Adventures in Blogging

On a warm summer evening, June 7, 1998, HBO introduced to the world a fiercely wild, yet forever love-torn, wanderlust of a New Yorker: Carrie Bradshaw. That night, I was also introduced to the hilarious line she would repeat almost every episode and in her weekly column…”I couldn’t help but wonder.” As someone who later went to Penn State for Journalism,  I couldn’t help but wonder why her editor didn’t tell her ‘Toots, you gotta calm it with this wondering thing.’ In my mind, her editor wore those old-timey green see-through visors, had an arm band that said “Scoop” and was 87 years old.

As Carrie professed that she couldn’t help but wonder about everything from love to the price of Manolos, I cannot help but wonder ‘How do these other bloggers do it?’ I follow a handful of really awesome girl-boss bloggers and their content is fresh and interesting and sure, they have a handful of product placement blogs (the dream!), but as a full-time employee, part-time blogger I am having a hard time keeping up. I decided that I need to focus; get my content flushed out, written, witty (Laughter is my love language) and followed by more than my mom and aunts.

I write this post because I know a handful of other women who have the passion to write as well and it is hard; it’s just no one tells you that when you’re purchasing your domain name. Ladies, you are not alone! Your pretty posts are not going unnoticed and I hear you!

Lately, I have gone back to my journalistic roots. Instead of researching about Real World cast-offs when they visited a new bar or club at Penn State, I’m now enjoying researching things such as Google AdSense or Five Killer Tips for Creating Blog Post Titles. Yes, that last one is real and honestly, it has really great tips and tricks! Where was THIS class at Penn State? I most certainly would have gotten out of bed early and trucked across the frozen tundra in the Pennsylvania winters for this over COMM 409 News Media Ethics!

So, on my journey to awesome bloggerness, I have found a handful of great websites that I check out daily that I want to share with you. Even if you aren’t blogging, I can promise you that these sites still have something informative for you; you may just learn how to nail a flat lay Instagram photo! Some of the sites are even just blog-inspo and something to work towards. So sit back, relax, put on a great Spotify playlist and check out some of my favorite blogs!

Don’t have a killer playlist? Don’t worry, I have you covered, enjoy one of mine here.

Bloguettes: Not only do they offer you free downloadable goodies, but these girl bosses are working hard to make sure your blog is working hard for YOU! From webinars to tutorials, training and back,  these ladies even offer in-person workshops. If they were closer to me, I would totally go to a ‘shop to learn from the masters and make new Blog friends along the way.

Cookie and Kate: It seems unconventional to link to a Food Blogger, but Kate lays out every single detail in her post on how to get your blog started. From drumming up your blog name to choosing a host site and more. I think I had this website up for about 3 months straight when I was just starting out. She’s a genius for this post. Oh, and her food looks super yummy so she knows what is up!

Bloglovin’: This site is like a Pinterest of blogs. You can search out the kind of blogs you want to see in your news feed via an easy to use search engine. And if you know the blog name you can search it out that way, too. I found not only a lot of great new sites to check out, but it also links to your Facebook so you can follow, and cheer on, your fellow FB buddy’s blog! Oh, and if you join Bloglovin’ give me a little lovin’: Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Ashley Brooke Designs: Ok, warning: This is my absolute fave blog right now and you will see a lot of ABD items in my Insta! Not only is Ashley Brooke’s blog, and life, goals, she’s also a fellow-Orlandonian, so she gets extra gold stars! My gal pals and I can be found referencing her Insta-posts in conversation and we just adore her shop. If I ever visit you for the weekend, expect to get mailbox goodies straight from this girl. On top of the many adorable mugs and notebooks, her blog is always giving me great tips for the Orlando area, for celebrating the holiday in lady-like style, make-up tips on the cheap and so much more. If ABD isn’t your bestie spirit animal by the time you’re done, then you most certainly cannot sit with us!

Okay tootsies, that is all I have for today but check back soon! I am sure I will keep updating this list as I continue this blogventure, get it? Blog. Adventure. Blogventure. Oh, you get it!