Blogging 101 With Pink Martinis and Pearls

In my other life I have a lifestyle blog called Pink Martinis and Pearls but let's digress and let me tell you how that came to be.

Two years ago after my nightly bedtime ritual of reading heavy hitting news online that had now left me restless, anxious and unable to sleep, I googled "pink and green".  Being a former and closet preppy while longing for the days of Pappagallo espadrilles and Bermuda bags I wondered if these two colors were still considered the secret code that could open the internet club doors to the world I once belonged to in the 80's.  As soon as I saw the retrieved names like "Preppy 101" and "Muffy", I felt like Dorothy finding herself in the Land of Oz but with a hefty dose of pink.  Giddy, I clicked the heels of my Top Siders, and repeated, "There's no place like home.  'There's no place like home." 

There was so much to see on these pretty, colorful pages where life was upbeat.  The sisterhood was comprised of women from all demographics and geographic regions, from college co-eds to grandmothers.  I loved reading the fresh approaches to life of the 20-somethings, the challenges of the 30-somethings with small children (been there, done that), the 40-somethings "transitionals" from full-time moms to empty nesters as I was soon to become that September.  I found all these women fascinating and brave for putting themselves out there.  I wanted to join the fun, stretch my comfort zone and see what journey it would take me on.

My first step was to leave a comment on a blog.  I've got to admit I was nervous at first.  I had to create a name for myself since many blogs do not take anonymous comments.  This is because unfortunately there can be a few "trolls" out there who find pleasure in leaving snarky comments usually under the dark, cowardliness of that moniker but luckily I have only had positive experiences.  Needing my own Badge of Courage in this unknown blogging preppydom and because for years I had preached to my children about the internet potentials of evil, predators and stalkers—oh my!—I decided on a username that was not my real name.  I know some bloggers whose best friends and family don't even know they blog.  It's a private world for some and sometimes what I would consider an overshare for others but it's whatever the blogger feels comfortable with.  I tend to be somewhere in-between, held back by my children's fear that I'll totally humiliate them with the occassional overshare of life experiences (they're trying to discourage me, right?), but my basic insecurities about the internet boogyman mixed with a tinge of shyness always brings me back to center at some point.

Back to my blog where I'm known as "Pink Martini."

The name "Pink Martini" and Pink Martinis and Pearls?  Just something I came up with to set up my blog account but those who know me say it fits.  What began as a self-taught tech experiment to see if I could figure how to create a blog page using Blogger at 2 a.m. became a creative outlet to express pending empty nest thoughts and feelings, document family parties and party decoration ideas, thus adding incentive to take more photos and learn the basics of digital photography and photo editing programs such as PhotoShop Elements, and Picnik (so fun and easy) and to ultilize Flickr for uploaded off-site photo storage.

My blog has evolved where now I share many of my passions with close to 800 followers and subscribers.  My 25+ years of decorating cookies and cakes are quite often featured posts as I provide step-by-step tutorials so others can learn.  I love doing this!  And if someone would have told me two years ago that my cookies would have been featured on MarthaStewart.com, not once, but twice, I never would have believed them! 

My blog has even been brought to the attention of the CEO of Vera Bradley where they have offered and generously sponsored items for a few give-aways that I hosted on my blog.  And by the way, I am hosting another Vera Bradley give-away this month sponsored by a local merchant.  I have a great time doing this for my readers.

Blogging has opened up many new opportunites for me to grow and learn from but what I have enjoyed the most is the sense of  community where creative ideas are shared freely and people are supportive.   Fair warning though, you can get hooked with all the information and pretty pictures out there in the lifestyle blogging world.  I confess—on more than a few occasions I have been accused, and rightly so, of being in the exact same spot people left me in the morning when they have returned home hours later.  This can lead to a serious condition called "bloggers butt," if you know what I mean.  Oops.  I think I just overshared.

Tell me, do you blog or would you like to try it? 

Do you have some questions about basic blogging that I could answer from my own experiences? 

Don't be shy, leave a comment.  I promise the internet bloggyman won't get ya!  :)