Blog Archives - According to Denise

Reflections on Bloggy Boot Camp Chicago

12 Nov By Denise

I took off a little time from the blog after returning from Bloggy Boot Camp in Chicago. Not only was I on information overload, I wanted to think a bit and reflect on what I learned without jumping into writing about it. The conference itself was excellent. I expect nothing less from The SITS Girls. There was a ton of information and awesome speakers and much to take away.

I loved listening to people who have made a business from their blogging beginnings. I think many of us toy with the idea of using our blog as a springboard into something more. Some of us want to write a book or become a successful freelance writer. Some of us are social media savvy and can use those skills to manage social media for others including big companies. There really are so many things you can do and the Brand Edition of Bloggy Boot Camp gave us first hand accounts from those who have done all of these things.

I think I’ve mentioned before that I have thought of writing a book. I’ve thought about a memoir type book as well as fiction. I still think one day I will.

But one thing became clear to me after the conference. I won’t be one that makes a living from my blog or from whatever my blog could lead to. I have a good “day job” and no intention of leaving it. Blogging and all that I am doing surrounding blogging is, for me, supplemental. It is, for lack of a better word, a hobby.

That isn’t to say it is not important. Quite the opposite. It is very important to me and is something that I consider “mine, all mine”. That is one reason why I wouldn’t want to make it my job. I like that it is a getaway for me. Something that isn’t part of the daily grind but, rather, something that I do for fun.

I see myself writing about my life and my experiences. I see myself sharing things I love which may include products that I may partner with brands to share. I see myself as being a brand ambassador which would mean I partner with a brand to share what I love about them on a continuing basis. And I see myself continuing to work with The SITS Girls as a Community Lead because I love connecting with and working with such fabulous people.

I am so glad I went to Chicago for this conference. I learned so much that I can use and learned more about myself as well. I figured out how I wanted to refocus my energy so that my blog remains true to what I love doing.

Filed Under: Blogging and Social Media Tagged With: Blog, Blogging, On my mind, Writing

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Speaking of my Sanity

9 Jul By Denise

I had written a post about how exercise really does help my sanity. But there is something else that helps. Writing this blog. I really didn’t know how much I liked to write. If I’m being honest, I guess I actually love writing. I never had a journal or anything like that but when I would get really down or buried, felt like I was drowning, I would write it all out somewhere. And it helped. It was therapeutic. Like flowing out through my fingers all that was filling me up.

I often find myself rattling around thoughts about what I could write about here. Sometimes the thoughts themselves are overwhelming as I feel like I want to write about so much. But then I sit down and I write something, anything, and I feel lighter, freer, relaxed.

I was really stressed about work the other day and I told Hubby a secret. I really don’t have any secrets from him but this one I’ve never really talked about. Whenever I read (which I also love), I often wonder if I could write something like what I am reading. Somewhere deep, I really think I could. So I told Hubby how much I love writing and how sometimes I wish I could just be a writer instead of some other job.

His response? “Why don’t you do both?”

Honestly, I don’t think I’m ready for that. It really would be time-consuming and there is so much going on. But there is something I can do to get the writing flowing. I can make a commitment to my blog. To my internet buddies. I can make writing a priority.

So here goes. My commitment to a schedule for writing. Of course I reserve the right to vary, change, and reevaluate the schedule as I go along. But this is my plan.

On Sundays I’d like to write a Random Round-Up. There are lots of things throughout the week that I just want to hang onto. I want to put it out there. So this will be my assortment of goodies that happen during the week.

The blogging world has these Wordless/Wordful Wednesdays that I will start to participate in. Either a photo or video or a regular post.

Then on Fridays I will post something that I’ve been thinking about or a story from the week. Mostly like my regular posts.

Of course I can post other times, but this way, I’ll be able to know when there is a day to sit down and let it all out. So, tomorrow is Sunday and will be my first Random Round-Up. Here we go!

Filed Under: Health and Wellness Tagged With: Blog, On my mind, Writing

Because I Wanna

21 Aug By Denise

Ah, finally have the computer back so I can blog. Yeehaw!

My blogging idol over at MommyWantsVodka posed a question to the world – Why do you blog? I thought it would be fun to answer this question in my blogging newbieness and then look back on it later to see how the answer has changed. Assuming I keep writing, of course.

Well, let’s start with social media. I was introduced to Facebook by a longtime friend. I played some games for a while but then I just liked to keep up with folks I like and let them know what I’m up to. Then I noticed my SIL was using Twitter. OK, maybe I’ll check it out and see what all the fuss is about. I didn’t get it. Why would strangers follow each other and give a rat’s ass about what they were doing? I was about to cancel my account when I just started following folks mentioned in other people’s tweets until I reached 100. That’s how I found MommyWantsVodka. I checked out the blog and thought, “hey, she’s awesome” and started compulsively following other bloggers and checking out their blogs. I’ve slowed down now but what I noticed is that these folks are out there talking about their real lives and I find it interesting. And funny. And sad. These folks can elicit all sorts of emotions from me and I don’t even know them. Didn’t expect that.

So then I think that maybe I’ll give it a shot. I always seem to have something rattling around in my brain and I go over and over it as if I’m proofreading in my head. I was never much into journaling with paper and pen but every once and a while I would write out my thoughts and I felt better. So I would treat my blog as a place to just unleash whatever was in my brain and see how it goes.

I must admit I do hope that folks find what I write about interesting or funny or at least not full of crazy. I like to see if folks are viewing or commenting. But mostly I like to get out what is in my head. It’s kind of like therapy and a hell of a lot cheaper. I haven’t experienced any hateful comments or anything like that yet but I imagine I will be quite upset by it. But it’s a chance I’m willing to take because so far, I really like doing this.

So that’s it. That’s why I blog. Because I wanna. And the internet lets me