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Blog Better (Boston) or not ever again?

Hmmmmm…Sometimes I think not ever again.

I’ve been so uncommitted to my blog for a while. There are days that I think I should just stop promoting it, take down the 4HB posts (my biggest source of traffic, sadly. I know, I can’t believe it’s not The not so crafty Mama gets her (Father’s Day) tie on either!) and just let it be my family blog.

Blog Better Boston

Yesterday was one of those days, and ironically I was at a blogging conference, Blog Better Boston. You’d think I’d be all gung ho afterwards and come here and post away like I did last year. I sat there, my knock off spanx all pinching my thighs, looking at all these pretty young things thinking “Am I kidding” myself here?

The conference was organized by two very young hip gals. They did a great job, truly. Most of the attendees appeared to be fashion bloggers. I say appeared to be becasue some of the fashion was questionable to my very old tired eyes, but maybe that’s what’s fashionable now. I DON”T KNOW. This is my point.

It seemed like all these PYTs were very focused and jazzed up, and the panelists at least – very accomplished. I know, I know “Comparison is the thief of joy”. I know! But I couldn’t help it. I accomplished getting out of the house without any kid mess on me that morning. That my friends, is an accomplishment in my book.

My reason for this blog is manyfold (is that a word because I like it). In the beginning it was my business blog, then I extracted the personal posts and it became a personal blog. It’s a documentation of my life, a form of self expression through writing, photography, and video. Then it became a small (very small) business writing reviews and doing giveaways. It’s has always been a way for me to keep my skillset sharp and network for the day that will eventually come when my kids are in school and I want a J O B.

My determination to be really good at something that I do, combined with the mental injuries of Cool Dog not doing as well as I hoped, added with my utter exhaustion at the end of the day has left me defeated. I can’t put my all into something again because it isn’t really my all. My all goes to my kids. My blog, and before that my business got my what’s left over. A coming down from latte overload, tired, unshowered version of myself.

Back to the conference.

Monetize your Blog – For me, this was by far the best panel. Lots of good stuff here. The most interesting bit that was revealed (to me) is that I could have another revenue stream by helping others with videos for their blogs. Also creating motion graphics for their vids. Good stuff right? But do I dive back into another business venture? Ugh.

Working with Brands – Mommy Niri. Oh, our good friend Niri. So smart. Know you’re worth something. Don’t pimp yourself out. Figure out what you’re getting from the relationship. Sounds like life, no?

Traffic & Community – I didn’t understand that this panel would be discussing offline community. I wouldn’t have gone. I don’t have time to keep up with my actual community – my friends. I am not building an offline community, I’m just not. However, I loved these ladies. Smart, funny and yes fashionable. Takeaway – Be authentic. Always. Find what you’re good at and go deep.

It was a good conference in its inaugural year, and next year, I think it will be even better. I wished the panels were a bit longer and breaks a bit shorter. Maybe two food stations to help with the lines. Oh, and bigger cupcakes :-)

life of reilly latte

This post is fragmented and a little bit swirly, but that’s kind of the way I feel right now.

So to recap I like to blog, I’m not very good at it, I like to go to conferences, I’m tired, and my spanx are hurty.

See, now this is the part in the post where I am supposed to ask a question like Why do you blog? or What keeps you blogging? or Do you wear Spanx too? Meh. Also, you’re welcome for the PYT earworm.

Time for more caffeine I think.

You can’t always get what you want

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But if you try sometimes, you might find, you get what you need. ~Rolling Stones

So I didn’t get that Hopscout job. I’m not gonna lie, I’m pretty bummed about it. And surprised. Yep, I can admit it, a little bit surprised. But in the end maybe that job is not what I needed. Maybe I needed the selection process, the positive feedback, the validation of the Top 20, the consolation of my friends (and strangers) when I didn’t get hired. Maybe what I needed was all that. Maybe I needed a little kick in the ass.

It’s not that I think that much of my self that I thought I was a shoo in. It wasn’t like I didn’t try. I worked hard on those videos. I made three of them! I tweeted and retweeted and Facebook-ed and participated. I made what I thought was a pretty awesome and creative review.

Things weren’t all great though. I had a phone interview with them that didn’t go so well. They told me it was just going to be an HR guy to make sure I was who I said I was. Um, no it was a conference call on speakerphone (I could hear myself on delay in the background) with a VP and Production person. Um, ok. I was at a playdate. I was frazzled. I talked to fast, said um too many times (um, see what I mean). It was awful. Maybe it was that typo. Maybe they didn’t really like my video. Maybe it was TOO good ;-) My kids are too young? I’m too fat? Who knows?

Before you get all “you’re NOT too fat” in the comments. I know I’m not fat. I’ve worked hard on that. It refers to my time in acting auditions. What I know from going on auditions is that you just never know what the client is looking for and it can even change during the audition process. You can give the audition of your life only for them to say no thanks because they decided to “go in another direction”. It happens. So I can’t take it too personally.

I know I’m good at what I do and I’ll find something else. It’s a missed opportunity for them I think. Or not. They spent quite a bit of time choosing and while some of their choices may not make sense to ME, they work for them. I wish them all well, I really do. I wish the new hires well. They are all so excited that they can’t not do a great job! And to Hopscout, it was a brazen social media experiment that I hope they learned tons from and makes them super successful. I wish them all well, I really do! Got it?

Good. Let’s move on back to ME!

There has been an idea that I’ve been sitting on for a while now. And it appears that now is the time. Bubby was too little before. I was too tired. But now he’s sleeping and so am I. I am revved UP from this experience. I’m hungry and I just got a taste of it. Main course please!

Before this contest started I got a call from someone looking to talk to me about a position – a good job. During this experience I got all kinds of great feedback. When it was done, well, maybe there’s something else percolating. But whatever it is, it may not be what I wanted, but perhaps it’s just what I need!

Oh, so before I forget… I did just lose out on a J-O-B. Mama still needs a new pair of shoes, or, you know, preschool tuition. So I’m going to sell some stuff from the attic. I also have this cool new toy. It’s called a Wobble Deck. Never heard of it? Well I happen to have a video here that will sell you on it ;-)

[iframe: src=”http://player.vimeo.com/video/23495785?title=0&byline=0&color=ffffff” width=”480″ height=”270″ frameborder=”0″]

It’s yours for the low low price of a Mac laptop and a $200 stipend. It’s a bargain. Hopsout was going to have to pay monthly and hourly too. Any takers??

Please and thank you, Hopscout

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At the beginning of the week I received a Facebook message from a friend. She was asking me some video advice for a contest she was entering. I gave her a few bits o’ wisdom and then went to check out the contest. I wrote her again and said “Um, would you be wicked pissed if I entered too?’ Gulp. I entered the Stay at Home Millionaire contest.

Hopscout is looking for 5 Editors for their new site. A very cool site that “sells one awesome product every day, something our inner child (and your actual child) just can’t live without – something that stands out in the vast sea of so-so products. We photograph it, record it, describe it and generally have a blast showing you how cool it really is.”

If you see the job description you’ll know why I wanted to apply – a dream job really. Everything I am capable of and love to do AND stay at home with my 3 littles. I think I actually rubbed my eyes when I was reading it like a cartoon. Here’s the catch: I had to make a video ASAP as to why I was the best choice.

This is the plea…
[iframe: src=”http://player.vimeo.com/video/22589048?title=0&byline=0&color=ffffff” width=”480″ height=”270″ frameborder=”0″]

Then I had to get as many people as I could to vote for me. That would actually prove to be more difficult than making the video. But I think I did pretty well. I’m a pretty resourceful gal. I’m on Twitter and Facebook with respectable followings. Oh and fantastic supportive friends and family who did a Facebook sharing dance of fools for me!!

I was not in love with my original video so I decided to make another one. An actual review to show people I could actually DO THE JOB!

This is the proof…
[iframe: src=”http://player.vimeo.com/video/22705375?title=0&byline=0&color=ffffff” width=”480″ height=”270″ frameborder=”0″]

According to this post by one of the founders of Hopscout today the votes are not the end all be all in the decision making. Phew! Because I think people are starting to grow a bit weary of me. “Equally important will be the quality of the videos, creativity, as well as fair play throughout the campaign.” I love that.

So please Hopscout I would love this job. Please friends and fans and loved ones and people who have stumbled here because they want a 4-Hour Body – I wouldn’t mind if you visited Hopscout’s Facebook page to vote for me as their new editor!

Thanks to Hopscout for the opportunity! Thank you, thank you, thank you everyone for voting for me and just for your amazing support.

Can’t wait to see what happens next.