Guest post by Stephanie O’Dea
In 2007, I quit my job. I was a young mom of two children, and I hated going to work. I was blessed that I taught preschool and could take the kids to work with me, but almost every day I hoped and prayed that this day would be my last day of going to work.
And then the baby started getting sick. I couldn’t figure it out — I tried everything I could think of, but she just kept vomiting sporadically, and it became obvious to me that I needed to pull her out of the daycare setting and stay home.
So I quit.
My husband wasn’t all that thrilled with me (be careful what you wish for, right?)
[PS, my little one is now ABSOLUTELY FINE. We learned after some testing that she had Celiac Disease, and after being put on a gluten-free diet she made an immediate recovery and now is a super strong and healthy 10-year-old.]
Because we live in a tremendously expensive part of the country, I needed to quickly find a way to replace my income in order to meet our monthly expenses. I became determined (and slightly obsessed) at trying to find a legitimate way to make money from home.
I started living a secret life, and began answering work-at-home ads found in the back of parenting magazines, and on Craigslist.
They were all scams.
After months and months of searching, I started feeling lonely, afraid, and guilty. I knew that I had to find something that was “for reals” and that didn’t cost an upfront fee the way a lot of the online direct sales businesses I researched did.
So I tried my hand at blogging.
In 2008, I started a free blogspot blog at Crockpot365.blogspot.com and told the internet that I had a New Year’s Resolution to use my crockpot slow cooker every single day for a year.
And I did it.
This simple idea, this crazy and absurd idea, has since launched a full-time income for myself. This site has led to 5 books, numerous national TV and radio spots, endorsement opportunities, and a job.
A legitimate job that I do all by myself, from my own kitchen, in my fuzzy slippers, while I am home with my kids.
I truly couldn’t be any happier. I do believe, with all my heart, that I am living my version of The American Dream.
I’ve now had my site for 7 years, and decided to write down all that I’ve learned along the way. I’ve been lucky enough to mentor many other bloggers who have followed the steps that I took and they, too, have been successful.
I’d like to show you how. My newest book, The Mommy Blogger Next Door: Real Moms Making Real Money Blogging at Home, In Their Pajamas is now available.
Crystal has been gracious enough to provide the quote listed on the cover, which reads: “Stephanie’s practical advice and spot-on tips will give you the confidence and tools you need to start your own mommy blog.” — Crystal Paine
Want to win a copy of my new book? Enter below — and here’s to your blogging success!
Stephanie O’Dea is a New York Times best-selling author, slow cooking expert, and a mommy blogger. You can find her online at StephanieODea.com, or on twitter @stephanieodea.
Enter to Win a Copy of Stephanie’s Book!
Would you like to win a copy of Real Moms Making Real Money Blogging at Home in Their Pajamas? Stephanie is giving away 10 digital copies to readers here this week.
To enter, click on the graphic below and type in your name and email address. 10 winners will be chosen and posted next week. This giveaway ends Friday, February 13, at 11:59 pm, CST.
I started blogging 3 years ago. I love reading other bloggers success stories.
would luv to win to..I have blogged but not seriously and wanting to start back first of year but not very organized
patricia
Absolutely LOVE this book! I’m in the process of trying to put a bunch of blog entries together on paper so I can start blogging online too.
I’m impressed and want to learn to blog…fingers crossed for a free copy!!!
I’ve been a fan of Stephanie’s for years. I’m reading the book now and am truly enjoying it. Just like her blog, it offers down to earth, real world info and makes you feel as though you’re listening to a dear friend. She’s such an inspiration and I’m so happy she’s blessing others with what she’s learned along her path to success!
Stephanie, I don’t follow many blogs, but I was so excited to see your post here today. (I just made the crockpot chinese lemon chicken– with orange instead– last night; you’re a mainstay at our house.) How happy to see my two favorite blogs coming together!
I totally need this! I am in your exact same shoes.
Wow, I had no idea two of my favorite bloggers knew each other! Stephanie, I found your blog shortly after my celiac diagnosis on 12/30/08 (happy New Year, not). I panicked with every meal, wondering what was or wasn’t safe to eat. Now, it seems, talk of gluten and celiac is everywhere, but it wasn’t back then and I had never heard of either. I’ve been living a Paleo lifestyle now for almost 4 years and I try to adapt every recipe I come across to a Crock-Pot, usually with wonderful results! I do about 85% of my overall cooking in my slow cookers now, saving me a lot of time in the kitchen.
Not only has your blog been a blessing to me, it has been a blessing to several of my patients as well. I work in physical therapy with a mostly geriatric population. Many patients are not able to tolerate complicated meals that require standing for extended periods, lifting, bending, twisting, etc. I can’t afford to purchase your cookbook for everyone, but I give them your website and encourage them to utilize their Crock-Pot to cook healthy meals. They get so excited to find that they can still be independent with meal prep! I wish you could see the excitement on their faces. We perfectly mobile folks don’t think about the simple act of being physically able to cook our own meals, and my patients constantly remind me not to take this privilege for granted.
I just want your crockpot recipes! Where are they
great story! Would love to read this book!!
So here is my curious question– when I think about blogging for income, I wonder if the “market” isn’t saturated enough already… Does that make sense? There are oodles of couponing, cooking, parenting, finance blogs out there. Is there really room for more?
Honestly I wonder the same thing.
Yes, just like there is room for more well-written and compelling books, I believe there is always room for more engaging blogs written on interesting and relevant topics.
I agree, Crystal! Yes, the road may be a bit harder, but there is always room for a unique point of view – a unique perspective – something different! Always. Plus, there are always new ways of marketing yourself, your brand, your blog – new ways to get in front of the people who will connect with you most. If you have a dream – go for it!
Love Stephanie’s story and all the ways she put herself out there and made things happen!
That is awesome. Congratulations on your success. It is pretty impressive that you stuck with using the crockpot for 365 days! Wow!
Follow me at http://www.sprinklesofpeace.wordpress.com
I’ve been hoping for a book like this to come along! Hope I win and I can also pass on the knowledge of this book to other moms!
Great story and congrats to you and all your successes! 🙂
I really appreciate the encouragement. I am hoping to use my blog as a source of income someday. 🙂
Awesome success story! Happy for her!
I love you guys! I have faithfully followed both of you for years. You are such an inspiration! I do have a question for you. What do you think about the sustainability of blogging as a full time income for someone just beginning? Do you think that we will be able to earn money this way for years to come?
I am just starting my blogging adventures and would be very grateful to win a copy. I just LOVE hearing stories like this, of women making their dreams come true in a way that works for them and their family.
As a matter of fact, this will be the focus of my blog – women earning money from home! I will be interviewing women who make a couple hundred extra a month to part-time incomes to full-time incomes. Still in the planning/set-up stages but I am slowly pulling it together following advice of many different successful bloggers. Whew, it is a lot of work, but I am having fun so far. Can’t wait to put my blog live once I have some content built up.
Thanks for sharing your story Stephanie and thanks for posting inspiring articles like this one Crystal.
Please give me one. Stay at home mom with 2 kids in a town of 300. Idk what to do
Have you read the pioneer woman blog. She lives in rural oklahoma and has one of the most successful blogs out there.
This is uncanny! Just last night, while leaving my home office feeling all but defeated, as I hadn’t made my 5 pm cut off goal, my husband looks at me and said, “Maybe this year you should just be a blogger.” I was shocked. I have a year of my combined masters/JD program, and as awful as this sounds, saving money to pay off our debt, actually became more of a passion for me than the law. I am seriously thinking about blogging full-time, and after passing the bar (God willing), work pro bono for local charities; there is a need for pro bono women/children’s advocates as well as civil rights assistance cases in my area. My dilemma is that I currently work-from-home in the legal field, and I am afraid that leaving the workforce, even with a new set of degrees, will be harder for me reenter at a later time. If I blog and run my art business, I can maintain my financial goals, but will not have a pension, but if I only work in the legal field, will I still be missing out? It’s a tough one, for me!
I so understand Stephanie’s feeling of being a mom of two young children and hating to go to work! I’m living it right now and trying to find the courage (and the idea) to be doing something on my own.
I started listening to Stephanie’s podcast on Brilliant Business Moms this morning on my way to work and can’t wait to get in the car to listen to the rest. Now I am making my daily visit to Money Saving Mom and I see Stephanie’s story again… I think the universe is trying to tell me something!
Thanks Stephanie for telling your story and making it seem so attainable!
Jeanna, that’s so cool! Thanks for tuning in! And… I think you may be right 🙂
Oh my word, I felt the same way! I was tired of getting my hopes up for a part-time job that was too good to be true! I actually started with Jamberry Nails after reading rave reviews in the comments of one of your blog posts about great part-time jobs for busy moms and I have to say THANK YOU! I know am building a team with women who are amazing ladies…some of them home school, some are single parents, some work full-time, but we all are there to support each other and it’s been an amazing journey!! I would really like to start blogging about this area of my life to be an encouragement and offer support to my customers and team members, so it would be great to read her book and see what advice she has to offer!
I hope I win! I just started blogging and I could use ALLL the help and information I can get my hands on! Fingers crossed!