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Floradise

A lifestyle blog by Marette Flora

Using the Erin Condren Notes Page for Blogging

Erin Condren Notes Page for Blogging

 

This year I’ve started to use my Erin Condren more for blog planning, specifically the monthly notes page. It is helping me stay organized and helps me keep track of my blogging ideas, pitches, goals and to-do lists. Today I’m sharing how I utilize the page for blogging.

I have four sections on my monthly notes page. I typically use one color pen for consistency and I stick with a color that matches the planner that month. For June I wrote in green and used a couple of stickers. I don’t go too crazy with stickers on this page because I just need it to be functional.

Goals:

I write my monthly blog goals in the top circles. I typically set an income goal in the first circle and I use another to list how many blog posts I want to write a week. The next two can be used for any other goals I want to pursue. For the past two months I have wanted to participate in a giveaway, as well as film at least three videos to be published on my YouTube channel and in my posts.

Blog Post Ideas:

On the left column of the notes page I write down blog post ideas for the month. I then check them off as I complete them or cross them off if I don’t get to them. I transfer unused ideas from previous months if they are still relevant and I still want to write them.

Pitches/Collaborations:

I keep a list of brands I want to work with and the results of pitches on the right. For example, I will write down “Sponsored post” and an amount to the right of the brand name. I like to keep track of how often I am collaborating and how much I earn. (I also track income and expenses in Excel.)

To-Do List/Social Media:

I use the bottom rectangle space to jot down things I want to accomplish this month for blogging. This typically includes administrative tasks. I previously also used this space to track social media follower growth, but this month that is pictured I didn’t. On the first of the month I will write down my beginning number and on the last day I list my ending figure. I also include the difference. This helps me see where to put my focus the following month.

Erin Condren Monthly Notes Page for Blogging

I find that this layout is minimal but works. It keeps me organized and I can turn to my list of blogging ideas if I’m not feeling inspired. Do you own an Erin Condren planner? How do you use your monthly notes page? I’d love to hear and see your ideas!

2018 Word of the Year, Plus Simplifying To-Do List

2018 Word of the Year, Plus a Simplifying To-Do List

For the past few years I have chosen a word to guide the following 12 months. Each year I have watched that word change my life, sometimes in ways I didn’t expect. When I saw the following word last week, it spoke to me. I knew this would be my chosen word for 2018,  as well as an intention: Believe.

Believe is my 2018 word of the year.

I believe in myself and that I can make my goals a reality.

I believe our baby will be healthy and happy.

I believe we will adjust to life with a new baby.

I believe we will find a better space/home for us.

I believe we will be successful financially and personally.

I believe a certain sports team will win it all. 😉

I believe I will find time for fitness after baby.

I believe I can be more mindful of what I put into my body.

I believe I can realign my life to make room for all things I love.

I believe I can help people.

I believe I will connect with more amazing people thanks to my blog and my social media channels.

I wrote last week about how I want to confidently share what I want to do in 2018, and the word believe certainly aligns with that desire.

What’s your word for 2018? Do you prefer to set goals or resolutions?

Simplifying To-Do List for 2018:

In addition to a chosen word for 2018, I’ve been thinking lately about how I can simplify to make room for change in both my mind and my home. I came up with some to-dos I want to take in the first half of the year to get me started. I’m sure I will add to this as the year progresses.

  • Declutter photos in my Google Drive, on my phone and on my computer and external hard drive.
  • Sell my old camera and lenses I don’t need.
  • Sell clothes that don’t fit anymore and that I won’t want to wear after baby.
  • Declutter more accessories I don’t wear.
  • Get rid of old pillows and blankets.
  • Donate or declutter toys Victoria doesn’t play with and clothes she doesn’t like (and some that I don’t like).
  • Clean up my Pinterest boards.

What’s on your to-do list this year? Do you have a running list of things to declutter like me?

Related posts:

 

 

August Goals

Yet again I am shocked by how quickly time passes. Will that ever stop happening?

In June I set an intention to invest in myself and my blog, and in July I continued doing that. As you might have noticed, I had several collaborations that came about because I set that goal. I also invested any earnings from Floradise blog back into tools that will help me continue to improve it. I enrolled in Instagram for Success, a course by Helene of Helene in Between that you may have heard about if you’re a blogger. We also made an exciting purchase last weekend: We bought the DJI Mavic Pro drone! I wanted to improve my footage of our travels, which will enhance both this blog and my YouTube videos. I also made other investments throughout the month and have more planned! My goal for the blog is to be a resource on travel, balancing fitness with everyday life, and being more intentional in general.

Before I share my August goals, I want to check in on how I did in July:

July Goal Check-In

Family:

  • Finalize plans for our Canada trip. We booked our hotels and some activities, but we’ll probably wing the rest. Have any recommendations for Toronto? Share them with me in the comments!
  • Go on a date night. We had two in one week: Chicago River kayaking and a murder mystery date night. Both were courtesy of their respective companies.
  • Plan activities for my nephew’s upcoming Chicago visit. We had a fun week of showing my nephew around the city, including the Tilt attraction at 360 Chicago and Navy Pier.
Fitness:

  • Start marathon training. Run at least 25 miles this month. I accomplished both of these, though I was only able to attend one group training so far. I ran 29 miles.
  • Go to two yoga classes. I didn’t make it to any studio classes.
  • Film a yoga video. I did this on the last day of July.
Blog/Career:

  • Surpass June’s sponsored/freelance income. I accomplished this with my work on four sponsored posts this month. I would have loved to space them out more, but the deadlines worked out the way that they did. 
  • Film five YouTube videos. I posted eight videos on my YouTube channel this month. Would you check them out?
  • Post consistently on my blog and social media. I posted consistently but there’s room for improvement on Instagram and Facebook.
Travel:

  • Find accommodations for our winter trip. I haven’t done this yet.
  • Explore two new places/activities in Chicago. I tried Chicago River kayaking, the Tilt at 360 Chicago and a murder mystery dinner show, in addition to checking out XO Marshmallow in my neighborhood. I also became a mermaid for a day with AquaMermaid!
  • Add to travel fund. I saved more thanks to a bonus from work, and we added a new trip destination to our list, so I need to get more serious about saving.

August goals

Family:
  • Be more present during family time, which means dedicating blocks of time to each category of my life: blog, work, fitness, family, self-care, etc.  This also means a renewed focus on single-tasking over the illusion of multitasking.
  • Go on two date nights. Re-prioritize our marriage. When we brought V home, a lot of our attention and focus shifted to adjusting, and I (and we) need to get back to making our marriage more of a focus. 
  • Enjoy a mom’s night out. This is already planned: I’m going to the Lady Gaga concert at Wrigley Field this month!
  • Continue working through my decluttering list. More posts on this coming soon!
Self-Care:

  • Meditate for 5 minutes a day.
  • Listen to two Audible books. I’m currently listening to “The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck: How to Stop Spending Time You Don’t Have With People You Don’t Like Doing Things You Don’t Want to Do.” I also plan to read “Present Over Perfect.”
Fitness:

  • Start tracking meals again. I stopped doing this recently and started eating whatever I want. I told myself it didn’t matter what size I am and that I would rather enjoy my food and life. But now I don’t feel comfortable or confident in my clothing. I want to track what I’m eating to hopefully cut back on mindless snacking and get back to feeling great in my clothes.
  • Go back to the gym. Besides the treadmill, running outside and light yoga at home, I have not been strength training at all. I want to feel strong again!
  • Film three yoga videos.
  • Continue half-marathon training.  I am running the Chicago Half on Sept. 25. 
Blog/Career:
  • Learn how to use the drone! I’m so excited to share more videos this month!
  • Match my July freelance/blog income.
  • Plan and write more posts in advance. I want to use the time-blocking method more to write in batches. 
  • Work through the Instagram for Success course modules. I’ve already learned about some helpful tools that I previously had not heard about. 
Travel:

  • Add to our travel fund. This will continue to be a goal.
  • Plan a weekend trip to D.C. to visit my best friend. I miss her and it’s my turn to visit.
What are your August goals? Do you have any fun trips or events planned?

Related posts:

June Goals & a Lesson from May

I blinked and it suddenly became June. May was full of celebrations but also challenges. The overall lesson for May was invest in yourself: in time for myself, in career and personal growth, and what my body and mind need. I learned this lesson by neglecting myself on many occasions in the previous months. I put my fitness and career goals on hold and it was beginning to affect my outlook on life. I had to make a change, so I finally allowed myself to invest in what I needed. I signed up for the photography class I had been putting off, I searched for backup babysitters to give myself the help I need, I bought the equipment I needed to pursue my passions, and I invested in group half-marathon training to set myself up for success in my next race. I am now feeling inspired heading into June — motivation is something I have been lacking this year. I’m excited to share my June goals in hopes of inspiring your own and starting a conversation about how you plan to invest in yourself as well this month.

First, let’s check in on my May goals:

  • Plan something to do as a family for Victoria’s birthday. We spent that weekend at our neighborhood park and beach. The weather was gorgeous, so we flew a kite, devoured our snacks, and let Victoria ride her new balance bike. It was a perfect weekend for her birthday, our adoption hearing and my first Mother’s Day. (Let me know if you’d like to see a post on our adoption story. I posted a short update on our adoption day, but I removed it because I wanted to do a better-quality post with more of a story to tell.)
  • Check out at least two area preschools and day care centers. I didn’t do this, but I did interview babysitters.
Fitness:
  • Finish half-marathon training. If you read my recent update on half-marathon training, you’d know why I decided to defer my race entry and start over. It was a tough decision, but it was the right one for me at the time. I learned a lot about what I can better in my next training, which starts later in June.
  • Attend at least two studio yoga classes. Victoria and I attended a mom and toddler yoga class at a local studio. Other than that I practiced yoga on my own last month.

Career/blog:

  • Match March’s freelance income or surpass it. I surpassed March’s freelance income by about $100, which I am proud to say. I planned to do more work but I forgot my laptop charger during our recent trip to Louisville, so I wasn’t able to write more on our drive back to Chicago.
  • Update my blog pages. I updated my header with labels on specific topics that are frequently discussed on Floradise. I will be updating these in the coming months to make posts easier to find.
  • Film at least four YouTube videos. I shared footage from our GoPro, which was found underwater off a Costa Rica beach recently. Would you like to read a post on this story? I also shared our family adventures and our adoption day. Please subscribe!

June goals:


Family:

  • Plan a camping/cabin trip as a family.
  • Go on a date night.
  • Plan a fun activity for Father’s Day.
  • Plan a mom’s day out. 

Fitness:

  • Start half-marathon group training with my coaches on June 28.
  • Film a yoga video.
  • Attend two yoga classes in the studio/local park/garden.

Career/blog:
  • Complete my photography class. 
  • Match or surpass May’s freelance income.
  • Film at least five YouTube videos.
Travel:

  • Decide on the dates and destination of our winter family trip.
  • Add to our travel fund.

What are your June goals? What posts would you like to see on Floradise? In what ways are you investing in yourself?

May’s videos:


Bedroom Tour

** This post contains affiliate links to products I have in my home. I make a small commission for purchases through these links. 

I don’t think I will ever be done decorating our bedroom. It’s constantly evolving. But in the spirit of being more open, I’m sharing just about as personal a space as it gets in all its imperfect glory.

We have lived in an apartment, which has been an adjustment, for the past two years. We previously lived in a condo that we still own, so we could do whatever we wanted to it. Sadly, we don’t own this place we live in now and can’t change things we’re not entirely pleased with. But we make it work. I think of our bedroom as a relaxing place, and that’s ultimately the goal.

If you’re curious, here’s how our bedroom room is set up:

Some background: This bedroom is not in what was designed to be the master bedroom. We made this room our bedroom because it has a gas fireplace and we knew Victoria would be joining us. We didn’t want to have a fireplace in a toddler’s room for safety reasons.

The room has two sets of French doors. Our bed has storage underneath, which we use for spare bedding and pillows. (It is on an angle because behind it is a radiator and because it gives us more room than other configurations.) Above the bed is a canvas of a photo we took at Arches National Park. We typically search Groupon for canvas print deals like this.

Before Victoria came to live with us, my workspace was in the second bedroom. Now that she has taken over that bedroom, my desk is in our bedroom because we lack a better place to put it. There’s simply not enough room to put it in the living room or the hallway. But it’s actually working out well.

On the small sliver of wall next to my desk is a postcard/photo/trinket display I found on Marshalls. It holds special postcards, souvenirs and stamps. On my simple white desk I typically keep both my work and personal laptops, a box full of mementos, a couple of photos, my planner, a notebook and “The 52 Lists Project” book that I’m currently working through.

Race medal holder is from Etsy.

Above my desk is my race medal holder, which I found on Etsy. Next to my desk is a printer stand that can hold two printers: one for work and one for photos.

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I added this small rug to protect the wood floors from my chair’s wheels. I plan to get a better one. This also doubles as a photo backdrop

In the opposite corner we have our white Ikea dresser, 80 percent of which holds Graham’s clothing. 

Next to it is a lamp with shelves that hold our router (hidden behind a photo), our home phone (which we need for the apartment gate) and my work phone. Unfortunately these are things we need and can’t store elsewhere because a quirk of our 100-year-old building is that the outlets and plugs are only in specific places. The opposite side of the room is all windows, where I like to place plants and photo frames. We don’t have nightstands because we have no need for them. I do have a small stool that was given to me by my in laws that I place my phone on when I sleep.

On top of the dresser we have tiny turtles we collect on our travels. We also have two Homesick candles that were given to us by my best friend. They smell like Arizona and Kentucky! We also have a sketch of our dog Taylor, who died in January. This was a gift from a friend. We don’t have the perfect frame for it yet, but when we do this precious image will have a new home. In front of that is a paw print that was included in the package when we had Taylor cremated.  Behind that Taylor sketch is a jewelry holder we bought in Costa Rica. (We were assured it was sustainably sourced wood.) Above that is a canvas of a photo I took in Hawaii.

To the left of the trinkets is my accessory holder. I also hold my rings and earrings in one of the turtles. As you can see, I don’t wear earrings often. I do like necklaces, though. I also have an amethyst given to me by one of my yoga teachers at our teacher-training graduation.

In the next corner we have our small closet. Luckily, Graham and I don’t have a ton of clothing. I am constantly donating and selling clothes. Inside, I hang hats on these hooks to save space.

That same corner has a print by Anastasia Mak Art. We bought this print at a local arts fest, but you can also find Anastasia Mak prints on Etsy. I want to get more prints to hang above and below this one.

In between my desk area and the bed is a fireplace. On top of it I have a diffuser given to me by my in-laws. Above it hangs a canvas of us with Taylor. This is a recent addition, because we miss her so much.

And that’s about it! A small wall space next to the closet holds Graham’s diploma, but I’m not showing that. (My diploma is at my mom’s house.)

Thanks for stopping by our humble abode. Let me know if you’d like to see tours of other rooms in our apartment. Also, any tips for living in a small space are appreciated!

Sources of My Freelance Income

** Referral links are included in this post. I make a small bonus for using these links. Thanks for supporting Floradise blog!

Every month, my goals post includes freelance writing and editing work. While I have a full-time editing job that keeps me quite busy, I like to also seek out freelance opportunities because I use the extra income for travel and other fun stuff. (I suggested freelancing as a way to help make money for travel in a recent post. Check it out!) Last month wasn’t as successful as I would have liked, but I have generated more revenue each month this year from my side hustle than I did last year. In the spirit of helping my fellow blog ladies, I’m sharing ways I’ve used to find freelance work recently.

  • Reach out to friends and family. I have edited three books for a family member simply because I let people in my life know that I am always willing to help and that I’m looking for work. Sometimes people tend to keep side hustles on the DL, but we should really be broadcasting the fact that we are willing to work. I am a former newspaper copy editor, so I know many people in the industry. In the past I have contacted former coworkers and friends to ask about freelancing for them.
  • IZEA/Social Spark. When I first signed up for IZEA, I would only occasionally be selected for social media posts, such as sharing content on Twitter, for a handful of dollars here and there. But recently IZEA started sending me emails (as part of their list) seeking applicants for various special projects. A recent project in March netted me $220. Additional work in May earned me more than $300. Use my referral link to get started. 
  • Linqia. I have had a couple recent sponsored posts after a long period without any. I have earned some cash, as well as hotel nights, during my last campaigns. Use my referral link here.  Another way to earn is to refer blogger friends. You get a $5 bonus and a percentage based on the earnings on their first campaign.
  • Social Fabric. I have recently been selected for several posts with Collective Bias. I find these posts to be challenging, and I like that. I also find that I like having the intermediary between myself and the brand sometimes, even if you can make more on your own.
  • Pitch directly to brands or small businesses. This one I find takes more work, so I don’t do it as often as I should.
  • Affiliate programs. I use Shopstyle Collective, Brand Cycle, Impact Radius and MavenX. Many brands are featured in each program and you can also earn referral bonuses. My referral links for Brand Cycle and MavenX are included here.
  • Activate by Bloglovin. When I first joined, I would only obtain sponsored social media posts, but now I am seeing more sponsored blog opportunities available as well. 
  • Swagbucks. I am new to Swagbucks but I have head you could earn gift cards and more.
Methods I am exploring/working on:
  • While I don’t know how much time I have to devote to this, I am considering taking on virtual assisting work for bloggers.
  • Finishing my book. 
  • Influence Central. I have applied to several opportunities, but I need to put more effort into these pitches.

Do you have any freelance sources you’d like to share with the class?

April Goals

March kind of got away from me. I had so many plans and goals that were derailed by my battle with a lack of motivation and the end-of-winter blues. I am looking forward to a fresh start in April with new goals. But first let’s check in on my March goals:

Family:

  • Figure out a day care solution. So far it’s still just me watching Victoria, but I have two sitters who can come over to help during busy days. Checking out day cares and preschools is on my to-do list.
  • Go on a date night. Graham and I took our first night away from V in two months to go to our friends’ engagement party. I want to do regular date nights from now on. I am not going to say I would like to do one every week, though, because Graham’s work schedule is chaotic and it’s not always realistic.
Fitness:
  • Start half-marathon training. I started training … three weeks late. Also, I ran fewer than 10 miles during my first official training week, so I had a rocky start. I plan to get back on track this month.
  • Attend four yoga classes. I attended three yoga classes and did more at-home yoga this month. I also renewed my Yoga Alliance membership and applied for a teaching job. I plan to write some yoga posts in April. (If this is something you’d be interested in reading about, please comment below.)
  • Go on at least one group run. Not done. I signed up for several, but I never made it. (See my post on motivation to work out for more.)
Career/blog:

  • Enroll in a photography course. The four-week class I want to do starts in June. In the meantime I plan to practice on my own and read photography blogs.
  • Create an updated media kit. I started my media kit but was too tied up with freelance writing to devote much time to this. 
  • Write and send a newsletter on running. Not done. I plan to work on this in April. 

April goals

Family:

Fitness:
  • Ramp up half-marathon training. 
  • Attend four yoga classes.
Career/blog: 

  • Match March’s freelance writing income (or surpass it). Let me know if you’d like to see a post on sources of freelance income.
  • Make blog updates. I want to start working on updating my pages, header and more. Any designer recommendations?
  • Film at least four YouTube videos. Please subscribe!
How did you do on your March goals? What’s on tap for April?



March Goals

I am ready for March — for change and for warmth. This month my routine will be adjusted once again after returning to work in February. My husband’s work will also ramp up and V just started pre-ballet and speech therapy. Our lives will be busier but also happier and healthier, I hope. Today I’m sharing my March goals for accountability reasons, but first, let’s check in on my February goals:

February goal check-in:

  • Enjoy my remaining family leave. I was not ready to return to work, that’s for sure. 
  • Find family-friendly activities in Chicago. We spent a day at the Field Museum, which was fun, and we took V to the playground when the weather was nice. 
Fitness:
  • Get back into a fitness routine. I was on track with my workouts for about a week and a half before I felt discomfort in my back and shoulder that has lasted for more than a week. I plan to slowly get back into my workouts this week.
  • Make it to one group run and one yoga class. I benefited immensely from a restorative yoga class last week! I didn’t make it to a group run, though, because of my back and shoulder pain.
Career/blog:

  • Pursue more freelance writing and editing opportunities. I began my writing project last week. So far I have only written a few pieces, but I hope the work continues.
  • Search for a photo-editing course. I found several options but the classes don’t begin until March and April.

March goals:


Family:

  • Figure out a day care solution. I work from home and V has so far stayed home with me. This won’t always work, especially when I have busy production days. WAHMs, how do you do it?!
  • Go on a date night. Since V arrived,  G and I have preferred to do things as a family, but now that we are in more of a routine we can go on date nights more often.
Fitness:
  • Start half-marathon training. I am registered for the Chicago Spring Half Marathon in May and training begins this week!
  • Attend four yoga classes. I would like to take yoga classes weekly during my half-marathon training. While I am certified to teach yoga and can practice alone, I can’t find a quiet enough space to practice in my home, so classes are my best bet.
  • Go on at least one group run. 
Career/blog:

  • Enroll in a photography course.
  • Create an updated media kit.
  • Write and send a newsletter on running. Are you subscribed?

What are your March goals?

Previous posts:

An Overly Detailed Day in My Life

A recent post by Stephanie from Not Entirely Perfect inspired me to share my daily routine. I would love to have the exact same routine every day, but unfortunate my life doesn’t adhere to that. It would certainly be a lot less stressful, but often I have to be flexible and fit things in where I can. There are two versions to my weekdays: days when I work on Chicago time and days when I work Arizona time. This is because my work office is based in Phoenix and I work from home in Chicago. I usually work Chicago time on Wednesdays, when I have group training for the Chicago Marathon, and sometimes on other days if I have a running meetup, dinner plans or an appointment.

Version 1: Chicago time

7-7:30 a.m.: Wake up. I actually sort of wake up around 6 a.m. when Graham leaves for work, but I don’t actually get out of bed until anytime from 7 to 7:30 a.m. One habit I would like to break is checking social media first thing, but it has yet to happen. 
7:30-7:45: I brush my teeth, put on my contacts, clean my Invisalign trays, brush my hair and change. If I am feeling ambitious I might put on some concealer/foundation, bronzer and mascara. I don’t do my makeup daily. I only wear makeup if I am doing something that requires contact with people.
7:45-8:10ish: Make and eat breakfast and I sometimes grab Starbucks. I have been going there a lot recently, but I plan to cut back by making my own my own coffee. We’re just out of groceries right now. I usually eat two eggs (either on their own with peppers from the garden or in a burrito). If I grab Starbucks it’s either a spinach foldover or a spinach feta wrap. I also feed and water the dogs.

8:10ish-8:30: Check/write in my planner, participate in Facebook group threads and share my blog post on social media. Schedule posts for the day. I also use this time before work to pick up around the house. I like to start the day by putting everything in its place and making the bed. If I have time, I also water the plants now and pick any veggies that are ready to eat.
8:30-12:20ish: Log onto my work network and make a to-do list. Then work!
12:20-1:20ish: I make lunch, which takes me about 15 minutes to eat. If I didn’t that morning, I water the plants. I give the dogs more water and a treat if we have any. I also check the mail. I am someone who loves to check the mail, and I get ridiculously excited when I have a package coming. 
1:20ish-5:30: More work. I try to take a 15 minute break in between. I might do the dishes — we always seem to have some in the sink — or I might use the time to watch a Youtube video or read a blog I enjoy. If I am editing, I don’t like a lot of noise, but if I am doing something that requires little bandwidth, such as making graphs, I listen to music or an audio book. I also eat a snack at some point in the afternoon.
5-6:30: Get ready for marathon training, or whatever other reason I had for working Chicago time, such as a running group meetup, dinner with a friend or a Cubs game. On those nights there is no routine. I get home and often go to bed. On Wednesdays, it takes me about 30 minutes to get to our training location because of Chicago traffic, even though it really is only 4-5 miles from my place.
6:30 p.m.-7:30 on Wednesdays: Marathon training. We don’t know what we are doing until we show up. It can be anything from mile repeats, hills, a beach workout to exercise stations. 
7:30-7:45 or 8: Drive home and look for parking. Lately I haven’t had trouble finding parking on my street (I like to think it’s because I have had more positive thoughts about it inspired by the book “You Are a Badass”), but some days I have to drive around for 10-15 minutes and park blocks away. Chicago life is fun.
8-8:30: Make dinner and eat. If Graham is home he might feel kind enough to have dinner ready, but if he’s at work I make my own dinner.
8:30-10:30: Shower after my workout and then, if Graham is home, we watch TV, take the dogs out and just hang out. If we have laundry to put away I might freak out and start doing that. If you haven’t guessed by now I like things to be in their place. We also video chat with my niece and mom quite often. If Graham’s at work, I use the time to catch up on Bravo shows, work ahead on blog posts, read other blogs, listen to an audio book, edit a video and do random things like empty the dishwasher. If I am sore I will take an Epsom salt bath.
I try to be in bed by 11.

Arizona time:

7:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m.: Wake up around this time. I post my blog link on Facebook groups and then brush my teeth, put on my contacts, clean my Invisalign trays, brush my hair and change. I make and eat breakfast or I sometimes grab Starbucks. I also feed the dogs and water the plants.
8:30ish-9: Check/write in my planner, participate in Facebook group threads and share my blog post on social media. Schedule posts for the day. I also use this time before work to pick up around the house. I like to start the day by putting everything in its place and making the bed. If I have time, I also water the plants now and pick any veggies that are ready to eat.
9-9:30: Work on blog posts and take photos. 
9:30-10:30: Get things done around the house, make a plan/to-do list for the day, check email accounts and read blogs.
10:30-12:20ish: Work.
12:20-1:30: Orangetheory on two days a week, usually Tuesdays and Thursdays. On Mondays and Fridays I will catch up on a favorite TV show, practice yoga or do a short run along the lakefront. I then make and eat lunch, which takes me about 15-20 minutes to eat.
1:30-7:30: Finish work. I take a short break to shower during the afternoon if I went to Orangetheory or worked out that day. If I didn’t, I wait until before bed. Sometimes I switch from working at my desk to another room. If Graham gets home from work that afternoon we might take a walk to the beach.
*8: If I didn’t make it to Orangetheory at 12:30 on Thursdays, I might go now.
7:30-8:30: If I didn’t go to Orangetheory, I make and eat dinner. 
8:30-10:30: If Graham is not working, we watch TV, take the dogs out and just hang out. We video chat with my niece and mom. If he’s at work, I use the time to catch up on Bravo shows, work ahead on blog posts, read other blogs, listen to an audio book, and do random things like empty the dishwasher or write. If I am sore I will take an Epsom salt bath while using a face mask. 
10:30ish-11: Skin care, brush my teeth, take out my contacts, go to bed.
Things that throw me off:
  • When Graham works nights he is home until 10 a.m. and he might request that I walk the dogs with him.
  • When I have a work meeting that cuts into my lunch hour, that means I have to push my workout to after work.
  • If I wake up late I have to neglect cleaning.
  • If I have to run to the store, I try to do it when I work Arizona time before work because it’s easier to find parking in the morning vs. evening in Chicago.
That’s all, folks! What do your typical weekdays look like? 

SoFabU On the Road Chicago Recap

I have been a member of Social Fabric for months now, but I haven’t been selected for as many opportunities as I’d like. I decided to attend the to learn about what I can do to improve my blog, and I’m so glad I did!

The event was held on the 16th floor of the Westin Michigan Avenue in Chicago. The venue was perfect: it was in a great location and offered nice views of the city. I signed up as soon as I heard about the event to get early bird pricing. That also meant that I received a bit of swag that not everyone appeared to get: a notebook, pen, stickers, portable charger and a thumb drive. I used the notebook to take notes and jot down my ideas throughout the day.

SoFabU on the Road is a full day of learning. You check in for breakfast at 9 a.m. and the sessions don’t end until 5 p.m., when the reception begins. 
Our first session was about building a newsletter. It was taught by . We analyzed fellow bloggers’ blogs and gave feedback on the placement of their newsletter sign-up forms. I used the time and advice to add a sign-up form for my own newsletter onto Facebook, which was easier than I thought. We also learned about opt-ins and content upgrades and I came up with various ideas to use soon! 
An opt-in offer is a free gift everyone receives. A content upgrade is a freebie associated with a specific blog post. #SoFabUOTR Use both!
— Marette Flora (@maretteflora) July 9, 2016

Newsletter takeaways:

  • Your blog should have a minimum of three sign-up forms.
  • Set up separate opt-ins based on post topics. (One for travel, fitness, etc.)
  • Put a sign-up form on your most visited page. 

A photo posted by SoFabU on the Road (@sofabuotr) on Jul 9, 2016 at 9:07am PDT

During lunch, we were given the opportunity to ask questions to the Social Fabric team about applying for Shoppertunities.

They gave us tips for how to be selected and stand out:

  • Don’t use their conversation starter topics in the application; many people do and you won’t stand out.
  • Include a link to sponsored work and non-sponsored work so they can see what your sponsored work is like.
The final session was on crafting the perfect post, and it was led by Megan Tenney. She gave us a check list ahead of time for everything we need to do before, during and after publishing our blog posts. It reminded me I need to be updating the meta descriptions every time, something I don’t always do. Her session also inspired me to look at the topics I write about and analyze which of them I can let go.

What I loved about SoFabU On the Road:
  • We got time to actually work on our blogs and fix the issues we were talking about, like SEO-friendliness, descriptions, newsletter sign-ups and more.
  • There was no shortage of food. We received a filling breakfast and lunch, along with cookies as a snack. The reception had plenty of beverages to unwind after a long day.
  • The instructors walked around to ask if you needed help.
  • I met some awesome bloggers!
I included some footage of the conference in my most recent Youtube video. Subscribe to my channel for more videos such as this.

Have you attended a blogging conference? What did you learn and how did you implement it?
P.S. Linking up with Blush Blonde and Fairy Princess Diaries today!

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