Green and Chic » blogging

Changes to Green and Chic (Blog)

Carla Rose — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 16:20:49 +0000

If you follow this blog, you will notice that the number of posts have dropped substantially since its beginning two years ago, and even more so recently. I’ve come to realize that running a web store and blogging is no easy task! Because of the Green and Chic store, my former full-time job and current health challenges, I have never been in a position where I can shell out a large (or even moderate) number of posts and still keep up with everything else in business and life.

Green and Chic Blog will remain more or less the same except that future posts will be more about the web store, contests and giveaways, product reviews and guest posts. Some of my older posts such as I have a Headache: A word about perfumes and Petroleum jelly possible cancer risk will continue to be some of my most popular posts, but unfortunately, I’m not in the position where I can write similar articles.

I would like to thank all of my readers and subscribers for your patience and understanding!

Green and Chic Blog, Ads or No Ads?

Carla Rose — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:03:58 +0000

The Green and Chic blog has been though a variety of changes since I started it almost two years ago. During the first several months of its existence, it no ads – just a bunch of links. Eventually I added a long list of affiliate links and banners to jazz things up a bit. A few weeks later, I took most of the affiliate banners out to cut down on the clutter, and added several AdSense banners and links. Months later, I took most of the AdSense ads out and added more Green and Chic related links and banners.

Though the AdSense ads are a minimum now, I wonder if its even a good idea to even have third party ads on the blog. I wonder if it would distract from the blog it self and Green and Chic, since this is an extension of the web store.

I know its ultimately up to me, but I am curious as to what you think.

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My love of links 2010 – Vol. I

Carla Rose — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 05:38:00 +0000

This is my first “link love” post of 2010 and I admit, I haven’t been doing many of these posts over the past…six months. I recently found a few ‘must read and save’ links to start the new year off on the right foot.

Blogging (what else?)

If you have a blog, what are your blogging goals for 2010? Barbara Swafford with Blogging Without a Blog poses the question in her post: Looking Forward

If you have an eCommerce business, do you really need to blog? This article: Do I Really Need a Blog For an eCommerce Business by Nate Moller of Thou Shall Blog gives you the answer you’re looking for.

Are you having a hard time just getting started with writing/blogging? Joanna with Confident Writing gave us a list of resources to help us get started (or continue) in 10 Posts to Help with Getting Started.

Fashion, crafts and green living

Though I try to avoid buying anything, if possible, I still love browsing online stores and boutiques. Top 10 Online Eco-Boutiques by Ecosalon kept me occupied for a while.

I’m currently on a sewing binge and Fab Fabrics: 2009 Retrospective by Crafting a Green World gave me additional ideas and inspiration for 2010.

Just Say No to Plastic - We all know just how toxic and destructive plastic is. The problem its everywhere and its sometimes easy to forget that we should avoid it. Lisa Sharp asks, “what are you doing to reduce plastic this year?” and offers a few suggestions.

Happy Hump Day!

2009 at Green and Chic

Carla Rose — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 05:02:54 +0000

Its hard for me to believe that we are already at the end of the year! Green and Chic has seen many changes in 2009. Since the store is only fifteen months old now, major changes are typical and I don’t see it ending anytime soon. To not evolve is to parish or fail.

The year started out pretty slow which is common for online stores just starting out. There were times when I though about giving up and focusing on my full-time day job. Running Green and Chic and working was kicking my butt to say the least, and I had a tough time managing both.

Around the same time, personal health challenges forced me to slow down a bit. I could no longer ‘do it all’ as I initially planned. It felt like the blog and store was coming to a screeching halt at that point. As time went by and I was able to manage my time better, and business slowly started to pick up. I found out what changes I needed to make on my website and marketing efforts. Executing these changes is not easy to say the least, but change is always exciting. Relocating this past September brought on a whole new set of challenges, but I am so glad I made the move from the Bay Area (where I was born and raised) to Portland, OR.

I would like to take a moment to thank everyone who supported me this past year, and I’m looking forward to what 2010 will bring.

Happy New Year!

Where did the time go? Belated birthday for Green and Chic

Carla Rose — Tue, 26 May 2009 19:58:56 +0000

A few days ago, I realized that its been over a year since I started the Green and Chic Blog! Time definitely went by fast. I would not have made it though this year without the support of my faithful readers, commenters and fellow bloggers. There are way too many people to list but I will make a shout out to two of these bloggers.

Vered of MomGrind
Vered was one of the first people to post a comment on the original and short lived WordPress.com hosted Green and Chic blog. I didn’t really know much about blogging at the time so my strategy was and still is to emulate the bloggers who are doing well at it and Vered is one of them.

Vered writes about various subject matters, some controversial, some that will make you laugh, cry, angry or somewhere in between. Some of my favorite posts includes In defense of the nine to five grind and Blog Monetization: Why is it such a big problem?

Kim Woodbridge of Antisocial Development
To me, Antisocial Development is the ultimate WordPress user guide. Posts such as 3 WordPress 2.7 Auto-Upgrade Issues have seen me through some rough times. If you still don’t have a self-hosted blog and ready to cross over to the dark side of having your blog on your own domain, stop by Antisocial Development.

Three most popular posts

Besides the giveaways I host such as the TWIST Natural Cleaning Products, there are a few early posts that are still getting a lot of attention.

Petroleum jelly possible cancer risk

Nine ways to avoid household toxins

“I have a headache!” - A word about perfumes

Again, I would like to thank all of my supporters that have seen me though this past year. Here’s to another year and beyond!

Green and Chic Blog | What is it?

Carla Rose — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 06:48:02 +0000

For the first time in I don’t know how long, I had a little downtime while stuck in a hotel in the Portland area due to unusual weather over the weekend. I had some time to think about my website and the blog that’s attached to it. I pondered what this blog means to me, my readers and where do I see it going.

When I first started this website and blog, I had no idea where it would take me. My goal was to have an online store; or at least try my hand at it for a bit to see how it would work out long-term. When I was told by numerous people that blogging would help promote Green and Chic, I started to think twice about the whole thing since I never blogged before, or read blogs for that matter!

In this journey, I discovered that writing about Green and Chic will not and (for me) should not be just about my store and products. I think that would be very boring for my readers – and myself for that matter! Over the past few months, this blog has morphed into writing about my journey into a more sustainable lifestyle and sharing what I learn with others. I don’t claim to be an expert in the subject of green eco living, but like so many people, its an area that I enjoy learning about.

I had a chance to revisit the goals of my blog and what it means to me. I’m glad its more than just selling products from my website, affiliates, PPC, and other ways to monetize the blog. While those things are great and necessary for survival, I want it to be more than just making money online (which wasn’t the original goal of this blog ironically).

I would also like to take this time to thank all of my readers: the commenters, blog rollers and the silent readers. There are so many people I would like to thank who has assisted me in my blogging journey, but I know I will leave many people out.

If you blog, has your blog changed, improved and/or grown since your first post? Where do you see it going in the near and distant future? I know these are broad questions, but I would like to get a variety of responses regardless of your niche.

Happy Holidays!

Green and Chic Blog Updates

Carla Rose — Thu, 08 May 2008 01:38:27 +0000

I’ve been quiet lately because I’m in the process of updating greenandchic.com and integrating this WordPress blog into my website. Once that process is completed, (currently searching for a web designer), I will continue to post more info about the company and products.