The Ultimate Blogging Guide: Answers to All of Your Blogging Questions

Blogging takes practice, patience, and hard work. I'm often asked for advice on how to increase blog comments, make a blog more popular, or how to make a living at blogging. I've written thousands of words on blogging over the years, and it's time I've compiled them all into a helpful index! Bookmark and come back, this is your ultimate blogging guide!

General Tips:

• Top 5 Tips for Blogging Success 
• How to Back Up Your Blogger Blog
• Top 5 Features Your Blog Needs But Doesn't Have!
• The Shocking Truth: Top 5 Blogging Tips I Will Never Follow

On Persevering:

• Top 5 Reasons to Keep Blogging: And it Ain't For the Money!
• Blogging Tip: Want a Better Blog? Be a Grasshopper!
• The Heyday Shop's Tips on Being Successful Yet Sane!

Blogging Opportunities:

• Ismoyo's Etsy Reselling Tips: Going From Blog to Published Book
• Brian Adams Turns His Pop Culture Passion Into a Dream Job

My #1 Secret: Take the extra time to create high quality content, and keep it fun and entertaining. Write what you'd like to read.

I'll continue to answer your questions on reselling, blogging, and freelancing, but I really believe in the advice I've shared above.

How about you? What do you think makes a blog worth reading, commenting on, and coming back to?

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

We're Halfway Through the Year...Time to Get Your Websites in Gear!

 It feels like the year just started, but it's already nearly June! The year's flying by, but it's not over yet! If you need help getting sales for your shop or traffic for your website where you need it to be, I'd love to use my years of web marketing experience help you out! When I was a full time marketer I had articles published on these places. You may have heard of some of them... ;)

Use my simple contact form to ask about placing on ad on Thrift Core. Read the advertising page to buy an ad and learn more!  

Remember, if you don't have an ad I'll make you one for free :) Thrift Core's going big places this year, and I'd love to take you with me.

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

What I Didn't Buy at the Thrift Store: Flea Market Edition

With a house stuffed full of merchandise to sell (even with a bigger space we're tripping over boxes...resellers, you know the feeling!) I've been taking it easy and leaving more behind than I would like to while thrifting. But the voices of the items I leave behind are still calling out to me. This is what they're saying:

What do you have trouble leaving behind at the thrift stores?

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Garage Sale Tips: Host a Kick Ass Garage Sale and Make That Money

The blue skies are clear and the weather is pleasantly warm, garage sale season has returned! I love to spring clean and purge old merchandise while making some cash on the side. I thought I'd share some top tips for hosting a successful yard sale that I've learned over the years so you could have a nice purge, too!

1. Gather Your Merchandise Ahead of Time
 
Go from room-to-room with a box in hand and fill it up with items you're tired of looking at. If your home hosts the average thrifter's excess, you should fill several boxes in no time!

2. Make Sure you Have Enough to Sell
 
Yard sales are more successful when you have plenty of "merchandise". If you only a few items, consider selling individual items on PennysaverUSA.com or Craigslist.

3. Plan and Advertise Ahead of Time
 
Advertise your sale on Craigslist and/or PennySaverUSA’s Garage Sale classifieds three days to one week ahead of time. Be as descriptive as possible, listing individual items you'll be selling at the sale. Try posting on community boards and local publications as well.

4. Signs, Signs, Signs: Make Your Sale Easy to Find
 
Post plenty of clear, legible signs to help people find your sale. Include the date and arrows to guide potential customers to your sale. Try neon poster board to grab their attention, or be thrifty and creative by using whatever you have around the house.

5. Have Plenty of Change Ready to Go
 
You want at least $100 dollars in change organized and ready to go before the sale. Make sure you have plenty of ones, fives, and rolls of quarters.

6. Write a Check List of Supplies You’ll Need
 
inventory list , a box or apron to keep your cash organized, tables to set up wares and chairs to sit on, and materials for your signs at the least.

7. Don't Host More Than One Sale Per Month
 
Yard sales are exhausting; you won't have energy to host more than one per month. You don't want people to get tired of seeing the same wares week after week, either. I think seasonal garage sales work best.

8. Have Your Wares Locked and Loaded the Night Before
 
Have your tables, chairs, and supplies near the door and ready to go first thing in the morning. You'll be grateful you prepped in advance. Also, expect people to come at least 30 minutes early to get a head start on scouring your goods!

9. List the Big Juicy Items on PennysaverUSA or Craigslist Individually
 
Make individual ads for big, juicy items you'll have available at the sale. I did this for old, collectible video game systems that I was selling and it brought a lot of people to the sale. As a plus, I had people e-mailing me for months afterward asking to buy video games!

10. Check the Weather, But Don't Let it Deter You
 
Sometimes the rain will clear up. If you've put a lot of time and effort into your sale, I'd set up anyway.

PennysaverUSA has an awesome Garage Sale Tips Center with tons of information and videos on hosting your own successful yard sale. You should check it out! I also love The Non-Consumer Advocate's post on running a profitable garage sale.

Got any garage sale hosting tips to share? Spill in the comments!

Pennysaver USA is a Thrift Core sponsor. Contact me if you'd like to be a Thrift Core sponsor!

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Giveaway: Promote Your Small Business with Free Business Cards

I share many creative business tips and information on Thrift Jobs. But I don't think I've written about the importance of business cards. I use my Thrift Core business cards all the time, it's more professional than scribbling my name and info on a piece of scrap paper for a potential client/customer!

Need some business cards of your own? Need more of them if you have them? PrintRunner.com is a online printing company that offers high quality business card services. They're offering 250 business cards to one lucky winner today!

What You'll Win:

Business Card Size and Style Business Cards - 2x3.5 (Standard) 
Quantity   250 
Colors    4/4 Color Both Sides 
Paper    14 pt. UV Coating on Front, 14 pt. UV Coating on both sides, 
Proof    NONE 
Rounded Corners   NO
*Giveaway is open to US Residents only, ages 18 years old and above.

How to Enter: 

Leave a comment on this post letting me know what you struggle the most with as freelancer/business owner/hopeful business owner. That's it :)

For Extra Entries: Leave a separate comment for each action you perform so they count as extra entries. Don't forget to include that e-mail address! 

- Follow the Thrift Core blog (you are here!)
- Follow Thrift Core on Facebook
- Follow Thrift Core on Twitter
- Tweet About This Giveaway
- Stumble This Post

The deadline for this giveaway is May 29, 2012! Good luck!

Disclaimer: I did not receive compensation for this giveaway, I just wanted to share a business card opportunity with you!

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Thrift Haul: A Playful Haul of Mod, Comics, and Much More!

With my strict organization goals in place I nearly skipped the flea market this week. I'm glad I didn't, I came home with a glorious haul of all of my favorite types of finds: playful, colorful, and eclectic!

Ah, so many shapes, colors, and textures to admire! I can't wait to get these finds tagged-up and loaded into my antique store booths for their rehaul. But remember, everything pictured is for sale if you want it. Just send me an e-mail. :)

I love vintage picnic baskets and was glad to get this huge, sturdy one for a good price. I do believe I'll be giving this one the chalkboard picnic basket treatment.

 Kitsch explosion! Who could resist this thick wooden deer clock with a playful googly eye? Not I!

My collection of vintage kitschy trivets is quite large by now...but I can't stop picking them up, they're so fun.

I'm sure someone will scoop up this playful cassette tape purse quickly. It's in fresh never-been-used condition. Paired here with fun sunnies I found at the flea.

I admit this "Chow Kit" was silly, but I ended up purchasing it for the cool packaging. Damn you, tempting vintage packaging.

I was happy to find Siestaware and what appears to be real Dorothy Thorpe glasses in good shape this time around as well!

These cute tiny pitchers were made in Japan. I love the rustic beer barrel and white coffee bag on the front. The sticker underneath proclaims they are a "Del Coronado Nasco Product."

Another robot! I want to rebrand my antique store booths in a colorful toy-and-comic-book filled style that suits my style better, so this one may end up being sold. If I can let him go!

Mr. Robot posing with some beautiful Rook comics from the 1980s! I all of the primary colors on the covers.

Next we have a couple of 80s era TV eating trays. I honestly don't know what MASK is, I haven't bothered to look it up yet...but I loved the bold composition and colors at work here!

I like how the tin allows oxyidation to show through. People eat up rustic finds like these in antique store; rust tells a story. Also, confession time, I never like the Smurfs. I prefer my Transformers!

Ha! What was I thinking? It was only fifty cents but the photos of deformities within will give you nightmares! But mission accomplished, I learned interesting new things about an anatomy educators are too prudish to discuss in schools.

I have this theory that Squirrels are the new owl! Here's three of my favorite things: kitchen junk, cute woodland critters and scotch print.

A beautiful unicorn lamp and vintage Japanese girl. I love her blue and white kimono and the way her obi matches her red bow!

And we're wrapping things up with an adorable vintage chipmunk wall hanging.

And Yuko finally shows her face to demonstrate scale for us. Thank you, Yuko. People have asked where's she's been lately...

These days she's perching on high things and sleeping a lot. But I'll be putting her to work to earn her kibble soon enough!

I must thank the kind people who buy from these thrift haul posts yet again. I love carefully packaging up your vintage bits and sending your drawing and surprises in every box! If you like anything you see in haul posts, simply e-mail me.

I also host super thrifty daily deals on Facebook and Twitter.

What did you find this weekend?

Linked to: [Thrift Share Monday] [The Penny Worthy Project] [Flea Market Finds].

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Sunday Goals 20 & 21: The Organization Intensifies

As always, I'm busy behind-the-scenes. I made these cute planters and dropped them off at my Southern Crossing and Treasure House booths.

I'm still in the midst of getting my life organized. There's boxes everywhere and I can never find what I need when I need it. I've felt very guilty about it, but I  now accept that it's taken me years of working full time to let personal life get into this state of chaos...I won't be able to clear it up in a week. Or two weeks...or...

So with that guilt trip expressed, these are the action steps to get my life back!

1. Continue to perfect daily schedule and make plans to complete big projects.
2. Ahead on all blog projects. (Writing, guest posts, advertiser plans)
3. Completely switch out merchandise in both antique store.
4. Tackle all surface clutter first, tossing and donating along the way.
5. Give daily use items their home, use labels if necessary.
6. Continue to tackle the chaos, try to conquer it all!

And now I'm off to the flea market! I think I've told you I also buy my fruits and veggies at the flea? I can't wait to get some coconuts. I think six will satisfy the 'ol coconut craving...

Anywho...what are your goals for the week?!

See you tomorrow with tons of photos of my amazing finds from the week! 

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Nutritional Yeast Dressing Recipe: The Ultimate Dressing!

Nutritional yeast is a wonder food. Exploding with nutty/cheesy flavor and including Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin B12, it's is a vegan source of precious B vitamins. If you're struggling to incorporate veggies in your diet, this dressing will make your raw veggies worthy of shoving in your mouth; it's that good. You'll rape your vegetables, I swear it!

My art partner-in-crime Birdie of Frog vs Toad and The Haiku Life is my dressing's biggest fan. He drew you a comic to help you make this delicious dressing! Let's see!

It really is that easy! Step 1) Blend 2 cups of nutritional yeast *, 1/3 cup water, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil or grapeseed oil, 1/3 cup of soy sauce/tamari/or liquid aminos (tamari is the best choice), 1/3 cup of apple cider vinegar, and a few drops of sesame oil (yum!) Step 2) pour it into a pretty bottle and refrigerate.

* I buy my nutritional yeast in the bulk buy section of Whole Foods. You can Google it and comparison shop online if there are no Whole Foods or health food stores near you. The flakes are delicious on top of popcorn and pasta, too!

I'd say it will last in your fridge for about 1 month but...it won't. Once you have that cheesy, earthy, savory, umami flavor in your yap you won't stop eating every vegetable in sight until you've drained your bottle of dressing dry. And your sorry soul won't feel complete again until you whip another delicious batch. My favorite way to devour it is as a dip with fresh, raw cauliflower and broccoli.

I make a spread with fresh veggies and nutritional yeast dressing at every party I host and every ounce of vegetable and dressing is licked clean before the end of the night! Try it, you'll see what I mean!

What's your favorite way to violate your veggies? I have more delicious, nutritious ways to gorge on vegetables coming up soon :)

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Thrifty "Toy Planter" DIY: Funky Animal Planters for Cheap

With a house full of toys and a plant obsession, I'm frequently asked when I'm going to make the toy planters trending on the web these days. I'd been planning to make some, but my friend Rosaly of Old Skool Junk beat me to the punch making the colorful set above. She recently gave them to me to finish painting, fill with plants, and sell.

DIY Steps: 1) Select your thrifted toys to slice into, make sure they're hollow! 2) Cut a hole in their backs for the plant to live in. 3) Optional: Spray paint your toys, leave them to dry for at least a day. 4) Fill with your plant, most likely a succulent unless you're working with a huge toy with space to accommodate a plant that needs more root space. 5) I'd top with a decorative mulch like marbles or aquarium gravel.

I been enjoying them hanging around in the house so we have made it to the sell stage yet... but I intend to make some special cards for them and place them in the antique store to see how they sell. If you'd like to buy one from me in the meantime though, drop me a line!

These planters are a hit with everyone who sees them. I can't wait to experiment with larger hollow plastic toys I find and make more!

Related Article: Using Vintage Planters: Quick Tips for Filling Vintage Pots with Greenery

What thrifted finds do you like to fill with plants? Old buckets? Vintage drawers? Anything that can hold dirt can hold your plants!

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Thrift Haul: Super Summery Mod Scores for a Song

I thrifted five hours south in sunny Sarasota, Florida last week and let myself scoop up summery mod scores to revitalize my antique store booths. The thrifting is good in Sarasota, I'll definitely be back to hunt through them and document them further! Here's what I found:

This very mod drinking set was actually sent to me by Scott (@zombiedad on Twitter) to sell on his behalf. I just got in the mail this week. I do offer this service, so  contact me if you need assistance there-- or if you'd like to purchase this lovely set!

A veritable skittles-hued variety pack of vintage beauty. These are perfect for a mod themed tiki party. And you can mix up and serve your cocktails on top of...

This dreamy and very mod peacock tray! This was another find send down by Scott. It's in perfect condition. Again, simply e-mail if you want to buy anything in this post. Today I've listed nearly everything with their deal prices (I do Daily Deals on Twitter and Facebook) for ease.

Ready for a picnic on the beach? Just tote your vintage ice bucket, cool vintage style Coca Cola drinking glasses and hip neon sunnies. I've found that sunglasses turn around quickly in the antique store so I always scoop up neat ones.

I used to be a Coca Cola addict so my nostalgia goggles are firmly in place with this find. They have a textured finished with the "Coke" logo on one side and the "Coca Cola" logo on the other. I'm selling the pair for $6.00.

My cup fascination will never cease! Here we have a little mod cup, juice jug, and nifty drink recipe cup.

All of these summery cups really inspire me to do some crafting. Especially the small cup with mod starbursts.

I was sad that the diamond shaped mod wall hanging wasn't a pair; a pair would be perfect hanging above the mid century modern-themed bar. But one is better than none! The little fireplace tableaux wall hanging stands on its own, though. I'm selling these for $9.00 each.

A very utilitarian yet attractive vintage tool box! I love the color and the shape.

I'm letting this one go for only $8.00 for Thrift Core blog readers and social media followers.

Stunning ceramic mushroom glory! It's a red toadstool or Amanita muscaria, everyone's favorite fungi. You have no idea how badly I want to keep this large mushroom coin bank for my kitchen. But a reseller must resell!

Another "Find" I want to keep for impact in my developing office are these large educational cards from 1967. The "workers" and "family" ones are my favorites, butt hey are all absolutely gorgeous. I love the texture and vintage illustrations galore.  I'm selling them at $8.00 each or the whole set for $28.

Each card has a front and back. They're 24 inches wide and 20 inches tall. Each thick cardboard card has that desirable rustic patina.

Front side of the "Family" Card. I love the vintage fashions in this one and the big color blocks.

Back side of the "Family" card. Looks like many children's books, very cute! I love the typography.

I like the very simple design of this one! This is the "Front."

And this is the back of the sample "simple" card. Gorgeous illustrations yet again, and this one is actually making me a little hungry, too!

Another favorite that I picture being perfect in a home office, admire workers in their charming 1960s Mad Men era attire.

Back of the "workers" card. I love every illustration on this page. Look at the detail of the little valentine, even! It has a little damage but I think that adds to the vintage charm.

More cute vintage illustrations. Look at the mod ranch style house and fan on the second line!

And the back of the card above. I especially appreciate the Jack and Jill illustrations! Nice cool colors and graphic shapes.

And now it's time for me to make a strong batch of tea and start this work week off right! So tell me...

What did you find this weekend?

Linked to: [Thrift Share Monday] [The Penny Worthy Project] [Flea Market Finds].

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.