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!

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!!!

: things you should be reading : week 1 : lots 'o links! :

happy friday!
minneapolis-pantz is takin' a break this week.
why? because i have found so many rad links // stories i want to share.
each week kam, gala & deanna do link ups & i totally love them.

this week :
*25 great answers [foods!] to the question 'how do vegans get their calcium?'

*a really great article about why you DONT need milk from mark bittman

* how about personal-sized oatmeal cups?

*99 foods that should be in your grocery cart

* vegan banana oat breakfast cookies make a fab on-the-go meal

* 8 uses for old coffee grounds [this is a great list!]

* a 10 minute workout for tanktop arms

* want to learn how to span photos? [me too!]

* whew! 30 things you DONT have to do before you are 30! [thank you very much!]

* do you own a dog? how about a homemade frosty paws recipe?!

* martha stewart wants you to relax! learn to make bath fizzies!

* some powerful info-graphics breaking down a nation of meat eaters.

* 9 easy things to make yourself a better human

* and a sweet little article about the greatness of yet another farmers market in minneapolis [in my neighborhood!]

have a great weekend, everybody!

how to boost creativity & time management : an indie biz post

happy saturday!
as you are reading this, i am hanging out with some of my favorite folks, hunting bargains, riding my bike & taking photos.
[i have a lot to do today ;)]

todays indie biz post is about boosting creativity.
working from home can be tricky. its hard to find inspiration when you are home in your underwear yoga pants all day, every day.

below are 5 tips that help me be a better & more productive business owner

1) go away

running out of ideas // inspiration // motivation?
go somewhere else. sit outside & blog. head to the coffee shop to work on your to-do list. bring a blanket & sit outside to work. sometimes a simple change a scenery makes all the difference. i definitely find that sitting at a table, windows open, music off has made me much more productive.

2) rank your list
i have a huge fan of lists [you already knew that, right?] i always have a 'master to-do list' going at all times, but i also have a list of things i need to get done right now ; today. making a list the night before of things i need to do at certain times helps move me along.
if i dont have a deadline, i become a professional time-waster.

3) just quit, already!

when i first started :dianapantz: ; that is ALL i did. i would get up at 6:30am and work til 11pm. working working working. i didnt take care of myself. my apartment. my partner. none of it.
i have learned to set a 'stop time.' when you have a 'real job', there is a stop time. the line is much blurrier when you are working from home, but you owe it to yourself [and the other people in your life!] to step away at a certain time each night. plus, its hard to be objective about your work // projects when you arent taking care of the rest of your life.

4) simplify your phone
i have an iphone. and with the iphone comes HUNDREDS of apps. i can do anything at anytime on my phone. cool, right? not cool.
there was a time when blake would be telling me about his day, but instead of listening, i was checking in with my 500 twitter followers. not fair.
so what did i do?
i deleted both facebook & twitter off of my phone. and i do not miss them!
i spend SO much of my time on the computer being :dianapantz: ; it is also so important to step back & be diana. spend time with my friends & family. bike without wondering if people are 'liking' my statuses. live my 'real' life & be so thankful for all the beautiful things around me!

5) sick day!

take an afternoon // day // weekend off.
i know that when you are just starting a business // blog, you want to make it the very best you can. BUT [i have said it before] if i am not taking care of my brain, then i can not take care of my business.
taking a day off will fill you with inspiration & creativity. go for a walk [or a BIKE RIDE!], visit a lake or farmers market. sit outside & read a book. leave your phone, ipod & kindle inside. enjoy the sounds, smells & colors around you.
i find i am more productive once i take an hour or two to enjoy the things around me.

what tips do you have?!

my other indie biz posts : how to stay organized & why you should be measuring your influence

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!

: make new friends! :

happy tuesday!

its suppose to be 65* today!!

you knooooow i will be on my bike today ;)

lets talk about friends in the blog world.

i think making 'blog' connections is SO important!

so, today i have two things for you.

and interview & a great blog post.

first up : meet karen!!

[karen and i have been real-life friends for 8 years!]

[we went to college together & both live here in the cities!]

she recently started blogging & i am SO excited to have her here today!

i am wearing fake grillz, which is why i look like my lips are busted ;)

here we go : 

1) who are you/where can we find you/what do you do?

 I'm Karen and I live in Minnesota.  When I'm not working I do lots of crafts, explore the city and forest, and go to shows!

I blog and write about crafts, nature, cooking, crafts, music and things I love!

I also run an Etsy shop where I crochet, bead, and sew accessories.

I'm also on Pinterest (a lot!)

2) tell us a few of your fave sites/blogs/places to find inspiration?

I find inspiration in nature,  lurking blogs & browsing Etsy and Pinterest (of course!).  

I just find it to be a great way to organize all the things I want to do and get new ideas from people. 

Blogs I love : 

:dianapantz: 

KRISTA HEINITZ  

Me! MaDonna!  

♥elycia   

The Dainty Squid  

Delightfully Tacky   

.PhotoSho.  

 [be sure to check out these blogs & find some new inspiration!]

3) what makes you smile?

My students, family, music, my boyfriend, kitties, flowers, a good beer.

4) best advice you can give someone who wants to create a handmade life?

"Decide what to be and go be it."

-The Avett Brothers

Help others but don't forget yourself.

owl headband

5) where else can we find you?

 blog // shop // pinterest 

and while we are talking about meeting new friends ; 

head over to my post on revolutionizeher today. i am sharing about simple steps that can boost your readership & make you a better 'blog-friend.'

enjoy the weather & watch out for bikers!!

my top 8 resources for dslr camera users

if you follow me on twitter, you may have noticed that i posted last week asking for camera recommendations. i have been wanting one for years & finally decided to purchase one.

i love cameras. i have an old 1988 polaroid [which i still have TONS of film for!], a 35mm polaroid, a holga, a diana+ camera and a point and shoot digital camera.
i love 'old school' photography and have been on the fence about an slr for years. they take such 'shiny and new' photos [which is great for so many reasons] but i just LOVE the gritty-ness of old photos.

you know i have a camera tattoo, right?

my lens is here & my camera should be here in the next week or two. but in preparation, i put together a list of 8 websites that have great tips for ALL levels of photographers.

here we go : 

 

1)  my3boybarians offers a great, FREE blog/e-course. 31 days to a better photo. its easy to read & follow and the tips are wonderful

2) 101 portrait photography tips is a good resource for anybody with a camera. simple layout and really great tips. and its a good refresher if you have been shooting for years.

3) the photographer blog offers a long list of AMAZING links ; 13 great resources for dslr beginners

4) smash&peas offers 5 pages of tons of tips and tutorials. from travel photography, twitter tips, shooting night scenes and more!

5) fodors [the travel people!] has a great page dedicated to travel photography tips. 

6) photofuel has a free e-book ; photography tips, tricks & techniques [i have NOT signed up yet, but it looks great!]


7) do you know photojojo?! : they have a great newletter, tons of info, fun projects and an online forum. lots of people with lots of tips.

8) the instagram blog is a fabulous resource. you dont need an iphone, an instagram account or a certain camera to benefit from this blog. they have tons of great tips, meet-up groups and daily/weekly challenges.

there you have it!

do you have an slr?

what kind?

any other resources you know of?!