Hello Again, it's me.

Hello everyone! 

I remember when I first started this blog and how exciting and new it all was. This is the first time since I started blogging that I haven't written much. But that's ok.  Life threw a few curve balls - as some of you may know I was diagnosed with Stage 1 Breast Cancer back in February (2017) & my life has gone through some major changes. Not only did my diet completely change but the food that feeds my soul needed more attention & so I went ahead & tended to it. I had surgery to remove the cancer & thank the Lord I am doing well. It is a day to day thing ....sometimes fearing the unknown and whenever I get a strange pain I think "What if?"  But I know I need to always remind myself of the blessings that God has already given me & that is what keeps me moving forward. 

As for blogging I'm not sure where it's headed or what direction I will take. But what I do know is that I've learned to be more present in my life. That social media along with blogging takes away from the beauty of 'real life'  - as difficult as it may seem sometimes. 

So with all that said, thank you for visiting once again & stay tuned photos of my newly decorated apartment!

-post by jen ramos

Read More

....& the contributors are

Welcome ladies! 

Thank you for much for all the submissions, unfortunately we couldn't email everyone back, there were too many.  We still haven't decided on the 'Food' category yet & we'll be keeping the current 2 fashion contributors on the blog. Because of this, we are not accepting anymore Fashion contributors at this time.  If your name is listed below, please email us asap. Thanks & look forward to working with you! 

-image by Jen Ramos

Read More

Contributors Wanted

The time has come again! Contributors are such a joy to have at MadeByGirl & we are now looking for a few good ones! Love to see beautiful posts, don't you?  Time to switch out the current contributors & bring in FRESH FACES & posts! I'm usually busy managing my MBG Shop, painting for my Cocoa & Hearts gallery, marketing, answering e-mail & maintaining my personal life.  Looking for new contributors to start around  February 1st or 15th!!!!
 

I'd love to recruit 5-6 contributors to blog here on Made By Girl!  It's not going to be an easy task - but I'll choose bloggers for each category below.  Categories are:
 

• Decor/Interior Design
• Fashion
• Beauty
• Food

Below I've outlined the details:

HOW OFTEN WILL YOU POST: 
1-2x per month for 6 months.
 
EXPERIENCE:  
Yes - Must have an active/updated blog. I'm looking for bloggers who have some knowledge of programs like Photoshop & have a 'similar aesthetic' as Made By Girl. The posts you write for MBG cannot be posted on your own blog, but you can link to it from your blog.
 

WILL THERE BE COMPENSATION: 
Not at this time. But it's a great chance to gain more exposure & collaborate with MBG blog. I will also gift a LOVE print to all the new contributors who are chosen!
 
BIO PAGES: 
We'll be adding a page with photos & short bios of all the current contributors - here's an example. .

RESOURCES: 
It's very important to credit 'all' images properly.

PRETTY POST PLS: 
I love pretty & interesting posts. So pls put some LOVE into it! 

FASHION BLOGGER SUBMISSIONS: 
 I will need some collage-style posts from you, NOT all outfit posts. 

HOW DO YOU SUBMIT: 
If you you want to submit, email here  & let us know 'which category' you're interested in. Write 'Contributors' in the email subject pls. ALSO, pls email me your blog so I can see your style! If you submitted last yr. don't be afraid to submit again! 
   
WHEN WILL WE SELECT CONTRIBUTORS: 
If you don't hear from someone at Made By Girl in about 2-3 weeks from this post, it means someone else was selected.  Unfortunately, we may not be able to respond to everyone. We will post the selected contributors in an upcoming post!

Thanks & looking forward to hearing from you! 

Read More

Blogging Tips...

I've been blogging since 2006. Throughout these years I've gotten so many emails asking questions like, how did I get started blogging & what does it take to get to this point & higher? 

However, the most common question I've been asked has been:

What tips can you offer about blogging?

None. Just kidding. Tips are always useful and anyone can benefit from them if done correctly. Below are some basic ones I'll share today...

• Create an appealing looking design for your blog 
• Make sure your blogging about a subject your passionate about
• Post at least 5x a week.
• Comment on other blogs as much as time permits.
• Be Patient when building your blog - give it time to grow
• Don't be discouraged if you have no/few comments within the first 6 months
• Make sure all photos posted are crisp & clear
• Take time to respond to comments/questions whenever possible
• Respond to emails as much as possible
• Be ready for more emails/questions the more your blog grows
• Be yourself
• Before you consider selling ad space, make sure you have a relatively large following on your blog.
• Photos are extremely important & they should be clear - not blurry. Flash photos are a no-no in my opinion! 
• If you're blogging as a business, then you must spend time on your blog & create worthwhile posts.
• Unique content is a big plus. People love seeing photos of your home & your DIY projects, so photograph it all if you can & post away.

A few books that I read that will definitely help you are 'Publish & Prosper', 'Blogging For Dummies' & 'Start Your Own Blogging Business'.

Hope these basic tips will help you get started on your blogging journey!

-image via valentina design

Read More