Guess Who I Met!

Would you ever get together with someone in person, that you met online?

Normally, I would say NO WAY!

However, when it comes to meeting blog friends,

well, that's another thing, entirely.

 

When I first started blogging, 

it never entered my mind that I would form relationships...

wait -- make that friendships -- with other bloggers.

But, yes, "blogger friendship" happens,  

and every once in awhile, you get lucky enough to meet those friends in person.

Two weeks ago in New York City, 

I had lunch again with Julie from Julie's Lifestyle, 

who I met back in July.

We met Ginnie from Hello Little Home, for the first time.

 She is one of my co-hosts at Best Of The Weekend! 

Julie's blog covers a little bit of everything --

 cooking, crocheting, make-up tips, etc. 

Ginnie is also a lifestyle blogger who shares recipes, decor, DIY and fashion. 

We has so much fun gabbing, and sharing blogging stories,

that we forgot to take a picture! 

Ah, well, I guess this just means we have to do it again.  

Ginny                                                          Julie

A few days later, this time in NJ,

I had the pleasure of meeting two more bloggers...

Doreen from Househoneys, and Cindy from Cloches and Lavender.

Cindy's friend, Audrey, came along, too.

(If you read Cindy's blog, she talks about Audrey a lot,

so I felt like I knew her, too).
Cindy doesn't have a picture of herself on her blog,

so I wasn't sure who was who when I walked in! 

Doreen writes a lot about her log cabin, and life in the Berkshires, 

as well as recipes, home decor, and adventures in their new RV.

Cindy's blog is about the new home she and her husband built, 

their dogs, Peanut and Reeses, 

and her awesome furniture-painting and DIY projects.

Audrey is considering starting a blog.

You know we gave her lots of encouragement! 

There was never a lull in the conversation.

and we made sure to get a picture taken right away, 

before we forgot.     

Doreen and Amy (standing); Audrey and Cindy (seated)

After lunch, we exchanged little gifts.
Cindy gave each of us a pretty flower pot that she decoupaged, 
filled with chocolates.
I've been admiring these on her blog, and I'm so happy to now have one of my own!
Doreen gave us some of her delicious chocolate-dipped walnut biscotti.
 Soooooo yummy! 
My gift to the ladies was a little carton of brown sugar and walnut rugelach. 

Do you live in the NY area?
Are you planning to visit?
I'd love to meet you, too!
 

You Can't Frost A Cake With Mod Podge...And Other Things I've Learned From Blogging

When you look back to when you first started your blog, can you believe all the stuff you didn't know?

I don't have to think too hard, since I've only been blogging for about six months. 

There's still an awful lot I don't know...

...but I can't help but share a few things I have learned since hopping onto the blogging bandwagon.  

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As a new blogger, I really had no idea how much I didn't know.

For one thing, I thought Mod Podge was a TV show in the 70's with Peggy Lipton. 
But when I found out it was a glaze, I used it to frost a chocolate cake.

It looked AWESOME.

But it was a little hard to digest.

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Blogging means learning a whole new language. To me, "BlogHer" sounds like an obscenity. 

You know, like "Screw Him!" ... "Blog Her!"

There are so many words I've never heard, like "junking." Apparently, I didn't know I was "junking" even when I was doing it.

And chippy??? That's how I feel when I score a pair of shoes at Nordstrom's for 60% off!

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There is so much to learn. 

For instance, it didn't take me long to realize that I am shopping in all the wrong places.

Saks and Bloomies? No way...Hobby Lobby is where it's at! 

That wasn't even on my radar, let alone my GPS.  I think I have to drive to Texas, though, to get there. 

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And I surely wasn't aware that bloggers have their own special calendar.  In blog-land, the seasons start so early! 

I mean, who knew that I had to put my pumpkins out in August? 

Please…just let me know NOW when I have to make Thanksgiving dinner. 

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If I have learned anything about blogging, it's that everything looks better with a coat of chalk paint on it. 

Between you and me, I had no idea that chalk paint wasn't black. 

Is it?

I figured out that chalk paint is not the same thing that's on a blackboard, after I painted my dining room table with chalkboard paint. I'm good, I get it now. Chalk paint.

And who is Annie Sloane anyway? 

I hope she's one of my Followers.

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"Write about what you love," says all the blogging advice. "If it comes from your heart, people will be drawn to what you have to say."

Uh, really?  The only readers I seemed to draw in the beginning were blog-sucking Vampirestats...

...that is, until I put on lipstick and heels, and started partying every day of the week.

I hadn't partied this much EVER, not even when I was in college and could stay up past 11pm.  

I have to admit, I was shy at first about going to Linky Parties. What if no one liked me?

But, whaddya know? Those Linky Parties work! I've met some great people, and in fact, some actually started following me...not in a stalker-ish, creepy kind of way...the nice, blogger-ish kind of following.

I guess that's the blogging equivalent to going steady.  

Now I just have to work really hard at these relationships, so that we don't break up.

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Although I barely knew what a blog was when I started mine, I didn't think it would be that hard to attract an audience…

...because that's kinda what I did for a living for many years.  

Before Blogging ("BB"), my job was to decide what day and time programs would air at a TV network.  The object of the game was to get people to watch those shows...

...which is sort of like getting people to read your blog posts, isn't it?

I was pretty darn good at this in the TV world. I bet I even got you (yes, you!) to watch those shows.

But it's not TV, my friends.  It's a heckuva lot harder to get people to follow your blog than it is to get them to follow Dancing With The Stars, or Breaking Bad. For one thing, I don't have a big network behind me...

...which means I have to do my own research, marketing and advertising…

…create my own content…

…and maximize my  SEO...Search Engine Optimization…whatever the heck that means…but it is apparently the key to blogging success.

Oh no, it's not easy.   

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Content may be the King of Blogsville…

But Blogging is a lot more than just writing stuff.

Even though that's what it says in "Blogging for Dummies," you can't simply write a post and hit "Publish." 

Take the photos, for instance...

Who knew I'd have to shoot 500 photos of a piece of pie, just to get one that is "pin-worthy?"

And that's after I Pic-monkey around with it for an hour.

Nevertheless...

I am working really hard.

Apparently, however, I am not doing nearly enough.

Oh, no, there is so much more to do everyday!

And doing other stuff I don't even know I'm supposed to be doing.

Hello??? When am I supposed to make dinner?

And that's not all...oh no, that's not all.  

It's not enough to be a good writer… 

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Yikes, I feel inadequate. 

I can crank out a couple of blog posts a week, if I'm lucky, and take a few decent snaps...

But, y'all?  Y'all do it all.

Well, I'm just assuming you can sing, too. 

And on top of that, you make your own toothpaste and furniture.. 

Excuse me, but when do you people sleep? 

Even with all that…. 

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One thing I did not expect was how incredibly nice and helpful other bloggers are. No jokes here. This is the mushy part. Get out your tissues.  

I have to give a few shout-outs to bloggers who've been incredibly kind to Ms. Toody. 

Katie at Let's Add Sprinkles was my first "real" follower on GFC. 

Claire at A Little Claireification told me the best way to label my photos for Pinterest.

Suzan at Simply Vintageous and Diana at Nana Diana Takes a Break 

offered to help me fix my "No Reply Blogger" status.

Eileen at The Joy of Caking invited me (me!) to be part of a special feature 

that she will be doing this fall.

Debbie at Debbiedoos explained Linky Parties to me, told me to 'unlock' my photos...and then asked me to take part in her weekly Home Tour series. 

Michele at A Dish of Daily Life took the time to respond 

to my questions about social media. 

Sunnefa at Coder Mommy nominated me for a Liebster Award.

Lisa at Elembee explained that "Alt" was not just a key on the keyboard…

 but a blogging conference, and sent me the link.

Then, there are those of you who have written helpful posts about blogging, so that people like me can create better blogs.

And, many of you have featured my posts (check my sidebar!), which makes me feel like I actually know what I'm doing.

Finally, there's all of the rest of you, who for whatever reason, are following me on GFC, Facebook, Pinterest, Email or RSS...or take a moment to leave me a comment.

I am so grateful to all of you. If it hadn't been for you, the only ones reading my blog would have been those vampires, and I would have quit months ago.

It's been a great six months, and I'm looking forward to the next six years.

Thank you, from the bottom of my BlogLovin' heart.

And now, I've got to run because -- 

All of you bloggers have inspired me to try my first big DIY project. You'll have to wait for the big reveal...

...but it's got something to do with Rit Dye and my dog. 

Linking With:

Simple and Sweet Friday
Feathered Nest Friday
Fabulously Creative Friday 
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Tickled Pink Times Two
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Best of the Weekend 
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Wow Us Wednesday
Time To Sparkle
Share Your Creativity 
Home and Garden Thursday  
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