I remember the first time I saw the IHeart Organizing blog. A friend shared it with me just
over a year ago. I didn't know what a "blog" was, and couldn't
imagine what this ugly little word "blog" could possibly depict.
Then, my eyes lit upon this beautiful page in all its
organization glory, my breath caught in my throat and my heart skipped a beat.
In that moment, I knew that " I heart you too IHeartOrganizing!"...and yes, I might sound
a little crazy, but I swear I whispered it as I stared awestruck at this
creation called "blog". *giggle*...since then, I've been obsessed!
Stop shaking your head at me, I've told you before, I'll tell you again, you
might have your movie stars, but nothing NOTHING compares to pages and pages of
inspiring photos, rows and rows of well organized spaces, and IHeart
Organizing has it all! This
incredible mom organized her way to a beautiful home, an impressive family
life, and an incredible blogging business. Her blog and her home have been
featured on Better Homes and Gardens, HGTV, The Nate Berkus Show...just to name
a few! So I have asked her to stop by today to share the how-to’s of successful
blogging and the power of organization.
Yep,
this is why I call Jen one of the great "Incredibles". You want to
hear something even more incredible? I hear a rumor that she doesn't have a
junk closet or even a junk drawer anywhere! Jen, is this true? How can this be?
Ok readers, as soon as you pick your jaw up off the floor, read on, and enjoy
the interview!
Interviewing the Incredibles Part 6:
The Orderly
Blogger
Ursula: Jen, before I ask
questions about your blogging, it sounds like you're a true organizer...from
the inside out. What do you attribute to this love of organization? And how can
we who are a bit more "challenged" in this area catch that bug?
Jen: I have always had a
love for organizing, it dates back to when I was younger and would color code
my school folders and organize my locker. Then it was my office
spaces at work and later it became the home I would live in with my growing
family. I have always felt I function better with a clean slate
around me, and that I can save time and money by keeping order. And
then when I started mixing my passion for DIY, crafts and color with the love
for organizing, it was a match made in heaven. Each little project left
me inspired to tackle another. And any time there is a moment where my
kids know exactly where their book bags belong or when my husband doesn't have
to ask where his keys are, I smile. It is a rewarding hobby to have.
Ursula: Isn't that the beauty of organization? It always pays off! It seems you
became successful fairly quickly in the blogging world. What do you attribute
to your success?
Jen: Oh boy, I don't know
about that. I have actually been blogging since September of 2009!
But time flies when you are having fun, that is for sure! Here are a few
things that I have learned along the way:
- Blog about what you love.
If you blog about your passions and inspirations, then it will come
natural and you will stay excited about it. I hope my readers feel
my love for happy colors, organizing and my paint brush.
- Be photo happy. I know I love blogs with
lots of pictures. Big, happy pictures. They say that a photo
is worth a thousand words, and since I have never considered myself a
"writer", I try and let my photos do a lot of the talking for
me.
- Invest some time. I eat, sleep and breath
blogging. Not saying that you need to do so to make it, but I am
always thinking of ways I can enhance my site, my posts, what I should
write about, what my readers would be interested in learning and working
on projects. I am also looking into ways to continue to learn by
reading other blogs, signing up for conferences and even checking out a
few books on the subject.
- Stay connected. Social media can be a bit
overwhelming to manage, but I still make it a huge chunk of every day to
respond to comments and check in on my twitter and facebook
accounts. I love to meet other bloggers and interact with my
readers. It is such a huge part of why I love blogging! As I
continue to grow, it gets a little more challenging, but I will never stop
making it a priority.
- Share your projects and ideas with fellow
bloggers and offer to share their success as well. I love featuring
my readers, it is one of the highlights of my blog. And I am 100%
certain that I am able to call blogging my job because of the wonderful
features I have been blessed with as well. We are a giant ring of
inspiration, that is for sure!
Ursula: Wow, that is valuable
information! But do you think blogging is for everyone? Or do we need to know
when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em?
Jen: I think it is for
anyone who is passionate about what they are doing, and enjoys sharing and
bonding with others. Anyone can have a blog and write a blog, it just
depends on the end goal and the "why" behind it.
Ursula: Do you have any tips
for those of us who are new to blogging?
Jen: Yes, patience is
key. When I started blogging, no one was reading. Not even my
family, which is why I started the blog in the first place. But I
realized that I loved it, readers or no readers, so I just kept on
blogging. And blogging and blogging some more. Now I blog in my
sleep, and over three years later, I have readers! Growing a blog isn't
typically an overnight success story. I am so happy I stuck with it, even
when no one was listening.
I
think it is easy to get caught up in going big or going home, but I don't think
that needs to be the case with starting up a blog. Check out your
favorite blogs and take note of what draws you in and why you love them.
There is such a huge variety out there, but surely there will be some consistency
within the ones that you check out frequently. Do you love the pictures,
the writing style, the graphics, the colors? It's a good exercise to
realize what you love so that you can put your own spin on those ideas and make
your own blog a place that reflects your personal style.
It
is good to have long term goals, be motivated and extremely passionate about
the topics you are writing about. Blogging has turned into a career for
so many talented individuals, and I pinch myself daily that it is even an
option. However, it is also important to realize that blogging is just
like any other full time job, and that there is a lot of behind the scenes work
and time involved to build a professional site.
Do
it because you love it. I think that is my most consistent message.
Everything else will ultimately fall into place.
Ursula: As an organization
guru, I'm sure this has helped you keep on task in blogging. Ok sensei, teach
us! How can do we "organize" our way to success as bloggers?
Jen: Ha, just like many
other areas of my life, I didn't start out as an organized blogger. I
would often times think up the following days post, as I was falling asleep the
night before. But since I do loooove to organize, I did take the time to put
some effort into the blogging department as well.
- Create an editorial calendar. This is a
place where you can jot down post ideas within specific dates so that you
always have something scheduled and can start thinking up how to word your
posts in advance. It gives you deadlines to work within personally, and
also helps manage any guest posts and giveaways you have coming up.
- Create a list of post topic ideas. I
neeeeeded this so badly, since I would think of all sorts of great things to
write about, and receive many great ideas from my readers, and then it would
come time to post and I would draw a blank. Keeping an ongoing list of
ideas has really helped me on days that I have nothing planned.
- Learn how to manage your time. With so
many pieces associated with blogging {emails, sponsors, giveaways, research,
projecting, writing, photo editing, etc...}, it is easy to lose track of
time. I have tried to assign each day of the week to specific types of
tasks, and this has helped so I don't feel like I have to get it all done in a
single day.
I created a blog planner to help keep all
of the ideas and tools in one place, which has really helped me "keep it
all together".
Ursula: Ok, one last
organization question. I consider this the "mother load" of
questions! All of us who have children are dying to know your secret. HOW do
you stay so organized with 3 little ones? Is it even possible to mold mini
munchkin organizers, or do you have to breed them?
Jen: This question makes me
giggle. I am definitely no Martha Stewart and our home absolutely isn't
perfect. I find that there are times when I am knee deep in a project,
working massive hours or even just busy being a mom, that certain areas start
to suffer and fall apart. We are human, I promise! And my kids are
all different. I have a son that will organize our entry cabinet by shoe type
and color, and another who hides everything under his bed.
For me, it is all about finding ways to keep
it simple. My organizing projects may not always seem that way, since I
like to add in the extra step of "making it pretty", but at the end
of the day, they are fairly easy to maintain. I have found that spending
fifteen minutes per day, doing simple chores together as a family, has really
reduced the need for us to scramble when company is coming over or from having
to spend a bunch of hours on chores during the weekends. Teamwork!
For the kids, I tried to start with them when they were younger, and everything
was labeled with pictures. Simple charts on the fridge have worked
wonders {my kiddos do better when they know what is ahead vs. being taken by
surprise}, and consistency is key here. I try to show them with real life
examples, that when we work together, we get to play together. It's a bit
of a family motto.
Lastly, I have learned to pick my
battles. If I keep systems simple, and they are helping around the house,
then I am OK if their beds aren't made perfectly or if they missed a step while
vacuuming the stairs. No use in sweating the small stuff. To me,
what makes our home perfect is who I am sharing it with, not whether or not
there is a sock trail down the hall or fingerprints on the glass.
Thanks so much for having me today! It
was such an honor to be apart of your series!
xo,
Jen
Thanks so much for stopping by Jen. The honor was mine! If you haven't taken a
moment to visit her incredible blog, you can find her at iheartorganizing.blogspot.com .
I
hope you took away as much as I have from Jen’s advice. As a new blogger, it
was truly invaluable for me! This Thursday’s link challenge will be a round-up of successful blogging tips & tricks. Whether a seasoned blogger, or a
newbie, come link up all your blogging tips, successes, and resources! There
will also be a round-up of fantastic bloggy printables to help us in our
endeavors!
My kids were always on the hunt for the batteries... first the batteries were in the cleaning cabinet, then they were in my all purpose pantry, then they were with the hardware in the garage, next they were being kept in the refrigerator (no I didn't lose my memory, my husband told me they keep longer...don't ask me if it's true or not *giggle*). Worst we were never sure where each pack of batteries might be, the D's might be in the garage, while the AAA's were in the pantry, and the C's were just MIA. 
