FAQ: Your Questions Answered

In preparing for the new blog design, I finally wrote my long overdue FAQ page.  And since there have been a few delays unveiling the new site, I thought I would post that page here.  These are the answers to the questions I receive most often {via emails and comments}.

What inspired you to share your secret with us? I heard an amazing bit of advice at my first blog conference. That which is most personal, is most universal. I wanted to be able to relate to you, to be honest while still staying positive, to show you that a real person sits behind this screen, and that, like everyone, I have flaws--and my secret is only one of them.  Which is why I even went so far as to even show you a picture of my secret.  And because you are all showed me so much support, I know that I am not alone with my struggles, none of us are.

Do you take medication for your secret? No, I don't.  As a kid I took medication for about 3 weeks.  My Mom said she didn't recognize the kid I became when I was medicated. And it's not that I'm opposed to taking medication for such a disorder, not one bit in fact.  I guess I'm just scared. Scared of the unknown.  At least, living with this disorder, I know what I'm in for every day.  And deep down I have this hope that I can beat this thing on my own one day.  One day...

What advice would you give a blogger who wanted to grow their readership faster? First and foremost, be honest. Readers don't want to be tricked or mislead.  Be YOU.  Also, in the beginning, I made sure to always join link parties, guest post any chance I had, host giveaways, and sponsor giveaways on other blogs.  Leave comments!!!! I have found some of my favorite blogs via comments left on my blog.  The more blogs you have linking to your site the better. Be sure to check out my blogging tips posts for additional {and more detailed} tips.

Where do you shop for clothes? and for Baby W? Almost everything in my wardrobe is from Forever 21, Old Navy, Target and the sale section of Anthropologie. I have NEVER paid full price for anything in Anthropologie--ever! Baby W has a lot of older friends with great style who have graciously passed down their Gap and Ralph Lauren beauties. When I buy new clothes for him, I hit the more budget friendly Children's Place, Old Navy and Target.

Do you blog for money? Blogging is my passion.  When I started blogging, it was to connect with other Momma's out there who might be sharing my experiences. Basically, I blogged to remind myself that I'm not alone.  Eventually, I learned that blogging could also provide for my family.  Best of both worlds. Now I get to do what I love for a living, stay home with my son, and help support fabulous businesses along the way. But I must add, it took a lot of work, and a lot of sacrificed sleep before I started to see a a profit.

How do you find the time to do it all? Be a momma, blog, etsy, church, SOS blog, etc. I don't. I struggle every day to find balance--and I'm a work in progress.  Many days I break down, feel like I am failing, not accomplishing all that I am capable of.  But in between the self doubt, I work to keep faith--faith that I am doing what I am supposed to, even if it sometimes seems too hard.  I fill every second of my day with checking my to-do's off the list {I heart lists}. At the end of the day, there are still a lot of items unchecked, but I do my best to focus on the accomplishments. Woah, that was a roundabout way of answering the question.

Where did you go to college and what did you study? I went to the University of Santa Barbara California (UCSB) for two years before transferring to the University of Southern California (USC). I graduated with a degree in Communication. I had grand plans of doing something big and important in the advertising world. But then I discovered myself a bit more, rearranged my priorities, and changed my plans.  I decided I wanted to do something for a living that made a difference in people's lives. I hope LMM can help me accomplish this goal.

What did you do for a living before becoming a Momma? I worked as a Marketing Director for two companies in the gift industry. Basically, I spent my time traveling to different cities in the U.S. attending trade shows and training sell reps, getting lots of free products, and meeting some pretty talented people along the way. Eventually I got tired of airports and being away from the hubs fro so many weeks at a time...and then I got the baby itch. The rest is history.

So, have you always been Mormon? Nope. In fact, I used to be an atheist. A series of events in my life helped me to find faith.  One day soon, I will blog about my story. My faith is a huge part of who I am--my purpose, my inspiration, my drive, my foundation for everything.

Where did you get that silver heart ring you are always wearing? This is my favorite ring ever. It's a Tiffany's silver heart ring that Ben got for me on our first Christmas as a married couple. I almost never take it off. I contacted Tiffany's and they said they "retired" that ring 2 years ago, but click here for a link to another website that sells the ring {it looks legit, but I'm not sure}.

Do you use magic toothpaste? Hehe, you guys crack me up. No magic toothpaste over here, but I use the next best thing. Crest White Strips or the Target brand of whitening strips. I use them about every 6 months. And I am also an obsessive brusher, drink through a straw, and chew staining foods with my back teeth--I know, I know, a bit overkill.

What's the scoop on your camera? I use a Nikon D3100 and a Canon Power Shot SX20 IS--currently on auto, as I learn all the inner workings and secrets of photography. Click here for all the details on my cameras.

Where did you get your hair extensions? Are they expensive? Are they made with fake hair? They are actually 100% real hair. Fake hair cannot be washed, blow dried, curled or straightened--therefore, I use real hair. My hair dresser has me buy the hair and then she puts it in. I bought my extensions at a local beauty supply store, but I am sure you can find it online as well. I would google: weft hair extensions. My hair dresser braids a corn row into my hair and then she sews the extensions into the braid. They last about 8-10 weeks before she has to take them out and sew them back in. The hair cost me approximately $100 for 2 ounces {which is a lot of hair}, and I have been using the same hair for a few years. It washes just like my actual hair. Be sure to buy the hair type most similar to yours. I use my extensions for thickness, not length. Although I am thinking of getting some longer hair put in.

How did you lose the baby bump? What is your workout routine? Seriously you are all too kind. My answer: Spanx. Also, an energetic toddler that keeps me moving 24-7. But really, the pooch is still very much there. I obviously just don't post pictures that highlight it in all its glory. Before Baby W, I was a work out fiend. 100 mile bike rides, 5 mile runs, spin class 3 nights a week, boot camp--you name it, I did it {except yoga, I'm not really the yoga type}. But in the last 2 years and 10 months, nada.

What does your husband do for a living? Ben is an insurance broker. Mainly specializing in employee benefits packages, health insurance and life insurance. If you ever have any insurance questions, he's better at answering emails than I am. ben@StockHealthInsurance.com

Do you reply to your reader emails? If so, how long does it take you to respond? I do my best. But there just isn't enough time in the day. I have a folder in my inbox titled "sweet emails I need to return", and I have good intentions of returning them all. Whenever I get a free moment, I try to return a dozen or so at a time. But I read every single one of them--often multiple times, and often out loud to the hubs. They make my day, they inspire me, they make me laugh, they bring tears to my eyes, they remind me why I started this blog in the first place--they mean the world to me, I promise!

How do you keep your furniture white with a messy toddler? I purposely bought a couch with slip covers so that I can throw them in the washer when Baby W decides to wipe his spaghetti face on the cushions, or pee on every single panel (true story).  As far as the secret to all other white furniture: Magic Erasers, available at Target--they really are magic (I use them on my walls too). 

Did I forget anything?