How Are You Really Spending Your Time?

Have you ever done one of those trackers, where you write down what you do every 15 minutes for a few days? I admit that I have not, but I think it would be truly eye-opening to see exactly where your time goes during the day. I think we are hard on ourselves for "wasting time", when we may have less available time than we think we do (not to say we aren't wasting time on Facebook or Instagram).

In February, we had an electric car on loan. One of the features of this car was a setting that would tell you how long you had been driving, and it was cumulative until you reset it. In a month, I spent 40 hours behind the wheel. That's an entire work week! We only took one long-trip, which was about 3 hours. Where on earth was I going for those other 37 hours?? Dropping my kids off, picking them up, sports, clubs, meetings, volunteer responsibilities, grocery shopping, dry cleaning pick up, etc.

Why A Retreat May Be Just What You Need

What do you think of when you hear the word, retreat?

I immediately conger up something relaxing. A retreat to me, means getting away from it all and recharging your batteries.

I recently had the opportunity to go on a weekend retreat with a group of creative entrepreneurs. It was like a girls' weekend, but with a mission. We even had a loose agenda to keep us on track and accomplish our goals.  We loaded up journals, paper, pens, yoga pants and wine and headed to a beautiful cabin in the Maryland woods.

Influencer Marketing for Dummies {w. giveaway}

The digital world moves fast. It seems as if there's a new platform to check out every week. As a blogger, online influencer and social media consultant, it's my job to keep up with the trends and learn new platforms as they hit the market. Being able to offer brands my knowledge, makes my influence more marketable. Businesses, both large and small, need to find a way to navigate all these sources of potential customers, clients and fans. Influencer marketing can play a big part in that navigation.

What is influencer marketing? According to the new book, Influencer Marketing for Dummies, "influencer marketing is the art and science of engaging people who are influential online to share brand messaging with their audiences in the form of sponsored content." In essence, it's how a brand contacts people like me, to help share their messaging with my audience.

Get Your Blog and Business Ready for 2016

It's hard to believe, but 2015 is winding down quickly. Even though we are all busy trying to tie up this year with a pretty bow (not to mention get ready for the holidays), it's in our best interest to take a little time and get ready for what the new year can bring to our blog and our business. That's right, it's time to start doing some blog planning.

If you are one-woman (or man) business as I am, then you wear all the hats. That means that planning, record-keeping, billing and marketing are all on your list. Not to mention the day-to-day pieces of actually running your business. But if you take a little time right now to set some things up and get organized, you can start 2016 off on the right foot.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Workday

Work smarter, not harder. How many times have you heard that phrase lately? Probably a lot. With an ever-growing population of small business owners and entrepreneurs in our midst, everyone wants to know how to get more done in less time. Face it, we are busy with life too - you know, spouses, friends, kids. We took on a "be your own boss" role, in hopes of building something and having more time with those we love, you know that thing called "balance."

A few months ago, I signed up for a 21-Day productivity challenge. While my organization skills are strong, there are times where I feel overwhelmed and struggle with productivity. In addition, I have never been a super strong goal setter. Adding these two things together can cause days where I'm "busy", but not productive. So I was hoping the challenge would help me see the light.

#NaBloPoMo - My Commitment to Writing More

Bear with me . . .we are about to enter into uncharted territory here. I have been writing in this space since 2005. I know there are a few of you that have been reading along from the beginning, and for that, I am truly thankful. This space on the web has grown and matured over the years, from my personal online diary, to a community where I share ideas and inspiration for creating a simple, casual life you love, and I couldn't be happier about it!

I spent much of 2015 building the site into what you see here and updating older content. Now, I want to work on producing even better content, more often. So, beginning today, I am pledging to participate in the National Blog Posting Month (#NaBloPoMo).

5 Reasons I'm Keeping My Blog on Blogger

I have been toying with moving this blog to WordPress for years. Each year, I think about it. I tell myself, everyone is doing it, I probably should too.

Wait a minute . . .if my most compelling reason to move is because everyone else is - that's no reason at all. I have never been a crowd follower, and don't plan to start now.  So after thinking long and hard, I've decided to satay right where I am, with a pretty new look (you may have noticed) all thanks to the hugely talented, smart and funny Elle at Pink Flame Designs.

We're All Scrapbookers at Heart

Ever wonder how a Blogger gets started in Blogging? I read a great post from Elsie Larson yesterday - I've been a fan of Elsie and A Beautiful Mess for YEARS. After reading it, I started thinking about how my scrapbooking hobby was really the driver for me switching from an auditing career to an online content creation and social media consulting career.

In fact, almost all of us here in the Blog World and on Social Media . . .are scrapbookers at heart. We are all trying to tell our story. Every day we share our lives and experiences in words and pictures with the rest of the world. Memory keeping. Scrpbooking.

Even if you have a Deal Blog, or a Company Blog . . .it's the stories that capture your audience. Stories evoke emotion from your readers, and when that happens, it's Blog Magic.

Also, these women in the Scrapbook industry? They are REAL entrepreneurs. They have developed products and systems and companies from what seems like some paper and scissors, but is really a lot of hard work and self-teaching. They have inspired me in many ways to preserve my family history, tell my own story, and grow as a business-woman as well.

Next week, I am embarking on Ali Edward's Week in the Life. I love this project, and just like so many things, I tend to Type-A it and perfectionist it to death. I am vowing here - before all you lovely readers, that I will TRY not to do that.

catch you soon -

How to Blog Like a Rock Star

Last week, I traveled to Atlanta, GA to attend the Type-A Parent Conference 2014. Besides seeing old friends and meeting new ones, one of the things I was most excited about was hearing Mack Collier speak. I am a faithful #blogchat participant, and I love the ideas Mack and the other regular participants share each week.

Mack was not only speaking, he was the opening keynote - he was the guy setting the tone for the ENTIRE CONFERENCE (no pressure there). His topic? "Think Like a Rock Star - How to Create Fans and Build Community."

Now, let me tell you a little secret . . .I have always wanted to be an actual rock star. I spent much of my teen years singing into a hairbrush in front of a mirror in my room. Truth be told, that may be part of the reason I started my blog in the first place . . .to have my very own stage. And now with Mack's help, I'm going to rock it.

Mack shared stories about how real rock stars, like Taylor Swift and Katy Perry, engage their fans and turn them into "super fans".  The poignant thought here:

Rock Stars don't think about the "new" fans - they think about the fans they already have.

So spending my time and energy in search of new people to "like" and "follow" me, may be growing my perceived "reach" - but it may also be leaving my faithful readers in the dust - not something I ever intended to do. So while I was sitting there taking notes, I got an idea for "Fan Friday". 

Each Friday, I plan to take a minute and recognize some "fans" from the week. That may be people that RT'd me on Twitter, engaged on one of my Facebook posts or left me a blog comment. It's a step towards showing the gratitude I feel for each interaction you take the time for.

"Reward the behavior you want to encourage." - Mack Collier

The second brilliant take-away for me was to find the "bigger idea" behind the content you create. So it's not really about the camera for your readers . . .it's about taking amazing photographs. What are some ways you, as a Blogger, can make your content more customer-centric? As a Blogger, it's my job, my responsibility if you will, to create amazing experiences for you, the readers that love (or at least like) me.

So in the weeks to come, I hope you'll start to see a little deeper-level post. A more customer (you) - centric presentation of the content I am sharing. If you don't - I hope you'll call me on it, so we can fix it. Tweet me, leave a comment - whatever you prefer. But keep me honest and help me keep improving the stories and experiences I bring to you.

Unlike a "real" rock star, I perform every day - right here on my blog, so I hope you'll come around and see what I'm up to. Rock on!

catch you soon -

Blogging : 3 Tips for Developing Your Own Success Story

When I graduated from college back in 1990, "Blogging" wasn't a career - heck, it wasn't even a job title at that time, computers were just starting to make their way to office desktops.

Now practically anyone can start a blog, and millions of people and companies have. For personal blogs there are generally 2 main types - hobby blogs (fun writing) and career writing (launch pad to other opportunities or monetizing your blog to earn income).

I'm one of those people that considers myself a Blogger (with a capital B) and uses my blog as a launch pad to opportunities with a small amount of monetizing via sponsored posts and affiliates.

What exactly does being a "Blogger" mean though?

Getting a Facelift

Relax . . .I'm not getting a facelift . . .but the blog did!

I'm happy to unveil a little facelift to the look of the blog. Everything is still right where you left it, and you can count on a continuation of great lifestyle content. I have a few tweaks still to come. . .but hopefully they cause little disruption, and enhance your visit here to My Scraps.

I appreciate all your follows, likes and support - thanks for reading! xo

catch you soon -

Media Kits - What They Are and Why You Need One

This post may contain affiliate links.

It seems as if everyone is blogging these days. Brands, Moms, Dads, even kids are getting into the game. Whether you are a casual blogger doing it out of joy or you are a serious Blogger, with a capital "B" and it's your career, bloggers are realizing that there are offers and money to be made from using their influence online.

After a few posts, you may be lucky enough to find an email in your inbox from a brand, network or organization, with those blessed words: "We would love to consider you for a future opportunity". Bliss right? But that statement is often followed by the words, "can you send us a Media Kit?"

You may be thinking, well, I would if I had one . . .what's a Media Kit? Why do I need one and where do I get one? Read on blogger - read on . . .

Working Smarter - My Journey to Better Work Habits

My One Little Word for this year is Journey. One of the journeys I am taking is making smarter work decisions. I'm a WAHM these days - splitting my time between blogging, writing and online content creation and independent marketing/social media consulting. Anyone that works from home knows that there are special challenges and obstacles to overcome. In hopes of getting a better foothold on that elusive work-life balance, I have vowed to find ways to work smarter.

To kick off the new year, I have implemented a few new strategies, and after three weeks, they are working well. Let me share my strategies with you:

Strategy 1: I'm using a MomAgenda as a combination Editorial Calendar/To-Do list. It has enough space to track my schedule, my kids' schedules and work I have due for clients. It also provides a canvas for me to plan my blog's editorial calendar, so both organic and sponsored content get scheduled. Bonus with this system? There's a Weekly Dinner Menu space for my meal plans! Here's what I have learned about myself and my work habits - I need to write things down with a pencil and paper. (EDITED - just saw you can save 40% on certain planners at momagenda.com)

Strategy 2: Blocked time. I am looking at my daily to-do list and blocking off time to complete tasks. On a typical day, I have 6 hours available for "office hours". Depending on my deadlines and commitments for a particular day, I may block an hour in the morning to write, then a 15 minute household chore break, then 2 hours for client work, I may put in an hour for more chores, lunch and a quick walk/WiiFit workout. Another 2 hours for client work and/or writing and I try to be wrapped up by 3pm. Blocking time allows me to concentrate fully on the task at hand, rather than getting distracted.

Strategy 3: Shutting down social media. This one hurts, but has improved my productivity, particularly on busy days. I allow myself time in the morning and late-afternoons to catch up with my favorite groups, friends and family. Social media can be a real time suck, but it also has far-reaching benefits, both personally and professionally, so it needs attention too.

Strategy 4: Meal planning. I know. . .that is SO unglamorous, but I must confess it has helped tremendously. By planning my weekly dinners, I cut down on trips to the store (which allows for time to complete other tasks), save money, and can arrange my menu to suit our schedule. For instance, it's concert night tonight - we need to be out of the house by 6:15, so that means Trader Joe's Chicken Nuggets and Mac-n-Cheese. You can find a meal plan posted every Monday.

Those are my 4 strategies that I'm using on my journey to work smarter in 2014. As with any plan, adjustments may need to be made, and that's ok - I'm taking each day as it comes, and trying to plan out for the week and month when possible. I like to think of it as a map to help me reach my destination.

Are you working smarter this year? What are some of your strategies?

catch you soon - 

5 Tips to the Perfect Pitch

Do you have an elevator pitch? Do you need one? Everyone needs a "pitch" - a way to introduce yourself at a party, or look for a new opportunity, or encourage someone to support your latest cause. But talking about ourselves is not always easy, so how do you make sure your pitch is the best it can be? Here are 5 tips to get you started:

• What do you want people to know about you? What are you hoping to get from them? A job? A connection - that can determine what content you put into your pitch.

• Write it down. This isn't an "off the cuff"situation. Write down everything you want someone to know and then edit it. Whittle it down to the 3-4 key points you can deliver in 30-60 seconds.

• Answer these three questions: Who are you? What do you do? What are you looking for?

• Be authentic. A pitch is typically about them, not you and the focus is on what you can do for them. 

• Consider preparing some variations, depending on the situation. For instance, if you are introducing yourself, you would have a slightly different approach than if you were looking for a job or opportunity.

• You should be comfortable enough to give your elevator pitch in an interview or at a cocktail party, whenever the occasion calls. So practice, practice, practice.

So there you have it. . .seems pretty simple, right? Maybe not. . .but you can do it!

Let me share mine with you:



Leave me a comment with a link to your own elevator pitch, or if you don't have one yet - what you want it to say about you.

catch you soon -

Book Review: Social Media Engagement for Dummies

I recently received a copy of the new Social Media Engagement for Dummies book written by two women that I admire so much and am so honored to call friends, Aliza Sherman and Danielle Smith.

While I have been working in Social Media for three years now, like any profession, there is always room to improve your skills. And it's great to keep up with the changes and technical aspects of networks like Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. . .the real key though, in my opinion, is the engagement.

Social and Engagement just go together. . .like peanut butter and jelly. It's not social to send out link after link after link with no hint of engagement.

Now I also realize that not everyone is a social butterfly, and it doesn't come naturally or easily to some.  That's where the lessons and ideas in Aliza and Danielle's book come in. These savvy social ladies tell you how to connect with prospects and turn them into customers and how to use social networks to engage your customers.

Did you see the words connect and engage? Those words are about bringing the social to social media, and that's exactly what I strive to do for every client, brand and person that I work with.

I particularly love the way this book is broken up. It starts off with the basics of engagement. The basics always seem like such a good place to start - doesn't it? Then it moves into four elements of social media engagement. There is a lot of solid information in the first 135 pages, before they even discuss any particular social networks.

Have no fear, these ladies cover the current top social engagement tools, as well as providing information on leveraging audio and video. Many in the field believe that video popularity has only begun, as witnessed by the incredible popularity of Vine and Instavideo.

Anyone that's using Social Media will not want to miss Chapter 17, Ten Social Media Engagement Mistakes to Avoid. I am sure YOU are not making any. . .but just in case. =)

This book definitely gets 2-thumbs up from me. It's a must-read for those both new to social media, as well as those seasoned "gurus" and "experts", and a welcome addition to any business library. I already have corners turned down and Post-it flags all over the place.

What's your best Social Media Engagement advice? I'd love you to share it in the comments.

catch you soon -

Why I Vlog | #vlogmom

This week's #vlogmom prompt comes from the #vlogmom group:

" Why do you Vlog? What are some of your tips for vlogging? "

This one was very easy for me - and at the end, I share two tips in case you want to get started in vlogging yourself.



So - do you vlog? Leave me a link in the comments and I'll subscribe to your channel!

I'd love it if you subscribed to my YouTube channel, then you won't miss a thing.

catch you soon -

Blogging and Authenticity

authenticity - adj. - of undisputed origin, genuine

You may or may not know that in my previous life, I was an Internal Auditor. I was held to a professional Code of Ethics and was responsible for ensuring the Companies I worked for "towed the line" and were in compliance with accounting and regulatory requirements. Our writing had to be factual with opinions and conclusions, clearly identified as such.

So after doing that for 20 years, it's hard to "turn off" . . . thus I feel as if I have always been authentic here on my blog, with you my readers and followers. I promise I will never say I like something if I don't. I may write about it - and if I was paid to write about it - I may point out it's good qualities to you and let you make your own decisions. But I promise that every word I write here is the truth, or what I believe to be the truth.

Which brings me to the point of today's post. . .authenticity . . .and have I breached mine.

You may or may not know that I am a Breastfeeding Advocate. I volunteer and tweet for The Breastfeeding Resource Center in Abington, PA.  I believe in their mission 100% and have seen what a wonderful service they provide to the community. I breastfed my own kids for a total of 5 years between the two of them. Yesterday, I attended an event in NYC that was sponsored (I'm assuming paid for) by Similac (yes - the formula company).

The agenda was NOT about formula vs. breast. The agenda was about Strong Moms Empower. About being confident in the choices we make for our families. (homeschooling, discipline, TV, chicken nuggets, etc.) When I responded to the invitation - I did not realize it was sponsored by Similac. I found out the day before, after my plans had been made.

I contemplated cancelling. . .truth be told, it made me feel "dirty". But the speaker list was amazing (two of my favorites - Danielle Smith and Dr. Michele Borba) and I was curious about their messaging. . .would there be subliminal messages about giving your baby formula?

So I went. . .I was not paid, they did not pay for my travel. I was fed a lovely lunch and given a bracelet as were all the attendees.  I was not advised to give my baby formula. I was not required or asked to write about the event. I know that Similac was said to have co-opted messaging from Best for Babes. Of course, that is wrong . . .taking someone's words and using them for your own is wrong. We learned that in grade school.

And I also agree with those of you that tweeted me that we don't need a "Big Pharma" company to tell us how to be empowered . . .and you know what, you are right - some of us don't. But clearly, not all of us are empowered to do what we think is best for our families. Empowered or not, we are met with criticism and judgement at every turn, some of it meets the definition of bullying. So the messages and ideas presented by moms, Doctors and writers. . .were good ones. They were positive. They were encouraging. So while I am glad I went, I am still wrestling with whether I "should" have gone.

Funny - that's the same message we got at the event. Be confident in your choices. But sometimes. . .that is easier said than done, no matter how strong we may believe we are.

So if some of you are upset with me for going . . .I apologize. My belief in breastfeeding has not changed. I have not changed my mind about Similac's marketing practices. But I had the opportunity to hear some great advice on being a better mom and a better woman. Advice from professionals on how to support my friends, and strangers alike and how to identify my own judgements of other women and other moms.

And to me . . .that seems pretty authentic.

catch you soon -

Top-Ten Takeaways from Type-A

This past weekend, I got to spend time with some of my favorite people, in a beautiful location AND learn something. Not a bad way to spend time - right? In 20+ years of working, I have rarely said that about a professional development conference, but I can say it confidently in regards to the Type-A-Parent Conference series.

Last year, I attended a weekend conference (The Type-A-Parent Conference) in Charlotte. It was wonderful, packed full of super-smart presenters and attendees. This year, Kelby (the founder of Type-A) introduced two 1-day Advanced Conferences. The first one was in Philadelphia, and focused on "Profit".

When Talent Isn't Enough - Book Review

 
I recently received a copy of Kristen Fischer's "When Talent Isn't Enough" for review (at no charge nor was I compensated for this post)

I had never really thought of myself as a Creative Professional before. But Bloggers, Writers, Artists and Web Designers are all creative people, and when you are consulting and freelancing, you are most definitely a professional (or should be). Therefore and ergo. . .Creative Professional.

One of the most difficult things for me in switching from a 9-5 office job to a freelancing and consulting career, is business basics. How do I market my services? Taxes? Do I need an attorney? These are all serious and important questions.

Kristen has run her own copywriting business for more than seven years. This book is basically a Business 101 for creative professionals, but kicked-up with commentary from real-life creatives. Some it you may already know, and that's great. But I bet even seasoned freelancers will walk away with new knowledge. Who can't use tips and tricks for dealing with challenging client situations? Or cultivating lasting client partnerships?

One of my favorite parts of Kristen's book, is her list of resources. Resources are sprinkled throughout every chapter, but she also includes a four page list of websites, covering everything from Accounting to Productivity resources. The "Beginner Mishaps" are also great for illustrating common mistakes and mis-steps.

I have dog-eared several pages to go back and incorporate into my own business planning strategies, and have put this book on a shelf near my workspace for easy reference. For instance, right now I am making my own list using her Alternate Revenue Stream suggestions.

The book retails for $15.99 and  is available through Amazon and Barnes and Noble. If you are a freelancer or consultant, it's a book you will want to add to your business reference library and browse through from time to time.

What's your most-loved business reference book?

catch you soon -

#vlogmom | Let's Talk About Blogging

This week's #vlogmom prompt comes from Rajean over at B Cause I Said So. Rajean asked us, "What are your top 3 loves and top 3 pet peeves with blogging?"

Watch this video, and see what I had to say. . .



You can catch my opinions on other #vlogmom topics at my YouTube Channel, or feel free to leave a question in the comments, and I'll get back to you.

catch you soon -