Starting a "Real Blog"

I decided that I want to start a blog for two reasons. Lets be honest! Im hoping I will make at least a little money... eventually, from the blog. The second reason is I feel that I truly do have a passion for saving money in everything I do. So, I decided that I would chronicle my experience of starting a blog. This way when one day I do have a successful blog, I will write about my step by step on how I figured it out.

First thing, I am very intimidated by all of the technical things that need to be done. I decided to use Wordpress instead of Blogger. This way you are able to make money off your blog and it is a lot more professional.

November 8th, 2014:
  I decided I was going to start a blog. This is a thought that I had in the back of my mind for a few months but never made a decision. Right now with my husbands job we are making just barely enough to pay all our bills and living expenses. Which I am SO grateful for because just 4 months ago we were needing to dip into savings every single month for the last year. Do you know how fast that can add up? Let me just tell you that we depleted our savings by 50%. Not good. So we decided to pray about our situation and figure out what we could do to improve it. Since I quit my job as an office manager for an orthodontist about 2 years ago it has been super tight financially but it is important to us for me to be home with the kids. Thats just what works best for our family specifically. So long story short, after thinking through a few other options, a blog is what we decided. Tommy came home from work today and I announced that I had done a little more research and I was going to start a blog.

November 9th, 2014:
  Today is a Sunday and I have made a promise to keep the sabbath holly. So I had to restrain myself from doing anything related to the blog process. This was really hard because it would be so easy for me to just do some research. Thats not blogging right? Well, I made it through the day with just a few thoughts scribbled on paper or typed in my phone. I count that a success.

November 10th, 2014
  I purchased a domain name! penniesintopearls.com I wanted something a little girly but gets the point across that the blog is all about being frugal and thrifty but still having things that are cute. I also had to decide what host to go with (BlueHost) and figured out that I would also need a "framework" and a "theme". I decided to use (studiopress.com) to help with this. It turns out that for the domain and host you pay for 2-3 years up front and frame work and theme you pay a one time payment. Around $200 later I think that should be most of the costs of starting the blog.

November 11th, 2014
  Deciding on a theme is tricky. At this point I think you kinda need to know what the general look and feel of your blog is going to be. I decided on it being chabby chic / rustic / fancy and wrapped up into one. Again trying to get the idea of turning old worn down things into something fantastic. The blog will also have some recipes that are focused around being low in cost but high in flavor.
  I did it! It only took me three hours but I finally chose a theme! Then since I have a Mac I had to figure out (thanks Google!) how to download files but keep in it in a "zip" format. https://www.nutsandboltsmedia.com/how-to-install-the-genesis-framework-on-your-wordpress-site/ Then went into Wordpress and changed the title and now its actually starting to look like a REAL webpage!

November 12th, 2014
  Feeling a little lost today. I uploaded my theme but its not looking how I really want it to look. I want a lot more customization to it. Like a wood background, different font and color of font. So now I am going through a step by step on Wordpress. http://codex.wordpress.org/First_Steps_With_WordPress The following is an activity they ask you to write:

This website will be dedicated to helping others live frugal through transforming the worn out into the wonderful, creating inexpensive delicious meals, and making a thrify and thriving home. The audience will be women who are looking to spend little money but still want to have a cute home. I will be adding posts 4-5 days a week about a different topic each day (food, diy crafts, home décor, diy cleaning). I am doing this because I thrive on being thrify and need extra income.

Categories: Fabulous Food, Chic Crafts, Homey Home Keeping, DIY Decor

Subcategories:

            Fabulous food: Main coarse, dessert, side dishes, breakfast

            Chic Crafts: sewing, kids,

            Homey Home Keeping: diy cleaners, cleaning tips

            DIY Décor: wall art, furniture, kids

Pages: Contact Me, About Me,

Was having a hard time with this tutorial. I made categories and sub categories but went to view my website and the posts said where they were categorized but I didn't see the menu to display the pages where the posts should be found. Well I then stumbled onto a setup with StudioPress http://my.studiopress.com/setup/lifestyle-theme/. So far very helpful!

It turns out that with StudioPress there is an option to download the demo to your website then they have pretty detailed tutorial that walks you through editing your website to make it more of your own. Still being a very novice blogger there were several topics that I really had know idea what the tutorial what talking about. What I would do in this case is Google what my question was but always included the words Wordpress and I could find an answer pretty easily.

November 13th, 2014
After I put the kids to bed last night I started to work on the blog again after already have worked on it for 4-5 hours earlier. Well after about an hour of working I got stumped on how to correctly set up my menus. I decided I was super tired from only getting 5 hours of sleep for that last 3 nights in a row. Closed the laptop, grabbed a bowl of popcorn, leftover halloween candy, and turned on Gilmore girls. It didn't take long at all before I found myself waking up on the couch. So I went to bed. I think in this process it is going to be important to take breaks when needed. I will work very hard but I will also takes breaks. (I have to remind myself to do this sometimes)

So I woke up this morning with a lot more energy and went to work. I read a little bit on some forums in regards to editing your menu and within a few minutes I figured it out! I am starting to become a little familiar with Wordpress and I am learning to not be afraid to try something. Note: I do take screenshots before I change something. This way if after the change my page gets messed up I can change it back. Ideally...

Working on my contact page. Just learned that as you are Googling make sure if you end up on forums to make sure you pay attention to the dates. I installed an old plugin for my contact page and ran into some problems. Re-Googled my search and found some Wordpress suggested plugins for Contact Forms.

November 14th, 2014
I wrote my first page! It is my "About" page. I think I did a good job at making it sound like me and I also figured out (on my OWN no Google search thank you) how to insert pictures into the page. In the future I will figure out how to make the picture look nicer by changing the shape or something like that. But for now my goal is to get my blog looking pretty nice and hopefully in the next few days I can start making posts! Once I have about 10 posts then I am going to be starting to post on my social media and start getting some advertisers (hopefully). Then once I get it rolling then I will go back and start to really dive into the ascetics of the blog.

November 15th, 2014
This is starting to be really fun. I drafted my first post which is about all of the freezer meals that I prepared in order to have more time to blog. Now that the blog is somewhat aesthetically ready to go I am now going through Pinterest and finding websites that have tips on how to make your blog better and slowly checking things off. I think this probably will be an on going process.

November 17th, 2014
Okay! I have two posts live on my blog! I have learned a little about editing and taking photos from a several different websites I found through a Pinterest search. I have also installed Google Analytics on the blog and found how to to do that here. So now I am going to keep writing posts to build up content before I start sharing my blog with the "world". In the mean time I am trying to decide if I am going to wait to follow other bloggers social media through Pennies into Pearls or wait until I have a little more of a content foundation on the blog. Probably wait... I will also be searching Pinterest on ideas to improve the look and usability of the blog.

November 18th, 2014
I am getting closer to being ready to launch the blog. Here is a website that I used as a launch checklist of things to look over before I launch. This launch checklist really has great content and ideas on things to do to have a great launch. I have set a goal to "launch" my blog on Monday the 24th. Right before Thanksgiving and Black Friday. I will be posting about sales I am finding and maybe setting up a social media chat thing to keep in contact and see what everyone's is finding.

November 24th, 2014
I just finished posting links on all of my social media and Pennies into Pearls social media! The word is out. Now I need to work on creating awesome content and getting more people to read and follow my social media.

What I have been doing is writing posts and reading any other blog posts I can find on how to improve/market your blog. Here goes nothing! I also need to figure out how and who to connect with, as in other bloggers and blogging groups or conferences. It's a little harder than I thought. I have found a few groups but they were active for the past few months. I will keep looking.

There has been several times in just the last 2 weeks that I have had the thought that, "Maybe people won't like this" or "maybe I can't/shouldn't do this". It is a TON of work. But I think as long as I keep making it fun and I will have the drive to make this blog successful. I decided that I am going to have the outlook of the blog as, I just want to share my experience in doing things on the cheap with my friends and family. If other people want to follow along then that is even better! Here it goes!...

Too fast

These kids of ours are growing up WAY too fast! Miss Kennedy started prescho this past week and she loves it but it's a little scary for me. To think about her starting to go out on her own even if it just on the 3 year old playground. It's scary to think that although I know everyone should love the most sweet girl but there might be someone who might be mean to her just breaks my heart. I have been thinking a lot about how we should teach her through moments like that. I think that if we just teach her to love everyone, don't focus on the "mean people" and be nice to everyone. I will tell them that it won't be easy but that it will be worth it. 

Our mr. Oliver has really grown up this summer! This kid is a smarty pants! He could say a few words befor he was even one year old. Like dad and dog. Then when he was just 14 months he said is first two syllabal word "yellow". Since then he can't stop talking. He can pretty much mimic any word you tell him. He is now 18 months and can put together 3-4 word scentences at a time. His first three syllabal word was "cantelope". He said that at probably 15 months old. He walked early, he talked early. He has grown up too early. I feel like was a baby for only a few months and now he is already turning into my little man. But he sure is fun!! He has to be one of the happiest little men around! It takes a bit to get him to not be happy. Although this week he sure has been putting up a stink. Since the time he was about 12 months old we new he had a mind of his own. At that age he already started instigating with his sister. This has only escalated. His favorite thing right now is to drink from his sisters cup. I'm sure that sometimes he is doing this to be a little stinker but I think he mostly does this to get a reaction out of people. He loves to make people laugh! 

If he catches you laughing at something he did he will keep doing it over and over! I can tell that he is going to be a very compassionate little guy just like his big sister. One of most favorite things is to watch them play together! We went to the safari park the other day and they kept walking around holding hands and showing each other different things. They are and are going to be best friends! 

Oliver started using the word "no" this week! Everything is no even if it's not. He definitely has a stubborn bone in him but luckily I know how to handle that since I have a strong one in me. Today we were at the grocery store waiting in line to pay and Oliver suddenly throws an onion down the middle of the store. It must have been a very round onion because it would not stop rolling. So after sprinting after it I turned around to see Oliver's face smiling the biggest most mischevious smile I have ever seen him have. It was almost like I new what he was thinking, "haha mom had to chace an onion through the middle of the store!" When I looked at him I couldn't help but laugh. That's the thing with this kid, he makes it very hard to punish him when he gives you his bright eyed, gapping teeth and chubby cheek smile. 

Forever Family

I am feeling overwhelmed with gratitude today for our family! Today is Josh's birthday and my parents 29th anniversary. We went to the shooting range to celebrate! It was so much fun seeing every try it out. The guys had a little more experience then us ladies but we all did pretty good! I personally had fun but shooting is not something I see myself choosing to do on my birthday :-) but spending time as a family was my favorite part of the day. There is something special about family. Just feeling so comfortable around each other. Being able to completely be yourself and feeling so proud to be a member of our family. Poor tommy has been super sick but he woke up early to go shooting then went straight to work! Such a trooper! I hope he is doing okay tonight at work! 

Tonight was also our church's General Women's Broadcast. I would have loved to go watch it at the church building with all other sister but since tommy is working and babysitter choices are few I decided to watch it at home. Although I'm sure I didn't get quiet all I could have gotten from the meeting if I was at the building, I did really enjoy listening to out church leaders. They have so much wisdom and are so good at inspiring others. From this session what really stuck out to me was that I need to go to the temple more often and I need to serve my family more. I have been feeling really good about our temple attendance this year! Our goal (tommy and I) this year was to go once a month. It's September and so far we have gone 10 times. So we are above our goal and are determined to go three more times before the year is through. But I think on top of that couples goal I will make it my goal to go once more a month on my own. I know that if I can do this then I can receive more inspiration and motivation to be a disciple of Christ. 

I also have been feeling pretty good about my effort to serve. I pray for it everyday and I am finding little things that I can do to help others. Mainly it is babysitting and making food for other families in our ward. But right now that is what I'm able to do and so that's what I will try my hardest to do. But what I can be better at is helping serve our "extended" family. So our parents, grandparents, siblings ect. Sometimes it's easy for me to do things for other people but maybe not so much for my family. I can pray for opportunities to serve them and I know that I will recognize the moment. I think through this they will be able to better feel my love for them. 

Needless to say, it's been another great day! 

Don't be sorry

Today I was starting to feel sorry for myself. Again! I was thinking about how this year has been pretty rough. Tommy going through the police academy and now in phase training has been hard on our whole family. Also, having another misscarriage this past May has been very hard. With November around the corner that will make one year that we will have been trying for another baby. Well what  I realized today is that it's not that bad!

Sure it has been a pretty hard year so far but as I was looking through pictures on my phone we have had some really fun times as well. Tommy's 30th birthday. Kids safari combo party Kennedy 3 and Oli 1. Trip to Utah and Sacramento. Plenty of beach time! Beach camping. Family dinners. We really have so much to be grateful for. It's just like we were taught in the last session of general conference, we need to be grateful no matter what our circumstances are. Tonight I'm grateful for our amazing family and the knowledge I have that we will be together for ever! We have our amazing parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and of corse our kids and most of all each other. 

Tommy was talking to me today about how he is feeling a little overwhelmed with work right now and getting ready for his test at the end of 3rd phase. I selfishly started thinking about how I too was feeling overwhelmed with everything I have to do at home, my calling, and with our families. Then on top of that I find myself never sitting down because I am constantly trying to make sure tommy gets as much rest as possible when he is home so he can be rested and alert while he is at work. Safe! Well later this afternoon I was thinking about how we always talk about both of us giving each other 100%. So what happens when we both are feeling overwhelmed at the same time? I don't think I have an answer yet but what I do know is that we need to pray together! Pray about it individually. With an eternal marriage like we have we are blessed to have made a covenant with our Heavenly Father and He will help us both give our 100%. So in the mean time while we are praying to figure out how to not be overwhelmed I am going to focus on the positive and do my best to be there for my husband. 

We have a great life started together and I'm really excited to experience the rest of eternity with my cute guy!! 

Front Yard Garden

We have been working on starting a vegetable / fruit garden since probably... June. So that's about 4 months! First I had to find and collect about 20 pallets. Took them apart (12 hours) then build the planter boxes (3 hours) and then find free dirt. Tommy unloaded all the dirt into the boxes (4 hours). So now we are just about ready to plant. Yesterday we went to the store and bought manure and seeds. Kennedy was most excited about picking out the seeds. On our way there she said she wanted to buy banana seeds. I explained that bananas grow on trees so we probably won't be finding any seeds. Once we were next to the seeds she yells, "mom! I found bananas!" She brought me a pack of seeds for yellow squash. It was so cute! I explained to her what they were. She didn't seem to mind and went on her way searching for other types of seeds. She LOVED picking out the seeds. While Kennedy and I were excitedly looking through the seeds Oliver and Tommy patiently waited. Kennedy was not thrilled with the idea of us buying "cow poop" and Oliver loves to say "cow poop!" It was a great day! 

Presents

This girl LOVES to give presents. She finds thing around the house (today it was string cheese) and wraps them in paper and stickers the. Gives them to someone. She gets so excited to watch you open her "gift". Such a giving girl! 

Teaching

I took a video yesterday of Kennedy trying to get Oliver to eat his dinner. He is going through this thing right now and will not eat anything when we sit down to eat a meal. Well, in this video Kennedy is so patient and loving with Oliver. She first tries to get him to eat his beans then tries to get him to take a bite of his taco. He won't do it. So she then tells him to watch her as she takes a bite of her taco. He watches... And takes a bite of his taco. I love this so much for two reasons: 1. It shows what a great sister and teacher Kennedy already is. 2. It shows how much Oliver loves his big sister. 

Moms night out

I just watched a movie called "Moms Night Out". It's about a group of moms who are feeling overwhelmed with their job as "mom". They decide they need just one night out. The night ends up being a disaster but the unexpected message that this movie gives is so great! At the end of the movie the husband tells his wife, "your job is so important." Sometimes my job as mom might not be super glamorous. I might not have the extra money to buy new clothes or take fancy trips. But what I do have, has eternal value. What I do have, is irreplaceable. I have wanted to be a mom since I can remember. I remember one time as a little girl. I must have been around 7 years old. One night I was playing house and I wanted my baby doll to come to life so bad. I prayed SO hard that my doll could be a real baby. That might be weird, haha, but I can't even express how happy being a mom really makes me and when I think about being a mom I think about being a wife. 

How cool is it to have a husband?!? To know that you have someone who is always looking out for you. Someone who will go to work everyday for me so I can stay home and have my dream job. Someone to hang out with, to laugh with. This morning the kids were being crazy. Both Oliver and Kennedy were fighting over something. Despite what was going on around us, Tommy still made me so happy. I don't really remember exactly what he said but what I do remember is him holding my hand as he stood up, kissed me on my head, then went to take care of the kids without me saying anything. As he stood up I remember thinking, "my husband really is my best friend." I sincerely think that. He always tells me he loves me. He always tells me I'm a great mom and he always thanks me for working so hard. That is just a couple of the reasons why I think he is my perfect husband.