124 Blog Tidbits

I am doing something I never do, so forgive me ahead of time...

I just have a couple of things on my mind since today was an odd day for me and my blog baby.  It was full of ups and downs, and I feel like a post is warranted due to the outcome.  If you have been following along on Facebook, you already have been clued in to what this is about.  If not, then why are you not following me on Facebook, because you should be?!  Wink wink!

This morning I woke up, drank my cup of coffee, played with my kids, and checked in on some comments.  It was then that I read something that made me feel ill and queasy inside.  It's not the first time I had received criticism, but 99% of the time that I do, it's because I solicit it to make this blog a better place for us all, so I welcome it and look to it as a learning opportunity.  Don't get me wrong, I wanted to tear up after I saw some of the comments the last time I asked for opinions, as anytime you pour your heart and soul into something and receive feedback, it can be hard to take... but when it goes beyond a simple "help you out" piece of advice or feedback and into "hurtful words" territory, that it becomes completely unacceptable to me.

I understand that when you blog and have thousands and thousands of hits and visitors a day, you can't please everyone.  You can't do everything right.  You can't expect everyone to be on board with your ideas or motives and beliefs.  It comes with the job.  That's why our world is so great right?  We are all different with different opinions and tastes and beliefs.  I cherish your opinions good and bad, however, I also cherish the simple rule of respecting a fellow friend and staying positive when sharing an opinion, or even just keeping it to myself if I can't find a good way to spin it.

This blog is meant to be a happy place.  A place for me to share my creative juices, to meet incredible friends, to find and share inspiration and ideas.  It's a passion turned job for me.  How amazing is that?  How lucky am I?  To be doing what I LOVE?!

That being said, I pour hours and hours of time into writing, coming up with ideas, taking photos and editing them, managing giveaways and sponsorships and maintaining/updating the design, graphics and content.  It's not easy.  I work 7 days a week and can't keep up.  I work day and night.  And you know what?  I heart every minute of it, but it's also time away from my family and a feeling of continuous obligation.  I am grateful to have this place.  I am grateful for your visits.  I am grateful for your notes and emails and comments.  I am grateful for your daily support.  Really, I am.  I am one of the most grateful people you will find, because majority of the time I feel like I am living this dream life and never want to wake up.  There will be times when I goof and spell something wrong or misuse punctuation or maybe I make the most insane organizing or decorating choice or even go off on random tangents...  it's all bound to happen, and I just ask that you all keep any comments regarding any of those things on the positive {as 99% of you do so THANK YOU!}

OK, so speaking of grammar.  Ugh.  I wasn't going to say anything, but now I can't hold back.  First, I have never been strong in grammar; actually it's still a joke between my mom and me because she is exactly opposite.  She has been fixing my spelling since I was six years old, it is too bad she can't edit this blog for me daily.  Or that I can't afford to hire a full time editor.  I excelled at math and the arts.  Over the years, I lost the math bug, let's hope I don't lose the artistic one or I am screwed....

I understand possessions and compound words and that many words can be spelled two ways with different meanings, like pear and pair.  And I even usually know the right one to use.  However, there are times when I still can't figure out loose and lose and choose and chose... as are many others from the sounds of it!  But I am not an editor, I never took classes on the subject and I don't claim to be a spelling wiz.  In fact, I am the first to laugh when I whip up a pretty label and realize I spelled "yard steaks" instead of "yard stakes".  We are our own worst critics, and I know that I make mistakes.  There are probably 56 in this post alone... oh boy.  So I beg, come here for advice, ideas, smiles, pictures, sharing and of course, endless amounts and tips and tricks and inspiration, but please don't expect perfection.

Finally, since I am only planning on posting like this once ever in the history of IHeart Organizing, the other hot topic and feedback I have received, is in regards to sponsorships and ads.  This is a touchy one, and I am going to do my best to keep it short and sweet {have I ever been able to do that?}

First, this blog would not exist without the sponsors.  So if you love the blog, then the sponsors come with it to keep the lights on.  That's how a lot of things work.  I could either charge everyone a monthly subscription for visiting, or I can take on the opportunity to make an income to support my time blogging and my hard work, by working with sponsors.  Just like TV shows, magazines, businesses and a zillion other blogs do.  It works and it makes sense.

Second, I will agree that at times it can feel like "sponsor driven" posts may be a bit much.  I don't ever want this blog to be about that or feel like that is the direction the blog is heading.  Ever.  It's about organizing, family, home and life. Therefore, I am absolutely aiming for more balance.  More on that in a minute.

Third, I am selective about what I review and giveaway.  I receive many offers and promotions to write about things that don't fit with this blog.  I only select items that I would use or endorse.  Items that promote an organized lifestyle, green living, pretty living, feeling good, eating well, kids and family, etc... Everything I am about, I will be willing to share with you.  I never allow a product review unless I am able to give something back to you.  And not everything will be a fit for you, but you never know, something also might be just what you have been looking for.  The other great thing about the product reviews and giveaways is that I L O V E to support individuals following their own dreams, just as I am.  I would only hope that others will do the same for me as the opportunity should arise.

And fourth.  As I mentioned far above, I am an extremely grateful and appreciative individual for having this blogging opportunity.  My sponsors are fueling my dream.  The least I can do is give them a monthly thank you shout out.  That will never change.  I will never take them off the sidebar.  I will always give them the love that they deserve.  You can always choose to skip that post if you wish.

Now back to the balance part.  Because I don't want product reviews/giveaways/sponsorship posts to feel like they are hogging a huge chunk of the blog, I will do my best to double post those days.  It won't ALWAYS happen, but I will do what I can.  It's all about finding the perfect balance between the two and I am still working on achieving it.

I think I am done now.  I wish I wouldn't have had to go there.  But it needed to be said.  I needed to get it off of my chest, otherwise, I unfortunately am the kind of person who will let anything negative eat at me until all that is left is my toes, and that is just gross.

And because I always believe in ending on a high note.  I am to the point where I am a whole month out and have over 300+ emails in my inbox!  YAY!!  Wait, that's not good?  So it is a bit true that it gives me a horrifying overwhelming feeling that I am that far behind for the first time since I started this blog, so forgive me as you wait for a response on everything from sponsoring me to answers on if you should paint your hallway leaping lizards green or lunenburg blue, I will do my absolute best to get back to each and every one of you as I can.  But here is why I see it as a positive:

• I had THE BEST busiest summer and I can't wait to share more with you as to why and...
• There is a lot of love going on in that inbox that means the world to me and I seriously am at a lost for words when it comes to the appreciation I have for you all and every single note, inquiry and question I receive.  I know that there are so many IHeart Organizing supporters out there, I could just cry thinking about it and that's all that matters, so much more than any one bad thing that is said.  It's now time for me to mark today down as another learning experience and move on.

I am going to delete the entire thread of negativity that went on today.  It doesn't mean that I don't sincerely appreciate all of you who completely had my back {you seriously MADE MY DAY!}, but I never want to see or live it again.  And if I do, I will continue to delete the bad, read all of your hundreds of kind comments that I printed off from Facebook, and move on with a smile.  Because that is how I roll.

I know I am not alone in this, here are a couple more of my favorite posts on this very subject:

Making it Lovely: Blog Sponsorship and Advertising

Under the Sycamore: Thoughts on Blogging

Bower Power: Nature of Blogging