It’s my 14th anniversary of being a blogger! Happy Blog-i-versary to me!

As I set out to write this annual post, I had to pause for a moment. Fourteen years of blogging? How did THAT happen?

I started my blog (originally on the Blogger platform) when my son was three years old. He’s now seventeen and heading to college in the Fall! We’ve both come a long way…

Every year in my anniversary post, I talk about the goals I had set for the blog the previous year and I create new ones for the next twelve months. When I opened WordPress to start this blog post, I took a look at how many posts I had written from November 2022-October 2023. I was surprised to see that it was only three.

Three blog posts? That’s it? Really? I could swear I had written more than that this past year.

Sheesh.

To be honest, I did have a lot going on personally this past year–major life cycle events for both of my kids that I had to put my time and energy into but, really–only three blog posts? *Sigh*

My blog goals for 2022-2023 were:

• Create a second Ted Talk blog post
• Continue to create downloadable printables for my popular blog posts
• Only have two goals for my blog this year.

Yes, that third goal was an actual goal. In the past, I have created too many goals for my blog to keep up with so I made a goal to have fewer goals. #thatsagoodthing

Here’s the one goal I WAS able to accomplish…

A few years ago, I started creating downloadable printables to compliment some of my blog posts. The first one I designed was for a post called, Organizing Quick Tip: Make a Decision. The printable is a one-page sheet with the words ‘Keep,’ Toss,’ and ‘Donate’ on it. Each word can be cut out, attached to a bin/wall/chair, and used during the decluttering process to define a space for a category of items.

This year, I decided to embark on a printable project of a larger scale. This newest one is eight pages long! It is a printable to support my book, The Organized Bride’s Thank You Note Handbook. In the back of my book, I provide the reader with lined pages to write and track their gift-giver’s names, addresses, and gifts given. Although it’s a handy place to keep all that information, I thought that some readers might not find it easy to use and would benefit from a larger space to write.

Click the link and scroll down to see the printable: The Organized Bride’s Thank You Note Handbook Gift Tracker Printable

OK–about that Ted Talk blog post…

In reviewing past Anniversary posts, I discovered that I have repeatedly set a goal to create a “Ted Talk Two” blog post–more times than I’d like to admit. And, it didn’t happen. Again.

Why?

I got quiet with myself and thought about it. My first Ted Talk blog post was very popular–especially on Pinterest. Why couldn’t I get my act together to create a second one?

After giving it some thought, I had to laugh. I discovered that much of the issue had to do with my treadmill.

My treadmill?

From 2016-2019, I had an exercise habit of walking on my treadmill a few mornings a week. I found that Ted Talks were the perfect compliment to my treadmill use. Each video was approximately eighteen minutes long and my workout was about twenty minutes. A perfect match!

Then came the pandemic in March of 2020. By then, our treadmill was fourteen years old and had barely survived our home renovation five years previous. Now, it wasn’t just me walking on it–it was my husband and two sons using it as well. Due to old age, the treadmill could not withstand the extra weight and usage and was pronounced dead at the end of April. I started walking outside and listening to podcasts (which I am now totally hooked on) or exercising to YouTube videos when the weather was inclement. There went most of my Ted Talk watching time.

But, I did not give up hope on writing “Ted Talk Two.”

I created a home (a ‘new note’ in Evernote) for all Ted Talks that I wanted to review for the blog post. If I saw a Ted Talk video in my Facebook newsfeed, in a Google search, or recommended by a colleague and I thought it might be appropriate for “Ted Talk Two,” I copied and pasted its URL into that note in Evernote.

I did this for a few months and one day, I set aside time in my calendar to view the videos. After watching five or six, I decided that none of them were as “Ted Talk Two-worthy” as the ones I had chosen for my first Ted Talk post. I also think that perhaps due to the pandemic, not as many Ted Talks were filmed. It was a challenge to find many new ones on the topic of organizing produced in the past few years.

Then I got busy again. Listened to more podcasts. I can’t remember the last time I watched a whole Ted Talk.

My blog goals for 2023-2024:

I’ve got a good feeling about that “Ted Talk Two” video. You see, my husband and I are considering replacing our treadmill. We’ve started doing research and we’re looking to buy one this winter. Once I’m back on a treadmill, I’ll be back to watching Ted Talks with more regularity. And, when that happens, I’ll be keeping my eyes open for Ted Talks that would be perfect for the blog post I’ve been thinking about writing for years.

I’m calling it right now: Ted Talk Two in 2024. That’s my ONE goal for the next twelve months. And who knows, I just may trim my waistline in the process!

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It’s my 13th ‘blogiversary!’ Lucky number 13!

And on top of that, this summer I celebrated twenty years in business. I’m not sure which milestone is more mind-blowing???

I started this blog the day I dropped my son off at his first day of preschool. Other parents may have driven to work, headed to a supermarket or the gym after drop-off but I hightailed it back to my home office so I could write my first Organized Artistry blog post. When I started my business in 2002, I was writing helpful organizing articles and posting them on my website. A few years in, I discovered the Blogger platform and started blogging my organizing tips and ideas there. Shortly afterward, I went through a total logo/website redesign and merged my Blogger blog with my new WordPress website.

Since writing my first anniversary post, I’ve set goals for my blog and last year was no different.

In 2021-22 I decided that I would set out to…

• Create a round-up blog post
• Create downloadable printables in Canva for my most popular blog posts
• Invite guest bloggers to share their posts

Of the three goals, I only accomplished one this past year. I did not invite any guest bloggers, and I didn’t coordinate a round-up blog post but I did create those printables! As a former graphic designer, I guess of the three goals, this was the one I would have had the most fun executing.

My Tales of a Town-Wide Garage Sale post was blowing up on Pinterest (and continues to do so) so I decided to create a free download/printable to go with it. It’s called, 5 Tips for a Successful Garage Sale and can be found at the end of the post. After creating and uploading the garage sale printable, I gave myself a pat on the back for reaching one of my goals and created a few more downloadable printables for some of my other popular blog posts.

Inviting guest bloggers and curating a round-up post are two ideas that may still happen in my blog’s future. I’m not taking them off the table yet. But for now, I’m having fun designing those downloadable printables…

In earlier anniversary posts, I’ve stated that my goal was to blog 1x a month. It’s not such a far-fetched concept considering in the past I used to blog 2x a month, But, for now and the not-so-distant future, I have given up on the idea of trying to blog 1x a month. It hasn’t happened the past few years and I often remind myself that it’s OK. I have an ongoing list of blog post ideas but lately, not an ongoing amount of time or brain-power. Instead, I’ve been slowly going back to older blog posts, updating the content, and adding a Canva graphic to make them ‘pinnable’ and visually appealing to post and share.

This year, for 2022-23 my blog goals are:

• Create a second Ted Talk blog post
• Continue to create downloadable printables for my popular blog posts
• Only have two goals for my blog this year.

The idea of the second Ted Talk blog post comes from my 2020-2021 goal list.

At a time when Ted Talks were gaining mainstream popularity, I decided to write a blog post featuring organizing-related TedTalks I thought people would find inspiring. Well, it seems that they did find them inspiring because it’s one of my most popular blog posts!

In early 2022, I revisited my goal from 2020-2021 and went looking for more organizing-related Ted Talks. For a variety of reasons, I just didn’t find what I was looking for. My 2022-2023 goal is to identify three to four Ted Talks that focus on organizing and write that second Ted Talk blog post. Could lightning strike twice? Are readers of my blog looking for more organizing-inspired Ted Talks? You’ll have to wait until 2023 to find out!

The child I took to preschool the day I started this blog has just started going on college tours. That, plus work, family life, and anything else I can fit in a day will make for a very busy year ahead. But, my blog goals are set for the year. In order to accomplish my goals, I’m going to give myself the same advice I’d give one of my clients: Take out your calendar and make an appointment with yourself to take the steps necessary to reach your goals!

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Twelve years of blogging! Could that really be true?

It feels like only yesterday when I attended the 2009 NAPO Conference in Orlando and signed up for a workshop called, “Become a Blogging and Podcasting Genius.’ I had no desire to start a podcast but a blog–yup, that was right up my alley.

I’ve always enjoyed expressing myself through the written word. I found writing to be an enjoyable creative outlet–writing about organizing was going to be FUN (and it still is…)!

Who would have thought there would be so much to write about on the topic of organizing?!? It’s twelve years later and I still haven’t run out of ideas. In fact, I keep a list of ideas in a file in one of my favorite productivity apps, Evernote. I’ll be checking my list over the next few weeks to plan out my blog post topics for 2022.

Happy blogiversary to me! As part of my blogiversary celebration, I set goals for my blog for the year ahead and I look back to see if I met the goals I set for myself the previous year. Here’s how I did…

Goals I had set for 2020-2021

Continue to Blog 1x a Month

I got off to a great start! Beginning with October of 2020, I published a blog post consistently every month and lined a guest blogger up for the month of March. Around that time, both of my parents became ill within a few weeks of each other. When a crisis occurs, it’s vital to focus on what’s most important and put non-essential tasks aside until the crisis passes and that’s what I did. They’re doing much better now and I started blogging again over the summer.

I also took time to complete three NAPO Specialist Certificates and a program that certifies me as a Certified Virtual Professional Organizer ( CVPO™ ). The timing was right so I put blogging aside to fulfill the requirements. Now that I’ve completed them all, I can focus more of my  time on my blog. I’m looking forward to publishing my annual I ‘Heart’ Container Store Stocking Stuffer post next month!

Consider Using Tailwind

Due to the circumstances of the past year, I barely got to spend any time on Pinterest (insert sad face here). Thus, I didn’t even begin to think about Tailwind. It’s not totally off the table–it’s just not a priority. I’ll keep it on my to-do list and put a reminder in my calendar to learn more about it.

Create Canva Images for Older Posts

Started! I began blogging on the Blogger platform before I even had a WordPress website. WAAAAY back when, blog posts were more about the writing than the photos. Now, I’m starting to add images to some of those ‘vintage’ posts. Years ago, my website designer helped me migrate the old posts over to my new WordPress website. They have good SEO juice–they’re just not pretty enough yet for ‘prime time’ (Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook).

Continue to Tweak Content on Older Blog Posts to Make More Evergreen

Every so often, I’ll scroll through my blog posts to see if they need updating. I’ve made some tweaks along the way to ensure their status as ‘evergreen.’ In fact, the last one I tweaked was a roundup post I curated for Halloween.

Create a Second Blog Post Showcasing ‘Ted Talks’ on the Topic of Organizing

I did not get to write it this year, but I have been curating a list of Ted Talks on the topic of organizing that would work nicely for a second similar blog post. My first blog post titled, 3 Thought-Provoking Ted Talks That Will Inspire You to Get Organized was and still is very popular on Pinterest. It’s on my to-do list to create that second Ted Talk blog post for Winter or Spring of 2022.

Goals I’m setting for 2021-2022

Create a Round-Up Blog Post

I love reading ’round-up’ posts–so many creative and ingenious ideas all in one spot for the reader. I’m considering creating one for my blog in 2022–topic: To Be Decided…

Create Downloadable Printables for My Most Popular Blog Posts

My ‘Ted Talk’ blog post blew up on Pinterest and until a short while ago, it was my most ‘pinned’ post. Then, about nine months ago I started seeing a constant stream of people pinning my ‘Tales of a Town-Wide Garage Sale’ post. It seemed as if half the world wanted to read about my garage sale experience and use my garage sale tips. I get Pinterest notifications on our family iPad and at least a few times a week my son yells out, “Mom! More people pinned your ‘Garage Sale’ post today!”

In an attempt to gather more email addresses for my email list, I thought I’d create a *freebie* downloadable printable for this post. I recently created the printable and now I’m working on figuring out the technology part to make it downloadable and how to collect the email addresses. I hope to report in my next blogiversary post that I was successful!

Invite Guest Bloggers to Share their Posts

In the past, I used to invite guest bloggers to share their knowledge and ideas on my blog–usually around the times of the year when I’d be most busy with my kids (school holidays/summer vacation). I don’t recall why I stopped doing this, but I’d like to get back to it–perhaps having guest bloggers offering tips and advice on topics that are not my specialty. I had a very positive experience hosting a guest blogger in March–I think I’ll try it again this year.

Thanks for joining me on my adventures in blogging–onward to year thirteen!

I recently entered my eighteenth (!!) year as a Professional Organizer and this year marks eleven years of blogging. Happy blogiversary to me!

I love to write. I love to organize. So starting a blog about organizing was not such a far-fetched idea. In fact, it was a match made in blogging heaven! Back in 2009, I took a workshop at the NAPO Conference in Orlando which gave me the know-how and the push I needed to jumpstart my blogging career.  I started out using the Blogger platform and in 2014, decided to merge the blog with my website which was going through a logo and platform redesign. As much as I enjoy it, it still boggles my mind that I’ve been doing it for eleven years.

As part of celebrating my blogiversary, I set goals for the year ahead and look back to see if I’ve met the goals I set for myself the previous year. I recently read my first blogiversary post–my goals were a bit different then. I was barely using social media and my blog was where I ‘posted’ all information. Creating blog categories and helpful content were my top priorities. Pinterest was barely out of it’s infancy. Canva had not even been launched yet! Blogging has certainly evolved since then. I’ve worked hard to keep up with writing and the tools that make my blog beautiful and in front of more eyes than I ever could have imagined.

Here’s how I did…

Goals for 10/2019-10/2020

Blog 1x a month

I thought for sure I’d be able to make this happen but sometimes life has other ideas for your time and brain space. I came pretty close, though blogging in October and November of 2019 and March, May-October 2020 consecutively.

Tweak and Update Existing Posts

Did it! I created Canva-generated images for many posts that previously had no images and added a new ‘connect with me on social media’ footer to the end of my blog posts (look below!)

Consider using Tailwind Scheduler for Pinterest

I chose to take this task off my plate for 2019-2020. I am still considering it’s usefulness and the monetary commitment but since much of my blog traffic comes from Pinterest, I’ll be keeping it on the back burner until I have the time and brain power to look at the pros and cons for adding it to my marketing plan.

Create new and relevant content

Did it! In 2019, I created my annual Anniversary Post and Container Store Stocking Stuffer Review Post and in 2020 focused my blog posts on helping readers during the time of Coronavirus. I had always considered writing a blog post on getting organized for meal planning and decided that 2020 was the year to do so. I felt it’s relevance was so timely, I wrote five consecutive posts on the topic.

My Most Popular Blog Post on Pinterest: Garage Sale and Ted Talks

My post, 3 Thought-Provoking Ted Talks That Will Inspire You to Get Organized has gotten tens of thousands of impressions on Pinterest. In an interesting twist, a blog post I published over seven years ago about participating in my neighborhood’s town-wide garage sale has rocketed to similar fame and fortune on Pinterest. I guess people across the globe have been purging their homes during the pandemic and are looking for tips on hosting a garage sale. It’s November and it’s still getting pinned like crazy!

And guess what happened this year?

I was presented with the ‘Best Organizing Blog’ Award by Sacred Space Organizing. I felt honored to be recognized for my body of work and I’m thrilled to be in such talented company. To check out the list, click here.

Goals for 10/2020-10/2021

Continue to Blog 1x a month

With 2021 just around the corner, I’ve started thinking about what I’d like to blog about. Even after eleven years of blogging, I haven’t covered every topic related to organizing. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to my blog (enter your email address above the picture of me on the top right of this page).

Consider using Tailwind

I’m going to save this goal for the second half of 2021. I need some time to research it’s ease of use, it’s usefulness to Organized Artistry, and whether it is worth the cost. If anyone has any experience with Tailwind, I’d love to hear about it.

Create Canva images for older blog posts

I have many older blog posts (including the one about my neighborhood’s town-wide garage sale) that still don’t have Pinterest-worthy Canva photos on them. I’ll be revisiting old blog posts that still have relevance and make them Pinterest-ready and Pinterest-worthy for new readers.

Continue to tweak content on older blog posts to make more evergreen

When I started blogging eleven years ago, some of my blog posts were short announcements of events or quick tips. I’m writing blog posts more in long-form now and saving the events and announcements for Organized Artistry’s Facebook Page. If I find making certain blog posts evergreen to be a challenge, I’ll consider eliminating the posts or refreshing them for a new audience.

Create a second blog post showcasing ‘Ted Talks’ on the topic of organizing

The ‘Ted Talk’ blog post I mentioned above blew the roof off of Pinterest. It is definitely my most popular post with a ton of traffic. Not Kardashian Instagram type of traffic but an incredible amount of traffic for my less-famous organizing blog. Everything I’ve read about blogging says that if you have a popular blog post and people are showing interest in that topic, write something very similar. Keep your eyes open in 2021 for Ted Talks That Will Inspire You to Get Organized–Part 2.

Eleven years have gone by quickly–I’m looking forward to writing for the next eleven. Thanks for joining me on my journey as a blogger!

Happy blogging anniversary to me! As of this October, I have been blogging for ten years.

I. Can’t. Believe. It.

Even though I’ve been a Professional Organizer for seventeen years (which I find astounding) it’s equally as astounding to me that I have been blogging about organizing for a decade. That’s a loooong time.

In the past, I have started off these Blogging Anniversary Posts with a few lines on how I started blogging. The short story is that I took a blogging workshop at the NAPO Conference in 2009 and started my blog a few months later after dropping my then three year old off at preschool. That kid is now thirteen.

A few days ago, he walked into my home office as I was writing this post. He asked me what I was doing so I told him what I was writing about and how I started the Organized Artistry blog. He laughed when I said that I waited until he was in preschool to compose my first blog post in silence!

Besides talking out ‘how it all began,’ I use this post to hold myself accountable for the goals I set for myself and my blog. This year, it was challenging to keep up with my blog. I had some major family obligations to put my energy towards and I had made the decision to start a YouTube channel. The learning curve that came along with it ate up much of the time and brain power I often allotted to blogging.

My 2018-2019 goals were to blog 1x a month, use the blog template I created for myself, and add Canva generated/Pinterest worthy images to blog posts. How did I do?

Goals for 2018-2019

Blog 1x a Month
OK, I dropped the ball on this one.  Family obligations kept me from blogging this summer. Family first! My goal was to get back to blogging this Fall (and here I am blogging!).  Also, in the beginning of 2019, I was putting most of my writing abilities into scripting my YouTube videos and had little left ‘in the tank’ for blogging. I did though, use the blog template. It focused me and saved me hours of ‘thinking time’ when I had a rare moment to turn my ideas into a blog post.

Keep Using Canva to Update Images on Already Existing Blog Posts
Did it! And I’m continuing to do it. I created a list of blog posts that need a Canva generated/Pinterest worthy image and every few weeks I design one and upload it. This has allowed and will continue to allow me to generate traffic to my website via Pinterest.

Goals for 2019-2020

Blog 1x a month
I created a YouTube video script template for myself (much like my blogging template) and the writing of my video scripts are now more streamlined, leaving me more brain power for blogging. I’ll continue to use the blog post template I created for myself last year–it enables me to concentrate on the task and saves me time. Besides composing a monthly newsletter, I’m going to try my best to make sure I compose a monthly blog post.

Tweak and Update Existing Posts
When you’ve been blogging for ten years–that’s a whole lotta content to keep track of! Not all of it is as up to date and evergreen as I’d like. So, I’ll be going back in to those posts to create Canva generated/Pinterest worthy images, update the text, check links, and delete any that no longer serve my readers.

Consider a Pin Scheduler such as Tailwind.
Using Tailwind is something I’ve been thinking about for a while. My blog gets a ton of traffic from Pinterest. There are only so many hours in a day for me to be pinning to my boards. Believe me, if I could spend a few hours a day pinning, I’d be a happy girl but I have clients to organize and dinner to cook! I’ll be putting more thought into using Tailwind this year.

Create New and Relevant Content
Even after ten years of blogging, there are still a ton of topics that haven’t been written about! I keep a running list in Evernote (one of my favorite productivity apps) of organizing topics I’d like to blog about. I’ll be consulting that list as I jump back into blogging.

And guess what happened this past year?

Look on the right side of this blog page under the ‘Categories’ list. In January, I became a Superstar Blogger of the Professional Organizers Blog Carnival for taking part in 25+ Blog Carnivals!  Big shout-out to Janet Barclay of Your Organizing Business who created the the Professional Organizers Blog Carnival as well as a space for us ‘Blogging Organizers’ on Facebook. 🙂

Ten years of blogging. Still. Can’t. Believe. It.

Happy 10th blogging anniversary to me!

This October marks the 8th anniversary of my blog. That’s A LOT of idea-generation, image creating, and typing!

I started my blog in October of 2009 shortly after I signed my son up for preschool. This was before I was on Facebook, before Pinterest was created, and before social media was a ‘thing.’ (Can you even imagine?!?)   Since then, I’ve moved my blog from Blogger to Word Press, had a second child, and joined Facebook, Pinterest, and LinkedIn. Oh, and I wrote a book and survived a major home renovation project, too. My blog has evolved over time–I have found that doing yearly goal-setting has helped me stay on track.

In past ‘blogiversary’ posts, I’ve set blogging goals for the year ahead. I didn’t do too badly in 2017…

My 2017 goals:

• Boosting Pinterest traffic to my website/blog

Success! In checking my blog ‘stats,’ the top place where people are coming from to check out my blog and website is Pinterest. My most popular pin on Pinterest is the blog post I wrote back in February, ” 3 Thought-Provoking Ted Talks That Will Inspire You to Get Organized.” I still ‘heart’ Pinterest and see it as a integral part of my online presence for 2018.

• Create images in Canva

Success! I created a Canva image for each of my new blog posts and slowly, slowly, I am updating images from old blog posts using Canva. It’s a great way to freshen up an older yet still relevant blog post. My previous life as a graphic designer has really come in handy…

• Create a blogging calendar

I’ve tried this so many times but have not found success with creating a blogging calendar. Instead, I created a paper Blog Post Template which helps me to organize my thoughts on a topic I intend to blog about. The template is a place to brain dump my ideas, jot down keywords and alt-image text for Pinterest, and websites I’ll want to link to in my post. Half the work of writing a blog post is done once I’ve filled out my template. So, although I did not find success with a blog calendar, I created a thought-organizing tool that did work for me.

• Stop comparing myself to other bloggers

For the most part, I’ve been good at this. I’ve noticed that blogging has changed–it isn’t what it was when I started eight years ago. For many, blogging has evolved as a full-time business and that is something I cannot keep up with and do not wish for as part of my business model. I’ll be putting my time into some new and exciting ventures such as Virtual Organizing, marketing my wedding thank you note book, and outlining some ideas for my next book.

My 2018 goals:

• Keep using Canva to update images on already existing blog posts

Right now, half of my blog posts have Canva, Pinterest-worthy, and ready images. I’ll be chipping away at my blog title list to replace old images with new Canva-generated ones.

• Blog a minimum of 1x a month

At the beginning of 2017, I set a goal for myself–post to my blog a minimum of 2x a month. I did OK in the beginning but as my client list got longer and other Organized Artistry projects took precedence, blogging got left on the back burner. Creating the Blog Post Template helped me solidify future post ideas and I’ll be using it in 2018. So, my goal is to blog 1x a month but if I write two posts in a month or three posts in two months then YAY ME.

Onward to blogging in 2018!

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This October marks the 7th anniversary of my blog!

In the Spring of 2009, I attended the NAPO Conference in Orlando and signed up for a workshop on how to start a blog. I loved to write and I enjoyed sharing my organizing knowledge–blogging married those two loves together.

I started my blog shortly after my then three year old started preschool. I began on the Blogger platform and a few years ago my blog moved to WordPress coinciding with the redesign of my website. I reviewed ‘Cool Products,’ offered ‘Organizing Quick Tips,’ and wrote about anything I thought my readers would find helpful. Then child #2 came along and I did my best to keep up with blogging. Three years later (when he, too went to preschool) I decided to resurrect and complete a ten year old manuscript and self-publish a book. Still kept up with my blog. It was a challenge–but when you’re writing a book, the writing somehow just flows off your fingertips.

Recently, I was reviewing my posts and noticed I hadn’t written one for my 5th or 6th anniversary.  I didn’t write a 5th anniversary post because I was heading towards the self-publishing finish line and needed to focus to complete the enormous task. The 6th anniversary post never got written because I stopped blogging. Completely. Not one post for fourteen months. What happened?

A home renovation/addition project.

We purged our home, packed it all up and moved out for nine months. My brain was making so many renovation-related decisions and adjusting to living in temporary quarters–I just had no brain bandwidth for blogging. Took it off my plate completely. It was a bit weird–not writing at all. But sometimes in life we must put certain tasks on the back burner to accomplish a goal.

It took fourteen months, but in July of this year I got back to writing for my blog. I wasn’t sure how I’d jump back into the blogging pool so I decided to write about what I knew–my home renovation/addition experience. I thought about my experience and the knowledge I could pass on to my readers and the words started to flow.  After a year’s+ hiatus, I had some time to think about the steps I wanted to take to move my blog forward.

In past ‘blogiversary’ posts, I’ve talked about my blogging goals for the year ahead. Here are a few for 2017…

Boosting Pinterest traffic to my blog

I ‘heart’ Pinterest. I could be on that site all day if I had the time! There is a wealth of information in those millions of pins for both personal and professional use. I am planning on joining a few group boards and posting my blog posts to them to grow my blog traffic. I’m learning how to write more descriptive, keyword-rich pin descriptions for my blog posts and communicate more with those who are pinning them. Did I mention how much I ‘heart’ Pinterest?????

Creating Images in Canva

Canva is an online tool used for designing professional-looking graphics. If you’re on Pinterest or read a ton of blogs, you’ll see many utilizing Canva or similar tools to create eye-catching images for their blogs, later to be pinned and posted to social media sites. I used to be a graphic designer and I wasn’t happy with the look of my blog photos so I started learning about and using Canva. My first ‘creation’ can be found here.

Creating a Blogging Calendar

I’ve tried this in the past but it hasn’t worked for me. Maybe I wasn’t using the right calendar? Maybe I’m not spending enough time on the planning process? This is something on my to-do list for December so I can start in January.

Stop Comparing Myself to Other Bloggers

This is a tough one. I read many blogs and I wish I could have a larger readership and stunning photography like them. I’ve come to realize that for many bloggers out there, their blog is what they do for a living. That’s their main focus and they can create beautifully written and photographed posts 5-7 times a week. My situation is different. I work when my kids are in school. I travel to and work with clients for a large chunk of that time. I just started a newsletter. I’ll be adding Virtual Organizing services to my business model in 2017. I am working on the three goals I stated above. I blog when I can.  I just have to keep reminding myself that there are only 24 hours in a day and that I’m moving my blog and my business in a positive direction…

It’s not easy to come back from any kind of hiatus. I’ll be coming back to blogging slowly–keep an eye out more pretty pics, ‘cool products,’ gotta-tell-a-friend ideas and of course, organizing know-how.

You don’t have to wait ’til January 1st to set goals. Do you have any goals for your blog, business or personal life? Share them in the comments below.

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It doesn’t seem that long ago that I dropped my three year old off at preschool, came back to my office and wrote my first blog post. I had so many ideas swirling around in my head–I couldn’t wait to start blogging!

That three year old is now in second grade and it’s the fourth anniversary of my blog! The four years have flown by quickly. I can’t believe I’ve written close to two hundred posts in that time.

In reviewing my posts, I saw that the most popular post I’ve written over the past four years is Best Products for Organizing Your Car. I’m thinking of writing a Part 2. Or maybe a series of posts titled, ‘Best Products for Organizing Your ________.’ Gotta go with what works!

I’m always thinking about what I’ll write next. Sometimes it will be about something I’ve seen, learned or experienced. Sometimes I’ll write about a product or helpful resource. What I do try to keep in mind as I write is that a blog post should do at least one of five things for their readers:

• Educate
• Entertain
• Inform
• Inspire
• Empower

I keep this list handy when I’m gathering ideas for my blog. I write for my own enjoyment and to keep up my skills as a writer but for the most part, I write for YOU–my reader. I hope over the past four years of blogging I have educated, entertained, informed, inspired and empowered you to lead a more organized life.

I also have exciting news! All being well and good, this time next year, my blog will be part of a WordPress website–no more separate blog. I am in the process of hiring a designer to merge my existing website and blog into one WordPress site. I can’t wait–my website has needed a makeover for a while and there are things about my blog I’d love to change (larger writing and photo area, different fonts/colors). I’ll be keeping you posted throughout the process and I look forward to celebrating my fifth anniversary with you and my new, improved WordPress site.

Another exciting development–my book. Although I’ve said in past anniversary posts that I would post updates about the book I was writing, I’ve been pretty quiet. I promise to blog about it more often in the future. I completed the manuscript at the end of 2012 and hired a book coach this summer to help me navigate the sometimes bumpy road to self-publishing. One of the many details she helped me with was a title. The working title is: The Organized Bride’s Thank You Note Handbook: Let Systems and 101 Modern Sample Thank You Notes Take You From Overwhelmed to Organized. The peer review stage is almost complete and the manuscript will be reviewed by an editor by the end of the year.

With all of these exciting projects come extra work. And extra work means sometimes I don’t have ample time to write a blog post (kids home on school vacations take away from writing time, too). So, I have been hosting guest bloggers to bring you new ideas and fresh perspectives when I am unable to fill that space. I hope you have learned from them–I know I’ve picked up a few great organizing ideas from my guest bloggers, too.

Image from beedivinedesigns.com

I want to thank you for taking the time to read my posts. Your support, kind comments and words of encouragement motivate me to keep writing and bringing you the best of the world of organizing. Onward to year five of blogging!

It’s hard to believe but Organized Artistry is heading into it’s 11th year in business. The time has certainly flown! In that time, I’ve written organizing tip articles for my website and almost four years ago, I started this blog.

In honor of 11 years of organizing, I share with you the top ten most popular posts of this blog–plus one bonus post to make it 11. I hope at least one of them will offer you an idea or a resource for creating and maintaining an organized life.

Curious as to what readers liked most?

Top 3 blog posts:

Best Products for Organizing Your Car
This post was the most popular by a landslide! Maybe I need to add ‘car organizing’ to my list of services…

Organizing Inspiration from Curious George
Who would think that a mischievous monkey could teach us a lesson on organization?

Peter Walsh Organizes Rachael Ray’s Kitchen
She’s got a smaller kitchen than one would assume. Peter Walsh makes cooking at home a more stress-free activity for the famous cook.

Cool Product blog posts:

Cool Product – Jewelry Organizer
Not your usual jewelry holder…

Cool Product – Cable Turtle
Wires! Wires! Wires! No more unsightly wire messes thanks to cable turtles.

Cool Product – Fridge Binz
If your fridge need organizing, check these out…

Other popular blog posts:

De-Cluttering Tips
Simple, basic steps to follow for de-cluttering…

Top Ten Helper Shelf ‘Hot Spots’ for Your Home
This was a popular post, too. I love helper shelves! See how they can transform your closets and cabinets.

Organizing Up and Down–a Vertical Makeover
My motto: “If you can’t go outward, go UPWARD!”

Organizing on the Cheap: Target Dollar Spot
Love the Target Dollar Spot. You never know what organizing products (or other goodies) you’ll find there.

New Baby? Time to Get Organized
These little people have a lot of stuff and require a ton of organization!

Bonus post: Some organizing humor…

Professional Organizer Humor
Yes, there’s a bumper sticker for our profession, too!

My blog posts are written with the intention of providing information, tips, resources and sometimes a good laugh. I hope they have provided you with all that and more. Thanks so much for supporting Organized Artistry!

It’s the third anniversary of my blog!

October of 2009 is when I officially became a blogger and dove into the world of blogging. My three year old had just started preschool and I was pregnant with child #2, when I wrote my first post. Three years later, that three year old is in first grade and the little one who kicked my insides while I blogged is in preschool!

In past Anniversary posts, I’ve talked about the improvements I had made to my blog and what I’d like to add to it in the future. This year, in honor of my three years as a blogger, I’d like to take a short walk down memory lane. Here are a few highlights from my blog’s anniversary month.

Ah, memories…

Circa 2009…

Blogging Beginner
My first blog post

Organizing on the Cheap
The first category I created for my blog, inspired by the articles I used to write for Organize Magazine called ‘Organizing on a Shoestring’

De-Cluttering Tips
My first post that offered readers organizing tips

Circa 2010…

Anniversary Post
Celebrating one year of blogging. Goals met and more to meet in the future…

Helpful Organizing Tips – Back to School
Good advice for anytime of the school year…

Circa 2011…

Anniversary Post
Reflecting upon my second year as a blogger. Some goals met, some I’m still working on…

Professional Organizer Humor
I like to keep this blog light and funny…

Wire Pull-Outs for Kitchen Organization
One of many posts to show how a Professional Organizer keeps their home organized.

As I’ve said in my past Anniversary posts, I love writing this blog.I hope that each post you read brings you either a good laugh or a good idea. I’m not going to end this post without discussing my goal for next year. My biggest goal to reach by October 2013 is to merge this blog with my website. I’ve been doing some research and by anniversary post #4, I hope to be able to present you a new and improved place to bring you cool products, ‘gotta-tell-a-friend’ ideas and a whole lotta organizing know-how…