on sponsored posts.

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Hi hi, happy Saturday!

So I usually try to keep weekend posts pretty lighthearted, but there’s something I’ve been wanted to address lately. I’m assuming the title of this post gave it away…

I’ve gotten a bit of flack recently for posting sponsored content, so I wanted to address the topic straight up. I’m not trying to hide anything here on GML, or pretend you don’t notice it.

The bottom line is that - yes, I participate in sponsored posts. I understand that that might bother some readers (and has become quite taboo in the blog world as of late), so maybe this will help you understand a bit more why I do so.

I’ve invested over 4 years into blogging, so I think it’s understandable that I’d want to monetize it. That’s the only way I’d be able to keep up with the time commitment of blogging, actually, which is about 20-30 hours per week (maybe more? Considering how much of my daily life/routine it has become).

When I first started blogging the main way to monetize it was through ads, which I utilize as well, but these days advertising has strongly gone in the direction of sponsored content. Monica does a good job of explaining it more here.

I know some people think that blogging should remain strictly a hobby and shouldn’t be monetized at all. But for me, that’s just not feasible. Like I said before - I wouldn’t be able to make the necessary time for blogging if it were just a hobby. Even though it truly is something I love doing, I need to make sure I balance my passion with being able to support myself financially (especially living in New York).

When it comes to jobs/careers as a whole, I’m a big believer in doing what you love, so if I have the opportunity to make at least part of a living from blogging (especially as someone who is self employed) by posting sponsored content a few times a month, I am going to take it. And I’m okay with admitting that.

Do What You Love

With that being said, I want to be clear that I’m very particular when it comes to sponsored posts. I turn down dozens of offers a week - probably enough that would allow me to blog full time, as a lot of other bloggers have made the transition to. I make it a point to always be truthful about what I decide to promote, even if I am being compensated for it. Please believe me when I say that I only promote products and services that I either would genuinely want to try, or already do use myself.

I should also note that when I am compensated in any way, I will disclose it on that post in one way or another. So if that isn’t there (either an “official” disclosure, or me just saying “I got free samples”), it means I’m just posting about a product/service I like and use myself. That’s the case more often than not, as I truly love reviewing products, restaurants, recipes, etc.

Look, the last thing I want to so is turn off my readers. So for that, I will try to keep things as honest and real as possible (hence this post). I hope that you understand where I’m coming from, and that you’ll continue visiting GML.

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What are your thoughts on sponsored blog content? Does it turn you off from reading?

what i hate(d) about blogging.

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This post is one that I’m surprised I haven’t written yet. It’s based on something that goes through my mind every single time I hit publish on a post, or share on my gazillion social media outlets.

(It’s funny, though. When I was done writing this post I changed the title to hate(D) because I suddenly became FREE from what I thought I hated about blogging. Don’t you love it when that happens?)

Thanks to Clare and her post from yesterday for inspiring me to share my thoughts on this. Clare addressed the issue of feeling the need to censor herself on her blog, and I couldn’t agree more. For me, though, the pressure to censor myself has less to do with my blog readers and more to do with my real life friends, acquaintances, and various relationships.

Over the years I’ve definitely gotten to the point where I’m comfortable sharing my blog with everyone I know – I tell friends about it, post it on my personal Facebook, and even refer to myself as a blogger when asked my profession. Considering how I was almost embarrassed about GML at first, I’ve come a long way when it comes to being proud and confident in being a blogger.

The difficult part now, though, is coming to terms with the fact that I’ve opened myself up to so many people’s opinions and criticisms that a normal person would just never have to face. It can be uncomfortable to realize that people (whether they’re people I know or not) can know things about me that might take months or years for someone to learn if I didn’t have this little old thing called a blog.

But you know what? That’s just something I’m going to have to deal with. I know for a fact that this platform was given to me for a reason, so I’m willing to take whatever comes along with that.

I think that what it all boils down to is that having a presence on a public forum like a blog has forced me to learn what it means to be fully and unapologetically myself.

So yes – I take pictures of my food.

I share TMI sometimes.

I wear too much makeup sometimes.

I had adventures in Tinder.

I take selfies, and I love other people’s selfies. SELFIE SELFIE SELFIE.

I don’t have a “real” job.

I’m a Christian that goes clubbing.

I overuse emojis, Pinterest quotes, and hashtags.

ac77a7f60b1fe38df48ec264bbba3261

So if you want to follow my blog, my social media, or just have me in your life – that’s what you’re gonna get. Welcome to girl meets life.

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If you’re a blogger, is this something you can relate to? If a blog reader – would love to hear your thoughts on this!

 

Some related posts:

ask G, part 4.

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1. What are your favorite and least favorite things about blogging? – Sarah
Favorite things:
1) Having a creative outlet and being able to post/write about the things I love.
2) The interaction with my readers.
3) Getting free stuff. I’m not sure if most bloggers would admit that, but it is pretty awesome.

Least favorite things:
1) Being so transparent. Sometimes I wish people didn’t know so much about me.
2) It requires a lot of attention, especially for growth.
3) Getting negative feedback. I’m a big baby with that.

2. Are you dating anyone? – anonymous
Yes. Nothing serious right now.

3. What’s your favorite type of cuisine? – anonymous
Hmm, I’d say Mexican. And breakfast, if that counts :)

4. If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be? – Jen
There are a few things I would change…but not in a woe is me, sort of way. I really do love my life! Right now I’d have to say I really wish I had the money to travel more.

5. What made you decide to start a blog? Did you want to do anything else for a living before that? – anonymous
I had read blogs all throughout college. When I graduated and moved back home, I went through what I call my “quarter life crisis,” so I thought it would be a good idea to start a new hobby. I ended up loving it even more than I thought I would. I’ve always loved writing and sharing my thoughts, so blogging was the perfect fit for me.

Growing up, I really wanted to be an actor. The passion faded as I got older, though, so I thought about Broadcast Journalism. I still love the idea of being some sort of correspondent or doing something in front of the camera.

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Please note that I’m *not* an expert and that this advice is based solely on my own experiences and thoughts. Have a question? Feel free to leave it as a comment on this post or ask me anonymously.

Your turn! Growing up, what did you want to do/be?
What’s your favorite cuisine?

ask G, part 3.

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1. Where did you get the layout for your blog? I really love the way everything on yours is categorized, yet very simple. Any ideas on where to get a great layout would be wonderful! – Ashley
I use the Atahualpa theme, which I found via WordPress Themes. That’s my suggestion as the best place to look – there are thousands of themes to choose from!

2. What are your top five blogs to read? - anonymous
In no particular order, my favorites are The Londoner, How Sweet It Is, 20-Nothings, Polish My Crown, and Cupcakes and Cashmere,

3. How does grocery shopping work in NYC? - anonymous
Pretty much the same as anywhere else! Minus the luxury of having a car. I typically only grocery shop for a few days or a week at a time so I don’t have to carry too many bags. If I make a trip to further grocery store (like Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods), though, I’ll get as much as I can and just take a cab home. A lot of people get their groceries delivered too.

4. What hosting site do you recommend for a blog? I already have my own domain name (bought from WordPress), but I want to, like you, work for BlogHer in the future! Also, any other tips on gaining readers would be great!
I’m hosted on Sectorlink, which has been great. I’ve also heard good things about BlueHost. I suggest having a domain on a site like one of those and using the WordPress software, available on WordPress.org (although, I don’t think being on BlogHer is dependent on where/how you’re hosted :)).

Some other tips for gaining readers:

* do guest posts on other blogs/websites
* interact with other bloggers and readers via social media
* have content that people want to share with others
* be relatable and likeable! give readers a reason to come back for more
* host giveaways

5. Who are some other bloggers that go to your church? – anonymous
A lot of people have personal blogs, but Jen from Made By Girl is the only other one I know of that does it professionally.

6. Where do you go to color your hair? – anonymous
I bounce around sometimes based on where I receive gift certificates, but my go-to is definitely Nadia at Arrojo. Actually, she’s offering a 25% off discount from 9/30 – 10/6, so let me know if you’d like me to put you in touch with her!

7. Is your real name Gracie or Grace? – anonymous
Grace! Although I consider Gracie just as much my “real” name because it’s what people have called me since I was born.

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Please note that I’m *not* an expert and that this advice is based solely on my own experiences and thoughts. Have a question? Feel free to leave it as a comment on this post or ask me anonymously.

What are your favorite blogs? I’m always looking for new ones!

ask G, part 1.

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1. What do you suggest for someone visiting the Big Apple - best places to see, can’t miss, or foodie recommendations? – Dana

This is definitely one of the top questions I get, so I actually made a full page dedicated to NYC – my favorite tips, restaurants, and other attractions. Click here to view it!

One of my biggest recommendations for visiting New York is to check out the more local attractions (especially downtown). The touristy things in Midtown can be fun, but to get the real feel of NYC you should explore places like Greenwich Village, West Village, and Soho.

Also, taking a bus tour is a great way to see most of the city in just a few hours.

2. Dating for a Christian girl, tips & advice or what you’ve learned? – Dana

This is a great question and something I’ve become quite passionate about lately. I hate to leave you hanging, but I actually have a handful of posts coming in the next few weeks about this topic (as does Jessi). Stay tuned!

3. How do you balance blogging and work? – Marissa

Well first of all, I work from home (real estate appraisal administration for my dad’s company), so that makes balancing the two much easier than when I had my office job. I work from 9-5, so I try to write blog posts in the morning and/or evening. And since I work on the computer it’s easy to keep up with GML and social media throughout the day.

Something else that I’ve found helps a lot is scheduling and pre-writing posts. I try to have at least two or three posts saved at any time so if I have a particularly busy day, I can still put up some new content.

4. How do you balance work and play, and what does a typical day look like for you? – Emily

Balancing work and play is definitely an art form, especially when there’s just so much of both to be done 😉 I’m lucky in the sense that my job isn’t project based, so it’s pretty easy to just shut my computer and be done for the day. And then other aspects of my work (like blogging) just naturally feel like play to me. Not to mention that networking is of huge importance in New York, so just about any social event can be beneficial to your career without intending for it to be.

I tend to have something social going on most nights of the week, with much more on the weekends. I do try to have at least one or two nights at home to just relax.

My daily routine can look completely different from one day to the next, but typically it looks like:

- wake up around 7am
- have at least 30 minutes of time with God
- squeeze in a workout if I can
- work on GML and social media for church
- start work at 9am, eat breakfast
- I take a 30-60 minute break around 1pm where I either go to the gym or run errands
- eat lunch around 2pm
- throughout the whole day I do social media and GML stuff when work is slow/caught up
- finish work at 5pm
- evenings/nights I either have some sort of meeting, stay home and watch TV, or go out with friends

5. What do you mean when you say “part career?” I love blogging and am no way in it for the money, but making money for something I love would obviously be awesome. Do you actually make a reasonable income, and if so, how did you get into that position? - Nicole

When I first started blogging, I never anticipated it becoming part of my career. I had no idea it was even something you could monetize! But when I realized that blogging is something I wanted to do long term and that I could make income from it, it was an easy decision.

At first I was part of the Foodbuzz ad network, but now I’m part of BlogHer Publishing Network and have been for about 2 years. I LOVE BlogHer and highly recommend them. My income comes from the ads you see on GML’s main page, as well as sponsored posts. Right now blogging makes up about 1/3 of my income. If you want to learn more about making money from blogging, definitely check out Katy Widrick’s blog – she has great tips and advice.

I do want to note that even as my income from blogging continues to grow (and yes, it’s something I would love to do full time), it’s very important to me that GML never looks or feels like a “professional blog.” To me, that takes away from what a blog is supposed to be! So I really make it a point that the products I review are always ones that I truly love and use myself. I never want to come across as a saleswoman.

6. What would you suggest if you realize that you and your friends don’t mesh anymore and that you would like a new friendship group? – Anonymous

This is a tough one. Friendships do change as life goes on, either by getting closer or drifting apart. First of all, remember that those seasons are normal and a part of life. But with that being said, I personally wouldn’t cut them off completely. You can always add friends to your life, but it doesn’t mean you have to entirely cut ties with others (if the friendships were unhealthy or something detrimental happened, though, than that’s a different story!).

I think the best thing to do is to open yourself up to more opportunities to meet new friends. Start getting involved in things you and enjoy and are passionate about. For me, that meant finding a church that had young people with similar lifestyles to mine. For other people that might look like taking a new class, joining a gym, volunteering somewhere, etc.

I also think that the most important thing about making new friends is getting over the fear of rejection. At some point you’ll have to take the initiative and ask someone if they want to meet for coffee, for example. Putting yourself out there can be scary and feel weird at first, but you’ve got to start somewhere!

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Please note that I’m *not* an expert and that this advice is based solely on my own experiences and thoughts.

How do you balance work and play in your own life?
Have a question? Feel free to leave it as a comment on this post or ask me anonymously.

real talk: on healthy living.

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Around the time I graduated high school, I started loving and practicing all things health & fitness related. I held on to those habits through most of my college career, and reading healthy living blogs is actually one of the things that inspired me to create my own.

But as my life progressed – especially by moving to New York – my interest in those things began to fade. While I still aimed to live as healthfully as I could, things like forwarding my career, having a fun social life, and building a life in a new city were much higher on my list of priorities. And, well, they still are.

But recently, I’ve found that I’ve sort of been re-falling in love with a healthier lifestyle. I think I’m reaching a point in my life where I’m craving structure and just feeling my absolute best.

…but that’s not the only reason I try to be healthy. And if I’m going to start blogging about health & fitness-related topics, I want to always be 100% real about it. Some people may genuinely love a healthy lifestyle because how it makes them feel, or because they truly love working out.

I’m not that person.

Yes, a healthy lifestyle does make me feel good, and I do really love clean, nutritious food.

…but the real reason I aim to be healthy?

I want to age well. I want to look good. I want my body to be in shape not for the sake of being in shape, but so that I can enjoy the rest of my life even more than I already do.

I guess what I’m trying to say is I don’t think I’ll ever be that person who is genuinely passionate about running, yoga, or Crossfit.
In fact, the thought of doing more than 30 minutes of cardio terrifies me.
I love vegan food, but tofu grosses me out.
I eat lots of bacon and meat without calling myself Paleo.
Sometimes I lift weights, and sometimes i just do the NYC girl workout.
I eat Lean Cuisines and all their gloriously strange ingredients like, a lot.
I try to eat less gluten, but I’ll never say goodbye to gluten-filled New York bagels.
I will always - and I mean always - choose quality of life over being healthy.

So does that make GML a healthy living blog? I don’t know. I don’t think so, but I don’t really care. I just know that if I’m going to be posting about my life, it should include everything – the healthy, unhealthy, and everything in between. And hey, maybe the blog world needs a dose of that reality…

What does “healthy living” mean in your life?
What are your favorite healthy living blogs?