gettin' back on the sponsor train! : [choo choo] : and 50% off on sponsor spaces!

happy monday, everybody!
did you have a great weekend??!
blake and i both had FOUR days off [thursday-sunday] & we got in some much needed relaxation.
movie watching. hiking. family hugging. napping. and sleeping in each morning.
back to work today...

its almost november!
i haven't been accepting sponsors on my blog since this summer ; but i have decided i am ready to start up again.
for the past few months, i have stepped away from my blog a bit. not a lot of posts. no promotion. i have taken the last few months to reset my blog goals & to start back at square one.
i already have so many great posts planned ; on top of TWO awesome gift swaps!
[more details about that later this week!]

i feel like so many bloggers right now are just blogging to get huge numbers.
they give stuff away but you HAVE to follow to be entered.

i dont want to be a part of that.
i want this to be a space where i am posting good, quality content that engages discussion and helps foster change.
simple home projects. easy vegan recipes. green // eco- products that can make your [and your pups!] life better.

i dont want people to HAVE to follow.
starting next month, i will be advertising my blog on a few of my favorite blogs!
i have decided that i will be accepting a limited number of sponsor spaces here.
all of my sponsor info has been updated & can be seen here.
i am only offering ONE size & only a handful will be available each month.

are you interested?!
be one of the first people to email me and get your 1- or 3-month package 50% OFF!
go you!
[dianapantz[at]gmail[dot]com]

and tell me this picture doesnt make your bad day better!

: the post about being honest & taking a break :

i have been thinking about writing this post for some time, now.
for the past year+, i have been blogging almost every day.
i have spent hours & hours [and hours!] in front of my computer making connections, writing posts, researching recipes, projects & vegan information.
along with blogging, i have also been knitting, sewing and creating tons of products for my shop.

like everything in life, things ebb & flow.
for the past few weeks, i havent been blogging much. i deleted twitter & facebook from my phone. i havent been blog reading, tweeting & interacting much online.
i created 50+ new items for a craft fair i had the beginning of june. i didnt work on my etsy shop AT ALL in the month of may. no new items. didnt renew any items. just let it sit there.

so, what have i been doing?
i have been baking a lot. reading before bed. walking around the lakes around sunset. sleeping in until 7:30am. biking 120+ miles a week. listening to mpr. talking to my grandma on the phone. enjoying everything.
another thing i have been doing?
lots of 'long-term' planning with blake. its no secret we want to adopt in the next couple of years. we want to buy a house. we want to pay off all our debts & student loans [side note : i made a HUGE dent in my loans in may ; super exciting!]

all of those things take money. lots of money.
and right now, my energy & heart just isnt in :dianapantz: the way it was. both financially & emotionally, i am looking for a bit more 'ommmmph' right now.
i love that i can wake up each morning and do what i love. and i am making ends meet & i am super proud of myself for following my dream.
and while making ends meet is great ; i want to get ahead right now. i owe it to myself & to blake to knock out debt, start the adoption process & create a more stable future.

what does all of this mean?

i am NOT closing down my shop. and i am NOT leaving my blog.

it means that i have been applying for a 'real' job & plan on creating a career for myself. i have 12 years experience in planning, childcare & program development. i am looking forward to working with people [and not just listening to my crappy neighbors all day!] & actually getting dressed in the morning!

i will still be posting 4-5 days a week & will start accepting paid sponsorships later this summer // fall.

new items will still be added to the shop ; but not as often.

i really appreciate each & every one of you that visit the blog & have supported my business. 

we all go through ups & downs and our goals & dreams shift.

thanks for reading ; i really do think you are cool.

[even those of you that lurk & never comment ;)]

5 simple tips for bloggers

happy saturday!
what are you doing this weekend?
i had big plans for the weekend ; but right this second, i am not feeling well, so i might be laying in bed & catching up on reading all weekend.

as bloggers, we are all constantly trying to get better, right? trying to learn more. trying to make more connections. attempting to become a bigger part of this great community. thats you, right?

either way, i have 5 *super* simple tips to help you grow your blog, connect with your readers and help you stand out a bit more.


1) no music!
you want a music player on your blog? thats fine ; but give us the option to hit 'play'. its distracting when i am listing to the backstreet boys // at the coffee shop // watching netflix and your music is blaring through my speakers. if there is loud music on your blog ; i have a hard time focusing on your content.

2) take good photos and use them!
i like to include at least a few photos in each post ; it helps break up all the words & also helps the reader connect with my& my topic. so many bloggers are visual learners, so looking at quality photos makes a huge difference

i [and your readers] are at your blog because we want to learn more about you. it is hard to do that when photos are blurry, too dark or super small. i know that not everyone has a slr camera [heck, i just got mine two months ago!], but make sure you are taking clear photos in good light. it helps us 'feel' your topic. and make the photos as large as your formatting will allow.

3) remember that 'being honest & open' is NOT the same as 'complaining & unloading.'
i know a lot of bloggers [myself included] who would rather share fun photos, cute date-nights and new projects than share their adult acne, messy apartment or body image struggles BUT there is something to be said in opening up and being honest. it is OKAY to have a hard day and share about your struggles every once in a while BUT if you spend too much time complaining about your [great!] life, you will isolate readers & people will stop coming to your blog.

4) TEACH US SOMETHING!
i think this is where a lot of bloggers can get into trouble. it is okay to have a silly post, BUT the majority of your posts should be something we can learn from. how do you dress for your [curvy] body? how can i save money on grocery shopping? give me a few fun and easy projects i can do with my friends.
remember that people are busy. if you want folks to take time out of their crazy schedule to read your blog, be sure they leave having learned something

5) interact!
this one is SO important. when someone leaves you a comment ; comment back OR send an email [i like to email!]. also, when you get new followers ; check out their blog, send them an email, leave them a comment.

use social media! follow & tweet about your favorite blogs. see a cool post, a fun shop or a new [to you] blog? tweet or post on facebook about it.

if you want people to know you exist ; you have to put yourself out there.


what are your tips for improving your blog?
share with us below!

: guess who quit their job?!?! :

ahhhhhh!
guess!
come on ; guess.

hint : ME.
you read that right!!!

THIS GIRL IS NOW WORKING ON :dianapantz: FULL TIME.

remember a few weeks ago, i posted this entry about my need for balance and how my current work situation was NOT fulfilling that need.

dont want to read the post [you should!] ; heres a quick recap :
right now, i am working 60+ hours a week ; i work on :dianapantz: full time and then nanny for a screaming baby 20 hours during the week.
its been a lot to handle ; and i have been d.y.i.n.g for a change.
the nanny baby is so incredibly difficult and right now, my heart is totally in making my business successful.
dianapantz is thisclose to being a sustainable income for me, but right this second, i am not there yet.

so, what the heck happens next?!
well, i dont know.
i am so, so very excited for this next part in my life.
[seriously, i have goosebumps writing this!!]

just think!
last november, i started :dianapantz:
i started blogging everyday [i had 19 followers!]
i didnt EVEN KNOW HOW TO SEW YET!
last november, i was just selling winter wear.

it is soooo freaking rad to see how far i have come in 365 days!
i am so proud of myself.
i have worked very hard for every follower, every item made, every email sent.

my goals for this next year are to pay off my debt and to survive as a handmade business.
i want a new website.
maybe next spring/summer, i would love to have an employee [two?].
i would love to hit 600 sales and 500+ blog followers.

but, the most important thing i want is to wake up each morning excited to go to work.
and i want to fall asleep next to my amazingly supportive partner, so proud of the work i am doing each and every night.

thanks for reading everybody! 

: lets talk about KLOUT : do you have it? : how do you get more? : and great perks that come with it! :

thats a long title ; right?
remember a while back when i headed to chicago for the 20sb bloggers conference?
well, i got to listen to megan berry speak about klout.
at that point, i had never heard the word and had NO clue what it was, how you got it and if it was good.

[now, i am NOT an expert on klout ; if you want to know more and more [and more], i suggest you google it to learn more. klouts website has a lot of info, too.

what is klout? : 
klout is a reflection of your social media influence. its a score between 1 and 100.
its about the people you influence and the topics you talk about [and folks listen to!]
your true reach is based on the number of people you influence, both in your close network and their extended networks.
personally, the first couple months of using klout ; i was a bit confused.
i know its great to have a mid-level number [i am in the mid-40s] ; i check it once a week, but its not a huge deal.

they also have a program called klout perks.
depending on your number and the topics you influence folks on, you can be eligible for certain perks and prizes.

last month, i got a free pack of moo business cards. i have been experimenting with business cards for a really long time, and i love how moo cards look.

i know a lot of businesses use them ; they are skinny rectangle cards and you can use their designs, upload your own and you have the WHOLE backside to add as much info as you want.
i totally recommend them and always get compliments when i hand them out.
[disclaimer : i am a moo affiliate ; that means i get a small portion of all purchases made with my link]

i also got a free bottle of wine not too long ago.
one hope wine [do you know this company?!?] sent me a free bottle of wine. 50% of each bottles proceeds goes to charity. and when you buy the bottles, YOU choose the charity. cancer research. autism. saving the planet. supporting the troops. aids research. and supporting childrens hospitals.
the bottle we ordered helped with autism research.
cool, right? 

i dont drink, so our bottle is going to be a gift. head over and support them.

if you have any questions OR comments about klout ; please leave them in the comments!

thanks for reading ;)

: how to be a better blogger :

woo hoo!
high-five for the weekend!

so, a lot of you are new readers [hey!] and a bunch of you have been around for a long time [thanks!]
i started this blog a long time ago without really getting it. last year, when i decided that i wanted to create a business for myself, i started reading a million different blogs. reading for context. for the photos. the features.
last august ; i had 19 followers. in february, i had 33. and today? i have 218. [please dont delete me!]
i am pretty proud of my little blog. i feel like i, my business, my blog, the content and my photos have really come a long way in 12 months!

as i was reflecting on my blog and what i have learned in the past year ; i came up with a few helpful tips.
also, i would love to have a discussion in the comments. if you have any tips, comments or questions, please add them!


________________________________________________________________________________
tips for better blogging : 

1) be nice.
nobody likes a jerk blogger. use good manners. if somebody says something nice to you ; say thanks.
people are busy. we have jobs. kids. families. other obligations. people dont have to be reading your blog. be appreciative. it really does go a long way!
[remember, there are a billion blogs in the universe ; if you arent good to your readers, someone else will be]

2) stand for something.
get involved. we all have social causes that are important to us. [a few of mine = biking. education. autism. haiti. natural disaster relief.] if a fellow blogger is trying to rally a few troops ; help out.
do you run a shop? donate a bit of your profits.
[but diana ; i need that money. i have kids. loans. bills. and i want new shoes]
every month ; i donate a percentage of all profits [and then blake and i BOTH match that total] to give to a cause that we care about.
i get that money is tight ; but lets be honest ; the $5 you spend on a latte could save a life!
[annnnd personally, i am much more likely to support a business that uses their voice for good]

3) say hey
i spend a lot of time on the computer, and i find new blogs every day! see a blogger with cute shoes? or a great attitude? or someone that lives nearby? send an email. 
say 'hey. you look cool. i am cool. let be internet friends.'
[it almost always works][i have made a lot of great blog friends just from reaching out]
and really, this blogging community offers so many great opportunities. you just have to take them! 

4) get your face out there
you want more followers?
*offer a giveaway. host a giveaway. contact 5-10 of your favorite blogs/shops and see if they want to work together. write a few blogs with common interests and see if they want to guest post on your blog. or ask if they are ever looking for guest posters.
*have a product, but want more exposure? see if anybody will review your goodies. [you send it to them to keep and they write about it and tell all their friends]
*wanna sponsor, but not quite ready to spend/accept money? ask about button swaps. find a few blogs that you dig and see if they will post your button while you post theirs.
*annnnd use social media! have a shop you love? write about it. post it on facebook and twitter.

5) go ahead ; say no!
as your blog grows [i promise it will!] you will be contacted by companies that might not be aligned with your values [or your readers]. it is soooo okay to say no!
[personal story : a few weeks ago, i got an email from a company that i have seen around the internet. i dont use their products and honestly; i think they are overpriced! i was told that i would earn a commission  on each sale that came from my site. they werent willing to give me any samples, but they were hoping i would plug all their greatness. and i said no thanks.]
[this blog is a positive community full of intelligent, crafty, wonderful humans and i will never mislead my readers in hopes of a 5% payout]

6) shake your feathers.
blogging can be tricky. its easy to feel like your blog is lame cuz so-and-so has 29304820 followers and you only have 12. its easy to compare yourself to others and get bummed when you arent getting the results you want.
well, you know what? be proud of your blog. make it a cozy, happy place where people are engaged, inspired and learning new things. make it appealing. as soon as i get to your blog ; is it clear what its about? is there an easy place to locate your email address? clear photos? easy-to-read font?
make this blog work for you ; and make it welcoming to your readers and it will succeed!

7) turn down the damn music.
when i am on the computer, i almost always have music or netflix playing. its stressful when someone else's music is blaring and i have to figure out how to turn it off. [and i would hate to interrupt my fave backstreet boys song!]

thanks for reading along!
and i really do appreciate all of you! blogging is such a fun journey for me ; and i love that all of you are by my side!

if you have any feedback, comments or questions ; please put them in the comments!
i would love to create a discussion.

: guess what i won?!?! :

oh my goodness!
this is exciting.

do you know doni?

i love her blog.
right now, she lives in portland, but use to live in minneapolis.
[i use to live in portland, and i now i live in minneapolis ;) ]
[annnd, if you head here to read her goals, you will see, they are super similar to mine!]

anyways, this weekend, doni hosted a giveaway on her blog to win a ticket to this blogging conference.
20 SOMETHING BLOGGERS CONFERENCE!
[wheeeee!]
and guess who won?!?!

this girl!

woo hoo!

the conference is in chicago in a few weeks!
[chicago is 7 hours from here]

we also have *free* tickets to see the white sox play.
[did you know that since i am a twins fan, that i am not allowed to like the white sox ;) ]

have you won anything cool lately?