Me in my old kitchen in Better Homes & Gardens
Happy Friday! This summer I’m honored to serve as a blog mentor at the Haven Conference in Atlanta. Haven is a hands-on conference for DIY and home bloggers, and it’s a wonderful place for both new and experienced bloggers to learn, share, and connect. If you’ll be attending, I’d love to meet you.
As a mentor I’ll share lessons I’ve learned over the years as a home blogger. Today I’m joining a mentor blog hop with other Haven mentors. Even if you’re not a blogger, you might enjoy reading these posts. We’ve all answered the same questions, and this is my turn to share a bit about my life as a blogger.
blogger life
1. How many years have you been blogging?
I published my first post on The Inspired Room in July 2007, so this summer marks the 10th anniversary of the blog. Time flies when you’re doing what you love. The Inspired Room actually began as a decorating business in January 2007, six months before the blog launched. Once I started blogging, I never looked back.
Since then I’ve written thousands of posts and published six books, including a New York Times bestseller, Love the Home You Have. I never imagined I’d become a writer and entrepreneur, but those opportunities came from following what I enjoyed and staying committed.
my favorite project
2. What is your favorite DIY project that you have completed?
My favorite DIY efforts are the ones I do as a designer. I’m not a frequent builder or a power-tool enthusiast, but I love designing rooms. My favorite design project is my recently remodeled kitchen. Designing and planning spaces is where my passion lies.
You can see the kitchen remodel reveal on my site.
3. What is something useful you have learned from a blog conference?
Early in my blogging career I attended Blissdom, which felt like a big step outside my comfort zone. I’m naturally introverted, so attending and later speaking at conferences pushed me in important ways. Taking the leap to attend conferences wasn’t just about improving my blog; it was about personal growth and building relationships.
Those early conference experiences helped me learn new skills, expand my reach, and form lasting friendships within the blogging community. For many bloggers, conferences are a meaningful investment at different stages of their journey.
4. What is something you love about blogging and what is something you wish you could change?
I love that a blog gives anyone the chance to create something beautiful and meaningful from their interests. Blogs connect you with people and opportunities around the world, and there isn’t just one right way to do it. Each blogger defines success for their own season.
That said, blogging often looks easier from the outside. While much of it is fun, it also involves hard work. For me, the most rewarding part was being able to build a home-based business that allowed me to stay with my family while pursuing creative work. That outcome wasn’t the result of chasing freebies or viral tricks; it came from long-term investment and consistent effort.
To build a sustainable blog or creative business you need to be committed for the long haul. Minimal effort and chasing free products won’t sustain you, and burning out from trying too hard is a real risk. Share from a place of genuine passion, support others, and make time for the aspects of life that matter outside of blogging. That balance helps the work last and stay meaningful.
My Books
Even with the many roles I juggle, I still love being a blogger because it lets me share my love of home with others who feel the same way. There is no other work I’d rather do.
5. What is one piece of advice you would offer a blogger—new or otherwise—who is going to Haven?
Whether you’re new or experienced, attend a blogging event with the goal of making new friends and reconnecting with old ones. Don’t hold back because you feel you don’t measure up—most attendees feel uncertain at times. Reach out, introduce yourself even if it feels nerve-wracking, ask questions, and be authentic. Being real puts others at ease and helps you form meaningful connections. You have something valuable to offer that only you can share.
Now, enough about me and my thoughts!
Please take a moment to meet the other bloggers in Friday’s lineup. Enjoy the rest of the mentor blog hop and the conversations it sparks.
Start here for Friday’s line up: Beauty and Bedlam | The Kim Six Fix | Shabbyfufu
Here are the rest of the links from this week’s Haven Mentor blog hop:
Monday: Southern Hospitality | Finding Silver Pennies | Jennifer Rizzo | Chaotically Creative
Tuesday: Life on Virginia Street | Just A Girl | French Country Cottage | Maison de Pax
Wednesday: Thistlewood Farms | The Handmade Home | Beneath My Heart | That’s My Letter | Sweet Tea, LLC
Thursday: Centsational Girl | Mom4Real | Cedar Hill Farmhouse | The Lettered Cottage | Shades of Blue Interiors