Boost Your Blog // My Blogging Kit 2.0

About two-ish years ago I did a post on creating a blogging kit if you were moving, traveling, or just somewhere that you weren't used to.  I created this kit to keep me sane in my transition period from moving up to Michigan.  Which, let's talk about how young I was 2 years ago for a minute.  I stumbled up on some of the emails between Zach & I while we were apart (read about our long distance thing here).  Oh my gosh we were so, so, so young!  Some days, when I find things like that, I wonder why I felt so confident in my decision to move up here - I was so young what made me so positive this was going to work out?  Don't get me wrong, this has been the best thing but it could have gone so bad.  We've grown a lot together and it's so weird to look back on how young we were.  You sure don't know time has passed until you turn around and look at it.  Jeeze.  Anyway, that's not what this post is about.  This post is about my blogging kit 2.0.

Now, I don't travel with Zach at all any more (sad face!) and for the most part our travels involve going to different SCA events and during that time I'm not really connected to technology because we're usually camping.  But currently I'm in the state of a remodel and in order to gain control over my surroundings I thought I'd assemble my blogging kit just to give me some control.  I think I am more than slightly Type A when it comes to some things!  So here is the Blogging Kit 2.0 :

iPad & ClamCase

Something that has become super convenient for me is my ClamCase for my iPad.  It turns my iPad into a mini laptop which is perfect for on the go blogging!  This is great if we're making a little weekend stop to Zach's parents or a small weekend trip I can still get some work done.  It would be even more helpful if I had a 3G plan but wireless is just fine for most things.  (Read about blogging from an iPad here.)

Filofax Planner

This takes the places of my blog planner and blog idea notebook.  This planner is filled with everything from plans for my daily life, blog plans, contacts, to do lists, and other planning things.  I feel like this is the big girl version of the planner I used to have.  I've sort of updated how I plan for the blog but it still follows the same principle.  Also this planner holds my sticky notes and pens so I don't have to bring another case with me.  If you want to see an easy an affordable DIY binder planner check out this video on my YouTube channel.  I also posted a current planner tour here.

Camera/iPhone + Mophie Case

I hardly pull out my DSLR anymore.  I'm still fighting with it so I've just been using my phone.  I currently have the iPhone 5s, and upgrade from the iPhone 4 I had in the previous Blogging Kit post.  With the 5s comes a better camera so I can really have blog worthy photos.  I'm hardly ever worried about my phone dying because I have a Mophie case that has one full charge as a back up.  So I can take really great photos and not worry about lugging around a camera or a camera dying on me.

App Arsenal

I talked before about the ways you can blog from you iPad and there really are tons of apps out there to help you along (currently I'm liking using the actual Blogger app).  But the other thing I worry about is the fact that I have the lowest memory option for my iPhone so I need to back up my photos incase I need to delete.  My whole blogging app arsenal includes Blogger, Blogsy, Google Drive, Afterlight, Phonto, and PicFrame.  All of these give me everything I need (nearly) to compose a post.

Storage 

In the last blogging kit post I talked about storage for some bits and bobs you may collect from events, travels, etc.  Because my Filofax (the Saffiano in Rasperry) has quite a few pockets and inserts I can slip anything I need to keep in the various places in my planner.  There's really no need to have any extra baggage.  All my sticky note are on various flyleafs in my filofax, washi tape is around an old gift card and my pen is in the pen loop.  If I do need highlighters, I do have a separate pencil case in my purse.

So that is my big girl Blogging Kit 2.0!  I love that everything fits in a space no bigger than my iPad.  I guess the kit grew but I think it also got more efficient now that I have a whole app arsenal to create pretty sophisitcated blog posts on the go.

How do you blog on the go or when you're in a state of transition? Are you a control freak when it comes to spending time in unfamilliar territory?

xoxo, Moe

Boost Your Blog // 5 Things I Didn't Know About Blogging

When I first started blogging I didn't know much, I'd still say I have a way to go.  I picked up my html knowledge from MySpace & knew how to make a simple layout. In fact, before Five Sixteenths I had 2 other blogs that were going no where.  I assumed the mantra All great somebodies started somewhere I began to experiment.  Blogging is a whole lot of trial & error until you find your voice.  So how do you start? Well, first you log in then you write your first post.  In this post, I am going to share with you the five things I had no clue about when I first started blogging.

The importance of a blog button

Having a blog button means you are shareable & anyone that can grab a hold of that code can put you in their side bar.  This means that readers of another blog will see you & hopefully pop on over to check you out.  It's not just something to have because it's pretty, it's a way to share yourself!

The importance of image quality

The importance of image quality lies in the fact that you want to display your awesomeness in the best way possible.  Make sure your pictures are crisp & colored correctly.  Don't use overly edited or saturated photos, instagrams are nice...but only sometimes.  I am super guilty of over using them! Use nice, natural toned photos that are as big as or about 10 pixels smaller than your posting area. That way you are taking up a good portion of blog real estate & readers can follow your blog visually easier.

The importance of networking

Joining twitter to promote your blog & only posting things about yourself won't get you far.  I have to admit, when I started blogging it was so I could have another presence online that I updated regularly about my shop.  It was always shop this & shop that, I never posted quality content that others could learn from. This is where networking comes in.  Find blogs & shops you love to follow.  If you think you may be too shy to say anything to them remember this a lot of bloggers are shy in real life!  Twitter & blog comments & even emails are much less intimidating, remember that!  Building friendships is super important to having your blog thrive.  I am also much better at responding on twitter & not on comments!  I'm such a bad blogger.

The importance of branding

Cohesion is not something we really think about when starting a blog.  When I first got started, I was just excited to play around with new things that I learned.  My header was one way, my background was another way, it was a hodge podge of stuff that didn't look good together.  There are two ways to remedy this: find an awesome designer who will do all the hard work for you or do some research!  Think about the blogs you love to read & decide what is it that works for them.  Research blog design & how to do some interesting stuff & try it out.  You'll learn a lot & I know you'll be able to design your own!

The importance of accepting change

Above all, your blog is your blog.  It should reflect you.  So if you ever change interests blog about them.  I find that I stay most connected with my blog when I'm honest about my life & not trying to imitate someone else.  It is super easy to get caught up in trying to keep up with everyone else but the only person you should compare yourself to is the person you were yesterday.  That's your measurement of growth!  Recently my interests have changed & I'm going to keep blogging about them because 516 is a reflection of me & no one else.  Accept & embrace change in your blog & your readers will appreciate it!

Blogging is fun but it can become a chore.  Always stay true to yourself & don't get into it for the recognition & popularity....you'll only feel pressured if you're not ready for it.  Be a honest voice in the world & it will get you far.

What are some tips you have?  Anything you didn't know before hitting publish on your first blog post?

xoxo, Moe

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Make it Monday // Make a Blogging Kit for Travel or Moving

Being in a transition state, whether moving, remodeling, traveling, or in a place that's not quite home...blogging can become a little hard to do.  From experience, I know how a routine can get interrupted & lead to a blogging slump.  In September I felt like I had no idea what I was doing with the blog.  A lot of things got jumbled, new projects took the front seat, & blogging just fell into a chore.  And since blogging should be fun, whenever it becomes a chore I always re-evaluate.  I realized I needed some sort of familiar...thus came the Blogging Kit

Not having a desk means not having a place to coral all your bits & pieces, your inspiration, your favorite pens, etc.  Personally, blogging from the kitchen table, couch, assorted Starbucks tables makes things a lot harder to keep organized.  Instead of just throwing things in my purse all willy-nilly, I decided to try making a blogging packet with a little bit of everything I'd need if I were at my own desk.

 Blog Planner  - This is the most important part of my Blog Kit!  I used a planner with both a monthly & weekly calendar.  Right now I'm only filling in the monthly calendar but if I have a particularly busy week, filling in the weekly calendar helps me make sure I get everything done in the week that I need to.  If I didn't have my blog planner I'd be lost!

 Blogging Notebook  - Missing in this picture because I think I left it in Zach's car.  This is less important to my planning process so if I leave it in the car it's ok for a little while!  In this book I write down inspiration, ideas for features, sketch layouts or doodles, etc.  I guess you could call it a sketch book.  It also houses things for the various shops too.  I do have another smaller notebook to jot down things quickly & it's not as bulky as my bigger blogging book.

 Pens & Markers  - Because I like color & need to remember which things are the most important, markers, pens, & highlighters float around in my purse.  Putting them all together I spend less time digging in my purse (& pulling out tampons instead of markers in Starbucks is not cool! TMI?)  These markers have two tips - a fine & a broad tip - to highlight & to write.  Multi-purpose.  Score!

 Various Sticky Notes  - Also not pictured because I used all of mine.  I used to be the sticky not queen in high school & love the way Elsie & Emma of A Beautiful Mess organize their notebooks.  Kaelah of Little Chief Honeybee & Kaylah of The Dainty Squid use a similar method.  The best thing about sticky notes is that they aren't permanent & you can move them around.  If I'm fluid on when things need to be done or where something can go, it goes on a sticky note that way I can move it from week to week in the calendar or around in my blogging notebook.  I also use them to make divider tabs in my blogging notebooks.

 Kid Made Modern Tape  - Just because it's pretty & I like decorating things.  If a page seems like it needs a label, I slap some tape on there, couldn't hurt right?

 Tid Bits  - Currently the tid bits in the kit are from Art Prize, a cool art exhibition all over Grand Rapids where artists compete for a grand prize.  There were lot's of artists I found & eventually want to blog about them so I have a few of their cards/brochures so I can find examples, remember names, etc.  This is great for travel! Picking up little things along the way to remember can double for your scrap book & blog.

 Camera & iPhone  - Not only do I use my iPhone for responding to comments but I also use it for photographing day to day life.  If my phone battery dies or I don't want to pull out/don't have my DSLR my point & shot is the next best thing.  Capturing moments is important to blogging so I don't want to miss a thing!  I also believe the best camera for you is the one you'll use. (check this post for tips to improve your photog skills using your smart phone.)

 Storage  - The way I rangle all of the bits of my Blogging Kit is in a small clear bag with a zipper.  Mine is from Claire's & unfortunately you won't find these there any more.  When we discontinued them (I used to work at claire's!) I bought them all up.  They are great for things like this & for packing your toothbrushes when you're traveling.  Seriously, you'll find at least 3 of these when we travel! So handy!  You could also use any old pencil case but the plastic keeps it from getting dirty or wet if you spill something.

I am so happy that we'll be moving into our house sooooo soon! But until we build our awesome double desk, I may be blogging from couches & tables for a little while more.  This kit has helped me keep organized & gave me a bit more motivation to blog through October!

How do you stay organized while traveling? Do you blog on the road?

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