writer's block: the meaning of home

home. oh, that word has become tricky for me over the past two years as an expat...

thankfully I have three fantastic women stepping in today to give you their take on what home means to them. they have lived in some very different places but all seem to agree on a few things about what makes home "home." please read their wonderful words and then hop over to their blogs to say hello!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Hello, I'm Christina of Route Bliss. By day I write reports for a living while I simultaneously plan blog post ideas, daydream about my next trip, and wish I could edit all the photos I've taken and haven't gotten around to yet. While I've been blogging for over a decade now, Route Bliss itself has only been around since the Summer of 2013. RB (as I've dubbed it) is where I share my love of travel and photography as well as what I'm learning on my journey to healthier living (adapted recipes as well as running and fitness tips and grumblings!)

where is the place you currently call home?
Athens, Texas. My favorite thing is that my hometown is primarily known for two things -- its the home of the hamburger (Uncle Fletch debuted it at the World's Fair in St. Louis in 1904!) as well as the Black Eyed Pea Capital.

have you ever had to make a big move and leave your home behind? I haven't ran away from here yet although the mountains are constantly calling my name :) This is actually my second hometown, my family moved while I was in junior high to my current hometown. While I've gone to college in a nearby city and currently work there as well, I don't love that city enough to move there even after 16 years of spending a chunk of my week there!

when you travel, what do you miss most about home? My pets + my bed.

what makes home "home" to you? Family, of course, as well as close friends and my pets.

learn more about Christina on her blogs: Route Bliss + Christina McCall Photography

check out a few of her favorite posts:

Traveling as Stress-Free as Possible

Tiny Details of Major Significance

or follow along with:

instagram + facebook + twitter

Hi everyone, I'm Jenn!! I'm a newlywed who loves to travel and read. I write about pretty much everything on my blog from travel to books to living cruelty free (no animal tested products). I hope you'll stop by and say hi!

where is the place you currently call home? Bel Air, Maryland. It's where my family is. I'm very close to my Mom and moving away from her was the hardest part of going to college.

have you ever had to make a big move and leave your home behind? I left Maryland when I moved to college and actually never planned to come back. Funny how that worked out!

when you travel, what do you miss most about home? My family! Mostly my Mom.

what makes home "home" to you? Definitely people! Though I do really hope to leave MD one day soon and live somewhere new, I definitely have some great roots here! I have friends that I've had my whole life, and my family is close :)

learn more about Jenn on her blog: A Country Girl's World

check out a few of her favorite posts:

Passion

Getting out of your comfort zone

or follow along with:

instagram + pinterest + twitter

I'm Ech, wife to Will. We're currently stationed in Italy. There's no sugar coating it or trying to be humble about it...it's gorgeous here and we absolutely love it. On our blog we share our travels, military life, and my attempts at housewifing.

where is the place you currently call home? That's a tough question. I was born in Hawaii, grew up in Oregon. I consider them both my home. favorite thing about Oregon: My mom, a few aunts/uncles/cousins, and my closest friends live there. If I had to choose just one "home", this would be it.The people there make it special.

have you ever had to make a big move and leave your home behind? I moved from Hawaii when I was 10. I moved from Oregon when I was 18 for college and again when I was 24 to marry Will and to be with him.

when you travel, what do you miss most about home? Hawaii: My family. Oregon: My friends and my mom. Italy: The comforts of my house.

what makes home "home" to you? The people. When I'm in Hawaii or Oregon I can completely be myself because the family and friends there have known me long enough to see past all the bs and politeness.

learn more about Ech [and Will!] on their blog: Ech & Will

check out a few of their favorite posts:

Road Trip to Shaniko

Will Meets Poland's PM

or follow along with:

instagram + facebook + twitter

Read more

happy friday + a giveaway

this week has flown by. I've been guest lecturing in Husband's class, teaching his ninth graders how to set up their own blogs. we had them set up about me pages, taught them how to do labels and links, and let them go wild with customizing their own templates and designs. it's been a lot of fun, but I'm glad it's friday!

in just a little over a month, I'm heading back to the states. this seems so unreal to me. the truth is I'm anxious to be back in the land of tacos and bacon and gluten-free beer, have my kittens to snuggle with, and to escape the humidity. but I'm doing my best to soak up life in Taiwan while I have it. the next few weeks will be crazy with travels and adventures, so I don't think it will be too difficult.

[as always, you'll be able to follow along on twitter and instagram]

this weekend I still have some cleaning to do before my friend arrives, and I've been working on another washi tape wall art project to share. but before I get back to that I want to take a moment to introduce you to my featured sponsor for the month, and share an amazing giveaway!

Kirsten is the sweet Australian behind the blog Kirsten Learns, where she chronicles her adventures in learning...just about everything! I loved her post on getting to know your camera in manual mode [ so helpful for beginners] and this adorable DIY candle in a teacup. I can't wait to see what she decides to tackle next!

Hello there! I'm Kirsten and I live in Australia with my husband and two cats. I started my blog to document myself learning the things I have always wanted to learn, and just becoming a less average and more awesome person in general. I've also started to make YouTube videos which has been both a frightening and enjoyable experience!

what is your favorite trip you've ever taken? I've only recently returned from a 2 month trip to the USA & Canada, which was by far the best holiday I've ever been on. This might have something to do with the fact that I got married while I was over there! You can totally read about that on my blog oooooohh yeah shameless plug.

what are your travel plans or goals for this year? I WISH I WAS TRAVELLING. But nope. My only goals are to grow my blog, finish uni (I'm studying to be a teacher) and to learn a whole bunch of new things.

where would your dream travels take you? I want to go back to America SO BADLY! Otherwise I have always wanted to visit Iceland. Apparently they are really obsessed with elves there? Or Japan because they are opening the Wizarding World of Harry Potter there this year. Just TAKE ME EVERYWHERE PLEASE.

describe yourself in 3 words: I like cake.

read more about Kirsten on her blog: Kirsten Learns

check out a few of her favorite posts:

how to make scented soy teacup candles

learning to apply eyeshadow

or follow along with:

twitter + pinterest + instagram + youtube

AND of course I have to let you all know I'm participating in an amazing giveaway this week with some very lovely ladies. we are giving away $230 in prizes to Etsy and Amazon! you can enter using the gadget below [and if you're already following me, you have entries!] big thanks to Melyssa for hosting!

The Fairy Princess Diaries | Kayli Wanders | Adventures with Esther & Jacob | Club Narwhal

Near and Far Montana | 27th + Luxe | Megan Joy Jaunts | Hi and Lo

Erica Jacquline | Alix Hamilton | Ink + Adventure | The Nectar Collective

a Rafflecopter giveaway

hope you all have a lovely weekend, and good luck! xo

Read more

how to get the most from your sponsorships

today I want to talk about sponsorships - about purchasing them and how to get the most out of your experience. it seems like there are a lot of posts debating the virtues of offering sponsorship and how to be awesome at that, but I think putting some thought into where and how you advertise yourself bears consideration. I started buying ad space on other blogs about six months ago, and my readership has more than tripled in that time. I don't think this is entirely due to sponsorships, but I believe they have played a large part in my growth, and I've learned a lot from the experience. here's how I've tried to approach it - hopefully these tips can work for you [and your blog] too!

+ be choosy about who to sponsor +

finding the right fit for a blog to sponsor isn't always easy. when you purchase a sponsorship, your face and name are going to become associated with that blog's brand. some people look for blogs to sponsor based on pageviews and followers. while those should be factors, I think it's more important to consider the content and audience of who you are sponsoring. do you write about similar topics? does your content something have something relevant to offer their readers? are their readers engaged and active on their site? is this a blog that you actually read and enjoy? if you answer "no" to any of those questions, you might want to reconsider purchasing a spot.

to me, putting my face on someone's sidebar isn't just about getting more views for myself. it's my way of saying I support this person and what they are doing. so I like to sponsor blogs that I like to read, and people who I want to support. another great source for finding blogs to sponsor is to look at your own followers - if they already love to read your blog, they're more likely to promote your content authentically.

+ pick the right spot for your blog +

most blogs offer a variety of spaces that come with different options and features. make sure that you read through the terms carefully before choosing which one you want. does it include a solo feature or a group interview? are social media shout-outs guaranteed or given organically? typically it's worth the few extra bucks to spring for a spot that includes some kind of feature. this will give readers a chance to get to know you beyond seeing your face on the sidebar.

also consider the amount of time and level of involvement you want to take in the process. are you willing to do an interview or write a guest post? do you have the extra cash to put in for a giveaway? sponsoring a blog can involve answering questions for a feature, finding and sending photos and links... or sometimes just submitting a banner. if you don't have the time to commit to that, you may opt for less exposure [but less work on your part] and simply buy an ad without the extras.

+ create an attractive ad +

once you've decided who to sponsor and which space you'd like... it's time to create a banner. there are some blogs that will design an ad for you for an additional fee, or if you had a designer work on your site they may have given you a pretty button already. if not, get creative and make one yourself. there are plenty of free sites that allow you to edit and add text to photos [pixlr and picmonkey for starters.] some people choose their site logo, others like to have their face on it - really you can do whatever you like. feel free to use fun fonts and eye-catching colors as long as your blog name can be read clearly.

and for the love of cheese, size your ad properly! if you are buying through passionfruit, the ad description should include the dimensions of the spot. don't be lazy and submit a rectangular ad for a square spot [or vice versa.] your ad will be stretched or squashed and that doesn't exactly make a great first impression.

+ be easy to follow +

when someone new arrives on your blog, what do they see? can they find your "about me" page and links to your social media easily? if you want viewers to become readers, you need to make it easy for them to connect with you. [some of this I covered when I wrote about why I love to read your blog.]

I understand and respect that some bloggers like to keep certain aspects of their life private. if you choose not to have public twitter/instagram accounts then by all means, that is your right. but you should have links to whichever accounts you publicly use, so that new fans can add you easily. this also means you should have an rss feed of your site and a bloglovin account for readers to subscribe to new posts.

+ post quality content +

I don't know who said it first, but they said it right: content is king. I think a lot of new bloggers start buying sponsorships because they want to grow [and that's great!] but you have to have something for all these new viewers to look at. and for people who want to re-invigorate their stagnant blog with new readers [also great!] you should start writing again before you start trying to draw people back in. if I come across a blog that hasn't been updated in months, I'm not likely to start following in hopes they might post again some day. when you decide to advertise your blog, it should already be worth advertising. you need to be posting quality content, and posting it consistently. this will make you more promotable, and also help catch the interest of new viewers who will come across your page.

most of all - your aim with sponsorship should be to gain new readers, not just new followers. participating in giveaways can be a great way to boost your numbers. but you have to back it up with content if you want to keep those new followers coming back.

+

to me, getting the most out of your sponsorships isn't just about who you sponsor, you actually need to put some work into it too! I know that the topic of purchasing and/or offering sponsorships is highly debated in the blogging community, and I want to know what you think. do you agree or disagree with my points? what are things that you consider before buying an ad space - or do you buy sponsorships at all?

Read more

the writer's block: tips on travel + packing

hi friends! I've been feeling a bit under the weather this week, but thankfully I have some great material from my sponsors to share with you today.

this month I thought I would take advantage of having these three travelers on my sidebar and ask them to share some travel advice for you. these ladies have been all over the globe - from the US and Europe all the way down to New Zealand - so they have plenty of experience to share. you've already read about my twelve travel essentials [and the things I splurge on when packing] along with a few packing lists. read on to see what these ladies have to say on those subjects and more, and don't forget to head over and check out their blogs when you're done!

the basics: I'm from New York but followed my English boyfriend to a a few different places before settling in England. My blog is a lifestyle and travel blog, where I document my adventures and travels. I also share products I like from time to time, and a lot of cat pictures (I can't help it, they are cute). Since moving to England I've made it my mission to visit every country house, castle, and park that I can cram in, and my blog is where I share them with you, so I hope you'll stop by!

what items do you consider to be your travel essentials? My camera, comfy pair of shoes and a sense of adventure.

any advice on how to save money while traveling? I tend to eat small meals and snacks for breakfast and lunch, and might splurge on dinner. If a place I like the look of has cheaper lunch options though, I'll make that my main meal of the day so I can still go to that place but save a bit of money on dinner prices. Also, look for vouchers for touristy things, or see if there are all inclusive travel cards for the sights you want to see. If you want to see a few things some cities give major discounts for these city sight cards.

what was your favorite trip you've taken, and why? I don't know if I can choose a favourite! Even though we lived in New Zealand for a year, so I don't count that as a trip, we spent a month traveling around the North Island (we lived on the South Island) and seeing what it had to offer, which was a lot. It was my favourite trip because we did so many different things, from digging our own thermal pool in the sand on the beach, to black-water rafting with glowworms shining above our heads. Every day was incredible for an entire month.

learn more about Dannielle on her blog: Chic-a-dee-dee

check out a few of her favorite posts:

Eating While Traveling

Kedleston Hall

or follow along with:

twitter + bloglovin + instagram

the basics: I am a US military memberliving and working in Germany. I have been bitten by the travel bug and find myself on long weekend adventures quite often. I am a solo traveler and love to share my experiences on Megan Joy Jaunts in the hopes that I can inspire others to get out and travel on their own.

do you have any tips on packing to share? I always lay out all the outfits I'll think I need and then see if I can them down by half by choosing one base color and a few coordinating pieces to change things up from day to day. If I can pack for a week-long trip in the winter in one carry-on sized suitcase, anyone can!

any advice on how to save money while traveling? I look for discount public transportation passes and free days at museums. I also will choose my destination based on where the cheapest airline ticket will take me. If I've got my heart set on a place, I'll set up an alert to notify me of when the tickets will be cheaper and wait until the ticket prices are more reasonable.

what was your favorite trip you've taken, and why? I traveled solo for the first time last fall and had the best time ever! That was the trip where I realized I am capable of doing just about anything I put my mind to.

learn more about Megan on her blog: Megan Joy Jaunts

check out a few of her favorite posts:

Solo Travel for Women

El Mezquita de Cordoba

or follow along with:

facebook + bloglovin + twitter

the basics: Hello, I'm Christina of Route Bliss. While I've been blogging for over a decade now, Route Bliss itself has only been around since the Summer of 2013. RB (as I've dubbed it) is where I share my love of travel and photography as well as what I'm learning on my journey to healthier living (adapted recipes as well as running and fitness tips and grumblings!).

what items do you consider to be your travel essentials? I have several items that I've blogged about before here + here, but the main ones I absolutely can't be without are my pillow, a hoodie, and my camera.

what item is NOT essential, but you can't help splurging on bringing anyway?  Usually a book or two or my Kindle. I usually just pack the essentials due to space but having something to read late at night or when I get tired of staring at miles of nothingness.

what was your favorite trip you've taken, and why? Vienna, Austria -- it was my first time to fly, travel alone, and to meet one of my penpals. I went just before Christmas and got to tour Christmas markets, castles, and cathedrals.

learn more about Christina on her blog: Route Bliss

check out a few of her favorite posts:

Eating Healthy (& Affordably) While on the Road

A Quick Starry Night Photography Tutorial

or follow along with:

instagram + bloglovin + twitter

Read more

balancing life + blogging [and an ad sale!]

I had a very different post in mind for today, but this little thing called life got in the way of it.

balance between life and blogging can sometimes be difficult. making time to reflect and share with the world prevents you from doing other things that you'd like to do sometimes. consistency and reliability are great things to have, and readers love them [or so I hear.] but if we don't get out there and actually experience life, what are we going to write about? 

I've found especially as of late it's been harder for me to make blogging time. I've been working hard on my book and the weather has warmed up enough that I don't want to spend my mornings and my afternoons staring at my computer.

a part of me feels like I should offer an apology, and yet another part feels that "blogger guilt" is complete bullshit. we share our lives because we love to share, but that doesn't require us to always do so. I've seen so many people struggling with what to share and how much of it to share and how often to share it... and the truth is I won't judge if you decide you need a break. go ahead and post only 3 times this week instead of 4 because it's finally spring and you should get out and enjoy it. 

and then, next week, you can tell us all about it. or not. your blog, your choice.

and in the spirit of celebrating spring, I've decided to host a little ad sale through this weekend. 

use the code SPRINGFLING to get 30% off any size ad.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and a very happy start to your spring!

Read more

some exciting news!

I decided that it was finally time for me to man up and open my Pasionfruit Ads shop. that's right, my sponsorship options are now for sale! there are two options available, both at very budget-friendly prices. you can purchase them straight from my new sponsorship page, or head over to my profile in the Passionfruit marketplace.

I tried telling myself that friday is a bad day to launch, that people won't be reading blogs or buying ads over the next few holiday weeks, etc etc. but eventually I ran out of excuses and just decided to go for it. [which might have had a little to do with the awesome support you guys always show me.]

I've been working on setting up sponsorships for a while, and though I am really nervous to start I am also unbelievably excited!

you'll also notice things are looking a little different around here. I had originally planned to write you a post on the Grand Palace in Bangkok, but I fell down the blog design rabbit hole this morning.

yesterday, Kate posted these great resources for blog designers and I knew it meant my blog-tweaking itch must be scratched. I found a palette on Design Seeds, made my first ever image map, and here we are! I've kept the same tall films font I've been using, so hopefully you don't feel too lost.

I hope you all have a fantastic weekend, possibly decide to hang out on my sidebar for a bit, and let me know what you think of the new design. happy friday!

Read more