Month: January 2019

DIY How To Make a Floor Length Mirror Using a Kreg Pocket Hole Jig

The Devil Is a Liar! Battling Spiritual Warfare With the Word of God

If you want to learn how to create a blog like this, check out Bluehost and read my post where I walk you through step by step on How To Start a Blog.

Perfectly Imperfect Momma - Start a Blog Today - I Host My Blog On Bluehost And Why You Should Too — Perfectly Imperfect Momma – Start a Blog Today – I Host My Blog On Bluehost And Why You Should Too

Here are some awesome parenting books that I actually have on my nightstand and refer to frequently!

How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk is one of the best parenting books out there! It really breaks things down into very digestible bites and gives you great ways to implement what you learn! This book was a game-changer in helping me figure my kids out!

How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen: A Survival Guide to Life with Children Ages 2-7How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen: A Survival Guide to Life with Children Ages 2-7. This book is similar to the original, but tailors things to little ones. Was a great addition to the original!

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens is very well written and gives you a terrific game plan for helping your teen build a strong foundation for success!

Brenda Cataldo + Perfectly Imperfect Momma + Inspiring Mommas to Build Stronger Lives With Practical Parenting Tips and the Word of God.

Thanks so much for visiting my site!

Until Next Time, Let’s Be Perfectly Imperfect Together!

If you like what you read, leave us a comment and SUBSCRIBE below:

January 16, 2019January 28, 2019

Creating a Family Budget & Getting Your Finances Under Control

Get Control of Your Finances! Make a Family Budget Today! You'll be so happy when you finally do it!

Financial health is just as important as keeping your body, mind and spirit healthy. All you have to do is keep your expenses lower than the money you have coming in monthly. It sounds easy, and in fact it is easy if you can set up some basic guidelines to adhere to. “How am I supposed to do that?” you are asking yourself. By creating a Family Budget that’s how!

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

First Things First – Make a Family Budget

Your budget is not always going to be exact, but it gives you a benchmark of what you can expect. This will be a living, breathing document because life happens. Sometimes unexpected expenses come up, or you may have a great sales month and make more money than expected. Either way, if you have a starting point, you will be better able to gauge your success, or setback if you have a budget set in place. Also, come up with some reasons that you want to create a budget. It’s good to have motivation to know why you are doing what you are doing.

Reasons For Making a Family Budget

There are several reasons that we needed to get our finances back on track.
1. Pay off our credit card debt
2. Pay off medical bills
3. Save money for a new SUV or Van
4. Keep setting aside money for college for the kids
5. Save money to do some home updates & renovations
6. Pay off our mortgage sooner
7. Save money to buy more investment properties
8. Grow our savings account so we have a larger safety net

What are some reasons that you want to get a Family Budget established for your home? Are some of them the same as ours? Here are a few other reasons some of our readers have suggested.
1. Pay off student loans
2. Get out of debt
3. Save up money for a vacation
4. Buy new furniture & appliances
5. Pay off vehicle

Make a List of All Money Coming In

You want to list all the money that you earn. This includes any salaries, commissions, rental income, child support, social security benefits, etc.. basically any money that you can deposit into your bank account. Start by listing any and everything you can think of. Just like it will be important to list your debts, it is also important to list your money coming in. The more accurate you are, the better idea you will have of your financial health.

Make a List of All Expenses

Sit down and tally up all of the expenses that you have. It’s important that you write everything down! Go through your receipts, bank statements, credit card statements and any other unpaid bills to get an accurate tally. The more precise that you are the better. It may even help to keep a spending journal or calendar with you so that you get the full picture of all money that is being spent.

Don’t Forget Periodic or Annual Expenses

Periodic expenses such as insurance payments and dental visits can be easy to forget and leave off the list since they only come around annually or bi-annually. Don’t leave yourself scrambling to cover these expenses. Allocate a portion of each paycheck towards your “Annual Expenses Fund” that way you have it covered when the time rolls around.

Categorize Expenses

Once you have everything written down, start organizing them into categories. The 3 basic categories that you will be able to start putting your expenses into are Fixed Expenses, Variable Expenses & Periodic Expenses. Some examples of expenses that are fixed expenses are mortgage payments, car payments, life insurance premiums.
Other expenses, like entertainment expenses, travel expenses, groceries, are Variable Expenses. While things like Dental Cleaning Payments, Home Maintenance and Auto Insurance Premiums are Periodic Expenses.

Prioritize Expenses

After you have put all of your expenses into categories start prioritizing them. There are almost always expenses that are just completely ridiculous that you can completely cut out.

Embarrassing But True:

When my husband and I finally sat down and went through all of our yearly expenses one year, we tallied up over $2700 spent at Dunkin Donuts! Being Real Estate Agents, it had just become part of our routine to swing through the drive through after dropping the kids off to school. We would each get a cup of coffee and a sandwich then start our day. It sounds crazy to me when I think back on it! What are some things you spend money on that you can scale back?

“Once you realize you have a problem, you can take the steps necessary to remedy the situation.”

Having a budget is such a great tool for financial stability because it gives you a benchmark. You can do a tally every week or every month to see where you are doing a good job saving and also where there are opportunities to reign in your spending. If you don’t measure what you are doing, it is difficult to tell if what you are doing is working or not.

If what you are earning isn’t enough to cover the bills that you have, some drastic changes need to happen. Either you need to really adjust your spending, or you need to earn more money. If you want to learn how I started a blog as a side hustle to earn extra money, click here to read my post on
How To Start Your Own Blog in 2019

What are some ways that you make extra money on the side? I would love to hear your ideas! Leave me a comment below.

Set Realistic Goals

Give yourself a timeline of when you want to achieve your objectives, but try to be realistic. This will take time. It doesn’t happen overnight. If you owe 100,000 on your mortgage for example, setting a goal of paying it off in a year is not realistic if you only earn $50,000 per year. (Unless one of your objectives is to earn a significant amount more per year) You get my drift.

So lets say you owe $500 on a credit card. Set a budget for yourself on how much you can afford per month to get that card paid off. Maybe give yourself 3-5 months to get it paid off. If you give yourself a timeline, it is easier to see how much progress you are making towards achieving your goal!

In Conclusion

While going through our expenses was painful and uncomfortable, it forced us to really be honest with how irresponsible our spending habits had become. With the daily craziness that was our life, work, kids, church, school, sports, marriage, house duties, family, endless activities and obligations, we had traded responsibility for convenience. We gave freely and recklessly of both our time, energy, effort and money.
The road we were going down was a road to disaster and burn out. It was time to slow things down!
We were spending money as quickly as it came in because we were not being conservative or responsible with our spending. Instead of meal prepping, we were eating out more often or ordering more take out dinners.

For my husband and I, making a Family Budget was absolutely essential in getting our life organized and back on track! With time and effort you can do it too! I’d love to know some of the things that have held you back from putting a budget together? Leave me a comment below and let me know.

Please note that I am not a certified financial advisor and the information shared on my site is from my own personal experiences. It is important that you consult with the proper legal, tax or financial professional to assist you with your particular financial situation.

Here are some other posts you may like. Check them out and let me know what you think.

DIY How To Make a Floor Length Mirror Using a Kreg Pocket Hole Jig

The Devil Is a Liar! Battling Spiritual Warfare With the Word of God

Thanks so much for visiting my site!

If you like what you read, leave us a comment and SUBSCRIBE below:

Until Next Time, Let’s Be Perfectly Imperfect Together!

January 10, 2019January 30, 2019

Mom Hacks For The New And Not So New Momma

There is not one perfect way to parent. Parenting has to work for you and your kids. If you have found a system that fits with your style, keep at it! I have 5 kids ranging in age from 21 months to 21 years old! Every single one of them has been different in their own ways. Here are some helpful Mom Hacks that I have used in my 21 plus years of being a momma. I hope that they can bless you and make things just a little bit easier for you in your daily life.

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Mom Hack #1 – Prep Before Each Diaper Change

ALWAYS prepare your diaper, wipes, powder (and change of clothes if needed) before you do a diaper change. This includes for after bath time. When changing your baby’s diaper, the faster you work the better. Getting peed on & pooped on are more easily avoided if you act swiftly. Also the possibility of your little one becoming wiggly and jiggly increase the longer it takes to get him/her changed.

Mom Hack #2 – USE an EXTRA Baby Wipe Folks!

HUGGIES Simply Clean Fragrance-Free Baby Wipes Soft Pack, 704 Count

I know that you are trying to save money in these frugal times, but believe me when I say that you do not want to skimp on using an extra wipe to clean up your baby’s bottom. That poop can get pretty acidic and not cleaning thoroughly can cause diaper rashes. You don’t want your baby to suffer through that. USE an EXTRA baby wipe!! Your baby’s bottom will thank you! I like to use Huggies Baby Wipes. They are nice and thick and don’t break through when wiping up your baby’s business!

Mom Hack #3 – Use Cornstarch Powder After Each Diaper Change

Always put PURE CORNSTARCH baby powder on your baby’s front and back side after each diaper change. This will keep them dry and help to prevent diaper rash.
*DO NOT use talcum powder. There are studies to suggest that talcum powder can cause ovarian cancer.

Mom Hack #4 – Spend the $2.00 Extra For The Name Brand Powder

Johnson’s Lavender Baby Powder with Naturally Derived Cornstarch, Hypoallergenic and Paraben Free, 15 oz, Packaging May Vary (pack of 6)

I’m all for being thrifty and saving a buck where I can, but when it affects the quality, it’s better to spend a little extra. My husband has bought the generic store brand powder a couple times so I can tell you from experience that it gets very frustrating when you can’t twist the lid open. These bottles of powder are going to last you for probably at least 6 weeks. That extra $2.00 breaks down to an extra $0.04 a day. Go For It! SPLURGE! Click Here to buy it from Amazon.

Mom Hack #5- Wrap Up Those Dirty Diapers

Munchkin Arm & Hammer Diaper Bag Dispenser with Bags, Lavender Scent, Colors May Vary 1 ea

ALWAYS wrap dirty diapers in plastic bags. I even go so far as to wrap number two diapers in not one, but two sandwich size ziploc bags. I also have a handy bag dispenser attached to my diaper bag that has plastic bags in it for when I am on the go. There is nothing worse than smelling several dirty diapers in your inside trash can, or several days old dirty diapers in your outside trash bin. Your neighbors and trash collectors will also thank you!

Mom Hack #6 – Pack a Change of Clothes and Keep on Hand

ALWAYS Pack a change of clothes for you and baby. If you have older kids that are between 3-6 years old even if they are potty trained, pack them extra clothes too. Sometimes having a new little one can cause kids to regress a bit. Competing for mommy’s and daddy’s attention when there is a newborn can be difficult.

Mom Hack #7 Use Ziploc Bags to Organize Your Diaper Bag

Using Ziploc Bags can keep all your baby supplies easily compartmentalized.

Mom Hack #8 – Order Groceries & Supplies Online

Amazon Prime is my Best Friend!! As often as possible, order groceries and supplies online and have them delivered, or pick them up at the store. It’s a lot easier to drive up to the pickup zone and have a team member load your groceries than it is to drag your kids through the aisles of the store. Several stores offer outside pick up for your groceries and supplies. Walmart and Target are a couple of stores that offer this service. This will save you so much time and probably money as well! It will certainly save your sanity.

Mom Hack #9 – Use NoseFrida When Baby Gets Stuffed Up

NoseFrida the Snotsucker Baby Nasal Aspirator and Saline Nasal Spray Kit with 10 Hygiene filters by Fridababy – Sinus Congestion Relief for newborns up to toddlers

It’s not if, but when your baby gets stuffed up and congested, you will do everything you can to find relief for your little one. The best and fastest way that I have found in my 21 years of motherhood to get fast relief for congestion is to use a genius invention called The NoseFrida. Click this link to purchase it from Amazon. Seriously guys, this is the best thing ever. Now the concept of it grosses some people out, because you put a tube in your baby’s nose and basically suck the boogies out. I know I know it sounds disgusting, but rest assured that no snot will make it into your mouth. There is a filter that is attached to the tube that prevents this from happening. TRUST ME when your baby can breathe you will be thanking me for turning you on to this little gadget! You’re welcome

Mom Hack #10 – Use Saline Spray/Drops BEFORE You Use The NoseFrida

Little Remedies Saline Spray and Dropper | 0.5 oz | Pack of 1 | For Noses to Breathe Easily | Gently Wash Away Mucus | Newborn Safe

Using saline spray before you use the NoseFrida nasal aspirator will help loosen baby’s mucous and get you better results. I use Little Remedies brand Saline Spray / Drops. My kids always hate getting drops put in their nose, and they will fight me every step of the way. It feels like you are being so mean to them, but when you see how much better they can breathe afterwards, all the fuss will be worth it!

Mom Hack #11 – Self Care is a MUST

I will be completely honest. Of all the Mom Hacks, this is probably the one that I struggle with the most. It is so easy to get caught up in your day that you find little time to take care of yourself. But TRUST ME, Self Care is so important not only to your physical health, but also to your mental health! Take a shower, wash your face, brush your teeth, put on clean clothes, do your hair and makeup if you can. You will feel so much better and be so much more productive!

Mom Hack #12 – Invest In a Good Baby Cradle n’ Swing

Baby swings are pure magic! My kids pretty much lived/slept in their swing for the first 6 months. It was the only way I was able to get time to take a shower, or get anything done. Invest the money and buy a swing that has some good features. It’s great if it is battery powered, but make sure that it also has an A/C power cord as a backup! You don’t want to have to always buy batteries to keep this baby going. Also get one that has multiple positions and speeds available. A mobile and mirror to keep baby distracted is also a big plus. This is definitely an item you want to put on your registration!

Fisher-Price My Little Snugabear Cradle ‘n Swing

Mom Hack #13 – Sleep When Baby Is Sleeping

Seriously. Maybe not always, but in the early days and weeks, sleep when your baby is sleeping. This isn’t necessary once you have establish a sleep routine that works for you, but in the beginning, it is better to conserve as much energy as possible. Being a sleep deprived momma is not fun!

Mom Hack #14 – Keep Extra Plastic Bags In The Car

You know all those grocery store bags that you always have too many of? Keep like 5-10 of them in your car. You never know when you might need one. I’ve used them to put garbage in when I quickly do a trash sweep..cuz you know our cars get trashed with little ones. They have also come in handy for a dirty diaper, or dirty/wet clothes. The possibilities are endless.

Mom Hack #15 – Keep an Empty Wide Rimmed Bottle Handy

Now this Mom Hack is for when baby gets older, but my husband insisted that I needed to share this because it has saved us so many times! Haha! If you have boys and you are potty training, always keep an empty wide rimmed bottle on hand especially in the car. What are you going to use a wide rimmed bottle for you ask? Yup you guessed it, a portable toilet! When faced with the choice of pee all over the car seat, or pee into a bottle, my choice is the bottle every time. (Washing your car seat is a pain in the butt!) You gotta do what you gotta do. I like bottles from Bai or Gatorade. Sometimes you just can’t make it to the toilet in time and there is no bush in site for your little guy to discreetly pee into.

I hope that you have enjoyed these Mom Hacks and that you can use some in your day to day. What are some of your favorite Mom Hacks or Tips & Advice? I would love to know! Leave me a comment below. Even though I have been doing this mom thing for quite a while, I am always learning new little things to make my house and life run smoother.

Here are some other posts you may like. Check them out.

Creating a Family Budget & Getting Your Finances Under Control

DIY How To Make a Floor Length Mirror Using a Kreg Pocket Hole Jig

The Devil Is a Liar! Battling Spiritual Warfare With the Word of God

Thank you so much for visiting my site!

If you like what you read, leave us a comment and SUBSCRIBE below:

Until Next Time, Let’s Be Perfectly Imperfect Together!

January 6, 2019January 28, 2019

Bible Verses About Worry & Anxiety

25 Bible Scriptures About Worry and Anxiety

Have you ever been unable to sleep because you have so many thoughts racing through your head? Life’s daily worries and anxieties can throw our sleep schedule, not to mention our lives for a loop! Have you ever heard the saying “Your thoughts precede your actions? Our minds are a launching pad for the actions that we carry out throughout our day. What we think about can affect our day to day in many ways. That is why it is so important to fill our minds with God’s Word! God’s Word can calm our souls in ways you didn’t even know possible.

Keep reading to see some of the Bible Scriptures I turn to when my spirit feels stressed out and uneasy.

Philippians 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,present your request to God.

Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV) New International Version

Do Not Worry

²⁵“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

²⁸“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³²For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) New International Version

⁵Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.

Romans 8:38-39 (NIV) New International Version

³⁸For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) New International Version

⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Luke 12:24-34 (NIV) New International Version

²⁴Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! ²⁵Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? ²⁶Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

²⁷“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ²⁸If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! ²⁹And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. ³⁰For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. ³¹But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

³²“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. ³³Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. ³⁴For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV) New International Version

²⁸“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

John 14:27 (NIV) New International Version

²⁷Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Colossians 3:15 (NIV) New International Version

¹⁵Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Psalm 55:22 (NIV) New International Version

²²Cast your cares on the Lord
and he will sustain you;
he will never let
the righteous be shaken.

Proverbs 12:25 (NIV) New International Version

²⁵Anxiety weighs down the heart,
but a kind word cheers it up.

1 Peter 5:6-8 (NIV) New International Version

⁶Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

⁸Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Hebrews 13:5-6 (NIV) New International Version

⁵Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”

⁶So we say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?”

Psalm 23:4 (NKJV) New King James Version

⁴Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV) New King James Version

¹⁰Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

Psalm 94:19 (NKJV) New King James Version

¹⁹In the multitude of my anxieties within me,
Your comforts delight my soul.

Psalm 34:4 (NKJV) New King James Version

⁴I sought the Lord, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.

2 Corinthians 12:10 (NIV) New International Version

¹⁰That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Philippians 4:13 (NKJV) New King James Version

¹³I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) New King James Version

⁷For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Isaiah 26:3 (NIV) New International Version

³You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) New International Version

¹¹For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Isaiah 41:13 (NIV) New International Version

¹³For I am the Lord your God
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.

Psalm 37:8-9 (NIV) New International Version

⁸Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
⁹For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.

2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NIV) New International Version

Final Greetings

¹⁶Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.

Here are some other posts you may like. Check them out.

Creating a Family Budget & Getting Your Finances Under Control

DIY How To Make a Floor Length Mirror Using a Kreg Jig

The Devil Is a Liar! Battling Spiritual Warfare With the Word of God

Thank you so much for visiting my site!

If you like what you read, leave us a comment and SUBSCRIBE to our Blog below:

Until Next Time, Let’s Be Perfectly Imperfect Together!

January 2, 2019January 28, 2019

How To Start Your Own Blog in 2019

Beginner's Guide to Starting Your Own Blog in 2019

Do You Want to Learn How to Start Your Very Own Blog? Do you have a message that you want to be heard by others? Would you like to earn some extra income working from home? Maybe even turn it into a full-time online business? Let Me Show You How to Start Your Very Own Blog in 2019!

When I was a little girl in the 3rd grade I won a young authors contest. I was able to go to a special convention in Orlando with my teacher and I was interviewed by our local TV station! It was so exciting! Ever since that day, I have always wanted to be a writer and an author! How amazing that in this day and age of something like the Internet that any one of us can be authors or writers! If you have a dream and you want your message to be heard, you can do it!

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

All It Takes Is ACTION!

#BrendaCataldo #PerfectlyImperfectMomma — Brenda Cataldo – Mom + Wife + Entrepreneur + Blogger + Perfectly Imperfect Momma

Fast forward to the future and a whole lot of life later, my writing dreams took a back seat to the realities of life.

Hello, my name is Brenda Cataldo. I am a lover of Jesus, a wife and a momma of five kiddos ranging from 21 months – 21 years old! I am also a licensed Realtor, Entrepreneur and Blogger. WOW! I know right? As you can imagine, life in our house gets busy!

Despite my crazy schedule, I just jumped in and DID IT! And boy am I happy that I did! Starting a blog has been one of the biggest things that has changed our lives.

I had wanted to start a blog for years. I had also tried to get my siblings to start one with me. But distance and busy lives with new little ones running around prevented that from happening.

I was so afraid to jump into it by myself because I thought:

What if I don’t have enough to talk about?
What if no one likes what I write about?
How much will it cost to start a blog?
Do I need to be tech savvy?
When will I even find the time to write blogs?
Will I really be able to make money doing this?

The Final Nudge I Needed To Get Me Off My Butt And JUST DO IT!

These and so many other questions ran through my mind. Maybe you have the same questions going through your head right now. Unfortunately for me, I gave in to that fear and worry for years, until one day when I felt convicted by 2 scriptures that I read.

The first one was in James 1:22 about not just listening to the word and fooling yourself, but to actually take action and DO what the word says! This scripture was followed up by another one, Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 about investing in many ventures.

I just couldn’t shake the feeling that I had wasted so much time dreaming about this and wishing for it to happen. It was time for me to take ACTION! So I did!

You can do it too! It’s not as difficult as you may think. Let me show you how.

Blog Vision & Focus

You need to have somewhat of an idea about what you will be writing about and why. Do you want to advertise your business or accent it with a blog? Will you be writing about how much you love cooking and share your recipes? Maybe you really love fitness, the outdoors and traveling and you want to write about that. Whatever it may be, do a brain dump and write down as many ideas as you can. Give yourself 10 minutes….OK GO!

What did you come up with? Think about the things that you love, the things that you are interested in. If you are interested in it, or if you like to read about those things, chances are that there is an audience out there that wants to read about it too!

Remember that (especially to stay motivated) in the beginning you need to be passionate about what you write about. If you just write about things that you think other people want to read about, your lack of excitement will come across in your writing.

Choose The Name of Your Blog

It should be as short as possible and catchy.

Make it easy to spell – the last thing that you want is to spend all this time creating a site and then not having anyone be able to find it because they can’t spell it correctly.

The name should mean something to you.

It should describe or express what you will be promoting, selling or writing about.

You should do your research and make sure that the name you choose is also available on Pinterest and all social media handles (ex. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc). Your objective here is to make your brand flow as seamlessly as possible between all different forms of media that you will be promoting yourself on.

If you have a hard time coming up with a catchy name, or if the name that you really want is already taken, do a variation of the original name you wanted. You could also do your name, or a variation of your name.

Choose How Your Site Will Be Hosted

I’m sure you have seen advertisements on how you can start a blog for free with platforms like WordPress, Blogger, Wix or Weebly. You’ve probably wondered if it is in fact that easy to start your own blog. The simple answer is YES. Yes, it is that easy to start up your own blog. But the question you should really be asking yourself is this: “Do I want to make money on the blog that I start?” If you answered YES, let me tell you why you need to start a SELF-HOSTED site instead of a free site.

While self hosted sites will cost you a little bit of money initially, I think that you will agree that it is a worthwhile investment if you are planning on making money with your blog.

Free Sites Vs. Self Hosted Sites

You see, free sites are great for the “Just For Fun” blogger because it’s free and let’s face it, who doesn’t love free? The problem with free when it comes to your blog hosting is that when your blog is hosted by a free platform such as Blogger or Weebly, you DO NOT TECHNICALLY OWN your blog!! So that means you are at the mercy of Blogger, or Weebly, or whoever owns the platform your blog is running on. If the platform ever decided they wanted to shut your blog down, at any time they could! If you are making money on your blog, that could have devastating results for you and your family!

With a Self Hosted site, YOU OWN YOUR BLOG! This will give you control of what happens with your website. First you will need to purchase your domain name, I would recommend a DOT.COM. This is the go-to for most bloggers. Then you choose a provider like Bluehost to “HOST” your domain name.

With all that being said, if you are planning to MAKE MONEY WITH YOUR BLOG, you absolutely need to pay for hosting!

Bluehost is who I use to host all of my blogs. They have a quick and easy install of WordPress which is a free and open-source content management system.
According to data from web technology survey firm W3Techs, WordPress now powers 30% of websites worldwide. Bluehost is the # 1 TRUSTED WordPress Hosting Provider and all of their platforms are built upon reliable, high performance servers. Their amazing customer service is also available 24/7 so if you run into any issues or problems with your site, rest assured that help is only a phone call away!

Bluehost Setup – Let’s Get Started

Setting up your blog through Bluehost is easy.
First thing you want to do is click this link to take you to Bluehost. Using my link will get you a special price as well as getting a domain name & SSL certificate for free. Don’t worry, the link will open up a new tab, so this one will still be open so that you can click back and forth for easy setup.

Start Your Blog With Bluehost HERE!

Bluehost Home Page - Beginner's Guide to Starting a Blog - Perfectly Imperfect Momma — Bluehost Home Page – Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Blog – Perfectly Imperfect Momma

Bluehost Select Your Plan

Choose the Bluehost plan you want to go with.
If you are just starting out, selecting the basic plan will work, just make sure when you are selecting options to spend a little extra to get the domain privacy. Keep in mind that if you don’t choose this option, anyone can look up the owner of your website and your private information is accessible like you name and address. Go for the upgraded plan if you can swing it though. It comes with a lot of extras for the money.

Bluehost Plans Available - Beginner's Guide to Starting a Blog - Perfectly Imperfect Momma — Bluehost Plans Available – Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Blog – Perfectly Imperfect Momma

PLEASE NOTE:

I want to disclose this to you before you get deep into the setup process. Bluehost requires that you pay upfront for their hosting packages. You can pay upfront for 12 months, 24 months or 36 months.

There are many great reasons for upfront billing. Crazy things happen like getting your credit cards stolen. What if you forget to update your payment information with Bluehost? By billing upfront, you can avoid billing issues that could come up that would affect your site being up. It would be heartbreaking to see all the hard work you put in to creating your site get bungled up because of a billing issue! The peace of mind knowing that your site is secure for 1-3 years is priceless!

Another great reason is that you are able to make sure that your domain name, and basically your brand, can’t be purchased out from under you by somebody else. If you are serious about earning an income from your blog, TRUST ME, you do not want to do a month to month set up!

Bluehost Domain Search

Once you choose the plan that you want, you will be led to this screen where you can look up to see if the domain name you want is available.

If the name you want isn’t available, don’t be discouraged. Just keep trying different names, or variations of the name you want. You can also use your name if that’s available.

Bluehost Create Your Account

Once you have decided on your name, click on it and it will bring you to the screen where you put in all of your personal information. Put all of your information in and scroll down the page to the package information.

Bluehost Package Selection

This is where you will select the options that you want. Remember to make sure when you are selecting options to spend a little extra to get the Domain Privacy Protection. If you don’t choose this option, anyone can look up the owner of your domain name and your private information is accessible like you name and address. If you pay up front for 36 months, that will get you the best price. I wanted to get the most bang for my buck so this is the option that I went with.

Bluehost Package and Payment - Beginner's Guide to Starting a Blog - Perfectly Imperfect Momma — Bluehost Package and Payment – Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Blog – Perfectly Imperfect Momma

Bluehost Payment

Once you select your package information and extras, in-put your payment information. And press that button! A confirmation page will follow where Bluehost will tell you the email that they have sent your confirmation to. You will also get your order receipt as well.

Welcome to Bluehost - Beginner's Guide to Starting a Blog - Perfectly Imperfect Momma — Welcome to Bluehost – Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Blog – Perfectly Imperfect Momma

CONGRATULATIONS!!

You are now the proud owner of a Domain Name that is hosted through Bluehost!! You are another step closer to getting your blog up and running!

CLICK HERE to Host Your Domain Name With Bluehost!

Bluehost Password Setup

Now it’s time to create your Password for your Bluehost Login. Make sure that you keep your Login and Password information in a safe place. You will need these to open up your account so that you can make edits to your site.

Bluehost Create Your Password - Beginner's Guide to Starting a Blog - Perfectly Imperfect Momma — Bluehost Create Your Password – Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Blog – Perfectly Imperfect Momma

Bluehost Password Created - Beginner's Guide to Starting a Blog - Perfectly Imperfect Momma — Bluehost Password Created – Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Blog – Perfectly Imperfect Momma

WordPress Setup

Once you have created your Password, press the Login button. It will automatically take you to your WordPress setup. You will be asked to select a theme that inspires you. It’s OK if you aren’t sure which one to pick. You can select one now and change it later, or you can skip this step.

Word Press Template Setup - Beginner's Guide to Starting a Blog - Perfectly Imperfect Momma — Word Press Template Setup – Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Blog – Perfectly Imperfect Momma

Word Press Template Setup – Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Blog – Perfectly Imperfect Momma
Word Press Template Setup – Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Blog – Perfectly Imperfect Momma

Once your Template has been applied, you will get a Welcome to Word Press screen pop up that will start asking you some questions.

They will ask if you are setting up a business or personal account. If you are planning on monetizing your blog, select the business button.

Word Press Template Setup – Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Blog – Perfectly Imperfect Momma

WordPress Setup - Beginner's Guide to Starting a Blog - Perfectly Imperfect Momma — WordPress Setup – Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Blog – Perfectly Imperfect Momma

Jetpack Setup

Jetpack

Jetpack setup and WordPress Setup - Beginner's Guide to Starting a Blog - Perfectly Imperfect Momma — Jetpack setup and WordPress Setup – Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Blog – Perfectly Imperfect Momma

After setting up your Jetpack account, you will be taken back to your WordPress site. Now it’s time to start customizing your site!

The sidebar below displays all the options that you have to be able to edit your website. There are so many great ways that you can edit your free template.

There are many great tutorials on YouTube that show in great detail how to use WordPress and customize your template. Definitely experiment and look through all the sections. The more that you learn and feel comfortable with using WordPress, the better that your site is going to look!

Congratulations my friend! You are well on your way to getting your blog up and running!

If you missed the link for Starting Your Blog with Bluehost above, just CLICK HERE, or the link below.

Start Your Blog with Bluehost! CLICK HERE

I would love to hear from you and know whether this tutorial was helpful in getting you started on your new blog. Leave me a comment below and subscribe to my blog. It would really make my day! Until next time friend!

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