I’m writing this blog from the passenger seat of my truck with Chuy in my lap. We are heading to the mountains for a quick getaway. I’ve been craving the serenity of sitting on a balcony, sipping coffee, and taking in a mountain vista. I don’t even drink coffee but it’s the experience and the feeling of peace and calm that I crave.
I’ve worked from home for almost ten years. Lately, I found myself falling into a rut and feeling the beginning stages of burnout. See, I started burning the candle at both ends recently. Something I try not to do because I know the toll it takes on my mind, body, and soul. However, certain seasons of life call for more hustle than others. Right?
After doing some deep reflection, I realized that I’m not enjoying the life I work so hard to create.
What’s the point of working from home, designing my own life, and being my own boss if I’m not actually enjoying it and having some fun too?
I decided on a whim that it was time to book that cabin in the mountains now. Not two weeks from now. Not next week. Not when things slow down but now. They will never slow down and there will always be clients and deadlines!
I went on Air BnB and this cabin was meant for us. Dog friendly! Kid friendly! Extra strong Wifi! Yes! A working getaway. #Score
So, here I am typing away in the car, Chuy in my lap on the way to have some fun but also sneak some work in too. This is exactly what I wanted. This is exactly why I decided to work from home full-time, for myself.
It’s no coincidence that I’ve been working from home for ten years which is exactly how old Chuy is.
See, Chuy came into my life at a time when I started to realize there’s more to life than just waking up, going to a job I don’t love, coming home, and doing it all over the next day. Once I had that sweet little puppy, I couldn’t stand the thought of leaving him home alone for nine to ten hours a day. Chuy was and is my inspiration for creating the “irresistible” life I knew I deserved. He gave me the guts to take the big leap without knowing what might come next.
That was also the time when I started my blog, Irresistible Icing. I wanted to document my weight journey, body image struggles, and my love of fashion. I started posting tons of pics of Chuy and that’s when I decided maybe I should also start a pet blog too! So, I did.
Life changing decision…and I’m not being dramatic.
Pet blogging took me on a journey that I could have never imagined. It opened doors that I never even knew existed. I’ve had the opportunity to partner with big name brands such as Q-tips, PetSmart, Purina, Hills, LG, and many more . I’ve been featured in publications such as Better Homes & Gardens, Good Housekeeping, Pop Sugar, BuzzFeed, Coastal Virginia Magazine, and more.
Pet blogging has allowed me to create a lifestyle that gives me flexibility and freedom in my schedule to take Chuy to the beach or head to the mountains for a few days.
There’s something else that pet blogging did for me. It introduced me to lifelong friends and colleagues that share my same obsession of pets. People that also write about their pets for a living and understand the dog mom life that so many others think is just plain weird.
Two of those amazing friends and colleagues, Carol Bryant and Maggie Marton just wrote a book about pet blogging called Pet Blogging for Love and Money. I met Carol and Maggie through the years of attending the BlogPaws conferences. Little did I know when I went to that first conference that we would all end up working together at one point on the same team. While at BlogPaws, we all three ran the content team in addition to managing our own blogs. Now, we all run our own blogs and businesses and I’m so proud of them for publishing this much needed book!
Maggie and Carol know a lot about pet blogging and what it takes to make this into a viable career. I have so much love and respect for these two ladies. They are the real deal and are the go-to experts that you want to learn from! This book is exactly what you need if you want to start your own pet blog or monetize the one you have and turn it into a business.
Pet Blogging for Love and Money has everything you need to build, grow, and sustain a profitable pet blog and social media presence. Whether you’re just starting out or are a seasoned content creator, Pet Blogging for Love & Money is the ultimate guide to grow your pet blog or social media channels like a pro. This comprehensive guide shares all the trade secrets of creating a pet-centric online brand. Each of the 15 chapters is packed full of practical tips and actionable advice you can implement right away. Plus, each chapter comes with bonus content to guide you to success: worksheets, checklists, plans, templates, and more.
There are also case studies from other successful bloggers and social media superstars. I’m honored to be one of the fifteen featured influencers in their book. You can find my case study on pages 146-148.
Pet Blogging for Love and Money is available on Amazon. Pick up your copy today and/or be sure to gift one to a friend! I also invite you to become readers of Carol and Maggie’s blogs. They are fantastic and part of my blog reading list!
I can honestly tell you that it’s thanks to pet blogging why and how I’m able to type this post from my truck with my Chihuahua by my side. Now that is the epitome of pet blogging for love and money!
-Aimee & Chuy
