6 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Blogging

It is such a privilege to be able to contribute a post on the lovely Angel's blog once a month.  It's a highlight of my month to have been brought together with some other fabulous ladies here on Sew Crafty Angel as one of her Contributing Angels :)

Blogging Photography

Something I wanted to this year was to teach myself how to take photos for my blog.  

I've used my cell phone for photos for so many years I didn't have a clue 

how to properly use a real camera.

So this weekend I purchased a good quality camera and set out to try different medians 

with the same subjects.  My test subjects were these adorable little Easter rabbits.

This one is outside my front door.

Welcome The January 2014 Chain "Linky" CLIMB week#3 co-hosts

<a href="http://www.godsgrowinggarden.com/p/chain-linky-climb.html" rel="”nofollow”" target="_blank"><img alt="God’s Growing Garden" src="http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o501/AngieOuelletteTower/Sponsors/Climb200_zps6c2cafff.jpg" /></a>

Cathy from "A Peek Into My Paradise"
(Click on the blog button below)

  

Cathy is our permanent week#3 co-host.  Checkout what's been happening on "A Peek Into My Paradise" lately:

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Breakfast Cake
Google+ Growing Circles Blog Hop
Blog Strut Blog Hop Owl Style

 & We have 2 "Natashas" this week:

Natasha from "Epic Mommy Adventure" (Click on the blog button below)   Natasha has such a wonderful blog!  This is how she describes herself & her blog:  "Mom to one, wife to none, and still happy as can be!  This is the blog of a single working mommy sharing stories of love, hurt and growth as a single mom.  Also, be ready for blog hops, giveaways, product reviews and much more!"   

 &

Natasha from "Serenity You" (Click on the blog button below)   Natasha has such a lovely blog!  This is how she describes herself & her blog:  "I am 29 and live in the U.K. with my lovely husband and 3 gorgeous kids aged 8, 4, & 3.  I blog about crafts, recipes, kids play ideas, tips and a little bit of everything else.  My hobbies are eating, Pinterest and reading blogs." 

HAPPY NEW YEAR & welcome!!! It's the month long Networking Blog Hop  With our third CLIMB GIVEAWAY! Here's how it works - the co-hosts from the previous month's CLIMB will have the opportunity to participate in a Giveaway during the next CLIMB (this is totally optional) - that gives co-hosts 2 months in a row of blog growing fun!!      Please enter below -one person will win: (you must have a PayPal account to enter & be 18 years or older) -  - $30 PayPal Cash - 1 Monthly Medium Ad Space on Cuddlebug Cuties - 1 Month Ad Space on God's Growing Garden     Pink & Pearl Necklace by Emily Lutkenhoff (see picture below) THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO ENTER!

CLIMB Giveaway Rules & Conditions: 

- This is a worldwide Giveaway

- You MUST have a PayPal account to enter

- This Giveaway is open from December 28th, 2013 until January 30th, 2014

- Winner must respond within 48 hours or a different winner will be chosen

- Giveaway Hosts & Co-hosts can NOT enter this Giveaway!, however - January CLIMB blog hop co-hosts MAY enter this Giveaway (provided they are not also part of the Giveaway)

- correspondence is done through email and the winner's email addresses will only be used to deliver or set-up e-prizes.  Email addresses will NEVER be sold or shared.

- if you have any questions or concerns about this Giveaway please email one of the hosts:

Angie:  gourdonville@yahoo.com

Angel:  sewcraftyangel@gmail.com

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now onto the CLIMB (blog hop):

By participating in this blog hop your email address will be added to our CLIMB list & you will be sent an email reminder next month. 

Remember - Now if you co-host you will receive a free Weekly Sidebar Ad and your blog button will appear on both Angie's blog & Angel's blog!!

(The Ad will run live a few weeks after you have co-hosted)

Sign up to receive emails about the CLIMB

November CLIMB & Giveaway

November Chain Linky CLIMB & a Giveaway   <a href="http://www.godsgrowinggarden.com/p/chain-linky-climb.html" target="_blank"><img alt="God’s Growing Garden" src="http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o501/AngieOuelletteTower/Sponsors/Climb200_zps6c2cafff.jpg" /></a>    New!!  We have added GIVEAWAYS to the CLIMB!!

Chain "Linky" CLIMB

<a href="http://www.godsgrowinggarden.com/p/chain-linky-climb.html" target="_blank"><img alt="God’s Growing Garden" src="http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o501/AngieOuelletteTower/Sponsors/Climb200_zps6c2cafff.jpg" /></a>

Chain "Linky" Climb @ Sew Crafty Angel

<a href="http://www.godsgrowinggarden.com/p/chain-linky-climb.html" target="_blank"><img alt="God’s Growing Garden" src="http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o501/AngieOuelletteTower/Sponsors/Climb200_zps6c2cafff.jpg" /></a>

Meet our October Week 2 Co-Host for the Chain "Linky" CLIMB

<a href="http://www.godsgrowinggarden.com/p/chain-linky-climb.html" target="_blank"><img alt="God’s Growing Garden" src="http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o501/AngieOuelletteTower/Climb200_zpse69443c4.jpg" /></a>

Please welcome The October Chain "Linky" CLIMB 
week#2 co-host:  

Shana from "All Saints Day"

(Click on the blog button below)

The CLIMB Blog Hop

I have Wonderful news!
I am teaming up with my 
friend Angie from God's Growing Garden

and will be her new CLIMBING 
partner in the Chain "Linky" Climb

    (Please checkout Angie's fantastic blog! - You're gonna love her!)
What does that mean? you might ask. - That means when you link up to the CLIMB your blog will be on both of our blogs right from the beginning of the month & now both Angel & Angie will promote your blog on our own social media sites  (twitter, pinterest, google+ etc)!! Also, if you co-host - your free ad will be on both of our sidebars!!
We will be CLIMBing to even higher heights!!

Time to Get Organized

For years I've always been a business woman who was very organized and ready for anything.  Now I'm a stay at home mommy who can barely find a hairbrush to brush my hair with anymore.  I ran large medical facilities in my past life and today I can hardly maintain my own household.

That being said, I've decided to clean up my life.  Honestly, disorganization makes me crazy.  I hate not having control of my life or my time.  I feel like I run in circles and accomplish very little most days. My family life, my blogging life, my sanity, all suffer from my lack of organization.  So, here's beginning of the plan.  

I've decided to take back control.  I'm going to share my journey with you and hopefully it will keep me on track and may help you with something you are struggling with also.  So I'm going to organize my life, within reason, like I once organized my successful business life.  

Step 1   Basic Beginning

1.  Start your day out right.  Wake up, make coffee, shower, get dressed, and put on shoes.  Do all the things you would do, every single day, as if you were going to work at the office.  (I never sat all day in my jammies at the office).  This will change your mental perspective; by getting ready and making yourself presentable to the world, you have set yourself up for success.  You'll have more confidence because you'll know you are prepared for anything, and you will be more direct about getting work accomplished.

2. An easy and workable task list, or to do list. While I love all of these handy web apps, computer software, and cool cell phones, they just don’t work for me.  I need a paper task list that I can check off things once they are completed.

Oops, this is my husbands list, but you get the point.

3.  Decide on the 3 most important tasks you need to get done today.  These take priority and save time worrying about them if you do them first.  

4.  Do it now.  Stop procrastinating.  Possibly the toughest item on the list, procrastinating is a major detriment to organizing your life.  Instead of putting things off, get them done immediately. Force yourself to get things done without waiting to finish them.  If it can be done in two minutes or less, always do it right away while breaking down larger tasks into smaller pieces to make them manageable.

5.  Do one thing at a time.  

6.  Consider what needs to be organized.  Although it's easy to say "everything," chances are there are specific areas in your life that have more clutter than others.  Where are you the most disorganized?  Consider your skills in making plans, cleaning house or running errands. Which of these is the most stressful for you to accomplish?  Remember to consider your work life, friendships, and children.  

7.  Fill out a calendar.  Purchase or make a calendar and place it somewhere you will see it on a regular basis.  This could be near your keys, on the fridge or in your home office.  Take a few minutes to fill out the entire calendar with important dates and events coming up.

                                             

8.  Write things down.  Whenever you have an important thought, or remember something you don't want to forge, or something you want to do, write it down.  This can be done in your planner or use just a plain notebook that you keep with you.  Writing down your errant thoughts will not only remove them from your mind, but also place them in a place that you can return back to later without forgetting.

                                            

9.  Make use of the word No.  Learn to delegate projects to others. If you know you have to go grocery shopping but are much too busy to consider the idea, ask a family member or close friend to run the errand for you. As long as you aren’t putting off major tasks or giving things that are important for you personally to do to others, delegate.

10. Don’t agree to everything you are asked to do if you know you don’t have time for it. Your friends won’t hate you, your boss won’t think you slack, and your significant other will understand if you need your free time to get some personal work and organization done.

11.  Everything in its place. By finding places that are easy to get to for all the things I use most often, and places that are pretty easy to get to for the things I use less often, I spend less time dreading doing things and more time actually doing things. And the place for things you never use is elsewhere (trash can, place that accepts donations, etc.).  

Don’t simply leave something on your nightstand, create a space specifically for that item. Do the same for everything in your home so that things aren’t left lying around without a place to live.Keep something like a basket or small stand near the front door where you can place things you need to deal with when you have more time. This might include your mail, items from the store, or things from school and work.

Put it away now. The single, simplest thing I do to stay personally organized is to put whatever tool, item, clothing, bag, hairbrush etc., away immediately after using it. I always know where everything and anything is so I never waste time looking for something.

12.  Simplify, simplify, simplify! Do you have boxes or drawers full of mystery items, long lost from your memory? Well get out your handy label maker (or use a classic marker) and label everything you have. 

  

13.  Unapologetically take control of your time and priorities

14.  Sort at the source. My favorite organizational tool is my garage trash can.  I bring mail in through my garage and toss all the junk mail.  What comes into my house is only what I need to have. Unfortunately the bills have to come inside.

15.  Have.. less.. stuff.  Get rid of things you don’t need. Although you might assume that you “need” everything you own, an unorganized house is probably likely to have some items you don’t. Sort through the things that constantly give you clutter and determine how useful it is to you. If you haven’t used it in a long time, don’t use it frequently, don’t like it anymore, or don’t need it, get rid of it.

Keep your emotions separate from the items you are sorting. Sure, your great aunt may have given you that porcelain knickknack, but do you truly want or need it? Make steps to throw these things out, and don’t feel like a bad person for doing so.

Separate things you get rid of into piles such as trash, donations, and things to sell. Then, process each pile accordingly.

Hold a garage or yard sale to make some money on the things you are throwing out or just call Goodwill.

My goal is to get myself set up and functioning efficiently this week.  

If you have any tips that you want to share I hope you will leave them in the comments section.

Angel

Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop

Its Time For Thursday Favorite Things! The Thursday Favorite Things Blog hop is a fun blog hop where you can link your favorite post or write a post about your favorite things and share it with old and new followers. Your blog link will appear on three different blogs! At Katherines Corner, at Sew Crafty Angel and at the Guest Co Hosts blog too! Three times the opportunity to make new bloggy friends and to share your wonderful blog.

 

This weeks Guest co host is Carrie From a Mother Shadow I am so excited to be co-hosting the Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop over at Katherine's Corner today! I love linking up on her site every week. My name is Carrie and my site is A Mother's Shadow. I post recipes, musings about everyday life, fun and creative ways to express gratitude, and great tutorials for teens and adults. I give ideas for date nights, family activities, fun ways for grandparents to connect and how families can be close despite location or age. I hope you will stop by and visit for a spell. Here are a few of my most popular posts from the beginnings of my dear little blog.

The summer Dog Care post

The correct way to shape your eye brows

Tex Mex Egg Rolls

Now onto the party! THANK YOU so much Katherine & Angel for letting me be a part of Thursday Favorite Things!!

Thank you for being our guest host today Carrie ♥

Remember to leave us a comment if you are a new follower so we can follow you back :-) RULES Please DO NOT link and run.......visit a few of the wonderful blogs that are sharing here.

• Remember to Follow Katherines Corner, Sew Crafty Angel and our special Guest Co Host
• Please leave comments when you visit.
• Link to your post not to your blog
• Linkback on your post.( optional, but always appreciated)
• Grab the hop button code from The button page ( optional)
• No adult content blogs
• No links directly to your shops or websites selling things/services please! ( sorry they will be removed)
• Yes you can link giveaways ( they are everyone's favorite thing) Add your giveaways to the Win It Page too!

Please contact Katherine if you would like to be our special guest co-host.There are plenty available spots for the rest of the year available.

Now hop on and share your favorites. If you'd like to post this blog hop on your page too please grab the linky code. If you would like a reminder to join in the fun please just fill in your email in the box below ( this is used for reminders only :-) )

 

Its Time For Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop @ Sew Crafty Angel

                  The Thursday Favorite Things Blog hop is a fun blog hop where you can link your favorite post or write a post about your favorite things and share it with old and new followers. Your blog link will appear on three different blogs! At Katherines Corner, at Sew Crafty Angel and at the Guest Co Hosts blog too! Three times the opportunity to make new bloggy friends and to share your wonderful blog. 

 This weeks Guest co host is Shanna from Restoration Redoux

Hi! I'm Shanna from Restoration Redoux! I'm a stay at home mom to three dogs, a cat and a crazy teenager. I also run a furniture business from home. My blog is filled with vintage furniture before and afters, recipes, home decor, and easy crafts anyone can do. My blog is not one of those "perfect" ones where every project goes off without a hitch and my house is never dirty. I give you the good, the bad and the ugly, plus a little dose of humor on my journey of getting to the end result.    

Thank you for being our guest host today Shanna ♥

Remember to leave us a comment if you are a new follower so we can follow you back :-) RULES Please DO NOT link and run.......visit a few of the wonderful blogs that are sharing here.

• Remember to Follow Katherines Corner, Sew Crafty Angel and our special Guest Co Host
• Please leave comments when you visit.
• Link to your post not to your blog
• Linkback on your post.( optional but always appreciated)
• Grab the hop button code from The button page ( optional)
• No adult content blogs
• No links directly to your shops or websites selling things/services please! ( sorry they will be removed)
• Yes you can link giveaways ( they are everyone's favorite thing) Add your giveaways to the Win It Page too!

Please contact Katherine if you would like to be our special guest co-host.

Now hop on and share your favorites. If you'd like to post this blog hop on your page too please grab the linky code. If you would like a reminder to join in the fun please just fill in your email box below ( this is used for reminders only :-) )

   

Bloglovin Blog Hop @ Sew Crafty Angel

Tweet

I would like to cordially welcome you to week #31 of one of the most POPULAR Bloglovin' hops.  This month, I am bringing you a special "Back To School" edition of the hop.  

Everyone needs good back to school supplies, right?  How about some "blog supplies", then?!  In addition to the regular blog hop fun, I am hosting weekly giveaways in August for some coveted ad space on my blog. This week is your chance to win one of our Bloglovin Blog Hop banner ads (they run across the top of the hop).   It's a great way to get exposure during a very popular hop!

                 

                  

<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.happykidsincblog.com/2013/08/bloglovin-blog-hop-31-giveaway.html" title="Happy Kids, Inc" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgXNDF16tuP47dY1WCA9TRZXoHqf0uQ5uZ_sEWaEWs3wuxbDfdN4IUv_D9KqknlE8DAsbC-I9yIf2lJs8tI2MovkG8KstjDbFAvQ3yy6fSjXFTpaLF_m6hivIgyICtLvid_hjqk-DATiYsAYzIwsyyAZBtaDMsK4JSWg8gF427bxBlVlb0nxt2uYuliEiuaBxr6158p4SKUDMJkd4cs6EcrVH3z8KIW=" alt="Happy Kids, Inc" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

      

     

a Rafflecopter giveaway