Honest Truth About Blogging #2

I don't know about all of you, but blogging is one of my favorite things to do. I know I have said that many times, but it's true. You know what else is true about blogging?

It's not always fun. Yep, I said it. I have read so many blogs that say things like "don't blog if you don't enjoy it," "it shouldn't feel like work," yada yada yada. I'm going to be brutally honest. I don't always love blogging. It's not always enjoyable. Sometimes I post things that are hard to write. Sometimes I post things that aren't peachy and pretty. Sometimes I sit down to write a post and literally, my mind goes_______________! Completely blank! No joke! Ever been there?

I sat down just yesterday to write a fun post about the lake and the things that the Lord revealed to me while I was there and just the fun stuff I did and when I sat down. Nothing!

Days like that are not fun. Days where I have a billion thoughts going through my head and absolutely everything I type leads me to another thought and I can't type fast enough to get it all out. Not only can I not get it all out, but I can't organize it at that moment, and when I get done typing, I am so worn out that I don't want to go back and read all the jumbled mess that I just wrote out.

I know that a huge part of blogging and keeping your readers engaged continuing to post (most people suggest that you post at least two times a week) however, that is difficult sometimes. I know that life gets crazy, busy, and you don't even care to write sometimes, but you do it anyway just to "keep readers engaged," but I have to be honest. I don't think that keeps them engaged when you just write random nothing and post it to get views, engage people, etc. I think this honestly draws them away from your blog.

I have been guilty of this and I totally bought into the lie that I had to post something not to lose readership, followers, fans, etc., but the truth is, your content is key! Don't just post random junk. I will be the first to admit that I have posted junk. I made an editorial calendar and then, just because next week has three post ideas and deadlines, I would normally try to write them all out and get them done, but I am learning that CONTENT is seriously the key to post success!

What is post success? Well, that depends on your own personal beliefs. For me, I count success in posting as sending something out into the world wide web that is potentially beneficial to someone, keeps with the theme of things on CTB, encourages, builds up, and speaks truth. A successful post is one that doesn't necessarily have 10,000 views the first ten minutes it's posted, but you can be content and happy with the content you put up.

Happy Typing bloggers!

8 Questions You Should Answer in Order to Create an Effective Editorial Calendar

So here it is! I have been working on this FOR-EV-ER! I am finally sitting down and finishing it and can tell you what not to and what to do in order to make it your own and make it functional.

My Editorial Calendar will start and end in May, NOT January, like I am sure most everyone's does and should, but for my life, May works better I guess.

Before you read the Monthly list of suggestions, Please read through the 8 Questions You Should Answer in Order to Create an Effective Editorial Calendar:

Before you create your Editorial Calendar:

1. Do you want yours to look similar to everyone else's or do you NEED it to be unique to your crazy schedule. With this question remember that you don't have to do a monthly calendar, you could just do a simple idea calendar or a quarterly update calendar, etc. Be Creative!
2. How often do I want to create a new post and schedule it? You DON'T HAVE to post Every single day if you don't want to, it's your blog! Hello!
3. Do I have a niche? What is it? How do my post ideas fit in that niche?
4. What are my "MUST HAVE" Post Ideas?

After you create your Editorial Calendar:

1. Do the ideas I have down help anyone else or are they just for reading pleasure? Should I change this if it isn't helpful?
2. How many hours/week will the ideas I have down take me to sit and write out.
3. Do these posts require anything such as pictures, artwork, a download link, links of any kind, etc. to be added before posting and how long will adding all of that into my post take?
4. Do I feel good and confident in my ideas?

IF you are good with all the answers to all of the questions above, then get busy! 

If you are interested in a free downloadable worksheet please feel free to send a quick email to: info{at}chosentheblog{dot}com with the subject line saying: "Editorial Worksheet Please!" And I will send it right over to you (you don't have to write a message, if you don't want I know what you are looking for, but I'd love to hear from you if you're feeling chatty)

Quick Idea Generating Monthly Cheat Sheet:

May
Flowers
My Husband's Birthday
My Mom's Birthday
National Teacher's Day
Mother's Day
Armed Forces Day
Memorial Day
Blog Goals for the Year
Graduations

June
Summer
Father's Day
Vacation Ideas
Weddings

July
Independence Day
Traveling
Cookin' Out (Chili Cheese Dog Day- A Made Up Holiday I would love to celebrate)
Summer Outing Ideas

August
Mine & My Brother's Birthday, and My Step-mom's Birthday
Back to School Fair
Cleaning our SUMMER JUNK! (How does that stuff accumulate anyway?!?)
Normal Schedule Back in order
National Marshmallow Toasting Day (Yes! We will Celebrate!)

September
Labor Day
Dad' s Birthday
Grandparent's Day
Fall, Fall, Fall!!!
Remembering 9-11

October
More Fall
Hello Lovely Blog Awards/Conference
Trunk or Treat

November
Thanksgiving Day
Black Friday
Veteran's Day
Thankful for My PawPaw

December
Snow
Decorating
Apple Cider
Gift Ideas
Christmas
Jesus' Birthday
Christmas Eve Gift
Missions Conference

January
Wedding Anniversary
Goals
New Year's Ideas
Organization Ideas
Cleaning out Christmas Clutter

February
Valentine's Day
50% off Chocolate Day (day after Valentines day)
Love
Single's Valentine's Day Celebration Ideas
Date Nights

March
First Day of Spring!
Spring Cleaning
Gardening Ideas

April
Rainy Day Ideas
Easter
Earth Day
Going Green Ideas
Passover

I hope this helps! If you have any suggestions, PLEASE add them in a comment below. I would love to hear them!

Well Hello, Again!

I have been M.I.A. for about 2 months now. I'm truly sorry about that, but I didn't want to miss out (who am I kidding I didn't even have time to blog) on any wedding moments or newly-wed times these past few weeks. I can't believe we have been married for almost a month now! That's crazy, but completely awesome! I have so much to share on here. I can't wait to tell you all about all of it! I'm going to do a quick series on the wedding and all of the fun DIY stuff we did at the wedding, share all about the awesome things God has been teaching me just in the past few weeks, start a crock pot series (to which I will tell you the truth about how the recipes actually taste-there have been a few bad ones), and share lots and lots and lots of pictures! I can't wait I just started catching up on blog reading today so I am behind on what is going on with all of ya'll, as well, so I am looking forward to seeing how you've been, and I hope well.

Also, don't forget about the Hello Lovely Blog Conference, I can't wait an I hope to see lots of you there. It is going to be informative, educational, and fun (and there will be tons of chocolate).  I hope you are all having a wonderful Sunday afternoon! I can't wait to talk to you!

New Hello Lovely Christmas Gift

Click Picture for Lovely Holiday Gifts!

FOUR MORE DAYS!

Bloggers! 

Only four days left to nominate your favorite blogs and bloggers for the 

Hello Lovely Blog Awards and Conference! 

Don't Forget! 

Voting will open on October 1, 2013

Categories:

1. Blog of the Year

2. Blogger of the Year

3. Post of the Year

4. Best New Blogger (Started blogging in 2013)

5. Best Photography Blogger

6. Best Food Blogger

7. Best Mom Blogger

8. Best Fashion Blogger

9. Best Craft/DIY Blogger

10. Best Health/Fitness Blogger

11. Best Religion Blogger

12. Best Group Blog

13. Best Organizational Blogger

14. Best Blog Design

15. Lifetime Achievement Award (Blogger since 2008)

10 Day Blog Challenge: Ocho

Write a note to your love or loves in 6 words or less.

You
Teach
Me
About
Jesus'
Love.

Six words or less is so incredibly hard to do. But I feel this sums it up, I think God uses people to show us Himself more and more, and relationships to show us His character. His love, mercy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and self control. I am so blessed because of the relationship the Lord has so graciously placed me in. He is so good to me!

Jesus'
Love
Shines
Through
Your
Life.

I feel like not just my relationship with Caleb, but other relationships, friendships, etc. teach me about Jesus. They aren't always easy, sometimes they're actually really hard, but I believe that it's those times when we are made more like Jesus. We get to experience His grace and even get to show His grace to others. I know I fail at giving and receiving grace, love, mercy, etc. but never the less, He gives it to us abundantly and is always faithful to, always! I am so thankful of God's grace and for the grace and love of all of my family and friends, because it is a very real and tangible example of God's love and grace.

S.O.S. I Need Your Help!

Hello Lovely Blogging Friends!

 I need your help! 

Nominations are open for the Hello Lovely Blog Awards & Conference and I need your nominations. Voting will open in October, but for today, it's all about the nominations. 

You can check out more about the Hello Lovely Blog Awards & Conference by visiting the Hello Lovely tab at the top of my site. 

If you have any suggestions I am all ears! I would love to hear from you! Please feel free to let me know what you think. I am so excited about this project! 

If you would be so kind to also post about the Hello Lovelies, 

Here's the button:

Please leave a comment and let me know if you did post about it. 

I'll return the favor! 

I hope you are having a wonderful and a blessed day today! 

     

10 Day Blog Challenge: UNO

Self Portrait

10 Random Facts About Me (that you don't already know!)

1. My feet are usually black on the bottom ( I'm usually shoe-less)
2. I am hosting my first Blog Conference this year, along with the help of some blogging friends
3. Sonic pretzel dogs are my newest craving, they're so stinkin' good!
4. I wrote a new song this week based off of Galatians 6:8 and Romans 12:1-2
5. I have done way too many loads of laundry this week!
6. I bought candy in Canada and had to throw all of it away when I got home because it melted in the car…fail!
7. I try and use the word swag whenever not appropriate
8. I have a new room mate named Emily
9. My new favorite thing to cook and eat with Caleb is mushrooms and onions
10. I am a horrible organizer!

Hello Lovely Awards and Conference

Hello Lovelies!

I had this idea…

I had an idea that just started out as myself wanting to get to actually meet some of the lovely friends I have made blogging and it has turned into:

I decided to do the conference, because well, all of us like to go them, right? We could all use some more education on blogging. However, that's not the only reason I think we like conferences or the reason I am hosting one. I am a believer in Jesus Christ. He is my rock and my redeemer. He was the free gift of God to all of us who believe in Him. In Ephesians it tells us this:

"There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says,

“When He ascended on high,
He led captive a host of captives,
And He gave gifts to men.”

(Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.) And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to amature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ." 

Ephesians 4: 4-13

So, with all of that said. I believe that we all have been given different gifts. Most of us have been given a gift and opportunity to blog. I have had a few negative responses to doing an awards show along with the conference, because of the competitive nature of an awards banquet. But, we aren't having the awards to shut anyone down. I don't want anyone to feel like they aren't good enough or even anyone to think they are above others. The goal is to build up and encourage each other. My goal is to bring together people who just want to learn more about the, either profession they are in or hobby they love, meet the lovely people they interact with in the world of blogging, and build each other up.

So, now, with all of, all of that said, I hope you can come! It's going to be a blast. I have been working everyday on it and even though it's a little ways away, I can't wait to meet all of you lovely people in real life!

July 1, 2013 Nominations and Ticket Sales are open!

Buy tickets for Hello Lovely Blog Awards and Conference