Mainly Marta :: A Motherhood + Lifestyle Blog

8.12.2019

How To Increase Profile Instagram Views Using Stories

Hey friends, today's post is sponsored by @mainly.co on Instagram. It's a little community I've set up on the gram & facebook to help out fellow aspiring bloggers + Instagram influencers get a bit of inside information. After a few rebrandings, I finally feel like we're off in the right direction. I'd love to have you join the community, use our resources and interact / engage with us.

Mainly.Co :: Community + What We Offer

Instagram

I've set up several spaces on Instagram -- @mainly.co, @mainlyloops, and @mainlygives. I set up separate spaces because I know that everyone is looking for something different. Some people want to focus on growing their following and others want to give back to their communities. So, I wanted everyone to have a space that is beneficial to them.

I just want to note here real quick that these spaces are completely free -- all I ask is that you follow the admins as we work really hard to brainstorm relevant and new ways for you to grow & boost your numbers.

@mainly.co

is going to focus on Instagram engagement. we'll have daily threads for users that focus on like + saves, comments and a thread for Instagram story engagement. these will all be separate threads, so you can choose what you engage in.

I know that several of these engagement groups have popped up lately, but I promise we're going to be different. I won't say how in this blog post because I've had several of my ideas stolen from other group admins in the past, but I promise you, our group will have several unique opportunities for our members once we are up and running.

L A U N C H I N G :: September 4th, 2019

Feel free to join now, so you won't miss any updates + news. We're going to have a fun giveaway in honor of our re-launch and I'd love for you to come & take part in it.

@mainlyloops

is a place for follow loops + trains. I created this space for people who want to grow their numbers because growing organically is nearly impossible these days. I really love supporting people on the gram, so even though there are a lot of loops on instagram already -- I'm hoping this fresh new loop bring about fresh new faces who aren't playing the follow / unfollow game.

F I R S T L O O P I S L I V E :: T O D A Y @ 1 2 P M | P S T

come loop with us & join in on the fun. the next loop is on friday [ 8/16 ] and sign-ups to host are live on the feed as well! a few people have asked me about ghost spots and I won't be charging for ghost spots the first two weeks, instead, I'll be giving away two ghost spots each loop -- find out how YOU can get one in the captions of our loops and sign ups!

@mainlygives

this space used to be @mainly.gifts and I hosted two successful giveaways in 2018! It was so fun, but running them on my own was hard! I had to step back once I got pregnant with baby no. three, but I'm hoping that as soon as @mainly.co & @mainlyloops take off, I will be able to start doing giveaways again. It's another way to grow our numbers, but most importantly, an amazing way to give back to our communities.

Facebook

FB is mainly geared towards bloggers & influencers who are wanting to expand & grow their blog and brand as a whole. Instagram influencers are encouraged to join our FB group because we have information that is valuable to them also -- collaboration information, tips, etc. It's a space with a lot of information that you want access to!

+++ J O I N T H E F B G R O U P :: C L I C K H E R E +++

Okay, Let's Get To The Good Stuff -- Those Profile Views

So, this is a method that will double, if not triple your profile views! It's a simple little hack that works for everyone and it'll boost those numbers that are plummeting with each algorithm update.

What To Do

⥤ share the photo you’ve just posted on your feed to your instagram story.

⥤ then find a gif to your cover the majority of your photo — you’ve heard this one before right? well, here's where the hack part comes in!

⥤ now, move your photo & gif to the bottom of the page, & find three hashtags to describe your photo, type them out.

⥤ next, go to where you find gifs & click on the #HASHTAG sticker, find another tag to describe your photo.

⥤ go back & add a geotag / location sticker.
░ the trick here is to use major cities and a different one each time for more exposure ░

⥤ shrink all tags & stickers.

⥤ place them in the middle of your screen and use your post to cover them.

⥤ now use the gif to cover your photo.

⥤ type a mini explanation that could spark someone’s interest underneath your post & publish!

⥤ now watch your numbers & profile visits rise.

... and now watch your numbers grow! It's honestly THAT simple ladies and gentlemen. T H A T S I M P L E. So yah! I hope this mini hack works out amazing for you, just like it did for me. Still a bit confused? Check out this graphic for a visual of these steps!

⥥ S H A R E / P I N I T ⥥

... if you end up using this method, let me know how it worked out for you in the comments! I hope to see you over on the @mainly.co spaces and that we can engage + grow our brands together because your success is my success!

1 comment

8.01.2019

Review | Lily Jade's Jennifer Lifestyle Bag

Hi Friends! Today I'm featuring my current diaper bag from Lily Jade because I feel like it's the perfect bag for moms of multiples. It can fit supplies, snacks, bottles, a change of clothes for everyone and a few of my mom things! It's super practical and that makes this my current go-to when I'm out with all three boys.

One feature that I am really loving is the fact that it has a backpack wearing feature in addition to the shoulder straps. Before I received this bag, I really didn't think I'd like the aesthetics of the backpack look, but now that I have it, I am always carrying it on my back. It's so convenient to have both hands free and not worry about your bag when you're wrangling two toddlers and a newborn.

When I am not wearing it as a backpack, I am loving on the shoulder straps. Made from real leather, they are sturdy, strong and sleek looking. In addition to the visual appeal of the straps, one of the most important things is that they are comfortable. Long gone are the days when my shoulders hurt from carrying a bag. They are just wide enough to lay on your shoulder instead of digging into them, so that is a major bonus as well.

Now, let's talk about the inside of the bag + storage ability because this is something extremely important to me as a mom with three under three. I tend to be an over-packer, so if I can fit all the things inside, then this bag is gold.

It has two huge pockets -- one on the front and one on the back which allows me easy access for essentials like keys, phone, wallet, and chapstick. I don't have to dig into the bag for the keys and I really love that aspect of it. I am also loving that the spacious aspect of this bag -- I can fit a change of clothes for all three boys, diapers for two babies, baby wipes, bottles, burp cloths, and extra supplies with room to spare for snacks and toys! You guys.... I can fit alllllll the things! How amazing is that?!

So the final verdict is I love this bag. It's my go-to for shopping trips, park days, and outings with all my boys because I adore its spaciousness. It's the PERFECT bag for moms that have multiples and are looking to use it as a diaper bag.

I have also used this bag as a carry on when I traveled alone and let me tell you -- it was the most perfect experience. So, even if you don't have babies, this bag is super practical and multifunctional enough that you can take it with you on short trips, beach days, or on a staycation.

+++ To Buy My Bag :: Click Here ++

Lily Jade has a wide selection of bags to choose from and while my bag (the Jennifer) is the very best, I thought it would be fun to show you a few more bags that they offer. I'll be linking them below, so if you see one you like and are curious about their color options, go check it out!

No. 1 :: Packaging Cases

No. 2 :: The Anna [ large version ◍ they also have a medium ◍ not pictured ]

No. 3 :: The Elizabeth

No. 4 :: The Lorie

No. 5 :: The Rosie

No. 6 :: The Meggan

No. 7 :: The Anne Marie

... so there you have it. A full-on review of the Lily Jade bag I own and a mini look at some of the other bags on their site. All made with full-grain leather, built to last with double-sided leather stitching so you won't have to worry about the edges cracking and peeling. These bags are not only beautiful, but they are worth every penny due to its durability, quality of production and functionality of each bag.

Each time I'm out with mine, people comment on how chic this bag looks and how nice it is that a boy mom like myself can find something to fit all my needs and still look as nice as it does. It's really a win / win for all involved.

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7.25.2019

Review | MockingBird Stroller

So, if I'm going to be honest, I've always wanted a "fancy" stroller, but when it came down to forking over $700+ for a stroller, I could never do it. I felt like that money would be better used on diapers and formula. The fancy strollers on the market cost too much -- until now.

I cannot tell you how excited I was when I stumbled upon the MockingBird stroller which has all the fancy features for half the price. You guys, this stroller has the leather accents, the minimal prints, a spacious basket, and it's such a smooth ride. It really has everything going for it. I showed off this stroller on a few walks at the mall and I got so many compliments regarding how chic and high end it looked.

Not only does the stroller look amazing, but the baby seems extremely comfy in it too. Whenever we go out and place him in the stroller, he is just the happiest of campers. It has a modular system so I love that he can face me now, but have the option to have him face forward as well. I just love this thing.

Some of My Favorite Features

+ Canopy
it keeps baby's eyes and skin protected while the rest of the family is enjoying sunny days outside

+ Basket
it's so big and can hold up to 25 lb.

+ Sturdy Wheels & Braking System
it's so smooth and I love that braking the stroller takes one step.

+ Adjustable Handle
this is probably my favorite thing ever. I love a lower handle and my husband likes it to be a bit higher. I love that this caters to both of us.

+ One Hand Fold
makes it so easy & fast to get the stroller to and from the trunk when I have restless babes in the car.

+ Adjustable Footrest
so neat and the first time I've seen it on a stroller! I love that the footrest has a zipper you can use to get crumbs off instead of having to shake the entire stroller to get them off.

.... guys, you pretty much need this stroller in your life. I mean, in addition to all of these features, it's compact and lightweight. It's gorgeous, it's practical and it's half the price of high-end strollers when it looks just as luxurious. I'm gonna call this a mom win.

+++ TO BUY YOUR OWN MOCKINGBORD STROLLER :: CLICK HERE +++

1 comment

7.16.2019

The Middle Men Of Collaborations :: Influencer Sites

I know that there is a hush hush vibe around social media about collaborations and contacts, but I want to break that stigma and share some of my favorite influencer sites!

When I first started collaborating, I wasn't one to reach out to brands because I felt like I was so inexperienced. What brand would want to work with me when I had a very small following? That thought alone kept me from reaching my full potential -- until I got an email inviting me to join an influencer site.

It sounded fairly interesting, so I thought alright, let's give it a shot. I got online, did some research, signed up for a few sites and then the waiting game began! I got my first collaboration email / invitation which in essence isn't a done deal, but rather an invitation to apply to collaborate with a certain brand. After you apply, the brand reviews your application to see if you're a good fit for them and if you are, you get an acceptance email with further directions.

I was so excited to get to work with brands that probably wouldn't have even looked at me otherwise with my small follower count had I emailed them. I got free stuff and I got to build up my portfolio -- a win / win for a small blogger who is just starting out. So here's a list of some of my favorite influencer sites to get you started if you're wanting to jump into the influencer realm.

No. 1 :: ApexDrop

I've done over 10 collaborations through ApexDrop and it's been so fun! They've put me in touch with some of my favorite brands some of which include: Bravado Designs, MOD straps, Squeezamals and so many more!

What I really love about ApexDrop is that you don't have to accept every collaboration that they send your way. As you grow as an influencer, there will be times when you're drowning in work, so it's nice to have the option to not respond to an invitation without the worry that it'll affect future collaboration invitations!

Another aspect that I love about ApexDrop is how efficient and fast their customer service team is! I've had a few things sent to me that I wasn't crazy about or had something I didn't like, and when I emailed them about the problem, they got back to me within 2 business days. We came up with a solution that both the brands and I agreed upon fairly quickly.

It's a great stepping stone for those who want to start collaborating with brands and don't know where to begin. Thanks to ApexDrop, I dipped my toes in the water and gained the confidence to reach out to brands myself.

++++++++++++ To get started with ApexDrop, click here. +++++++++++++

No. 2 :: Influenster

Influenster was one of the first sites I signed up for because it didn't require much effort. You sign up for this platform and then you review products you currently have lying around your own home. The more you review, the more badges you earn and then the more likely it is that you'll get free products in the form of a VoxBox.

A VoxBox is a little box filled with goodies that Influenster and brands (both well known and ones that are newer on the market) curate to send out to their reviewers. Most of the products in the box are fairly new or are about to hit the market. I've received items from Marc Jacobs, COOLA, Lancome, and Eco Tools and Origins in VoxBoxes and was even invited to an event by Origins through Influenster!

But what I really love about Influenster is that it has a corner for every niche -- beauty, home, foodies, fitness, etc. They really let you speak your truth about any product you can think of.

If I'm honest, I still use Influenster and rate items all the time because who doesn't like receiving sweet little packages by brands that we all know and love?!

++++++++++ To get started with Influenster, click here. +++++++++++

No. 3 :: Social Native

Social Native is perfect for the Influencer who wants to earn a little money on the side. You sign up for the site and then wait to be invited to apply to certain campaigns that fit your niche.

The campaign invites come through email, so you have to be vigilant about checking and making sure that you accept right away because the slots fill up fast! Once invited, you view the guidelines and time frames the brands want you to abide by and if everything sounds doable, then you apply.

If accepted, make sure you follow all the rules and guidelines because brands often have you post a new photo if they think you've violated the guidelines in some way. I know a few influencers (myself included) who have been told to post new content because something looked off to them.

However, Social Native is a great place to start getting paid for collaborations and was one of the first sites to pay me straight after a completed campaign.

++++++++++ To get started with Social Native, click here. ++++++++++

No. 4 :: Socialix

Socialix is another place where you can collaborate and get compensation. However, most of the campaigns on this site are product trade for share type of collaborations. It's another great place to find products that fit your niche because you can search the type of products you want to promote and then read the current campaigns they have running.

If you see something you like, you submit a proposal and then wait on the brand to respond. I love the way they have the site set up because they break down the collaborations, you can see your deadlines when you login and have product tracking on the site while you wait for your product in the mail.

Another thing I love is that your personal profile tracks your engagement rate and blog stats if you give them permission to access those channels when you first set up your profile. I found this extremely useful when I was talking to other brands and didn't have google analytics set up. You can also see the brand's review of working together and it's all in one place. It's pretty much an organized blogger's dream set up.

+++++++++++++ To get started with Socialix, click here +++++++++++++

No. 5 :: The MAVRCK Influencer Index

This is one of the places every influencer should sign up for because it's just to get you on the radar. It's an index that allows you to pick 4 niches that your blog or Instagram revolves around. Once signed up, you'll occasionally get an email you asking you to apply for a campaign. If you decide to apply, the brand gets a notification and will accept or decline your application. I've gotten quite a few paid campaigns this way and I'm pretty sure some brands have taken my information from MAVRCK and contacted me on their own for bigger campaigns. You fill out that form and then brands come to you.

+++++++++++++ To get on the Mavrck Index, click here +++++++++++++

So There You Have It...

I've just shared with you my favorite influencer sites! I am hoping you find this information useful.
Here are a few more sites that I've signed up for that have trickled in a few collaborations for me or that haven't really worked out for me, but might work for you.

+ Heartbeat
+ Influence.co
+ Ambassadher
+ Webfluential
+ IZEA
+ Shopping Links
+ Activate
+ Popular Pays
+ Sway
+ The Blogger Programme
+ Blogger Meets Brand
+ Brand Snob (app for your phone)
+ #PAID
+ Octoly
+ Buzzoole
+ Obviously
+ Markerly
+ GrapeVine
+ Speakr
+ Linqia
+ Social Fabric

SO YAH -- good luck my loves. Get that side hustle going! & for the record, this post isn't sponsored you guys, I genuinely want to help out my blog readers and social media followers because I truly appreciate you following and engaging with my content.

Keep your eyes on the blog because posts on media kits, how to make a rate sheet and what to say when emailing brands are coming soon!

3 comments

7.11.2019

Room & Board :: Hess Sofa [ + Product Guide ]

As I look for other products for my living space update, I am happy to report that the first piece arrived this month and it's proving to be glorious. We got the Hess sofa in Urbino Black from Room & Board and we could not be happier. It's the perfect size for our family of five and when we're all sitting on it, there is still room to spare -- perfect for any growing family.

We opted for leather because with three under three, spills and crumbs are inevitable. I've been able to wipe it down several times with a microfiber cloth and it looks just as amazing as it did when it first arrived. The boys are such a fan of this sofa because of the deep seats and how easily they can climb on and off it.

I am loving the contemporary / modern look of this sofa and the contrast pop to the brick wall behind it. My husband keeps commenting on how comfortable it is and we just cannot stop raving about this sofa. I mean, we all equally loooooooove it just as much as the next person in this house. Even the baby loves napping on it.

So yes, as you can plainly see this Hess sofa has a home that loves and adores it. We're eagerly searching for pieces to complement it in our living space update. We're still looking for a TV console, two armchairs, an area rug, and some other decorative pieces. As soon as we have all of those pieces in the room, we'll do one massive room reveal.

In the meantime....

I thought it would be fun to do a little product guide / mood board of some the wonderful things Room & Board has to offer. I'll be linking each product down below and if anything catches your eyes, go take a better look at it on their site.

The Items

No. 1: Marlo Bed

No. 2: Hudson Office Armorie

No. 3: Isaac Select Rolled Arm Recliner

No. 4: Dahl Console Bookcase

No. 5: Dodd Leather Storage Ottomans

No. 6: Morris Modern Bench

No. 7: Nico Office Chair

No. 8: Burnham Pillow

No. 9: Adams Modern Glass Door Cabinet

No. 10: Jasper Sectional

No. 11: Tempo Wall Clock

No. 12: Bangla Storage Baskets

No. 13: Fairbanks Pendant

No. 14: Berkeley Wood Desk

No. 15: Case Study Ceramic Planter

... aren't these just gorgeous?! I am so in love with the modern look of their furniture. Room & Board also has outdoor furniture, lamps, rugs, and so much more. I honestly cannot get enough of their stuff. I'd do a whole house revamp with these stunning pieces -- and maybe in time, I will!

Thanks for stopping by, loving on my new sofa and taking a mini-tour of Room & Board with me! I hope you had as much as fun as I did.

+++ special thank you to Room & Board for partnering with me and gifting us this sofa +++

5 comments

7.02.2019

DIY + Reveal :: Repurposed Old Dresser

Today I'm sharing a really fun project -- how to DIY and repurpose an old dresser! This was a project I've been wanting to do for the last four years and I finally convinced my husband to get it done. I mean, honestly you guys, there is nothing like a grumpy nagging pregnant wife to get a husband into gear. I think the only reason he even attempted to do this was because I would not stop talking about how ugly this dresser was. When he finally agreed to tackle it and I was ecstatic! We had a few mishaps along the way (I'll be sharing those, so y'all can learn from our mistakes), but it turned out amazing and I'm so excited to share what it looks like now, I can hardly wait.

Before The Project Began

You see what I'm saying? This dresser was just awful looking. I mean, it had character, but it was a worn out, historical figure type of character. I didn't have the heart to throw it out because this dresser was my childhood dresser and I grew attached to its sturdiness and reliability -- what can I say, it became a sentimental piece. It's been through some stuff though, so the first step we took was to sand all that history away.

Sanded & Looking Fresh

It's already looking like a whole new dresser, am I right? To achieve this step, we took all the handles off the dresser and then borrowed my dad's orbital sanding tool. We went to Home Depot and bought very fine sanding paper to get all that gunk off the dresser and after we sanded it, we went to find the paint color -- and here is where we had allllllll our mishaps.

Mishap No. One :: Not Standing Our Ground

I went to Home Depot to find the paint color I was envisioning -- a green with some blue hints to it. This being the first time I've ever bought paint to paint something other than on a canvas, I was a bit lost and had no idea what to do. Naturally, I went and asked a person who worked in the paint aisle for assistance after I got the color card I was going for.

I probably stumbled on some workers that were either bothered that I was interrupting them or were having a bad day because when I showed them my paint card, they angrily told me they'd have to tint that.

I had no idea what that meant, but before I could even ask, a worker grabbed an oil based can of hunter green and stuffed it in front of my face and told me this was the closest color they had to what I was looking for.

Me, being oblivious and slightly embarrassed that I put them in such a foul mood, thanked them and bought what they gave me because I thought they were actually helping. Buuuuuuuut, then I got home and my husband put on the first coat of paint. We were both silently shocked with the result -- we had just painted our dresser the ugliest Christmas green I had ever seen. I hated it so much, I couldn't even document it in picture form, it was that bad.

While I do get that Hunter Green is typically super green, the band on the paper of the can was much greener looking than what was now on my dresser. After paying 60$ on a can of paint, I silently grumbled to myself and mourned my vision until my husband asked if I liked it -- to which I couldn't lie and admitted it's not what I was picturing in my mind.

He graciously called Home Depot and asked if they could still tint a can we recently bought and they said yes, so we took it back hoping that things were gonna work out. Welllllll, hopes dashed because get this -- you can't tint pre-made colors. The good news was that we could paint over the oil-based paint, so we didn't have to resand the dresser. If the first can would have been water based, we would have been in trouble.

Anyways, we ended up buying another can of paint -- this time tinted and the color I actually wanted.

Mishap No. Two :: Buying To Much Paint

Again, totally oblivious here -- we bought a gallon of paint each time. We would have been okay with just a quart, but now we have 120$ worth of paint in our garage. I'm pretty mad about the christmas green color, but I feel like the second can of paint will come in handy. I'm thinking about going to thrift / secondhand stores to find mini side table drawers that I can repurpose to match the dresser.

Mishap No. Three :: Painting Outside

Because I was pregnant, I decided that I didn't want paint fumes in the house. Painting in the garage wasn't an option either as we have a bunch of boxes down there with no space to spare, so we had to paint outside. It was funny that the moment we started to get this project going, the weather decided that it wasn't going to agree with us.

To start, it was humid day and right after we finished painting, clouds rolled in.... and it started to rain! Luckily we were outside when it did, so we managed to move all the drawers before they got soaked and stopped the water from ruining the paint. Because of the humidity, it also took a few extra hours to dry, so if you're ever painting outside, make sure it's on a sunny with now rainy suprises.

Painting & Getting New Handles

Regardless of the weather being ridiculous, we got the dresser painted and I loved the turnout. It was the perfect shade of green and it looked gorgeous! I was so ready to spray paint the handles, buuuuut I ran into another mishap.

Mishap No. Three & Four :: The Actual Handles

I bought some gold spray paint and just went to town on the painting. The mishap came when I realized that the handles were covering the plate, so I went in to spray them again and the coating ended up being way too thick and the paint started to peel and look clunky. I tried to scrape and wash off the paint to start again, but I epically failed.

So, I went to Amazon to find new handles for my repurposed dresser. If you end up getting new handles for an old dresser -- make sure to measure the distance between the holes of the handles if there is more than one screw hole. That's super important when ordering them online.

Since I was going to get new handles, I decided to put a modern twist to it and brass gold handles. I got these handles off of Amazon and I love them. They're sturdy and heavy, but I landed in my fourth mishap with these online handles.

The screws were not long enough for my dresser, so we took another trip to Home Depot, only to realize that these handles were made with European metrics and there wasn't any size at the store that would match up with our metrics 100%. We ended up asking a Home Depot associate and bought new screws that were as close as possible to the handles I had from Amazon.

The Finished Product

We went home, installed the handles and people... we have a dresser and I am so excited about it! It's everything that I wanted it to be. The handles, the look of the matte color, the way it came together -- I am just sooooo happy with the finished product! It's the perfect addition to our bedroom. We're using it as a changing table for baby and storing all the newborn / breastfeeding supplies I need throughout the day in it.

Even though this project is completed, I have a basket and the empty wall above the dresser that I still need to decorate. In addition to the decorating, I am looking for a rug and a rocking chair to place in the room next to Alex's crib since our bedroom is also a mini nursery for the time being. The dresser is the piece that will bring the room together and I can't wait to share that with you guys as well when it's all come together!

⇓ PIN IT ⇓