How to pitch for collab’s?

April 22, 2019April 20, 2019by WeddingsbycourtneyLeave a Comment

The modern walking billboard is what? DING DING DING….

Social media, influencers, makers, were talking real people saying real things. Hands down the best kind of advertisement to date. It’s amazing to me we didn’t do this sooner.

Gone are the days of magazines, billboards, and yellow pages. (All though, yes they are still used for advertisement. The majority of companies are hopping on the collaborating train in some way and on some level.) They may still be around but let me share some fun stats with you. (I love researching numbers it’s truly fascinating to me and brings a tad more value.)

70% of millennial consumers are influenced by the recommendations of their peers in purchasing decisions.
30% of people are more likely to buy a product from a non-celebrity blogger.
Facebook is the most influenced social channel. 19% of consumer purchases come directly from facebook.
You tube is the second most influential platform bringing in 18% of purchases.
While shopping at a store over 60% of consumers were influenced by a social media post or blog review.
40% of millennials said their social media muses understood them better than most of their friends.
According to NY times telecommuting has risen 79% in the past 5 years.

So what does this all mean? It means it’s your time to shine sister. If you are reading this or the title caught your eye, my guess is you are already in the position to start doing collaborations. Sometimes when first starting out it can be a scary big world though. Also the countless amount of information out there can be straight up overwhelming. With out further a due lets dive in this and get to pitching!!!!!!

What is a collaboration? The action of working with someone to produce or create something.

So as the pitcher you are the creator. The job is in your hands to find a way to deliver what ever assignment you are given and do it authentically to your brand while still complimenting the company. Sounds simple enough right? (Insert giant no buzzer here.)

It can be intimidating.

Being totally transparent here….When I first started out I had no idea what I was doing. I look back at my first few jobs or first few emails and think “What in Gods name was I thinking? Why did companies come back?” You guys I even did a collaboration with a vagina cream company because I didn’t want to turn any thing down in fear of not getting the jobs I wanted.

First and for most…If it doesn’t fit with your brand you are building. Do not do it. It is okay to say no. So I thought I would put together a list of what I wish someone would have told me when I was getting started. (Remember I like to be open with my fall on the face moments so maybe one person reads and possibly not repeat.)

Make sure the collaboration is in alignment with your brand. Are you a mom? Are you a nutritionist? Are you a style blogger? What ever that is you are chasing make sure you are chasing companies that also fall under that umbrella.
When first starting out keep it short and simple. I would shoot a message to the IG of the company and say something complimenting. For example “Hi there, I am currently working on a blog for _____ and I think your company would be a fabulous fit for the ideas I have in mind. Is there an email I could send my media kit and ideas over too?” Keep in mind most major companies (Especially those with that little blue check) get thousands of DMs a day and do not have time physically to sit and read a three page DM keep it sweet and save the details for your email once you receive an address. If they never write back? Don’t sweat it girl. Thank you next.
Once you receive an email address send an email promptly from your business email address. Make sure everything is on point before you send an email…Meaning your website, signature, contact information, etc. A general email example would go something like this…Hello Dave, I am writing about a possible collaboration I have in mind. Currently I am working on _________ I just love how your company_______and I think its the perfect fit and we could really compliment each other. My media kit is attached so you can see my stats, the blog I would publish this article on is http://www.youcandoit.com I can deliver this within 2 weeks and plan on highlighting a, b, c, d with a story highlight and IG post as well. Can’t wait to hear back from you soon.
Know your worth. Be confident. You carry value. You’r a rock star. Believe in Yourself.
Be authentic and organic in your pitch. Research the company first, make sure its a good fit. Be sure you can deliver on your end with what you are promising.
It’s okay to be rejected. Do not let it stop you or hold you back. I pitch to probably 5 companies a week and am constantly staying on top of different ideas and brain storming days to allow myself that creativity to offer to others.
Once you work with a brand, maintain that relationship. It is so important to check in from time to time even if its just to say hey there! I have made some fabulous friends this way as well.

I know this is such a load of information but I hope it helps in gaining the confidence in knowing you are capable of anything you put your mind too. Never be afraid to chase your dreams.

Entrepreneur Tips

How to Crush your Content Planning

April 11, 2019April 11, 2019by WeddingsbycourtneyLeave a Comment

We all know the struggle of planning out content on our IG. It can be stressful, overwhelming, and everyone has an opinion on how you should do it.

Instead of a play by play of what you “should do” I thought I would share what simply has WORKED for me in creating great content without the chaos of times, ideas, and struggling to get pictures.

Let’s dive in.

Using PLANN has been a complete game changer for me. (No I am not sponsored in any way by this company) They just have taken the complication out of content planning for me. Running three IG accounts it can be tricky to stay on top of things. What PLANN does is allow me to view my grid, ensure my colors and brand flow together in an organized way, and set reminders of times to post based on previous success for my IG not a generalized google time. Everyone’s engagement time will be different based on your target audience.
Plan a picture day and make it fun. If you are already an influencer or blogger you know what assignments you need to shoot for. If your just getting started out browse Pinterest and get inspired with your content. Take your seven photos for the week all in one day. If your a mama than make it fun and interactive with your littles. My daughter loves all the outfit changes and silly shots we get along the way. This sounds like a lot, but you can easily conquer seven perfect photos for content in less than an hour. (Thats even with the 80 shots you have to take to get everyone simultaneously looking at the camera.)
Set a day for your week or month in content planning. Sundays are my day of choice and I do a week in advance because a month is just not realistic with everything in my lifestyle. Stick to it and have a plan of action. The first post can be a bit tricky but then you get in a writing groove and everything just flows. Then stick to your times you choose and post. The rest of the week is all handled, you do not even have to be on social media unless responding to emails, but yet you are present and in front of the algorithm.

Now the fun part….FREE PRINTABLES.

It can be so frustrating getting in your groove when you first begin batch scheduling and content planning so here are a few free printables to get the creative juices flowing and you ready to soar.

Happy Planning Friends!

Entrepreneur Tips

Special Guest Review – Connecting You

February 15, 2019February 15, 2019by WeddingsbycourtneyLeave a Comment

Reviewing the Special Guest App

The Special Guest App has been taking the world by storm since it’s debut in 2017. It’s taken all of the guesswork out of booking live entertainment for your event. In just a few clicks, you can bring the entertainment to you. Think of how much more exciting your next birthday party or BBQ could be with a live performer. Special Guest will help you elevate any event, by adding a musician, comedian, belly dancer, or whatever kind of entertainment you’re looking for.

Create a Memorable Event with Special Guest

Special Guest helps connect performers with gigs, and customers with entertainment for their event. Hire talent for your next corporate event, holiday soiree, retirement party or conference right from your phone or desktop. The process could not be more simple.

Simply open the app, or visit the website. Once there, you’ll be able to search for talent in your city for particular dates. Search by category, for example, circus acts, dancers, DJs or comedians. Instantly, you’ll be matched with available talent that you can book for your event. You’ll see their pricing too, so there’s no surprises. Sticking to your budget is important–the app helps you do that.

There are no complicated contracts to sign, and artists get paid immediately. Even better is that they keep 100% of their fees. For performers, this is a huge deal since most booking services charge a fee or take a percentage.

The app is tailored for the unique needs of users, or for talent. If you’re a user, the app will help match you with artists for your event. For performers, the app helps them get matched with more paying gigs, getting their name out their seamlessly, with minimal leg work.

There’s never been an easier way to find entertainment for your event. Special Guest allows you to book talent on demand, and on the go. Search for talent today, and book them to perform tomorrow.

If you’re an artist looking to get more paid work, or someone looking to hire live performers for an upcoming event, you need the Special Guest App. It’s available free on iPhone. Download it now and see for yourself how easy it is.

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Finding Your Passion

January 3, 2019by WeddingsbycourtneyLeave a Comment

It’s 2019

It’s your year.

What are you waiting for?

With the new year upon us I really wanted to provide you all with some amazing content to get this year started right and make it your best yet! I am doing a sneak peek at my book “The Sweetest Little Life” with revealing chapter one in how we break down and set goals for actual success!

Don’t wait any more, get out of the rut and start living your passion today. If you are unhappy only you can change it! START WITH 2019!!!!!!! Start while you are excited, while you are motivated, and most of all while there is TODAY!

Without further a do let’s get to work!

First things first, finding our path and direction.

How do we set goals, take-action, leap into our journey if we don’t even know our destination? This needs to be crystal clear!

We need to know roughly where we are going so we can create the steps to get there.

When starting my makers journey, I knew I wanted to create an income crafting, and that was about all I knew. The goal was to create a job doing something I loved which would help supplement my family and allow me to stay home with my children.

Now let’s review that concept: I knew what I wanted to do, (setting a goal) and why I wanted to do it (motivation). These are the building blocks of your foundation.

If you don’t know exactly what you want to do, that’s okay! We do however need a general direction to get your running shoes on. I said in the beginning this was going to be very direct and to the point as I want you to get the absolute most out of this book.

First, you need to first create a list – I highly encourage a pen to paper. There is just something about connecting and writing it down, like a commitment to yourself. Your subconscious picks up more on hand to paper vs. typing or texting. On your list you are going to write down your passions, your hobbies, what makes you feel like you could go for hours and not be tired?

Fill your paper with every idea that comes to mind.

Is it running, walking your dog, painting, talking to people, helping people, filing documents, creating, inventing, writing, acting, filming? Remember, it can be anything.

Try and write down as many things as you can think of in 20 minutes. – Set your phone timer and do it!

When you’re finished writing your list, close your eyes and imagine what you see yourself doing. What do you think these passions lead to? If you don’t get the answer right away that’s alright. Maybe a light bulb just went off, maybe you already know what your goals are and you’re ready to dive straight in. Whichever category you fall in, writing down hobbies and passions is never a bad thing! It helps to make a promise to yourself, to have it on paper as a reminder that YES YOU CAN DO THIS. It’s time to throw excuses out the window, get clear and concise, and make some commitments.

The following pages are for you to journal and brainstorm about what sets your soul on fire. Be honest with yourself and let no barrier stand in the way.

Goals + Passions + Hobbies

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Way to go goal seeker! Now you have your goal list and a general idea of where your heart is at.

Work time.

If writing is your passion, what speaks to you about taking writing to the next level? Is it a blog or a book you want to write?

If its dog walking, do you want to be a walker, a trainer, own your very own high-end dog hotel?

If it’s running and exercise, do you want to be a professional racer, host a marathon, open your own gym?

If it’s being creative, do you want to open an Etsy shop, launch an online market, host a craft fair, or participate in craft fairs?

If it’s photography, do you want to be behind the camera or in front of it, do you want to motivate, do you want to connect? Whatever your passion or idea, do you want to do it for financial stability, personal fulfillment, or material reasons?

Once you find the general idea of what you want to do we can get specific in creating our goal and ultimate finish line. Once you reach your finish line you will of course have bigger mountains to climb, and more goals to set. Life is this amazingly beautiful, endless climb that is growing and changing right before our very eyes. The wonderful thing about goals is they sometimes evolve into what we need right where we are in our lives. Our personal seasons of life.

It’s going to be hard but hard is not impossible. If your goals are important to you, you will find a way. If not, you will find excuse after excuse of reason not to accomplish it.

Now we’re getting down and dirty! We’re doing the goal list again but with a little twist. These questions should help you to see on paper if you are an owner, merchant, independent worker, or homemaker. I am sure you are catching my drift at this point. This page will help you get an idea of where you should run with your passion.

Do you prefer working alone or in a group? __________________________________________________________________________________________

Would you rather drive to work every day or work from home?

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Are you able to stay on task with no one to answer to?

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Do you thrive on team work?

__________________________________________________________________________________________

If you have an assignment, are you more likely to be motivated on your own timeline or do you need direction and deadlines? __________________________________________________________________________________________

What is your work style? Fast Paced? Pressured? Relaxed? What makes you thrive? __________________________________________________________________________________________

Now let’s get real. We all want to start a business, make millions, and live happily ever after! Right? If this was the case everyone on the planet would be making millions and highly driven. However, the reality is that it takes blood, sweat and tears that make a business successful. You will have overhead (in most cases), you will have things you have to budget for, scenarios to plan for, a target market to think of and the list goes on. A good rule of thumb is to expect it to be an expensive hobby for the first year and THEN plan on strategizing for the money to start flowing in. I didn’t promise this would be easy, but I did promise it would be straight forward, honest, and nitty gritty in creating your happy place that is right for just that, YOU!

To check out more of my work book designed in finding your direction and all my tips for being successful in blogging, IG, I phone photography, & Etsy head on over and get yours today for $10.50 – Purchase Yours Here

Happy New Years

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How to stay sane while working from home.

September 26, 2018September 26, 2018by WeddingsbycourtneyLeave a Comment

We dream of working from home..

Then we work from home and dream of leaving for work.

Any way you slice it as a stay at home mom, work at home mom, work away mom, or part-time mom the juggle and struggle is real.

Sometimes when first starting your entrepreneur journey it can feel lonely and like the odds are against you. I want you to know that you’re not alone and these emotions are completely normal. This is why I wanted to completely devote this September Motivation to you mammas who are having a hard time feeling sane and “balancing” it all. I thought what better way than to share a chapter out of my book, The Sweetest Little Life. Chapter Seven is all about finding your zen. Let’s get right to it and hopefully our mama tribe can walk away feeling refreshed, inspired, and motivated!

Staying Sane while working from home — Creating and Finding Balance

Chapter Seven – Finding Your Zen

It was Thanksgiving 2017 and the busiest time of year for my shop. Every year around the beginning of November I become elated with the amazing customers I get to meet, the jolly spirits, and the goodies I get to consistently create. Not to mention the amazing home décor finds, crafting with my littles and family memories that get made every Holiday Season. Being sentimental is a character trait that was imbedded in me from birth.

For some reason 2017 was different. It was as though I was becoming resentful of everyone asking something from me. In the beginning of this book I told you that I had become the yes girl. Mamas, I said yes to everything.

Can you pick this up? Yes.

Can you watch my child? Yes.

Can you walk my dog? Yes.

Can you volunteer on this day? Yes.

Can you make me 40 mugs by tomorrow for an event? Yes.

Can you run this errand for me? Yes.

Can you plan this event for us? Yes.

Having your hands in too many things at one time is dangerous, and here is why. You lose your zest. Your passion and drive are something that keeps you going, even on the months you make a whopping twenty dollars. It’s the passion that keeps you trudging through the mud and putting one foot in front of the other.

Allow your passion to become your purpose, and it will one day become your profession.

Being an entrepreneur is the toughest job out there for the simple reason you have no one to answer to but yourself. You are the last person to get a paycheck, you work the longest hours, you have no days off in the beginning, and you consistently struggle with this thing called “balance.”

The most successful entrepreneurs in this world chase their passions not a paycheck. Passion will always lead you directly to your purpose when you feel lost with no direction.

This loss of “zest” didn’t happen all at one time or overnight, but from Thanksgiving to January I became miserable. My work began to show that the passion was drifting away. I was snappy and grumpy at everyone around me. Looking back at pictures I even cringe knowing how sad I felt inside. Over the months I developed major anxiety. At one point I thought I was experiencing a heart attack!

What was wrong with me? Was I broken?

I knew I needed to snap out of this anxiety, but how? Was I losing it? Should I just quit and not pursue my dreams anymore?

Hell no. I am not a quitter.

Inside I knew I was on the brink of breaking. What I learned was this is the make it or break it stuff that truly makes you grow, not only as a human, but in your business. I needed this three-month funk to make me realize how blessed I was. How much I craved to wake up every morning and be excited for what the day might hold, what opportunities might arise, who I might meet. This is the stuff that keeps me going. After talking to several other makers, I began to see a pattern. Everyone goes through this at some point in their business. It is going to be ok. When you are uncomfortable, when you feel like giving up, it is completely acceptable to turn everything off and unplug for a little while. Prioritize and dig deep into what is really going on. For my personal story, I realized I was saying yes to things that were draining me. They were not my passion, I did not want to do them, but I didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings.

(Major people pleaser over here yo!)

I have grown more in the past 6 months not only as a mother, wife, maker, and friend but into who I was meant to be, into my purpose of why I was put onto this earth. I stopped giving a “you know what” about what people thought of me. It was the most freeing feeling I have ever experienced. If it wasn’t for this rough patch where I truly believed my world was going to crumble, I could never have pushed through to fly or made the soul searching worthwhile.

There is a difference between being a push over and being compassionate and empathetic. You can be kind and genuine but still hold boundaries. You need to do this if you are going to be running a business. The more successful you become, the more people will ask of you. “With great success comes great responsibility”. The old saying that holds so true to the heart. Your goals and purpose are going to change and shift with time, that’s just life.

It’s a good rule of thumb every six months to review your goal list and polish it up. (This is where the professional goal digging comes into play.) The knowledge you gain, the advice you receive, the experience you get from working your passion every day will make you need to adjust and tweak little things here and there to make your business perfect for you and your family.

Now let’s get real.

Family and your business.

This can get messy! Some days you are overwhelmed, stressed out and who does it get taken out on? Well, the people closest to you of course. Naturally we want this journey to be all sunshine and glitter sprinkles, but the truth is that it is tough to balance everything. It will be especially hard when you are starting out and finding what your groove is. When I was in the red for my first year and spending quadruple the amount that I was bringing in, I can’t tell you the amount of arguments and sleepless nights I experienced wondering if I was going to fail again. Fear can stop you right in your tracks, our minds can talk us out or into anything. Pretty powerful stuff right here.

Am I meant for this?

What if I let my family down?

I am not spending enough one on one time with each child.

I am not making my husband proud.

These arguments aren’t worth chasing my dreams, I’ll just try again in a few years.

This negative self-talk will kill you inside and completely shatter your confidence as a Mompreneur. Some days are tough. Plain and Simple. Its being compassionate to everyone around you, knowing when to take days off and disconnect from it all, knowing when to plan and push through on the days you just want to veg out on Netflix. Its trial and error in finding exactly the schedule that works for you.

Being a wife of a Firefighter who is gone four days out of the week I had to get creative with scheduling my endeavors. I finally found what works for me. I wake up an hour before the kids go to school, plan every aspect of what my day will look like, work late on the nights my husband is gone and shut it down the evenings my husband is home. I now say “no” to mom coffee dates after drop off because those four hours that my daughter is in preschool are my only solo hours to tackle my Etsy orders interruption free. It took me months to figure out how to outsource, plan, and make my life as balanced as possible. Once I did this though, once I stopped caring if people may not like me because I couldn’t go to coffee three days a week with them, once I started realizing my priorities were living my dream, being the best mom and wife I possibly could be and keeping my circle small I began to feel alive. Waking up early? No problem. Staying up late? No problem. Excitement for life does amazing things to the mind and body.

The trick is finding your zest and knowing sometimes you may not have the “energizer bunny” motivation you desire. If you’re clear on where you are going and what you’re fighting so hard for, the stamina will always return to you.

Don’t give up, remember your reasons.

Get the Book Today!

Do you know the path you’re on? Is it a clear, freshly paved cement road? Is it more of a dusty desert storm with tumble weeds blowing everywhere and smacking you in the face as you try to walk? Either way, this book is for you. Finding your direction is crucial in creating your personal brand or small business. How do we know which way to run if we can’t even walk properly first? Do you know how you work best? How you thrive? By the end of this journey my goal is to have you feeling inspired, motivated, and excited to wake up each day and live the life you’ve always dreamed of creating for yourself.

$14.50

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Overcoming Procrastination

September 21, 2018by WeddingsbycourtneyLeave a Comment

Where my makers at?! Most of us are so guilty of the procrastination gene! It’s in our DNA – So how do we use it for good? What is it? Were getting down and dirty with it all today!

Procrastination is the act of prioritizing less urgent and more pleasurable tasks over the more important stuff.

You procrastinate because you have a fear of doing something, because of unreasonable expectations, or because you haven’t generated enough reasons to get the job done.

Now, procrastination is not always “bad” nor “good”. I personally thrive when I have a dead line and need to get hustling the day before, but if it’s too much and not organized procrastination I will fail every single time to meet my deadline. I become stressed, overwhelmed, and start the hamster wheel of accomplishing absolutely nothing productive.

So why do we do this? How do we avoid procrastination or organize it to help us effectively? Today I am spilling all my tricks on what I do to stay on top of task that are not pleasurable or “exciting” to me. The ones that often get pushed to the back burner!

Get the hard stuff out-of-the-way – Every evening before bed I always make a list of what needs to be done the next day. This 1, helps me clear my head and sleep better and 2, allows me to strategically place the things i want to do the least top on my list.

(When I whip out the hard stuff first thing in the morning, there’s not enough caffeine in my system to talk me out of it, and then I am energized with the attitude of “Yeah I just did that, and it wasnt that bad.” “I am ready for more!”)

Set specific, measurable and realistic expectations of yourself – Do not over book yourself and realistically create timelines that allow you to not feel stressed out or like you need to skip a meal to accomplish everything. Remember a healthy you is going to be the most productive you.

Find out what motivates you and eliminate distractions – For my personal motivation I love Podcast. While I am working in my office I feel like I am learning new things from some of my favorite entrepreneurs while getting motivated on every word they say! Some of my favs to listen too for motivation are

Rachel Hollis – Rise
Jenna Kutcher – Goal Digger
Lori Harder – Earn your happy
and Julie Soloman – The Influencer Podcast
Mel Robbins – 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Method

All of these women fire me up and make working enjoyable and not boring or lonely. I eliminate my text and phone alerts, the television, or any other ding that may distract me from accomplishing the one task at hand.

Complete small new tedious task immediately – Have a phone call to make? A form to sign for the kids? A volunteer obligation? A dish you borrowed but have failed to return? Just do it. All of these tedious task can haunt you and turn into giant mole hills for absolutely no reason. The minute something comes in that I can handle right away I do. This will completely avoid you forgetting later on down the road, or saying “Ill do it after dinner” and becoming to tired and pushing it to the next day.

Find your peak performance time and use it – We all have that time of day that we just kick ass and take names. For some they call it being a “morning person” or a “night owl” others its awareness, either way we all have a time that is perfect for our own individual peak spots.

Don’t get “stuck” on your time and know that as life circumstances or body changes happen your peak performance times may change as well. Perfect example – I am usually a morning person. I wake up before everyone in my house, enjoy my coffee and quiet time, and start busting out hard projects before any one wakes up. Than…. I got pregnant….and I am pretty positive this baby is going to be a night party animal. I’m worthless in the mornings and some days can barely move until 3-5 p.m., then I perk up and can rumble til 1 in the morning. Ya all, this is UNHEARD of for my body, but Im rolling with the punches, Im listening to my peak energy, and utilizing it to the best of my ability. With a few quick changes I just have my “work performance” hours after the littles are tucked in. Be open and accepting to change.

Focus on one thing at a time – Dishes, Etsy Orders, Local Orders, Kids Event, Volunteer Obligations, Date night, Dinner Plans, Laundry OH MY – I’ll take the lions and tigers and bears any day. Slow it down girl friend…..This is where list are crucial. Take ONE THING and ONE THING only. Nothing else matters until that one thing is complete. Are you writing a blog? Then you are only focused on doing your best and writing the best piece you can at that moment. Are you doing the dishes? Then you’re not on the phone, your finishing up the dishes so you can get the next meal moving and grooving. I often remind my self “I am only doing this right now.” I literally hold my self back from squirreling and starting 5 things at once but completing nada.

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Five Tips to a Productive Week

September 9, 2018September 6, 2018by WeddingsbycourtneyLeave a Comment

We all love Sundays right? It has to be my favorite day of the week by far.

For my family it’s a day to spend together baking, adventuring, exploring, or finishing projects. The freedom of this day leads to endless possibilities. Sometimes we cuddle up watching movies and some days we re arrange the entire house, either way, we are doing it as a family.

The most common question I get asked is “how do you do it all?” (Which is funny because as entrepreneurs we are so hard on ourselves.) I often think goodness I am so behind, I should have done this, I need to do that. Some times you just need a little grace and peace. This is where proper planning for your business is so crucial.

Boss babes need days off too!! Don’t get me wrong, rest is so important!

For me personally, I use Sunday evenings to plan my week ahead and I’m sharing all the secret tricks I use to navigate through and tackle it all with very little stress.

I am still not convinced “balance” of mommyhood and entrepreneurship is a real thing, but I think I have gotten pretty darn close to the secret recipe it takes to make it all go round with very few hiccups. Ready Mama Bears? Lets get to it…

Plan your social media ahead of time. Yes this is totally doable. I use PLANN – an app that allows me to pre post for the week everything I want to talk about and deliver to my audience. The app also allows me to review my color schemes and appearance of all my content before my actual IG and Facebook post go live. Make sure you are delivering quality content that you would be wanting if you were a reader. Nine times out of ten your target audience is someone just like yourself (This means they most likely have the same interests, goals, and want to spend their time reading something valuable.)

Get a planner and write it down. I am all about hand to paper. I just feel connected and it helps me remember vs. typing it in my phone and forgetting about it til an alarm goes off. Call me old school but I am convinced pen to paper is the best way. I write down all of my kids practices, games, and schooling events first. Then I orchestrate around their schedules my work. When will I blog each week? What are my topics for the week? When will I complete my Etsy orders? How much time do I need this week to connect and reach out to companies for work collaborations? Respond to emails? Make appointments? What ever it is that is lingering on your plate – write it down.

Make a weekly goal list. Mine this week went a little something like this –

Finish painting kitchen and updating cabinets to all white.
Create content for IG for the week.
Schedule September’s Home look photo shoot for blog.
Reach out to 10 new people about my book.
Touch base with 5 companies about possible collabs for projects.
Start building nerf obstacles for Liam’s birthday party.
Finish up volunteer project for Liam’s Library.
Learn something new on Pinterest Marketing – ( Okay totally squirreling over here….eeeeek I love learning new things and am totally including all of you as I learn to navigate traffic through pinterest this month!)
Finish all Etsy Orders.

Now that I have my goal sheet I have big things I can cross off and feel super accomplished through out the week as I put a check next to each one of those bad boys. I chizzle out time to multi task the best I can while my husband works. (I have the kids do crafts when I do Etsy, I’ll have them play out side while I do stuff in the garage.) It is SUPER IMPORTANT to have just time with your children and shut it all down, but running a business from home you also need to get creative with how to be present and in the moment while also tackling milestones on your business and not falling behind.

Finish your laundry. There is just something with mammas and laundry. DAMNIT. I am telling you what girlfriend, if you get the laundry done and put away during a great show Sunday night when the kids are in bed, the week goes smoother. You start out fresh and clean with no lingering giant “chores” at home deterring you from your work and mom goals. (I also try to squeeze in a quick clean up of the house to just start Monday off right.) It’s like Monday has a magic new beginning of whats in store for our stories. I love it!

Get some zzzz’s. Nothing has healing powers like water and sleep. For children, for adults, for animals, for any living thing. A good nights rest and h20 can fix pretty much anything. Make sure to get a solid eight hours and wake up feeling refreshed and energized. Grab your favorite book and get those eyes feeling heavy.

Take an hour and just plan, each week it gets easier and you will know how to navigate your time better and better.

Heres to a Productive Second Week of September –

Who has their fall decor out?

Thats on my agenda as well!!!

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Summer Books that Inspire

July 9, 2018by WeddingsbycourtneyLeave a Comment

Getting lost in a good book is everythingggggg! With writing my first book coming out next month, the more I read, the more I feel inspired to write. Go figure?

What better way than to share with you besties my favorite reads so far this summer!

Audible is amazing but there is just something special about turning an actual page for me! When my kids are splashing around at the pool I love to relax and just get indulged in a good read.

Okay lets get to it…Here are my absolute favs this year.

The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

What are you waiting for? Lets get lost together!!!!! These will make you want to tackle the world when you are done! Here is to some serious mama motivation.

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You Can Do Hard Things

March 3, 2018September 14, 2018by WeddingsbycourtneyLeave a Comment

This was it. One of those parenting moments you read about in waiting room magazines. If I said the wrong thing, there could be scarring for life. Okay, so not really scarring, but this was most definitely an important moment.

Let me back up…

The night before, I realized my kindergartner had brought home a magnet from school that did not belong to him. It belonged to his teacher. This was new territory for me, but we did the tough talk about taking things that don’t belong to you and made a plan to return the magnet to his teacher the next morning. He was scared to tell his teacher (who is a very kind person by the way). He cried but was able to calm down before bedtime.

The next morning, my kiddo nervously mentioned the plan we’d made together a few times but made it to school with only a few tears.

But then…

As we walked the path to his kindergarten class, I could feel the tension building inside him, and in myself. Suddenly, the damn burst and he broke into sobs, begging me to take him home. He pulled away, turning toward the direction of the car. “I’m scared” he wailed, over-sized tears rolling down his reddened cheeks. The look of fear in his eyes tore at my heart.

That was it. That was the big moment when the world stopped turning for a breath and I knew I had to reach down deep for an answer. An answer that would support him in becoming a secure, resilient person who could face fears without falling apart. A better person, perhaps, that I have been in much of my life. I took a deep breath.

This is what I said…

“I know you’re scared. It’s okay to be scared. And I know that this is hard. But here’s the thing…you can do hard things. And I will be there with you the whole time. Together we can do hard things.”

Did it stop his tears and make it all better? No. But I believe it helped him calm himself a little, and I like to think it gave him another piece of solid foundation toward a lifetime of doing things even when they are scary, and knowing that he has the resiliency to get through them.

Since that day, I have thought back on those words and realized…

That advice applies to my life.

And to yours.

Perhaps it’s when we have to dig deep for someone we love more than ourselves that an authentic truth is more easily revealed. Or maybe it’s revealed in a way that feels more REAL, more personal. Since then I’ve been reminding myself more often of that authentic truth. That it’s okay to be afraid. That I can do hard things, and that my God, family, and tribe of friends are always with me.

So to all you amazing women: That thing that you’re afraid of? I know you’re scared. It’s okay to be scared. And I know that this is hard. But here’s the thing…you can do hard things. Together, we women can do hard things.

– Kristen Rodgers

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Can I get a HELLO?

February 25, 2018by WeddingsbycourtneyLeave a Comment

You have a dream. You write it down. You have a goal. You make a plan. You put it to action and before you know it’s a reality.

I realized this year that it takes team work to make the dream work. My entire life I have tried to carry mountains on my shoulders alone….I’ve gotten far but not to the top. I met these two amazing women through my son’s school and knew I had to have them involved some way some how with my ultimate goal of helping other women. (These ladies are the show stopping special ones that make you laugh, are real and raw.) You know, the mom friends you painfully “mom date” to find? Personally…This attracts me to people…. REALNESS. Moms, Entrepreneurs, corporate Women, Stay at home wives, workaholics, influencers….Anyone. I wanted to REACH YOU! to help YOU! Everyone has a goal, a common purpose….

Bottom line…That purpose is to be the best possible YOU that you can be….To be better than you were yesterday. To learn from your mistakes, make smarter action moves, and to love harder! Am I right???? Ok ok! So last week I met with these phenomenal women at the park. We connected, we brain stormed, we PLANNED….and you know what happened REALITY…..

Meet my two guest writers! We will be brain storming, planning, sharing projects, having our 5 kids go crazy at parks while we attempt to make something special for YOU! Big things for 2018… I won’t reveal it all at once, because what fun is that….I will however introduce these amazing women….

Meet Kristen…..

“Hi, I’m Kristen, a blessed and grace-filled mom trying to rekindle my creative spark and also put positivity and encouragement into this world. I believe women empowering and supporting each other in a REAL way is how we make positive changes for us all. I also love laughing with friends, sci-fi movies and shows (hello Anaconda and X-Files), all things nature, reading, gardening, and being a wife and mom. I am so thankful for my tribe of friends and hope to connect to even more of you out there! I love being a bit sassy as I explore this wonderful, crazy roller-coaster life, so if you want to laugh while we explore our creative and entrepreneurial side, come on along with me.”

Let me also add she loves crocaconda (sci fi reference), bacon, and wine… Can I get a HELLO!

Ok Lets meet Heather (She’s amazing) works full time and is PTA president…. (I don’t even go to PTA so no clue how this mama balances, but she will sure tell you.)

“Hi, I’m Heather, a grateful, (and juggling) mom on a mission to discover my authentic self, to choose joy every day and to find the true meaning of balance. I am filled with a passion for spreading kindness, choosing joy and finding new adventures in this wild life we live. Women supporting and uplifting each other while pushing ourselves to explore our limits and new experiences is a new but deeply meaningful focus for me. I suppose you could say I’m mostly sweet with a bit of spice! I cherish laughter and enjoy lighthearted sarcasm but my heart beats with sentiment and emotion. I love listening to music and find lyrics to be one of my most therapeutic experiences in life. I enjoy all things centered around relationship building – coffee, wine and food. What else could you need? Sentimental movies, sweet memories with my children and family and precious time with my beloved tribe of friends are the things that feed my soul. I’m excited you’re here and I look forward to walking this path of discovery, joy and laughter with you!”

Let me also add that she is PTA president, loves wine, baking and sappy chick flicks.

OK I’M EXCITED….GET EXCITED.

Get ready for some mind blowing, hilarious, real, diy, mommin ain’t easy ish coming up in here! 2018 will be amazing….

promise.

xoxo