hope you will again in the future!

If you are interest in sponsoring my blog during the month of March there are still some open spots. If you are interested please click here and choose the option that works best for you

Monday, February 24, 2014

So You Want to Start A Blog - Basic Blog Design

Welcome back to the So You Want To Start a Blog Series. Last week I shared my tips on what to do before you even write one word of content. In case you missed it you can catch up here.

This week I am going to focus on the look of your blog. I am assuming you have content to fill your posts with, you are starting a blog I hope you have content for at least a week of posts. Look and layout is where a lot of people, I, spent a ton of time in the beginning of my blog and I wish I knew a few simple things that would have helped.

So You Want to Start A Blog - Basic Blog Design Tips

Erica Jacquline So You Want To Start A Blog

Like all the great things in my life - Penny - Blogging should have really come with a warning label. I had no idea how much time and energy I would pour into this space for the next year and how stinking frustrated I would be when a post disappeared or I could not get the extra spaces in my post to disappear. I am petitioning all blogging platforms to have a warning that we can all ignore.

WARNING: Blogging is a highly addictive substance. It will suck part of your life away and you will care way too much about things like followers, page views, and SEO.

There should be another warning label that lets you know that you are about to become that nerdy computer person who knows things like HTML and how to use it to make things pretty. You will learn more about fonts and how to make glitter letters, because we all need to know this, and you will want to quit many times when it is just over your head.

I know I have been there, and to some respect I am still there, as are all the bloggers out there, unless they got their degree in Graphic Design. Even if this is the case they still understand.

Here are just a few tips I wish I had in mind when I first started blogging that would have helped me make my blog look as nice as I could without hiring a designer while I waited to make sure I wanted to continue down this path.

I do want to say I am in no way an expert with design or blogging. I just mess around with my computer until I get something I can live with. These are tips and tricks for the "every girl" that may not know a ton, but can learn if she needs. to.

1. Choose a White Background - Or a very light background - or just a thin page border

On Blogger under the Template tab click "Customize." There are tons of pre made templates you can choose from. I usually think they look like a cute high school project if you use one, but if you like it then go for it (I used this for like three months so no judgement.)

Also if you have a dark color with white writing you will automatically be losing readers. Some fine folks, like me, have eye issues and reading white writing on a dark background hurts their eyes and makes makes me see double. You are limiting your audience with some of your design choices. If you are cool with it I am cool with it.

Look at the blogs you are reading. What does their page look like. I am sure that more often than not the page is clean and easy to read. Having too much stuff distracts from you and your content.

Keep it simple and clean. Add pops of color and fun designs to enhance your blog, not to over take it.

2. Choose a font that is easy for all people to read

This goes with the color deal. Not everyone likes to squint when they read. You do not need to make your blog 20 point font or anything but anything under 12 and you will lose readers.

To change your font, color scheme, or background colors go to Template ------> Customize --------> Advanced

3. Utilize Photos

Make them Extra Large every time! The other thing I just started to do is make them the same width so my blog has a consistent look.

[caption id="attachment_907" align="aligncenter" width="620"]

Click Extra Large every time.[/caption]

My favorite free website to use for photo editing is Picmonkey.com. I could get lost there resizing my photos, adding fonts, adding overlays, making collages.

4. Keep Your Layout Simple

Your side bar width is easily adjustable if you want it to be larger or smaller. I would say around 320 is good and gives you enough room.

Your sidebar is a great place to put information your readers want to know about you. If you clog it up with puppy quotes and calendars it is going to look like a front yard at a garage sale, junky.

Some things I would say every blog should have:

About Me

Search This Blog

Ways to Follow the Blog - Facebook, Twitter, Google Friend Connect

Archives

If you look at other blogs and want something they have google it. That is how I figured out how to put my instagram photos on my blog. It was easy!

If you want to add a gadget (blogger) or widget like the Instagram photos you have to get the code go to Layout and Add Gadget.

Click on the HTML one and paste the code and save. You got it!

6. Utilize free web tutorials

My favorite person in the world is Sarah from Venus Trapped in Mars. She has a segment on her blog called Saturday Sessions where she breaks down how to add simple design elements to your blog to jazz it up without hiring someone to do it for you. I designed my own About Me over there on the right with her step by step tools.

7. Make it your own

If you do not want to learn how to edit your own design there are plenty of designers out there that can help you. If you are looking for a designer my advice is to look at the bottom of the blogs you love. There will be a button you can click that takes you to their designer and you can see their portfolio and how much they charge. Do this until you find a designer you like and a price you feel comfortable paying.

Until then, you are the master of your own fate. If you do not like the way the generic header looks on your blog make one on picmonkey. Just use design instead of edit. under design.

If you do not want your blogger profile to show up make your own about me. Honestly, Sarah has made easy to follow tutorials that will teach you how to do all this so you will be happy with the look of your blog while you are working on your content and your staying power.

What do you think? Do you like blogs that use a lot of color in the background or have the pre-made templates? What would you add or change to my basics of blog design.

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Blogging, Beaching, Running

This weekend was so jam packed with fun and friends I totally need a day off to recover from it all!

A weekend of OC Bloggers, brunch, beach views, and the Brea8K race!

The weekend started off with an OC Blogger event. I saw Melyssa advertise it on her blog The Nectar Collective that there was going to be a brunch for Orange County, California bloggers and I felt like I had to go, and I am so glad that I did.

The event was held at Great Over Good in Santa Ana and was a perfect, creative space. It was a joy to meet other bloggers in person, eat some amazing food, and pretend I am crafty.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="717"]

I made a craft and even tied a ribbon on it. Please do not notice that the ribbon could have been shorter.[/caption]

One of my favorite movements came from Jess from Jess Loves This Life. As soon as she met me she said "Penny!" and I knew I would love her. I told Penny she had a fan and she has been unbearable ever since!

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="717"]

Jess from Jess Loves This Life![/caption]

Another highlight for me was meeting Rachel, Nicole, and Raewyn in person. I had already read their blogs so it was cool to meet them face to face after reading and sponsoring their blogs.

I think the best part of the day for me on a personal note was not just meeting more bloggers, which was amazing, but being encouraged that pursuing my PhD was the right thing to be doing. I was kind of getting discouraged and considering not doing it next year. Some of the ladies that were there were are actually working as professors already or were in school. They totally gave me the encouragement I needed to know that I was making the right choice and that even though it would be hard it was worth it. Um hello working 3 days a week!

After the brunch I decided I needed some "Erica Time" and went down to San Clemente for a few hours to walk around and soak up the beach.

I love San Clemente. It is my favorite beach town to just go and hang out and shop, eat and walk along the beach. It is not overcrowd like some of the beaches in Southern California and it is relaxed and welcoming.

While I was there I tried my hand at using my camera a little more and took a few photos to document the lovely day. The first four photos were of a cute little shop on Del Mar that had awesome shabby chic furniture and handmade signs. I would have spent my whole paycheck there if there was a way to get it all home.

Then I went down to the pier and took some photos of the scenery. Sorry if you do not like beachy ocean photos. This would be the time to quite reading my blog if you hate beauty.

[caption id="attachment_891" align="aligncenter" width="620"]

San Clemente Pier[/caption]

I also had the opportunity to participate in an 8K this weekend, I thought it was a 5K but whatever, I owned it.

Truth be told I didn't run that much. I ran enough so that when I say "I ran in an 8K" it isn't a lie. It was a very fast walk though and I beat all those old people and children so that as all that mattered. If you are thinking about a 5K or 8K or half marathon or whatever, just do it. It was really fun and not at all terrible.

[caption id="attachment_894" align="aligncenter" width="620"]

I ran in the 8k Brea Classic and the picture a stranger took of me was tragic so all you get is this to prove I did it.[/caption]

One last note before I leave you for today. I just want the world to realize I am so smart when it comes to hockey. I made the following prediction on Friday's post, A Girl's Guide to Olympic Hockey, and I was right! If only I was in Vegas at the Sports Book and I could have made a few dollars.

[caption id="attachment_868" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

Bam! I called it![/caption]

Linking up with Rachel and Emily today as I provided a wrap up and I am grateful for the great weekend I had!

I also ail be continuing my series on starting a blog tomorrow with the following theme:

Button

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.ericajacquline.com" title="Erica Jacquline"><img src="http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q738/ericajt/888dd639-b8b3-4d31-ad8b-70b5030b2ced_zps5ae89ed5.png?t=1391095116" alt="Erica Jacquline" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.ericajacquline.com" title="Erica Jacquline"><img src="http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q738/ericajt/7d06bcc5-a291-4a89-91ae-848102371403_zps6354e15e.png?t=1391118316" alt="Erica Jacquline" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.ericajacquline.com/" title="Erica Jacquline"><img src="http://www.ericajacquline.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Blog-Button.jpg" alt="Erica Jacquline" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.ericajacquline.com" title="Erica Jacquline"><img src="http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q738/ericajt/888dd639-b8b3-4d31-ad8b-70b5030b2ced_zps5ae89ed5.png?t=1391095116" alt="Erica Jacquline" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.somuchsunshine.com" title="Erica Jacquline"><img src="http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q738/ericajt/Listed_zps4ebfb2ef.png" alt="Erica Jacquline" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Pages

Monday, June 30, 2014

5 Ways to Find Your Blogging Voice

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Six Ways To Blog LIke You Mean It.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Monday, April 14, 2014

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

6 Tips To Help You Start Sponsoring Blogs

Monday, March 17, 2014

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Monday, March 10, 2014

Monday, March 3, 2014

So You Want To Start A Blog - Content Is Key

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Monday, February 24, 2014

So You Want to Start A Blog - Basic Blog Design Tips

1. Choose a White Background - Or a very light background - or just a thin page border

2. Choose a font that is easy for all people to read

3. Utilize Photos

4. Keep Your Layout Simple

6. Utilize free web tutorials

7. Make it your own

Sunday, February 23, 2014

A weekend of OC Bloggers, brunch, beach views, and the Brea8K race!

Things