BLOGGING TIPS: EASY IMAGE PINNING WITH BING

When I am searching for inspiration or new products to use in my DIYs, I like to do image searches. Rounding up the products and pinning them helps me organize my ideas visually to plan a project or just to save things I like that I can use for inspiration later. Have you noticed that you pin alot of the same things? I sure do, I usually end up pinning similar things and start to see a trend. Unfortunately, I just can't pin everything I really like. I have to admit that I have missed pinning some great stuff simply because of the time it takes to track down the source, go to the website and then walk through the pinning process. This not only means I miss inspiration because I am in a hurry, but many times I miss the links to products I need to source for a DIY. I have been almost to tears trying to find the perfect cake plate I just saw, where was it at again? I swore I would remember.

Enter awesome new tool. Last fall, I particpated in a focus group of lifestyle and design bloggers at Bing here in Seattle. We talked with Bing about our needs as bloggers and how we use search engines. What happened? The Bing image search has a great new feature, 'Pin to Pinterest'. Get this, you can pin right from the image search. Gone are the days of clicking through, just pin it and be done with it. The pin credits the original, high resolution source, hello blogger heaven. Paired with the already amazing search engine tool (did you know you can filter by site and picture orientation?) my image hunts are going to be so much easier and faster.

In theory, this is going to help me be much more productive. The less I click over to a site when I am searching for something, the less I will be distracted by the content. Honestly, who hasn't wasted a few hours reading and browsing around looking at things you weren't looking for. Not that I don't get inspiration from that, but it will save me a ton of time and keep me from doing it every time. I'll be able to whip out Cinco de Mayo inspiration and products in a blink of the eye, adding more original pins to my boards, which is always a good thing. In short, I am loving the 'Pin to Pinterest' feature on Bing, both personally and for the blog.

This post is sponsored by BING. All opinions are my own.

HAPPY SPRING AND BLOGGER BURNOUT TIPS

Happy Spring everyone! I'm knee deep in craft supplies, trying to sort the chaos before shooting some of the great Spring DIYs I have coming. So, if you are reading this you are probably wondering - what? Why do I mention blogger burnout? Because it happens. Because I am fighting it. But it isn't what you think, let me explain.

I never wrote my epiphany post after Alt. In fact, I never wrote much about Alt at all, but it doesn't mean that I didn't love every minute of it, especially meeting my favorite people in person, FINALLY! It means that I have been going full speed since then. Well, really before then. I have been going like crazy since holiday started last July. I am not sure if this happens to everyone, but as a DIY blogger I can say that things get a little crazy. Little is an understatement, of course.

DIYs take time, a lot of time. If you are new to DIY blogging wondering how to get started or have been doing it for a while thinking you might be doing something wrong because it takes so long, don't worry. It takes time to come up with a new idea, to shop the supplies, craft the project, to shoot and edit the photos and then to do all the copywriting to make sure your steps are something someone somewhere can actually follow. Then you are formatting and coding (I don't do this, but maybe I should?) the post itself and promoting and pinning it. You are creating original content - the entire thing from start to finish and that takes time. One of the things I have learned from Alt, and working with Alt, is that there is no shortcut. Seriously. The work is there, no matter what.

I busted my butt through the holidays (a DIY blogger's crazy season) and kept going through Alt. I had two parties to decorate for the Wednesday night dinners- TWO! It was nuts, but so awesome. I am so lucky to have the opportunities that I get (and super lucky for the friends that help set up for those parties). Each opportunity is so amazing that I feel immense gratitude and wonder how they even know who I am. I sometimes get overly excited and say yes to too many amazing opportunities. I had so much going on, including craft styling for a book? What?!? I am just now currently really planning out the year for Hank + Hunt. By the way, did you know March is almost over? Wow. So, it got me thinking, how did this happen? What could I have done better? 

The key to staying creative and retaining a smidge of freetime?

As you bring in new opportunities, let older ones go. Don't get me wrong, I love love love contributing. I am good at it. But there is only so much time in the day and when you start to get those great and fabulous opportunities, you HAVE to let go of others. The only way to make more hours in a day is to organize and prioritize.

I have loved every place I have contributed to, but I just can't keep them all. It happens and admitting to myself that it is okay, well it has done wonders. Contributing is a great way to get your name out there and dive in to the wonderful blogger community, I wouldn't change anything I have done. It has made me have the success that I have. I whole heartedly recommend newbies to do it. I just know that the time is right for me to start forging ahead.

It is okay to go back to mainly focusing on your content and your opportunities (and regaining a bit of a life back). If it isn't okay and I am breaking some sort of blogger law of success, oh well. I'm doing it anyway. Now, let's bring on Spring!

MY HP EXPERIENCE BOARD: DIYS AND PCS

When I was asked to participate and share in an experience board project from HP, I said yes. I was excited to try their new HP Envy 23 Touchsmart AiO PC and give it a whirl. HP is a sponsor of Alt and gathered a few design and DIY bloggers that were there and we all got the chance to take these babies for a test drive. Below is my experience board, I hope you had a chance to stop by and check it out in the HP Lounge. I know the first response is what on earth does a PC have to do with DIYs, I hear you. But when a PC can make your life infinitely easier, well, then a whole heck of a lot. In these days, when we are bringing craft tutorials to life on the internet, you can't do it without a great PC. Let me show you why.

I planted my PC on my marble table, right next to where I shoot DIYs. This explains the mess next to the PC, or as I like to call it, controlled chaos. I always place out everything I have that I think I will use next to me on my desk so that when I search online for those bits and pieces that I still need, I can judge colors, sizes and how much. Occasionally, it helps me realize that I can use something from another project, too.  The Touchsmart is amazing when surfing the web because with just the swipe of the finger I can go back to another source immediately. I tend to do this alot when getting ready for an event, multiple sources are open and going strong. As bad as it is to admit this, I shop around and will buy from a source if they have more items that I need. If I only need one item from a shop, I might not order from them. I am cheap and I hate to pay shipping, but that is another story altogether.  The Touchsmart makes it easy for me to be frugal, despite my quirks.

Another thing I can't stress enough about being creative, use music. It has been so long, too long, since I listened to music when shooting my DIYs that once I started again it was like heaven. It didn't occur to me until I set up my PC next to me, that I can listen to my favorite tunes (the Florence and Machine Channel on iHeartRadio) while crafting. If you are running deadlines, like oh, two dinners to decorate for the Wed Night dinners at Alt, then you need music. Period. Instant stress relief. No matter how much fun I am having, sometimes you get a smidge stressed. I use smidge lightly. Music helped me a great deal; thank heavens for the amazing built in speakers.

When I shoot DIYs, I am shooting and checking them on my computer.  My eyes don't work as well as they used to and I swear I can see something perfectly on screen in my camera and when translated to the computer screen, all things that were in focus are not. While I am getting better at it, being able to pop out my SD card and pop it in to my PC quickly is just part of my workflow. The Touchsmart makes it super easy to do that, right on the side of the screen. So when I was shooting the floating hearts DIY with my tiny photobomber, Hunter, I was able to check my new favorite picture of us, instantly. Amazingly, it was in focus even though it was shot with a remote and he is the wiggliest guy on the planet. 

The most amazing part of a touch screen? Can you say Photoshop? Not only does the Touchsmart make it easier to naviagate the web and switch between applications, but you can use it in any application. Excel, Photoshop and Illustrator. Think of it like using your finger as a mouse. Amazing. I will be showing you exactly how I do that tomorrow and why I truly LOVE this thing, so stay tuned.

I wrote this review while participating in a program on behalf of HP and received an ENVY 23 TouchSmart AiO and other products as a thank you for my participation.

USING TECHNOLOGY TO BE A BETTER BLOGGER

When AT&T asked me how I used technology everyday in my DIYs, I knew they were on to something.  How do I use technology everyday to be more organized and efficient as a blogger? How do I use it to find inspiration and source my products? "It's what you do with what we do" is their new campaign and I am going to show you how they help me do what I do.

My day starts early in the morning, I'm talking 530am or earlier. My first bit of technology is using my home computer to answer emails, schedule classes and put up blog posts. Add a bit of frivolous surfing to the mix and you can see how I spend the minutes until my boys get up. I also schedule conference calls for this time because I am on the west coast, (the best coast, just kidding, well not really) and it is later in the morning for the rest of the country and the perfect time for calls.

Once the boys get up, I try to steer clear of the computer, but in all honesty, I'll continue with emails here and there  on my phone while getting Henry ready for school and making breakfast. After I walk to the bus, everything I do for the majority of the day is done via my phone.

I use Twitter almost exclusively on my phone. I like that it is easier for me to use and I can navigate better through the different channels. I use Twitter to post about my latest addition to the blog and to share links I love. I follow suppliers on Twitter to keep track of new products and techniques. Twitter is like an abbreviated blog reader. I rarely have time to sit down and read my favorite blogs lately, but I can scroll through Twitter and still get all the good bits. Now I am not saying I am so busy I never sit down, I do, I just would rather spend time with the boys instead of reading blogs. I minimize my computer/internet time to what I HAVE to get done.

Almost as addicting as Twitter? Instagram. I love it, the simple visual is perfect for tweeting and I think I might be in love with a few filters. I use it to show sneak peeks of my DIYs and just pretty supplies and random goodness.

I use my phone's internet browser more than my computer. It is with me all the time and I can quickly look up something I want to source or check when Crate & Barrel's holiday line is up yet. Hello!! I'm chomping at the bit here people! I also shop Ebay and Etsy on my phone. I can order something super quick, like these molds for birthday candles. I did a quick search on Ebay, which is the first place I search for supplies, and found birthday candle molds. I'm giving away a secret source here,  I always use Ebay first as a search enginefor DIY supplies. It will always show someone selling something and I can usually get a brand name, a better description phrase or a company to start a larger search.

I use Pinterest the same way. I will search for pretty products or check to see if my newest DIY is already out there. I also just veg and scan Pinterest for fun if Hunter is playing by himself. I use it on my phone because it times out once you get to the bottom. That is my personal timer, because as you know, by the time you get there, you have spent WAY too much time on it, right? You know it's true.

Another way I use my phone? I check if my local supplies are in stock. If I am going to Target, I will check to make sure they have white tablecloths before I decide which to go to. This is so important because I can find out if they have it before I trapse around three different stores, young boys do not like to go to more than 2 Targets in one day. Trust me.

I can't live without my maps. They save me from wandering aimlessly and save me time when I inevitably get lost in Downtown Seattle.  It is sad but true, I have lived here most of my life but there are still parts where there is a one way street and I get turned around that I have to use it.

When I took Victoria's Organized Blogger Class from Alt Channel, I immediately knew I needed to use Evernote more often. It links up everything I take notes on. I can see the notes I wrote about on a picture I snapped while out shopping when I am sourcing products for a blog post. I can see a link I saved for a product while online in the wee hours when I am looking for it at Williams-Sonoma and immediately show the store clerk to help me find it.  It links up my phone to my computer for one massive to-do list. I would be lost without it. As a girl who likes paper lists but always leaves them at home accidentally, this has solved my problem.

So, there it is. The ways I use technology to be a better blogger. If I didn't have my phone, I would be sitting in front of a computer all day, and that isn't fun. Being able to use my phone makes it easier for me to check in online throughout the day without having to dedicate tons of time. It is also invaluable as a source to find the supplies I need either locally or online.  I guess you could say I would be lost without my phone, seriously.

A huge THANK YOU to AT&T for giving me an HTC One X phone and service for one month to showcase how I use technology. I also received a gift card for supplies for the DIY coming up later this week. There are a few hints here, can you guess what it is?

LET'S GET SERIOUS...JUST FOR A MOMENT

I've been thinking about this a lot lately and was going to post a party palette this morning, but instead I wanted to talk about something with you. I know some of you who read this blog are bloggers, like myself, and you are looking for the "secret" to blogging. Well I'm here to tell you I don't know what it is. I wish I did. But in the same breath, I would say, at least I don't know it yet.

When I do, of course I will share. When my numbers go bananas, I will tell you what I did. What I do know is how to get your name recognized. Do whatever you do with all your heart. Do it as best as you can with what you can. Go gung ho and keep learning how to do it better. Once you do that, do it as often as you can. Be prolific. Do good work and do a lot of it. Do so much you get through your list of everything you could even think of to do, then do more. The more ideas you churn out, the more that pop into your mind. Keep going, pause if you have to, but get right back up there and go some more.

This post was inspired by this quote over on LOVELY INDEED about persistence. Any thoughts?

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