8 Things I Keep On Hand For Blog Photos

Blog Photos. You can buy them, get them from free sites, or take them yourselves (don't steal photos! That is rude). Over the past couple years I have been teaching myself new ways to take, edit, and stage photos for my blog and Instagram all with my iPhone. There are tons of tutorials for smartphone photography out there and you can get inspiration for staging from other peoples photos (especially on Instagram). I've been asked a few times what I keep on hand for my photos, so today I'm going to share my must haves with you!

1. White Foam Board

This is essential for flat lays if you don't already have a desirable surface that can be moved into the natural light. I get mine from the Dollar Tree, so when they start looking shabby, or the cats decide to claw it up, it's easily replaceable.

2. Trifold White Poster Board

Also from the Dollar Tree. These are good for using as a light reflector as well as a backdrop for smaller item photos.

3. Cute Office Supplies

Paperclips, pencils, pens, notepads, etc. I have a couple of different color sets that I got from the Target dollar section. They always have new stuff for each season. Dollar Tree also has some basics too, although they don't always the cute matching colors.

4. Calendar

For 2016 I got a clipboard calendar from Target. And this year I have a spiral one from the Dollar Tree. I use these (usually with seasonal items) for my first of the month photos on Instagram and have used them here on the blog as well for "currently" posts.

5. Fake Flowers/plants

Why spend money on real ones all the time? Especially if you have allergies or a super black thumb. For lots of my photos I have fake flowers and plants in them. The secret is to get ones that look more real than others. You know what I mean, some fake flowers actually look really fake, while others don't. What's great about them is you can store them and use them for several years. I get some from the Dollar Tree (you get lucky when they get in the new shipments) and some from Target, JoAnn's, or other craft supply stores.

6. Candles

Most of you probably have candles around the house already. Pull the ones you already have that match your color palette or season. Or you can get cheap ones at, you guessed it, the Dollar Tree. Walmart also has a nice selection that isn't terrible expensive either.

7. Mugs

We all have mugs because we all can't go without coffee or tea, amiright? These are a staple in blog and Instagram photos. They don't always have to be cute or have a nice saying on them. I have some plain white ones my mom gave me that I use a lot of the time. OR you can always save your Starbucks cup and use it for photos a few more times.

8. White or Light colored fuzzy blanket.

This is a new one for me, but I've been wanting one for a LONG time (I got one for Christmas). They are great for beauty product shots because the bottles won't roll away like they do on hard surfaces. I've seen them used a lot for those sitting-with-a-mug-and-computer/book shots. You know the ones. Check TJMaxx, Ross, and other discount stores for the fake fur rugs and blankets. Walmart and Target have the fleece blankets that have the cream/white fuzzy side like the one I have.

I like to grab little things I have around my house to use in photos as well. Like my elephants figurines, books, eye glasses, jewelry, tchotchkes, etc. Raid your house to find items that go with the theme of the photo you want. Did you buy apples at the grocery store this week? Put some in your photo! Have a giant bag of skittles (just me? ok... #pregnancycravings)? Pop them in a bowl and put it in your photo! Made popcorn for snack? Use it!

I also use my laptop and iPad in photos as well (and sometimes I use my iPhone and take the photo with my iPad). Use what you have already! You don't have to spend a fortune to get good photos.

I always try to use natural lighting when possible. It gives the clearest and brightest images and makes editing easier. And my favorite apps for editing on my phone are Afterlight (it's def worth the $.99) and a free app called Color Story. I use PicMonkey (they now have a phone app!) and Canva to make graphics for my blog. Both are free to use, but have paid upgrades you can purchase.

What do you keep on hand for photos?

The Truth Behind My Instagram Photos

Instagram. I don't know about you, but it's my favorite social media outlet. When I first started using the photo sharing platform, people mostly just uploaded random photos of themselves or pets or food with captions describing what was happening maybe (please don't go back and look at those posts). Hashtags weren't a thing and I had like ten followers. Two were ex boyfriends, two were best friends, one was an old roommate, and the rest were all those "friends" from high school that you never really hung out with but added them anyway cause you're nosy like that.

These days though Instagram is a whole different world, especially for bloggers. When did it become all staged fashion photos, flat lays,  #handsinframe, and coffee cups next to sprinkle donuts. We all strive to get those likes and we work hard to keep our followers engaged. But does your Instagram feed portray you accurately? I know mine doesn't. What social media profile these days, amiright?

Social media is a lie.

If that statement is true, and we all know it, why do we let what we see from other people make us feel envious,  have petty resentment, and make catty comments to ourselves or other friends? Lord knows that is not what I want to happen as a result of my Instagram pictures. And if that has happened, I'm going to shatter that perception right here, right now. Or you could totally disobey my previous request and scroll all the way back to the beginning of my page and shatter that perception yourself.

Firstly, it takes me HOURS to get one or two good photos when attempting to do the ever evasive flat lay.

Secondly, nearly every photo has some kind of editing done. Most of the time it's very simple, like brightening and sharpening.

Thirdly, I take at least 20 photos (usually more) of everything else I post. Because the angle matters, good lighting matters, and backgrounds matter.

Fourthly (I feel like I'm just making these words up now), Sometimes I crop the one photo in different ways and to make two or three different photos. #lazyphotographer

Fifthly, I do NOT have a fancy camera. ALL my photos are taken with my iPhone and sometimes my iPad. Yep. #cheap

Sixthly... ok I thought I had a sixth thing. I can't think of it now, but I'm sure there is one. And I'm pretty sure that you could totally fill this place in, if not add a few more.


So there. The truth behind my Instagram. All out in the open. So don't you dare let my feed give you negative feelings cause it's only half real. ok? ok.

How to Transfer Your Gmail Email Signatures to the iPhone Mail App

Email. We all have at least one account. Most of us have multiple accounts to juggle (I have four). It has become a necessary part of our everyday lives. One of the ways we can personalize them, and make sure our contacts have the important information is through our email signatures. I have a different one for each account, and they range from super fun with lots of detail, to very simple and straightforward. Gmail allows you so many options to create the perfect signature. I'm not sure about Android and Windows phones, but unless you use the Gmail app, those signatures don't carry over into the built in email app on the iPhone.

Personally, I prefer the Mail app on my iPhone over the Gmail app, because it's a lot easier to switch between accounts since my school email is not Gmail. So I'm going to show you how easy it is to carry over your awesome custom signatures from Gmail to the Mail app on the iPhone.

1. Create your custom signature.

On your laptop or desktop computer, sign in to your gmail account. In the settings, there is a section where you can make a signature that will automatically be added to the end of every email. Here you can add as much information as needed per the account. Include images and links where needed. This is what mine looks like:

2. Test and Copy

Once you've created your customized signature, send yourself a test email and open it up on your phone to see how it looks. On your iPhone, select and copy the signature.

3. Set up Signatures in Mail

In the Settings on your phone, choose the "Mail, Contacts, Calendars" section.

Scroll down and find the "Signature" option, then select "Per Account" option.

4. Paste

In the box labeled for the account you made your signature for, paste the previously copies signature. Don't worry, the links and images will transfer just fine. And you can still add/keep the "Sent from my iPhone" line at the very bottom.

Bada Bing! Bada Boom! You've got a custom signature that will be automatically added to all emails sent through the Mail app on your iPhone. Just repeat the steps for as many accounts as you have, if you need a fancier signature than just some plain text.

Do you have a fancy schmancy email signature? Which email app do you use?

10 FREE Apps for Your Macbook

Today, Anne has graciously decided to let me take over her blog to tell you about my 10 favorite completely free Apps for your Macbook. I have been a devoted Apple user since I purchased my very first iPhone in 2008. Ah, the memories of those first clunky models. Shortly after that, I forked out the money for Mabel (my Macbook White). That computer has been the best computer and she carried me through 2015 when I got Magnus. That's SEVEN years. I never had any issues with Mabel and she still runs great to this day, ask Melissa! Having owned a Mac for eight years, I've gone through a lot of trial and error when it comes to apps. So head on over to Love the Here and Now today to check out my list of some of my favorite and most useful apps that have stood the test of time.

It's My Blog and I'll Do What I Want

There is a tradition here that on Friday's we round up all of our favorite things of the week and share them with our readers. There are tons of link-ups for this and it's hugely popular. If you go back a few months, you'll see that I've participated a great number of times.  

On the one hand, I love posts like this because, often times I am introduced to a new blogger that I fall in love with, or a new person to follow on Instagram that will provide loads of inspiration. These posts are fairly easy to put together and are a great way to spotlight some well deserving bloggers/people.

On the other hand, I feel like these posts are kind of a cop-out post because they are so easy to create. Also, many bloggers choose the same posts and things to share, and it can become a little redundant. I'm totally guilty of doing this, and I'm not saying that people who do this are lazy or that they shouldn't. Not at all! (Remember when I said I liked posts like this too?) OK. So let me explain this feeling.

I was sitting at my kitchen table last night staring at Magnus (yes, I named my Macbook) and trying to channel some inspiration for something to write about for todays post. I could have just done a favorites post and picked a few good blog posts, some nice pictures from Instagram, and couple of fun Pins from Pinterest, slapped them in a post with witty tag lines and been done in 15 minutes, but it felt wrong to me. Especially since I just got my head back into the blogging game. 

To be quite honest, I have several posts in the draft stage that I could have polished and published today, but that felt wrong too. I could have moved up a post that is scheduled for later this month, but that wasn't right either. Something just felt... off. Still does as I sat at my kitchen table again this morning with a bowl of cereal and Magnus' blinking cursor staring expectantly back at me. 

Finally, I just started to write. Letting my fingers fly across the keys putting my thoughts and feelings into words on the screen. There were several pauses for more thought, to quiet barking dogs, and swat cats off the new kitchen island. I also got a few ideas for future posts, so that's a bonus! 

I guess, I'm saying all of this to say that blogging traditions and schedules and rules can be changed at the drop of the hat, and they should be. Especially when your heart tells you it's not working for you this week/month. Life is unpredictable and can bring on great changes, so adjustments must be made in order to survive. This is why my editorial calendar is ALWAYS written in pencil (or on post-it notes). 

Have you ever felt this way about a post or your weekly blogging routine? 

{Guest Post} How to Prepare Your Blog for a Vacation

Hello friends! I'm in Georgia soaking up some quality time with my family, so I've enlisted some help from a dear bloggy friend to entertain you. I love all of Anne's blogging How-To posts, and this one fits in so perfectly! Enjoy!

Hi there Knock On Wood readers! I'm Anne, the blogger behind Love the Here and Now. While Amanda is away and enjoying time off I thought I would step in and take over for the day.

We have all been there. We relish the idea of taking a vacation (like Amanda is right now!) from not only our daily lives but also from our online responsibilities as well.

In my opinion, one of the best parts of going on a vacation is the change of routine. Oftentimes I go about my days as if I am in autopilot. Between my family, work, and blogging my schedule is pretty full. Before going on vacation there are always a few things you should do....hold the mail, set timers etc. Have you ever thought about preparing your blog for a vacation? Here are a few tips that have helped me get ready for my blog vacations.

Schedule Posts Ahead

If you can, and so choose, work ahead and schedule your posts for the duration of your vacation. This definitely takes time and effort to do ahead. Not only can you have your posts scheduled but you can also schedule your social media promotions as well (thanks to some of the great resources mentioned here).

Guest Bloggers

I decided to add some variety to my blog and opted to have some guest bloggers. To me this is a win/win. I get to have a bit of a break and they get to share their material with a new audience. Out of respect to the guest bloggers, be sure to give them enough advance warning and set a deadline of when you would like to have them submit their post. I allowed my guest bloggers to either share new content or repost a favorite post of theirs. After all, they are doing me the favor and I wanted to make this as easy on them as I could.

Notify Sponsors

If you plan on taking a break from promoting your sponsors it is only fair that you notify them of this. As a token of my appreciation for my sponsors' understanding that I wouldn't be promoting them as much as I normally do, I will be extending their ads for a week.

Notify Your Readers

If you are a blogger that keeps a consistent blogging schedule and opt to not blog at all, you may want to alert your readers to the fact that you won't be present. This will keep your readers from wondering if you dropped off the face of the Earth.

What if I have a few spare moments to devote to my blog while I'm away?

Create a To Do List

Perhaps you don't want to step completely away from your blog. If you plan on having some down time, make a list of things that you would like to tackle. Want to freshen up your sidebar? Create new blog buttons? Make changes to your blog design? Create blog graphics? This is the perfect time to tackle the housekeeping projects and the behind the scenes work on your blog that may get lost in the shuffle of day to day blogging.

Work Ahead

If you're anything like me, there are quite a few drafts waiting to be assembled into posts. Tackle a few of those and schedule them for your return. The aftermath of a vacation can cause some disruption in your schedule so knowing that you have a few blog posts scheduled may help alleviate some stress.

Brainstorm

I sometimes feel like a deadline stifles my creativity. I plan on using some time to brainstorm new post ideas and store them as drafts. If writer's block should ever strike I will have an arsenal of ideas at my disposal (perfect since I may be able to use some of my existing drafts as noted above!).

No matter what you decide to do, the key is to relax and enjoy your time away. You may find that a break from blogging may leave you inspired and motivated to try new things and share new experiences.

Have you taken a break from blogging when you went on vacation? What did you do to prepare your blog for a vacation? What tips do you have to share?

Lines in the Sand

Boundaries. We all have them. Personal space, the edge of the yard, hemlines, politics, faith. These lines we've drawn ourselves are generally viewed as good and healthy. Boundaries can make your relationships stronger and keep out the crazies who threaten to destroy what you've built. They can also keep us from wandering too far, looking like a hooker, and just making ourselves look ignorant.

When I first began blogging in this space, I never gave much thought to setting boundaries on what I would share and what would remain private. I had no idea how much this blog would grow, and through it, how many amazing people I would eventually call friends. So as I watched my numbers climb higher and higher with each passing month, I got more and more worried. "Am I sharing too much? Not enough? Do I want people to know this yet? Does Hubs think it's ok to share this? What if my mom (who is not a regular reader) reads this?"

I'm positive I'm not the only person who struggles with boundaries when it comes to blogging. Especially when writing is your go-to way of thinking things through, expressing yourself, or de-stressing. It's a classic form of free therapy. (Well, after you buy a cute journal and a superb writing pen... or a MacBook Pro that you've named Magnus.) Journaling is a wonderful outlet for me, but I still find myself writing for an audience, not just for me, because journals (or teenage diaries) can be found, read, and misinterpreted. And there are also times I am just not satisfied with writing my heart out and not hitting "publish" because of a line I've drawn to protect myself and my relationships. To me, it can be the same as holding it all in or not having written it at all. So therapy has gotten a little more expensive lately.

I have said all of that to say: I'm still here, but the path that I am currently walking is not one that I am ready to share quite this publicly yet.

Check out my current Chestnut sponsor!

Why I Switched to Adproval & Why I'll Stay

In the beginning blogging can seem very intimidating. Designs, fonts, social media, sponsors, link-ups, giveaways, and the posts themselves. I believe it's best to start of slowly and take things one step at a time. Do things when you are ready.

One of the aspects that I found most intimidating was sponsorships and working with brands. I did lots of research, asked my fellow bloggers for advice, and came up with game plan after game plan for implementing sponsor options on my blog. When I first started there were two ways to manage sponsorships: 1. using the blogger ad service called Passionfruit OR 2. Rotating ads manually.

A few months in, I got wind of a new company that was catering to bloggers' needs called Adproval. I was skeptical. All the bloggers were using Passionfruit, which made things easy and comfortable, until it wasn't. In a matter of weeks Passionfruit's quality and customer service took a nosedive, and I took a closer look at Adproval. A couple of my blogger friends had already made the switch and gave wonderful reviews of customer service and ease of use. On top of that, the plans Adproval had for enhancing the blogger's experience were fantastic.

Needless to say, I made the switch and I haven't looked back. The Adproval team has been great from the start, always just an email away. I've only had one minor issue with centering the ads on my sidebar, and that was swiftly resolved. My experience has just gotten better. So many new features have been added, and they are always open to suggestions and feedback.

One of my favorite additions is their ever growing list of brands that are looking to work with bloggers. Adproval has made applying to work with the brands so easy, and I have formed some wonderful partnerships with companies I adore.

So if you are looking to take the next step in your blogging adventure by adding a sponsorship option to your blog, or by beginning a partnership with a brand that fits your blog, Adproval is the service for you. They can help you grow your blog and form meaningful relationships with other bloggers and brands that make a difference.

So, today I offer one of you dear readers, the opportunity to grow your blog, your brand, with free Adproval For Life! Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter for your chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out my current Chestnut sponsor!

Christmas in July Blogger Swap

I'm excited about this little gem of an idea that Faith came to me and Melissa with last week. As all of you know we are HUGE fans of Christmas! I am never patient enough to wait until after Thanksgiving to decorate or start listening to the music (hubs is "thrilled" at this). I get this love of the holiday from my mother and grandmother, and I go ALL. OUT.

Unfortunately ... it only comes around once a year which kinda sucks, SO we decided to have a Christmas in July swap! Faith, Melissa, and I are really excited about this and hope you will join us! So below is all the info and if you are interested in signing up please go and fill out the form HERE.

Let's celebrate CHRISTMAS IN JULY!

Here are the Details

Sign-Ups Start: Monday, June 29th at 6AM

Sign-Ups End: Wednesday, July 8th at 6AM

Partners assigned: Wednesday, July 11th

Packages Shipped: Monday, July 20th

Linkup Opens: Thursday, July 30th

Linkup Closes: Thursday, August 6th

The Rules

// When you are assigned your partner, get to know them, and send items in your package that fit your partner’s wants and likes.

// All packages should cost approximately $15-$20 before shipping, so that each swap package is fairly close in pricing and no one feels cheated.

// Please reply to emails from us about the swap in a timely manner.

// Your packages MUST be mailed on or before July 20th.

// We suggest you send a tracking number for your package via email to your partner when you mail it out.

// Please post and link up to your swap reveal, which will be posted on July 30th. Everyone would like to see your goodies after all!

// Please do not sign up for this swap if you cannot follow the rules above.

// If anything comes up, where you can no longer participate PLEASE contact either Faith, Melissa, or myself immediately so we can work out something for your swap partner.

** Please note: Non-US-based participants can only be accepted if we have enough bloggers willing to ship internationally (not everyone can afford the higher shipping prices). Thank you for understanding, we want everyone to be able to be able to participate! **

I hope to see you all participate! This is going to be so much fun :) Don't forget to grab the button when you put up your reveal post on the 30th!

<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.knockonwoodblog.com/2015/06/christmas-in-july-blogger-swap.html" rel="nofollow" title="Christmas in July Blogger Swap"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFy4PvvZNAClz2RuCW3wev5Qr4G9CWhEbkCSc0M0HlLq3CcquyxzySTlafAbVZMRS8E9o7YD8XDMFVUNH1wTgC3cH9XphXL8Py7y7v2qaNTW-6DYqEpXsRV9fuO8nI7BYbme68tCvxAkRf/s1600/Christmas+in+July+2.jpg" alt="Christmas in July Blogger Swap" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Check out my current Chestnut sponsor!

My Community. My Tribe.

Community. It's kind of a big deal, especially in the blog world. It brings like-minded people together and is an amazing source of constant inspiration and support. Communities can band together to help those in need, they can introduce you to your new best friend, they can be local or online. These days communities can form just about anywhere.

I love my blogging community, my #Tribe. They have become more than just words on a computer screen. And just because I have never met these wonderful women in person, it doesn't mean we aren't close friends. Honestly, they know more about me than many people in my "real life" do. They understand me better than some of those "real life" people do as well.

Today I want to take a moment to recognize my #Tribe and thank them for being their amazing selves.


Melissa - The Rambling Llama
Yes, she counts. She's been my best friend for about nine years now. I am so proud of her and even more so that she's grown so much because of her blog. She's so talented and funny, you just can't help but love her. Thank you, Llama, for being you. For being there for me, for inspiring me to do things I never thought I would be able to do, and for being on my level of crazy.

Kendra - Kenji is Here
This lady is such an inspiration to me. After finding out that I have another chronic illness (I have Major Depression and PCOS), I fell back on her for support. She's always got an amazingly positive attitude and totally understands my frustrations and concerns. Thank you, Kenj, for being you. For letting me "cry" on your shoulder, for being a light in my life, and for all the awesome snapchat conversations.

Anne - Love the Here and Now
Oh, Anne. I think we first bonded over our mutual love of fonts. And it grew into something more. Anne is one of the sweetest people I have ever come to know and she's so thoughtful. Not to mention an amazing interior designer (have you seen her daughters' new rooms?!). Thank you, Anne, for being you. For validating my obsession with downloading all the fonts, for being honest and open and genuine, for inspiring me to keep going with my design work (especially fonts!).

Cassie - Sage
Somehow, Cassie always knows exactly what I need to hear, or put my thoughts perfectly into words. She's the person I go to for faith based inspiration. She's the person I go when I need to talk about my crazy thoughts on my schooling. She started my new favorite community #MoreThanAFrame on Instagram (see the prompts here, more are coming in July!). Thank you, Cassie, for being you. For freaking me out preparing me for my future school endeavors, for unknowingly helping me muddle through some of my faith based issues, and for inspiring a wonderful and supportive community with #MoreThanAFrame.

Emily - Ember Grey.
Another amazing lady to go to for faith based inspiration and a dose of daily gratefulness. She's truly beautiful inside AND out (did you know she was a model?). I always look forward to reading her posts because her writing makes my heart smile. Emily also is a creator of an amazing community with #GratefulHeartMonday. Thank you, Emily, for being you. For helping find my positivity and staying focused on my gratefulness, for always making me laugh, and for inspiring my own monthly link-up #Conversations.

Christine - So-Called Homemaker
Whether it's movie suggestions, blogging tips, or offering up the secrets of Real Estate, she always has something to contribute and I love it. She's a go to when I need another opinion on a post idea or when I have something funny to share. Group texts with her and Llama are ALWAYS entertaining. Thank you, Christine, for being you. For always making me smile with random texts, for teaching me that you can understand real estate, and for being our designated Wine Ninja.

Chelsea - The New Wifestyle
Legit, this girl is incredibly talented and smart. I can't believe what she (and her equally as talented husband) have accomplished. Not only does she blog, but she travels with her hubs all over the world to speak and inspire dreams and goal in others. Thank you, Chelsea, for being you. For finding the perfect shade of grey nail polish, for being honest about your fault and committing to improving on them, for reminding me that I, too, and capable of so many things.

Rebecca - The Adventures of Bug and Boo
SuperMom of two beautiful tiny humans, gorgeous fashionista (preggo and not), amazing wife, and genuine blogger. This wonderful lady went out of her way during her first few weeks home with the new baby to reach out to me when I was going through a particularly difficult time and let me know that she understood what I was going through and that she was always there for me. I definitely cried when I opened that sweet note. Thank you, Rebecca, for being you. For being a true friend, for lifting my spirits, and for making me want to try some statement necklaces.


Who is apart of your #Tribe?

Check out my current Chestnut sponsor!

10 Steps to a Better Blog

So much work goes into a blog. Can I get an Amen? And Sometimes it can be a little overwhelming. Have no fear! Today, I am teaming up with Kristyn from Chits and Giggles to give you some tips to help you have a better blog.

We can all use a little love on our own blogs for those pages that we just don't think about after they are posted. I know you know what I'm talking about.

Design

I'm sure you have read this before, but your blog design is the first thing readers see when they find your blog. You want something appealing, yet fairly minimal. Think about the reader if you are designing your own blog design. You don't want a super busy background if it will make your content difficult to read. If you hire a designer (like ME #ShamelessPlug) make sure to give them a clear direction as to how you want your blog to look.

Fonts

Pick easy to read fonts. I know the curly swirly embellishments can sometimes be fun, but you still want your readers to be able to actually read things. This goes for your Banner/Header, post and gadget titles, signatures, and the fonts you use on your images. You can still let your personality shine and use a readable font.

Colors

Get creative! But choose 1-3 MAIN colors you want to use in your overall design. Having a cohesive and consistent color pallet really makes your blog flow better. When styling your buttons and other pages you'll want to incorporate your colors in some form or fashion.

Sidebar

Oh that bar (or bars) that we all have. Did you know you probably need to update how things are layed out on your sidebar? It's true! Think about your sidebar as real estate. You want the highest things at the top (like your picture, social media icons, categories) and the lower things (like your archive list, button, and affiliates) at the bottom. Also be very intentional about what things you put on your sidebar. Don't just put things there to put them there. Make sure they add value to your blog.

Navigation Bars vs. Category Buttons

This is one of the easiest ways to simplify, but still have your favorite topics reachable. Your Navigation bar should only contain the most important pages of your blog: Home, About, Sponsor, Contact. These are must haves! If you have an Etsy Shop or do freelance work like I do, putting a link to that site is also a great idea for your Navigation bar. If you have a niche or a consistent topic you blog about (ex: Kendra and Sarah blog about their diseases), it might have a place on your Navigation bar, but everything else should be a Category Button on your sidebar.

Category Sidebar Buttons

If you have a category that won't fit well on your Navigation bar (like mentioned above), you can put it on your sidebar. The sidebar buttons are important because they help readers find content that they might have missed. If you make these yourself - like I did - make sure that you use colors similar to your blog colors. You don't have to list all of your categories here either. Be smart about what you include on your sidebar.

About Page

You need one. Your readers need a place to catch a snippet of what you and your blog are all about. Include a picture or two, and some links to your story and favorite posts, but don't go crazy! You also want to add extra grab buttons and your social media icons somewhere on that page.

The Search Bar

You need this. It doesn't matter if it is on your Navigation bar or on your sidebar, but you need one. If this is on your sidebar, make sure that it is high up - remember that high real estate we talked about above? The search bar is pretty darn high real estate. It doesn't have to be the first thing - and it shouldn't be - but it needs to be high enough so readers don't have to go searching for it.

Sponsor Page

If you offer sponsorships, you have a sponsor page and this page is just as important as your About page. From a design aspect, you want this page to be eye catching, yet informative proving that you are the blogger that brands and other bloggers want to work with.

Disclosure

I have a little section on my sidebar dedicated to Disclosure. You could also have a complete page dedicated to it. This basically tells someone that you have a for-profit blog and that you might include affiliate links in posts. It also states that the content on my blog is my own unless otherwise stated. I think these statements are important because they say very straight-forwardly what your intentions are with your blog. You are for-profit and you could use affiliate links.



Still lost?? Kristyn offers Complete Blog Consultations and can help you make some of those tough decisions. Sometimes a second pair of eyes on your blog can make all the difference. Click HERE to see more details. ( I totally did this, and she helped me so, so much. Definitely worth it!)

What else should be added to this list?

6 Tips for Better SEO on Blogger

SEO. I know it freaks me out a little too, but it is so very important. Christine from The So-Called Homemaker recently hosted a Blogger Pow Wow and taught us all a little about SEO. However, she's a WordPress blogger and it's a little more complicated for them. Being a Blogger blogger, Google takes care of a lot of it for us, but there are a few things you can do to give your blog posts a little boost!

For your individual posts:

1. Labels/Tags

These are the easiest things to use. Just click the "Labels" option in the right sidebar of the Post Editor Screen and add some labels or tags that apply to your post (you'll need to separate each one by commas). These labels are displayed in the footer of your posts (if you have this option turned on) and can also be used for grouping together similar posts, like recipes, for a Categories button on your sidebar.

2. URL

Sometimes you have a clever title that doesn't describe your post fully. This is where the custom URL comes into play. Say you titles your post "Here's lookin' at you kid" but your post is really about classic movies that everyone has to see at least once, then you'll want to change your URL to match the theme of your post rather than your clever title. Here's how you change the URL.

In the right sidebar of the Post Editor Screen, choose the "Link" option. Chose the "Custom Permalink" option and enter the last part of the URL you want your post to have. Then click Done.

3. Search Description for Your Posts

This little gem will help you in a couple of different ways. Firstly this will be the text that will be previewed when a search engine pulls your post. You'll want to include key words and phrases in this little snippet for those search engines. This is also the text that will show up when you post or share your blog post on Facebook.

If you don't already have the "Search Description" option available in the right sidebar of your Post Editor Screen, here's what you'll need to do to get it:

From the Blog Overview page, you'll want to choose the "Settings" option in the left sidebar. Under settings you'll see several suboptions, choose "other". Make sure the following selections are chosen:

Allow Blog Feed = Full
Enable Title Links and Enclosure Links = Yes

Now you want to choose the "Search Performance" suboption. Here you want to make sure your Meta Tags have been enabled. Then click Save Changes.

Once this is done you should see the "Search Description" Option in your right sidebar of your Post Editor Screen.

Photos and Images within posts:

4. Image Titles

These are basically little titles for your photos that search engines will use to filter results. Here's how you add them.

Add your photo to your blog post, then click on the photo and choose "Properties" from the little menu that pops up.

Add the title for the image in the "title text" box using a "_" in place of the spaces.

Add the title of your post or something similar according to what your post/image is about in the "alt text" box.

5. Image Links

If you have a "Pinable" image for your posts, like for a recipe or DIY project, then you'll really want to make sure that the image link is changed to the link for that particular post. So when your readers pin the image, it will link back to your post rather than the image itself.

To change the image link you click on the photo and choose "Edit Link" from that little blue menu this time.

Then paste the URL of your post in the "Web Address" box. If you haven't Published your post yet, you can grab the URL from the "Links" menu on the right sidebar of the Post Editor Screen.

For your blog as a whole:

6. Search Description Blog

Remember when we enabled your Meta Tags? Well there was a text box there. This is where you'll want to put a very brief description of your Blog overall. Think like a Tweet type description. Like the post Search Description, this text is what will show when search engines pull your blog in a list of results, so make it good.

And there you have it! I hope this helps explain a little bit more about how you can use SEO to help your blog stand out.

Is there anything I missed??

A Grateful Blogiversary Giveaway!

This is sort of a special day. Well I guess technically it was last Friday, but who's counting right? Anywho. Can you believe that Knock on Wood is 1 year old? I can't either. I'm so glad I decided to keep going this time, to actually put some work into it and grow this little space. I have made so many great friends through this hobby of mine and I wouldn't trade it for the world. Without those friends and, YOU, dear readers, Knock on Wood wouldn't be a thing, and I am forever grateful that you have helped me make it one. So in honor of this first Blogiversary, I've teamed up with some of my absolute favorite ladies to give back some of the love you have all given me.

HUGE thanks to Anne for helping me host this thing! Her blog, Love the Here and Now, just turned 1 on Dec 26th, so this for her too! So, make your Monday just a little bit brighter and enter yourself for a chance to win some sweet, sweet cash.

The Prize: $180 PayPal Cash!
plus a little surprise from me!

Top Row: The So-Called Homemaker  //  Kenji is Here  //  Him & Me

Left Side: That Southern Mama  //  Hey Kerri Blog  //  Love the Here and Now

Right Side: Butcher's Niche  //  All the Joys  //  Life with Mrs. G and The Artist

Bottom: Bourbon, Lipstick, and Stilettos   //  Ember Grey  //  Pink Nightmare

Middle: Knock on Wood

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Linking up with

Through the Lens + Grateful Heart + a Giveaway!

I love love love this link-up and I have no idea how I have missed Through The Lens for all this time. I love taking and editing pictures (if you follow me on Instagram, you'll know this) and I love sharing them even more! This link-up with Treats and Travels and All That's Glittered is perfect for me to have a reason to do both!

I guess we can go row by row this time... from left to right. That means we start with the awesome Christmas party my friend Kaity and I crashed. We had so much fun people watching and I'm sure we ate way too much cheesecake, but it's Christmas so it doesn't count right?

Of course Bear has to be in there, but I'm sure you are far more interested in the pregnancy photo and the little tiny baby after that. Well, my cousin had baby William on December 17th at 7:39 A.M. lbs 5oz, 21 inches long. The first baby from our generation in our family.

Next on the list is Philip. This was taken at his company Christmas party. Isn't he adorable? I just love this picture. Skipping over the middle bit, is me walking Bear. I've come to really look forward to our walks (except the past few days since it's been so cold).

Red Lip Classic. I mean, yes? Skipping more middle bits, we've got Misty and Hubs getting more adjusted and closer to Bear. This makes my heart so so happy.

Our last row is Christmas and gaming. This was pretty much happening the past couple weeks.

ALSO...

You guys. Today is awesome! I am so grateful for my bloggy friends. And because we love all of YOU, we have some stuff to giveaway!

I am teaming up with a bunch of lovely ladies (and Cassie's husband) to bring two lucky people some GREAT prints. The first place winner will receive an 18x12 Matt Boness Photography metal landscape print of their choice (normally valued at $100) and the second place winner will receive a wood block + bundle of 12 pre-selected Matt Boness Photography landscape prints from Artifact Uprising (normally valued at $35).

Rambling Llama | Love the Here and Now Blog | A Deeper Joy |  Seriously Sarah

Always a Blogsmaid | The Straight Arrow Blog | Ribbons and Rotor Blades | Sage

Renovating Rebecca | Knock on Wood Blog | The Grits Blog | Matt Boness Photography

A HUGE thank you goes out to all of the wonderful bloggers who made this giveaway possible! We couldn't have done it without them! All entries will be verified.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Linking up with

 

Grateful Heart, Wed Wishes, & Monthly Musings: Dec

I know I'm late for all of these link-ups (Grateful Heart, Wednesday Wishes, and Monthly Musings), but I'm not really sorry about it. I had my finals yesterday and if you follow me on Twitter, you'll know I was boobs deep in books and notes for the past few days.

I love this time of year. It's full of joy, giving, and wonderful sights, tastes, and sounds. It's always been my favorite because my whole family gathers in one place at the same time. That almost never happens for anything else. This year, however, Philip and I will not be able to join them in person. I did make my mom download Skype on her tablet so we can video chat on Christmas morning while we open gifts.

There is so much to be thankful and grateful for in my life. If you've been around these parts for a while, especially on Mondays, you'll know that I like to focus on the good stuff rather than the bad. It helps me to stay positive and not get pulled down into a depressive state... my fluffy furkids help in that department too.

I am glad to have a break from school for a few weeks over this Holiday Season. I am glad that Hubs gets Christmas and New Year's Day off from work. I am glad that he took a half day off today to take me to see The Hobbit *insert happy dance here* I am so so so so glad to know that I made an A in my speech class and I am confident that I made an A in my Psychology class as well. I am glad that my mom is excited for us to receive the gifts she has sent us. I am glad that I found a tripod and remote capture for taking photos with my phone! I am glad that Hubs likes the gifts I found for him. I am glad Bear has done so well in our home. I am glad for you, my lovely readers. Without you I might have given up on this space a few months ago. Without you, I would not have met so many wonderful people.

I hope everyone has as much to be thankful and grateful for as me this year. #IWinThisThursday

Also linking up with

Leibster Award + Grateful Heart + A Giveaway!

I was nominated last week by my sweet friend Melissa for the Liebster Award. It's an award for small and new bloggers who have really touched and inspired you. But what does "liebster" even mean?? Well, I looked it up. It's a German term of endearment meaning "beloved", "dearest", or "sweetheart." How fitting right? I am so honored and grateful to be nominated and I am excited to be able to nominate some of my favorite bloggers too!

But there are rules that go along with this award, so let's get to it!

The Rules:

>>> Post 11 random facts about yourself
>>> Answer 11 questions asked by the person that nominated you
>>> Nominate a few bloggers (with less than 200 followers) to do the same
>>> Let the bloggers that you nominate know that they've been nominated!

Random Fact #1 - I can sing and perform "Cups" by Anna Kendrick (original song by Lulu and The Lampshades that was adapted from a song by A.P. Carter called "Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone") My favorite cover has to be this one though, by 

Random Fact #2 - I'm going to perform that song with the cup rhythm as part of an assignment for my speech class today (Monday). #Nervous

Random Fact #3 - I'm seriously contemplating putting up my Christmas decorations this week. Cue all the eye rolls. I know I know, but I'm really really missing my family, and knowing the chances of Philip and me being able to visit them for Christmas is really really, really, really slim makes me even more sad. So putting up the decor will make me feel better.

Random Fact #4 - I have a growing love for Snapchat. And even though I only really send snaps to a few of my girlfriends, I still think it's super fun.

Random Fact #5 - I need an app to help me remember things. It's actually pretty awesome though. It's called Wunderlist and I use it for more than just the notifications.

Random Fact #6 - The only reason I can tolerate keeping my nails painted on a regular basis now is because of this amazing little bottle of miracle liquid. I got it from Ulta and it's Essence Nail Art Express Dry Drops. AH-MAY-ZING I tell you. Cuts my nail pairing and drying process by like 75%. Seriously. Get some.

Random Fact #7 - I am getting over my stage fright thanks to school. Being a Psychology major means lots of papers and the presentations that go a long with those papers. Not to mention my speech class this session. Turns out I'm much braver than I thought.

Random Fact #8 - My friend Melissa has only has car trouble when I'm with her. A flat tire? Yep I was there. Dead battery? I was there too. Transmission issues? Well I wasn't actually in the car for that one but I was behind her in my own (Thank God!). Those things are never good, but having a friend there at least makes it a little better, right?

Random Fact #9 - I like elephants. I have an elephant table/statue thing in my living room. His name is Homer. I had a stuffed elephant growing up and his name was Ollie. My phone back ground is a purple elephant. I don't know why, but I just like them.

Random Fact #10 - I have a tattoo on my wrist. It's the only one I have, and probably the only one I'll ever get (not that I don't want more though). There's a story behind it too, but I'll go into more detail about that later this month though, so be sure to watch for that!

Random Face #11 - I play drinking games with my mom and her husband. And it's totally fun! I don't recommend it for everyone though.

Ok now for the questions from Melissa.

What made you start blogging?
Honestly I was bored. I had just moved to Missouri from Georgia, with no friends or family. Being at home alone all day while Philip was working really began to take a toll on me, so I turned to writing. Luck for me I fell into this lovely place and met so many great people I can now call friends.

Do you have any nicknames?
I do! I totally just listed them ALL out on a post last week! Check that out here.

What's one thing you'd have to have with you if you were deserted on an island?
Sunscreen. Like... I don't wanna get sunburnt.

What is your guilty pleasure?
I love that show Girl Code on MTV. or is it VH1? I can't remember, but it's freaking hilarious.

What is your favorite movie quote?
I have two!
"It is our choices that show us what we truly are far more than our abilities." -Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter

"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to Love, and be Loved in return." -Toulouse, Moulin Rouge

What is your go-to accessory staple?
A scarf. I can rock an infinity scarf with almost any outfit!

What is the best thing you've ever cooked?
Chicken Bacon Wraps for sure. Hubs loves them! Recipe here.

If you were one of the four seasons- which would you be and why?
Winter. I love the snow and prefer colder weather. Plus winter can be so beautiful and all the best Holidays are in Winter!

Were you born in the state (or country) you're currently living in? If not - what brought you there?
I was born in Georgia, but I moved to Missouri last September for a man. And now that man is my husband. Sometimes the risks you take pay off in amazing ways.

What do you do for a living?
I am a full time student and blogger right now. Once I'm done with school, I plan on becoming a licensed Marriage Tharapist.

What do you think MSDS stands for?
uuhh I have no idea... so I googled it! It stands for Material Safety Data Sheet.  #iCheated #Don'tJudgeMe

My Nominations:

Jackie from Our Nashville Life
Chelsea from The New Wifestyle
Kathy from Him & Me
Cherie from Pink Nightmare

My Questions for my Nominees!

1. Why did you start blogging?
2. What's your most favorite post you've ever written?
3. What's the story behind the name of your blog?

4. Name three places you think everyone should visit if they get the chance.
5. What is your go-to recipe/meal for dinner?
6. Do you like where you live? If no, where do you want to live?
7. How many children do you have/want? Why?
8. What movie could you watch every day without getting tired of it?
9. Cats or Dogs? Why?
10. What are the top 5 songs on your playlist right now?
11. How many selfies have you taken in the past 5 days? Be honest now.

OK!! Now for even MORE fun! How's that possible you ask? We'll It's Becca Dorr's birthday! And in celebration she, and a bunch of us other lovely ladies, are having a giveaway!! There will be TWO winners! One winner will get a $250 gift card to either Sephora, Target, or PayPal cash (your choice!) and the second winner will get an Urban Decay Vice 3 Palette! I mean who doesn't want one of those?? Check out the Rafflecopter below to find out how to get an many entries as possible!




a Rafflecopter giveaway

What a big Monday?? Goodness me! I hope your's is a good as mine :)

Linking up with