Life’s Intermission…

It’s been some weeks, but I’m still here. I pray everyone had an amazing holiday and is starting off 2015 in good spirits. I took the last few weeks to just be still. I wanted to enjoy my family and friends.

2014 was unforgiving in many ways, but so many blessings surfaced in the last couple of months. I needed to reset and regroup and that meant disconnecting myself for some time.

At some point, we all need to get back to the basics and realign our thoughts, goals and game plan. A part of my journey and process has been to get back to the Lord. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but getting closer to perfection and good ideals, morals, lifestyle, etc. is where my focus has been.

May 2015 be our year for greatness. Let’s get out there and make things happen. Oh, and I’m back so get ready for what’s coming on Danithedreamgirl.com.

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Can You Afford Your Dream?

Source: omgdenise.deviantart.com

I say it all the time, but I am no expert. I simply speak my mind and follow my heart and gut. No matter how big my dreams have gotten, there’s a very striking sense of reality that sets in every now and then. I could sit here everyday and write and work so hard that I feel fulfilled, but how does that pay my bills? MY reality is, I need to work. I need to survive. I need to eat. I can’t do any of that without actually working. I’ve shed the normal 9-5 and don’t have to sit in an office every day, which is one goal that I’ve been able to achieve. But achieving goals is simply a domino effect; once you reach one, it’s on to the next one and so forth. For example, here is my goal list:

~~-Move out of Philadelphia~~

~~-Get my security clearance and a government job~~

~~-Get a lavish apartment~~

~~-Start writing in some capacity~~

~~-Get my blog site to generate revenue~~

~~-Get out of my 9-5 life and have free days~~

~~-Get my bartending license~~

-Start bartending

-Move out of DC

-Write for a large publication

As you can see, I named GOALS and not my dream(s). My big dream is to become such a successful writer that it is my job! Until then, I still have bills to pay and I still need to have a strong sense of reality that keeps me grounded. I always have a goal that allows me to earn money because at this point, I don’t have the luxury of not working. So, I ask all of you…can you afford your dream?

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Why Don’t I Blog About Gossip More Often?

I could easily find stories that appeal to the average reader and highlight the juicy stuff like Dwayne Wade being a father to a newborn while he just got engaged to Gabriel Union. I could focus on Chris Brown’s visit to rehab after finding himself in legal trouble once again. I could even document the day-to-day antics of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West. It’s hard not to fall into the trap of blogging about gossip that would bring me thousands of site visits every day; it’s REALLY hard. But, when I first created danithedreamgirl.com I knew that I had a vision and a purpose of what I wanted my brand to represent. I wanted to encourage and inspire others to do better, to think about their life and its direction and to follow their dreams.

I sprinkle some gossip in my posts every once in a while, when the story has an alternative or deeper meaning. But, in reality the gossip market is saturated with meaningless tid bits. Instead, I wanted people to be able to read something with a purpose. I’m still a growing site and it’s hard to take a more positive approach to blogging, but I get small reminders everyday that I’m on the right track. Most of my close friends know that my inspiration for taking the plunge into building my site was and is Necole Bitchie. Her story is amazing and in many ways, I find myself relating to her on many levels. She has no clue who I even am, but if she ever reads this I hope she knows that her story is what helped me find the courage to share my voice with all of you.

I’m at a really difficult place in my life at the moment. I find myself going through personal struggles that often times seem hard to tackle. I lost my job and am hustling to pay my bills by working long hours and using every bit of energy I have. Who knows what’s next for me, but for the first time in years I can say that I am starting over. From the bare minimum. It’s a scary place to be, but I say all of this to remind my readers that THIS is why I started my site. Making danithedreamgirl.com a big enough site to generate a decent amount of revenue, becoming an industry leading blogger and inspiring people along the way are my goals. I’m just now in a place to take a serious shot at giving it my all.

Let the story begin…

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30 Thursdays!

As some of you may know, I am at a turning point in my life. I am knocking on the door to the other side of adulthood…yes, I’m turning 30! UGH! Some people welcome this idea, some people totally freak out (that’s me) and some don’t even think about it (totally wish this was me). Every person has their own way of coping with the idea that they will no longer be in their 20’s (OMG I just got nervous). So, what does this mean for me? It means that as much as I am freaking out, I can’t stop time. I can’t avoid turning 30 no matter how hard I close my eyes and make a wish (believe me, I’ve tried). Having this in the forefront of my brain, I have no other choice than to go out of my 20’s with a bang! I’ve done the necessary cleaning up in my life…you know, the getting closure on certain situations, saying good-bye to those that no longer deserve a space in my circle, moving on from hurt or just toxic surroundings and above all, nurturing the friendships and relationships with family that I am so grateful for. I want to enter into this new phase free of the BULLSHIT (yes, I cussed). That way I can enjoy my celebration! Stay tuned for my mini journey details (party planning, getting the perfect dress, my freak out moments, etc.). Thanks for taking this ride with me and feel free to offer words of encouragement and boxes of tissues!

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What Are You Doing to Make the World a Better Place?!

Around the holidays people tend to forget that there are many who don’t have the option to celebrate. There are so many people who are less fortunate in this world and I often believe that it is our obligation to look out for them when we can. So, this holiday season, try to give back to at least one person. It may be $5 to a homeless person on the street or it may be volunteering at your local shelter, but whatever it is MAKE IT COUNT! I don’t just talk about, I am about it as well. I will be sponsoring 2 children this year for the Holiday Gift Drive at the James G. Blaine Academic Plus school in Philadelphia. Each child in my friend’s class gets to pick 3 items that they want for Christmas and, those who are gracious enough to give, will buy the items for the child so that they can have a special Christmas! I don’t live locally so I will be making my contribution financially for this event. If you are interested and/or need something to give towards this holiday please let me know and I can pass you the information. If you think it’s just us normal folks who give back, check out a few of the top celebrity philanthropists; this should get you in the spirit!

Oprah has donated more than $41 million through the Oprah Winfrey Foundation which helps women and children gain access to education programs.

Meryl Streep has contributed over $2 million to the Silver Mountain Foundation for the Arts, which she and her husband established.

Mel Gibson, as crazy as some may think he is, has given over $6.85 million to the A.P. Reilly foundation to support the Holy Family Church!

Give what you can to help those less fortunate!

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It’s Time to Get Real! F What You Think!

I’d just like to start by saying that I’m not sorry for what you are about to read. This is my blog, this is my mind and it’s every bit of my prerogative to share what I want with the world. Call it a last straw, call it the straw that broke the camel’s back, call it what you want, but that moment of clarity has arrived. When you get to the point when all you want is total and complete happiness, you are willing to do any and everything to get it, including being selfish! YUP, selfish! It’s all about me, me and me…me.

I’m at the point where I just don’t give a hoot about certain things such as:

-People who walk out of my life

-Judgmental people

-Misplaced blame

-Ungratefulness

-Being taken for granted

-DISrespect

-Immaturity

-Stupidity

I learned a very valuable lesson this past week and that is to not allow myself to be treated anything less than what I am worth, by anyone…family included. If you choose to not support me, that’s fine…different strokes for different folks, but please step aside and let’s do away with the fake smiles. If you can’t be genuinely happy for me, pack your bags, your belongings, your space, your breath and exit the building. Sometimes people put up with more than they should and they keep negativity around and they fight for something that hmmm…wouldn’t fight for them. I’m taking back control of my life, my circle, my bubble! I’m so focused, I can taste the success. I will not allow myself to be derailed. My dreams are being protected!

Thanks for reading luvs!

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It’s My Anniversary!!!

I’m a couple of weeks late, so this is a belated celebration, but a year ago I decided to open up my world to all of you! So far, Danithedreamgirl has been an amazing accomplishment and I’m sooooo looking forward to what’s in store for me. You might be wondering what are some things that I’ve done with my site, and myself, in the past year …well, here you go!

-I’ve shared personal experiences with my readers!

-Started my own “how-to” segment with Become a Blogger Mondays

-I’ve conducted more than 16 interviews (which include celebrity interviews)

-I’ve built my contact list of celebs and publicists

-Had my site banner designed

-Took professional photos for promotions

-Built my traffic enough to generate revenue

-I’ve received 3 awards for my site!!!

-I started blogging for MuzikTalk.com

-Began photography services (with my new fancy camera)

-Have managed to help others and inspire them to follow/chase/run towards their dreams (the most important accomplishment)!!!

Although it has only been a year, it has been a gigantic step towards a great future! I look forward to the next time when I can give you another annual update. Thank you so much for your continued support…it means the world to me!

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B.B.M…What the HECK Should I Blog About?!

Welcome back for another week of, “BECOME A BLOGGER MONDAYS”!!!

By now you’ve decided that blogging is for you and you have chosen which site is best for you as well. Ok, so now comes the FUN part! You get to write about ANYthing! When I first started writing I didn’t know exactly what I’d be sharing with the world, but I knew the message I wanted to get across. Here are some helpful tips on HOW to decide what to write about:

1. Know the reason WHY you want to blog.

For me, the reason was simple…I wanted to inspire others. Just tap into what motivates you and that’s the first step to your success.

2. Figure out what you want your end result to be.

Some people blog for their business, others want to make money on the side and some just do it for the fun of it all. So, whether you want to use your “stage” as a means to an end or to simply document an online journal, you must decipher what you ultimately want to see happen with your blog. Knowing this will allow you to further hone in on what you want to focus on.

3. Make it FUN!

When I say this, it’s more for you, rather than your readers. Of course, you want to captivate your audience, but if you don’t enjoy what you’re writing about then no one will.

4. Be diverse in your topics.

Starting out, you’re going to want to be consistent in your topics; this will help form your target audience. BUT! BUT! BUT! Every once in a while, it will be nice for your readers to see a different side of you, i.e. if you’re serious then make it funny, if you’re funny then maybe write about a more serious/personal topic. Diversity will help expand past your target audience! One thing that I do often is reach out to my readers. I ask them what they want to read about, I ask them their thoughts on my topics of discussion and most importantly, I open myself up for constructive criticism.

Whatever you choose to share with the world, is all up to you! Remain true to what you know and the rest will fall into place. Happy BLOGGING everyone! Make sure to come back next Monday when I discuss, “Grammar is YOUR Friend!!!”

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B.B.M. (Become a Blogger Mondays) Which Site is Right for You?!

Welcome back to B.B.M.! Last week I discussed how to decide if blogging was right for you and seeing as though you’ve come back for a second week, that means you’re ready to begin your blogging journey (which makes me so happy). So, let’s jump right in and get down to business!

Of course the next big step is to find a site to call home. Now, if you are anything like I was, you will have no clue how to make this decision. Here are the steps that I took in finding a site that was just right for me:

1. I opened my mouth to ask questions.

Sometimes it can be intimidating to ask the most basic questions, but you will find that it is often the best option. Ask around and see what other bloggers are doing. You may even find it helpful to ask people with a tech background (which is what I did) to see which sites are user-friendly and offer the best features.

2. Google became my friend!

Pretty much anything that you need to research can be found online…information is right at your fingertips. Any and everything that I could think of, I researched, i.e. types of blogs, did I like blogs with or without a lot of pictures?, did I skip over sites with a lot of writing?, colors, etc. By looking at what others are doing, you can really begin to shape ideas for your site, which means you can target one that is right for you.

3. I was honest about my likes and dislikes.

While you continue your research, pay attention to what catches your eye (and not just the obvious details). It may make sense to ask a friend if you can take a “tour” of their site to see how it works “behind the scenes”. There are certain features that I like about my site, that I didn’t find elsewhere. For example, I love that WordPress is really “professional” and up-to-date. They take the time to help new users and they constantly update layout themes, add-ons, widgets, etc. for the regulars who want something new. If I have any questions, I can always ask a WordPress staff member and I can also search through forums for answers to ALL of my questions. Of course, other sites offer things that I don’t get with WordPress, but when I weigh the pros and cons, I know I’ve chosen wisely. So, before you go signing up, make sure you are critical of your options!

4. Just make a choice…I did!

If after all of this, you still aren’t sure which site is best for you, then just pick ONE! What’s the worse that can happen? You don’t like it? TIP: When I first signed up with WordPress, I didn’t make my site live right away. I played around with different layout themes and I practiced writing new posts. I learned how to do the simple things like loading an image or creating tags (something you’ll learn more about). Have fun with the decision-making process!

I hope you’ve found this helpful and be sure to come back next Monday when I discuss: What the Heck Should I Blog About?

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