11 Easy Ways to Interact With Other Bloggers

Something that I enjoy most about blogging is the community. I have had the pleasure of interacting with so many incredible creatives since I began blogging. As silly as it sounds, when I first started blogging I figured people would just find my posts after I hit publish. I mean- that's how I found all of the blogs that I was reading! Finding a community of others who understand the effort it takes to keep a blog up and running, people who enjoy what you write, and those who will offer constructive criticism takes effort but can be accomplished. How? By putting yourself out there to interact with other bloggers!

Online community is extremely important as a blogger! It can be isolating to sit behind a computer screen putting the necessary time to run a successful blog. You and I both know how time consuming blogging is- and it's very satisfying to know that your hard work is being acknowledged.

This list is by no means all-inclusive, but I wanted to share 11 easy ways to interact with other bloggers. One of the keys to creating a successful community is consistency. Consistency with interaction as well as content creation on your part so that others have something to interact with! Everyone has busy seasons of their lives, but if you can commit time to interact with others I guarantee that you will begin to reap the benefits of community. And let me just add, it's absolutely worth the effort! Without further ado, here is my list:

1 Comment on other blogs, regularly.
2 Participate in a Twitter chat.
3 Write a guest post.
4 Share one of your favorite posts on social media.
5 Join a link up.
6 Participate in a photo challenge on Instagram.
7 Send an email to your favorite blogger.
8 Join a Facebook blogging support group.
9 Tweet a response to someone's newest post.
10 Co-write a blog post or series with another blogger.
11 Create a round up of your favorite posts/Instagram/Twitter accounts and let the owners know you've included them.

How do you build your online community? What do you do to connect with other bloggers?

2016 Blogging Goals: Update

Hey y'all! Happy Wednesday! I wanted to check in and share an update on my progress with my 2016 blogging goals so far. I know we're only 2 months into the year, but part of putting my goals out there was for accountability- and I want to keep that up! So here's a little update on my goals.

To recap, here are my goals that I made at the beginning of the year:

1 Post consistency. I'd say that I'm doing ok with this so far. I've fallen off the bandwagon 1 week so far, but I've been able to put out quality (in my opinion) content 2-3 times a week so far this year! I definitely want to keep it up!

2 Diversify my content. I haven't made time to shoot for any fashion posts just yet- but it's still on the list. I've shared one recipe so far- but I still need to work out the best way to improve my photography for these posts. My kitchen is far away from any natural light, and makes for a difficult shooting location. That's definitely my greatest challenge thus far.

3 Finish my blogging courses and enroll in more. I haven't even re-opened my courses this calendar year, so I unfortunately have to report no progress here.

4 Increase social media presence. I've been steadily increasing my presence, interactions, and followers across my favorite platforms! I'm excited about my progress with this goal and hope to continue on this trajectory. Please, check me out on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest! And don't forget to keep sharing your favorite posts! I appreciate all of your support.

5 Blog Sponsorship. This is another goal with little to show right now, but I do have some items in the works. I need to take some time to research which blogs I want to sponsor myself, and I'd love to hear some feedback if you currently have sponsorship open for your blog or sponsor a blog you love! Any information I can get is helpful for me!

I'm hoping to have more to share next time I check in with y'all, but I feel good about this progress so far. I need to stay focused on the goals that I have and continue to come up with fun, creative ways to accomplish them! If you have any advice on how you'd approach these, let me know in the comments! I always love hearing from y'all.

Spring Wardrobe Wishlist

We got a tease of warm weather over the weekend, and I've officially come down with the sickness. Spring fever, that is. I am NOT a snow bunny by any means. So, visions of spring are a typical occurrence for me when winter starts to wrap up. Even though I'm plagued with allergies I really enjoy springtime. It is such a welcomed change after the drab, cold days of winter! Flowers, greenery, warmth, sunshine... I just love it.

With a change in season, I always think about what additions I want to make to my wardrobe. I've always maintained a fairly classic style, but I've flirted with some trendier pieces over the past year. To be honest- I've really enjoyed mixing in some new styles! I know spring is going to come with its own fashion refresh, but I've already spotted some items that I need to have when springtime rolls around!

I'm craving lots of light weight materials after being buried under layers of sweaters and coats! Silky camisoles and blouses will definitely be go-tos. I also live in classic prints like stripes and gingham. I'm also really excited about reintroducing white into my wardrobe (read about my stance on that here) after the wintertime! Open-toe shoes are also a fun change, and I'm hoping to pick up some new sandals to show off my favorite bright nail polishes.

Shop my picks: tank / skirt / scalloped blouse / off-the-shoulder blouse / striped tee / tee / gingham top / embroidered top /  dress / gingham dress / lace-up wedges / sandals

What's on your spring wishlist? Do you have a favorite part about spring?

An Open Letter to The Single Girl

 My sweet friend,

I know that things are confusing right now. It seems like everyone else is progressing forward towards their goals, and you are too- just in different areas. You have a great job. Your family isn't perfect, but they love you. Your friends are incredible. Your apartment is gorgeous. You don't like to admit it, but you still feel incomplete.

Please stop and hear this: life isn't defined by your relationship status. I know that you have listened to it before and agree, but that doesn't mean that you remember how spectacular the single you is 24 hours a day. You're especially forgetful as you scroll through your social media feeds and are met with pairs of smiling faces. But their lives aren't all smiles simply because they have a significant other. In fact, many of the people on your Instagram feed posting the very photos that make you feel lonely are just as (or sometimes more so) incomplete as you are. Remember that the couple smiling in the photo on your screen posed for that snapshot. Right before that romantic dinner, they may have gotten into the same huge argument yet again. Or afterwards, when they head home, they might struggle to come up with meaningful conversation to have together. Don't let those shiny moments fool you. They are human, just like you.

I hope you know how outrageously amazing you are. You are smart, beautiful, selfless, funny, giving, thoughtful, and so much more. You don't need to be off the market to feel validated. And I hope you don't wait until then to appreciate all that you have to offer.

Just remember: you can't give your best love to anyone unless you are giving it to yourself first. What I mean by that, is that you can't expect to be in a fulfilling relationship with someone else before you are content with who and how you are alone. You will always be looking to your significant other to fill you up and fix you, when that's not their intended purpose in your life. You need to be able to build yourself up and fill your life with love before you can expect to do those things for someone else. You can't fill an empty cup from an empty pitcher, am I right?

Long story short- I hope you take time right now to recenter and appreciate yourself. You are here on this earth for more than just to be someone's +1. I hope that you focus on finding and fulfilling that purpose soon. The people meant to be in your life always find their way in, so stop worrying about that part of your life and enjoy the rest.


xo.

Office Decor Inspiration

Hey y'all! I'm happy to be back into the swing of things after some work travel last week. I know I said I'd be better about pre-planning posts, but life got in the way and it just didn't happen for me. I did however have a blast down on my business trip and managed to escape a snow dusting in Atlanta! I am not a fan of the snow. So, it's a win in my book to have been in sunny FL! Even if I was sitting in meetings most of my time down there!

Anywho, I've been in my new apartment for a little over a month now- isn't that crazy?! In the spirit of being completely honest with y'all, I have a confession. I still have 3 boxes full of things that I can't seem to find a home for! The layout of my new apartment is drastically different than my last (more space! yay!) and I've had a hard time figuring out these last few pieces of the puzzle. It'll happen eventually though. And if not- at least I have a head start on my next move!

One of the biggest changes with this apartment is that I have a built-in desk with shelving above. My sister is graciously keeping my desk for me in the basement of her house until I have a need for it again. The desk in my new apartment matches the granite in my kitchen and is super spacious. I love it! But it needs some additional flair to truly make it mine. My current desk accessories are still gold and navy- and are the anchors for my design inspiration! I hope to add in a lamp, some fun and inspirational prints, and additional organizational items like the ones featured below:

Thankfully, I have some great bones and just need to fix things up a little bit. How cute are those prints? Although I have an office chair, I love the ones above! I wish that I got a chair with wheels. It's such a small detail, but really makes a difference when you're getting up and down. I also just love having little trinket details on my desk. They really cheer me up when I'm working! A pretty planner or a decadent candle are right up my alley.

What are your favorite desk accessories? What's on your wishlist? Where do you shop for office items?