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Nancy from Capability Mom writes from her heart and proves that all moms are capable of achieving their goals…whatever those may be.
How long have you been blogging at Capability Mom and what inspired you to start?
It was total happenstance. On the way to a library meeting (Stop me before I volunteer again), I ran into a friend (Pragmatic Mom) who was loaded down with children’s books – too many books for just her family. I was curious. She was starting a blog and I had been thinking about it for a while (I was reading some blogs daily and was inspired) because I wanted to make myself write every day (secret dream – to be paid to write). We formed a blogging group with two other mom friends, a freelance writer and an interior designer (who was chosen as a designer for This Old House), and became the Coffee Shop Bloggers. We met weekly, discussed tips and shortcuts, problem solved and gave each other assignments (i.e., have 10 keywords by next week, set up your Google Alerts, increase Twitter followers, figure out the best way to…) and laughed a lot. We laughed with each other and encouraged each other in the nicest possible, most supportive way. We couldn’t really manage to meet in the summer but hoping to re-start after we get this school year going.
What can readers expect when visiting your blog for the first time?
I hope they hear my voice and that they like it. I like to share but not over-share (there is a fine line) and I am funny, well, at least I think I am, and I am resourceful so if I don’t know how to do something, I figure it out. I am also not really organized so I need to build in fail-proof systems so I don’t mess up too much and sometimes people find my ideas helpful. I am thrilled that I have been able to stay home with my children and now working from home is a great fit for our family. I love language and have some pet peeves – one of them is the acronym WAHM – because all mothers are working mothers. Not paid, but working. Thinking about a new one – maybe a post idea?
Aside from blogging and parenting, what is one other passion you have?
I have always loved to read. My perfect job would be reading and getting paid to do it (preferably with a stack of cookies close at hand). Since no one really wants to pay me just to read (I have tried), as a second best job on the planet, I’d like to read and review books (and through my blog have been getting asked to do this). I prefer fiction (young adult is a favorite genre) but read anything and everything. I pretend I am pre-reading YA books for my children, but I really like the books, too. I also love to cook (mostly bake but I am often distracted which makes for interesting and varied results) and like to share recipes or great food finds. I travel for food (we call this an “off-campus activity”) and share what I find.
What do you do when you start feeling burned out from blogging?
I took an unannounced and unplanned vacation this summer. I took a step back for some clarity, posted less frequently and filled my time reading (!), going for long walks (with my dog and friends), cooking (baking mostly), taking field trips to Boston (and surrounding towns), and even to Vermont and the Cape, hanging out with my family, watching movies, playing board games (no surprise – Scrabble and Bananagrams are favorites), shopping (I am a huge bargain hunter), and working for clients setting up their blogs and teaching them about social media. I still worked on my blog but in a much more maintenance mode kind of way. I still love it, I just needed to refocus. It worked, too. As I never run out of things to say (ask anyone) finding topics is not the issue.
In what ways have you benefited from blogging?
I have learned so much from blogging! Like how to get people (other than my mom) to read my blog, finding out how the technical stuff works (super fun to learn and implement – I am a secret geek), and making myself write everyday (well, at first it was every day for my blog, now I write every day but sometimes for other sites or clients and more often for myself). Blogging has given me a way to go back to work when I wasn’t sure how I was going to get there (fourteen years out of the workplace will do that to you). I have done community management work, writing advertorials for products and reviews for books and worked with clients on social media and blogging. I have been paid to write and was even recognized by my writing at a seminar (huge happy moment there).
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Yay! I’ve actually been to your blog several times! I am so happy It’s your Sits day! WOO HOO!
What a great way to get into blogging:-) Going to check it out now!!
I love it when bloggers are friends! There are so many people in the blogging world that I would like to meet in person!
Meeting with friends at a coffee shop? Sounds like the perfect way to run a blog! Jealous. 🙂
Happy SITS Day! That sounds like my dream job, too: reading (or writing) with cookies nearby. Sign me up!
Whenever I click the link to visit Capability Mom, this weird download thing pops up. I even tried typing in the site address and got the same thing. It happens whenever I try to view the main page of her blog
Getting back into the swing of things, after an exhausting growing season. Happy Hump Day, everyone!
I’m intrigued! Can’t wait to visit your blog and check it out!
Love the coffee shop bloggers idea…I just never seem to have time to put as much focus on my blog as I would like, work is always too crazy.
Sounds like a great blog!
I love her pictures! Going over to introduce myself!
I just headed over to your blog and wasn’t able to reach it…I’m looking forward to checking it out though.
I love that you have collaborated with other bloggers/friends. I think that’s such a key to success in this crazy cyber world.
Happy SITS day!!! I look forward to reading more of what you have to write!! Thanks for sharing!!
I agree. I would love to have a job where I could sit and read and get paid. How wonderful would that be!
happy SITS day!
I took a vacation this summer, too. A little time to decompress and think and blogging felt a lot easier after that! Happy SITS Day, Nancy! Excited to check out your site 🙂
Happy SITS Day Nancy and Everyone Good Luck…
Bananagrams at the Cape? Been there, done that this summer. Really is nice to take a break sometimes.
I’m getting the same error message as JamericanSpice! I wonder if SITS visits overloaded something…
Hope she gets back up soon so I can check her out!
Ok I tried to visit her. even went a type her address in a new tab and it wont open instead it is asking me to download something
Nice to meet you. I’m coming to visit!
Congrats. Can’t wait to check out the blog.
I really like that you all started Coffee Shop Bloggers. -I am a This Old House viewer. Great show from Bob Vila to Norm (now with New Yankee Workshop); from Kevin to Tom and the gang. They are like the male version of Martha Stewart in that they are great teachers. Anyway, this is your day. Enjoy it. Happy SITS Day! I am headed over to your site now. 🙂
Sounds like a great gal! Looking forward to checking out her blog more!
I hope that Capability Mom enjoys her SITS day as much as I did on mine yesterday. Thanks for featuring my blog. I got so much bloggy love and “met” some great bloggers-I also picked up quite a few new followers.
Happy SITS day!!
Sounds like a fabulous blogger!
I have learned a lot from blogging too–and love meeting everyone. Congrats on your SITS day—looking forward to your blog.
Great article! Thanks for sharing.
Happy SITS day! Congrats on being a recognized writer. I look forward to learning more about your blog!
Love reading too! I need some new recommendations…any ideas?
Oh no! Not sure if it’s just me, but I can’t get any of the links to work so I can’t go visit Nancy’s blog.
I’m so with you on the favorite job. If I could get paid to read and review books I’d be one happy camper!
I’m with Broot–I can’t visit her either!
I’ve got a book I’d love for her to review!
I will visit Capability Mom today!
Happy SITS day 🙂
What a fantastic story! How nice it must have been to have that built-in support structure from the beginning!
I can’t open the site. All I get is gobbledegook. Will try again tomorrow! 🙂
I hope you have a very lovely SITS day!
I love Bananagrams! Headed to your blog now! 🙂
Happy SITS Day Nancy!
I agree too, taking a blogging break is a good idea. You come back more refreshed I think. Now, I’m off to poke around in your blog.
Enjoy the day!
It’s great to have in person bloggy friends…Happy SITS Day! 🙂
Looking forward to reading more. Happy SITS Day Nancy! Happy day all! 🙂
Happy Wednesday everyone! 🙂
Nice to meet you! I can’t wait to check out your blog!
Taking a blogging break does sound like a good idea! Congratulations on your SITS Day Nancy!
I love Scrabble too! It really is great to have in-person bloggy friends. The friendship is one of the best (and most unexpected) parts about blogging.
I am actually going to meet up with a local blogger for coffee today! We have a great group of social media moms in our large metro area and we get together as often as we can!