STAYING INSPIRED AND RUNNING A SUCCESSFUL BLOG WITH LEXY WARD OF PROPER

Are you ready for some major inspiration?! A successful blog, tons of recipes, DIY projects, and a kiddo at home sounds like a lot of hard work! But Lexy Ward of PROPER balances it all gracefully. Keeping up her brand and adding even more to her plate in the near future makes us admire her even more! We love her playful and creative content, she is one seriously creative woman! From starting her blog just for fun to turning it into a successful business, Lexy has some great advice on how to keep up with your work and stay inspired. Read on below to find out what inspires Lexy and how she continues to grow in a competitive business.

1. It seems there are a million new blogs that pop up every day.  What advice would you give someone just starting a blogging business?

 Oh gosh! First of all, hang in there! The task-list seems overwhelming, but just remember to start small and tackle one thing at a time! Also, contrary to popular belief, there IS room for everybody! The community is wonderful and supportive so take the time to build relationships that can lift you up when things get tricky!

2. When did you decide to start a blog?  How did the concept behind PROPER come to you?

So I have worked in the creative community for years, but years ago, it was just a side gig! I was actually working a different full-time job and doing styling & event services on the side. My husband (he’s the tech-wiz!) suggested I start “this thing called a blog” to build my portfolio and share things I’m working on and that inspire me!

3. We love the colorful & playful nature of PROPER! Where do you drive inspiration from?

Thank you! Sheesh, we pull inspiration from everywhere! I like to travel and get a lot of inspiration from plants, colors, and textures I see when traveling. I also like to hit up flea markets and look at old ideas and think about how I can put a new, modern twist on something that was popular in the past.

4. You recently changed the name of your blog from The Proper Pinwheel to PROPER.  Why did you decide to change the name?

You know, I just felt that we had outgrown that name. In blogland, you’re constantly evolving and that can happen with the actual aesthetic of the blog. I really felt like I found my true aesthetic and the content we were sharing just didn’t feel like it was aligning right with the name. So, I just dropped everything to PROPER! And it’s kind of a play on the word, because if you know me in person, you know that I am the FARTHEST thing from “proper!”. I’d like to just say I’m chill.

5. Your blog features so many drool-worthy recipes and whimsical DIY projects!  Have you always been a creative person?

I come from a very large Italian family. That means a lot of cooking and a lot of parties and get-togethers. Growing up, I was always interested in making things myself. And that just kind of translated into this DIY version of myself as an adult! And I LOVE to cook! Crazy fact – I don’t eat everything I make. While I taste it all to be sure it gets my stamp of approval, I usually just give it away! #diabetes

6. We are swooning over the beautiful images on your blog, so we have to ask!  Who is in charge of producing such beautiful photographs and how can we do it too?!

That’s so sweet of you to say! Photography has definitely been something that we’ve had to work at over the years! If you could go back to some of my very first posts (please don’t!), you would see that the photographs are night and day! As the editor of PROPER, I create most of our editorial calendar and shoot most of the day-to-day content myself. For larger projects, we collaborate with photographers & brands to give the content the oomph it needs. I’m a big believer in experimenting! Test out your camera. Take classes. Just shoot everything in every setting until you figure out what you like and what you don’t!

7. With so many fabulous creations under your belt, we know this is probably a tough question, but what are some of your favorite projects that you’ve worked on?  Any crafty failures you look back on now and laugh?

Oh gosh, I really love our floral food series. We’ve done floral macarons, floral marshmallows, floral pancake wreaths, and my absolute fave would be the floral pie wreath that seems to circulate around the web every Thanksgiving season! Crafty failures? I once made a garland out of loofahs. Shower loofahs. That’s all I will say about that.

8. We can’t praise hard working mammas enough!  With a busy home life and an ever popular blog, how do you find balance in your everyday life?

Caffeine! And a great support system. I honestly thank the heavens for friends and family who totally support what I do. And on those days that I am mentally exhausted and about to crack because I think I can’t go on much longer, they send words of comfort and encouragement and rejuvenate me!

9. How do you plan your blog content?  What’s your process for creating features, photography, writing, etc.?  Any tips on planning ahead?

I like to be as organized as possible, but sometimes ya just gotta fly by the seat of your pants! I typically try to plan things out 4-6 weeks ahead of time. With the holidays, it’s much farther ahead of time. I take a look at the season, the trends, what we are currently working on in our house, and the sponsored content we have already scheduled. And once those are on the calendar, I choose filler posts that are smaller, but still as original as possible, to add in.

10. Your daughter, Vita, is the absolute cutest!  Does she enjoy being just as crafty as her talented mamma?

Oh my gosh. Vita is SUCH a ham! She’s definitely got the creative bug. And that’s a blessing and a curse! She’s always working on whatever I’m working on. If we’re painting something for a shoot, you better believe she’s a few feet away painting her own little something. She is also quite the furniture arranger. She watches me move things around to get the perfect shot and has started doing it herself! She moves all the pillows off the couch and says “take a picture!”.

11. What’s in store for PROPER in the coming future?

I don’t even know where to start! This year has been the craziest and best yet, and we have so many exciting things in the works. I will say that there is going to be a shop, a line of products, and a series of workshops in different cities! So we’ve definitely got a lot to look forward to!

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU HAVE A BLOGGING IDENTITY CRISIS WITH RACHEL OF PENCIL SHAVINGS STUDIO

Having a blogging identity crisis is much more common than you may think! It’s easy to get burned out and not know where to go next. We are so excited to have Rachel Singleton here with us today to give you some amazing tips on what to do when you feel stuck and have no idea which direction to take! The founder and creative director of Pencil Shavings Studio knows a thing or two about this feeling. With two cute kiddos at home, a blog, and a graphic design career in full bloom, Rachel can definitely relate to having a blogging identity crisis! This inspirational woman started her career from nothing and has evolved into a successful businesswoman, balancing her personal life with her very busy work schedule. Read on below for Rachel’s advice:

Adding major life change involves identity shifts, whether subtle or drastic. If you’re in your twenties or thirties, you’re most likely going to experience some serious changes to your life: careers, moving, relationships that come and go, marriage, parents aging, the birth of children. Never again in your life will you experience so much change as you do in these two decades so it’s only natural that you experience a little bit of an identity crisis. It’s defined as “a period of uncertainty and confusion in which a person’s sense of identity becomes insecure, typically due to a change in their unexpected aims or role in society.” I’m willing to bet that we’ve all been there.

When I started blogging nearly eight years ago, I was sitting at home with a teeny tiny baby and felt like my graphic design career was completely over. I was wrestling with so many new identities on a daily basis. Who was I now? A mom, a newlywed, a homeowner, a graphic designer (wait, was I anymore?). It was a full-blown identity crisis. I didn’t know who I was or what my purpose was. Luckily I was able to find my voice and hone my style and design work through blogging. When I had my second baby in early January of this year, I anticipated another minor identity crisis and sure enough, it happened again. I suddenly felt insecure about myself as a designer and as a writer. Who am I and what am I doing here? What do I keep writing about? What is really worthy of my time? Why am I even doing this? Here’s how I got through it:

1. Assess your values. Who are you at your core? What do you value most? Do you recognize what your purpose is?

I’m willing to bet that while some  circumstances around you may have changed, your core values haven’t. Yes, I’m a new mom to two (!) kids, but that doesn’t mean that I’m not still me: I’m still as in love with color and pattern as much as ever. I’m still interested in bringing beauty to the world in whatever way I can. Does my purpose manifest itself in different ways? Absolutely. But the core value remains the same.

2. Stop paying attention to what everyone else is doing and focus on what YOU want to do.

It’s really easy to get caught up in everyone else’s collaborations, followers, overall engagement.  Recognize that in an identity crisis, by its very definition, you are feeling vulnerable and insecure. This is not the time to compare yourself with everybody else’s highlight reels. Dig in to the work YOU are doing and build yourself up by listening to interesting podcasts, engaging in outside-of-blogging hobbies, etc. Nurture yourself and your creativity.

3. Do some hard work and edit yourself.

This part can be kind of painful. Look back at your past work and get real about what you’re spending your time on. It’s really helpful to take a planned hiatus from blogging, say maybe two weeks so you can step back and gain some clarity. Maybe you do this on a vacation or by attending an industry-specific conference. The point is this: rest is invaluable  and can bring some major clarity. When I took an extra long maternity leave from my shop, I was able to better evaluate what was working and what was definitely not working. I really wrestled with where my shop was at and the next level that I wanted to take it to.  It was hard to look objectively at the places where I hadn’t done my best work, but it was maybe the best thing that I could have done for myself and for my business overall.

4. Know that it won’t last forever, and that you will regain your footing.

Keep doing the work and showing up.  Every time I’ve had  bumps along the road of my career path, it’s led to something bigger and better than I ever could have imagined. Knowing who you are leads to greater security and opportunity down the road. Like Glennon Doyle of Momastery says, “Carry on, warrior!”

BEST PRACTICES FOR WORKING WITH BRANDS WITH PENCIL SHAVINGS STUDIO

You’ve most likely seen your favorite blogger connect with big name brands and been super excited about it! At the same time, you might be wondering how you can do the same. Even if you don’t have as big of a brand right now yourself, partnering with big brands is a huge help. Lucky for us, Rachel Shingleton ofPencil Shavings Studio is here today to spill her secrets on how to be successful with brand partnerships! Even though it may seem a little scary at first, you will realize that when you put yourself out there, good things are bound to happen. Read on below for Rachel’s seriously helpful advice and you’ll be partnering with brands in no time!

“One of my favorite things about blogging is the opportunities that come from brand partnerships. In my seven years of creating online content, I’ve worked with both large and small brands including the Land of Nod, Benjamin Moore, Lamps Plus, Garnet Hill, and plenty more. But it’s taken me several years and plenty of failed attempts to get it right.  I also have a unique perspective as a shopowner and designer who frequently receives pitches from bloggers who want to partner with Pencil Shavings Studio.

Creating a relationship with a brand is a lot like dating. You see each other and think “We could be so good together!” But this is where it gets tricky. In the beginning, you want to be cool, calm, and confident while still revealing your personality and what you can offer without being a total creepy girlfriend stalker. In other words, be the girl who’s like “Yeah, we should have coffee sometime – I’ve got some great ideas for you.”  Not the one who’s like, “I LOVE YOU AND WANT TO HAVE YOUR BABIES!” (I’m only halfway kidding).

Here are a few tips on sealing the deal:

1. Showing up

The best way to connect with a brand is in real life at an event, be it a conference or workshop. The majority of the brand partnerships I’ve gotten are because I’ve met the right people face to face.  Bottom line: you just can’t beat creating a personal connection with someone.  Attend a conference in your niche, look for local events, create a blogger event, find a workshop, join an industry-specific group. Get out from behind the computer and rendezvous in real life.

2. It’s about them. And you. But really it’s about them.

The best question you can ask when working with a brand is, “What are your goals as a brand in the next quarter/year/etc?” Position yourself as a listener and the problem solver. It’s not what YOU are going to get out of it. As a business owner myself, I delete emails immediately that say “I love your product line; would you send me something to review?” Um, no. What does that really get my business? How are you going to help the brand achieve their goals? What do you offer that nobody else does? What is your unique spin? What’s a creative way to present both yourself and the brand in alignment?

3. The art of the email

Maybe you haven’t met someone from the brand you’re interested in working with in real life but you want to connect.  In order to avoid the terrible cold call/email, I highly recommend connecting via social media. Instagram and LinkedIn are both great ways to get your foot in the door. Again, avoid the stalker girlfriend connotation. Don’t be creepy. But engage frequently and genuinely with the brand to build a relationship (see a theme here?).

4. Be professional

Being someone who is professional and easy to work with will take you far when working with a brand. Be known as someone who is gracious, on time, and communicative. Ask questions, offer clear deliverables, a contract if needed, and don’t make big promises that you can’t deliver on (i.e., “I can totally get you in ____ magazine!”). Underpromise and totally overdeliver. And when the project is over, send a nice thank you or a gift.

5. If it doesn’t work out

If you don’t hear back from the brand immediately, don’t panic. It takes time for approval for certain projects. Don’t be afraid to send a friendly quick email after a couple of weeks if you don’t hear a response. But beyond that, don’t pester them as it’s incredibly annoying, and leaves them with a negative impression. Don’t burn the bridge – you never know if something else might work out in the long run.

Finally, a few quick notes that I’m not going to park on: work with brands that share your values and aesthetic. If it’s not a great fit for both of you, then it’s a no-go. Don’t forget your well-designed media kit and/or rate card with accurate information that’s easily visible in an email. Make it easy to contact you with informative email footers and an easily visible email address on your site. ”