Blog Business
My first official “blogger meetup”
This past weekend was a really stressful one for me, work-wise. There were some pressing issues at the office that just couldn’t be left alone after 5 pm Friday, and ended up consuming most of my Saturday.
It couldn’t have happened at a worse time, I thought, as Saturday afternoon was the very first DC-area blogger meetup that I’d organized with my blog buddy Christina. I’m not sure I let on to anyone just how much I was looking forward to this, but I really was. While last year I was focused and introverted as I launched my business, this year I really want to focus on building community both online and here in my area. Going out on a limb to schedule a gathering like this was the first step towards that goal.
Because I’d gone out on that limb, I was really nervous! What if people didn’t like each other? (or didn’t like me?) What if everyone thought it was lame? What if – heaven forbid – no one showed up?? Yes, I know, I worry too much. Add on the stress of work, and the fear that work may not be concluded in time to attend my very own gathering – and I was just a mess.
But Saturday afternoon I did manage to tie things up with work long enough to escape to Caffe Amouri for meetup. I’m so glad it worked out, because it injected a much-needed dose of happiness, laughter, energy, and inspiration into my otherwise dreary and stressful weekend. I returned home super, super happy and excited.
*Edit: Toya is not pictured. She's a party pooper and left early. (Just kidding, she had a prior commitment.)
I often see happy posts from multiple bloggers, all rambling on about how awesome their latest blogger get-together was. And while it was exciting, I have a broader message for all of you who didn’t live close enough to attend. I’d like to challenge and encourage you to initiate a meetup of your own in your town.
If you do plan a meetup:
*Partner with another blog or twitter buddy, or even a non-blogging friend. That way, in the worst case event that no one else shows, you’ve got each other to hang out with. :)
*Pick a neutral, safe place for the first meetup. You don’t want to invite strangers into your home.
*Finally, I’d encourage you to do what we did – open it up to bloggers, twitter followers, and facebook fans. In my opinion, at least, blog readers are just as important a part of your blogging community as blog writers are.
There’s something awesome that happens when you get a group of blogging ladies together. I’m not really sure how it works, because we don’t all blog in the same niche, but you put us around a table and the conversation and laughter flows. It’s something I hope to enjoy again, and something that I truly wish all of you could join me for.
But in the mean time, as we wait for teleportation to become a reality, I encourage you: go forth and create your own blogging community!
Finally, here’s a list of all the awesome ladies who gathered, and where you can find them. I really encourage you to check them all out!
Michelle has just started a blog as she prepares to own her own home (show her some love, guys!) at Two Streets Over, and she tweets.
Christina blogs at The Scrappy Housewife (and she & her husband just launched a cooking blog as well), and she tweets.
Kimberly (who is the first twitter friend I’ve ever made, awesome!) blogs when she’s not busy wrangling her two little boys, and tweets like a fiend!
Rachel sells her art in an awesome Etsy shop, blogs at Funnelcloud, and tweets.
Steffanie sells awesomely eco-friendly laundry soap on Etsy, blogs, and tweets.
Lauren (who recently got engaged!) blogs at Laurenchanting, and tweets.
Sarah (who was the first local blogger I ever met) blogs at Sunny Side Up, and tweets.
Toya (who makes ah-MAZING healthy snacks) blogs and runs New Family Naturals, and is being encouraged to tweet more.
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You Are Invited: DC-area Blogger Meetup!
It’s official! Christina (The Scrappy Housewife) and I would like to invite any of you locals to join us in Vienna, VA on Saturday, Feb 4, for a Blogger / Facebooker / Tweeter meetup. (Really, we need a better word for that, because that’s just a mouthful.)
We’ve decided to kick things off with a cup of coffee or pot of tea at Caffe Amouri, where we can sit down and actually talk to each other in real life for the first time. :) Then, if weather permits and we’re in the mood, we may stroll down historic Church Street, and peek into the shops along it. It’s pretty pathetic that, after 1.5 years here, I still haven’t visited the locally-owned shops in my own town. Read the rest of this entry »
Just for Fun: 12 Questions
Good morning, friends. Today I’m just going to share a quick Q&A with you. When I saw the Q&A that Mikalah posted yesterday, I was inspired to write a little. I often don’t do those long Q&As that circle the blogosphere, because I don’t want to answer 35 questions about myself and my life. But this one – only 12 questions – I can do. :)
1. How long have you been blogging? Read the rest of this entry »
Why should a blogger care about SOPA?
If you’re anywhere close to social media this week, you’ve probably heard about SOPA. But it’s very possible that you’re not someone who really gives a hoot about politics.
As a matter of fact, I don’t know about your political leanings, because generally I keep this site politics-free.
But I’m writing this last-minute post just to beg you to give about 5 minutes of thought to this legislation. If passed, our entire community of bloggers and Twitter users and Facebook fans could be at high risk. The internet as a whole would be at risk.
Instead of writing about a situation that is already well-covered in the online community, I’d like to suggest that you read this article at ThinkSplendid: SOPA and Your Business.
Guest Posted: My Favorite Things
I’m a little late announcing this, becuase my computer died while I was on holiday, but last Friday I was given the honor of a guest posting spot over at Design Build Love!
The topic? My Favorite Things. Every other guest blogger had a fabulous list of their faves in one category (and you should totally check them out) . . . but me? Nope. I decided to just let ‘er rip with my most favorite things across the spectrum. So hop on over and check it out, especially if you’re wanting a peek at what I’m just crazy about.
Thanks, Ashley, for inviting me!
2011′s Most Awesome Projects
Thinking over what new resolutions, goals, and to-do lists to make for 2012 is straight-up exciting. Revisiting 2011 is a good way to gauge what successes 2012 may hold – and also a rare opportunity to look back and go “Dang, a lot happened this year.” In that spirit, I present The Borrowed Abode’s top projects of 2011!
Ryan’s Office Makeover
It was an exciting year at TBA what with Ryan and I getting engaged. He planned to decorate his office, but his business trip gave me the chance to give him an engagement surprise using a paint color he had already selected, and some of our favorite vintage pieces from our favorite vintage store. For all the details, check out the full post. There is more than meets the eye in this room seeing as it doubles as Ryan’s Dressing Room/Closet (Kind of like my studio). Read the rest of this entry »
Are You New Here? A small sampling of our favorite posts.
Hi all! Hope you’re having as awesome a pre-Thanksgiving weekend as I am.
I’ve had a ton of new readers stopping by lately, so I wanted to take a moment to say hello, and give you a 5-second overview of a few posts you may enjoy as you get to know us here at The Borrowed Abode.
First, if you’d like a tour of the space I’m spending the most time in this holiday season, you can see my sewing studio here.
Or maybe you’re in the mood for some humor? Check out my fiance Ryan’s series of “from-the-man’s-perspective” posts, aptly entitled “What the Hell?”
For those of you interested in furnishing spaces fashionably, yet on a budget, check out my surprisingly cheap budget breakdown of our mid-mod influenced living room.
And if you’re really just nosy about our engagement, check out Ryan’s super sweet proposal surprise here.
In the mean time, I’ve got to get back to sewing! :) Thanks so much for stopping by!
Giveaway Winner, and a Q&A with Janery!
First, congratulations to the winner of this week’s Janery giveaway – Ashley at Design Build Love – this is your lucky Friday! The floral forest pillow cover you love can now be yours! Drop me a note so I can hook you up!
Second, I was recently interviewed by Cat at Budget Blond – not only was it my first interview as a “business owner” but also my first interview in blogland in general! My favorite question to answer was one where we discussed whether the blog and shop originated together or if one came from the other. . . and even though I knew the answer, that questions really provoked some interesting observations about the whole process.
So I hope you’ll hop over and check it out, and say hi to Cat while you’re there. She recently moved to the island of Grenada with her husband, who’s completing medical school there. And I’ve got to say, even though she says there’s no crafting stores in sight, I’d rather be there than here on this chilly November morning!
Thanks to Cat for your patience as I took forever to complete the questions, and also for even wanting to interview me in the first place! I’m super flattered!!
