Where I’ve Been, Where I’m Going
Two years ago, I went for it! That blogging thing, I had talked about for years…I decided to do it! I started with a little over four hundred Instagram followers (friends and family) and hopes of eventually making it to 1000. Fast forward to today, my Insta is just shy of 11K. I now have a website, www.maradachaffins.com. I have collaborated with some of my very favorite accounts. I’ve just begun a virtual personal styling service. I am working on some NEW things to come. Best of all, I have connected with YOU! I now have Insta-friends in every state, and some in other countries!
What has been my favorite and least favorite thing about blogging? I can’t begin to tell you how much I enjoy blogging!!! However, I do believe in everything good, there is a little bad…just as in everything bad, is a little good. As a blogger, you share ideas. You tell people how to mimic your looks, your recipes, etc. It is hurtful, when your ideas are used, without credit being given to you. I’ve worked hard at making the connections with other bloggers and businesses and I’ve seen those “copied”, without a simple tag. I’ve always been a fan of originality. Again, as an “inspirer” (I don’t like the term “influencer”), you openly share your ideas for others to use. BUT, the courteous thing to do, is to recognize where you get those ideas or who connected you to those people. It’s how we help other bloggers grow.
Along those same lines, is when you see that someone has shopped your looks, without using your links. I speak for all bloggers, when I say a LOT of time is put into finding deals and unique items to share. We receive a SMALL fee when our links are used (with no additional charge to the consumer). It’s what allows us to keep doing what we do…AND it provides convenience. You like something I post? You can go straight to the item and purchase, simply by clicking the link. It really is that easy!
Now to talk about what I love most. I’m not quite sure I have enough time or space! I have used my blog as a personal diary, an opportunity for self reflection, and to allow people to look past the exterior and get to know the real me. I have used this platform to disclose the good, bad and ugly of my personal life experiences. I can’t even begin to tell you about the “insta-friendships” I have made. The majority of these, I have never met, and chances are I never will. Despite this, we have shared prayer requests, mistakes, goals, dating and parenting advice and SO much more! I look forward to hearing from you, and you keep me accountable when you haven’t heard from me! You have supported, encouraged, inspired and defended me (remember, the one time I got a negative comment). I have learned things about places I have never been, but hope to see; I have been able to tell you about living as a single mom, in a two red light “Mayberry” like town!
Thanks to YOU, I have turned a dream of mine into a reality. I have so many more ideas and plans for this big adventure. If you like what I provide, the REAL and AUTHENTIC me, then tell friends, coworkers, family, your babysitter, hairdresser, florist (you get the picture) about Marada Chaffins. Ask them to give me a try, by following me on any of my social medias. I’m going to keep plugging along, sharing the same easy recipes, skin struggles, household tips, life with girls, love for makeup, unending home projects, DIY’s that anyone can do, road trip shenanigans….all tossed in with my love of bright colors, fondness of good Southern manners and of course, loads of pics of my Cal, Cam and Soph!
Happy 2nd Birthday to @maradachaffins…and let’s see what I can say another two years from now!