Me and husband get in constant “debates” (air quotes around debates…cause they are more like fighting matches….cause we like to fight….) about my blogging “job” (air quotes around job cause the argument is that when you get to do a job in your pajamas with yesterdays mascara under your eyes it’s not a job…..more like a hobby..or activity.)
but i say that as soon as you make money…your hobby can be considered a job and therefore I’ve been an entrepreneur since i sold my first loom pot holder in the 3rd grade.
i love blogging. it completes me. (that’s probably why my husband is all jealous about it.) Cause he’s all, “hey babe do you want to watch a movie with me?” and i’m all, “can i bring my computer” and he just gives me this look …you know the one…(if you love it so much why don’ t you marry it? I would..if i could.
it’s illegal to marry a blog.
i looked it up…
anyways…as Mucho as i love my blog…(all aspects. i love crafting. love taking the photos..love the editing…probably love the writing ridiculous long nonsensical posts the most)
As much as i love all that…i DO wanted to share the downside of blogging….
the Behind the scenes stuff that bloggers don’t talk about it.
(the first rule of fight club underground blogging is you don’t talk about fight club underground blogging)
but i’m a rebel.
so let me share in case you think that blogging is “the best job ever”
(before i begin. i don’t want any hate mail. this is meant to be a humorous post. if i really thought these things were horrible..i would quit blogging.)
my biggest complaint is this, people think i have TONS of spare time. like…kim can bring a casserole and help out at the shindig cause she’s a stay at home mom that blogs.” while A. being a stay at home mom is busy enough.. but B. i spend a BUTT load of time on my blog…(working on it…not just reading it) But since it’s not a 9 to 5 job that i leave the house for–people think i’m available all the time.
I switched my think-a-ning about a year ago….from oh…blogging is so much fun to….oh.blogging might be an awesome source of income for my and my family.
and with that comes work. i wish i could just write up funny little thoughts and call it good…but let’s start with the craft…you have to have all the supplies ( trip to joanns) find time between wiping noses and bums to carry out craft (which can range in time to 20 minutes to days) and don’t forget…you want the best pictures so you need to do it in the day with natural light.
then you have to upload your pictures…edit it…write up posts. add some humor….and post it.
THEN…you have to “pimp your post” (actual blogging term..and ironically the second time i will use pimp in this post) you have to pin it…put it on google plus. twitter. facebook. submit to craftgawker.
then comes the emails you will get about it…and about past projects…answer those.
and repeat. and repeat and repeat.
and that doesn’t include the “blog maintenance” like making sure your ads are rotating..and you add stuff to your tutorial pages…and making sure your blog layout is up to date. and all the correct info is there…..
it’s a process.
And while we have the freedom to shift things around and schedule them in when we want..it’s hard for people to understand that i can’t babysit at the drop of the hat because i have a guest post that is due tomorrow.
at any function you attend…you feel the need to carry with you a disclaimer.
is it okay that i put these pictures i just took of your craft on my blog: yes or no
is it okay that i put pictures of your kids holding the craft on my blog: yes or no
is it okay that i claim the brilliance and execution of this craft came from my mind: yes or no
is it okay that i take credit and notoriety on pinterest for your clearcut awesomeness: yes or no
Making dinner at 3 o’clock in the afternoon.
(why so early you might ask (you would only ask that if you are not a blogger))
cause the sun sets before you REALLy cook dinner…and food without natural light looks like food that has rotted in your stomach and have been regurgitated…without being chewed.
here’s an example…i tried to cook dinner at like 4:45…as close to dinner time as i could get….pictures are…..well pictures speak for themselves..
ain’t nobody wants to pin that.
many a meals we have eaten cold.
being without our computer or internet access is like the slow curse of death….we are attached at the hip (picture me with a giant desktop duck taped to my hip.)
i went camping. it was wonderful and relaxing and i had no wifi. came back to 234 new emails….I had 126 things in my bloglovin to catch up on. facebook questions, a couple advertising propositions. It all adds up so fast. you got to stay on top of it!!!
okay..this is an honest to goodness black side of blogging….
and i’ve blogged about it before.
Mean comments.
i have heard what some bloggers have received as mean comments.
some have been called fat…stupid…..absolutely useless and told to stop blogging.
i just don’t get it.
go HERE to read my previous rant before i open up and start raving like a lunatic..
i mean even more than normal.
this is how you look…..
95% of the time (and that’s only cause the 5 % is church and they won’t allow you take cameras into church….or maybe they do and i’m just to chicken to do it.
you never really have to worry about makeup….(which is actually a bonus)
you live and breath by the amount of likes and comments you get……
(seriously. I now am going to let you be inside the inner workings of a bloggers mind……
“my post has been up for 2 hours. no one has commented? am i not as funny as i thought? i thought that craft was brilliant. let me double check and make sure i actually posted it. yup. it’s up. humm…maybe people are just pinning it and not commenting.
let me check. only 3 pins…and one of those is mine. crap. Maybe no one got that movie quote?
well let me put it on facebook and twitter…people probably just don’t know i posted.
an hour later….
only 2 likes.
crap. i’ve lost my mojo. what’s the point of blogging anymore.
weeps quietly into her fabric collection.
end scene.
Your neighbors all think you are crazy…
or perfect strangers
(imagine like 20 cars going by as i’m standing in a field….)
or your wall is full of pushpin holes.
or your whole entire house is a huge mess…except you have to keep that one spot under the window perfectly spotless ready to snap pictures!
i shoved all the furniture out of the way so i could get good pictures of my hopscotch mat
husband was thrilled.
the kids liked eating dinner on the floor.
sometimes we feel like pimps….
we don’t want to become sellouts–we really don’t.
but isn’t it nice to get paid for doing something you love?
i’ve talked about this before..but me and husband have a deal that if i can make a certain about blogging…i don’t have to get a “real job” and sometimes we have to post about random things…
like vacuums.
(don’t get me wrong. i LOVE that vacuum..and i never post anything that i don’t really love (i don’t even apply as interested for the ones that don’t relate to me at all)
but me vacuuming my stairs doesn’t really have anything to do with hot glue crafts.
Just think of it as a commercial break.
there is this thing called pinterest….
and it’s awesome. it’s full of the funniest ecards
and the best outfits
and the most amazing sewn quilts
and this crafts that are like. BAM. mind blowing.
each photo is perfection…like the word is full of nothing but professional photographers….
and the food…it’s like martha stewart cooked each thing..
then you get mad and close your browser and curl up into a ball cause you feel like this…
blogging costs us money….
I always said that i would be crafting regardless of a blog or not..
so i won’t calculate the cost of all my crafting goodness of that into this assessment.
but you have your hosting fees,
your domain name fees
(did you know you are supposed to pay for allll the domain names.
like agirlandagluegun.com
and then agirlandagluegun.net
and agirlandagluegun.org
and then just have them redirect them to your actual site. so no one swoops and in and steals one and then puts crap on there and that would be associated with you
fees for photoshop
picmonkey
fees for giveaways.
i use so many pictures i have to upgrade and pay to store them
(don’t count how many i used in this post just cause–i have a thing about photos….)
blog conferences
facebook (facebook is dumb and makes it so about 3 % of followers see my posts and then they want me to pay to get people to see it.
someone to design your header or blog
or heaven forbid you have a crash on your site….pay someone to fix it.
business cards
pay to host linky parties
then you realize you need a new camera.
or new computer.
or a light umbrella thing so you can look like a professional.
or backdrops…
i didn’t really add all the up. cause i’m lazy and hate math.
but i literally laugh out loud when i see this
cause it’s free for awhile..then it slowly starts adds up.
kinda correlating with number 11.
the need to be an html queen.
(if not you have to pay someone to do it all for you)
i like to craft.
i like to write.
i get it.
i do not get computers.
or tech stuff or codes or tags
gidgets or gadgets or widgets or plugins.
my eyes glaze over when we talk about Algorithm or backups
the only kind of cookies I care about are the ones that make me fat.
I had to google gigabytes versus megabytes
my mind does not even process that. (i’m right brained)
(my least favorite part of blogging.)
there is no number 13. it’s unlucky.
trying to be an original. and create awesome new content!
let me share a funny story.
On Monday night i was having a web chat with a few of my favorite bloggers.
and one of them is the sweet sister holly from my sisters’s suitcase.
and we were teaching her how to use stumble upon.
and she says, I’m going over and trying to stumble something from your page…
and then she sees my personalized thank you cards post.
and she dies laughing.
and the funeral was lovely.
no. she didn’t die. but she did laugh…and then she says…guess what i have posting tomorrow?
bam!
totally unintentional. (great minds think alike.)
it happens all the time.
like mandy posted her diy paint polka dot tights the same day i was editing mine…
there are times i think i’m a creative genius. and i post something..and someone leaves a comment like, “oh yeah..we made a bunch of those last year for christmas presents.” or ” i just saw that at joanns” –I thought it was a 100% original thought.
and there are times i make something..and then like 2 months down the road i clean out my pinterest boards and find something super similar. totally accidental. I think my mind squirrels ideas away and then they resurface down the road.
Don’t get me wrong. there are times that i LOVE LOVE LOVE the crafts i see and want to try my hand at it…and i do..but i always share where i got the original idea from. (just like i did with family tree quilt (give credit where credit is due!)
So blogging is this fierce competition to be original–and when i say fierce i mean FIERCE! there are new genius bloggers sprouting up all the time!
but maybe there are no original thoughts anymore?
so there you go. if you thought blogging was fabulous and wonderful…well you were right! but it stills comes with baggage.
share your downside of blogging or funny behind the scenes using the hashtag #theglamorouslifeofbloggers
Mel says
Awesome post! I recently bought a dslr for blog photos and at the rate I’m “earning” it will take me the next three years I’m home with the kids to have it pay for itself. Here’s the thing though ,even as I nodded at every point I love everything else that comes with it and after leaving work to be home with little ones the friends I’ve made all over the world from blogging and the ways in which I’ve pushed not only creativity but myself are worth every penny even if I don’t ever make any real $$$ from it. That said its summer holidays here and it’s the first time I’ve taken a break (pre scheduled and cut down posting until they’re back) and I realised I have to figure out some sort of blog/life balance because my 2 youngest spent a lot of 2013 in pjs all day and it’s the first time in 15 months the laundry has been up to date
Renee says
So funny. I can totally relate to a bunch, especially 7 and 8. Not sure what the neighbors think when I’m making the girls pose while waving hershey kisses in the air asking for a smile.
Alexis says
OOOOh my God, you have me laughing so hard. You eloquently and hysterically wrote about everything thing I do and feel about blogging (I totally cook dinner early for the good light, and if I had a dollar for every time I get funny looks from the neighbors for my weird photo shoots). Love, Love, Love this, can’t wait to show my kids so they know they are not alone as the children of a blogger.
you made my frickin’ day
Toni says
Every single one it true! Your awesomeness has just officially doubled!
Rachel @ Architecture of a Mom says
yes! I totally relate–and i am totally giggling too.
Lanie J. says
LOVED it! You are awesome!
Mandy @ Sugar Bee Crafts says
I can probably think of a couple jobs in your pajamas with yesterdays mascara under your eyes, but I’d say blogging is probably the best one, so sign me up – it’s a great way to {air quote} work! Bloggers Rock.
Andrea Ostapovitch says
That was a fun read! I’ve asked myself if I want to try and turn my blog into a job, well, you have answered that question for me. NO! Not anytime soon anyway. But I do enjoy yours, so keep up the good (hard) work.
Heather says
I totally just made sure to like your pic on Instagram, and I’ll make sure to do the same on Pinterest and Facebook. Read your blog religiously everyday because your posts always make me smile. I find myself doing the same thing on Facebook when I post one of my projects and nobody likes it. I’ll actually text my sister to make sure people can see it. Lol. Keep up the awesome work Kimbo!!
Jackie says
I’m sure I would probably agree with you if I had these blogging issues, as in I have a blog, with 5 followers. Three of which I know because we are friends and they don’t read it. One follower lives close to me but we have never met and while we follow each others’ blogs, she doesn’t get on to blog much and misses most of my posts anyway. The other one is from the UK and I haven’t heard from her in a while, and she hasn’t posted anything new in a while so I am hoping she is ok. Although, I do have one other blogger that does sort of read my blog, but doesn’t follow it and will sometimes actually leave a comment. That’s awesome. I do like your thoughts on the other side of blogging. I can see how those issues would keep someone busy and cause frustration. Thank you for being willing to go through all of that and continue to blog anyway. 🙂
Daniela Walsh says
Oh, this is all so true! I started seriously blogging last year and it is basically a full time job! My family asked me yesterday, “What do you get out of it?” Yeah…try explaining: “Ummm, well, followers and uhhh sharing my crafts and well sponsors and….” **changes subject to Real Housewives of whatever county. Thanks for this post! Despite the downsides (including, yes, the hubby asking about a movie with that please-don’t-blog-during-Batman look) it is super rewarding and I love it. Not going to quit yet. Love your blog.
xo
Daniela
Put A Bird On It
http://iputabirdonit.blogspot.com
Sadie Jane says
This WAS PERFECTION!!!!! I love you and all of this!! It’s all soooo true!!! But man it’s all soooo worth it!!! I would have never met some of my favorite people if it weren’t for blogging!!
McKenzie @ Girl Loves Glam says
I am dying over this post!!!! Hahaha! Well said girlfriend.
Sarah @ Bombshell Bling says
LOL! That last ecard was CLASSIC! Sooo my poor children! 🙂 I totally agree with everything you just said!! However, you forget to mention the taxes and self-employment stuff. You mentioned the money, but spending it isn’t the worst part to me—it’s tracking it so the IRS doesn’t come after me!! 🙂
As for your other things, we eat cold food all the time in a quest for the light! However, my least favorite thing about having to have natural light for photos is not the cold food, it’s that I can’t nap when my kids do anymore! Dang Pinterest…. 😉
My neighbors think I am the CRAZIEST! They once found me in my PJs in the THEIR backyard taking pictures of a pile of s’mores on their firepit. Wow. It’s not QUITE as bad as it sounds—we have no fence between us and I know them, but still—C-R-A-Z-Y CRAZY, am I right?!
Lastly, your #1 is my #1 annoyance as well. People are always asking me to do things at the last second. I have a deadline to meet, people! They say, “Well, you can obviously juggle everything and do it all, so I figured I’d ask you to help me out with XXX….” Yeah, the way I “do it all” is that my house is a wreck, my kids watch way too much tv, and I don’t sleep. Sorry, but I’m a bit overwhelmed over here….
Great post, as always. 🙂
Nat & Holly says
HA. I #lololololol-ed through this entire post and then the #14 (number fourteen, not to be confused with hashtagfourteen) was the delicious-Martha Stewart-Did-you-find-this-on-Pinterest?- ICING on the CAKE! Yum. I’m hungry now. I love you. -Nat
Natalie says
Love this! I am with you! I wake up at 5 with my hubby so I have time to blog before I start school with my kids at 10. When people ask if I can help them with stuff…I’m going to give them this blog post to read. Thanks! 🙂
Emily says
love it! You have been blogging inspiration for a couple of years now!! These are all so true ;o) Emily
Lindsay says
Love this. I always laugh when you write, and it’s great!
I have a fun craft blog with potential, and sometimes I think about started to advertise, and try to earn money with it (mostly to fund more crafts 😉 ) and then I read this and wonder, could I really be that hard core?! I can definitely see both sides.
Thanks for your fun honesty.
Lindsay
Laura says
This is an awesome post! All of this I can 100% relate to. I have my blinds open in the kitchen window so I can take pictures on the table with the best light and I know my neighbors can totally see me in my pjs standing on a chair taking pictures! Any time I take a picture of my son he asks if I am going to put it on “Faceblog”. 🙂 I agree with Sarah about the taxes. This is the first year I have really made any money (even though it isn’t much, I am still going to have to file something) and I am terrified! And the original idea thing is so true, too! Almost every time I make a craft I try to look through my own Pinterest pins to be sure I didn’t actually see it somewhere else before I made it myself so I can give some credit. 🙂
Mique says
Amen. Amen. And amen. LOVE this post so much I could marry it.
Tina S. says
When I log in to comment on a blogger’s post, I feel a twinge of guilt and sadness that I don’t have some super cool blog to promote. I always wonder whether I should start one because I love crafting, I love sharing little bits of things from my house, etc. Yet, I always counter the thought with “Eh, it’s nothing special, so I won’t.” I also realize you’ll never get to know me if I don’t have one. Hence it begins the vicious cycle of “should I blog or should I go now.”
I need to do better about commenting because oftentimes, I read and run. It’s not that the post isn’t interesting. I think it has a lot to do with where I am in life or that day.
Lisa H says
Great post, so funny! I’m your newest follower!
Danielle @ We Have It All says
OMGosh I am laughing so hard and my daughter keeps asking what I am laughing at. You hit this all on the head!
Renee @ Bendiful Blog says
OMG I LOVE THIS! It really is something only other bloggers would understand! It is SUCH a time commitment and I do cook dinner at 3pm!
Wendy says
love this! It’s like we’re living the same life, except I blog weight loss and am still fat- (you should see the looks I get about THAT)
BUt bloggers are the best people!
Bonnie says
It’s like looking in the mirror!!
Trista says
OMG, you GET me.
My best friend will be so disappointed that I bumped her off for you.
Sue S. says
You crack me up! I’m not a blogger but I do read every single blog that I’m subscribed to. And that is pretty many. I have often wondered how you girls can blog and take care of 4+ children and a house and a husband etc. I see now how it is for you and your fellow bloggers. No time for anything else, not even yourself! I do appreciate every one of you. I kind of know how it goes with not having time for yourself with a handicapped child at home with me. Granted she is 35 years old but she takes up 95% of my time. I have no time to craft and sometimes no time to read all the blogs, let alone go to the bathroom by myself! HAHA But keep up the good work, I do love your blogs!!
Mandi says
Man I love these posts of yours. Makes my week.
Greta says
This. This X 1,000,000,000,000
Allyson says
This had me cracking up, girl! I loved the photo ones the most because omg-soooooo true!
Susan the farm quilter says
Well, I’ll never walk in your shoes, that’s for sure! I also work from home as a longarm quilter…can do it in my pjs or less 🙂 Love that part, but you are so right, because I don’t punch a time clock, people think I’m available for anything, any time! Of course, the fact that I can’t figure out how to sign into my blog so I can’t post anything might have a little to do with it too!!! I would rather be a blog reader than a blogger who does it for a job. I read all your blogs, send the ones on to my daughter that I think she would like to do with my granddaughter and save your emails with projects in their own special folder! I don’t always write a comment, but I will try to do so more often 🙂 Love all the work you put into your blog, making it one of the few blogs I follow that isn’t quilt related. Thank you for all you do for us out here in blogland!!!
Katelyn F says
oh my goodness that last ecard makes me laugh, laugh, laugh!! Ha!! My husband is jealous too. Thanks for the funny post.
Patti says
Anyone who can make me laugh at a serious subject (BLOGGING IS SERIOUS, YO!) gets my attention. Pinned! Thanks for the laugh.
Ashley says
hahaha! What a great way to wake up in the morning. I chose to read this instead of clean up the giant mess in my kitchen! Can totally relate to everything. It’s sad when you try to explain to your 5 month old that you can’t lay him on the floor because you are trying to paint the paneling and he could get something in his mouth. He just smiled and laughed at me… haha, I’m training him up well!
Andie Thueson says
Amen and Amen! Loved YOUR Post! Thanks for Linking Up Lovely! 🙂 <3 Andie
Alexis @ Persia Lou says
SUCH a good post. I LOLed at that last ecard.
Melissa says
Oh My GOSH! I knew I loved you before but totally do now!! #1 happens to me all the time and people are starting to get “mad” at me for not volunteering for more things cause they think I just sit and home and do fun crafts all day!! and the truth is I really just can’t take on on. more. project.
You totally hit the nail on the proverbial head…
Elisha @ Pneumatic Addict Furniture says
I don’t even know what to comment on. every. single. word is SO true! You just have a way of making it sound so much funnier than I could! Thanks for the laugh!
Marty Walden says
This is absolutely hysterical! And spot on. And sad. And now I need to go get some cookies and ice cream. Oh wait. I used them for a project. It’ll be on the blog tomorrow. Not really. I just didn’t have time to go to the store.
Amber @ Luv & Laughter says
This made me laugh! I totally get it!
In fact, I haven’t had the time to blog in months and came so close to not renewing my hosting and domain a few days ago. But then I didn’t want someone to be able to steal my domain. I even paid for the domain of a photography business name that I’d like to have in the future, that’s so far in the future, I don’t know that it’ll actually ever happen.
Holly says
Bahahahaha…100% true! Blogging has consumed my life and that last photo you shared of the kids making cookies pretty much sums it up. My daughter just said the other day, “Mom, we used to make cakes together” Yes, we did. Maybe I should start blogging about cakes instead of crafts…lol Holly 🙂
Katie says
You had me laughing so hard! These are all so true 🙂
Laura Kelly says
Hands.Down.Best.Post.Ever.
Donna says
Your blog is wonderful. I hope this little puff of love makes you feel worth it and tomorrow when you get up and smudge your mascara perfectly you will think of all the folks who appreciate what you do!!
Donna says
wonderful blog, so glad to read one from a fellow desert girl
Just Plain Marie says
Blogging ladies, do NOT read this post aloud to your husband. Because … well, one of those “debates” might happen.
That said, awesome post. Shared. 😀
Terri Burson says
Oh em gee!!!! I totally agree and love your post! I’m accused of pimping ALLLLLL the time. facebook.com/wavingmywand