Guest Blogger // 5 Blogging Tips from The Nook

You've already gotten a guest post from my room mate on Leather Crafting while I've been in Michigan, now I'd like to share with you a lovely blogger I just met!  She's got some good things going on & I can't wait to watch her blog grow.  If you've been a fan of some blog tips I've shared around here, listen up because Kristin is gonna school you too.  She's been working so hard on her little space in the blogisphere that I just had to hear how she's been doing it.

Hey there, new friends! Well, our girl Moe has been forced into seclusion for a week. No internet, up in the hills, no power, no lights, sitting by candlelight, probably blogging into a notebook..... Just kiddin, she's just in Michigan :-) But alas, I'm here to entertain you for the day in her absence. So hello! I'm Kristin, and I blog over at Tales From The Nook. I just got married in October, and now I live in a constant state of missing my honeymoon. Seriously, can someone take me back to Jamaica? :) But really, married life is super cool, and it's fun (and weird) to be able to call Ethan "husband." Oh, and we also have 2 dogs, Bayley and Chase, who are our babies. And we are trying to have a human baby. So keep your fingers crossed for us.

Ok, enough of that. Let's talk about  blogging! I've been "blogging" for....well, forever. Remember xanga? Yup, I had one. Livejournal? Check. I've pretty much always had some sort of an online journal. For me, it's been incredibly useful. What job did I have in 2005? Just check the blog. Want to remember my idiotic early 20's? It's (unfortunately) there too. My blogging has definitely grown up as I've grown up, and I'm really proud of what it's become. So in honor of no longer being a dumb 20 year old blogger,  I'd like to share a few blogging tips from the improved, adult Kristin.

1. Make new friends! I have "met" some really awesome people through blogging. Moe is one of them! It's really fun to meet new blogger friends. You obviously share at least 1 interest. Making blogging friends is a great way to grow your network, increase your following, and form relationships! 

2. Experiment! I love trying out new things via my blog. I recently have been hosting "Try It Tuesday" where I, you guessed it, try something new! It's been a lot of fun. From wearing red lipstick to shopping at the Dollar Tree, I've done lots of fun things! It's a great way to get out of your comfort zone and give you more to write about. 

3. Stay creative: blogging can be hard work! For me, the most difficult thing has been coming up with content that I really feel my readers will enjoy, but at the same time keeping my blog personal.  Coming up with something to write about every day (or however often you want to blog) can be hard, but it keeps you on your toes and helps you discover the content you really love. 

4. Separate "blog life" from real life. Sometimes I have to remind myself to put the iphone down, stop taking pictures, and just enjoy myself. Don't take a picture of every meal. Don't stay on twitter 24/7. My friends like to tease me for forgetting to tell them something, then asking why they didn't see it on the blog. As much as I love fostering my blog relationships, I have to foster my personal relationships more. Don't forget to take time away from blogging to love the ones you are with!

5. Be social and make yourself known! I've noticed a big difference in my "online presence" since I started being more active and social online. Are you a lurker? Get out there and comment! Grow your friend base. Sponsoring other blogs is a great way to get your blog some good attention. I personally noticed that sponsoring small to medium sized blogs was much more useful AND fun than sponsoring those blogs that everyone reads and follows. You can develop better relationships this way. Sponsor swaps are also awesome, especially if you are wary of emptying your paypal to sponsor :) If you are a regular commenter on a blog, that blogger is probably going to check out your blog too! And you might become friends! Ya know how all the "big bloggers" seem to be friends? They skype and facetime and hang out? This is because they were friends when they were smaller blogs! They weren't just all of a sudden all huge at the same time! To me, it's nice to watch my blog friends grow and gain success. You could be the next big blogger, ya never know! 

Well, dudes, that's all from The Nook. I hope you've enjoyed my blogging tips, and I hope you'll stop on over to my blog and visit every once and a while :) Moe, have a great time on your vacay, and try not to go crazy ;)

Thank you so much Kristin for helping a girl out in her time of need.  While I am sitting by candle light up north, I hope you enjoy the rest of your week!

Goal Week - Megan Flynn: Somewhere Over that Rainbow

Happy Wednesday!

Now that we have our notebooks ready & we know what a goal is & how to write them

it's time to be inspired to reach them.

Here is Megan from Freckled Italian telling us to be positive & stay strong!

When Moe asked me to do a guest post for Goal Week, I first thought, well what do I know about goals? So then I really started thinking, and I decided that I actually do know something about goals. First of all, I used to be an athlete. Second, I am almost a year out of college, halfway through a Master's program and working at a job that is not in my field of study. I have nothing but goals.

I really think that if you can believe something, then you can make it happen. As a competitive swimmer and runner in high school, I used to spend time just daydreaming about winning races and getting a specific time in each of my events. But you learn very quickly that positive thinking will only get you so far on a cross-country course. I think that my experience with sports really paved the way for the manner in which I make and achieve goals for everything else.

This is what I know:

1. Think positively.
You have to believe deeply that you can accomplish whatever it is that you set out to do. You deserve success, and you can be successful! Don't get caught up in tiny details or doubt. You can do anything you set your mind to!

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2. Start making moves.
Dreams and ambiguous thoughts aren't going to get you very far on their own. To make your goal a reality you need to start taking steps that will put you on your way. Team up with a friend, start eating healthily, write the first page of that novel. You won't get anywhere if you don't start somewhere.

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3. Don't get discouraged.

Go back to #1. Daydream a bit and remind yourself that you're capable of accomplishing your goal.

4. Track your progress.

Make lists. Keep track of how far you've come and how much further you have to go.

5. Celebrate your successes along the way.

I try to have a giveaway or a special post on my blog every time I reach a readership goal. Take yourself out to dinner. Eat some chocolate. Watch that movie you've been putting off. Do a couple twirls around your bedroom. Be happy when you make progress! You're on your way.

6. Keep at it.

Self explanatory. Don't give up.

I think that if you can keep a positive attitude and stay motivated, you can reach all your goals, whether they are health, career, relationship or whatever-related. Work hard and never stop believing. You've got this!

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Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.

--Henry Ford

What a great post! I do have one question.  How did she know the Wizard of Oz is my 

FAVORITE movie?!?!?!

This is a great post leading into keeping on track.

See you all tomorrow!

PS. Don't forget to check out the link parties in the Side Bar or click here!

Goal Week - Amy Morby: DIY Inspiration Journal

As a part of Goal Week, I have our first guest poster, Amy.

Here is a really fun goal oriented DIY

Well, hey there! Amy from A is for Ampersand here, and I'm just tickled to be guest posting here on Moe's lovely blog.

When I saw Moe's 20 before 24 project, I just knew I had to be a part. Goal setting is huge part of my life, and I might be a little embarrassed to admit how much I love making lists. It's a compulsion, really. I make lists for everything from goals for my work day to what to craft this weekend. I find that without writing things down my mind just races out of control until I wind up in a state of overwhelmed apathy with no desire to do anything but eat Sea Salt and Black Pepper chips on my couch. Yes, this happens. And often.

Anyway, if you are looking for a fun way to incorporate list making/goal setting into your life, try keeping an inspiration journal--a notebook jam packed with pretty pictures of inspiring things, quotes, and ideas. I've found that keeping my to-do lists alongside of things that inspire me keeps me motivated and excited about things to come instead of dreading them.

While you can use any old notebook for an inspiration journal, I like to use homemade fabric-covered journals. They're incredibly easy to make and turn out just lovely!
(Also, I’m sure there’s a bajillion tuts out there about making fabric journals, so if you know of a better way, that’s great! This way is super fast and something I just concocted in 15 mins, so feel free to make yours ten times more awesome than these!)

You’ll need the following supplies:

• A nice little journal
• Spray adhesive (I got mine at Michaels for like…$5?)
• Fabric (I used vintage sheets. Supa cheap!)

1. Lay your journal on the fabric and cut around it, leaving 1/2″ or so. You’re just going to cut this edge off at the end, so it doesn’t matter how much/little room you leave.

2. Spray the fabric with the spray adhesive and lay that journal all up in it. Press around all the edges to get things nice and stuck and then fold it over! You want to hurry and fold it so you can make sure all the wrinkles are out.

3. Once that baby is dry, just trim off the excess. If you want, you can make your fabric long enough so that you can fold it over the edges nicely. I, however, was feeling lazy, so I just went with a raw edge.

4. There is no 4! You’re done! You might want to throw some fray check on there if you’ve got it on hand, but raw edges aint no thang for this project. Now just fill your pretty journal up with all things lovely to uplift you and keep you motivated!

Here's a little sneak peek into my current inspiration journal.

 

So go forth and goal set in your pretty new inspiration journals! I promise your list making will take on a whole new meaning when meshed with things that inspire and motivate you. Have fun!

PS. Don't forget to check out the link parties in the Side Bar or click here!

Goal Week - Introduction

Welcome to Goal Week on Five Sixteenths

This week officially kicks off my 20 before 24 project

(though I have many goals on the way - I may have one goal totally completed!)

First off, what is a goal? 

We all know right? Something you want to do, right?

Wikipedia says -

A goal or objective is a desired result a person or a system envisions, plans and commits to achieve—a personal or organizational desired end-point in some sort of assumed development.

So, what is a goal to you?

A to-do list? A set deadline?

Sometimes they are super important & sometimes there just help us plan our days.

Goals involve inspiration, dedication, & support.

I know as a creative person I like to have a visual record to keep track of my goals.

I also like to have a tangible object at the end so I can see my progress.

For some people this involves a book of lists or inspiration.

For the 20 before 24 projects I've created this visual journal to document it 

along with documenting the project on Five Sixteenths!

I created this journal after completing 30 days of Lists.

I want to continue to create these books so that I can have a collection to share with others!

Later today there will be an awesome DIY post from Amy of A is for Ampersand!

Then, tomorrow we will start writing!

Happy Monday!

PS. Don't forget to check out the link parties in the Side Bar or click here!

Goal Week- Lets Write Some Goals

I am declaring April 25 - April 29 as

This week learn how to write goals, stay on track, & reach the top!

I have two guest bloggers posting this week -

one Monday

Amy from A is for Ampersand

&

one Wednesday

Megan from Freckled Italian

I will be posting

Tuesday - Setting Goals

Thursday - Staying on Track

Friday - Reaching the Top

I do have to say that staying on track is what I need to do the most.  I always set goals but only ever reach the important ones...smaller ones I tend to forget about & have to keep 're-setting'

Hope you'll join us!

What are some of your goals?

See you round this week!

PS. Don't forget to check out the link parties in the Side Bar or click here!

Looking for Guest Bloggers!

I am looking to add a DIY spin to Dorm Dec Wednesdays.  Usually posts are ideas or inspiring projects & hope it excites your creativity.  Since I am growing busier & busier but still want to offer more & more DIY projects I'd thought I'd open Five Sixteenths up for guest posts!

So if you are interested in being a guest poster

email me here

crossxmyxhooks {at} gmail {dot} com