24 Comments

  1. It’s annoying how much of “blogging” time is spent doing things that aren’t blogging (or diy-ing or decorating), isn’t it?! In a perfect world, there’d be no ads or affiliate links or worrying about social media, but, alas, that is not the world we live in!

    1. It is Gretchen and it is hard to explain to people who don’t blog without appearing like a complainer. I always feel like I’m completely wandering in a jungle not knowing where to turn and what to do next.

  2. i think you do such a great job with your blog! i feel mine sinking again. and i get burnt out on the background stuff as well as the non-community and market saturation these days! i need to be more like you! 🙂

    1. You definitely don’t need to be more like me. Your blog is amazing! And I think we all get the sinking feeling.

      1. Barbara Ann Sandoval says:

        I wonder if the market is getting over saturated? I follow you & Carrie, and have actually gone through and cleaned out my emails. I sell vintage at vintage markets & fleas. That market is over done right now.

  3. I love this post so much Julia! It is SO hard these days and I’m totally with you! The passion keeps me going but it is definitely hard not to get discouraged! You are amazing!

    1. Thanks Summer. I’m far from amazing. There are days where I almost feel paralyzed because of all the things I should get done behind the scene. I don’t know how to describe it. Especially for people who don’t know how blogging works. And the uncertainty of not knowing where this will lead is making me really antsy.

  4. Thanks for posting this. I am a new blogger plus working full time and it is really hard to learn everything. Your blog is one of my favorites. I love how you keep everything real. I will always be a fan.

  5. I thought this “behind-the-scenes” look at blogging and the financial aspect was very interesting. I also think that most people understand that blogs are a “business” now and you should not feel guilty for having arrangements that suit your business model and benefit you. If you didn’t have that, the blog would end! So it should be viewed as a positive, not a negative. Anyone who complains is probably the type that complains about everything online. 😉

  6. Don’t let the jerks get you down!
    You have a fantastic blog.

  7. I’m going to agree with your husband…don’t worry what the naysayers think. I follow your blog because I like your creativity. I like to read blogs to see what other people create. Your taste is very different from mine…I don’t think I could handle so much white, too hard to keep clean, but I love looking at it!

    Personally I get tired of the Blue Apron, Mrs. Meyers sponsored type posts, but I understand why bloggers need it. I like having links, it saves me from having to try and find it myself!

  8. You are very creative and very unique, Julia! Your blog is excellent! Keep the good work!

  9. Barbara Ann Sandoval says:

    Thank you for being honest & open about the blogging world….more than others have been.
    I started following lots…of bloggers so I can see how to blog. I wanted to start a blog. Now 3 years later, I’m still
    ” researching ” . And I have thin’d out the ones I follow quite a bit.
    I’m mostly upset over the blogs that seem to concentrate on selling or give aways…
    Sharing your true cost and numbers makes you real to readers.
    I feel I just need to know how & who to contact when mechanical issues happen to gain more confidence.
    Stay, keep your blog please. I enjoy it, others do too!

  10. Thank you for this post. I follow your blog because you are an authentic voice. I am grateful you are willing to share your life with your readers. I admire you for making your work fit in with your family’s needs – you will never regret being available for your children. I like that you do not pretend “perfect.” (Does anyone believe perfect anyway?) I am glad you shared the importance of pinning. Now that I know, I will pin all your posts! I also live in the Lehigh Valley and am really excited when you mention something local. Happy blogging!

  11. Pam Comer says:

    Yours is the only blog I’ve ever read. Somehow I found it through your posts on Facebook about your “cat walks” in your backyard years ago. I feel like I’ve been watching your family grow up as well as being amazed by your skills and creativity. (It would never occur to me that I could hook up a brand new faucet for my sink!) I hope you continue with blogging and sharing your story. It’s a good one. You’ve been taking care of your kid by sacrificing to take them on annual trips to Germany to see relatives and to learn their German heritage. I’ve been so impressed. Living in a duplex must be difficult for anyone. Perhaps you could buy it and rent it out to people you like. Best of luck with all of it! I’m praying for you!

  12. I’m not a blogger, so it’s interesting to learn everything that goes on behind the scenes. And none of the linking or sponsorship bothers me. 🙂

    I also found you through your catio post years ago, but I stayed because I love your style and your Germany posts and your DIYs. I don’t mind reading bigger blogs, but there comes a point when they no longer are personable or relatable, and I think yours still is.

    Keep on doing what you’re doing, and I’ll keep on reading!

  13. Perfectly said girl! I don’t have a VA either and am trying to do it all myself but I feel spread thin. Honestly, I kept nodding my head yes to everything you said. And, totally agree with your hubby btw.

    1. I want more time for projects again 🙁

  14. Such a great post Julia! I also hate that all the behind-the-scenes crap takes SO much time (and it feels at times we have so little to show for it, as necessary as it all is). I don’t think people realize just how much time is involved, as it is far more than throwing up a post that took an hour to write 😉 Your explanations of all the monetization options are perfect. I, too, have started to say ‘no’ to more and more brands lately, because I’ve found in many cases it isn’t worth the time (or money) if it isn’t a great fit!

  15. Hey Julia,
    thank you for this nice post of the behind the scenes. I am no blogger, but your blog is one of my favorites to follow. I think you have so good taste, and do all this amazing job of decorating your home (I am always trying to learn how people get to have so good eye for these things). I actually came to know your blog through Pinterest once I was searching for great Ikeas Hacks (I really liked that post).
    I wonder why you don’t offer interior design services. Isn’t that somewhat lucrative?
    I would like to have someone (which would not be super expensive) go over some of my rooms and give me advice on how to improve the layout, whether the choice of pictures is appropriate (I always struggle with proportions), give examples of things that could increase the charm (should I buy more pillow? a furry thing? more knickknacks? should I mix the colors a bit more?). I guess one could work even remotely on something like that, right?
    Hope you can get to draw much more joy on your work these days (and along the way also some money)!

    1. I’m glad you liked my Ikea post. That reminds me that I want to go to Ikea again soon 😉
      I actually used to offer online decorating help through my blog but took that off as an option because the hours I put into it weren’t worth it. It took so much time and most people wanted to nickel and dime me on everything. It was a ton of work for not enough pay. It sometimes takes a really long time to find the right size piece of furniture for a space 😉

  16. Thanks for your insight into blogging. Most people don’t realize how much work and time it takes.
    I know I didn’t. Reading blogs and seeing all the creativity is fun and inspires me to try to improve
    my home. But you know that your family comes first and that is the best thing.

  17. Thanks for your post, Julia and I agree with pretty much everything you say! The blogging landscape has changed to the point of being almost unrecognizable in the last 7 years since I started and it’s just so hard to keep up with it all – especially if you aren’t on a huge income (no, me neither) so it’s just so incredibly frustrating having to deal with so much all on your own. I don’t think most non-bloggers realise how much really goes on behind the scenes and how we are all just trying to figure it out as we go. I think you are doing an amazing job btw – your blog has always been one of my favourites, despite the fact I’m so behind on all my favourites these days because there just isn’t enough hours in the day! xxx

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