It's time for this month's Guy Behind the Blog series. I'm always curious what my husband is going to have to say each month, how about you? Yep, that cute dude above is my husband! Here's the month's questions and his answers! 1. This year is Leap Year — what are you going to do to celebrate? Unfortunately, I am currently in a school for the Army, and on the 29th, I will be waking up early for PT and then I'll be in class all day long. 2. If you could create an obscure holiday, what would it be and why? It would be called Travis' Day. It would be on March 7th (my Continue Reading
Archives for February 2016
Last Day to Sign Up for EBA
Have you signed up yet? I just wanted to let you know that the doors for Elite Blog Academy close at midnight tonight and won’t open again until next fall. Do you really want to wait that long? Building a successful blog is hard. I know it. And every other blogger out there knows it. It's hard work, especially when you are trying to juggle everything else in your life at the same time. Stress, frustration, and being overwhelmed are all side effects of blogging. If you're like me, you just want to know how to do things better. I want to see my blog grow -- in traffic and income -- so that Continue Reading
Healing Music: Songs for Miscarriage Survivors
Music can be healing for many people. Certain songs can be easily qualified as healing music. As I've been processing the loss of our baby, music has been incredibly helpful. A friend of mine even sent me a card with an iTunes gift card inside. She understands how healing music can be. I've been collecting songs for a long time now, and I've added more in the past few weeks. I wanted to share this list of healing music -- songs for miscarriage survivors, or really anyone experiencing loss or heartache. Learn How Healing Music Can Be With These Songs Check out these songs and add them Continue Reading
How My Page Views Increased by 150%
16,595. That was my average monthly page views on my blog in January 2015. That's also the month I started Elite Blog Academy. 41, 611. That was my average monthly page views on my blog in January 2016. Yes, one year later my traffic increased by 150%! It's all thanks to Elite Blog Academy -- a step-by-step guide that helps me create a successful blog, grow my traffic, and even helps me make more money. Not only have I seen a major increase in traffic to my website, I've also seen an increase in social media followers. I've learned so much about consistency, content, email Continue Reading
St. Patrick’s Day Desserts
I wouldn't say I've ever really celebrated St. Patrick's Day before. If there's any celebrating going on in my home, it's eating. That's how we like to celebrate things -- with food. I particularly like sweet treats. So for this holiday, I thought I'd share some great GREEN St. Patrick's Day desserts. End of the Rainbow: St. Patrick's Day Desserts Lucky Charms Cookies from Glue Sticks and Gumdrops St. Patrick's Day Muddy Buddies from Glue Sticks and Gumdrops Shamrock Shake from Back to Her Roots St. Patrick's Day Lime Rice Krispies from Living Well Mom Rainbow Layer Cake with Easy Continue Reading
Ramblings of a Grieving Woman: Why I Write About Miscarriage
It's Friday. Today would have been the first day of my second trimester. The worries would have decreased. My belly would have began showing. My baby should have tiny fingernails and functioning kidneys. Instead, today is Friday. Just another day of the week. As I've been writing about this loss, I've said many times that I HAD a miscarriage. But the fact is I AM miscarrying -- present tense. The physical part of this loss isn't over as much as I wish it was. It's really hard to grieve and move forward when you are still bleeding, still passing parts of the life you long to hold. Today Continue Reading
To My Pregnant Friend After My Miscarriage
I have several friends who have recently announced their pregnancies. Others who are right in the middle of the pregnant happiness -- gender reveal parties and baby showers. I have other friends who have recently had precious, beautiful babies. This post is for them. A Letter to My Pregnant Friend ... After My Miscarriage Do you know how happy it makes me to see your belly grow? Do you know how much I love your little baby? Even in the midst of my own pain, I love to see your joy. I love seeing you happy and healthy and full of life. I know it's hard for you. You don't know what to Continue Reading
After Miscarriage: Ways to Remember Baby
After having a miscarriage, at first I thought I could pretend that I was never pregnant at all. Perhaps, if I could make myself believe that there never even was a baby then the loss wouldn't be so hard. I could quickly move on and be happy again. That idea didn't last long. As the reality set in, and my grief began, I knew there was no way I could ever forget. Would it be easier to forget it all? Yes. But that is most definitely not the best option. Instead, I know that I need to remember. I need to grieve the loss so I can heal and move forward. But even in moving forward, I don't Continue Reading
Welcome Basket for Renters
When Travis and I moved to Missouri, we began renting out our home in Indiana. Although I didn't know our renters, I wanted them to feel welcome and at home in our house. Travis and I prayed for three things when we were searching for tenants: To find someone who would pay the rent (and on time), To find someone who wouldn't tear up the house, and To find someone that would be blessed by this home. What a perfect way to begin blessing this couple than by leaving them a welcome basket. It was easy to put together, and we left it for them to find on the day they moved in. Our Welcome Continue Reading
What I Didn’t Know About Miscarriage … Until I Had One
I knew a few people who had experienced one or more miscarriages, but most of them never talked about it. I honestly didn't know much about miscarriage -- until I had one. There are so many things I didn't realize, and I know there are others out there who have never experienced such a loss. I want people to have a better understanding of what happens and how the woman feels. I want it to be OK for me to talk about my experience, to be open about the heartbreak and the physical toll this miscarriage caused. Be warned -- this post is real and raw and totally honest. Things I Learned About Continue Reading
When We Lost Our Baby … Twice
This post tells the story of my first pregnancy, as well as the first loss my husband and I have ever experienced together. I wrote this post as therapy for myself and to help others who have never experienced this type of loss to have a better understanding. I've also found that I find comfort in reading the stories of other women who have faced this awful nightmare, so perhaps this will remind someone else experiencing a miscarriage that they are not alone. Travis and I decided we wanted to start a family in September of 2014. We began trying to get pregnant in October 2014. When Continue Reading