BIG CHANGES coming to dianapantz

happy thursday, everybody!
did you see the fun recipe for refrigerator pickles i posted monday?!
we keep getting more & more cucumbers in our CSA box & this is my new 'go-to' recipe.

i wanted to announce some new changes that are coming to the blog in the next couple weeks!
right now, i consider dianapantz a vegan lifestyle blog focused on recipes, projects, small business tips, occasional personal posts & vegan tips.

i am a firm believer that if you are going to blog, it should be something worth reading. your post should teach your readers something.

if you know me in 'real life', or have been around here for a while, you know that i really enjoy healthy living & taking care of myself. i live in yoga pants & am always being active.
i have wanted to transition this blog into more of a 'healthy living' blog for such a long time, but just felt that one more blog topic would be too much.
so, now is the time!

what will be changing?
dianapantz will now be focused on 'healthy, vegan fitness on a budget'
there will be a new blog schedule, a new layout, header & buttons. i will be changing the recipe page & many of the other tabs,  as well.
i will be focusing more on how to create, build & keep positive body image, current heath issues [globally, locally & here in the us], vegan recipes, workout tips, exercises & workouts i love, products i use, and easy ways to stay healthy & strong on a budget [because, i dont have $150 a month for cross-fit classes!]


what will be staying the same?
i will still be posting links i love & easy home projects. also, daphne [my dog, duh!] will be sharing a few of her favorite toys, eco-products & handmade vegan treats.

why am i switching things up?!
right now, i feel like there are SO many blogs out there that are full of fluff. they host a billion giveaways & have a ton of followers ONLY because the first 3 entries require you to follow them.
i have never been worried about my numbers. if 300 people read a post, or if 15 people read a post ; i am okay with that. i always want to post content that i am proud of & thats worth reading.
with all of that being said ; i am leaving behind the 'small business' side of my blog right now. i love fitness & wellness and really want to share that.
everyday, on twitter or facebook, i see someone [usually more than one!] who posts something negative about their [her] brain or body. i hate that as a [female] culture, there really are women who are almost 30 & still think they arent good enough. it breaks my heart & i want to make this blog a space to celebrate wellness, positive thinking & the ability we all have to be better!


so, what about the shop?
well, the shop will stay open ; but i wont be adding any bags, bow ties or pantz for a while. knitting & photography are the two things that i really, really enjoy doing ; so new photos & winter wear will be added to the shop periodically. i will be having a huge sale on pantz, bow ties & bags in a few weeks.
right now, with a super active pup & three jobs ; taking a break from my shop is something that i really need to do.

are you still taking sponsors?
right now [and for the past few months], i am not. i want to get a 'blog flow' going & totally update my blog. in the next couple of months, i will start thinking about sponsorships again.
i feel like anybody with more than 25 blog followers now accepts [paid] sponsorships. it so easy to get 2,094,823,098 buttons on your sidebar and i really dont know how effective swaps & sponsorships are. its something i am working on, but for right now, i am not accepting new sponsors.


what about the e-book?
the e-book, just like my shop & blog, has been a bit quiet lately. i am also in the process of revamping my e-book. maybe a couple new recipes, a new feature or two, a new affiliate plan & a new price!
i will share more when i am ready.


so, the bottom line is : i appreciate each & every one of you. the emails. comments. pen pals. all of it. this blog has been really great for me & i am super excited to be switching gears & to share this new chapter.

what do you think?
any advice? comments? are there any health // wellness // vegan blogs that you really enjoy that i should check out?

heres to a new chapter!!!

: open call for guest posters! : i am looking for YOU! :

in 25 days [whaaaaat?!], blake & i will be spending 7 days biking 500 miles through the hills, heat & winds of iowa.
[i am sure you are wondering & no, i dont feel physically prepared yet!!]

i have a bunch of really great posts for you this coming month, but would LOVE to have a few guest posts while i am away riding my butt off.

what am i looking for?!
something fun!
*a creative project that involves reusing // repurposing something you already own!
*something related to biking
*something related to traveling // a fun trip // touring your own town
*and maybe a tasty [easy-to-convert-to-vegan] summer recipe.

WHO am i looking for?!
YOU
its okay if you have a huge blog.
or not.
or maybe you dont have a blog.
maybe you do lots of guest posts.
or you dont.

i am looking for a couple of posts that teach my readers something.
something that fits with my blogging style // format.
and maybe you have a rad idea i didnt list.
let me have it!!

are you interested?
leave a comment!
or send me an email.
[dianapantz[at]gmail[dot]com]

: 8 reasons to sponsor :dianapantz: in may :

it is almost may ; kinda crazy, right?
we are almost halfway through 2012!

i love may ; the end of spring ; beginning of summer. everything is blooming. herbs growing on the windowsill. lots of sunshine. tons of biking. outdoor baseball. planning summer camping trips. dresses & t-shirts.
love it.

with a new month, comes a new opportunity to grow your own endeavor & challenge yourself!
i am again offering sponsorship on my blog for may!
why sponsor :dianapantz: next month?!
[so glad you asked..]

8 reasons to sponsor my blog next month :

1) ALL 3- & 6-month packages are 15% off. all three sizes. contact me with your preference & *poof* you save $$!
2) may starts our 14 week training plan for our 500 mile bike ride in july. i will be sharing a bunch of healthy snack recipes & progress photos.
3) ive been getting lots & lots of pinterest traffic lately ; which means more & more folks are checking out the sidebar ;)
4) i will be participating in a *fun* [and tasty] 30 day challenge.
5) 4 great vegan recipes + tasty summer drink recipes [i was going to do this in april, but ran out of time!]
6) 3 tutorials that cost next to nothing to make!
7) a few super-helpful business // craft // hobby posts for maximizing your time + a guest post from blake about his newest business endeavor & how it can help YOU!
8) and i will be showcasing a few of my favorite vegan products!

so, whether you are a reader, a shop owner, or trying to grow your blog ; may will be a great month.
send me an email [dianapantz[at]gmail[dot]com or head here for sizing & prices.

: business tips ; measuring your online influence + tips for blog sponsoring :

thursday!
i hope your week is going well. fast? [mine is!]

last year, i wrote a post about klout & you can catch up here.
klout is a [free] online resource that measures your influence. basically ; are people listening and passing on things you say in the online world? when you type, do people listen?

klout measures your influence by a score of 1-100 [the higher the score, the more influence you hold]
and because i write a lot about charities, blogging, crafting & veganism ; i am deemed influential on those topics.

they also have a program called klout perks.
when you are influential in a topic, certain companies will partner with you ; hoping to get the word out about their product.

i came home the other day to find a great perk at my door.
simple skincare sent me a full size moisturizer AND a pack of 25 face wipes.
everything is all natural and VEGAN [!!]. [they are owned by unilever who DOES still use animal testing on *some* products. their full disclosure is here]
if you are looking for something affordable, natural & sustainable, check them out.

klout is a great program & i have gotten to enjoy so many great products. i have gotten a free pack of moo cards, a bottle of one hope wine, bars from two degrees food [LOVE THEM!], free minnesota twins tickets from score big, a discounted bike helmet from left lane sports & free pizza + pizza cutter from home run inn.[their pizza is NOT vegan ; i got two large pizzas & my family enjoyed them!]

i suggest you sign up for klout. not just for the free stuff, but because it has really made me think differently about the way i blog. the best part about blogging is learning new things from others & having them learn new things from you. being a member has really made me more aware of the influence we all hold.

*disclaimer : all of these products were given to me through klout. i was not paid. and everything i have said is from my own brain // experience*

also, you know about revolutionize her, yes?
its a group of self-employed [indie biz] women who blog about tricks, tips & other topics in the world of self-employment.
earlier this week, i wrote a post regarding blog sponsorships ; what you should look for when considering sponsoring blogs. [if we are being honest ; its one of my fave posts i have written!]

see you tomorrow!

: SPONSOR CALL! :

happy saturdaaay!
right now, i am laying on the couch, in my bathrobe, listening to traffic outside.
its warm in our apartment and blake is still sleeping.
cozy morning!!

can you believe its almost february?
didnt everybody just make 2012 goals?

if you are looking for a great place to advertise your shop/blog/indie biz, i would LOVE to have you next month.
my rates are super affordable and you get a few perks ;)

my little blog [+ facebook, bloglovin' & twitter!!] has been growing every month!!
i am averaging 5-600+ visits a day and have folks from all over the world stopping by!

february will be a fun month on the blog!
i have a new blog series that i am starting. m-a-y-b-e some new product ;). a brand new fitness endeavor [after we finish insanity!! 25 workouts left!!]. tons of new vegan recipes, new diy projects and a few personal stories to help you get to know me a bit better!

if you are interested in sponsoring [i offer 1, 3 & 6-month packages & 3 different sizes], send blake an email : ballenward[at]gmail[dot]com or check out all of my sponsor options here!

: the dianapantz FIRST EVER holiday gift swap :

hi everybody.
i hope you are well.
[by the tweets online, it sounds like lots of folks are boogery and sick..]

if you follow me on twitter or facebook OR you saw the new tab i added to the blog, you have seen my new holiday idea!

a gift swap! 
i would love to have you ; there are already a bunch of crafty folks signed up and it will only get better from here.

heres how it works ;
you send me an email [take.a.picture[at]live[dot]com] and say 'hey! i am in!'
tell me where you live [full address] ; and where you are willing to mail to [just united states? us & canada? all countries?]. and tell me three fun facts about yourself!

i will then use my super-secret sorting powers and give you a gift-swapping partner ; i will send you their address and their three fun facts. [but shhhhh ; its a secret!]

your job is to create or buy a handmade item that will make your partner smile. [budget $10-20 ; or whatever you can afford!] you can make them something that fits with their fun facts ; you can purchase a gift from a handmade artist ; or just make a gift that you just know they will dig. please avoid buying a $20 gift card from large chain retailers ; we want to make this is great experience for everybody!

are you interested?!
send me an email and let me know!

[take.a.picture[at]live[dot]com]
[deadline to join the swap is november 11th! ; the sooner the better!]

feel free to grab the button and throw it on your blog!

*the code is over on the sidebar ---------->

: posts around the interwebz : food &bikes, baby :

happy weekend.
you are reading this!
and me? im touring around small town wisconsin, sleeping under the stars.

this week, i guest-posted for a few great ladies and i just knew you would want to read them ;)

1) over on nicole's blog [we are going to meet in real life soon!!], i shared a fun and really easy carrot cake smoothie.

2) and on victoria's blog, you can make another super simple snack. no-bake apple cupcakes.

3) last, i shared my own personal cycle stories interview over on liz's blog!

happy reading!

annnnnd, lurk around their blogs, all three are great reads.

have a great day!

: *FINALLY* my review of the 20SB & Minneapolis blogging conferences :

yikes.

this post is so stinkin' overdue.

back in august, blake and i drove down to chicago for the 20sb blogging conference.
i won a ticket from donis blog ; and got to hear her speak.

its an 8 hour drive from minneapolis to chicago ; and we camped outside the city.
the conference was two days long ; but due to the train schedule and sleeping on the ground, i only went on saturday.

the first breakout session was called 'the glamour, the glory, the grind ; lessons learned from 5 years of problogging' by gala darling.
do you know her blog?! i had never heard of her, but now her blog is one of my daily reads.
the session was mostly about her journey, and how some days its hard. and how sometimes things you would never imagine to happen. [she was invited to fashion week with betsy johnson!]

i also heard doni and tim jahn speak on 'stop, collaborate and grow / advancing your blog through collaboration'.
there was a lot of discussion in this session, and its always so interesting to hear what people have to say. some people said they never read blogs when someone else is guest posting. and others said that they will take guest bloggers but will refuse to edit content, even if the blog is poorly written.

*sometimes sessions like this are tricky for me because i think things are so subjective. different bloggers do things different. and i think learning and growing are so important, but if you take others successes, theres a chance it wont work*

* you have to do what works best for you. and your blog. your vision. and your great readers*

the third session was 'a brand new world / making your blog work for you' ; it was a panel lead by amy creyer, carolyn kmet, matthew jonas and megan berry.
amy runs this fashion blog. carolyn works for groupon and megan works for klout.

*i will be writing in depth about klout ; what it is, how to boost it and fun perks in a few days!*

and, while i was in chicago, i had the chance to meet vanessa. pretty sure we will be friends for a really long time. shes so rad [check out her blog and get ready for a guest post soon ;)]
_______________________________________________________________________________

last month, blake and i got the chance to attend the minneapolis bloggers conference, right here at home.
it was a day long, free event, just a few miles from home. we hopped on the trail and rode down.

the first session i attended was from mandy dwyer. it was a photography workshop and she did such a great job. a few of my favorite tips :
*when taking photos, look around. are you inside? are their dirty dishes, underpants, laundry around?
outside? garbage cans, light poles?
*when blogging with photos, work photos in with text. i am still learning this, and i really do think blogs look cleaner and are more interesting when there are pretty things to look at throughout ;)
*when you are editing photos, save them with keywords so your post gets better seo [search engine optimization] results.

the other session i really enjoyed was 'advertisements, endorsements and the casual ‘like’ –  what you

need to know (if you’re a celebrity blogger or not)' led by hayden o. creque esq. his session was really great. we talked a bunch about the new facebook contest rules and disclosure statements [when and when not to use them]. a lot of people had tons of questions, and there was a great discussion going.

these conferences were great ; i felt like i learned a lot and its always great to connect with other people that are making this planet better.


thanks for reading ; and i really do encourage you to check out all of the folks that i have listed!

: guest post diy project from victoria of one crafty mama! :

woo hoo!
i have such a fun project to share today.
did you know that i have an early childhood teaching degree?
i do ; and i have worked with kids with 10 years.
[i have a special place in my heart for toddler/preschool homemade projects]

take it away, victoria :

Hey There! 

I'm Victoria from One. Crafty. Momma. I blog about all kinds of things... my awesome toddler, my pretty sweet Muffin, arts and crafts, lots of super cool and easy toddler projects, and sometimes about me! :) Yep, I think that about sums it up! 

Like many of you, Pinterest has become such a great inspiration in my crafting lately! You can follow my boards HERE. Anywho, a few weeks ago, Diana pinned this totally awesome Gas Pump on one of her boards and I immediately knew I had to make it! My little one is completely obsessed with "filling up" at the tank lately!

So, without further ado, here is what Diana pinned : 

Source: declutterorganizerepurpose.wordpress.com via Diana on Pinterest

You can find the original instructions here. However, since I just used it as inspiration, I took a little creative liberties with it! 

I took two boxes, the same size, and covered them in Kraft Paper (you can use wrapping paper if you want). Then hot glued them together.  I made the cut outs with my Cricut, and used stickers for the buttons. Then I laminated everything. And hot glued it all in place. I felt like this would make it much more durable. He is 3 after all!

For the "pump", I attached some tubing (Lowe's. 22 cents a foot) to an old handle from a cleaning bottle. (I washed it thoroughly!!!) I hot glued some velcro to the side of the pump, and a small piece to the actual "pump" so it stuck. The small circle is a baby food cap, with a laminated circle on it. I hot glued the other side of the tubing to it.

 

He's pretty happy with it! Haha! It has been played with A LOT! :)  The only thing I would change is maybe to put a sand bag in the bottom of it, or some kind of weight.

Thanks for having me Diana!! I love your blog, and I'm really honored to be guest posting over here!! 

Be sure to check back with my blog! I am about to open my etsy shop, and plan on having lots of fun over there in the coming weeks! 

yay! thanks girl ; looks so great.

: the cutest make-up bag review :

hey!
you know tara , right?
and her shop?

did you know that i just taught myself to sew a couple of months ago?
well, i did.

i love lurking peoples shops for super-quality handmade sewn goodness.
love checking all the seams and the thread and just taking it all in.

last month, i connected with tara [i live in minneapolis and she lives in a suburb! cool, right?] and we decided to swap handmade goodies.

i picked a pattern and *whoosh* into my mailbox came the.cutest[!] makeup bag.

a couple weeks ago, when we were camping in chicago, i took the bag along.
i had so many things to put in the bag!

this bag is great.
love the handle.
and its a great size.
is sooo well made and the inside is waterproof and wipeable!

 so cute ; thanks tara!
go check out her goodies.

: photos of chicago :

hi!
so, i have been sitting at my computer for hours doing behind-the-scenes work!
oh my goodness! i need some chocolate and a nice run around the lake!


here are a few of my favorite photos from our time in chicago : 

so let me tell you ; we camped an hour out from the city + a conference all day + a 7.5 hour car ride [one way!] = not a lot of time to sightsee.
[and no, we didnt go to a sox game]
[sad] [but, we will be back ;)]