Write what you know. That’s the advice that Laurie Harmon took when she started her blog, Seeking Serenity and Harmony. As a result, she has built herself a platform sharing what she knows with her readers in a lifestyle blog that draws from personal experience. Check out my interview with Laurie Harmon below, check out her site, and follow her on social media!
About the blogger
Blogger Name: Laurie
Blog Name: Seeking Serenity and Harmony
Links (links open in new tab)
Seeking Serenity and Harmony Facebook
Seeking Serenity and Harmony Homestead Facebook
Genre or Niche: Lifestyle
Three Links that Summarize the Blog
Talking Shop
Why did you start your blog?
I have always wanted to write and felt blogging might be a way to do that. And I also feel the need the last several years to try to write as an advocate for others. I would like my blog to spread education and awareness about certain issues. Of course, there is the hope that someday my blog might earn some income as well.
How long have you been writing?
I dabbled off and on for years. Last year, I took a bloggers boot camp and have stuck with it since then. Quitting doesn’t feel right. Some days it is a temptation when I find myself comparing my blog to others or just feeling overwhelmed with trying to juggle it with the rest of my daily life.
Do you write anything other than blog posts?
I used to write poetry and stories years ago. Someday I may dig some of those out and publish them on my blog. I have some essays left from when I finally graduated college a few years ago that might be worth sharing.
Do you have any other talents or hobbies that relate to your blogging?
I love to read and I have a huge pile of books to finish and review. So my book reviews relate. I used to love photography and taking pictures. I’d love to do more of that and incorporate it in my blog. Homesteading, herbalism, arts and crafts are what I spend a lot of time at and would love to incorporate in the blog more.
How often do you post on your blog?
I post weekly, Sometimes a few times a week. Right now I am working on the April A to Z blog challenge and should be posting daily. I am having a difficult time getting posts done daily and am quite a bit behind. In addition to blogging I have teenagers and a foster child at home which creates a few distractions. On top of that is the list of critters we have on the homestead and in the home. It can be quite noisy and chaotic at times. I love it though.
Do you ever feature other bloggers on your site?
Yes in October of last year I had a couple of surgeries and knowing that was coming I opened up to guest posts and featured all that were submitted to me. I am willing to feature others on my blog. I am happy to promote other bloggers.
How did you come up with your logo?
I love the color purple, Lavender is one of my favorite essential oils and both the color and scent felt soothing and fit with the theme Seeking Serenity and Harmony.
What is one piece of advice you can share with new bloggers?
Don’t give up. It takes a lot of time and effort but if this is something you want to do than do it. You will find you need to network with other bloggers in order to get started with the traffic that you will need. Don’t spend a ton of money on courses when there are so many free ones out there to start off with. Oh and most important make sure you make the time to write. That is a priority that seems to get lost in the day to day ‘have to’s’ around here.
What is your day job? How, in any way, does it relate to your life as a blogger?
I am a wife, mom, foster mom and homesteader 24/7. That is my day job. I support my husband with his construction business by doing secretarial duties when needed.
Do you ever host giveaways or contests on your blog?
Yes I do post giveaways as often as I can. I have several going right now. Most of them are hosted by someone else but promoted by my blog. I do host some of my own and I would love to come up with some fun contests in the future.
‘What If’ Scenarios
If you could have one person who you admire, living or dead, read your blog, who would it be?
I’d be thrilled if anyone celebratory, famous or popular would read my blog and throw some praise about something I might have gotten right. If I can only pick one person who I admire to read it that’s tough. The first names that came to mind were John Stamos, Will Smith, Oprah Winfrey, Ellen Degeneres. … Narrowing it down, I would like to have someone who is a successful published writer find my blog one they would visit and read regularly.
If you could interview one famous person on your blog, who would it be?
So many choices. I would say maybe Judge Judy. My mom loves watching her and I love Judge Judy’s refusal to put up with anyone’s excuses and she gets things done.
You’re able to hire on an assistant to help you with your blog. What do you have them do?
Oh the first thing would be that they definitely would be in charge of social media and promoting the blog to get traffic. The whole networking piece is hard for me to stay on top of. I would love someone to take over social media. I honestly would love to be able to spend a bit less time on social media and more time doing other things. The other thing they would be doing is making pins for Pinterest and auditing and fixing my boards. They might also be helping me be organized and better scheduled. 😊
Just For Fun
One bucket list item you’ve completed and one that’s still on your list.
One thing I crossed off was 2014 I took a clogging dance class and participated in the recital with my daughter. One I still would like to do is have a wedding renewal celebration with my husband and invite our loved ones to celebrate with us. Our wedding was a notary republic, 5/6 of our kids and my mother. My oldest child has not let me forget that I didn’t give her enough notice that we’d hired someone to do there ceremony and she was stuck at work.
A movie or piece of music that changed your life.
It is an older movie called Wildhearts Can’t Be Broken. It is a movie based on a true story and shows the determination of a girl to follow her dreams spite of the odds stacked against her.
Favorite time of/part of your day.
That is a hard question to answer. I would say reading before I go to sleep is my most relaxed time of day. I enjoy first thing in the morning when my husband makes me coffee and things are quiet. My favorite part of the day is any time that the kids aren’t squabbling and we are laughing and joking.
Food you’d like to win a lifetime supply of.
I have to eat a gluten free dairy free diet due to celiac so I would love to win a lifetime supply of a variety of gluten free dairy free items.
Your favorite podcast.
The podcast that I listen to most often and have listened to almost every one of the collection is Cara Harvey: A Purpose Driven Mom.
Favorite Halloween costume ever.
The only costume I remember wearing for Halloween is a witch costume that I wore I think it was the Halloween of 99. I had a nice green face to go with it. I think I was the wicked witch from TheWizard of Oz.
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Great interview! I always enjoy getting an inside look into someone else’s blogging journey. I’ll have to check out Laurie’s blog!
Loved reading this post. Its nice to know more about other bloggers.