Frequently Asked Questions...

By Amy

Heya!  I've been getting some questions about how things work here at S.O.M. so I am addressing them in this here post and giving a fancy little button on the side of the blog in its honor.  :)

Here's three questions that go hand in hand:

-Can I contribute a guest post to Swag on Momma?

-What can I contribute? 

-How can I contribute?

YES, I'd LOVE it if you contributed a post!  The goal of SOM is for MANY women to share their stories, advice, ideas, etc!  For the what and how of contributing, check out the "Wanna Contribute?" button...

-Who are your contributors? 

I contribute about half of the posts, and the other half are written by other ladies who have a story to tell.  They are normal, everyday, busy ladies, like you!  Sometimes, I approach a lady about sharing a story, but other times, ladies come to me with ideas for a post they could write--that is so nice for me! :)

So far, many of my contributors have been close friends and family members, and I'm SO happy that you get to meet these amazing ladies who I love, admire, and respect.  I also have some cool friends and relatives who already have their own blogs, and I will often feature one of their posts.

The only hard part: I am asking possibly the busiest group of people on the planet (moms) to sit down and type out stories, and it's hard for them to find the time!  I get it.  Some days I am lucky if I actually have time to shave my armpits in the shower, and I only have one kid!  So, the fact that these busy women make the time to share their stories, makes me so dang grateful.  I know some freakin awesome  people!

Which leads me to the next question:

-Why the intros?

Ah...the intros are one of my favorite things here on S.O.M.  It's like the opposite of gossip:  It is SO uplifting to dish on the awesome attributes of a lady and why I love and appreciate her.  It gives you, the reader, a chance to see her through another's eyes--which I love cause we often see ourselves very differently than others see us; we can be our own worst critic.  That's why I want you to see her from the perspective of someone who loves her.  I hope you enjoy reading these intros, and, when you are the contributing lady, I hope you enjoy getting bragged on: don't be sheepish! :)

-Why did you start blogging?

Well, I was a little apprehensive about starting a blog, cause there are many ladies who blog* that intimidate me.  (My fault--I can be insecure like that.)  In my eyes, they are super moms...and, I am no super mom.  I do not create Pinterest worthy meals everyday (or ever...ha) I don't hop on my sewing machine and whip up some fabulous chic outfit for me and my baby, and I do not have professional photography skills.

But...I LOVE people.  Above all else, I wanted to reach out to others: to share my stories and hear theirs in return!  So, I scraped up some courage and Swag on, Momma was born! :)

This is my dream: to create a fun, relaxed place for women to connect with each other--a place where we can talk about what matters most to us.  Many ladies want to share a story, project, advice, etc. but not everybody wants to or has the time to start their own blog...I can offer the platform for them to share!  I love it! :)

Having a baby was my catalyst...read the story here.

*And, for the record, meeting some of these super-mom blogging ladies, I've discovered they are just as human as me!  They have bad days: dinners get burned, kids are screaming, and crafts flop...but, they find joy in sharing what they love and create!  And, I've been so grateful for their help and advice, which many have freely given.

-When will new posts show up? 

I usually post one or two posts a week.  I never post on Saturdays, but all other days are fair game. :)  If I post on a Sunday, I will call it "Sunday Thoughts" and it will be a post that has to do with Faith.  So, if that's not your thing, consider yourself warned. :)

I don't have a real structured schedule, cause mommas have to be flexible (you ain't gettin nothin done when your kid is puking for three days!)  plus, some posts take a lot longer to write than others.  Also, because lots of my posts are by other ladies (yay, swaggin ladies!) I am working with other ladies' busy schedules too.  So, to never miss a post, be sure to follow along!

-How do I follow along?

Why, thank you for asking! :)  I'd love for you to be part of our community--it's so nice to be part of a fabulous group of ladies!  So, when you are talking your husbands ear off and his eyes glaze over, just come talk with us!  Ha!  The more ladies, the more perspectives and input we get. :)

You can
#1) Like the SOM Facebook blog page (using the button on the right side of this blog) to get updates on your Facebook feed when I or another contributor posts... But, I have to tell you, that over half of the people that "Like" any blog's Facebook page won't see their updates!  It's something that Facebook has cut back on, so if you only follow this blog through Facebook, you'll miss quite a bit.  Lame, huh? However, since I'm sure you don't want to miss a thing, (wink, wink) go to the S.O.M. Facebook page (type it in the search box, or click on the name when you see it in your feed), hover over the “liked” button, and click “get notifications.”  Voila!  One or two times a week, you'll get a notification whenever I post something.

#2) Click the "Join This Site" button under the "Come Join the Party!" tab.  This is my favorite way to follow blogs; I see all the posts from the blogs I love when I sign onto my Google account.

#3) Follow this blog by clicking the Bloglovin' icon at the top right of this blog.  It's the + sign.  (If you don't have a Bloglovin' account, it's an easy way to see all of the new posts on your fav blogs in one place.  Super handy and pretty easy to set up.)

#4) Follow by email. (Also found on the side of this blog...just enter your email into the box and you're good!)  Some people prefer this, but I never follow blogs by email, cause then I don't get to see their pictures!

The nice thing is, because I'm not a daily blogger, you'll only get post notifications 1 to 3 times a week or so I won't flood you with a bunch of stuff.

For all of you readers who are already following, I appreciate you so much!  "Insert high-fives, hugs, bones, booty bumps, etc...ok, maybe not the last one.)  Thank you for supporting me and all the ladies who have contributed here.  You are the coolest of the cool! :)

-Did you draw the pic at the top of your blog?

Yep!  I love to draw!  (I am an art teacher...but not a hippy one who wears colorful dresses and has long, flowy hair...though that sounds pretty sweet!)  I draw faces like this EVEYWHERE.  Sometimes, my husband finds faces on his homework. 

-What makes me do a happy jig? (Ok, I have to admit I made up this question, nobody asked me this...)

COMMENTS.  On my posts and especially on posts by one of the guest contributors.  I want everyone who posts here to have a good experience--to feel heard and appreciated.  Plus, it kinda defeats the blog's whole purpose of connecting, when there is no conversation started.

When I read a comment like, "Wow, this reminded me so much of my experience with_______. Thank you for sharing!" I start dancing the happy jig!  (Alright, occasionally I do actually dance--cause I am a spaz--but I always smile and feel warm and fuzzy!)

So have fun reading others comments and comment yourself! :)  A BIG shout out to the ladies who already take time to comment and show support!  You are the BEST! (Said in a Nacho Libre accent)  :)

-What about advertising/sponsors?

This has been a difficult question to me.  I didn't start this blog as a money-making scheme.  However, I do put many hours a week into keeping this party rollin.  Don't get me wrong, It's been SO much fun, but, it does take a lot of my time and effort.  Every day, I write and respond to emails with many awesome ladies about guest posts.  I read and edit those posts and format/enter them into Blogger.  Along with that, I spend a good chunk of time writing my own posts, as well as sharing on Facebook and responding to comments.

So, if there's any way for my labors to help my little fam financially, then I would be super grateful. (Cause we're living off student loans while Patrick is in school!)

I'd like to give a platform to regular ladies like us, who've started their own businesses.  (Like an Etsy shop!)  We can help you get some exposure and traffic!

So, are YOU interested in advertising on this blog?  Sweet!  Send me an email about your products and company (amy.the.graham@gmail.com ) and we'll talk.

Don't worry, I'll never have advertising for Billy Bob's Car Parts or some crazy weird diet pills.  I will only allow products that I can feel good about endorsing here on my little blog home.

Well, I think that about covers it!  I love all you swaggin readers.  Keep it real, and swag on!
-Amy

P.S. What did I miss?  Any other questions?

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A Big, Warm Slice of Thanks and Some Credit Where it is Due.

Hey!  It’s Amy. 

Yesterday an awesome thing happened. 

I was SO nervous to debut this blog.  I wondered, what if nobody cares or likes it?  What if I am boring and have nothing to say?  Are the ladies involved going to be disappointed in me if nobody reads the blog?  Am I going to be disappointed in myself? 

But, when I finally pulled back the curtain and revealed the blog, my friends and family, even acquaintances cheered it on.  And they shared it with others, and then THEIR friends and family and acquaintances cheered it on. 

Thank you. 

I am so happy that you are loving the stories written by all the amazing contributors.  Aren’t they cool!?  There will be many more contributors and many more stories. 

Lots of people “liked” the blog and gave me sweet comments, like "good idea!” and “nice work!”  But, I must say—though I did put a lot of work and time in (just ask Patrick! Haha...he’s finished like three seasons of 24 since I started blogging in the evenings…)—when it comes to the idea for the blog, I need to give credit where credit is due. 

When I decided I go ahead and join the world of blogging I was unsure of how to move forward.  Here was my dilemma:  I didn’t want to start something that wasn’t going to be a good use of my time.  Even if it was something fun, I couldn’t spend my time doing something meaningless.  I wanted to bring some good into the world.  But how?

One day, in my morning prayers, I told Heavenly Father that I wanted to start a blog, but I needed His help to make it worthwhile. 

With Hayden and my Patty-man. 

  A few hours later, I was talking to Patrick about starting a blog (he is so patient when I start talking "blog"--I know he's had enough when his eyes start to glaze over, but most of the time, he listens! ha!)  I explained the idea of a place for many women to blog, not just me!  I told him that every woman deserves to tell her story, and hopefully, every women who feels lonely, isolated, or just wants to make more friends would feel love on this happy little spot out in cyber space.  Women need women. 

 

Here’s the crazy part:  I never even thought of this idea before I started telling him.  The words just came out of me as they were pouring into my head.  After I told him, I was like, “WOW.  That is a really cool idea!” cause it was new to me too!  I was grinning like a crazy person—I was SO super excited.

Now, this isn’t some miraculous Joan of Arc thing where God sent me on some Holy Quest, but I believe any time we desire to do good and pray for help, God will provide us with opportunities.  And He did!  So, while I am SO grateful for your support and love, I have to tell you that I borrowed the idea from the source of all inspiration, my Heavenly Father.   

I hope that it is ok to tell you this story.  I know not everyone believes in God, and that this is a place for people of all beleifs, but this my story and this is who I am.  And, though I am putting myself out there, and I'm not gonna lie, it makes me a weee bit nervous...I can't take credit, when I don't deserve it!  :)

SO...Thanks again, friends!

-Amy

P.S.  There's gonna be more than one post a week for a little bit, since we are starting out...just want to prepare you!  An post from my sister about her super unique home decor style is on it's way!  Stay tuned! :)

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Welcome, friends!

Hey!  I’m Amy, creator of “Swag on, momma!”

This is the happy day of delivery.  I now welcome into the world this healthy baby blog!  No, it’s not a blog about babies (though they will be frequently mentioned, I am sure) —This blog IS the baby…a brand new little chunk of the internet that I am finally bringing out to meet friends and family.  And after pondering about this and working on it for about 9 months, I am super happy to finally debut.  WOO!

This is me, throwing a fiesta for the new blog!

Thank You for caring enough to stop by!
 

This is not a personal journal-style blog, but a gathering place for many women to share their awesome stories and ideas.  And, it’s not only for mommas.  We’ll talk about things that involve all women!

 For the men: You are welcome too, if you are not  faint of heart, cause this blog is for/about women.  Don’t worry, you will be warned when a post is a little too tampony, Jane Austen-y, or labor pains-y for your stomachs.  You definitely should read and comment on (and compliment) your wife’s posts.  Just trust me.  You WILL get a really long back scratch for showing interest in your wife’s accomplishments.

To understand what we’re are all about here at “Swag on, momma” take a look at the post that began it all: "The Creation of Swag On, Momma” written by yours, truly.

With my son, Hayden...he doesn't normally look like that, I swear.

These posts are written by women I love and admire, along with my own stories….None of us are professional bloggers, just normal women living life, finding happiness.  Many more women will write as we go along…like I said, this is a weee little baby blog!  Please look at the tabs or scroll down through the posts and check out what they have written.  Because it is an infant, the tabs have lots of empty slots…but they will fill over time, just you wait and see!

Please no poo flinging or rotten tomato throwing…however, questions, comments, and/or compliments (*wink) are wanted and welcome!

If you love a particular post, please share it and get the word out! (it’s the little square facebook icon you can find at the bottom of every post…hey, I look out for the non-techies, cause…I am one.) 

Thanks again for hanging out with the Ladies of Swag!  See you soon!

-Amy

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What Does This Nice German Man Have to do with This Blog?

By Amy

Are you super curious?  Welllll...it was a quote by him that inspired me in choosing the tabs across the top of this bloggy-blog.  Here's his quote (I really love it!):

“We would do well to slow down a little…focus on the significant, lift up our eyes, and truly see the things that matter most.” 

Deiter F. Uchtdorf, he's a nice lookin old man, huh?

Pause. 

So what are these golden things that matter most?  Hmmmmm…

Play.

He continues, “As we turn to our Heavenly Father and seek His wisdom regarding the things that matter most, we learn over and over again the importance of four key relationships:

with our God,

with our families,

with our fellowman,

and with ourselves.”

by Deiter F. Uchtdorf (an amazing man and religious leader with a really cool German accent).

A major goal of mine in starting this blog is to having meaningful conversations about REAL things--the things that matter most.  So, after thinking about this quote I decided to make the first 4 tabs correspond with those 4 relationships. 

Side Note:

I need to clarify the purpose of the Faith tab—this is where we will talk about our personal experiences that bring us closer to God…ladies of all religions are welcome!  Even if you don’t belong to a specific religion, we want to hear about experiences with God.  And, if you don’t believe in God, hey, there are plenty of other tabs and topics! 

Now where were we?  Oh yeah…

Like I was saying, the things that matter most: Too much in life is superficial and material.  When we look back at our lives, it will be the people we loved, the good we did, and who we became that will count…not our clothes size or how much money we made. 

And while it’s fun to talk about hair, makeup, and clothes, there is SO much more to each of us, then what we look like. 

That being said…life is also meant to have tons of joy and fun!  So the “just for fun” tab celebrates the dumb, silly, little things that make us happy.  For example: finding the perfect mascara, scoring a sweet pair of pants at Goodwill, getting the pictures on the living room wall juuuuuust right, or achieving a new personal best for push-ups (I’m up to 8…don’t hate, I’ve actually come a long way!).  We’ll also share hilarious stories and quotes that come from our kids and our life. 

Talents and hobbies will also be covered.  They enrich life and make up a big part of who we are—they should be celebrated! 

Another tab will talk about the daily stuff involved in running a home that’s not big and glorious in the grand scheme of things, but must be done and can be done gloriously! (cooking, cleaning, decorating, etc.)

Last of all, under the Swaggin’ Ladies tab, we will get a little bio about each of the contributing writers for S.O.M. along with links to their posts.  And let me tell you, there are gonna be some cool ladies!

So that, my friends, is a little nitty-gritty about what these tabs entail.  Can you tell I am excited?  Cause I am.  WOO!

-Amy

 

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About "Swag on, momma!"

Hey, hey!  I'm Amy, creator of Swag on, Momma.  Welcome! 

This is a fun, relaxed place for women to connect with each other--a place where we can talk about the things that mean the most to us!  

Many ladies have stories, projects, talents, and advice to share, but they don't necessarily want to start their own blog...so, I wanted to make a platform for their voices to be heard!  We ALL have something to offer.  I mean it!

Here at SOM, some of the posts will be by me, but there will also be many guest posts from amazing, busy, loving ladies, JUST LIKE YOU!

Here's my little jaundiced baby...and my gray sweats. 

The idea for this blog came about when I became a momma.  It was not an easy transition for me.  I felt frazzled and very isolated.  "Who the heck have I become?!" I wondered desperately.  Was I forever changed into a sleep-deprived, worried, emotional, crazy woman who wore the same gray, spit-up covered sweats everyday?  I loved my baby, but, man was I lonely.  It was hard to go anywhere with a brand new infant, so I was always at home.  Plus, I was not confident as a mom, and my baby cried so much. (reflux)  I was soooo discouraged.

After time passed, I found my momma groove, and my baby and I figured out how to live this new life, get out of the house, and be happy!  Thankfully, I found that I was the same person--I still loved to hang out with friends, create art, sing, go to plays and movies... and my husband and I started kissing again! (haha, it was a little rough to feel romantic when we were both exhausted and I was hooked up to a breast pump all the time...ha!)

I realized that I could be a good momma and still enjoy my friendships, talents, and hobbies.  I just had to be more creative to find the time!  So an online hangout became a convenient way for me and other women to find snatches of time in our busy, chaotic days to reconnect to others and to ourselves.

My heart especially goes out to new mommas, and I hope that this can be a place for them to feel loved and noticed...new momma, it gets better, I promise!  But, this isn't just a mommy club--all women are invited, whatever stage of life they are in!  We don't just talk about potty-training and birth stories, I promise. ;)  All women bring needed and appreciated perspectives.

So, new friend, thanks for stopping by!  Please Like and Follow, (buttons on the right column of the blog) so you can be part of the party.  :)  Also, add your comments and ideas, don't be shy.  We're glad you're here!  :)  

Keep swaggin' on!
-Amy



For the long story of how SOM came to be...

My life drastically changed when I went from a hugely pregnant girl to a first-time momma of Hayden, my beautiful baby boy...who wouldn't stop screaming.  I found myself in the house all the time, I was no longer teaching high school/jr high art, my son cried day and night, and above all, I felt SO inadequate at my newly acquired role of "mother".  I probably bawled as much as him.  I kept thinking, “Um...wow.  There should be a support group for new moms.” 


Because it was hard to leave the house, I knew it had to be some kind of online mommas group.  Therefore, I started thinking about a blog.  I missed talking with people (my husband had to work long hours managing a restaurant) and I craved being social again. (Well...beyond Facebook...ha!)  Also, I desperately needed a creative outlet.  

Over a couple months, the idea for a mom support-group blog kept cookin’ in my head.  By this time, I felt much more comfortable in my role as a mom and my son was much happier. (Hallelujah!)  I realized I wanted to make a blog that would be much more than just a place for new mommas to vent.  

I dreamed of creating a platform for MANY women to connect, encourage each other, share their experiences and ideas, and be heard.  

I knew I didn’t want it to be only about MY life and ideas--cause I know so many women and moms who are amazing and know a lot more than me!  With many contributors, we'd get to hear lots of unique perspectives.  Sweet, huh?

Another goal I had for this blog, was to keep it from becoming fake.  I believe in being authentic and sharing the REAL stuff in life, stuff from the heart.  And though the perfect birthday decor or the most fabulous outfits are super fun to read and write about, birthdays in my house are usually a cake made from a Betty Crocker mix with a couple balloons taped to the wall, and my fashion consists of wearing my favorite jeans/t-shirts over and over, often accessorized by spit-up spots and snot streaks.  Ha!  That is my REAL life.   

I get so discouraged when I compare myself to a lady who rocks at hosting amazing parties or another lady who makes incredible gourmet meals.  The truth is, I have my own strengths, just like you do.  I may struggle to make even a grilled cheese sandwich without burning it and I can't sew worth beans, but I LOVE decorating my home and I can reach out to other people.  And, I'm getting better at loving my strengths instead of being consumed by what I'm NOT good at.  Also, I've met some of these amazing, talented women behind a few well-known blogs, and they are just as human as I am!   

So, at SOM, instead of competing and comparing, let’s remember that we ALL have worth.  It becomes fun to celebrate others' strengths, when you're not comparing and feeling defensive about your own!  

And, that's so much happier, don't you think?

So, those were my lofty concepts for a blog.  But putting them into reality was little more tricky than dreaming them up.


After about 9 months (go figure!) of researching, thinking, anxieting, praying, and planning, this blog was born.  And like a wee little babe, it has grown over time and is thriving thanks to YOU amazing readers!  Thank you so much for your support, comments, contributions, and love.  It means so much to me! 

As for the title, you may ask, "Why 'Swag on'?"  I picked this name because it shows we have fun in our roles as mommas and we’re cheering each other on.  And, though the name says "Momma" I want single ladies and married ladies without kiddios to know they are wanted and welcome at SOM--you too have knowledge and experiences to share! :)

Around here, new posts go up twice a week, (usually Tues/Thurs) with one post written by me and another by a fabulous guest-poster. (Hey, do YOU have a story to contribute? You totally should.  Here's how.  It's cool, I promise!)  To read how I picked the topics on the tabs, check out the post, "What Does This Nice German Man have to do with This Blog?".
 

For the ladies who are new here, Welcome!  I am so glad you are here!  We have a lot of fun.  :)
Be sure to "like" or "follow" so you can join in the party! 

Also, we'd love to hear your comments. A post is the jumping off point for more conversation, so don't be shy. :)  *A general heads-up: we are not here to argue or put others down, so hurtful comments will be deleted.  No mommy wars! 

Topics here are super varied, from silly to serious. Look around to find what interests you!  Many subjects are about kids and mom stuff, but plenty address common interests of all women.  Everyone is invited!  (Except for mommy war instigators, ha!)

Come on in, and Swag on with us! :)
 -Amy  

 

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