|

I’m in the Bloglight!

At The Point, Featured
21 Comments

Do y’all know I love Hometalk?  It’s a place to share and help with your home and garden.  Since peeking into other people’s homes is kind of a hobby of mine (not in a breaking & entering kind of way…..unless I thought I wouldn’t get caught…..then maybe) I love it.

And gardens, well I need some serious help and I need advice, so I read the Q & A’s about gardening.  In a nutshell Hometalk is a great place to hang out.

The nice folks over there sent me some questions about who I am and how I blog.  Let’s sit a spell and talk….

1. How long have you been blogging and why did you start?

I started 5 years ago.  In blog years that’s like 35.

It began because so many people would say to me, “I wish I could be a fly on the wall in your home” or “I’d love to just watch you work.”  So I thought…..maybe if I show them what a mess I really am they will stop saying that.

With 9 kids, homeschooling and a little farm (which is NOT something I ever write about because I am so BAD at the farming part) I wasn’t sure if I could squeeze in blogging, but it has become my favorite thing to do at night after everyone goes to bed.  Blogging, not farming; I doubt I will ever love farming.

2. Is blogging something you do on the side or is it a full-time job for you?

I don’t really think of it as a job, but I do work on the blog 20+ hours a week, so I guess it’s kind of like a part time job for me.  I also have a busy etsy shop, Shop 24, that I run with my daughters (at Christmas the whole family gets in on the etsy action).  So between Shop 24 and the blog I put in a good bit of time.

3. Do you stick to a strict blog posting schedule?

Yes!  I am very scheduled and organized about my blog posts.  I use a calendar plugin called WordPress Editorial Calendar and it helps me keep up with my schedule.  In fact, I am speaking on time management and blogging at the SNAP! Conference next month and I will be sharing more about that.  If you’re going to be there I would love, love, love to meet you!  If you see me talking to someone else you have my full permission to interrupt and say hello.

4. What’s been your top DIY/home decor post?

My painted piano has been one of the top posts from my home decor section on the blog.  I just didn’t like it brown and so I painted it.  I still, 2 years later, LOVE it!

The other top DIY post is my pool deck furniture that our family built together.  We needed furniture, but didn’t have the money to spend.  So hubby and I went to Pottery Barn for inspiration then came home and built this with mostly scraps.  It’s great for watching the kids swim in the summer and for hiding in the winter (I mean, who expects you to be sitting by the pool in the winter?).

You can see more of my projects in my home gallery!

5. What advice would you give to other bloggers that you wish you had known before you started blogging?

There are SO many things I wish I had known before I started!  Tips and tricks and ways to improve hits, etc.  But those aren’t as important as this: Don’t get caught up in the unimportant things and focus on your goals and priorities.

I spend the first moments of every day in prayer.  I ask God to help me focus the day on what I really value and brush off what isn’t important.  My family, friends, home life and relationship with Him are my top priorities.  Then I work on the blog.

It is so easy to get caught up in numbers and stats and accomplishments.  As bloggers, we don’t have a solid way to measure our success and that can get frustrating.

When I start to feel it taking over my thoughts I back up and remind myself of my personal goals for this blog.  For me it is to encourage others to know God as a true and trusted friend.  I share that by trying to spread joy, live life to the fullest, raise my children well and make my home beautiful despite my small to nothing budget.

If I am doing that, the rest is secondary.

That’s it?  No more questions?  Whew!  That wasn’t too bad.  (speak for myself, it may have been torture for you!)

Thanks for joining me for this fun interview…..come back and see me sometime!

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram for more fun!

21 Comments

  2. Hi Lisa,

    I found your blog through Smockityfrocks and I have been so blessed! Love, love, love your piano and love your blogging priorities even more. There are so many traps set for women in the blogosphere. Often I consider giving up because of that “success factor” you mentioned. Seems to be successful one must be everywhere at once on a gazillion social media outlets…and yet where does that fit in with the objects of our blogging, the home and family? Many times it *doesn’t* . All that to say…thank you for this post and setting a great example to the rest of us. I signed up for the RSS feed 🙂

    1. Hi Bambi! I love Smockity Frocks, she’s awesome! Thanks for your thoughts on success….it surely is a trap! So glad you signed up for the feed. I’m looking forward to getting toknow you! Lisa~

  4. I love your blog! I think the painted piano is how I found it a couple years back 😉
    I love your family photo too, and how you dress your sons. We just found out #3 is a boy, and I know it’s silly, but I think I will be even more picky with dressing a boy than I have been my girls. :-S

    Keep blogging!

  5. Hi Lisa, there is so much about you I didn’t know! I recognized both your outdoor furniture and painted piano posts from Hometalk – they’re so popular! I can totally see why people wanted to be a fly on your wall, btw. 🙂 Thank you for sharing!

    P.S. You have a beautiful family. 🙂

  6. I love the piano.
    Thanks for the tip about blogging. I recently started and have had nearly 700 hits one day so Ikeep finding myself obsessing. Good remindet to focus on the important goals!

  7. It was not torture! lol! I really enjoyed getting to know you a little better, Lisa! Congratulations on your feature! 🙂

  8. What a great blogging story! I loved reading this and getting to know you better. And wow…you are OLD for a blogger ;). Seriously though, I really appreciate your perspective on blogging versus life and keeping your faith in the forefront. That’s what’s most important. I just have to say that I love your outdoor living spaces! I have been pondering what to do on our back deck and your DIY deck furniture is AWESOME!!!

  9. So great getting to know you better, Lisa. I also recognize your outdoor furniture, it’s awesome! I need to do better with time management, I wish I was going to snap to hear your discussion on it. I am going to look into that editorial calendar plug in, though. Thanks!

  10. that’s 35 in blog years. ha! I have installed the Editorial Calendar plugin but have not turned it on. probably should with all I got swirling around up in my head. lovely piano, lovely feature. What a gorgeous front porch! keep on keeping and cool to learn a little more about you. ~jb

  12. Lisa, congratulations on being in the spotlight. It was great to learn more about you. I love the idea of comparing blog years to dog years! I also love your deck seating. Those cushions and that skirt are phenominal! You and your family are invited to come visit me in Ark. any time…as long as,when you leave, my deck looks like your’s! laurie

  13. Hi, Lisa, it was fun to read more about you and how you started your blog. I still can’t get over the 9 children part and how you have time to do anything online, is beyond me. Congrats on 5 years and your Etsy shop. I have loved getting to know you these past couple of years. Hope to see you again soon!! xoxo

  14. A husband, 9 children, a blog, a thriving Etsy shop, and a mini farm…whew! I’m exhausted just thinking about it all! You are a truly inspirational woman and I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about you Lisa! Congrats on 5 years and the feature…May there be many more!

  15. Great read Lisa! You don’t like farming?! Come to think of it… you’re right. The idea is much more romantic than the work involved… how soon we forget! 🙂

    And hey… there’s my favourite outdoor seating area! Still pining for one just like it…

  16. Lisa, you are amazing! You’d have to be highly organized with 9 children, a farm, and such a vibrant shop– I wish I was going to SNAP to hear all about how you do it. It’s wonderful to hear more about you, and your home is lovely!

Comments are closed.