The EcoChic

I’m growing up and branching out!  I would like to introduce to you Eco Mom Media.  My newest blog project.  Eco Mom Media has a few goals.

1.  Eco-Friendly Twitter Parties.  Oh yeah, baby!  The hottest trend to hit Twitter.  If you are a company looking for more customers or a fellow reader looking for innovative eco-friendly products you will want to check out our Twitter parties.  Our premiere party is scheduled for Earth Day, April 22nd.  Go check out #GetRealDiapers and see what it is all about. 

2.  Tips.  Regular blog posts will include topics on how to use Twitter, Facebook, and your blog to reach more readers and/or customers.  If you are a blogger, I will be providing my personal advice on how I got started with blogging and using social media to gain readers.  If you are a business, I will be providing you with advice on how to reach more customers using social media networks. 

3.  Social Media Consulting.  I’m available by the hour to help you meet your goals.  Let me help customize your social media marketing plan. 

Don’t worry, I will continue to write here as well.  I will continue to provide product reviews and host eco-friendly giveaways.  Eco Mom Media will provide me with another outlet to help you all reach your goals.  Thanks again for continuing to follow The Eco Chic and I look forward to working with you and partying with you at Eco Mom Media. 

Be sure to follow Eco Mom Media on Twitter and Facebook for the latest events and announcements.

I’ve been told that I can find the silver lining in most clouds.   The last few weeks have personally been challenging for me.  Our family has been battling winter illnesses (colds, sinus infections, and the likes) and we are still today coughing and hacking.  Thankfully you can’t catch it from reading this…but I wouldn’t want to step into my house today.  Which reminds me, I think I’m going to hire a maid for a very DEEP cleaning of the entire house and I need to go buy everyone new toothbrushes.  Isn’t it funny what you think about after you get sick? 

Anyways…in addition to all the germs floating around my house I’ve received some scary news about the health of others in my family.  But like most people, we will learn to accept the cards that we have been dealt and treasure the moments we have today.  I know..I sound like a cheesy Hallmark card…but sometimes life gives you so much that there is nothing else you can do but look for that silver lining.  Take a step back and remember what matters most in your life.  It’s easy to get caught up in the moment and focus all your energy on work, extra-curricular activities for the kids, and other daily activities…but what really matters most in life is relationships with those you love. 

Last week I received an email from Erin, an editor at the Southern Living Magazine, and asked if she could feature me as their Mama Blogger of The Week.  This came on the same day as some pretty scary news.  I was all excited and giddy as I sat there and read her email over and over again.  I went and read about some of the past Mama Bloggers of the Weeks and I feel honored to be among these other great mama’s.  Thank you Erin for all your kind words and for the recognition.

So…go check it out.  Go visit the Southern Living, Live Healthy blog and see what it’s all about.  There are great articles about health, wellness, and the environment.  Leave me your comments over there so next time I have a bad day I can read your kind words and remember why I continue to write.  To build relationships, to help one another through these tough times, and to share my passion with the environment with everyone.  

Thank you for continuing to support me.  It’s gonna be one tough year…but I’m ready with my blender to make some lemonade (or maybe a margarita)!  Anyone else thirsty?

Wow, that’s one heck of a title!  If you are anything like me SEO is a bit intimidating!  What the heck is SEO?  Search Engine Optimization!  Still lost? 

So am I!  I’ve been blogging for over 2 years now (publicly – 4 years privately) and it was a slow start.  I basically wrote about stuff that interested me and hoped that people would come to read it.  I wasn’t sure if anyone actually visited The Eco Chic besides my friends and family. 

Now, over 2 years later…I know that I have readers!  Not only do I have readers but I also have a few sponsors.  I can finally say that I’ve made a little bit of money blogging…and it’s not by Pay Per Post…which is how I started!  Not to knock programs like PPP but it just wasn’t for me.  I mean, do I really want to write about space heaters in Florida??  I’m certainly not making enough to quit my day job (yet) but that’s certainly a dream of mine. 

This year I’ve started paying more attention to what the big bloggers are doing.  I’m planning on attending my first blogger conference later this year (and still looking for a few good sponsors), I’m learning what SEO means, I’m learning how to use Photoshop, and just trying to dive into the technical side of things.  I’m learning about all the networking groups for bloggers…Type A Mom, BlogHer, Mom Select, and so many more places to meet other mom bloggers.  

My most recent find is Kelby Carr (founder of Type A Mom and many other great projects) and her new ebook, Mom Blog SEO: 30 Days to Boost Traffic, Readers, Influence and Income.  Click here to visit Mom Blog SEO. I’ve been reading Kelby’s ebook this past week and it’s all starting to click!  It’s like pieces of the blogging puzzle are FINALLY starting to come together!  My greatest challenge blogging is that I’m not a researcher when it comes to the techie stuff.  I barely have the time to blog, work, and keep up with my family!  Who has time to learn what SEO is and why it matters?  Kelby’s book is great because it assigns a daily task for you to complete!  And it’s not hard stuff…stuff I’m already doing (kinda) but just didn’t know I was doing…or why I was doing it.  Tasks that help me to change the way I’m currently thinking so that search engines (like Google) will be able to find my blog before it finds the thousands of other blogs in this vast blogosphere!

If you are just getting started or if you are looking for ways to improve what is already there, this is the best $19.99 that you will spend!  Spend it now, before you waste 2 years trying to figure it all out on your own. 

I don’t have it all figured out (yet) but with Kelby’s help I will be one step closer to my dream!  My dream of turning my hobby into a career!  Will you join me in my journey? 

I paid for my copy of Kelby’s ebook and was not paid to write a glowing review of her work.  I have however signed up for her affiliate program and can earn money if you buy her book!  That doesn’t change my opinions…but it encourages me to share it with all of you…instead of keeping her wisdom and secrets all to myself! 

What’s in your diaper bag?  Want to see what’s in mine?  You’ll have to go see my guest post on I Love Cloth Diapers, the blog of Soft Bums diapers. 

Visit the Soft Bums blog every Monday as I continue my guest post series.  Next week I will provide you some tips to gain the support of your family and friends with cloth diapering.  After all, not everyone is as enthusiastic as you are about cloth diapers.

I have just received a glamorous and much needed SUNSHINE AWARD!  It’s been freezing cold in Florida this week and the sunshine is exactly what I needed. 

This sunshine award was given to me by @Zealandsmom at There’s No Snakes in New Zealandblog.  Danielle and I met on Twitter while talking over cloth diapers one day and I’m stoked that she has finally moved back to town!  I’ve never met her in real life (IRL) but we have a play date coming very soon…as soon as we both find time!  LOL!  Go check out her blog.  She talks about her kids and does product reviews and giveaways too.  She certainly has more time to spend on her blog than I do…I’m slightly jealous.  Thanks D for passing on this wonderful ray of sunshine to me!!

Now…I have to pass it on to 12 bloggers I know.  I spend a lot of time each day on my own blog, networking on Twitter, and yet I only visit a few blogs each day.  Here are some on my Google Reader:

1.  Diapers and Dimples  -  For some lovely Wordless Wednesday pics.
2.  Dirty Diaper Laundry  – Because I love her passion towards cloth diapers! This would be me if I didn’t have a full time job.
3.  Paisley and Pretties  – For her witty tweets.
4.  Mommy Doodles  – Because I truly wouldn’t be able to blog without her! **And because she has become one of my greatest friends! Love ya!
5.  Retro Housewife Goes Green - Always thought provoking.
6.  The Mommy Blog - For a little bit of everything.
7.  Smiling Green Mom  – Because she always makes me smile on #Follow Friday.
8.  Mama Dweeb  – Because we’re all a little silly!
9.  The Crunchy Wife  – watch soon for a guest post from yours truly.
10.  So Fawned  – for gorgeous pictures of a brown-eyed little fawn!

So each of these ladies are asked to pass this award on to 12 other bloggers themselves.  Please take a moment to visit each of them and see why I love them.

Dear bloggers and businesses,

Do you have what it takes to be Eco-Terrific?

Each month of 2010 I will be featuring one lucky blogger or business for free under my sponsors section. Your 125X125 ad could be the first Eco-Terrific sponsor!

The Eco Chic is currently looking for new sponsors to help with some 2010 goals. Those goals include updating some of the features on my blog (with the help of my graphic designer) and attending my first BlogHer conference in NYC (Aug 5-7). Unfortunately these goals require a little bit of cash (BlogHer alone costs $800+ for conference and room). That is where you come in.

How to enter to be Eco-Terrific?
1. Send me one paragraph telling me something you did in January/Feb 2010 to be eco-terrific.
2. Your URL.
3. A description of your blog or business.
4. Why you want to be an Eco-Terrific sponsor.
5. Your pitch! Why should I pick you? How terrific are you?

Submit your entries to me at theecochic (at) gmail (dot) com no later than February 15th to be considered as my March Eco-Terrific sponsor.

Even if you are not selected as this months Eco-Terrific sponsor you can still purchase ad space. Email me for pricing and additional information.  Feel free to pass this on to someone you think is Eco-Terrific?  It doesn’t matter how big or small your blog or business…you can all be Eco-Terrific!

Thankfully,

The Eco Chic

Don’t you want me to tell you? Well to find the answer you are going to have to go visit my weekly guest post on the Soft Bums cloth diapering blog.

Need a guest post on your blog? Email me for more information.

Wishing you all a safe and Happy New Years!

The family and I are just spending a quiet (haha) night at home!

The baby was cranky and crashed before 7pm.

Played (and lost) monopoly with hubs and the boy. Ate junk food and tweeted while watching the festivities on tv!

Tis’ an exciting life as a parent of two!

Welcome 2010! I’m excited to see what you have in store for us!

So here I sit typing my very first iBlog! I cracked the screen on my PDA yesterday and had to get it replaced! Can you tell that blogging will never be the same again? I have a feeling that on the go posts will appear more often now! Ok…now to see what other fun things I can do with it! More later.

I know you want to learn how to make this cute upcycled Christmas Tree from magazines and mail catalogs….

…but you’ll have to visit The Mommy Blogfor complete directions.  I’m a featured guest blogger over there…thanks to the kind invitation from Cinella.  Please visit and leave comments both here and there about your ideas on turning trash into useful Holiday decorations. 

I’ll be featuring more trash to treasure ideas here in the next few days so be sure to subscribe or follow The Eco Chic blog so you don’t miss a single post!