Tell me a little about yourself. When did you start blogging and why?

I started blogging when I was pregnant with my first child, Ethan, in 2000. I have always enjoyed telling stories and keeping journals, so I figured that would be the best way to keep my large extended family updated on our progress! Recently, while I was transferring files from an old computer to Dropbox, I found some of the old layouts and graphics I used on that first blog. What a hoot! It was so primitive and so innocent. I miss those days of raw openness.

 

What are some of your favorite sites on the ‘net?

One of the biggest reasons I love being a digital influencer is that I get to meet and be friends with lots of really interesting and inspiring people. Some of my friends are bloggers, some are entrepreneurs, and some are artisans. There are too many cool people to name, but I will tell you who I’m currently inspired by:

Rita P. Cheng, Heart + Art Cottage – http://heartandartcottage.com/about/

Brandi Riley, Mama Knows It All – http://mamaknowsitall.com/about-me

Amiyrah Martin, 4 Hats and Frugal – http://4hatsandfrugal.com/about-4-hats-and-frugal

Sarah + Beth Anne, Brilliant Business Moms – http://www.brilliantbusinessmoms.com/about/

Jon Acuff – http://acuff.me/about/

 

What does a typical day look like for you?

Because I am a full-time marketing student and freelance writer/blogger, I have a lot going on. Studying and homework can take up to 30 hours a week, depending on my course load. I do try spending at least 10-15 hours a week planning a content calendar for my blog, writing posts, and making up graphics for my posts, among other things. If I’m completely honest, some days I’m avoiding my content altogether and surfing Facebook and Twitter, getting lost in the rabbit hole. Haha! I can justify it a bit because my mission is to help families with teens, so I’m constantly searching for stories that my readers will be interested in and posting them to my social media channels. What can I say? I’m a work in progress.

 

What advice do you have for someone who wants to blog or share her/his story?

There are two things that I want you to know, whether or not you want to earn money:

1. You do not have to be all things to all people.
2. You should do this because it’s what you WANT to do, not because anyone is TELLING YOU to do this.

Ok, take a second to re-read those two sentences. Let that sink in, friend. Now, go forth and speak. Wait, one more thing:

DO NOT ALLOW FEAR TO PARALYZE YOU.

Be free — fly!

 

What story are you most proud of?

I am most proud of MY story. I learned to respect and appreciate myself as a single mom and ultimately found empowerment before I shared my heart and married my best friend. I am excited to continue sharing my story (and my family’s story) with our readers, as we navigate life with our blended family.

 

How can people follow you?

I would love to hear from you! Follow me and my family on our blog and Facebook page:

http://findingweproject.com/about

http://www.facebook.com/findingweproject