Do you consider yourself a blogger?  If so do you make money blogging (0r hope to at least)?  Do you consider your blog a business?  How do you market yourself?

I’ve been blogging since Sept. 2007 and I don’t think I officially considered my blog more than a hobby until about 2 years ago.  Today I look at it (and treat it) as a business.  I have my own tax ID number and everything.  While I still don’t make a steady income from my blog it did lead me to my current full-time job(s) as a social media and marketing coordinator.  To me that is a huge success but I often wonder; what’s next for The Eco Chic as a blog (and as a business)?

I always have plans to make improvements to my blog and the way I treat it but it still remains somewhat of a hobby to me.  I try not to put myself into deadlines that I know I can’t keep.  I try not to take on too many projects when I’m overworked.  I try to keep my projects aligned with my primary mission (helping others protect the planet as I learn ways to do this myself).  I am approached almost daily with new opportunities and I have to say that I’m thankful that I can turn them down – when I want to.  I’m also excited that I still get these opportunities in my inbox.

This week when I pack up and head off to the largest blogging conference in the US I have a different goal in mind that I did last year.  Last year I wanted to test the waters, network, and hopefully learn a few new things.  I surpassed my expectations last year and found myself in a new world as a professional blogger and social media consultant.  This year I want to learn more about how I can improve my blog (aesthetically and technically) so that I can feel even more proud about this tiny little corner of the web.  I have appointments with the Geek Bar team to learn about metrics and going mobile – I really wanted an in-depth WordPress session but they were all booked up!  I’m also going to mingle more and connect more with new bloggers (or existing one’s I’m just now learning about).

I learned some lessons from both BlogHer 10 and from Blissdom about branding my blog (especially in a conference environment).

This year I decided upon a square business card.  This was probably one of my hardest decisions but after a few weeks this is the final project.  The front is very simple with my blog name and a QR code that will take the scanner to my About Me page.

The inside of the card has all of the different ways to connect with me along with a short narrative about my favorite topics (cloth diapering, the environment, and social media).

The back of the card gives credit to my fabulous print and web designer – and all around technical advisor – Melanie of Mommy Doodles Design.  She’s been here to help me since the very early days when my blog looked like this -

Oh, yes – that was my blog a very long time ago before I knew anything about design!  To be honest with you I still don’t know how to do it myself which is why I would be lost without Melanie.

I’ll be wearing this one day during conference hours so I can hopefully meet people who don’t see my name tag but know me by my blog.  The back has my Twitter handle (@TheEcoChic) and a few other surprises I’ll reveal later.  (Printed by Cafe Press, designed by Mommy Doodles Design)

I even coordinated the skin of my iPad with my blog logo and branding.  With over 3,600 attendees I want to make sure I don’t miss an opportunity to meet people or strike up a conversation about our blogs.  (Printed by GelaSkins, designed by Mommy Doodles Design)

Finally I have a brand new iPhone case (capsule) with the same blog branding on it.  This piece was actually sent to me free of charge from the UnCommon team.  I’ve had this for about 2 weeks now and it’s already sparked some conversations out in public so I’m excited about carrying this with me at BlogHer.  I wish I would have put my QR code on the phone but this was the first project we actually completed and it was before my QR craze took over!  The case is a very high quality resin case with the graphic actually embedded into the surface – like a tattoo for my phone.  They are currently available for the iPhone 3 and iPhone 4 – my husband is already designing his case that will be sporting his favorite team colors for football season.  To learn more about UnCommon please visit them on the web, Facebook, and Twitter.

I have a few other special pieces that are branded with my personal blog logo combined with my sponsors logo – but I’ll share more about those in a few more days.

What ways have you branded your blog?  What’s worked for you?  There are so many options out there today the possibilities are endless!

Lots of personal love and appreciation to Melanie of Mommy Doodles Design who has helped shape what you see today at The Eco Chic.  Without her I’m not so sure I’d be where I am today.  Melanie is a very talented graphic designer and is quickly learning the ins-and-outs of WordPress.  Special thanks to Rockin’ Green for sponsoring my trip to BlogHer ’11.  Rockin’ Green is a natural laundry detergent designed especially for use with cloth diapers but can also be used on regular laundry too.  In addition to using Rockin’ Green for laundry there are hundreds of different uses for this soap.  Be sure to sign up for 52 Weeks of Clean where they share a new tip for using Rockin’ Green around your home.  For more information about Rockin’ Green visit them on the Web, Facebook, and on Twitter.

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About a year ago there was a company who was turning blogs into iPhone apps and I thought it was a pretty cool concept.  Once I started to look into it I realized that the service had suspended any new blogs because Apple had been overwhelmed with submissions.  I dismissed it as no big deal and hadn’t thought about it in a while.

Then this past month I see a few of my bloggy friends have developed apps and I got the itch again.  I hate to copy what everyone else is doing but I did – after all – I have to keep up with the Jones’ right?  So two weeks ago I sat down and started working on my app.  It really made me look at my blog and realize there is a LOT of work that I want to do around here to make it even cooler and more resourceful for you. Some days I feel like I have more ideas than I have time – I know I’m not alone on this one!

Anyways – as of today - if you have an Android power phone you can install The Eco Chic blog and open it anytime and anywhere! Funny thing, I didn’t even submit it to Google but the fine folks at appsbar did this for me!  It’s already been approved and you can install it now!  I don’t own an Android but I hear it looks nice on there – I’d love to have your feedback.

iPhone lovers like myself – don’t worry – it’s still in the approval process and should be available to us very soon! For now, we wait.

Best part?  It’s all free for you and me!

Who else has an app? My good friend Kim Rosas (the mastermind behind Dirty Diaper Laundry) has an app on both Android and Apple.  I have the Apple version and I love it – would make a great resource for anyone who wants to watch hours of cloth diapering videos or share them with friends who they are trying to convert to cloth diapers.  Both are free to install!

And of course there is also the Fluff Stash app which allows you to photograph your fluffy stash and share images with your friends.  At 0.99 cents it’s a fun addition to my cloth diapering iPhone addiction!

If you install any of these apps on your phone be sure to rate them for us!  We love to see the little stars next to our app to show that you really do love us!  :)

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Tonight I decided to watch No Impact Man the movie – it was available instantly on NetFlix and hubby had a softball game so I knew I had the television to myself. 

If you haven’t heard about No Impact Man – a family of 3 decide to live an entire year without making an environmental impact.  The goal was to reduce their waste to zero, eat locally, organic, vegetarian, and live without electricity.  They live in an apartment/condo in NYC so they have a lot of local advantages to living a greener lifestyle – they can commute via bikes and they have local farmers markets. 

While I watched this documentary of their lives I saw so much of my own life mirrored in the film.  I can relate most with the husband because I’m the one who attempts to change my families lifestyle.  It was great to watch and listen to his wife as she explained her feelings towards the project and the changes that they were making – especially since she wasn’t 100% behind him on every change.  I see so much of my husband in her – he appreciates my efforts but when they start to effect him personally he reminds me that we don’t share the same green goals.  I honestly think the relationship aspect of the film was the most touching to me. 

In your life are you and your significant other on the same page with your green lifestyle choices?  Does he/she openly accept cloth diapers?  Do they support your extended breastfeeding?  Do they cringe when you spend more money to buy something that’s more environmentally friendly?  Do they believe you when you tell them that you can clean anything without toxic chemicals? 

While I think my husband might actually leave me if I were ever to live a ‘no impact’ lifestyle – I think the concept of their project was a wonderful look at how much we’d have to give up in order to live our lives with ‘no impact’.  I’m not sure that there are many of us who would be willing to give up toilet paper for a year – or electricity for 6 months – I know that I’m not ready for those commitments myself.  I think they do a great job at the end encouraging others to make small changes.  They don’t make you feel guilty that aren’t willing to go ‘no impact.’ 

I do feel a little more inspired to make some bolder changes though – I wonder how far I could go before my husband would revolt?  Have you seen No Impact Man?  What did you think?  Did you read the book – I think I’m going to add it to my list of books to read by the end of the year and I’m about to go subscribe to his blog right now!  I can’t believe I never read his blog before.

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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?

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GIVEAWAY ALERT!  Be sure to read all the way to the bottom for the first contest of The Eco-Summer Blog Party!

Let the party begin!  It’s July 1st (Canada Day as I’ve been told by my dear friend Cindy Loo) and that means The Eco-Summer Blog Party (ESBP) is officially under way!  I’ve gotten many questions about the ESBP over the last few weeks by curious readers wanting to know, “What exactly is The Eco-Summer Blog Party?”

To understand what The Eco-Summer Blog Party is you must first understand who I am. 

As a new MOMMY who DOODLES in her spare time I hope to one day DESIGN a wonderful legacy to leave my children.  This MOMMY wears many different NECKLACES each day as I breastfeed my newest little angel (Lil’ B), work my full time job, blog about the environment, and look for great HOMEMADE BABY FOOD RECIPES.  Each and every day I try to make an effort to Reduce, Reuse, and RePEaT my actions from the day before.  It’s not always easy since my life was not HAND PICKED by me but rather by my PUMPKINS that I love so much.  Some days I wish I could escape to ERBA and drink some wonderful ORGANIC wine grown from the TERRA.  Instead I am asked by Big B to CYCLE around the block in the 92 degree heat of Florida.  My friends have called me an ECO-freak, but I prefer the LABEL of Eco Chic.  During the school year you will find me FUNDRAISING for the local PTA or T-ball team.  I rarely have time to pick up the PAPER or enjoy the high CULTURE that I once enjoyed by visiting museums.  I dream of the day my husband will take me to the Greek Isles to see the wonderful DITTANY flower of Crete along with my BABY and little boy.  I try to remember my SOFT sweater when I travel for work, it makes the LANDING much smoother on my head which is propped against the window taking advantage of a few minutes to myself.  I quickly return to reality when my LADYBUG dirty’s her cloth DIAPERS that I’ve been using for a few months now.  In my spare time I am trying to find time to get the PIGGYs soaked and coated with a fresh color of PAINT.  It is my PURE desire to DESIGN a world where my KIDS THINK GREEN and take pride in this wonderful GREEN PLANET that we live on.  The hubby and I will continue to hold our pool PARTIES, cookout with friends, and TRAVEL around the world.  Maybe one day we’ll even take a train from the DEPOT or watch the STELLA BLU in the night sky.

Why are there words in all upper-case?  Well those are the fine sponsors of this party!  Without their help there would be no party and I wanted to start by thanking them all.  If you are a regular reader of The Eco Chic you may have noticed that things look a little different around here.  With the help of my first sponsor, MOMMY DOODLES DESIGN, I have a fresh new blog header, background and logo buttons.  Mommy Doodles (AKA Melanie) is a graphic designer from Massachusetts who I met over a year ago when she was holding a giveaway on her own blog.  I actually won the contest and we’ve been friends ever since.  

Did I say CONTEST?  I did indeed!  The ESBP is full of contests, starting right now!  One lucky winner will receive a blog design and/or redesign including a logo header, background and button.  This also includes one image or clipart download from istockphoto.com (valued at $95) compliments of Mommy Doodles Design. 

Click HERE to enter to win!  A winner will be selected at random (using Random.org).  Contest ends July 14th at midnight (EST).  You must leave your name, email, and answer to the first question to be entered to win.  Extra entries can be earned by:

1. Subscribing to both The Eco Chic & Mommy Doodles blogs.
2. Following both @theecochic & @mommydoodlesblg on Twitter.
3. Become Fans of The Eco Chic & Mommy Doodles on Facebook.
4. Other:  Add our buttons to your blog/site, blog about the contest (or ESBP), tweet about the contest, etc.  Just be sure to leave a link to where you have posted the information. 

The Eco-Summer Blog Party will continue from now until July 15th.  Join me tomorrow (July 2nd) as I explore the world of Breastfeeding!  As a sneak peak at other contests and giveaways here is a picture of what is to come!  See you tomorrow!

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Thanks to some of my readers I was notified that my comments were broken.  I was able to fix that problem and also upgrade my WordPress too (thanks to my special friend).  You will now notice a new ‘Tag cloud’ and a reorganized ‘Categories.’  There is also a new ‘Search’ feature at the bottom if you are looking for something specific.  Feel free to send me comments or an email if you find something that doesn’t work.  Thanks again.

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