Virtual Blog Tour

Hello, hello! Today I have something a little different to share with you.

I was tagged by Ashley from A Lady Goes West to participate in something called the Virtual Blog Tour. Basically, I take you through the writing process and strategies that take place behind the blog (and blogger) for a behind the scenes look! Seems fun, right?

By the way, I have been loving her blog lately.

Funny story:

I’ve actually met Ashely before… a time or two in Orlando, where we both used to work for the Orlando Magic. I noticed her commenting on my blog, but didn’t recognize that the blonde Ashley I met in Orlando is the same brunette Ashley who now lives in San Fransisco! She started blogging to document her move across the country and now writes a fun and informative healthy living blog I’m sure many of you would love to follow.

So that’s how we got here. Before I start rambling, lets get to the questions!

What am I working on?

More like… what am I not working on? I feel like I could put a little bit of everything in this answer.

The short version would be: myself and my work.

This summer marks a pivotal time in my life, as I slowly transition from being an NBA dancer (since 2007!) to a certified personal trainer and hopefully group fitness instructor.

The long version: myself and my work.

Through all of the craziness of moving up north, working for a new team, missing family, meeting new friends, keeping up with old ones, and learning a lot about the curve balls life can throw at you, blogging has been my constant outlet and passion. What started out as a way to document our wedding planning has blossomed into the lighthearted healthy living blog you see today, and I am so thankful I started the journey years ago.

My goal with blogging is to make an impact and show how fun (and yummy!) healthy, active living can be. Currently, I’m working on turning my throw-together meal inspirations into recipes and my blog post ideas into informative article pitches. A huge goal for this year is to gain some confidence in my writing and pitch more freelance work.

How does my work differ from others of it’s genre?

Some days I feel so different from the HLB community. Others I feel the same.

I guess what makes me stand out from most is my incessant need to talk about beauty products and post tutorials. Remember HWG Beauty Week? Yeah… I wasn’t exactly sure how that one was going to go over. Good thing you guys hopped on board!

Every once in a while I post a Coffee Talk, where I pretty much show up to the computer not knowing what I am going to write about and think out loud. I let you all in on what goes on beyond the wonderful days we usually tend to write about and choose to include these posts because I think they are equally as important. Letting people in to see your not-so-perfect persona is not something a lot of HLBs branch out to.

I used to also include a lot of fashion posts, but that kind of fell off towards the end of 2012. Now I mostly talk about bargain shopping and Stitch Fix.

Over the past few years, I have probably been recognized as “the dancer” and “beauty how-to guru” in my own little health and fitness online bubble. A lot of what I post in those categories comes from my experiences dancing professionally, so I think it’s important to keep that kind of subject up from time to time. The glamour, if you will.

Why do I write what I do?

I like to think I have a fun spin on life here on the blog. I try not to obsess over content, but instead highlight stories and things I would personally like to read about.

I strive to have a good mix of fluff and content, since those are the blogs I actually bookmark and frequent. I love hearing from friends that they pop into my blog over their lunch break. I’d like to provide somewhat of a relief from a hectic day, and keep a healthy mix of fun and informative.

Also… you’ll see a lot of pictures of our pets, because apparently, I’m obsessed.

(And they make me smile.)

Lastly, I absolutely love Friday Favorites. After seeing the trend expand in the blogging world, I knew I wasn’t alone, so after sharing eight different installments of the same type of post, I decided to start a #FFavorites link-up party every Friday. It has turned into the post I enjoy putting together the most week after week!

How does my writing process work?

There isn’t a specific process that gets every post from draft to publish. Sometimes I outline the main points of a post and keep it in my drafts folder for months. Eventually, I get around to finishing it. Other times, I sit down with a cup of coffee, upload and edit my pictures, write, proofread, and publish the post in one sitting.

Occasionally, I plan my posts out ahead of time by writing the subject titles down on my calendar. But that hasn’t really happened in a while. I’m probably the best procrastinator you’ll ever meet, but it seems to work out because I write best under a deadline.

I like to keep a journal of blog post topics and ideas handy, for those times I think of a good one but can’t sit down and write it right then and there. Once in a blue moon, I’ll write an entire post from my iPhone, but that’s only if I don’t have a computer (or service) available. Blogging on a small screen with auto-correct is the worst.

And I guess that concludes the inside look of Housewife Glamour!

Thanks for taking a peek into blogging with me.

Keep Touring

To keep the Virtual Blog Tour up and moving, I have selected two bloggers I adore and hope to meet in person one day.

Both are healthy living bloggers and fellow FitFluential Ambassadors who like to keep it real and inspire others to enjoy life in a fun and health-loving way. Make sure to check out their blogs next week when they answer the same questions!

• Katie from Healthy Diva Eats

Most Mondays, you will see me link up with Katie for her Marvelous in My Monday series. (This week it’s Tuesday!) I loved the idea of starting my week off with a smile, so I decided to participate about six months ago and have enjoyed following her ever since. I love her this is me, always positive, kick-booty attitude!

Katie is a mom of two boys, super wife, glitter addict, yogi, and wine lover. She blogs about everything from family, fashion, fitness, positivity, food, and more! Coming straight from her…

“If you don’t mind bad grammar, glitter, living with balance ( meaning wine in one hand and ice cream in the other ) craziness, lots of cute baby pics, and positive inspiration, then you will love my blog. 😉

I truly am who I am on my blog, I keep it real, and love life! <3″

// Follow Katie on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

• Presley from Run Pretty

I stumbled upon Presley’s blog years ago and always appreciate her sarcastic, witty writing style. Several posts of hers make me literally laugh out loud, and often remind me not to take life or myself too seriously. She is also in the process of studying for her CPT, and I have been enjoying virtual support studying (venting) with her throughout the process!

Presley is the writer behind Run Pretty, a blog that documents her struggles to find that elusive “balance” everyone’s always talking about. She is a teacher to twenty hilarious four-year-olds, a mom to a wild hellion of a toddler, a wife to a man with the patience of a saint, and a full-on fitness enthusiast. Presley never claims to have it together, but she has learned a thing or two while not falling totally apart. Her goal is to inspire others to ditch expectations and find their version of health and fitness, while remembering that it can and absolutely should be fun!

// Follow Presley on Instagram and Twitter

These days there are so many different blogs out there, which is such a great thing. There’s the right type of blog to follow for everyone and it’s just a matter of finding them, which is why I thought this tour was a great idea.

I love getting to know the blogger behind the blog, so I hope you enjoyed this little look as much as I enjoyed putting it together.

Question of the Day

• What’s one of your favorite blogs to read?