Heather Kephart on Famous Bloggers Club Today
As I am communicating with great bloggers trying to provide you with more interviews on our Famous Bloggers Club, I meet Heather Kephart through her blog, I know her as a nice and kind person who is blogging to spread the happens around the blogosphere, she is the founder of HappyMaking blog, plz enjoy our interview with, it’s really interesting one.
Q. Tell the world something about yourself and what you do in life?
I am presently a happy wife and mother. I get called weird a lot. I encourage people to laugh and smile and to look at life through a lens of silliness, and to express themselves creatively. I also share many of my most honest personal thoughts with my readers in hopes that they will see themselves in me and know that they are not alone. I spend my days taking care of my family, blogging, social networking, and learning to be a writer.
It matters not at this point what I write, I just want to hone my skills and use writing as a tool to express myself and connect with others. As a blogger, I have some experience writing creative nonfiction, but want to try my hand at fiction and poetry as well.
Follow me on Twitter @Happymaker and Facebook
Q. What was the story behind your Blog? (how you start Blogging – since when – how did you named your Blog).
I spent the majority of my adult life working in financial services, but after I had my son Joseph in December of 2006 I simply could not physically part with him and became a stay at home mom. I read about other stay at home moms earning extra money for their families through blogging, so I decided to try my hand at it just over a year ago.
I started off at howtobeawoman.net, then moved to retroheather.com, then to happy-making.blogspot.com, and finally to heatherkephart.com HappyMaking.
All of this shifting around was due to inexperience on my part, getting sucked into everything I was reading about social media and branding. In the end I am here blogging behind my name and the title “Happymaking”, because the pursuit of happiness is what it is all about for me.
Everything connects back to and feeds from it. Happymaking is connecting, laughing, crying, confessing, inspiring. For me Happymaking is giving questions to the answers. To be happy is a choice we make every morning when we wake up. The path to happiness is not paved for our comfort. Those of us who have chosen to make happiness a priority need to support each other as much as we are able.
Q. Have you earned any money from been a Blogger? (How you did it – add links to useful websites for making money online – If NOT then tell us why you blog)
I made a little money when I first started blogging at howtobeawoman.net. I did some payperpost, some reviews, surveys, etc. No companies stick out in my mind now as having been better than the other. After about three months I demonetized my blog because I simply couldn’t stomach the covert nature of reviews, and the ridiculous amount of time required to make the tiniest amount of money. After demonetizing I figured I could at least enjoy myself and keep myself mentally healthy by unburdening myself on my blog, and by networking with inspiring, funny, creative people, and that this would make me a better person and benefit my family.
After making the final shift to heatherkephart.com a month or so ago, with the encouragement of my new fellow P50 Allied Bloggers, I decided to remonetize my blog, but to do it my way. No covert reviews. Only simple, honest, money-making techniques that won’t require me to be anything other than honest and sincere. I continue to blog for my sanity, to connect with others, to hone my writing skills. Hopefully I will be able to make a little extra money on the side with Google AdSense, Chitika, 125 Ad Space rentals, Sponsored Tweets and Affiliate Ads for companies and products that I feel comfortable and even proud to endorse. So far I’ve netted less than twenty dollars, most of that from Sponsored Tweets, but I am learning a lot and I am confident that I will be able to proceed and succeed with my integrity firmly intact.
In the near future, after my family and I complete the move to Dallas, Texas in January of 2010, I plan to start two new niche blogs. One will be SAHM.me and focus on issues important to me and other stay at home moms, like healthy foods and activities for ourselves and our families, ways to earn money from home, that kind of thing. The other will be TwilightCraft.com, which will feature crafts and crafters based around the Twilight series of books by Stephenie Meyer, the films, and perhaps other items of interest to Twilight fans like myself.
I believe it is possible to do what you love and love what you do. The problem for me, as it is with a lot of people, is getting to know ourselves well enough to know what is and isn’t a good fit for us. That takes a great deal of trial and error. I’m not there yet, but I believe that at age 40 I have a much better grip on things than I did at 20.
Q. Would you tell us about ONE of your famous posts? (Why you think it’s famous.. it could be because of “content – traffic – comments – search engines”)
I don’t know that I have any famous posts yet, but one that received a good deal of attention is my author interview with Holly Jahangiri.
Q. If I asked you to suggest ONE Blogger friend to send him/her a Famous Blogger Club invitation, who you will suggest?
Oh, to whittle the list down to just one is nearly impossible but since you asked me Hesham I am happy to comply. I have made connections with so many fascinating, incredible bloggers. One that comes to mind is Jan Geronimo at Writing to Exhale. When I look to support fellow bloggers I don’t just look to what they have to say in their blogs. I look at the whole package they offer. I have many friends who are kind to me in public, but not so much behind the scenes, and vice-versa. In my experience, Jan is very honest and incredibly witty and consistent in public and in private. In my book, honesty, wit and sense of humor are some of the most important qualities a blogger, writer, and human being can possess. I haven’t known him long, but he’s impressed me with his thoughts on more than a few occasions. As one that’s been all places and seen all things (in her own mind of course) that isn’t easy to do. I give the man credit, and so should you.
Read also
Who is behind NMB?
Hello! .. My name is Hesham Zebida and I’m a Blogger and used to be a Web Designer, I make living from building websites for my clients, I have created NMB to be a healthy community for Bloggers, so join me if you want to share tips and ideasI am also managing the Famous Bloggers Club, FBC is NOT a secret society, but it is exclusive and membership is only by invitation and limited to 100.
FBC has been created for the sole purpose of unifying bloggers that are proactive, dedicated and committed in helping each other to prosper on the blogosphere.
Check My Personal Blog to get to know me better.
Heya, this is one cool site! Thanks for posting this. I was hunting for a site that has this kind of info. I just adore farmville! Glad I found this one! I’ll be coming in here again for sure! lmao
Hi, i must say fantastic site you have, i stumbled across it in AOL. Does you get much traffic?
Wow Heather, amazing job! Good luck
Ben Lang´s last blog ..Social Media Snapshot: Flickr Brand Building
congrates for interview to Heather Kephart. I visited your site for the 1st time. I really amazed to see so much interesting content.
keep smiling
ahsan´s last blog ..Keyword Research Tool: Google Insight for Search
Heather Kephart Reply:
November 25th, 2009 at 8:49 am
@ahsan, Thank you so much!
Its amazing! Never crossed my mind that title, HappyMaker. This blog will bring happiness to the readers. Great Idea Sister.
Latief@AnotherBlogger´s last blog ..EntreCard Tips For Beginner
Heather Kephart Reply:
November 25th, 2009 at 8:50 am
@Latief@AnotherBlogger, Hey thanks Latief, I appreciate it! Even if they’re laughing AT me, at least they’re laughing.
Heather Kephart´s last blog ..Ignore, Please Will be deleted
Thanks for being on famous bloggers club nice meting you and hoping for a long relationship here this is the club for the futre of bloggers before i forget nice blog nice meeting you
lawmacs web design´s last blog ..Blogging Tips Increasing your Page views
Heather Kephart Reply:
November 25th, 2009 at 8:51 am
@lawmacs web design, Thank you so much, nice to meet you as well.
Heather Kephart´s last blog ..Ignore, Please Will be deleted
♫ Have you met my good friend ‘Heather’,
The craziest girl on the block?
You’ll know her the minute you see her,
She’s the one who is in an advanced state of shock.♫
I’m not sure where that came from, but West Side Story just {poof} popped into my head!
But it seems to fit.
Heather makes blogging fun. And she’s no one hit wonder, either. Right now I’m not sure what I look forward to more, her posts which seem to stay with me {do they sell a cream for that?} to her blog tweaking. I swear I visited the other day and was like ‘something looks different, I know something’s changed’. She’s just trying to make sure we’re all paying attention.
Anne´s last blog ..Shopping ~ Graduating ~ Writing ~ Chickens & Eggs [shells are optional] ~ & Finally, A Little ‘Clean’ Humor
admin Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 8:31 am
@Anne,
actually this is the reason of this interview! oh God you are making this post so great! Thanks Anne
admin´s last blog ..55 Famous Bloggers Interviews in one Place Between your Hands
Heather Kephart Reply:
November 25th, 2009 at 8:51 am
@Anne, Ahahaaaa!!! Thanks, Anne! xo And I think I’m nearing the end of the tweeking run. But then, I always think that. :-O
Heather Kephart´s last blog ..Ignore, Please Will be deleted
Oh it’s the lovely-Heather-famous-blogger interview here! That was a fun read. Heather always brings on the happy when she visits my blog and I enjoy it a lot. She also writes open and honest, very charismatic.
lol @Hesham – you look so much like your avatar! that’s amazing!
reyjr´s last blog .."Can’t you just cut me some slacks?!" and other hilarious one liners
admin Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 8:28 am
@reyjr, you are right, and this is what I really like from Heather.
LOL Yeah.. he Avatar looks like me because I draw it my self
admin´s last blog ..55 Famous Bloggers Interviews in one Place Between your Hands
Heather Kephart Reply:
November 25th, 2009 at 8:53 am
@reyjr, Thank you Rey Jr. You are a “rey” of light! Seriously. Still snickering about, “I like your avatar” lol. To be honest, Hesham’s avatar stuck with me as well. It sort of bores right into your soul, eh?
Heather Kephart´s last blog ..Ignore, Please Will be deleted
Congratulations for featuring Heather. She’s writes very well. Of course, she always keeps you guessing as you visit her blog. Will it be a romp? Will she make you slap your thigh in glee? Will she make you smile and at the same time think? Gosh, even her comments on numerous blogs she frequents are classics in themselves: fun, precise, thoughtful.
@Heather: Wow, thanks for the mention. You’re very kind and generous.
jan geronimo´s last blog ..Anatomy of My FarmVille Addiction
admin Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 8:27 am
@jan geronimo, I thank Heather too for the good recommendation and to introduce me to you Jan even I know your blog already and I visited it before!
He invitation is on the way to your email
hope you can join us soon.
admin´s last blog ..55 Famous Bloggers Interviews in one Place Between your Hands
Heather Kephart Reply:
November 25th, 2009 at 8:54 am
@jan geronimo, Well shucks Jan, thank you! My blog is a reflection of my head. Bad for marketing purposes, just like me. (sigh) My Dad used to point to the “changeable weather ahead” signs and say “changeable Heather ahead”. We is what we be.
Thanks for taking time away from FarmVille to comment on this post Heh.
Heather Kephart´s last blog ..Ignore, Please Will be deleted
It’s nice knowing more about you Heather. I just noticed that we have something in common… I am also planning to leave the corporate world once I already have a family of my own.. That’s the best decision, I believe!
God Bless!
madz´s last blog ..Sleepless
Heather Kephart Reply:
November 25th, 2009 at 8:55 am
@madz, Thank you, Madz! I am very lucky to have the CHOICE. So many women do not. You and your Angel will have beautiful, spry babies!
Heather Kephart´s last blog ..Ignore, Please Will be deleted
Great to read about Heather. I just love her blog. She has a great sense of humor.
Rose´s last blog ..Bizarre – Ugly Shoes
admin Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 8:25 am
Hey @Rose, the club is getting more exciting everyday
admin´s last blog ..55 Famous Bloggers Interviews in one Place Between your Hands
Heather Kephart Reply:
November 25th, 2009 at 8:55 am
@Rose, Thank you so much, Rose! So cool of you to come over here and say that. I enjoy yours as well.
Heather Kephart´s last blog ..Ignore, Please Will be deleted
Great to see such posts where the bloggers are interviewed. All the best Heather
John Samuel ´s last blog ..How to create Twitter lists?
Heather Kephart Reply:
November 25th, 2009 at 8:56 am
@John Samuel, Thank you! I agree, about time somebody plucked us out of obscurity and let us have a day of fun, eh? Thanks to Hesham for doing that for us!
Heather Kephart´s last blog ..Ignore, Please Will be deleted
Heather is the type of person who can turn poop into glitter (per Roesemary)
I know that if she decides to go the sponsored blogging route she’ll do very well because people read her blog just for the fun of it. Enjoyed the interview!
ConnieFoggles´s last blog ..Gonedigging Contest
admin Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 8:24 am
@ConnieFoggles, I am sure she will do great work! Thanks for the kind comment and the visit!
admin´s last blog ..55 Famous Bloggers Interviews in one Place Between your Hands
Heather Kephart Reply:
November 25th, 2009 at 8:57 am
@ConnieFoggles, Thank you Connie Connie Bo Bonnie, longtime blogging buddy! You are such a nice, sweet lady with a good business sense. Now that I’ve monetized my blog I will be watching your every move!
Heather Kephart´s last blog ..Ignore, Please Will be deleted
Another nice interview Hesham, I will definitely visit her blog to know more about her blog.
chandan´s last blog ..Sponsored tweets- great work at home opportunity
Heather,
This is great! A twilight fan, huh? Wow, I finished reading the four books in a couple of weeks. That include all the clinics and other stuff I was doing. Not much of a fan of Edward and Bella, but more of the Vampire/werewolf (ooops, not werewolf) part of her books.
So, I take it your nanowrimo novel would also be influenced by Stephanie? Cool!
Hasham,
This is a great interview with Heather, you should read all of her threads at Power50. You’ll ROFL and LYAO.
Z
Heather Kephart Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 9:16 pm
@Zorlone, You read Twilight?? I had no intention of actually reading those stupid books. I was going to sew book covers to sell on etsy, so I bought a hard cover of Twilight to measure and make a good fit. I ended up reading the darn thing and got totally hooked! My Nano novel was not influenced at all, although it should have been. When I start Nano over next year I may go with something a bit more exciting and take a bit of a risk instead of playing it safe.
Heather Kephart´s last blog ..Monday Mischief
Zorlone Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 9:21 pm
I’m such a paranormal sucker. Yeah, I did and I liked all the books. Although I didn’t get to see more of the gore and the battle that I wanted to see.
Speaking of risks, in my first attempt at nanowrimo, I took lots of them. Imagine a boy, an ability, and three alien races in one book. My target words are 60 to 70k for my category according to Kristen (a nano buddy). Wish me luck!
Z
Zorlone´s last blog ..Shadow of Danger
Heather Kephart Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 9:29 pm
@Zorlone, Oh, it sounds good! I hope we’ll get to read it when you’re done. You’ve really set the bar high for yourself! And not for the first time, either.
Heather Kephart´s last blog ..Monday Mischief
I think Heather’s finally hit upon a blog title she can live up to! I mean, um, not that she doesn’t know how to be a woman, or that she’s not retro (except when she’s being extremely forward-looking, like “One day, my kids will grow up, and I’ll be able to paint my toenails – see my toenails – again…”) or that she’s not always, endearingly, ridiculously Heather – but “Happymaking” just sort of suits her.
Oh, Heather, you didn’t mention that other blog you have (or had)… hehehe – the crochet blog? What was it called? The Crotchety Ol’ H–er, no, let’s see–High Desert Hooker?
Nice jab with the knitting needle there, too – now surely Jan will have to write a new post!
Holly Jahangiri´s last blog ..Balut (Rhymes with “Foot”)
admin Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 4:59 pm
@Holly Jahangiri, I think everybody writes about what he knows best
so the How to be a woman blog is what she can write about very well, but of course I am with the Happy Making idea, very nice one for a blog!
Heather Kephart Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 9:18 pm
@admin, Thanks again for the interview, Hesham! I received quite a few congrats private messages, but people are too embarrassed to comment here. Go figure. I guess they’re intimidated by your cyber prowess!
Heather Kephart´s last blog ..Monday Mischief
admin Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 8:22 am
@Heather Kephart, LOL! you are so good! this is the first interview reached this number of comment on FBC100
And oh! by the way check my latest post on my personal blog!
admin´s last blog ..55 Famous Bloggers Interviews in one Place Between your Hands
Heather Kephart Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 9:10 pm
@Holly Jahangiri, High Desert Hooker was more of an *ahem* side project. I can’t believe you remember that! lol
Heather Kephart´s last blog ..Monday Mischief
Great interview, I work in the IT side of Financial Sector, also no more covert reviews now that there is full disclosure as of December 1st in the U.S. I don’t think the occasional sponsored post is a big deal, but I never liked having to promote something I didn’t believe in. Glad to have met you as a fellow blogger.
Dragon Blogger´s last blog ..Screencast Demo of Leapfish Real Time Search
admin Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 4:55 pm
@Dragon Blogger, Thank you for the tip! I just can not you enough to make a good interview with you! is that possible one day Justin?!
Dragon Blogger Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 5:14 pm
@admin,
That comment is really broken english, can’t figure out what you are asking? You want an interview on my blog? Sure, I would interview you and post on Dragonblogger.com I am gonna have to come up with some really original questions, so will take me a while to combine my question list.
Dragon Blogger´s last blog ..Screencast Demo of Leapfish Real Time Search
admin Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 11:04 am
@Dragon Blogger, Oh, so sorry for that, I meant that I would love to do an interview with you!
admin´s last blog ..55 Famous Bloggers Interviews in one Place Between your Hands
Heather Kephart Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 9:14 pm
@Dragon Blogger, Thanks! And I can tell you’re a very ethical person.
Heather Kephart´s last blog ..Monday Mischief
That’s three in a row for Jan, Heather.
Hello Hesham, it’s a blast you’ve featured, our good friend Heather here. She’s a funny and jovial soul. Bravo!
I featured Jan first in my blog, and then Elmot wrote another article for him and now, an accolade from you. He should read this…lol…Where are you Jan Geronimo?
Very good plans, I wish you all the luck about your moving to Texas and your blogging plans. Good luck and may all of them be fulfilled.
All the best.
Jena Isle´s last blog ..Serendipity and Writing to Exhale
admin Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Hello @Jena, thank you for your much appreciated comment, and yes I believe that Heather is a great person actually I enjoyed this interview so much. I feel that Heather really wants to do something great by her blogging ideas and this is why I invited her for an interview, she simple deserve all the support from our side!
admin´s last blog ..Is your Kid a Computer Geek?
Heather Kephart Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 9:12 pm
@Jena Isle, Jena, I figured Jan was on a roll so why not keep on rockin’ and rollin’? Let’s just hope we don’t accidentally roll him over a cliff!
Heather Kephart´s last blog ..Monday Mischief
What an awesome interview Hesham. I know Heather too and her blog is just as inspiring as well as humorous. I have to admit that she is probably one of the very few that managed to really “catch” my attention in the beginning when I met her in the sphere. Frankly, I am really glad I did. She rocks and of course so do you:)
DiTesco´s last blog ..Blog Engage: A Blogging Community That Pays Off
admin Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 4:46 pm
@DiTesco, I agree that Heather’s blog is like something real from a real person! and oh! Thank you for introducing me to the great group of power!
Heather Kephart Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 9:14 pm
@DiTesco, Well holy snap DiTesco, thank you! You rock as well.
Heather Kephart´s last blog ..Monday Mischief
I’ve been reading Heather’s blogs since their beginnings. I like the fact that I can’t predict what will show up therein, but can be sure it will never be boring. She often exhibits a sort of heroic hysteria in her approach to life’s challenges that makes me laugh out loud and moves me deeply.
Kudos to the Happymaker and to you for featuring her.
admin Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 4:49 pm
Hello @Rosemary, Good to meet someone who knows Heather in the early blogging times, and NOW! I know the reason why people go back often to Heather’s blog!
Thanks a lot for the kind visit and the cool comment!
I don’t see a link to your blog here, do you have one? or you are keeping yourself as one great reader?!
Rosemary Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 6:19 pm
@admin,
No, I don’t write a blog, but when I come across gems from others who do, I like to acknowledge them. Heather hooked me long ago when she wrote that her cat had deposited a mess on the carpet, so she sprinkled it with glitter to make it sparkle. That has become a go-to image for me on difficult days and always makes me smile and think, “This, too, shall pass.”
Heather Kephart Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 9:13 pm
@Rosemary, Thank you.
Heather Kephart´s last blog ..Monday Mischief