All the Emotions on a Monday :: 12 von 12

November 12, 2018November 12, 2018 - Tobia 2 Comments

Today is the 12th of the month and I’ll share my day in photos with you:

As most days I grant myself a slow start in my favourite spot with the perfect morning light, a cup of coffee and my journal. However I remembered I had a call with a business friend. So excited and pumped but it turnt out it’s next week …

… it’s ok I squeez in some crafting for my DIY advents calendar swaping which I have to drop of on Friday. I am cutting it way close as those sticks don’t dry. Feeling a bit under pressure here.

After some email checking and business stuff – feeling all legit – I hit the shower and felt like putting a bit more effort into the outfit today. My cozy star necklace was perfect for today.

So efficient today and only 11 am – time for breakfast. I decided it’s a day for French toast with homemade apple sauce. Gotta start your Monday right.

While eating I watched another episode of Nashville (why too emotional) and did some crafting along the way. Another deadline this week: my gift for the “Christmas in a Shoebox” needs to be handed in. Time to hassle.

Now let’s do some “real” work and stop procrastinating. Trying to build a website, feeling overwhelmed and inadequate…

12von12_work laptop … time to step away and take a walk.

Feeling much better after this (and the not pictured bag of chocolate I inhaled) to get back to it. After re-installing the software twice, almost crashing another site once, I finally got the hang of it. In between I do the household thing… carry towels, move the vacuum robot, water plants…
It’s getting late and I am hungry. Time for dinner. All time fall favorite red beets with feta cheese.

While it’s in the oven I enjoy my fire and type a blogpost.

How was your day?

Good night,

Tobia

Disclaimer: This post contains links to other Blogs. Due to current (German) law this needs to be labelled advertising. Furthermore I have linked a few of my older articles because I believe you might enjoy them.

Networking – It’s all about the mindset

November 5, 2018November 12, 2018 - Tobia 10 Comments

›advertising | unpaid reference to blogs, locations, business‹

The past weekend I have been to my 3rd BLOGST conference and my 5th blogger event. People who have met me there would probably not describe me as shy or insecure. They would probably also not believe that I ~~hate~~ despise networking. But all those things apply. But then I realized one thing the past couple of days about networking – it’s all about the mindset.

What do I mean by that?

Well there are two strategies really:
1. Book your ticket so very last minute that you are not able to drive yourself crazy with anxiety.
2. Prepare yourself.

When I go to a blogging event I usually put a lot of preparation into it. Other people plan their outfits (well I do that too but that is the last item on the list) I plan everything else. It makes me feel I am in control and then I can relax. When I am relaxed, I am myself and then I can get the most out of it and actually enjoy and guess what – network.

So of course I could just go ahead and say “well why go through all the trouble and buy a ticket to go if I could just hide behind a screen and write a comment every now and then”. Because it’s nice to see real people!

Here are things I do to feel prepared:

I usually go through the attendees list very carefully and try to follow most the people Instagram so I already have the feeling I know them. It just lowers the inhibition threshold. And no please don’t tell me I am stalking. If I feel a connection I will comment and like but nothing forced, nothing to draw attention.
The blogs I find interesting I start following in my feedreader and I make the effort on commenting too – if I have something to say.
I create a twitter list with all attendees. Also very helpful while being at the conference because you can just follow and don’t miss a tweet. Also good to re-read after the sessions.
Then I usually start blogging a tiny bit more beforehand. Makes me feel a more legit being there.
When blogging I usually also realize all the kinks my blog has so it always gets a tiny facelift – win-win.
I book the hotel as soon as I buy the ticket. I can usually cancel the hotel easily when there is a better deal for the conference hotel but I am already set in case not. If possible I would always opt for the conference hotel to meet as many fellow bloggers if possible.
Also I plan enough time for arriving at the conference and some me-time. This way I have enough time to relax before it gets hectic and loud. This trip I had 2 hours to visit the Cologne Cathedral.

Those things are all fine in preparation but then conference day comes around and you still have to show up. There have been times when I felt so out of place. At one conference I felt so lost at the get-together that I actually sneaked out and left after an hour because I felt so lonely. Instead I sat in my room and read. At the same time I was a bit annoyed with myself because I spent money on being there. So for the past three hours I sat here sipping tea thinking what did make this years experience so much different. Why I was so much more positive and why I wasn’t scared. While I believe I am a bit more at ease with myself I also think I developed some tiny little ideas for easier networking. Maybe they help you too.

Networking life hacks to break the ice:

I wrote Bine | waseigenes that I was too scared to talk to her at The HIVE 2013. Telling her that before the conference this time, I knew I had to say hello to not waste another 5 years (also it would have been so embarrassing…). It was so very nice to actually say hello in person. And it wasn’t awkward at all.
I reached out beforehand to Silja | creatipster and asked if we wanted to have dinner again after the conference. Doing so I prevented the awkward feeling of not knowing where to go and who to turn to in the in-between hours.
In the conference Facebook Group were a couple of people talking about going to dinner the night before the conference. I only new two of them from the previous conference and not that good. However I reached out asking if they had a spot left for me. So I was able to see Birgit | relativjung and Bettina | alltagsfeierin again. And met so many other girls like Evelyn.
I got up a tiny bit earlier on conference days and just sat in the lobby to see who was also staying in my hotel. A good way to join a group of people and walk to the conference together. I met Kathrin | innenlebendesign again and got to know Anja | schminktante.
When I got to the conference and stood in line for registration I turned around and talked to the person behind me. This is how I met Nicole | golden freckles. Sometimes it is so easy. Then I just followed her to where she wanted to sit and met her friends Dominique | ohnemehr and Marlene | wiediedietrich.
The next day I did the same thing when I was in the line for coffee and got to talk to Kerstin | minipresents. And for lunch I had a conversation with Daniel | gintonicforbreakfast. Sometimes it is just so easy and not at all hard. Really.
When the conference is over more days then one I never sit at the same seat. Instead I mix it up. So I sat next to Lisa | chiliblueten.
I mentioned where I am from when talking to someone. People who walk by may stop and integrate in the conversation. This is how I met Ani | konfettiregen_berlin and Anja | La Bavarese.
After a speaker is done with a session and I really enjoyed the talk, laughed or learned something I make the effort to walk up and tell them. I am always scared put they just delivered a speech to 200 people so I can do it to one person. This way I was able to talk to Bianca | starkmitworten, Nina | juramama If I don’t catch them because they are surrounded by a huge crowed (and I can not muster up the courage I will at least write a message through instagram: Jules | herz.und.blut)
And then there are the lovely people I know already Filiz | filizity, Julia | deichdeern, Katha | katastrophal and who I try to catch and have a chat with.
Also it is nice to reach out to people who you missed at the conference. I did so with Sandra | dasfreuleinbackt and Nina | pinspiration.

I hope those ideas help you and you have the possibility to find likeminded people around you where you can share your ideas and passions with. I am so grateful for Clara | tastesheriff and Ricarda | 23qm Stil for creating the Blogst Community and the spirit that it always sparks within me.

Wishing you all a wonderful motivation week,

Tobia

And this was November

November 30, 2017 - Tobia 2 Comments

Wow… November is gone. NaBloPoMo is over and I blogged everyday until last night. That’s when real life finally caught up with me. Long work hours, some personal stuff and after sitting 30 minutes in front of a blank screen I just decided why force it. I don’t have to prove anything. Just writing 29 days in a row is such an achievement that there is nothing to be ashamed of to finish off a day early.

Look at all the posts I wrote:

#1: Trying something New – NaBloPoMo
#2: Snack Time – The Egg Sandwich or Eierbrötchen
#3: Park Life #11 – 2017 Photo Project
#4: Instagram Accounts I Like Scrolling
#5: Weekend in Lviv, Ukraine
#6: Kale Pie – Because Pie is always a good idea
#7: Blend in Wrapping Paper Storage – Tutorial
#8: My 10 Most Beloved Blog Posts
#9: Morning Thoughts
#10: 10 Things you don’t know about me – Part III
#11: My Favorite Books 2017 – Part I
#12: Creative Weekend :: 12 von 12
#13: Empty Mind going Crazy
#14: Homemade vegan bath bombs – Tutorial
#15: My Favorite Podcast to Listen To
#16: Apple Yogurt Cake with Maple Butter Glaze
#17: My Favorite Books 2017 – Part II
#18: Wochen(Glück)Rückblick :: My Happiness Review #25
#19: Pine Needle Advent Wreath 2017 – Tutorial
#20: One of those days…
#21: Little Beech Nut Bells in Red and White – Tutorial
#22: Sleep Envy – Sleep Habits and such
#23: Best Traditions I grew up with
#24: Every day Life on a random day in 2017
#25: Saturday Morning Coffee Thoughts
#26: Things I learnt from Grandparents
#27: Winter Bucket List 2017
#28: Fruit Warm Breakfast Oats – 6 variations

There were days I found it difficult to write specially when it was late. But only because all the post I had planned or in my mind were requiring a bit more time or some photos I didn’t yet have and light was gone. So I have a long list of posts I wanted to share that didn’t see daylight yet. But I will share them eventually. The Egg Sandwich post was an idea from 2 or 3 years ago…

Would I do it again. I wouldn’t say no to it. It was fun. But it is time consuming and I also have to admit that my plate was/is a bit too full currently. So I am glad that I can take a breath and don’t need to show up here daily. But maybe I will. Definitely more often. *fingerscrossed*

For now I will enjoy my couch and relax a bit.

Happy evening,

Tobia

Creative Weekend :: 12 von 12

November 12, 2017 - Tobia 2 Comments

Good evening you all,

I have spent this weekend in a little bubble. The blogst bubble. When in January boldly deciding and announcing that November would be my blogging months I only half hoped to snatch another ticket for the blogst conference. However I was lucky and so I was able to attend the conference this weekend here in Berlin for the second year in a row.

I share this Sunday with you in photos as it is the 12th of the months and Caro is collecting day recaps.

Last night was long so it all starts with coffee.

On my way through Berlin. Of course I see lines, structures and patterns again. The station of the color fits my outfit. Photo didn’t turn out to good though.

While getting right into chatting lets have a bit of breakfast. “glück” was one of the sponsors and I can really recommend their jams. And I am usually no big fan of store bought ones. But the black current one… really good.

Than we start the sessions. I found them all even better then yesterday. We started of with “How private is private”. It seems like this topic is an evergreen. And while I often wonder just about that it was more entertaining because of Jette than the content itself – at least for me.

I really enjoyed the next session by Ricarda. In a way the things she said spoke to me. Not only did she say “who cares about having a niche, I have many interests and I want to explore them all” she also left us with some interesting questions to think about.

1. What is success for you? 2. What makes you happy? 3. How do this two connect? 4. What hinders you? 5. What is your fear?

After that a quick lunch break before heading for workshops.

We had the choice between Newsletter and SEO and I first stopped by the first one but soon switched to the latter. I guess I do know quite a bit about both already but SEO is always much more complicated.

Obvisiouly I had to take one of the obligatory photos of the blogst letters:

And then all the magic was over and I am on my way back home.

Back home I first needed a cup of tea. While I drank it I discussed SEO with Mr. ❤︎ and dived right into optimizing.

Then I remembered the goodie bag.

Now it is time to relax and couching just waiting for food to be delivered.

It was a wonderful weekend. But I am really tired, emotionally drained and my head is spinning with ideas, lists and to-dos. While I didn’t learn as much as on my first conference it is still as inspiring as ever. Treating myself to two days just thinking about blogging and allowing myself time to just dwell in what could be.

It’s me-time. And all worth it.

Happy Sunday,

Tobia

MerkenMerkenMerkenMerken

Trying something new – NaBloPoMo

November 1, 2017November 3, 2017 - Tobia 8 Comments

Hello There,

Remember my resolutions from January? I wanted to become more adventurous. One of my goals to do so was to try something new and participate in the NaBloPoMo. Ever since I started reading San’s blog I learned about this online community event and I was intrigued but never really committed.

Well, this year I will give it a try. Do I have a lot of time currently? Not at all. Maybe even less then the last years. So why, you wonder. Well, for one it is on my resolutions list and I tend to try to follow through. Second, you might have realized that not much time has spent on this blog lately. I am hoping by writing more and daily I will start getting into the groove again. Start working that creative muscle. Elise said in one of her podcast once: “Making breeds making.” So I am hoping once I committed to this project I will breed blog posts.

Now you might wonder what NaBloPoMo is. Maybe you have heard that November ist the month of writing, writing novels. Well, I don’t think I will ever do that. And so did other people and started writing blog posts instead. I think I can do that.

Anyhow, I am hoping to get back into the blogging world. Start reading and commenting bit more. I will also spend a weekend at a blogging conference. So here we go, getting back to this little space in the internet. Hope you follow along and if you have time leave a comment. I will appreciate it.

Happy November,