3 ways to prep your blog for a new year

a new year, new beginnings. what a fabulous time to reconsider the direction you're taking your blog! after the hustle and bustle of the holidays, everyone sort of scrambles for direction, in the form of new year's resolutions, new goals and vows to be the best versions of ourselves. you can do the same with your blog, but first, take a little look into the year you've just completed to get an idea of where to go next.

here are 3 tips to help you evaluate and prep your blog for a new year. cheers!

send out a reader survey

you've been getting comments on your blog all year, but aside from this, have you been truly listening to your readers? now is the perfect opportunity to ask your readers what they want from you, especially if you're considering revamping the direction of your blog in 2016. what do your readers think about this?

an easy way is to create a survey (i use surveymonkey.com), then blast it out to your social media followers or newsletter subscribers. if you're sending a reader survey via newsletter, consider offering a freebie, exclusive blog post or something special to your subscribers before you ask them to fill out the survey. 

consider trimming your content

what do you blog about? are you specific enough? go take a look at your traffic for the past year via google analytics or stat counter, and take a look at which posts got the least amount of traffic. maybe you didn't promote them enough, maybe it was a bad day, but if you're noticing a pattern with certain types of content, consider posting something different in the new year.

for example, i really really love cooking and baking. photographing food is so much fun! however, recipe posts are quickly starting to feel out of place on my blog, and i won't be posting them in 2016, unless it's a recipe that i can somehow tie in to a post about wellness or time management. additionally, my year-end reader survey let me know that people aren't seeking recipes on my blog. point taken!

revamp old content 

is your old content working hard for you? it should be. you busted your ass to create it, so don't let it fall flat! if you've got old posts that have a great concept but poor execution (bad photos, images that don't match your brand, wording that sounds funny, etc.) weed through old posts and make them work for you again. repurpose your images, trim your copy, create pinterest friendly images and spruce them up! then, make it a habit to promote the hell outta them in 2016.


if you want a little help coming up with a 2016 blog plan, check out blog consulting, click here!
if you're a small business and want to revamp your social media strategy in the new year, click here!

want some more tips to blog your best in a new year? check out these posts:

the ultimate pinterest for bloggers link round-up + free checklist for success

3 ways to get the most from social media scheduling

5 steps to finding your blog's branding + voice

the ultimate pinterest for bloggers round-up + free checklist for pinterest success

earlier this month, birmingham bloggers came together with holly prim of diy girl cave to host a fun, informative workshop on pinterest basics for bloggers. we had a fabulous time on a chilly saturday morning sipping coffee from revelator coffee, followed by a yummy lunch sponsored by birmingham's very own social media conference, y'all connect! wade kwon of y'all connect was gracious enough to give away a free pass for 2016's conference, which we were all so excited about. phew, what a morning!

i wanted to pass along some of the information that beth, holly and i came up with for the pinterest workshop. pinterest is a beast, y'all, and it seems like it's ever-changing. pinterest strategy from 2013 is essentially not relevant at all now, but hey, that can be said for any social media platform, right?

getting more in-tune with my pinterest strategy has been on my to-do list forever, and it honestly wasn't until holly approached birmingham bloggers about a pinterest workshop that i got my ass into gear. a few weeks ago, i didn't even know what a rich pin was. yeaaaah. let that sink in.

if you're a blogger looking to maximize pinterest, there are infinite resources at your fingertips. so, i compiled them for you in a round-up! everyone linked here has tons to offer in the social media realm, so don't just stop at their posts on pinterest - browse their blogs for all the awesome resources they have to offer. but first - check this out...

just by being aware of my pinterest strategy, enabling rich pins, brushing up the look of my boards (go take a look - i branded them!), joining and pinning to group boards, pinning others content, pinning consistently with the help of scheduling apps and setting reminders on my phone to pin, i've noticed a spike in engagement and views! now, this is coming from my teeny tiny pinterest account that i only recently took seriously, but i'm kinda impressed with how quickly growth can happen! notice how my average monthly viewers have increased by 1,483%, and my monthly engagement has increased by 856%.

again, from my teeny tiny pinterest account. however, my point is that there are super simple steps you can take in the course of just a few hours that can make a huge difference. i'm still working on bumping up my re-pins and deleting old pins from my boards to boost their quality.

you can get on track to the same success by checking out the tutorials from these amazing bloggers and creatives below. and once you're done, download my free mini #checklistforsuccess to mark these action items off and totally re-think your pinterest game.

setting up your profile for success

how to write your pinterest bio like a boss 

enabling your pinterest business account

how to set up rich pins for blogger & wordpress

how to add the pin-it button to your blog (blogger)

how to add the pin- it button to your blog (wordpress)

adding the pinterest widget to your blog

9 steps for pinterest domination

format images to be pinterest friendly

5 tools to create pinterest friendly images

how to brand your pinterest boards

getting collaboration savvy + joining group boards

 

how to create a group pinterest board

10 pinterest group boards for creative biz owners

how to collaborate like a boss (apply these tips to pinterest!)

how to find + join group boards

how to use group pinterest boards to go viral

beyond your regular ole' pinning + strategy

a guide to promoted pins

how i got 19k impressions using promoted pins

how to use pinterest promoted pins

a guide to getting noticed on pinterest + pinterest's smart feed

scheduling pins on tailwind 

what's the best pinterest scheduling tool?

9 reasons to delete your old pins

how deleting old pins tripled my pinterest presence 

40+ smart strategies to get more traffic from pinterest

i created a free checklist for success to help you get started after you check out these tutorials. this checklist is an interactive pdf, which means you can actually check off the items as you go! it includes all the basics and a few extras that help you make sure you've covered all your pinterest bases when it comes to having a killer account.

click below to download the pdf file, then open it in adobe reader or acrobat to access the interactive features.

send out a tweet with the hashtag #checklistforsuccess once you've completed the list. click here to tweet it! oh, and real quick - are we pinning together on pinterest? click here to follow give me a follow! i pin a ton of blogging/business tips, plus yummy recipes and general happiness/wellness tips.

what are your favorite pinterest strategies?  

create an opt-in incentive for your mailchimp newsletter [part 2]

this is part 2 of a 3-part series on creating an opt-in incentive for your mailchimp newsletter. click here to read part 1. part 3 will be available november 30th!

so, you've got your freebie and you're ready to roll. your mailchimp list is set up, and now, you need to create an automated email that delivers your freebie to loyal subscribers.

purchase automation credits to build your workflow

so, here's the thing: this isn't free. as you'll see shortly in this post, you can make a decision regarding how much money you want to spend. start small, and decide later if it's worth it for your blog to budget in.

to get started creating a workflow that will automatically send your freebie to subscribers when they sign up for your newsletter, sign in to your mailchimp account. on your dashboard, click automation on the top ribbon. you should see the image above that says automation is a paid feature.

click 'upgrade'. this takes you to a page that explains different mailchimp pro features and how much a monthly subscription costs. if you've got a large, engaged email list, it may be worth your investment in the long-run to go ahead and purchase a monthly paid feature subscription.

if you're just getting your feet wet in the newsletter world, i recommend the paying by credit option. you can always change your plan or purchase more credits. this is a great way to get started with a low investment. you will see this option listed as the pay as you go plan. go ahead and select this option if you aren't interested in paying for a monthly mailchimp plan just yet.

i know, i know. 5,000,000 people are reading my blog, too. but just to play it safe, i went with the handy dandy super reasonable $9.00 300 credit option to start with.

once you've purchased your credits, you will have access to the automation tab on your mailchimp dashboard. head back over there to get started building your welcome email.

create your welcome email

if you've sent a newsletter before, you can use some of your previous branding to match your welcome email to subscribers. if not, we'll be creating an email to really pack a punch, deliver your freebie and match your branding.

back on the automation tab, click on the 'create automation workflow' button. next, select the list of subscribers this welcome email will be associated with, likely the 'your blog name subscribers' list that you created previously. after selecting a list, you will have a ton of different types of email options. as you can see, you can really get creative with your automated emails! if you've got one freebie you're giving away in your welcome message, the most standard option is likely the best choice for now.

select the very first option, 'welcome message'.

next, you'll be prompted to name your welcome message, maybe 'newsletter freebie'. your subscribers won't see this. once you've input the name settings, click next.

on the next page, you'll be prompted to review the trigger that makes your automated email send. by default, it says that the automated email is triggered to send when people subscribe to my newsletter. simple, right? that's what we want.

the 'trigger workflow when subscribers are imported' checkbox simply gives you the option to have the workflow fire off if you manually import subscribers to the list.

now, you get to build your automated welcome email! click 'add email'. you will see an email, 'automation email #1', already sitting there for you to design. before we get to designing, there's one quick detail we need to fix.

see where it says that the workflow email is sent 1 day after the workflow is triggered? yeah, no. we don't want that. your subscriber is gonna sign up expecting your freebie, then be confused as to why it hasn't arrived 12 hours later, send you a confused email, yeah, just... no. so, instead, let's set up that trigger to fire off immediately. click 'change delay' and select 'immediately'.

after this, you can hit the 'design email' button! again, you'll be prompted to input a name for this email. for the subject, make it something fun and catchy - after all, this is the very first email your subscribers are receiving from your mailing list. since you're offering a fun incentive, you can even include that in your subject line - 'thanks for subscribing! here's your ____'.

input your subject line, then click 'next'.

now, for the fun part: designing your email and attaching the freebie! if you've sent a mailchimp newsletter before, you may have a saved template you can build off of. if not, select the 1-column template for simplicity's sake to get started.

mailchimp is a versatile platform for creating emails that look professional and polished, which i chat more about in part 3. for now, i'm going to detail how to attach your freebie to your email.

here's your blank email template, ready to be designed, fluffed up and pumped full o' good stuff. let's get your opt-in incentive in there to start with. to the left, you'll see a bunch of different content types you can put into your email. if you've got a video welcome message, for example, you can select 'video' to upload it and drop it right in to your email.

if you have a simple file that needs to be hosted somewhere and shared, all you need is a link or a button in your email that is clickable to take readers to the file.

while typing up your welcome email, create some text that says "click here to get ____!" or a button that says the same. buttons can be more fun because you can use colors to match your blog branding!

after selecting the text you want to take readers to your freebie, click the 'link' button. in the 'link to' dropdown box, select 'file'. you'll be prompted to upload your opt-in incentive. grab your pdf, e-book, photo, etc. that you created, and upload it.

now, readers can simply click the link in your email to access the freebie you made for them! however, there's more to welcome emails (and emails in general) than just throwing a freebie out there and hoping for the best. in part 3, i discuss crafting a good welcome message, what to include in your welcome email aside from your freebie, and using mailchimp's tools to create an email that matches your brand.

do you have experience with mailchimp's paid features? do you think it's worth it?

this is part 2 of a 3-part series on creating an opt-in incentive for your mailchimp newsletter. click here to read part 1. part 3 will be available november 30th!

want to read more on social media? check out these posts:

sharing others content & why it matters

how to have the best social media conference experience

how i stay organized

sharing others content & why it matters

when was the last time you promoted and shared content that wasn't your own?

if you can't answer that question, this is the post for you.

blogging is all about community, connecting with your peers and finding a voice that's authentically you in what seems to be a sea of posts, tweets and instagram flat lays. but the truth is, we're all building and feeding off one another here in the blogging world. we cheer one another's successes, vent about our frustrations and are constantly seeking to evolve together as this insane internet mumbo jumbo changes on a daily basis.

but if you're not sharing, promoting and connecting actively with your peers content, are you really participating in the blogging world? what could becoming actively engaged in your peers content do to change your blogging game?

here are some serious reasons to step up your game regarding other's content.

it shows you're invested in your niche

if you're a fashion blogger who isn't aware of what other fashion bloggers are doing... where ya at? reading other's content and sharing it keeps you up-to-date on the latest trends, both from fashion and social media. if you aren't paying attention to the community, you're missing things. by sharing content from others, you're showing your followers that you care about the blogosphere and are actively invested in it. being invested in your niche is how to get ahead.

it connects you to your peers in a genuine way

everyone wants to feel heard and understood. by promoting someone's content, you're acknowledging this very fact: "i hear you. i understand you. i like what you wrote!". remember this, and remember how you feel when someone throws a retweet your way. make it a priority to give as many bloggers this feeling too as often as possible.

in addition to making bloggers feel heard and special, it can open up the door to collaboration and conversation. promoting someone's content is an easy segway to start chatting about how you can work together.

it helps personify you as a dynamic brand

a dynamic, experienced and well-rounded blog isn't just screaming about what they have to offer 24/7. we all have valuable content to offer and fresh perspectives. by directing folks to what you consider valuable resources, posts and bloggers in your niche, you're establishing yourself as an expert, in addition to providing well-rounded information for your readers.


so, how can you put other's content first? we're all busy bloggers who are sometimes struggling to get our own content out - how do you add someone else's content to the mix? set small goals for yourself. for example, an item on your to-do list for the week could be: "read, comment on and promote 5 other blog posts". treat this to-do item like you would another other, and prioritize it. you can even use a tool like hootsuite or buffer to schedule these promotions.

simply remembering to promote content is worth noting, too. you can browse a blog post on your lunch break, so take the quick extra few seconds to tweet it, too.

what can you do to share content in your niche this week?

want to read more about blogging & social media? try these posts:

overcoming blogging self doubt

setting up side-gig work hours

5 steps to developing your blog's branding & voice

spiced cranberry pomegranate sparkler

we're in the thick of it, y'all - the most wonderful time of the year. and i really, truly mean that. people get excited about spring and summer, but i'll never truly understand how these seasons compare to fall and winter. the clothes, the events, the holidays, the food.

to celebrate thanksgiving (which deserves a lot more holiday focus than it gets), susannah of feast & west and meghan of cake 'n knife hold an annual blogsgiving dinner. it's a lot like a virtual potluck; we blogger folk whip up something tasty and share it for blogsgiving.

if you know me, you know i'm all about the cocktails. forget beer. make me something magical with a liqueur i can't pronounce, and you have me. this particular cocktail doesn't have a fancy liqueur, but it does have some delicious flavor medleys going on, plus a little champs for sparkle and festivity.

spiced cranberry pomegranate sparkler

1 cup pomegranate juice
1 stick cinnamon
cranberry juice
champagne or prosecco

first, make your pomegranate-cinnamon syrup. bring pomegranate juice to a boil, add cinnamon stick, and simmer for 10 minutes. remove from heat and let cool completely.

to assemble cocktail, add 1 part pomegranate cinnamon syrup and 2 parts cranberry juice to your cocktail shaker with ice. shake well. pour into champagne saucer glass, then top with champagne. cheers!

thanksgiving is all about friends, family and delicious food. to celebrate the holiday, susannah of feast & west and meghan of cake 'n knife are hosting blogsgiving dinner. over 60 bloggers are sharing recipes this week!

stop by each blog to gather ideas for your own thanksgiving meal. we'll be posting to social media with the hashtag #blogsgivingdinner, but you can see the entire menu in part 1 and part 2 of the recipe round-up.

create an opt-in incentive for your mailchimp newsletter [part 1]

this is the first part of a three part series. part two will be available next week!

an email list is a highly valuable tool for your blog. it allows you to speak directly to some of your most connected and engaged readers. after all, these are people who are willingly granting you access to their inboxes - a place many hold sacred!

your blog content is great. you want to set up an email list to really connect with your audience and keep them engaged. many people will sign up for your email list of their own accord with no incentive involved - but not everyone. what can you do to provide that little push that makes a reader click "subscribe"? how can you offer something real and tangible to your readers that rewards them for paying attention?

creating an opt-in incentive for your mailchimp mailing list is the answer. and fortunately, using content you already have, repurposing your talents or even adding another dimension to existing content can help you make a quick, easy opt-in goodie your readers will love.

so, how do you get started? if you don't have a mailchimp account, follow the steps below. if you've already got a mailchimp account and a "list" of subscribers set up, skip to the third step, and stay tuned for parts two and three of this series.

create an account on mailchimp.com

mailchimp is a perfect tool to build your mailing list and offer a freebie to your readers. it's simple to use and highly customizable, but also a powerful, powerful tool. go to www.mailchimp.com and create an account. don't feel overwhelmed by the dashboard - you'll be familiar in no time!

create a list   

once you've made an account, you'll want to make a list. a list is simply, well, a list of the people who subscribe to your newsletter. on the mailchimp dashboard, take a look at the top panel, and click "lists". next, you'll see a button that says "create list". follow the prompts to name your list, usually "your blog name newsletter subscribers".

voila! you can now collect sign-ups for your mailing list. mailchimp offers many sign-up forms you can input using html to your blog. i'll talk more about these and where to put them in part two.

brainstorm incentives to offer your readers

now, for the fun part! start to brainstorm what you can offer your readers. this doesn't have to be the grandest most amazing most incredible resource or graphic you've ever made. it can be anything!

the entire point of opt-in incentives is to make your subscribers feel special. it's all about exclusivity. those who sign up for your newsletter have something others don't have. that concept alone makes people subscribe. everyone wants the "exclusive" content, even if it's just a high-res, beautiful stock photo you took.

here are some ideas for opt-in incentives:

• a mini e-book (5-10 pages) that outlines a how-to, DIY, tip/trick or insider knowledge. this is fresh, exclusive content that isn't available on your blog.
• a free, high resolution stock photo you took that can be used for all purposes.
• your absolute favorite recipe of all time in PDF format with a large, inviting photo.
• a compilation of existing blog content in an easy to read, accessible format. if you don't want to create separate newsletter only content, grab some blog posts, make a series, and format them in a small PDF so they can be viewed at once. example: my top 5 citrus recipes.
• a discount code for one of your products.
• an invitation to a private pinterest board, facebook group or other online community.
• an early-bird invitation/reserved spot for an event you're hosting (for local readers).
• a social media shoutout. input a field in your sign-up form for readers to enter their twitter or instagram account. once you have their information after they sign up, visit their blog, pick a post and give them a shoutout on social media. (time consuming, but unique!)
• a seasonal gift guide.
• an exclusive, pre-recorded video of you welcoming readers to your blog/newsletter, and offering insider content. you only have to record the video once, and it definitely makes an impression!

once you decide on your opt-in incentive, get to work creating it! some take longer than others. think of ways you can sweeten the deal and make this incentive sound appealing to readers.

if you don't have photoshop to create graphics, a pdf or a mini e-book, using a free tool like canva is a great way to make a professional looking freebie really quickly. i used canva to create my mini e-book on blogging collaboration that you receive when you sign up for my newsletter.

in part two, i'll explain the step by step process of setting up the automation email that sends your freebie to readers who sign up. in part three, i'll explain formatting your automation email to match your branding + tips for encouraging readers to grab your freebie.

do you have a mailing list on your blog? do you offer your readers freebies?

while you're here, check out these other posts:

how to use google calendar as a blogging editorial calendar

how to take a blogging break

3 ways a blogging community changes how you blog

sparkling yellowhamer recipe + tervis tailgate giveaway [the blogger bowl]

is it weird to say i have a favorite type of cup? it's always been tervis tumblers. my parents hoard them like crazy, and i guess i just grew up destined to have a cup preference. well, this is it, y'all. cue me saying weird stuff about cups like "they so easy to hold" and "i like the way they feel". i do, ok?!

i truly don't think there's a better cup for holding a sparkling yellowhammer on gameday, too. i like to amp my regular yellowhammer up just a bit with the sparkling element. who doesn't love champagne? but honestly, yellowhammers are boozy enough as it is, so you could totally use club soda to get your fizz kick.

 

sparkling yellowhammer cocktail

1 part vodka
1 part light Rum
1 part amaretto
1 part champagne or club soda
2 parts orange juice
2 parts pineapple juice

and now for a fun giveaway! we football lovin' ladies are such fans of tervis tumblers (and tailgating), we want to give you some fun tailgating prizes.

this post is part of the blogger bowl, and we’re giving away a great game day tailgating prize pack! one winner will receive one collegiate tervis tumbler of their choice, a stanley brand adventure vacuum crock (perfect to keep tailgating grub warm!), a set of coasters & a notepad from natrick & eve, a KIND Snacks indulgence cube, and a $30 visa gift card.

to enter, use the rafflecopter below. be sure to follow along using the hashtag #thebloggerbowl!

a Rafflecopter giveaway    

Liz from Pretty Sweet Life // Molly from Hey There Sunshine // Aubry from Finding Beautiful Truth // Beth from Bethcakes // Meredith from Meredith Noelle // Rachel from Stupid Good Rachel  

4 ways you're doing social media wrong (+ how to fix them)

as a blogger, i spend a lot of time on social media. my favorite platforms right now are twitter and snapchat (which is an entire other can of worms, by the way!) and i love connecting with other bloggers on both. on twitter especially, i see a lot of folks utilizing the platform in the complete and total wrong way - but of course, this applies to all other mediums, too.

it's important to be consistent and strategic with your social media. after all, you're among millions and millions of other messages going out at the exact same second. if you're going to take the time to write it, why not make it count?

check below for some common social media no-no's, + how to fix them.

not filling out your profiles completely

i see a ton of folks doing this. why?! i'll visit someone's twitter profile thinking they're a local business, and they don't have their "location" field filled out. so, i glance at a few tweets. i still don't recognize the area/relevance, so i shrug, click out of the page, and move on. what a missed potential opportunity! had i know this cute donut shop was definitely in birmingham, i would have followed them.

your profile, whether it's on twitter, facebook or instagram, is your first impression. people skim these pages quickly and make the decision to follow you in less than a few seconds. why not make sure your profiles pack a punch?! fill out every field - your website, your location, your bio. if you have something important to offer your readers (an important, must-read post, an e-book, an e-course, etc.) use a URL shortening tool like bit.ly to throw a link to your offer in your bio (see my pinterest for example).

linking up networks without customizing messages

i know, i know. this is such a timesaver, isn't it? if you're posting on facebook, for example, you can choose to have it automatically push to twitter, instagram, etc. - and wow, you've just covered all your bases in a few seconds.

for me, there's nothing more disheartening that going to a twitter account and finding it riddled with "fb.me" links back to facebook. customizing messages separately and thoughtfully for each platform is important. not to mention, users aren't always frequenting these platforms at the same time. you may be on facebook during your lunchbreak, but instagram users are going crazy liking/posting after 5pm. if you linked your photo to post on facebook, twitter and instagram at once, you missed some careful scheduling that could have yielded more likes and engagement.

tagging other users without an introduction

ah, the old "stand on the soapbox and yell into a megaphone" technique, i like to call it. if you're a small blogger tweeting at or tagging a large business, go for it. but otherwise? why not introduce yourself instead of prompting someone to see your tag/tweet/post and say, "who the hell is that?".

this does not apply if you're simply sharing a post you found helpful or interesting, nor does it apply to favoriting your blogger crush's tweets. nope. what i'm talking about is akin to posting an image from your latest blog post and tagging random bloggers in hopes they take a look at it. this applies to businesses, too, in the form of tweeting a copied & pasted message like "come try our pizza, 50% off on tuesdays!" to hundreds of local twitter accounts. o-m-g, please stop!

form a relationship. say hey to your favorite bloggers. promote their content, reply to their tweets. you won't have to stand on a soapbox and yell if you build relationships with your peers.

not focusing on where your tribe is

here's a secret: you don't need every form of social media. some mediums just aren't right for you or your brand. you may not feel like you fit in on snapchat. everyone who comments on your blog may have zero interest in twitter. and that's ok!

sit down and brainstorm your ideal reader. you could even conduct a survey! ask your readers where they hang out. focus your energy there! if none of your clients or readers are on facebook, then quit crafting messages for facebook and re-shift your energy. again, social media isn't just a big megaphone you're screaming into. be strategic with where your voice travels.

what are your favorite social media tips?

if you have any questions, please ask! while you're here, read more on social media & blogging tips with these posts:

3 ways to get the most out of social media scheduling
 
social media: scheduling vs. organic

overcoming blogging self doubt

6 tips to recharge during fall

oh, fall. you're everyone's favorite, including mine. i love fall clothing, the october air, my birthday on october 13th, halloween, the leaves, the activities, how it signals the start of the holiday season... but i think we can all agree that something shifts in fall. for me, it does. everything just feels better. i'm happier in fall. i'm more productive and self aware. i spend more time thinking, planning and enjoying.

fall is a time to love yourself and be happy! the chilly weather doesn't mean you have to sit inside and netflix binge constantly - though you definitely should do that at some point. there are many things you can do during fall to refocus and recharge. here's what i do:

make some freezer meals

oh yeah. you know it. use that crockpot! take some cooking stress off and make your own freezer meals so you can have a hot dinner ready in seconds after a long, chilly day. soups, casseroles and the like are perfect for this. my personal favorites? chicken poppyseed casserole, sweet potato ground turkey quinoa chili, chicken enchilada soup, or turkey burgers with feta and sundried tomato. i've made, frozen and reheated all of these recipes with great success.

try that baking project

fall is time for baking! make some banana bread (this recipe literally smells like fall!) or pumpkin spice cupcakes. you can even make some chocolate chip cookie dough and freeze half the dough in a log, so you can have fresh baked cookies anytime you want during the chilly months.

read something good for your soul

'lean in' is a must, ok? 'bossypants' gives us life. but sometimes, you need a little, dare i say it... chicken soup for the soul. ha. i mean, you can read those if you like. i like stories of redemption and growth, but not fiction. my favorites are 'make it happen' by lara casey and 'adventures for your soul' by shannon kaiser. these are books that pull you in, hug you tight and nourish you inside out with inspiration, love and a new perspective. get cozy.

get outside

i know it's tempting to stay snuggled under the covers, but get outside and take at least one fall hike to take in the scenery and the crisp air. you can soak in a long bubblebath afterwards and put on your fuzzy socks.

pamper yourself

you've been feeding your body right, taking in the fall air, reading some words of encouragement... keep doing that! find ways to pamper yourself, whether its keeping your skin moisturized, getting an extra hour of sleep or going to a pumpkin patch with friends. summer is all about energy, being outside, shifting your focus to the sunny world outside - bring that focus back in. return to your inner monologue. how are you doing? have a glass of wine and watch scandal. meditate. breathe.

and finally, start that project

you've been taking care of yourself for a little while and drawing your energy back inwards, shifting your focus to yourself. as humans, we really do kinda hibernate, don't we? i feel like we do! use this time to take care of yourself and start that project you've been neglecting. with all your newfound, recharged energy, you'll be ready to tackle your next big thing - whatever it may be.

pumpkin spice pecan waffles

i'm a big bath & body works candle fiend. well, correction: i'm a fall and winter bath & body works candle fiend. when september rolls around, i make my annual pilgrimage to bath & body works to pick up pumpkin, spice and autumn themed candles, and i enjoy the hell out of them well into the holiday season. nope, this post is not sponsored, i'm just super pumped about candles. anyway!

one of my favorite scents is pumpkin pecan waffles. i honestly didn't set out to make these waffles after the candle scent. it truly wasn't until i was mixing up the batter that i realized it! so light a fall themed candle and get to work on these waffles; they're delicious, oh so perfect for fall and quite a wonderful way to wake up on a saturday morning.

oh, and can i please mention that these are the first waffles i made in my new waffle maker? they're not perfect, but they're waffles. yes, the pinnacle of being 25 is having a waffle iron. go adulthood go.

pumpkin spice pecan waffles

2 cups flour
2 tablespoons baking powder
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice (or a little less, your preference)
4 egg yolks (save egg whites)
1 cup pumpkin
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 + 1/2 cup milk
3/4 cup melted butter
pecans (optional)

in a large bowl, whisk together dry ingredients. add yolks, pumpkin, vanilla, milk and melted butter. beat 4 egg whites until stiff peaks form, then fold into the batter. cook in a waffle iron according to your waffle iron's directions. top with butter, syrup, pecans and a dash of cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice. enjoy!

how to use google calendar as a blogging editorial calendar

using an editorial calendar is a great way to plan your posts with the timing and schedule in mind. making a simple list of post ideas is great, but actually jotting them all down on a calendar and prepping with dates in mind can help you create a better flow and variety on your blog.

to do this, i use google calendar. if you have a gmail account, you've already got a google calendar! access it by heading to your apps. in addition to being my editorial calendar, google calendar serves as my life calendar too. i put all my appointments and meetings in it. however, this post is just about using it for blogging.

google calendar is an easy to use, comprehensive tool for many reasons. read on!

color code & coordinate

i set up all of my blog posts as events. i color code them so that they're a separate color from my regular day to day events and appointments. i list the title/general idea of the blog post as the title of the event. having posts created as events allows me to easily check out how my week looks in posts, and it also looks great on the google calendar mobile app.

add inspiration and ideas to event details

once i've created my post as event, if i'm brainstorming what i want to write about, or a list of topics i want to cover, i'll go the the "details" page for the event, and quickly jot down my thoughts. click "edit event" to access the details page. in the "description" box, add your notes.

when i make my editorial calendar, the posts i'm planning are sometimes weeks away and won't be written until the week of or before. i keep some notes so i won't forget the original inspiration for what i want to write about.

move your "events" around 

the #1 advantage to having a digital calendar as opposed to a written one is moving posts around with ease. no scribbling out an idea or event - just move it! i change my mind all the time on when a blog should go up. maybe i had a long weekend and didn't get around to writing that post on my fall wishlist, but i already have a post on SEO ready & written so... i just move it on my calendar and keep track.

how do you keep track of your blog posts? do you make a list, maybe on paper or your phone, and pick different things to write each week? or do you use a calendar to plan it out?

how to take a blogging break

for weeks, i've tried to write this post, and i couldn't find the words. i was tired, y'all. yep. tired. but i was more than tired - because, let's face it, "tired" is the same excuse as "busy". it's the go-to. i'll tell y'all about what's behind the "tired" excuse.

today, i'm 25. the past year has been incredible and painful in all the right ways, just like years are supposed to be. at 25, i feel like i know myself wholly in ways i haven't prior. i didn't get to this conclusion by coasting, but by delving deep into myself and changing it all up a bit. the past few months especially have been a grand learning in experience in self-love, time management and serenity. that serenity included taking a little break from blogging.

my e-book, 'building your blog community: gather, connect & get local', was supposed to debut on august 31st. molly made me a wonderful e-book design that i was itching to put together and show to the world. in an unusually type-b move, i decided to put off finishing my e-book until after i returned from my vacation to san francisco in mid august. i was too excited to get out west and get away.

i returned and tried to get to work, and the motivation just wasn't there. but, i'd set a deadline. it had to happen. i couldn't let myself down. so, the weekend before the debut, i sat down to get to work. in a cruel twist of fate and/or the universe teaching me a lesson, my computer threw a massive tantrum, sputtered and died before my eyes. hours before my e-book debut, i couldn't believe it. i decided, then, that it clearly wasn't meant to be - and wasn't going to be.

it took a week for my computer to get fixed. and after that, i just... needed a break. as if i hadn't already been taking one, right? ha! i was silent on social media regarding my e-book debut. maybe, i thought, if i ignored it, it was like it never happened.

like so many others, i put a lot of pressure on myself. when the actual ability to work on my e-book was taken away from me with my computer failure, i decided to let it leave my hands. my body, mind and soul were begging to take a break, to be free of internet responsibility for a little while. so you know what? i did that, unapologetically.

you can't force it. sure, there's merit to the countless articles on finding your writing mojo, blog post ideas, and getting inspired. those exist for when your desire burns strong but lacks direction. sometimes you're just "over it". embrace those feelings.

feeling kinda "tired" yourself? here's how you take a blogging break.

make a plan, but don't get too crazy

write a quick blog or social media post that says you're taking a break. i didn't do this, but i should have. it doesn't have to be long, and you definitely don't owe anyone an explanation - writing an explanation can be taxing. throw a quick post up, and peace out. if you feel up to it, give yourself a time limit: a 2 week break, a month break, etc. and have an idea of when you'll return.

 

truly kick back and stop writing

now, quit thinking about it! this is the hardest part. if you're not generating new content, use this as an opportunity to promote your old content. schedule some social media posts that promote old content, then forget about it.

focus on what you have accomplished

for me, being super type a, i kept thinking about all the things i should be doing. stop! hey, if you chose to schedule social media to promote old content, that is an accomplishment. did you get killer page views on a post last month? hell yeah. did you reach out to a brand a few weeks ago about collaborating? look at you! the choice to take a break is an accomplishment too. you're putting yourself first.

let the "mojo" come back naturally

if you've given yourself a break for a certain amount of time, return to your blog and see how it makes you feel. do you cringe at the sight of a blank page? when you sit down to write, do you desperately wish you were elsewhere? ok, ok. give yourself another 48 hours. still nothing? hop on pinterest. no, seriously. it's inspiration heaven. read a few of your favorite blogs. read a magazine. think about the fun stuff you've been doing during your break. is there something to say there?


my e-book is still in the works, and i'm going to set a new launch date soon. i'm slowly filling my editorial calendar back up, and i'm jotting down ideas constantly. most importantly? i feel re-aligned, balanced and peaceful. i don't feel stressed. writing again felt natural.

tonight, i'm trying a brand new birmingham restaurant with my friends to celebrate my birthday. i'm gonna have a few martinis. i'm going to go to a pumpkin patch this weekend. and hey, maybe i'll work on my e-book this weekend! but mostly, this week is gonna be about enjoying myself. i accomplished something. i got back into the blogging swing. cheers, friends!