Food Fun Family

Top 5 Reasons to be Excited About Blogalicious #BYOE15

Lolli — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 10:00:52 +0000

Note: I am a member of the Blogalicious Social Squad, which means that I will be volunteering at the conference in exchange for my conference pass. All thoughts are my own.

I’ve struggled over the last year+ with maintaining a balance – in my personal and family life, in my work, in my health. I took on too much, which meant that I wasn’t doing anything really well. I also wasn’t sleeping much, which naturally made everything else I was trying to manage harder to keep up with.

In the spring, I decided that I needed to make some changes. Change is not something that comes easily, but my 27-day road trip, sandwiched in between 2 trips with members of my extended family not only kept me away from my desk for the majority of the summer, made it just a little easier to break free from a few habits and commitments that were tying me down.

The kids just started back to school this week, and I am easing back in to a more normal work routine….a work routine that leaves room for lunches with girl friends and a mid-day bath every now and then. My new schedule is focused more on living life instead of working my way through it.

One of the keys to making sure I have time and energy to LIVE my life the way I want while still managing my blogging business is to spend my time and resources wisely. This past year has taught me a lot, but it has also made me more aware than ever of the things that I could be doing better. I decided that it was time to take a break from my blogging conference hiatus and head to a conference to up my game.

While I was preparing to leave on my road trip back at the beginning of the summer, I decided to apply to be a member of the Blogalicious Social Squad…which means that I will be joining an amazingly talented, energetic, focused, driven, and fun group of volunteers at Blogalicious in Baltimore next weekend. Basically, I’ll be one of the people helping the Blogalicious conference weekend run smoothly. I’ll be making sure that conference attendees get through registration without a hitch and walk away with a badge, a swag bag, and a smile on their face.

And I promise that when I drive home after the conference, I will be wearing a bigger smile on my own face. This year’s conference theme is Build Your Own Empire, and it will be taking place September 11 and 12 in Baltimore, Maryland, with a special add-on VIP day on the 10th.

Here are a few more reasons that I’m excited about Blogalicious this weekend:

The Learning – With sessions like these, I know I’ll be filling my brain with ideas on how I can do what I’m doing even better. There are so many things I need to learn. Yes, after 8 years of blogging (count them…EIGHT years!) there are still days that I feel lost. In addition to the classes, I am also excited about the networking and sharing of ideas between bloggers (that’s where I get some of my best ideas!).

The Friendships – I am so excited to see some of my long-time blogging friends at Blogalicious, and I’m excited for the chance to not only meet but work closely with a whole new group of friends. Because I know we WILL be friends. I also have one of the most inspiring, amazing roommates at the conference hotel EVER.

The Connections – I value the brand connections that I make at conferences. Some of the connections that I’ve made at past conferences are still going strong after several years. Why? I believe it’s the value of the face-to-face relationship. Next week, I’m particularly excited to participate in an intimate “board meeting” with Toyota and a handful of other bloggers.

The Focus – Blogalicious is focused on building up. Whether it’s building individuals up or helping individuals build their businesses, I love the focus of this group!

The Renewal – And I need it. I can’t wait to soak in the enthusiasm that I have already noticed on social media from my fellow Blogalicious attendees. Hopefully I have a few things that I can give back to them. We’re a community, as diverse as we are as people, and as diverse as our websites and businesses may be. We are connected.

Another bonus reason I’m excited about Blogalicious – it’s in my own backyard this year! I love finding conferences that are within driving distance, and since Blogalicious is in Maryland this year, I know I’ll be seeing some of my favorite local blogging friends.

Will I be seeing YOU at Blogalicious next week?

National Hug-a-Blogger Day #hugablogger

Lolli — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:24:39 +0000

I’ve always been a very private person. Strange, I know, considering the fact that I now share so much of my life online for the whole world to see.

In school, I always had one or two close friends. I knew and was friendly with many people, but I only opened up with a select few. When I became a mom, I felt like it became even harder to find friends and develop the deep connections that I had come to rely on when I was younger.

During the last few years I have noticed that through my blogging I have found more people than ever before who I truly connect with. I have found kindred spirits across the miles…because unlike my school-time friends, my group of friends is not limited by geography or age or anything else.

I have too many friends to mention, but here are a few that I am thrilled to include in my Hug-a-Blogger Day celebration:

Elena from CiaoMom is one of those people I really believe I was meant to meet. I love her to death. At Blogalicious last month, I told her I just wanted to find a couch and hug her for a while. I just can’t get enough of Elena.

I was shocked to be reminded that I met Amy of TeachMama at a Melting Pot event with local bloggers in May 2010. We had connected so much online and on the phone that we really did (and still do) feel like old friends. Although it wasn’t the first time I had had the chance to hug Stacey of MamaLaw and Blogalicious, it is always a pleasure to be in her presence.

Tara of Feels Like Home, Safire (my IRL neighbor and friend) of Waterfalling Up, and I were roommates at Blogalicious last month. I couldn’t ask for better friends to share my time and living space with.

Jill from ScaryMommy continues to be one of my favorite people ever. We were online friends before we figured out we lived in the same state.

It’s hard to call Janice from 5 Minutes for Mom my “boss”….she’s one of my best friends. We spend so much time skyping that we’d never know that we live on opposite sides of the continent…and in two different countries to boot.

Who are some of YOUR favorite bloggers to hug? Or the bloggers you wish you could hug?

Want to find out about National Hug a Blogger Day? Check out the official Hug a Blogger link up at Lady and the Blog.

A #Blogalicious Date With Shrek – Wordless Wednesday

Lolli — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 03:00:02 +0000

When my kids saw this picture of me with Shrek at Blogalicious, they asked, “Was that the REAL Shrek from the movie?!”

No, kids. Sadly no.

But it was still pretty fun.

For more inspiring photos, check: 5 Minutes for Mom, High Impact Mom, The Bonafide Life, Shanamama, From Dates to Diapers, Not Your Mom Blog, The Divine Miss Mommy, Colorado Moms, Rajean Blomquist and Zensible Mama and link your own photo stories.

Linked up to Wordful Wednesday, Wordish Wednesday, and Wordless Wednesdays all over.

Are you playing along with Wordless or Wordful Wednesday today? Link up!
Want to grab my button?

Blogalicious Weekend Highlights in Pictures

Lolli — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 17:21:13 +0000

I am home from Blogalicious Weekend and am trying to settle back in to normal life after an amazing conference. This is not the last you will hear about my incredible conference weekend, but I wanted to share a few pictures and highlights from my time there:

Blogalicious brought out the silly in me:

BTW – if you click this picture and LIKE it on PineSol Latino’s FB page, I might just win an iPad 2…

Spending time with friends at the conference:

Gorgeous Scenery and Sights at the National Harbor:

Amazing brands at Blogalicious:

Chef Aaron McCargo Jr and Lolli at Blogalicious 2011

Sears-Kmart Massage Suite at Blogalicious 2011

Aunt Jemima Ambassadors with Lolli and Safire, Blogalicious 2011

Did you make it to Blogalicious? What were some of your highlights?

Blogalicious – What I Can’t Wait to Do This Weekend!

Lolli — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 21:41:00 +0000

Despite the fact that I haven’t even folded the laundry, not to mention done any of the packing for my big Blogalicious Weekend in 2 days, I am over-the-top excited.

Early on Friday morning, I’m heading out to my 3rd social media and blogging conference of the year. Here are a few things I can’t wait to do during Blogalicious:

I am looking forward to these (and many other) classes by stellar speakers

How Stella Got Her “Balance” Back: Preserving Your Sanity in an Uber-Connected World – Speakers: Jeannette Kaplun, Jessica Smith
Getting Down to Business: Working with Brands 101 – Speakers: Renee Ross, Cat Lincoln, Edita Rodriguez
To Niche or Not to Niche – Speakers: Terri Holley, Roo Ciambriello, Julia Diaz-Asper, Tonya Taylor
Embracing SEO and Loving Your Stats – Speaker: Tara Gerner-Ziegmont

I can’t wait for these events:

SEARS & KMART Winter Wonderland Social
UBISOFT Jam!
MCDONALD’S Cocktail Reception
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY Cupcake Party

And I’m super excited to see some of my friends this weekend!

I am excited to be a Blogalicious Ambassador and to have had the chance to spread the word about this amazing conference opportunity. I am so excited that it is finally here!

The Challenges of Working at Home and Taking a Day Off

Lolli — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 11:00:44 +0000

I am convinced that there is nothing quite like working at home. As much as I love what I do – I write all day long, I get to interact with amazing people all over social media and my business trips feel more like extended girl’s nights out – I have a tendency to work myself to the bone. Because I don’t have an office to drive to or set hours I need to clock in for, I end up at my computer most of the day.

A friend of mine, from the blog Nice Girl Notes, wrote a post called The Work From Home Dilemma yesterday in which she asked a few of her social media friends about the Pros and Cons of their jobs online.

Here are some of my Pros and Cons of working at home:

PROS:

I am home when the kids get home from school every day.
I don’t have to spend any time or money on a commute.
I can wear whatever I want to work.
I love what I’m doing and I don’t have to move to find a good job.
My schedule is flexible – if I need to volunteer at school or pick up a sick kids or watch my neighbor’s son for a little while, I can.
Great perks!
I can take a day off whenever I need to.
I can exercise right in the middle of my work day.
My husband works at home, too, so although we are both work-a-holics right now, at least we see each other and help each other out.

CONS:

I have a tendency to stay in the clothes that I slept in.
I don’t have any benefits, although I have plenty of PERKS.
Because I don’t have a standard 8 hour work day, I end up working all the time, with breaks here and there.
Not everyone understands that I really do have a job.
Taxes.
I rarely make time for a day off.

For me, the Pros outweigh the Cons, particularly the fact that I can be earning money right now (which I really need to be doing) but still be home with my kids. However, I’ve been working more than usual the last few weeks and I am wearing myself down. Today the kids are home from school and I have decided to take the day off. It’s not something that I do very often, and it’s rather sad that I have to plan it. But I think a day off and especially a day spent with my kids is exactly what I need.

I love my job. But love my kids more.

Do you work at home? What are some of your work-related pros and cons?

I am excited to be a Blogalicious Ambassador and to have the chance to spread the word about this upcoming amazing conference opportunity. To prepare for Blogalicious Weekend on October 21-23, I will be sharing weekly blogging, writing, and conference-related tips. I would love to hear your questions and suggestions of topics that you would love to have covered!

Twitter vs Facebook – Which Rules Social Media?

Lolli — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 18:00:22 +0000

I read a compelling article this past week about the drastic changes that social media has seen in the past 10 years. I was shocked to realize that there was no Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube on September 11, 2001. How different would the experience of 9/11 have been had the people in the middle of the tragedies been on their smart phones, tweeting live updates and pictures. The thought is chilling.

It made me ponder how different our world is because of these new social media outlets.

I use both Facebook and Twitter daily to stay on top of my social media game. Social Media has become a huge part of my job as a blogger, editor, and photographer and I can’t imagine being successful without utilizing social media’s power. I also use Facebook and Twitter regularly as a purely social tool. It’s fun to connect with friends at any time. I’ve never felt as social as I do right now. I love it.

I hear the question every once in a while, “Is Twitter or Facebook better, and where should I concentrate my energy?” I don’t believe there is a right or wrong answer to that question, but it’s certainly a question worth looking into.

Let’s look at some of the pros and cons of Twitter and Facebook.

Twitter Pros:

Easy to navigate
Quick to learn
You can post or link to just about anything
Your reach is easily multiplied when you add in your follower’s networks
Quick response
Open – any user can follow any other user unless blocked
Easy to share on the go

Twitter Cons:

140-character limit can be…limiting
Easily abused (spam abounds)
Limited functionality (send tweets or DMs)
It’s harder for many users to grasp how to make twitter work successfully for them
Limited number of users
Not private (even “private” DMs are frequently sent out to an entire twitter stream by mistake)
Easy to miss updates because of the fast pace
Content gets pushed down very quickly

Facebook Pros:

Extensive functionality (emails, updates, videos, pictures, fan pages, etc)
It’s easy to grasp for most people
Because users are connected to more “real friends” the interactions tend to be more personal
Emphasis on deep connections versus the number of connections
Easier to connect locally
Private groups are an option
No limit on amount you can share

Facebook Cons:

Facebook success requires more sustained and consistent effort and updating
More difficult to navigate and update
Your reach is often limited compared to twitter
Tendency for users to not click out on shared links
Difficult to search for past content

Another interesting point to consider is how effective shared links are on Facebook versus twitter, and what their expected “life span” is. According to a recent post on the bit.ly blog about how long people will pay attention and continue to click a shared link, their research indicates that Facebook only offers a small advantage.

The mean half life of a link on twitter is 2.8 hours, on facebook it’s 3.2 hours and via ‘direct’ sources (like email or IM clients) it’s 3.4 hours. So you can expect, on average, an extra 24 minutes of attention if you post on facebook than if you post on twitter.

In the end, neither Facebook nor Twitter is a “perfect” social media platform, but each has it’s place in our increasingly online-social world and together they are both very useful. For many smart-phone-toting, online-savvy people, it simply comes down to personal preference.

So my question is…Which do you prefer – Twitter of Facebook? Do you notice better results from links that you share on Facebook versus Twitter?

Blog Traffic – How Important is It?

Lolli — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:00:28 +0000

Blog traffic numbers (and the sharing of them) seems to be akin to a woman’s weight. Unless the numbers are really good or there has been a recent drastic change in numbers, nobody wants to share.

The number of visitors a post receives and the number of comments left is often viewed as being directly related to the value of the post. That’s just not true. There are plenty of valuable, well-written blog posts that don’t receive much traffic and, conversely, plenty of mediocre material that gets a ton of traffic.

If the value is not found in the number of page views, where is the value found?

Even though I tell myself that page views aren’t everything, I still check regularly (yes, sometimes multiple times a day) to see how well my posts are doing that day. I like to see what visitors are searching for, what posts are the most popular, and where my visitors are coming from. Being able to track analytics is a great tool for discovering what content is doing well….and what I should be doing more of on my blog. My page views also often tell me which titles work and which titles don’t.

Yes, being able to report decent page views is important when trying to work with brands and when your blog is earning any kind of per-click or per-impression income. However, I have noticed many brands focusing more on quality writing and over-all reach (including twitter and Facebook followers) than page views. I think that those brands have the right idea. Numbers do not equal quality.

Sometimes posts just get lucky, whether the “right” keyword was included in the title, or whether it got picked up on stumble upon or twitter. Sometimes, like with the post I wrote recently about The Sisterhood of the Bloggess’ Traveling Dress, a post gets over-the-top lucky and supplies a month’s worth of page views in a few days.

But so far, that kind of post has been the exception and not the rule.

More important than the popular posts that get a lot of page views are the regular, loyal visitors that stop by everyday. I would rather have 100 loyal readers who I have been able to develop a good relationship with than 100,000 readers who visit sporadically.

The “loyalty page views” are the relationship-building, reputation-validating numbers that I aim for. My regular readers are going to visit regardless of whether or not I have stellar titles and keywords, but the “better” titles are the ones that catch (and hopefully KEEP) the new readers coming around.

How do you feel about blog traffic and how important are numbers to you?

I am excited to be a Blogalicious Ambassador and to have the chance to spread the word about this upcoming amazing conference opportunity. To prepare for Blogalicious Weekend on October 21-23, I will be sharing weekly blogging, writing, and conference-related tips. I would love to hear your questions and suggestions of topics that you would love to have covered!

About Blogalicious Weekend:

Eighty percent of major business deals are said to be made on the golf course… Consider Blogalicious your green! Jam-packed with opportunities to make unique connections and valuable contacts in a sociable setting, this conference will arm you with the relationships you need and want.

Whether your social media focus is business, storytelling, technology, politics, parenting, lifestyle or social change, the networking and educational aspects of Blogalicious will motivate and inspire. The Countdown to October is on!

Why Should I Attend a Blogging Conference?

Lolli — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:51:04 +0000

I was chatting with a local friend of mine after returning from speaking at Blog Paws (the social media and blogging conference for pet bloggers) last week. Since she knows that I don’t have a pet right now (shh!), she was curious why I would have been chosen to speak at the conference.

This particular friend also knew that I traveled down to Asheville, North Carolina for 4 days at Type-A Parent Conference in June. Unfamiliar with blog conferences (or the blogging world in general) she commented, “I figured you just needed to get away from your kids a lot…”

Our conversation got me thinking. Why do I attend blogging conferences?

Why I attend blogging conferences

To socialize – Yes, I do enjoy the social aspect of blog conferences but I could do that at a restaurant 10 minutes from home if all I needed was some social time. Blogging conferences are so much more than social events.
To learn – I have gone to conferences before thinking that there wasn’t anything I really needed to learn. Boy, was I wrong. The blogging world is an ever-changing and evolving place, and there is always something to learn.
To be inspired – seeing and hearing what other bloggers do inspires me to do bigger and better things in my own space.
To network – I love the connections I make online, but there is nothing like meeting in person to solidify a relationship. Blogging conferences have become critical for me in developing personal connections with both other bloggers and, sometimes more importantly, brands.
To find my “tribe” – there is nothing like finding a support system for anything that we are involved in, be it blogging or parenting or local issues. By attending conferences, I have been able to find those people that have been my biggest support and resource.
To find more work! – Yes, my blog is my business and I need to constantly work on finding new gigs, developing new relationships, and discovering new methods for earning money. I have found that conferences are a huge boost in the right direction for me.

What are your top reasons for attending blogging conferences?

I am excited to announce that I was chosen to be Blogalicious Ambassador to spread the word about this upcoming amazing conference opportunity. To prepare for Blogalicious Weekend on October 21-23, I will be sharing weekly blogging and conference-related tips. I would love to hear your questions and suggestions of topics that you would love to have covered!

About Blogalicious Weekend:

Eighty percent of major business deals are said to be made on the golf course… Consider Blogalicious your green! Jam-packed with opportunities to make unique connections and valuable contacts in a sociable setting, this conference will arm you with the relationships you need and want.

Whether your social media focus is business, storytelling, technology, politics, parenting, lifestyle or social change, the networking and educational aspects of Blogalicious will motivate and inspire. The Countdown to October is on!