BALANCE: YOUR ROLES & BEST YOU'S PART 2 + FREE PRINT OUT!

In part 1 of "Your Roles & Best You's" we worked on defining what roles you have in life, what your "best you's" are, and started the process of prioritizing those lists. Going through this process mentally is so helpful for visually seeing the responsibilities you have in life as well as your needs so you can put fourth the right amount of time and effort into each. If these aren't defined in your life, it's very possible things feel chaotic or off balance. If you haven't read through Part 1, I suggest doing so before moving onto Part 2. :)

So, now that you've made your lists and began the process of prioritizing these things in your life, it's time to set goals and action items for your roles and "best you's". By doing this you can create more of an application//action based list rather than just stating that your priorities are a, b and c. This might also require you to pull out a calendar or journal to capture your thoughts and maybe make room in your schedule.

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Tips on Creating Actions Items for your Roles & Best You's:

1. Brainstorm Your Ideas. ---> Take your lists and write out ways that you can make these items a priority. Example: One of my top priorities//roles is being a wife to my husband. I can make this a priority by having a designated date night each week, turning off the radio in the car on the way to work as we car pool and talk about life, take time each year to invest in our marriage by going on a retreat, have dinner together most nights, and get to bed at a good time so we can spend time together before going to sleep. One of my "best you's" is spending time on my personal development. I can put this into action by designating brainstorm time for myself each day, reading a set amount of books each year and giving myself a creative day here and there. By brainstorming ideas around your role, you can create a plan for things you would like to start doing in the role and how you can make it a priority in your life.

2. High Priorities & Low Priorities. ---> As you are brainstorming actions items around your roles and best you's, be sure to focus more heavily on your top priorities and how those will play an essential role in your life. Give your lower priorities less action items.

3. Refine Your Goals. ---> Set 3-4 main goals//action items for your top priorities and 1-2 goals//action items for your lower priorities based on the brainstorming you previously did. Set a timeframe for yourself and schedule a day at the end of the timeline to review your goals and set new ones//make adjustments.

4. Sit Down & Talk About It. ---> It's important to communicate these types of things to close family and friends. Have intentional conversations about your ideas and ask them to support you. They are likely within your list of roles and priorities, perhaps include them on brainstorming action items//goals for that relationship?

5. Calendar. ---> All of these goals will take time. Begin evaluating your schedule. What are you spending too much time on that isn't a high priority? What needs to be adjusted? Begin working in your new goals and actions items into your daily, weekly, and monthly routines.

6. Display & Remind. ---> Now that you've defined and prioritized your roles, "best you's" and goals around each, it's time to make that list into something pretty that you can reference, hang up in your room or keep at close reach.

I've created a PDF just for you called "Get it Strait"! Feel free to print it out and use for this process. Just click the link below to download the PDF and print as many pages as you need. The left side is for your roles. You can list them by priority and then list goals for each one underneath. The right side is for your "best you's". You can also list these by priority and capture your goals!

>>>  DOWNLOAD "GET IT STRAIT"  <<<

You're in a great place! We've defined and set actions items//goal for the most important things in our lives! How empowering and exciting! Putting our hearts and efforts towards the things that matter most and that we are most passionate about is really living a life toward abundance. This is for you to define and run towards! For Part 3 of this mini balance series we will be talking about tips on achieving your goals and when//how to re-evaluate.

5 THINGS WITH MILA

Hello! My name is Mila, and I am a multi-tasker to the max! It is in my nature to take on many tasks and roles in my life and because of that I am always thinking of ways to stay inspired. I always knew I needed to be in a creative field when I was deciding what I was going to study in college. Growing up along two Architect parents, I felt comfort in creation and developing ideas. After a few detours, I also studied Architecture, took time after my Bachelors to work in the professional field, and now, am back in school pursuing my Master’s so that I may one day, be a licensed Architect. Being an architecture student gives you little free time, but I stretch it out as much as I can, creating jewelry with my mother and sister, developing my blog, Mila's Thoughts, and exploring all areas of design. In such a competitive field, where so much needs to be invented and re-invented to stay original, staying inspired is key. Here are some things I keep in mind:

1. Understand what you love. ---> Before we set out to accomplish something, we have to make sure our heart is all in it. Ask yourself, am I doing what I love? Do I believe in what I’m about to put all my energy into? If we don’t have passion, it is going to be a bit tougher to stay inspired and create to the best of our ability. This is something we will always have to work on in our careers, because let’s face it, sometimes we just don’t have the luxury of working on things we love. But if we have an understanding of it and we get excited about the task, it will show. It will be that much more successful.

2. Soak up energy from the things you like and the people who support you. ---> What’s better than looking at your favorite things to inspire you? If you believe in something, a book, a design, an article, then you can learn from its strength. When I want to get inspired for my architecture design class, I research. I open books on my favorite designers, watch videos of their work, and speak with other architects and students. Or I go to those in my life who know me best: my parents and my boyfriend. They believe in me so they can help me believe in myself. The energy in those sources makes my mind go into major inspiration mode. I absolutely love going to the lectures at my school when they host an architect. They give great presentations on their work, how they produce, and stay inspired. I sketch the whole time, write lots of quotes down, and save it for when I need it. (Usually at 3am when I’ve reached my limit and am too tired to keep designing!)

3. Talk about what you’re doing. ---> Conversation is very important for those with a creative soul.  When I just can’t seem to resolve an issue in my design and looking at my sketchbook makes me dizzy, I stand up and go talk to my peers, or my parents. Don’t be afraid of discussion because it is through the combination of minds that we come up with the greatest ideas. Buildings, just like many other things, are created through collaboration. Bouncing off ideas, or simply stating your thoughts to someone else, can help you get back on track because many times all you needed was another set of eyes or ears to catch what it was that got you stuck in the first place. When we are passionate about what we are designing, we can talk about it and defend it, even when it needs a little work. And hey, who doesn’t like a good coffee break at your favorite spot with the perfect mood for inspired conversation?

4. Customize your workspace. ---> Where you work, create, craft, read is so important to your productivity. Having your own personal space will really help you get comfortable and be able to create without worrying about the mess, or the people around you. I have a few different places where I work: the office, my architecture studio, and my desk at home. I can’t really adjust my office space but when it comes to studio and my home, I make sure to make it comfortable. My favorite item is a pin-up corkboard. Show case what you love. Surround yourself with the necessary supplies. The right lighting, music, maybe a T.V. Sit on something comfortable. It can be simple, as long as it allows you to focus on what you’re producing and not how awkward you feel producing it. When you need inspiration, you should be able to find a book//magazine at arms reach. Look at your inspiration board, and have plenty to sketch on. There’s always a good coffee shop as well. When I need a good latte and a cozy spot to read, I head over to my favorite one.

5. Have fun! ---> It is best if we enjoy the process. The good and the bad. You need a break? Take one! Reward yourself and don’t put more pressure than you can handle. The more sincere we are about what we do, the better it is, so having fun while we work (or when we take a break) will make our product amazing. Surround yourself with the music you love, your favorite supplies (I have my favorite pen that makes all the difference!) and go for it! And definitely make sure to smile through the process.

I believe in all of you and I hope these 5 tips were helpful reminders and can help you refocus when needed. Remember, it’s okay to have an off day. That’s what we’re here for – to support each other. Thank you, Savannah, for letting me share & also for being one of my sources of inspiration! -- Mila

Find Mila Here:  Blog  |  Twitter  |  Etsy

Thank you, Mila, for your fabulous tips on staying inspired!!

BALANCE: TIPS FOR MAINTAINING STRESS

Stress is a real and serious part of life. It loves sneaking in when you least expect it and totally twerking you out. Some people deal with stress emotionally and some manifest it physically. There are phases of life where all we feel is stress and there are times when all we hear is the ocean waves crashing at the shore, the laughter of our close friends, and the weight of the world taking a break from our shoulders.

Stress can be tricky. You can be under loads of stress and not even realize it until you're so mentally and physically worn down you have to call in sick...or you just don't have the umph to do what you love anymore. Stress can cause burnout, sickness...wrinkles! It's a nasty thing. SO, how do we maintain the stress in our lives? How do we recognize when it's taking up residence and kick it to the curb before we're overcome? While I'm NOT an expert and have definitely been dealing and fighting off my fair share of stress, especially recently, I've come across some learnings that are great to get yourself back on track and work toward balancing stress levels in life.

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TIPS FOR MAINTAINING STRESS
1. What Are Your Stressors? ---> One of the biggest ways to eliminate stress is to recognize what's stressing you out! Spend time with yourself or with a trusted friend to talk through your stress and pinpoint the things that are causing anxiety. Once you recognize those stressors, talk through ideas on how to eliminate them.

2. Don't Stop Taking Care of Yourself. ---> Out of all of the advice I can offer, this one is the biggest! Don't stop doing the things you need to do in order to care for yourself. Make sure you are getting PLENTY of sleep, eating healthy, exercising, showering, dressing yourself up, doing your chores. Keep yourself and your surroundings in a good place. This will give you the energy you need to fight off stress and pull yourself together. It will also help ward off any sickness that stress can cause.

3. Take a Break. ---> Sometimes stress is your body's way of saying, "Enough already! Let's rest!". Even if you have an endless to-do list, set aside some time to decompress, do something that makes you feel refreshed and peaceful. Give yourself a set amount of time, allow yourself to enjoy that time and then get back to getting the things done that you need to. If you don't listen to your body's warning signs, you can get caught up in some major burnout.

4. Step Back & Reorganize. ---> Stress can come from chaos or not having a full understanding of something. Take a step back from your stressor and consider ways it could be better understood and organized. Maybe you're entire home is a mess and your need an inspirational space to move forward? Take some time to clean, get yourself in a good place and approach your stressor from a new angle.

5. Break it Down Step-by-Step. ---> If your stress is related to a project or certain action item, break it down step-by-step. Make lists, schedules, and delegate what you can. If you don't have to own the entire project, request help from others. What do you really need to accomplish now and what can you schedule for another time?

6. Meditate//Pray. ---> Get your mindset in the right place. Spend time in quiet, praying or meditating. Don't let your mind spin out of control with stressful emotions and thoughts. Get ahold of yourself and encourage yourself with uplifting words.

HELPFUL STRESS RESOURCES
Meditation is the Best Tool to Fight Stress
Why Stress Management is Important for your Health

What are some of your helpful tips and resources on maintaining stress? Please share below!

5 THINGS WITH UNEARTHING WORDS

Hi! I’m L.M. Sherwin and I’m in the process of self-publishing my first book! I work full-time from home as a novelist, writing blogger, and as Maiedae’s Administrative Maven, Ad Manager, and Chief Editor. My days are full of doing the things I love. About a year and a half ago, I was in the middle of a job I absolutely hated and all I thought about were the stories in my head and becoming an author. My husband encouraged me to pursue my life dreams of becoming a full-time novelist, so I did! I was able to leave my job at the end of May and I started working as hard as I could on my novels and Maiedae work from home. It hasn’t been an easy road, but I’ve certainly learned a lot about turning your dreams into manageable, accomplishable goals! I’m here today to share with you 5 things I’ve learned about dreaming, setting goals, and achieving them.

1. Turn your dreams into bite-size pieces. --->  Life is busy and hard. Instead of keeping your head up in the clouds and dreaming about all of the amazing things you’d like to do, bring those suckers down to the ground and do something about them! My dream since early childhood has been to become a published, full-time author. I wrote stories my entire life, but only during the early days of my marriage did I take my dream seriously and begin to make goals for myself. My husband challenged me to write an hour a day. I took his challenge and I made it happen, even with a day-job and domestic responsibilities. With the exception of horrible sick days or family emergencies, I wrote every single day for an hour. That doesn’t seem like much, but in one year, I wrote four manuscripts—three novels and one novella. After I had established the habit, my dream had become a goal—to write books and pursue publishing. After a year of hard work, my dreams finally looked as though they might come true!

2. Excuses and emergencies are not the same thing. ---> When you begin to set goals for yourself, life will somehow wind its way into your priorities and make your goals seem impossible to accomplish. However, if you want to achieve your dreams, your goals MUST be a priority in your life. If you are tired one night, that is not an excuse; get your butt up and work on your goals! If a family emergency comes up, cut yourself some slack. I am a tad bit obsessive and it was hard for me, at first, to accept that sometimes life happens and you HAVE to take a break from your dreams. Usually, though it’s only for 1-2 days. Learn how to distinguish between something that takes precedent over your goal work and something that is just your mind talking you out of pursuing your dream. We get sick, we get tired. But if you can function normally, don’t make your tiredness or sicknesses an excuse to avoid working on your dream. If it’s not an emergency, don’t let it interfere with your goal work schedule!

3. Communicate to your family and friends how important your dreams are. ---> One of the best ways to communicate your dreams to your family is to follow the first two items above, but if you are already doing those things, more might be required. Most people are won over by displays of discipline and commitment. If you have turned your dreams into goals and are making them a priority in your life, most likely your family and friends will be on board. However, if you want to leave a day-job in order to pursue your dreams, it might take a little extra communication. Discuss your plans with your loved ones and talk about how important they are to you. Sometimes, it can be difficult to make your dreams achievable when you are in committed relationships with other people, but if it is that important to you, you’ll talk about your needs with your loved ones and they’ll honor you.

4. Start doing creative cross training. ---> I have spoken about this on my own blog before, but one thing I believe in very strongly is creative cross training. If your dream is creative in nature and you have made goals to achieve it, you need to be engaging in creative cross training. This involves fostering your inner imagination and creativity by participating in activities outside of your passion. Because I am a writer, it is of the utmost importance that I take adequate time outside of my work to read, craft, draw, paint, and do other activities that keep my creative mind stimulated. Just like the muscles of our body get used to one activity, your dreams and goals can cause your brain to get stuck in a rut. You can’t stop pursuing your goals, but you can do other activities that can help your brain experience new things of the same creative variety. This will keep your mind and imagination fresh and active so that you can approach your goals with energy and vigor every day! Find some other hobbies that are of the same feeling as your primary goal activity and jump in!

5. Reward Yourself. ---> Many people operate in their lives without treating themselves with care and love. If you have turned your dreams into goals and have been working hard on achieving them, you need to take care of yourself along the way. Those of you out there who have been on this road a while know how tough it can be to keep motivated when you get tired and burnt out. One of the best ways to keep yourself motivated and healthy is to provide yourself with realistic rewards along the way and big rewards when you accomplish a goal. One thing I like to do to make sure I am productive each day is to use mini-breaks as rewards. For instance, I’ll write 1 page and then get to check social media for a minute or two. Then, I’ll write another page, etc. That way, I am being productive, but I am rewarding myself for my work. When I publish my first book (in the next two months!!!), I will be treating myself to a HUGE reward of some sort. I’m not really sure what I’ll choose, but I will definitely be rewarding myself for all of my hard work. You should do the same. Accomplishing goals is a very big deal. Treat yourself like it is.

Thanks for reading my 5 things! I hope they were of help to you in your journey. Also, thank you so much, Savannah, for having me as a guest on your blog today! I appreciate Maiedae so much and everything it stands for!

Find Leah Here:  Blog  |  Facebook  |  Twitter | Goodreads

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Call for 5 Things contributors! -- If you have great advice to contribute about blogging, running a small business, staying inspired, setting goals, or staying organized, please contact me at Savannah@maiedae.com about being featured in a 5 Things post. :) 

Leah is an amazing writer and an invaluable contribution to a lot of the work that goes on behind Maiedae. Thank you, Leah, for your wonderful advice!!

5 THINGS WITH PAPER CROWNS

Hi! I'm Natasha and I blog over at Paper Crowns. I'm a Canadian, married to an American, who I met while living in South Korea. I love design, beautiful words, pretty clothes, pretty spaces, and pretty places. I'm a graphic designer and admirer of anyone who lives to create. After almost four years of living abroad and bouncing around, I now call Charlottesville, Virginia, home. I live in a tiny, but cozy, apartment with my husband Kyle and a few guitars. We love long drives, animals, rainy days, and each other. Blogging has been an incredible source of inspiration and motivation in my life. It's this incredibly creative, wonderful, nurturing community that I'm so happy to be a part of. I'm so excited to share some of the things that I have learned in navigating the blogging world. These five tips are the things that I most try to live by when blogging. Keeping these general rules in the back of my head has really helped me blog in a way that I'm proud of and enjoy what I'm doing every step of the way.

1. Quality over quantity really isn't a cliché. ---> One of the "blogging tips" that I came across most frequently when first starting out was, "try to post every day." Anyone can throw something up on their blog every day, but for many bloggers, posting quality content every day just isn't feasible. Feeling like you have to hit a post quota in order to gain and maintain readers makes blogging seem like more of a chore. It sucks the spontaneity out of writing about what you love, and often the quality of posts suffers.

A common theme among all the blogs that I truly love is that the content never comes across as forced or churned out. Some of these bloggers post every day. Some post twice a week. I love these blogs equally, and my love for them is based on their content, not on how often I get to read something new. I don't post every day. It's not a pace that I can keep up with. I aim to post about three times a week, but if I can't do it, I don't beat myself up over it. Three times per week is a good, manageable goal for me. It allows me to blog about my life and the things I love at a pace that feels natural and not forced. It allows me to spend time crafting posts that I'm proud of.

2. The way your blog looks is just as important as what it says. ---> Content is king, but it's nothing without design. I really, really believe that a blogger needs to give equal weight to both to have a truly good blog. I never sacrifice style for content. If I love a photo, but it just doesn't work aesthetically with my blog post, I don't use it. If I'm featuring images that I love but can't get something to work in the right dimensions, I scrap it. I set out to approach blogging in an artful way — to give equal weight to the aesthetics and content of each blog post. I love the idea that a blog post can be a mini work of art. I try not to just present images of beautiful things, but to present them in a simple, clean, compelling, and beautiful way, with constant attention to detail. Presenting content in an artful way can evoke a certain feeling that may otherwise be lost.

And in an even more immediate sense, having a well-designed blog makes all the difference in convincing a reader to actually stick around and look at your posts. If your writing is beautiful but the initial impression of your blog is lackluster, people may not even bother to read. In the blog world, first impressions go such a long way. The sheer number of blogs out there means that if your blog isn't aesthetically appealing, it may get overlooked.

3. The love you take is equal to the love you make. ---> As a blogger, being part of a community is important, because blogging is a community venture. How exciting are those very first comments that you get from people that you've never met before? The realization of, "Whoa! Someone who isn't my best friend or mom actually enjoys what I'm writing!" is exciting! It gave me energy as a brand-new blogger. It made me want to write more and share more and pour my heart into my blog, because people actually seemed to like it! Gaining readers is exciting.

But maintaining them is what really matters and is what really makes a blog successful. Maintaining readers means interacting with them. It means answering their questions and checking out their blogs and leaving genuine comments that you actually mean. It means responding to their emails and acknowledging them in your posts and listening to their feedback and really learning from it. For bloggers, it is completely up to others to determine our success. Being gracious is important. Make sure your readers know just how much you appreciate their being there.

For me, the blogging community is the absolute best part of blogging. I've met some truly wonderful people whom I never would have met if I hadn't taken a second to follow a link back to their blog from a comment they left on mine. Be thankful and be accessible. It goes such a long way.

4. Don't take yourself too seriously. ---> While it's important to be mindful of the way your blog and your content is perceived by others, I've learned that it's so important to approach blogging in a way that's light and fun and honest. For me, blogging is this really, really cool way of sharing my life and the things that I love. Part of what makes that experience enjoyable is learning to share in a way that's spontaneous and adaptable to change.

It's about not being locked into the idea that you have any sort of responsibility or obligation to present your life in a certain way in order to please your audience. Or the idea that your audience is only interested in reading a sanitized, over-edited version of your life. I know that as a blog reader, I don't find perfection interesting. Because what's interesting about a perfect life? It's the mistakes and flaws and quirks and ability to laugh at one's self that makes a blogger relatable and compelling. It's a refreshing thing to see.

Laugh at yourself. Challenge yourself to write in new and different ways without worrying about whether people will like it or not. Experiment. Follow your instincts. Blogging is something that should be fun, above all else.

5. You can't be everything. Just be yourself. ---> I heard this really, really great piece of advice once. I wish I could remember where I came across it, and who said it, but it's still one of the most astute observations I've ever heard and has stuck with me for years. The advice was related to performing, but is applicable to everyone and very much applicable to blogging. The observation was that we're all essentially three people: the person we really are, the person an audience thinks we are, and the person we're portraying. And the more we can get all three of those Venn diagram circles to overlap, the more successful we'll be.

In blogging, as in life, the easiest and fastest way to get those circles to come together is to be yourself. There are thousands of blogs devoted to thousands of different things. A blog doesn't have to be about every topic that seems to be popular in the blogging world in order to be good. You don't have to be a jack of all trades. We can't be everything. When we try to be everything, the stuff we're really good at gets watered down and lost. Our audience can't get a handle on who we really are and we come across as insincere because no one can be everything.

When you write about what you love and only what you love, your writing comes to life. People are able to feel that sincerity. Your writing is compelling, because it's honest. And that's what makes people want to read.

These rules are not hard and fast, they're just what I've found works for me. I hope they've helped inspire you a little bit too! Thanks so much to to the wonderful Savannah for having me here. Happy blogging!

Find Natasha Here:  Blog  |  Bloglovin'  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Pinterest

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Call for 5 Things contributors! -- If you have great advice to contribute about blogging, running a small business, staying inspired, setting goals, or staying organized, please contact me at Savannah@maiedae.com about being featured in a 5 Things post. :) 

Thank you, Natasha, for your wonderful advice!!

5 THINGS WITH MADALYNNE

Hi, my name is Maddie Flanigan and I am the blogger behind Madalynne. It's a cool pattern making and sewing blog that covers everything from how to draft a sloper to interviews with designers and what purchases are on my mind. By day, I work in technical design for a very large fashion company in Philadelphia. I consider myself one lucky gal to be able to do what I love every day, not to mention I receive a stellar discount off some really fancy clothes. But it is the knowledge my day job has given me that I’m truly thankful for. If it weren’t for my day job, I would not have learned all the valuable pattern making and sewing tips and industry secrets. Examining and evaluating garments and the patterns that go with each, as well with dealing with wash care, label placement, and packing, I have been able to create tutorials that relay information not known to many in simple and easy terms and illustrations.

I was ecstatic when Savannah asked me to participate in her 5 Things feature. I have been an admirer of her puritan, but cool ways, as well as her blog and its marvelous design and writing. But what 5 things would I talk about? I had no idea. Then, I decided to write about a topic that I have recently had experience with – burnouts. We all have experienced a burnout at some point. It’s when we work too hard - nights, mornings, weekends, and sometimes subconsciously in our sleep - and our minds and bodies just can’t take it anymore. The to-do list might be endless, but we literally can’t handle one more task. We shut down. At this point, a spoonful of relaxation, recharging, and Julie Andrews singing her infamous song from Mary Poppins, is the only remedy. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent reaching this point. Through trial and error, I have found 5 things, which I share with you today, that help me keep my mind sane even if the world around it is not.

1. Break projects into little tasks. ---> This is an obvious tip, but an essential one. Almost all of my projects cannot be completed in a day. Whether it is a sewing, pattern making, or blogging project, all take time to complete. Last year, I made a dress to wear to my dad’s wedding. It was an intricate dress that had boning, batting, lining, and interlining. The pattern alone took a month to correct and the entire project took four months to complete. It was a lot of work but I was able to complete it efficiently and sans a panic attack by breaking the project into mini tasks. On Monday, I cut the fabric. On Tuesday, I transferred notches and other markings from the pattern to the cut pieces. On Wednesday, I staystitched and interfaced each pattern piece. On Thursday, I sewed easy seams. On Friday, I pressed. Each one of these little steps prepped me for major tasks that I planned for the weekend (when I had more time). By breaking the project into smaller tasks that could be completed in 30 minutes, the project progressed seamlessly (pun intended).

2. Break. ---> This is another obvious tip, but also an essential one. We all need breaks. We cannot keep going and going and going. Over the past three months, I have worked straight through the weekend, blogging and sewing into the wee hours of the mornings and nights. Although I was having fun, it finally got to me. When the weather started to get warmer, I struggled to muster up enough energy to sew or blog.  I resisted for awhile, but I eventually had to satisfy my craving and venture out. So one weekend, I did something completely out of character - I went hiking! I didn’t know what to wear or what to bring; I just knew I wanted to go hiking. And I had the best time! I spent an hour or so sitting by the river, just watching the world go by. The smell of fresh air, the colors of the landscape, and the slight breeze recharged my brain way past one hundred percent. My creativity and energy the following day were at levels they hadn’t been for weeks.    

3. Music and silence. ---> Music and silence save my sanity, even though both are completely different (music is sound and silence is the absence of sound). When I’m down and in the trenches of a project or when I hit that midday brain fart at work, listening to music puts me in the zone and keeps me going and going and going. Music also cleanses me of feelings of anxiety, nervousness, or even the blues.  Maybe it’s the melody, maybe it’s the beat, or maybe it’s the voices of the singers but something about music releases whatever is pent up inside me. Far, far away my thoughts and worries go whenever the likes of Kings of Leon, The Black Keys, The XX, Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, and Lil Wayne start playing.

Along with music, silence also keeps me sane. We all live in a chaotic world that seems broken at most times. Between work, hobbies, friends, boyfriends, family, chores, etc., our lives just seem like too much. Silence, for me, puts the broken pieces back together. The peacefulness of no sound brings order back to my mind and refuels for whatever is next. I often spend Saturday or Sunday mornings dilly-dallying around my apartment to the sound of nothing.

4. Notebook. ---> The reason I feel anxious or nervous most of the time is because I have too much to do and I don’t know where to start. This is where my notebook comes in. I carry my notebook around with me almost everywhere. Seriously. Whenever I have a thought, idea, or task, I jot it down in my notebook. If it is a task, I look at my calendar and figure out the best time that it can be completed. I also use my notebook to break larger tasks into little ones (like I did for the dress I made for my dad’s wedding). Doing this does the same thing as silence – it brings order and structure to my life.

5. Mentality. ---> An extremist mentality will most certainly lead to a burnout. We can’t do it all and we can’t achieve it all. Being okay with just being okay is okay (sorry for the redundancy). I would love for my blog to reach the status of Elsie Flannigan’s, A Beautiful Mess (we have the same last name!) but if Madalynne doesn’t reach that level, I am okay with that. What’s most important is that I’m having fun, helping others, and meeting others with similar likes and hobbies. As long as I achieve those three things, I consider Madalynne and myself successful.

If all my above suggestions fail, watch Grace Kelly in the movie "High Society". Watching her and Frank Sinatra gallivanting through the plot, climax, and eventual resolution prevents and cures all and every case of burnout. 


Find Maddie Here:  Blog  |  Facebook  |  Instagram

Thank you, Maddie, for sharing such awesome advice on preventing burnout. It's awesome to do what you are passionate about and truly love, but you have to give yourself time to rejuvenate and refresh so you can keep doing what you love. Great tips!! 

5 THINGS WITH THE WONDER LIST

Both wide-eyed dreamers, Emily and Allie started The Wonder List with hopes of staying inspired and sharing that inspiration with others. Best friends since college, their bond has been marked by an uncanny sense of connection that continues to build as their friendship is written into each other’s stories. Through all of their experiences, together and separate, they have learned that life is frequently the reverse of what you might have expected, but they have also learned that the reverse is often more beautiful than anything you could have imagined. The key to discovering this beauty, perhaps, is simply to stand and wonder.

1. Free yourself. ---> Simply give yourself the freedom to be inspired. Spend hours and days thinking about what inspires you, what you love, and what brings passion to your life. Make a list with two columns and proceed to outline all the things that you love and all the things that you loathe. You are a deep well of inspiration that needs to be tapped. This exercise opens up a beautiful inner conversation and allows you to see brilliant correlations.

2. Explore through travel. ---> Traveling to a new place provides an instant fresh start and allows you to feast on the inspiration of the unknown. By being intentional in planning and taking trips, you open yourself up to opportunities that may not exist in your place of residence. Make it a priority to save money for that out of state or overseas experience and take advantage of a weekend getaway in the next town whenever possible.

3. Talk that talk. ---> Gain inspiration from conversation. The people you’ve interacted with in person, over the phone, or via email in the last week are the people who inspire you. They know you and you want to be known by them. It’s worthwhile to schedule coffee and dinners – staying late to talk about life or tabling the conversation for the next date. Ask the hard questions; find out what inspires them and how they can be an intentional resource on your journey.

4. See the world through new eyes. ---> People-watching has immense potential for inspiration as there is a wealth of insight to be learned through observation. It proves the value of closing your mouth and opening your eyes by forcing you to notice the intriguing people moving all around you. You never know when your next outfit inspiration will pass you on the street, so pay attention!

5. Get back to your roots. ---> How refreshing and inspiring a trip to your hometown can be. As our grandmothers always said, “You can go home when you can’t go anywhere else.” This is so true and important for young people to remember. Inspiration is often found when you step away from everything and go back to the nest; to recharge and be reminded of the cloth you were cut from. On numerous road trips to Florida, we always cherish the hours spent in the car. Breathing in the wide-open spaces, thinking, dreaming, singing our favorite songs, and usually crying a few tears on the drive back.

Find Emily & Allie here:  Blog  |  Allie's Twitter  |  Emily's Twitter  |  Pinterest  |  Bloglovin

Thank you so much, Emily and Allie! It has been such a special experience seeing you both grow as bloggers and getting to know you ladies. Your inspiration topics were so unique and perfect to start us all on a good path this summer. I totally recommend adding The Wonder List to your "must reads". These ladies are very talented writers and always have inspiring content! :) 

5 THINGS WITH SCATHINGLY BRILLIANT

I'm Kate and I blog at Scathingly Brilliant and sell my illustrated goodies in my Etsy shop, Flapper Doodle. If I had to be honest, the thing that gets me out of bed in the morning is food. My food (I'm a huge fan of breakfast) and my cat's food (she starts meowing at me incessantly from the moment she sees me open my eyes.) Other than that, each morning I really look forward to getting dressed (oh, I would add this to my list of 5 important things -- if you work from home, get dressed! It makes work feel more like work, and makes the transition into pj's at night really fun), reading my favorite blogs, and watching movies! 

Scathingly Brilliant is my personal life & style blog. I do outfit photos, post about music, astronomy, fashion, and movies... and cats, of course! When I'm not blogging, I'm usually drawing or tending to my Etsy shop. I started Flapper Doodle in 2009 on a whim, after someone on Flickr liked one of the doodles I had uploaded to my account. I had spent the last 4 years trying to sell my art at outdoor street fairs, but nothing really took off until I opened my Etsy shop. Since then, I've been really lucky to work from home and hang out with my cats all day long! Anytime I regret working from home, I look over at one of them and I'm reminded of how much I love it! :)

1. Don't let low sales hurt your self esteem. ---> I struggle with this a lot... I tend to feel really bad about myself when my sales are slow, and it affects me way too much. So I try hard not to let my Etsy shop dictate my mood & my self confidence. Running a handmade shop is a lot more personal than running any online business -- you're putting your own creations 'out there' and it can be really rough on the ego. During these slow times, I try to come up with new products and re-energize my shop! Creating something new helps bounce the ego back a bit (assuming you created something you like, lol) and take your mind off the slow sales!

2. Know what your best-sellers are. ---> My dad owns a small mail-order business, and he told me that 20% of your items account for 80% of your sales, and he's right! You'll have a lot of great products that just never sell, and one or two that fly off the (virtual) shelves! For me, it's my best friend art prints. They're far and away my best seller, so I try to capitalize on that by offering a bunch of products with that design. Right now I have prints in 2 sizes, customizable prints, an embroidery pattern, and pendant sets! Even if your best seller isn't your personal favorite, remember that its success is what makes your handmade lifestyle possible.

3. Don't let yourself get overwhelmed. ---> Only list items in your shop that are either pre-made or can be made in a reasonable amount of time. Make sure that you have your supplies in stock before listing an item for sale. Even if you have a reliable supplier, it's easy to accidentally oversell, and then find out that your supplier is sold-out too. (Can you tell I'm speaking from experience? lol) If you sell 20 of something that has to be made to order, consider deactivating the item for a little bit while you play catch up. There's nothing worse than an angry, impatient customer, and making sure you're not overwhelmed is the best way to avoid meeting any!

4. Celebrate little victories. ---> When you're running a handmade business, chances are you're doing it alone. A lot of people have amazingly supportive spouses (or in my case, parents & a brother) who help them when they're crunched for time, but the bulk of the work is all on you. You're a manager, customer service representative, shipper, *and* you have to make the product from scratch. It can get overwhelming and sometimes seem very daunting. I find that one of the perks of being your own boss is treating your whole staff (aka: you) to a treat. It can be reaching a milestone sales number, or just packing up an especially challenging order. Buy yourself a little something, or order take-out! (P.S.-- Ordering take-out can also serve as a great bribe incentive for getting family and friends to help you out!)

5. Support other handmade artists. ---> You don't have to purchase (although that is always awesome!), but at least leave feedback on their blog posts, favorite items on Etsy, re-tweet their sales and new products on Twitter, or like their posts on Facebook. Good feedback and encouragement is SO important and if we all support each other, everybody is happy! :)

Find Kate Here:  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Blog  |  Shop  |  Pinterest  |  Bloglovin

Thanks so much, Kate, for sharing!! I loved all of your tips! I especially love your idea about capitalizing on your best selling products and supporting other handmade artists!

5 THINGS WITH CASEY WIEGAND

My name is Casey Wiegand, I am a freelance artist, wife and mama. I love painting and sharing our life through my blog...where you can expect pieces of my perspective on life, faith, kids, marriage, with touches of art, creative inspiration, projects and things I love along the way. I have two little ones with one on the way and hopes of lots more and am married to the love of my life!

1. Stepping on Toes//Blogger ETIQUETTE. ---> Be careful asking other bloggers to give you a "plug", or to post something on their blog, etc. etc. etc. There are a lot of ways//things you can ask that will put the person you are emailing in a tough spot. If you catch their attention, they will ask. If they want you to guest post for them, they will ask. If anything, you can ask them to guest post on your own blog for a start! Or be a sponsor on their blog. I don't have extra money, but I decided from the beginning of blogging that a portion of what I made from sponsors would go back in to sponsoring other blogs... I value people's time and the hard work they have put into their spaces!!!

2. Sponsorships. ---> Sponsorships are huge. But you also have to use them to your full advantage. You have to be active...Do a giveaway! I know some people say, "I don't want to do a giveaway and have someone just following me for a pair of shoes!" Well, I don't look at it that way. I have never, ever followed a blog because I want to enter a giveaway. In my opinion, it gives you that solo attention to give people the option to see what you have to offer and they will either like it or not. So, maybe you specialize in recipes and someone who loves to cook sees your giveaway. They wouldn't have found you otherwise and now are going to become a loyal followers! I personally think that SOLO//paired giveaways are what bring the traffic! Choose a blog that is somewhat similar to yours. If people are following that blog and yours is similar, they will most likely enjoy yours as well. Choose blogs that you think will best represent you! Also, I look for blogs that are growing. If they are growing readers monthly, then if you sponsor them monthly, that is constant new exposure!

Starting sponsorships on your own blog. This is what I did: I emailed like 10 blogs that had the same followers as me and asked them if they would be willing to trade for a few months while I "figured the whole sponsor thing out." Then, I found 5-6 bigger blogs and emailed them and asked permission to put them listed as a sponsor for free for a few months. This does a few things. One is, people think, "Wow she has Gussy, Litttle Miss Momma, Just lovely things, etc. all sponsoring her blog!" It makes you look good to have big names on there. And you haven't rubbed them the wrong way in the process. THEN, you will start getting emails from new bloggers who see all your sponsors and want to start paying. My whole trade//free process lasted about 4 months, then I got more and more emails and I started slowly dropping off my free ads and my trades. I started accepting paying sponsors around 600 followers.

3.Twitter. ---> Twitter is a FABULOUS network to meet other bloggers. Promote your shop &amp; blog. I have met so, so, so, so many people through Twitter! Get on the bandwagon; it's worth it. Such a fast, easy way to instantly connect.

4. Be a space worth following. ---> Maybe it is just the artist in me, but I am very drawn to blogs with big, beautiful pictures. Wide blogs with big pictures are fabulous in my opinion! If you aren't using Photobucket or Picnik, check them out; they are AMAZING. Also, I think it's worth it to have a blog design that you love and that feels like "you"! If your look and whole feel//vibe is warm and inviting, people will want to come back!

5. Blog about what you know. ---> It would be silly for me to blog about things I don't know. It wouldn't be real and people see through that. If fashion isn't your thing, don't focus on that. Focus on what you love, what you are passionate about.

Find Casey Here:  Blog  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Pinterest 

Thank you, Casey, for contributing your thoughts on blogging!! I loved your thoughts on blogging about what you know. We are all so unique and have something great to offer. It's important to harness the "you" and let that shine in your blog!! (Or really with anything you do!)

Interested in being a 5 THINGS contributor? Email me at Savannah@Maiedae.com!

5 THINGS WITH LITTLE TREE

Hi everyone! My name is Maria and I am the little lady behind Little Tree Vintage. My blog is a lifestyle blog that expresses my personal style choices and encompasses everything that I love. I also own the Little Tree Vintage Shop on Etsy. I grew up adoring my mother's closet and was always stealing her vintage jewelry. When I got a little older, I realized how much I enjoyed it and I decided to start my own shop. That's how Little Tree was born.

Some of my favorite things include shopping (of course), making jewelry, collecting vintage//pre-loved items, antiquing, thrifting, and cooking. I spend most of my days daydreaming about things that inspire me and keep me motivated. I hardly ever feel like I have my feet on the ground, but that's what makes life fun, right? I chose to talk about the topic of blogging, because I think there are a lot of things that I have learned during this whole process and I love being able to share that with others. Coming into the blogging world can be very intimidating, but once you develop your own style, everything will fall into place!

1. Be yourself. ---> Always stay true to yourself. There are so many bloggers out there doing the "same" things. Find ways to stand out and find your own style. It's important to be yourself and not try to imitate anyone else, plus everyone wants to find out about *you*, not someone else! I think being genuine is extremely important, even in the blogging world, because no one likes a phony, and you're not really being you. Embrace who you are and roll with it; chances are people will love it, too! I know we are all terrified of putting ourselves out there completely, and I totally understand where you're coming from, but honestly...that's what people relate to.

2. Social networking. ---> Join social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, and Pinterest. These are such great ways to meet new people who share the same interests as you. Branching out across different areas of the web will bring you all different kinds of readers and make your blog more accessible.

3. Make your blog pretty. ---> I think this is really important, because how your blog looks says a lot about you! You should treat your blog like your baby. I know I do! People will judge your blog when they first visit it. It's the same as meeting you in person. How it looks tells a lot about what the readers should expect. I don't think everyone needs a super fancy layout, but I do think there are a lot of free and easy tutorials you can do to spruce up your own blog! The internet is full of resources and sometimes even asking other bloggers can help! Some good websites I have used for tutorials are Youtube and photoshop tutorials.

4. Don't be discouraged by the "numbers". ---> When you start your blog, there's a huge chance that no one will read it. That doesn't mean in any way that what you're writing isn't great or worthwhile. It just means that you haven't built up a solid readership yet. Things like this take time and dedication, and if you work at it, it will come. You just have to be patient and ignore the numbers. Do what you love and the rest follows.

5. Don't let negativity bring you down. ---> When you put things on the internet, there will always be people who just simply do not agree with you, or what you stand for. The best thing to do to people like this is just simply ignore them and go on your merry way. Feeding into negativity will make you seem just as childish as the person who started the problem to begin with. Let it roll off of your back, as much as it might irritate you; it's not worth it! And remember, taking the high road does pay off, and people will always respect that. Don't let anyone control how you feel about your blog. Keep doing what you love!

Find Maria Here:  Blog  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Bloglovin

Thank you, Maria, for sharing your tips on blogging! I loved what you had to say about not letting negativity bring you down. It's important to remember why you do what you do...because you love it! Negative comments shouldn't make you re-consider what you love.