Thompson Family-Life

Guest Blogging at Lucky Kids this week

I wanted to mention to you all that I'm blogging every day this week over at the Lucky Kids blog! Above is a preview of what I'll be covering - ya know, in case you need something to do while waiting on that turkey to cook. Well, you Americans at least ; ) (They are having some server issues this week, so my post from today might look a bit wonky!)

There's also a little blurb about my blog (and other great blogs that I read!) in the Lucky Kids insert in the new issue of Lucky (the one with Jessica Simpson on the cover). To clarify, Lucky Kids is just a pull-out insert in the regular Lucky magazine. (I think a lot of us were confused about that, including me.) They did tell us that due to a printer error, the insert isn't in ALL of the copies out there, so you might not see it.

They contacted me a month or two ago and needless to say, I was pretty shocked that an editor from Lucky Magazine reads my blog. I've been blogging for around eight years now and this blog has definitely evolved over time! All that to say: If you blog, or are just starting out and you're really trying to build a good audience:

Don't obsess over the numbers. And stay true to yourself.

That is my best advice. Because you know what? I don't get the kind of traffic that other well-known crafty/mom-bloggers get. Now don't get me wrong, my traffic is nothing to laugh at, and I'm proud of it! But I've never, ever obsessed over the numbers. I do check my stats just to see where people are coming from and to make sure that my blog is consistently growing. But I do NOT obsess over the numbers and compare mine to other bloggers. That does no good!

Also don't obsess on how many comments you get! I certainly don't get hundreds of comments on my blog posts. It doesn't help anything to obsess over those numbers either.

Think quality over quantity. That is how I've always viewed my readers. I know life is busy, but try to be personable with your readers. They are people just like you. I've made some incredible friends through this blog. I honestly feel that if you stay true to yourself, good opportunities will come your way. The same people that have contacted other well-known bloggers (with a much LARGER readership than me) have contacted me in the past. I hope that will give you the encouragement to "keep-swimming" in this bloggy world. And remember that EACH "number" is a real person. And you just never know who that person could be, or what opportunities might come your way.

I love what Leigh-Ann said over on her blog last week. It's well worth a read! (I love that gal.)

Also, don't try to make your blog look like or have content like every other blog! I've noticed a lot of blogs are starting too look and sound the same. BE YOURSELF. Create your own unique content. Speak with your own true voice.

Ok, sorry for that tangent. I just felt that sharing my own blogging experience might encourage those that are feeling a bit overwhelmed or defeated by the whole blogging thing.

Some Vintage Christmas coming soon.

 

Published: Christmas Ideas Magazine from Better Homes & Gardens

*picky disclaimer: apologies for the less then stellar quality images above. I scanned them from the actual magazine.. but you get the idea!*

So, you might be thinking, "Please no Christmas stuff yet, PLEASE! It's not even October yet!"... well, I agree. But I wanted to share this because it's on newstands now! Which is probably much more exciting for me than you. But I thought I'd share anyway. wink

If you've been reading since January, you might remember me posting that our holiday decorated home was photographed for a publication. I posted some behind-the-scenes pics of that day. It was really so much fun. Exhausting, but fun! And keeping our holiday decor up through January (with it being up since end of November!) was quite something.

So, this is how it all came about... I posted photos of our holiday decor sometime in November last year, like I do every year. Design Sponge posted about our mantel on Christmas Eve in 2009. And now that I think about it, that was TWO years ago. All this time I had been thinking that Better Homes and Gardens saw my decor on Design Sponge. Now I'm realizing they probably didn't.. ha. Well, the editor for the special "Christmas Ideas" issue found it somehow while blog hopping last year and contacted me.

It was such a cool experience working with photographers and stylist. The nice thing is that they didn't change a thing with my decor and they encouraged me to be a part of the styling and photography. Many photos and decor ideas weren't shared in the magazine (you only have so much room in a magazine) so I'll be sharing some of those as Christmas gets closer. Most of the decor and projects you've seen on my blog already including my Felt Trees and Pom Pom Wreath.

One of the newest vignettes I created specifically for this shoot was our dining room. This is my favorite photograph they took that day (which is included in the magazine).

They photographed the place settings which didn't make it in the mag, but I'll be sharing those in November sometime.

 Thank-you for entertaining my geeky excitement over this. I've had a lot of experience with being published in magazines and books (of the scrapbooking/crafting nature!), but there was something about this one that is extremely special to me. It was such an honor to be a part of something like this. Interior decorating and design is hands-down my favorite thing to do. 

How to find it: If you have a Better Homes & Gardens subscription, I don't think these "special issues" are included in that, unfortunately. You can find it pretty much anywhere now though, at Target, grocery stores and bookstores.