As my regular readers know after a very long road, I am finally a first time mom and full time stepmom. This past year has brought on many challenges and changes including me becoming a blogger. Yes, I can officially call myself a blogger. 

One is usually called a blogger once they start writing whatever their heart desires and posts those thoughts on some type of hosting site to share with others. Sounds easy enough right!? Actually, it really is this easy. You can simply set up your site and write your little heart out. However, who sees what you write? This is where the real work begins. 

You want your loving thoughts to be shared with friends and family so you post a link on your Facebook. People love your musings. The suggestion that other people need to read this is made. Now you think I want to be taken serious so you create a Facebook page for just your blogging. Now you see that you are getting 20-30 more views on your posts. The excitement builds inside you. I must get more views...the desperate research begins to find out how to get more viewers to your site. Social Media is the answer. Time is spent creating Twitter, Pinterest and Google+ accounts. You post, post and post your links to those sites hoping to build a following. Your excitement builds as a new follower joins your pages. Then it happens...Stagnant sites…no new followers, no readers, no activity of any kind!

More research finds Linky Parties are where it is at! What in the world is a Linky Party? It is only the most amazing invention ever for a new blogger. You basically share your post link on a site that is hosting a Linky Party. Then you share, like and/or comment on the host's posts and at least two other bloggers posts. The host will share your link over their social media sites. This has increased my blog views and social media followers tremendously. Linky Parties can become overwhelming if you are not organized. They take time that sometimes a stay-at-home mom does not have. The weeks I take off from Linky Parties, I see a significant drop in views. 

Organization is necessary! I was getting lost in all the social media posts, Linky Parties, blog posts, and home life schedulings. I needed a planner! I found a Free Printable Planner at A Well Crafted Party. After having the planner printed, I set to work building my planner, making a Linky Party Chart and the requirements for each party. I made a chart with all my social media sites and their information. I then planned which days I was going to post on each site.  This is not what I imagined when I began blogging.

During my time of planning, linking and trying to find ways to get out there in the blogging world I found a Tribe. Unintentionally I came across a group of blogging mommies that chat daily and help each other with blogging questions. They share each other’s posts and give valid feedback on personal and blogging issues. This group has been a God Send! I have learnt so much from this awesome group of ladies. 

I must say as I read what I have typed to this point it seems very easy to do all this and become a blogging sensation. Think again! I am a mom remember...of two small children...who NEVER sleep...I live on pots of coffee! Anything I do takes hours, days and sometimes weeks. I do not have the ability to just simply type what is in my head. I have to rework it to make sense to a reader that has no clue what I am talking about. I have to clear out the extra cluttery nonsense that I wrote because I lost my train of thought when the baby began crying, the phone rang, my toddler wanted something to eat, the husband needs another bandage (oh I could write about that). See even as I type this other ideas pop in my head and now I have three stories rolling around in there.

The point of this post was not to be a How to guide but a Holy Cow I'm a Blogger Post! After months of hard work, I am finally seeing great results! I am on a site called Top Mommy Blogs where I post my blog posts and other moms read them. I can find product review opportunities and link to other great bloggers. Iveth from fortheloveto referred me to this site. Top Mommy Blogs ranks its participants based on reader’s votes. Because of you voting after reading my posts I am feeling quite validated as a blogger.

In the Stay-at-Home category, I am ranked number 9 out of 49 bloggers

In the Overall category, I am ranked number 89 out of 5,000+ bloggers

My dear readers you have no idea how amazing it feels to know that my posts are being read and liked by you. Even though it has taken me just under four hours to type this post to thank you due to baby needs, toddler wants and a chaotic bathroom break (just a small sample of how that goes). I Thank You from the bottom of my heart for voting and reading about my crazy mom life. 

Please keep voting and while you are at it would you kindly leave a comment, even if it is a single word. I want to know what you really think about what you read or give me some suggestions that helped you with what I am typing about. Your comment could make a big difference in my day and could help fellow readers.

I am honored that you’re interested in guest posting on Crossing New Bridges’ blog.  I love to see the many talented writers in the blogging world who want to add to the Crossing New bridges’ vibe.

• ·         Pregnancy, babies, and loss
• ·         Family life struggles, joys and happenings
• ·         Kid crafts fun or educational
• ·         Most anything really, as long as it is respectful and family geared

Submission Guidelines:

Your submissions will be reviewed and if it will benefit our readers, it is likely to be published. (I try to post most of the submissions). I will contact you within a week to let you know the date you are scheduled to be posted or if we cannot use your submission.

Posts must be original content (if published somewhere else please tweak it to fit Crossing New Bridges’ vibe).

Posts should be 350 to 1000 words.

Use of bullets, lists and short paragraphs is encouraged for ease of reading.

Please use correct grammar, spell check and punctuation.

Crossing New Bridges does not offer monetary compensation for guest posts at this time. We do share your post on all our Social Media outlets and connect your post with all our Linky sites. We also encourage you (the author) to respond to comments posted about your Submission.

How to submit your guest post for review
Email to crossingnewbridges@gmail.com with “Guest Post Submission” in the subject line.

Please include the following:

Screaming Good Time

Hello,

I am a first time Rainbow Mommy (Baby born after loss of previous babies). My lil family consists of myself, the hubs, 2 stepsons, a miracle daughter and a fur puppy. We live in our cozy white picket fenced New York home (minus the fence).

I began blogging after our simple living (like the Fresh Prince) got flipped upside down. A week before our miracle baby was born; my husband was in a serious car accident that has left him with some new struggles. While adjusting to full-time parenthood with less than 2 months under our belt, we were given full custody of my youngest stepson. Due to a few financial changes, I was not able to return to college to finish my Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. I needed an outlet from some of the stressors I was dealing with and BAM I became a blogger!

In my spare time, I enjoy crafting and creating educational fun for my kids. I am an Ordained Minister and preform wedding services. I am an Event Planner. I design and create jewelry. I also make care packages for those suffering through pregnancy and infant loss. I have found however, that in order to get any type of notoriety one must first put themselves out there. Hence the blogging.

I hope you enjoy reading what I have to share with you.

Ways to Contact Me:
Email
Twitter