This blog hobby that turned into a job, that turned into a way to make new friends
Once upon a time, I was living a leisurely life with my son and my husband and we were scraping by with our little incomes. We were constantly worried about money and food and most importantly, making our boy happy and healthy. I had an itch to do something different, but I didn't know what it would be. I'm not the best at meeting people and making lots of friends so I didn't want a hobby that would have me committed to being in public a lot and I'm in a small town so play groups and Moms Day Out programs are not a regular occurrence. I started reading blogs in my spare time or when I was bored at work (shh) and then decided that would be fun, so I started a little crazy blog and played around a little. Before I knew it, I was whisked away into the circle of blogger networks and learned about making money with my blog. Who knew that my online hobby would also be a way to make new friends?
And then it happened, I was introduced to Collective Bias and their network of bloggers, Social Fabric, and I have finally found my mother ship. This group of weirdos awesomesauce bloggers are now my coworkers, confidantes, peers, friends, and family. For a lonely shy girl like me, hiding behind the computer screen and the camera lens, this is the place for me…and I am loving it!
We are all very busy bloggers and we want to love on our friends and those in our network, but the thought of buying one more gift, especially for someone we probably have never met before in person, is just too overwhelming. What we have decided to do as a group is a gift that probably only another blogger will understand. We are introducing each other to our own followers and linking up so you can all learn just a little more about us.
Meet Liza from Views from the Ville!
You may have noticed that I linked to Liza last week when I was telling you about her review of FamilyDen, but I want to share with you a little more about her as a person.
I actually met Liza outside of Collective Bias in a few other blogging groups and she is the sweetest and most supportive person. It didn't surprise me that she was a big part of Social Fabric because of her like-minded approach to supporting other bloggers. She is intelligent and highly successful (seriously, you should read what all she has done on her About Me page) and with all of that passion, she still finds time to chat with fellow bloggers and show support any way she can. She is a mommy to a toddler and stepmom to two older children and she loves to write.
Connect with Liza
I would love for you to check out Views from the Ville and find out what she's talking about today. Read a little more into her experiences through #cbias and tell her what you think!
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Views From the Ville's Holiday Gift Guide
So, I may have procrastinated so much in my own shopping and on my blog that I never got around to posting my Holiday Gift Guide, but if you are still looking for gifts for the holidays, check out Liza's recommendations!!
Find out more about the #cbias bloggers
Hop along the linky below and read about a few more bloggers in our blogging community!!
I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This post has nothing to do with shopping and is a "just because" introduction to someone I have met through Collective Bias™ #cbias #SocialFabric. All stories and opinions are my own.
I’m not a blogger, but I love entering giveaways. I, too, have made some new friends that also like to enter giveaways. Fun community!
Very happy for you that blogging has been a great experience! I was just introduced to the whole blogging/couponing/giveaway..ing, social media stuff about a year ago and it sure has changed my life for the better. I work full time out of the home but man I wish I could do what you guys are doing!
Jennifer, I work outside the home full time as well, but I also have some liberty to work on things while I’m at work. Blogging can be done part time. It will take longer to get “noticed” but if it is something you love (writing) then it is totally worth it!
I have been a stay at home parent for the past 6 years and didn’t really do much else, until I discovered blogging! About 3 years ago, I started a parenting blog and about a year ago, I started my product review/giveaway blog. I have had such a great experience and met some really amazing people in the blogging community! I love doing what I do and it allows me to be a great parent as well. There aren’t many jobs out there that I could say that about.
Take care,
Tammy
Tammy Allgood-Hemmerling recently posted..Lucky Emerald’s Giveaway Linky. Family Friendly only please!
Great story, I wish I had time to really dedicate to blogging. Seems like work and the kids eat it all up.
I love blogging and social networking. I am a stay at home mom and felt so unfulfilled before and blogging and networking has been such a wonderful experience for me as well. I have even met up with several women I met online!
i love finding new blogger friends !:) especially ones that have common interest
awwwe thats so cool, i need to find a way to make more friends, i have none, just my coupon facebook friends. very cool thanks for the great post
I always love hearing about people who can make money doing what they love! I tried blogging and I’m not sure it’s my thing really (I find I like reading more than I like writing blogs, lol!) but it just makes me so happy that there’s a whole new industry, this blogging thing, that can provide hobbies and income to people around the world, especially at-home or working moms. It makes me smile. Yay for the 21st century, amiright?
Elizabeth, I struggle with this as well! I started my blog because I loved what others were doing, but there are days that I sit down to write and I find way more that I want to read instead. My ultimate goal is to stay at home and blog, but it is going to be a while before I am at that point. I don’t make tons of money doing this, but it has blessed our family a few times in the past year.
P.S. If you need any advice on starting/maintaining a blog, I would love to help.
Hey new friend. I’m glad you have this blog! I hope you smile and laugh today!!! Hip, hip, hoorayyy!
Thank you for sharing your story. I’m a fairly new follower, but I’m glad I found your blog and will be sure to stop by often!
I have two blogs and absolutely NO idea what I’m doing. LOL..maybe this will be my year to get it all figured out, and make some money with it!
Thank you for sharing on how you became a Blogger and the introduction to new/successful bloggers. Reading into each of their blogging stories will certainly put those of us, who have just begun to “dabble” in the Blogging World, a BIGGER PICTURE of the many opportunities which can lead us to be a successful Blogger.
Thanks for the posting. I find it interesting as I keep muddling over doing a blog of my own. Tho the biggest worry would be can i find the time to keep it up. I like meeting new friends as I have found a few distance cousin online. i’m glad that you found new friends and your blog hobby that turned into a job.
I’m so happy for you! Thank you for all you do for us, too! I’m amazed at how connected the internet makes us. You truly can have friends worldwide and stay up on their lives and be close.
It’s funny how our friends come from the strangest places, without warning and without asking for them. Fantastic way to begin your new found friendships and hope they last..I too am jealous, we all need good friends and they are hard to find.
What a wonderful story!! I’ve been toying with the idea of starting a blog but have no idea where to start. I recently lost my job and am really stressing about finding a new one due to knee problems. Hearing about your success, maybe I’ll look into it more.
I would love to help in any way I can! Please feel free to email me if you have any questions. It is so much fun and if you put the time and effort into it, it can really pay off!
I am happy that your blog turned into something so great for you and your family! I have been thinking about starting one of my own now for a little while, as I suffer from anxiety issues and am unable to hold down a normal job. I have found these giveaways as a way of helping provide things for my family that we both need and enjoy and wouldn’t normally be able to afford. I want to be able to give back somehow, so starting my own blog may be a good start. We will have to wait and see. Thank you for sharing your story! Makes me think about all the amazing possibilities out there.
I would love to help if you decide to start your own blog. They are fun and can be very helpful for finances and for relieving anxieties about meeting new people! It is also a great outlet, like a diary…that supports you back!
I am on disability so I can’t work outside the home. I make a few bucks writing articles for some online companies. I also enter giveaways as a way of relaxing. I never thought of these blogs actually making a person any money. Maybe someday I’ll have to find out how that works. Thanks for the great article!
I also have been mulling around about blogging but i have no knowledge of how to start maybe you could help me? I would appreciate it. I feel like i am in your shoes with the whole before blogging things.
You know, I find nothing funny to say about this blog post. Sorry! I think it’s wonderful that you found a blogging home and a source of social (and professional in this case!) support in the blog network. And even more wonderful that you now get paid to do something you love. I think that should be everyone’s goal in life! I know it’s mine!
Wow, that is pretty interesting how you got into blogging. I can not take the leap yet to create a blog and get into it. It sounds like a lot of work, but also a lot of fun. You get to be in a network with a lot of awesome bloggers. I have talked to so many bloggers and they are so nice. I love entering giveaways, and commenting.
I’m a Janet too, I go by Jan mostly as my mom’s name was Janice (pronounced Ja-niece). Here’s a Christmas joke for you: Why did some of the elves not get to make toys with Santa this year? They were subordinate clauses. LOL
Haha!! I remember when I was young and there were NO Janets around. Now I hear the name all the time.
What a great story! I am shy also so it is so much easier for me to hide behind the computer screen also and think of all the faces we can make at some of the things we read and get away with it Yay!!
It’s great that you met these awesome bloggers and are enjoying yourself as well as making money.
I’m glad that you have met up with these awesome bloggers and found something you love to do. I would like to start a blog but don’t know what to write about to keep people interested. Thanks for the post and good luck in all you do.
Really cool! and I’m sure that blessings come in some “weird”…ahem..awesomesauce bloggers to connect with! Great story!
Thank you for such a nice article! SoFab is definitely the best community I’ve found in my blogging experience. Everyone is awesomesauce for sure
Liza @ Views From the ‘Ville recently posted..Holiday Sweets: Peanut Butter Buckeyes Recipe
This is a very inspiring post. I once started a blog but had no idea where to find a community like the one you found. I may try again, I miss it and would love to make new friends as you did!
What a great post! Thanks for showing me a great new blog to follow on Facebook!!
Karen of 3G2S recently posted..Meet Brandi Morgan . . . a.k.a. "The Creative Princess" #CBias
Great feature! SoFab sure does have a great group of bloggers
Mel recently posted..Winter Wishes LabelWorks LW-300 Review & Giveaway
I am jealous that you guys got to meet up!
PS: Don’t feel bad about being a procrastinator! You are in better company than you might know.
Mallery Schuplin recently posted..Wine with Mallery- Why I Love Collective Bias