I am a full time blogger who now takes on clients for social media and brand development.  A little over year ago I was simply a deflated graduate student who was horribly dissatisfied and struggling to make end’s meet, and yes, I was miserable.  I began blogging simply to talk about frugality tips for college students who had champagne taste on not a beer, but a water budget.  I was rock-bottom broke and I wanted to cry every time I thought about a career in academia.

My blog evolved and I did too- it opened up a world of possibility and I started to dream of a better life when I saw other bloggers make it happen.  I began consuming blogs by Corbett Barr  of CorbettBarr.com and Jenny Blake at LifeAfterCollege.org. I was shocked when I read that Corbett Barr was able to work from anywhere and make money blogging and was impressed that Jenny Blake was able to quit an unfulfilling job and publish a book based on the success of her blog.  Their realities became my deepest, most personal dreams.

I wanted to make my dreams a realty, so I simply started telling my story through the blog.  I did a little bit of fundraising and it enabled me to rescue my pug Ralph and it brought amazing people into my life.   I took every tidbit I could find and applied it to my blog and in October of 2011, after 9 months of blogging, I was able to quit my job and live off the income my blog created through revenue and opportunities for freelance work.

I can only imagine how much easier it would have been to go “pro” if Start A Blog That Matters was around when I first started.  In this 13 week course that is jam packed with videos, worksheets and access to discounted tools & resources to use on your blog and make it rock.

 You will be able to create an effective action plan to create a successful blog:

• How to develop a topic that works for you.
• How to craft compelling content that will attract an audience.
• How to make money with your blog.
• Create a strategy to take your blog to the next level & achieve bigger goals.

You know I’m a frugal girl- and I have to say, this could be the best $97 you’ve ever spent on yourself if you’re ready to create a blog that will enable your honest passions and biggest goals.  

I’ve interviewed Corbett Barr on my podcast and is a personal inspiration and a true leader in the blogging community.  He stands behind is product so strongly that if the Start A Blog That Matters Course falls short in helping you do just that, he offers you complimentary coaching to make up for it.  Considering that he charges $300 an hour for blog consulting, I think it’s safe to say that this is a solid guarantee!

I know that blogging can change your life- it’s changed mine.  I wholeheartedly stand behind Corbett Barr’s course because his material resonates with me so honestly and it’s really helped me get my blog off the ground.  If you’d like to sign up, I’d love if you’d use sign up for Start A Blog That Matters with my affiliate link.

If you have any questions about the course, know you can email me with any questions and I’d love to help you make a decision that’s right for you.  As a full-time blogger, I want whatever success I’ve had to be shared with you and I’m here to help.

You ever feel like you’ve bit off more than you can chew?  I consistently feel that way, but never seem to be satisfied without a full plate in front of me!  I’ve been seriously blogging for over a year now, and while I’ve finally given up on playing the “comparison game,” with other bloggers, I still get ideas and want to implement things I see around the web that inspire me.

A few of my favorite blogs have one thing in common:  Beautiful photography with personal touches.  I’m a Pinterest kind of girl so it’s not surprise that I’m visually enthralled by A Beautiful Mess, Gala Darling and Pugly Pixel and wish I could be half as adorable!

I’m happy to share that while progress is incredibly slow, I’m learning.  Last year I won an amazing Canon Rebel T2i from the SITS Girls from this crazy-love little post I wrote.  I’m still on Cloud 9 about that one!  Previous to this camera I only had experience working with simple point-n-shoots…I’m still learning about light, aperture and lenses, much less paying more attention to angle, feel and perspective in all the photos I shoot.  I’m by no means an artist, but I’m having SO much fun- having such a snazzy camera makes even my review and giveaway posts an adventure.

I am also slowly (I mean, very slowly) getting acclimated with Photoshop.  I recently downloaded a ton of brushes, accents and little goodies from Pugly Pixel to play around with on Photoshop.  It takes me SO much longer than the average person to take a picture that I like, upload it and edit it with whimsical touches for the blog- but I just put on some Doctor Who, Downton Abbey or insert British TV show HERE to set the mood and hours fly by.

Whenever you take on a new artistic endeavor it challenges you not only to learn the technical aspects- like how to work the damn camera, but also challenging your aesthetic tastes.  Realizing a vision for a particular shot and making it a reality is an uncomfortable process at first.  You may know in your mind the look & feel of a shot you want to achieve, but executing it can be horribly time consuming.

I find that I haven’t developed an artistic vision yet, nor do I have any remote form of signature style but I hope with time I’ll develop my own creative fingerprint in my creations.  Who knows- for now I’m just going to have fun with random creation.

So, where do you go to get creative inspiration?

What are your favorite blogs that inspire you?

If you’ve been on the internet at all in the past few years, you’ve probably noticed the increased collaboration between brands of all stripes and bloggers.  You’ve most likely seen network banner ads, sidebar text links, sponsored posts and of course what we all salivate over- product reviews and giveaways.

Collaborations between brands and bloggers is something that’s relatively new but is becoming more common as both are realizing the potential power in collaboration.  Traditional advertising was sexy in the 60′s (I’m talking to you John Hamm! Meow!)  but brands would be smart to work with bloggers- here’s why:

• People Love Free Stuff But Hate Feeling Like Sheep.  I love free stuff, but I won’t like your page on Facebook or follow your company on Twitter to win something you’re giving away if I have to compete with 5,000 other people where I know I won’t win.  Product giveaways with bloggers are smaller, more targeted and usually have fun ways for people to interact with your brand in ways that a big Facebook giveaway could never achieve.

• Bloggers Can Offer Insightful Feedback & Love Doing It.  I know I do!  I used to love to review products and give feedback on Amazon, but now I can offer that in my own venue on the products I use with pictures, video and offer freebies to my readers- that’s way more fun for me than posting an anonymous 4 out of 5 star review somewhere!

• Lower Costs & Equitable Exchanges.  Doing reviews or offering sidebar ads with bloggers allows companies to highlight their products and services for low cost to a highly targeted audience.  For the price of a product and shipping, your company gets prime ad space in a sidebar or in a blog post- if you’re worried about paying flat fees sending product for review is advantageous!

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Things are never familiar to me for too long.  I have officially quit my day job, and until I graduate with my MA degree in spring of 2012, I will be solely working for myself.

Holy crap.

Yes, after a year of working a day job, with a blog (and some side projects) and a full graduate school load of classes, I think the candle (having been burnt on both ends) finally burned out.  My previous job worked for a time- I got it before I started blogging, before I started to get a grip on my finances and I needed something just to help me pay for life in Chicago.  Hours at that job were sporadic- after getting my work schedule emailed over on a Friday evening, some weeks I would work at 6am (then go to class that evening) and other weeks I’d work from the mid afternoon to 12am.  I also came to realize that I would never get paid a dime more, no matter how long I worked there or how well I did.  Even after graduating with an advanced degree and working there for two years, I’d still make the same- I’d just get more hours.

It came into sharp focus that for my personal sanity I would have to quit my job.

Look, I’m always a bit snarky.  I have an odd sense of humor but I’m still typically pretty chipper.  At work, when I began to loathe my life and the people that came into the office, while simultaneously working my tummy into knots that I didn’t get my homework done and it’s currently 10:30pm and I’m still at the office.  I was getting antsy, aggravated and began to realize that if I wanted to move forward it was time to loosen up the strain…

…Ya…you know, before I snapped.

So before I completely went berzerk I put in my notice, hoping my blog could help me get by, I mean, it’s a frugality blog right? If there was ever a time to practice what you preach, it’s now!

Luckily the blog doesn’t just provide me with creative fodder to live within my means, it’s becoming my means…my blog helped me quit my going-nowhere job.    So, why am I telling you this?

You may have noticed there are ads in my sidebar among a few other changes in the blog.  I am able to generate a small amount of money by monetizing my blog, and your presence here helps me pay my bills.  It is such a gift that you, my reader can light up my life by reading my blog and leaving your delightful comments but that your support of my blog helps me gain traffic that helps me better leverage my writing skills to advertisers and get me noticed by others who further this blog  (getting featured at BlogHer has been  pretty darn snazzy!)

Every time you support my blog with your visits, comments, “likes” and shares you make it possible to do what I love (& help me support myself and the pug!)

I get so many kind compliments, comments and emails about the blog- thank you!  Every time you visit my page, leave a comment, share my link or share my blog on your social media networks, you are supporting what has become not just a passion, but my income.  Granted, times are tight- but I love what I do.  THANK YOU for being a part of this.

Some people take issue with employing ads or other monetization strategies on your blog.  While I can totally understand their standpoint- ads can be annoying and at times you have to question the motives of the blogger who “sells out,” to ads or monetization opportunities.   I can promise you that I keep as transparent as possible.  (Did you know that blogs are regulated by the FTC when you monetize them?  You legally have to have a disclaimer page or disclose on posts when a third party gave money or products!)

Truth be told, it has been such a blessing to be able to make enough money to buy groceries with my writing.  Honestly, getting paid to interact with readers, write what I love and grow my little labor-of-love over the past year has been tremendously powerful and a totally motivating!

Your comments and sharing this blog via social media is also what enables me to reward you and yes- more rewards (free stuff!) is on the way!

You may have noticed I am now doing giveaways.  Some of the gifts have been out of my own pocket, but I’ve been getting some wonderful offers from companies to collaborate in reader giveaways- (yes, that means you and yes, that means free stuff! Woot!)

I hope you know how much you mean to me as a reader of this blog.  Posting as been cathartic and has transformed me as a person, thank you for being a part of this.  With your support I’ve been able to talk about so many personal topics- love, loss, growth, health and dreams…not just frugality or saving money on groceries!

You have supported me in becoming a more authentic “me.”  You gave me encouragement during personal trials and tribulations, you told me to keep writing and shared your personal stories in return.

As I make a transition to the latest chapter in my life, your support is now helping me a build a career and realize a dream, so from the bottom of my heart- thank you.

…but what next?  I hope to continue to grow this blog and build a life around it.  I love to write, am gaga for social media and love working on the computer.  My next step involves growing this blog up and out and trust me, I plan on rewarding you along the way.  You made this possible, and I promise never to forget it.

I’m sitting in bed, coping with the nuclear followout of my impaired immune system (yes, I managed to get sick, wth.) reflecting on the last week of my life. I went to the first ever Financial Blogger Conference that happened just north of the good city of Chicago with about 250+ other dymanic, hardworking, innovative and fun people.

I met some of the coolest people, what a gift it was to hear their voices, see their faces and shake their hands (with a few hugs) after reading their words & perusing Twitter feeds for months. I’m not going to recap the whole thing- I think that’s been excellently by others, I do want to highlight one of my favorite parts of FINCON11- Our work with Love Drop at Phil’s Friends. We spent our first evening at the conference volunteering at Phil’s Friends. This organization, works to send out cards, carepacks and hope to cancer patients all over the country.  Our FinCon inspired Love Drop was captured on video…

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