This post is sponsored by Traffic Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Filling Your Websites and Funnels with Your Dream Customers by Russel Brunson. All opinion are my own.

Over the past month, my mind has been spinning. I have been disappointed and concerned with the state of our country. 

Still, however, work must continue because (1) the work my antiviolence nonprofit does is important work needed even more, and (2) using my voice and platform is even more important now, too. 

When I first started (secretly) blogging in 2011, I would have loved to generate an extra income from it but had no idea where to start. I was a bit busy with law school at the time so I solely focused on obtaining my law degree, passing the bar and becoming a lawyer. Over the next few years, I would write every few days or few weeks but writing definitely took a backseat to my legal career. To be frank, I was happy with my job and lifestyle, and though I had much more time to write, I did not really have the desire to do so as I do now.

Fast forward to return to work from maternity leave in October 2016. I was crying hysterically on the ew York City subway, feeling sad and guilty for leaving my baby. Though I eventually got accustomed to my working mom routine, I knew I did not want to work the traditional 9AM-5PM work hours anymore. The feeling grew and eventually, I knew something had to change. I had been writing on my blog more regularly since becoming pregnant because I wanted to document the time and because I was experiencing a lot of emotions. 

In Spring 2017, I decided it was time to stop hiding. 

If I wanted to monetize my blog, I would have to tell people about it. 

I went public with my blog and Instagram on March 1, 2017 and slowly but surely built a following and an income that was steadily growing. Then, 2020 happened and I got worried. But now, I realize there are more important issues going on than the stagnant growth of my blog and Instagram. Instead, I can take this time to utilize my platforms in ways that are constructive and socially responsible, as well as to learn how to make them more successful.  

I started the book,Traffic Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Filling Your Websites and Funnels with Your Dream Customers by Russel Brunson, and completed the 30-day challenge. By doing so, I’ve learned key strategies to increase my site and social media traffic.

I have learned that the biggest issue that most entrepreneurs have isn’t creating an amazing product or service. 

The biggest problem entrepreneurs face is getting discovered by future customers and clients. 

Every year, tens of thousands of businesses start and fail because the owners seemingly do not know how to get noticed by potential consumers.

In Traffic Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Filling Your Websites and Funnels with Your Dream Customers, Brunson explains the classic and important direct marketing techniques that will help you to be at the forefront of new trends and find opportunities that others are missing, as well as how to utilize funnels to reach your dream customers.

My hope is that if someone you love comes out to you – be it this month or anytime- that you are there for them with an open heart, open mind and open arms, and that you continue to be an ally to them. 

1. Mother’s Day

Over the weekend, I celebrated all of the moms in my life and my guys celebrated me. Sunday was a rainy day so we made sure to get outdoors on Saturday.

2. Work-from-home days

I never really officially announced that I’ve been working from home a couple days a week. It is really nice knowing I don’t have to leave my boys those days and also quite challenging getting work done while home with them. I am so happy for the time, though, and I know they are too.

3. Home Decor

It has taken us quite some time to fully decorate our home. I think we’ve been hesitant since a part of us feels like this might not be out forever home. But I decided, stay or move (not for a while lol), we have to finish decorating! The living room decor is now complete with bay window shelving.

4. Countdown to a special trip

We are headed out of town in a few weeks and it’s to a super special place. My husband surprised me with the location because he knows it’s near and dear to my heart and I’ve been saying I want to go there. I am so excited to finally introduce the boys to one of my *happy* places! (There was your clue!)

5. C h a n g e

When it comes to Christmastime, some of my favorite activities are getting Christmas cards photos taken and ordering our Christmas card. I’m not even kidding when I say I have been designing (choosing a layout and which photos to include) our cards for a month. Lo and behold, I chose the original design I liked, Basic Invite’s Country Club Christmas. 

We used Basic Invite to create our card again this year because we’ve used it for so many other special occasions —  our 2017 Christmas card, our Save the Date and First Married Christmas cards. I’m happy to have used them again this special holiday season.

I just started mailing our cards over the weekend so I am hoping everyone receives theirs by Christmas!

Some of Basic Invite’s unique features are:

• Almost Unlimited Colors – Customers have almost unlimited color options with instant previews online. Once you select a design you can change the color of each element on the card to over 180 different color options so you can make sure the card is exactly how you want it down to the littlest detail. 

• Over 40 Different Colors of Envelopes – You can choose from over 40 different colors when it comes to their envelopes. A big bonus is that all of their envelopes are peel and seal so no licking required!

• Address Capturing Service – Basic Invite offers an address capturing service that allows customers to simply share a link on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or any other form of social media to request their friends and family’s addresses.

• 2017 Christmas Card
• 2016 Christmas Card (only a peek)
• 2015 Christmas Card

This post is sponsored by DecoPac but all opinions are my own.

This weekend, I told my husband a lot may have changed for us over the course of our relationship but some things have remained the same. One of those things for us are fall football weekends. They consist of (many) wings, college football (Go Penn State!) and NFL Sunday, and always have.

Admittedly, it took me some time to actually enjoy football season. As a Penn State student, I loved attending the games and actually developed an interest in watching the games I did not attend. It took me a few more years before I started enjoying NFL football games, though.

I used to complain to my husband about all the time he’d sit in front of the T.V. watching the games. But honestly, it is an exciting sport (injuries aside) and I figured if he’s going to watch it, I might as well join him. I’ve even played Fantasy Football with him but that lasted just one short season before I decided it was too much work for my liking.

This year, we’ve got two little boys, one of whom is old enough to understand and enjoy sports. He cheers on teams as they’re running for touch downs and it is so cute to watch! He also loves sweets, so this cake from Stop and Shop was obviously a hit. As you can see, he dug right in!

Show your team spirit and get your own officially licensed NFL cake at your local Shop & Shop bakery. We cheered on the Giants’ Saquon Barkley, who is a Penn State alum… Who did you cheer for?