I have known Ashley for a while now through blogging. Lets take a dip in the archives and pull out this blogger interview:) I have seen her chase her passion to make positive impact in this world and how she lives her passion day in and day out. She recently adopted two beautiful children of her own in addition to mentoring her Threads family. So happy to share her story here today in her own words and hope you will join me in supporting her worthy cause…
About Threads
This past year as The Shine Project has led me to start up a non-profit organization, The Shine Scholarship Project, my life has changed. We have blessed some really amazing high school students to help them pay for college. You can watch what we’ve accomplished and who we’ve touched here.
A few months ago I started getting antsy and realized that my journey helping these youth was just beginning. I knew I needed to create a way to provide more opportunities for them, especially after they graduate high school and are transitioning into college. That’s when the idea of Threads was born.
Threads is a cause driven business that changes the future of at risk youth. They come from various backgrounds, but all have one thing in common, they want to break the cycle. By employing them, we instill values of self reliance and hard work. They are paid fair wages for the bracelets they make, and in turn are able to pay their way through school. Many of Threads employees are first generation college students. They dream of becoming nurses, broadcasters, writers and engineers.
Your purchase will directly impact a student. Even beyond financial support, your belief in them is a symbol of hope and trust that they can achieve what for so long seemed impossible. By purchasing Threads you are wearing more than just a bracelet, you are wearing change.
Myself, my team of amazing interns, and 7 incredible student employees are proud to present to you Threads. The more bracelets we sell; the more kids we can employ; the more education we will help give to the future leaders of our country. And boy, are they going to be leaders.
Since the last Real Chat post, I have tried to simplify my life in all shapes and sizes. This quote couldn’t have been more timely:)
Design/Blogging: I have turned down some design projects, and am focusing on the Holiday gift guide and current clients only. I turned off comment notifications in my email inbox as I realized an overflowing inbox is a recipe for stress. I also started using google calendar (hello where have I been?).
At Home: Like I mentioned this week, I am working torwards simplicity in my closet as well. Only purchasing what I absolutely need or what will last for a long time. Having much never seems to sit well with me. I don’t like keeping what I don’t use because I feel like it is wasting. (My mom’s influence;)) So, I am cleaning out my closet monthly. I also made plans to organize my house. Boxes, shelves, etc. With toddlers, its impossible to keep everything in its place. I am learning to let that go. We also cycle toys often as well. They tend to prefer puzzles and books anyways:)
I am already breathing a little easier, and finding more time to be with my children or call up a friend.I have found that the people I meet that are simple about the way they live their life are the most peaceful….and happier. Don’t ya think?
What are some ways you keep your life simple?
And can’t leave you without some fun weekend reading: Speaking of organization: Love this site with all my fave online catalogues in one place with direct links to products. Speaking of simple: A minimalistic and totally functional DIY that tickled my fancy. German Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars….! An etsy shop discovery I fell smitten over. Favorite blog find of the week. Did you see Blair Eadie’s new line for Bauble Bar? Perfect. Hot Chocolate on a stick? I’m in.
Now that I have shared How to Grow Your Blog Naturally, Nailing your Niche, and the Business of Starting Sponsorships, I want to share some really helpful resources that will hopefully help you with organization, growth, and motivation:) In fact, they are so thorough, I feel like I can refer you to these sites, and hang my hat with the Blog boosters series:)
#1. Get yourself a copy of Blog, Inc. – I pre-ordered Joy Cho’s book on amazon, and when it arrived last week, I dove in immediately. To be honest, I was expecting it to be geared towards the beginner level of blogging. However, I devoured that book from front to back, and I soon realized it is both for the starter and the pro. I was taking notes the whole way through. She offers some very practical and helpful tips on everything from the start of naming your blog to making it a full time business. Blogging Etiquette, Social Networking, SEO, and What to Charge for Sponsorship are just some of the topics she tackles. In between chapters there are fantastic Q & A’s with successful bloggers that I really enjoyed. Very honest, helpful, and inspiring perspective on their blog journey. It is a very easy read, and will help you in all areas of the blog realm.
#2. Be in the Know – Blog Series You Should Be Reading: I have come across some very helpful series on blog and business tips that you should definately be reading…
Design*Sponge has a Biz Ladies column that treads over every topic in the blog and entrepreneur world. The posts are loaded with helpful information. Recent topics include Quarterly Taxes Explained, Six Month’s Worth of Blog content in Two Steps, and Connecting with your Brand.
Bri Emery and Katie Evans have an advice column that I soak up each week. Its so helpful to me as a graphic designer and blogger. Its worth going through the archives:)
Alt Summit Blog- You know Alt Summit through the conference they host yearly for bloggers, but did you know they have a resource blog? Weekly tips and information to answer all your questions from some of the blogging greats! They also now offer online classes that can give lessons and demonstrations to grow in a targeted area.
VMacandCheese has a Blog Tip of the Day series that is helpful and to the point. Media kit, social media, and boosting traffic are all topics she has covered so far. Love each one! Any other series I should be aware of? Let me know! #3 Stay Organized: The not so fun part of every business is bookkeeping and scheduling, but these are a few ways to make it not so boring and scary, and dare I say enjoyable?
Freezer meals Blogging in Stacks – I recently started doing a lot of my cooking on Sunday – making 3-4 meals at a time to save time during the week during that crazy dinner hour. It can be the same with blogging. Try and prepare a weeks worth of posts in one weekend so that you have a clearer vision of what you want to share and post, and gives you time to focus on other areas of your business during the week. This has helped me so much with prioritizing my time with my family as well as saving me the frazzled stress that comes with flying by the seat of your pants. You can still leave room for spontaneity and make changes before you post. This may not work for everyone, but its worth a try if you need help in time management.
Freshbooks – This is a program that I plan on starting with the new year. It offers an easy invoice and receipt tracking system that keeps everything in one place. For instance, you can download the app on your phone and enter the amount of gas you spent on a business related trip right in the moment. This was made for my type of personality and schedule. When you are on the go, have a busy creative mind, and little ones to love on, being committed to book keeping ends up getting pushed back till tax time. You can try Freshbooks 30 days for free.
Evernote – This is a fantastic program you can use both online and on your phone. An organization tool with multiple ways to take notes, add photos, clip web addresses, draw sketches, etc. Every time you login, it will sync your devices. There is a helpful web bar button to quickly save and document things you come across on the web. I use this program for design inspiration, font finds, image sources, blog post ideas, etc., etc., etc. Its a private way of staying organized vs. public pinterest boards. Check out Evernote here. Its free and easy to use:)
Hope you have found this series helpful! Follow these sites to continue growing your blog naturally, and making it the business you hope it can be:) Love, Anna P.S. As promised, will share a new DIY tomorrow!
One of the reasons I have loved blogging, is connecting with women like Jessica. Just from the emails we have exchanged I feel like I have met a true gem of a gem. She is on fire and ready to spin off a chain of positive actions for people in need. She exemplifies my favorite motto, “Do small things with great love.” (Mother Teresa) Jessica is a stay at home mom who decided to use her passion for helping others by starting Create for Hope. Please take a moment of your day to read the full post and consider helping! It just takes a few willing hands to make a big difference right? As Jessica said, “It is time to act, to inspire, to lift, and create, in order to instill a little hope in those that need it most.”
You can read the full story of how Jessica started Create for hope here. Using a little creativity for the good of others, here is how you can help…
The first organization Create for Hope is helping:Sylvia’s Children,which was created in 2003 after Sylvia went on a humanitarian trip to Uganda. While she was there, she was asked by the head of the Mbiriizi Primary School, to be the school’s Grandmother. With 1,000 children in the school, (of which 250 are orphans due to the AIDS crisis), she was honored to accept the responsibility. Out of this Sylvia’s Children was born, Inc., a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to improving the lives of her ‘grandchildren’; to give the children a fighting chance – through education. Their goal is to make the school totally self-sustaining so they can take this model and apply it elsewhere. They’ve built: a boys dormitory, an addition to girls dormitory, a well for fresh water, three new double classroom blocks, a new library, a building for corn milling, a playground in memory of Kasozi Moses Ten unit, teacher’s housing, and a sewing business. To see more photos, and read the full story, visit the blog.
The Goal: Create and send 1050 drawstring backpacks for the students of the organization. This only takes beginner sewing skills! Easy instructions and downloadable file here.Backpacks for all these beautiful smiles!(I remember how proud I was of my first backpack:)) If you don’t think you can make a backpack, at least consider sharing Create for Hope on Facebook, Twitter, or Blog post. Email or call a friend and rally some able hands. Have a movie party with the supplies there to work while you watch! Action will affect these lives much more than our words ever will:)
Check out Jessica’s brand new venture, Create for Hope! :
So thankful to Madeline for being a guest here today, and sharing her take on balancing life and motherhood. She blogs at Uber Chic for Cheap (head over if you aren’t familiar!) and also is a writer for Babble. Thrilled to have her here today on IHOD…
I am so excited to be contributing to this series! As I was reading Anna’s Real Chat post from last week, I found myself nodding along with everything she said and am honored to be included.
Before I had my son, Tate, I naively thought that my life would be so much easier. All I would have to worry about was making dinner and taking care of a baby. Ha! I’ve never been busier (and I’ve never been more fulfilled!) I write for two blogs, do architectural work from home and head up the women’s organization at my church. And of course, I take care of Tate, the house, and all the other incidentals that fall to the homemakes. I do a lot. But I don’t do it all.
We have frozen pizza for dinner at least once a week. I only do laundry on a “crap, I’m out of underwear again” basis. The shower is covered with soap scum and my garage is full of unpacked boxes and unfinished projects. And that is just fine by me.
In my early married life, I went through some pretty pressing problems with my health that made it impossible for me to do much of anything. During that incredibly trying time in my life I read this mantra. “Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is a nobler art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of nonessentials.” I clung to this idea with everything I had. If I let myself get bogged down in doing things that are not fulfilling or important, I found myself a grumpy mess.
By letting myself not feel guilty for having messy closets and sticky floors, I leave more of myself for my husband and son:)
We’ve all seen the images and videos rolling in of the devastation from the Japan earthquake and tsunamis. While aftershocks and tsunami scares are still happening days later, the nation is in for a long long road of recovery. So far, the death toll is estimated to be 2,000. In just one town, 9,500 are missing. I have come to realize how strong the blogging community is over the last year. This is a perfect example. With just two girls initiatives, there has been thousands of dollars raised for an amazing cause:
ForJapanWithLove.com
Ever Ours has teamed up with Utterly Engaged and handpicked ShelterBox as the organization to donate to, where there are volunteers are already there in Japan helping, so please be assured that your donations are being put to good use. ShelterBox provides emergency shelter and lifesaving supplies for families around the world who are affected by disasters at the time when they need it the most. Each large, green ShelterBox is tailored to a disaster but typically contains a disaster relief tent for an extended family, blankets, water storage and purification equipment, cooking utensils, a stove, a basic tool kit, a children’s activity pack and other vital items.
Also, if you are a blogger, you an also participate.
This Friday, March 18th, my blog will be silent as in no posts in honor and respect for
what has happened in Japan. If you are interested in participating:
please e-mail: lydia@ever-ours.com or info@utterlyengaged.com for more information.
