Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Lilly.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Ashley. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I feel that I am at the very beginning of my journey as a blogger and I am looking forward to so much more to come. Sometimes, the hardest part of doing something is simply starting. I had been wanting to blog for a long time, but fear of failure and just not making time to start one held me back. One night, I was laying in bed while on a trip, praying, and I just felt an urge inside that it was time. As soon as we got back from the trip, I began to start planning content and creating my website. The support and encouragement of my husband and close friends have also been driving forces to finally get this going. I am several months in and can say this has been a creative outlet that I have desperately needed and I am hoping to continue to build upon this platform and help others. I have so many trips and tips, budget-friendly home projects, artwork, and hair tips that I want to share with everyone.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Definitely not. From simply creating the website, there are so many website builder/hosts choices, to picking out the name of the website. I went back and forth on this one. Learning to market my website has been a struggle, understanding SEOs, and utilizing the benefits of social media platforms like Instagram and Pinterest. The biggest challenge is the consistent engagement of my website. As I am still very new to this, I am absorbing as much information as I can from other bloggers/influencers, who are running successful blogs on a full-time basis. It seriously is like a whole new world for me.
Managing my time to ensure I stay consistent with generating content has been a balancing act for sure. During the day, I work full time while my kids are daycare and school. I am also in graduate school. If I have a little downtime during the day, I will work on the blog and spend time on social media to promote my posts as time permits, and once the kiddos go to bed, I take advantage of that time as well to write and learn.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about OnTrekMom – what should we know?
OnTrekMom is a travel and lifestyle blog. I specialize in four areas – travel or what I like to call Treks, specifically with kids, budget-friendly home projects, natural hair tips that I have learned along the way, and my artwork. Most of my paintings are from photographs from landscapes or people that I have met while traveling. The word trek means a long arduous (or difficult) journey, and honestly, traveling with kids can be just that. I did not think we would take trips at all once we had kids, I did not as a kid, and that was most people told me. I share our experiences on trips, and I even have featured posts from friends, who share their experience traveling with kids.
I am most proud that I can share my journey and I hope it helps people (and helps keep them On Trek *smile*). I have struggled with my hair and I hope that my struggles can help someone. I have taken treks with my kids and despite it being hard, I want to let people know that they can still travel and it can be worthwhile. I have added some really nice touches to my house to make it home without breaking the bank, and so I hope these ideas will inspire someone else to add some pizzazz to their home. My artwork has always been something personal to me, but I want to share it with anyone who will look with hopes that it will make them feel something special. I am still learning and growing in all areas and I think that’s what’s important to share. It means the world to me when I get feedback that what I have shared actually has helped or mattered.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My husband has been a huge supporter. If I have to stay up late, he is right there beside me. If I cannot figure out having technical issues with my site, he figures it out or helps me work through it. He even wrote a blog post, which is a really great one, check it out. My sister has been a great resource as well. Any time I need advice or need to vent or want to share the good news, she has been who I turn to. A close friend of mine helped me figure out a name, encouraged me to start the blog, and has given me ideas to keep going. My mom has also been a source of encouragement to keep going when I feel like I am failing. My boys motivate me on a daily basis to give my all in everything for them. The comments on my blog posts, on social media, text messages, in person, have all been driving forces to keep going and reminds me that even when it seems like no one is reading, they are. I am very appreciative of the support I have gotten from friends, Instafriends, and my family.
Most importantly, I thank God every day for blessing me with the ability to do this, and for the support structure in place to encourage me every step of the way. All things are possible with God who gives me strength.
Contact Info:
- Website: OnTrekMom.com
- Email: ontrekmom@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashlillyotm/
Image Credit:
My Unique Picture
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