Blogging Archives - 2 Cats and Chloe

CELEBRATE SOUTHERN: How to have a full time job and a successful job

So one thing that J and I knew we wanted to ramble about for some time now (while recording and sipping wine) is how to have a full time job and a successful blog at the same time. Guys and gals - let me be straight with you on this… I feel like this episode of the Celebrate Southern Podcast is kind of rambling and all over the place. Why?? Because it’s not something that I feel like I’ve mastered quite yet!

In this episode we talk about the tricks we use throughout our days, as well as how tough it can be to find balance. J and I talk about how important it is for us to strategize and schedule everything, in addition to making a trillion lists.

After editing this episode, I honestly think that the root of my blogging angst comes from comparison. I follow some of the same “big bloggers” that you do… and doesn’t it just kill you at how easy they make it look?! After some thought, I guarantee you that no matter what their niche is, they are going through the same creative struggles and time blocking issues that we all go through! (J and I cannot be alone in this…)

If you are running your blog AND working a full time job (or managing your home, or all of the above!) give yourself one huge high five. You’re a rockstar.

Now, if you want to pretend we are all in the same room, sipping wine and gabbing over blogging + working a full time job, while being awesome at both, you can listen here:

You can read the notes to this episode here.

So tell me, do you have a secret? How do you balance life, work and blogging all at the same time?

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Is crazier than cray just cra?

by Susan

I have so many posts swirling in my head with so little time for my chubby fingers to type them up. #FirstWorldBloggerProblems.

So instead of taking time today to plan, create and fancily publish a post (ha, like ‘fancily’ is ever on my to-do list) how about I just share random, unplanned, barely processed thoughts… ready? GO!

Jetlag is no joke. He’s actually a big-ole-son-ova-a-beep who reminds me every time I yawn that I live 6 hours behind my Swiss Family. When it comes to waking up in the morning, I’m finally readjusted to my appropriate timezone. In the evenings though? I couldn’t even stay awake for something as exciting as the Teen Mom Premiere two nights ago!

Speaking of sleeping… We’ve had Olivia Benson for 4 months now. It’s been four long months sans kitten cuddles. Big news though, Rockie has decided to start reclaiming his spot on our bed again. Olivia and Michael are not happy about this.

Having your house on the market is just way too darn AWKWARD. Seriously, what are you supposed to do when there are strangers in your home? What if pissy Rockie decides to swipe them for no good reason? You’d hate for someone to think you’re leaving expensive items around: did you put away all your Charming Charlie’s Jewels?! Did that lady just sprint away from my home because she hates it or is she just training for House Hunters: Marathoners. Why have I consistently spent every single showing drinking wine and spying through a crack in the blinds at my neighbors house? We may or may not even use binoculars…

Oh yeah, wine is back in my life and she has started to lead me down a deliciously dangerous, non-whole30 path. As my girl Shannon said to me the other day: Wine is the love of my life and also my worst enemy.

Sorry for being semi-MIA lately. While yes, I have been posting… I just feel like my posts haven’t always been “me” recently. If that makes any sense… Any other bloggers go through that sometimes?! My life have so been beyond cray (would that just be cra?) lately that I haven’t even had five seconds to eat Swiss Chocolate (gimme gimme gimme) and upload the pictures from my vacation yet! The hubby is gone this weekend though, and we MIGHT be receiving an offer on the house tonight (fingers crossed) so maybe I will have some free time for blogging + netflix. A girl can dream right?

Olivia Benson, Border Collie, Showing off her Doggie Dentures

And for those of you who were following along on instagram earlier this week, thank you for your prayers. Our “Problem-Child,” the sweet Olivia Benson, had a crazy health scare on Monday. The lab results all came back with good news: Her liver is fine. She is just an insane turd who cost me $225 for no reason whatsoever.

So now let’s wrap this puppy up with a shoutout to Monday’s Podcast and Giveaway! Did you have time to listen and/or enter to win?? I’m SO EXCITED to start offering Blog and Branding Consults to my fellow bloggers! To kick this service off, I am giving away one free consult! Wouldn’t you love to sit down over a glass of wine (or tea) via Skype with a Marketing Professional (um… me!) to discuss your branding? If you just murmured “yes” to yourself, then what are you waiting for?? Go get entered!

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CELEBRATE SOUTHERN PODCAST + Giveaway + Linkup: Blog Layout Must-Haves!

by Susan

So let’s be real… I could ramble about boring things like blog layout, design and whitespace for hours and hours. But we try to keep our podcasts to a 30-ish minute max, so don’t fret.

I think my favorite part of my day-job is taking pieces of sales copy, playing devil’s advocate, cranking creative juices then tearing them apart. As nicely as possible, of course. Maybe it sounds odd, but I passionately love looking at websites, blogs, sales flyers, business cards, and even clients’ restaurant menus (yup, even restaurants need marketing tips!) and trying to find a way to do them a wee bit differently, using a creative twist.

Okay, maybe I simply love this week’s podcast because I’m a nerd. Or maybe it’s because it’s chalked full of good content! Whether you are a blog-expert or a newbie, isn’t it always so much fun to talk about our blog design?? Mine is never the way I want it. It’s an ever-changing monster that I adore! My layout to-do list is typically longer than my post to-do list! And I’m okay with that.

Why is this topic so important? Personally, I feel like your blog design says a lot about you and your “product” (i.e. your blog.) It’s the first impression that your current readers and future readers get of you. So, again, in my personal opinion, your blog design can be just as important as your content in most cases!

This week the Celebrate Southern Gals are bringing you a triple whammy! A podcast! A linkup! And a giveaway! It doesn’t get much cooler than that y’all!

I am THRILLED to announce that I have added “Let’s Talk Blog” to my list of services! I’m a marketing professional with a passion for helping small businesses and blogs “think outside of the box” when it comes to their branding and social media. So to kick off this new service - I’m giving away one free session! Let’s have some tea, or a glass of wine together over a skype or google hangout sesh - and talk blog! Oh, I will als0 send you a questionnaire and will then do a review of your site and/or social media prior to our session to so we can make the most of our blog-date! (For more details on the “Let’s Talk” service - check out my Advertise page.)

I’d love to hear what y’all think! Would you be interested in a Blog Consult? What would you want to chat about? Go enter to win (below) and then let’s get our blog-date on the calendar!

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CELEBRATE SOUTHERN PODCAST: How to work with brands as a blogger!

by Susan

It’s that time of the week again! Time for the Celebrate Southern Linkup and Podcast! I really love this episode and hope you do too! J and I spent a little time recently discussing the in’s and out’s of working with brands! As a lifestyle blogger, I am really doubtful to ever have a huge stream of brands chasing after me… but when they do, it’s good to know what to do and say! We pulled my expertise in marketing with J‘s experience with tons of brands to bring you this podcast episode: How to work with brands as a blogger!

For notes on this Celebrate Southern Episode 006 click here!

And since I am still on vacation in Europe… I hope you don’t mind that I’m keeping this post short and sweet. If you are following along on instagram you will see our vacation hashtag #SuzAndRuthGoToSwitzerland. I haven’t taken too many pictures yet because my suitcase got lost on the way here. After 5 days in the same clothes, I am happy to report that my suitcase arrived tonight! (Unfortunately it was right after I went out and spent $200 on new clothes! Make note: NEVER EVER wear leggings on a flight. While it seems smart and comfy… jeans are really your best bet. I spent the last few days galavanting in cheap target “wear-only-at-home” leggings! I’m so grateful to have real pants!)

Join the weekly fun and link up below! While it’s called “Celebrate Southern” you do not actually have to be a southern blogger! Not sure what to share? Link up with a new post or an old post, about anything southern inspired: think crafts, decor, vacations, fashion, food, pets, anything!

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Lovely Letters February: I was spoiled!

by Susan

Last month I went out on a limb and decided it would be so fun to join one of my favorite bloggers, Esther, and her Lovely Letters blog swap! The way this blog swap works is simple: you are partnered up a fellow blogger, you email each other, ask each other funny questions to get to know them, stalk your partner’s blog and then send them a lovely letter with a little gift! There is a $7 limit on the goodies, so you have to get a little creative.

I was paired up with Natalie from Natalie Made It. I was under the impression that in this blog swap we would be paired with people in far off lands… I was quite surprised to learn that Natalie lives a little over two hours from me, also in Virginia! Small world!

It actually worked out really well though that we lived so close… because we were both facing the same horrible winter weather! Both of us ended up delayed in emails, shipping and all that jazz due to the winter storms. Quite frankly, this post was supposed to go live last night but again, I was delayed by another snow storm, forcing me to drive to Northern VA a day early, hopefully still catch our flight to Europe!

Anyway - Natalie spoiled me! Apparently she wasn’t aware of the $7 limit, which made me feel a little bad. But she totally nailed it with my goodies! Mini Lara Bars, almond butter, cute stationary with matching erasers and even hair ties! Love love love!

Many thanks to my new blog friend Natalie for such a wonderful care package and for her patience as we both fought the post office in snow storms! And thank you to the lovely Esther for hosting this fun blog swap and linkup!

I’m currently snowed in and tweeting with @DeltaAssist to reroute my flight to Europe if at all possible… so stay tuned! The next time you hear from me, hopefully, will be from Switzerland… or Northern VA depending on this Winter Storm Thor.

PS. Why would you name a winter storm “Thor?” How many times do I need to say this?! It’s all about marketing folks! Name the damn storm Daisy or Dandelion, then maybe it wouldn’t pack such a wallop! This girl just needs her vacation!

CELEBRATE SOUTHERN: How to have a full time job and a successful job

Is crazier than cray just cra?

CELEBRATE SOUTHERN PODCAST + Giveaway + Linkup: Blog Layout Must-Haves!

CELEBRATE SOUTHERN PODCAST: How to work with brands as a blogger!

Lovely Letters February: I was spoiled!

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