About Ellen

I like to consider myself a Content Creator and Digital Storyteller.  What does that mean exactly? Basically, it means I hang around on my computer all day writing and playing on social media. I didn’t start out wanting to be a content creator (or blogger if you prefer).  I’ve held a variety of different jobs in my lifetime ranging from secretary to export manager to local government official.  I’ve sold newspaper advertisements, dealt with cranky customers at a computer company and even waited tables for a while in a diner.

One day, I woke up and realized I hated my current job. Actually, I realized that I hated most of the jobs I’ve held. The only reason I went to work each day was for the paycheck at the end of the week. I gave my notice at my current job and walked away. Life is too short to do what you hate doing. I didn’t have a firm plan for the rest of my life.  I started making crafts and selling them at craft fairs.  After realizing that I didn’t want to make fifty of the same crafts to sell, my husband and I tried our hand at having a farm stand and selling our duck and chicken eggs.  As much as I enjoyed this, I realized that if Mother Nature decided to be uncooperative, we’d be in big trouble.

During our back to nature kick (2008), I started writing about what we were doing to become more sustainable as a family and my first blog (Confessions of an Overworked Mom) was born.  I am still blogging on Confessions of an Overworked Mom today. It’s gone through a number of changes during the years but still has the focus of recipes, crafts and DIY, gardening and healthy living.

As much as I enjoy digging in the dirt and getting my hands dirty, I realized that I have a passion for fashion and beauty.  That passion turned into a fashion and beauty blog I called The Socialite’s Closet. I like to think of it as a realistic fashion and beauty blog for the everyday woman.

While I don’t have a lot of spare time, when I do, I love reading and playing games. Book reviews were one of the first types of reviews I did when learning to blog on Confessions of an Overworked Mom. While book reviews no longer fit the focus of that site, that hobby blossomed into an entertainment blog called In Our Spare Time where I focus on books, board games, apps and video games.

I also have a small pet sitting business here in Central Vermont where I take care of a variety of different types of animals. That love of animals has blossomed into a pet blog called Other People’s Pets where I talk about caring for your own and other people’s pets.

I don’t spend all my spare time blogging. I am also the Editorial Manager for The Brand Connection.  I enjoy working with other bloggers and have found that I’m a natural organizer.

In my years of blogging, I have realized that I love helping people. Because I have experience blogging, promoting on social media and working with brands, I get asked a lot of “How do you…” type questions.  Rather than re-creating answers each time someone asks me a question, this blog was born as a place to put those answers. I don’t claim to be an expert but I’m always willing to share what works for me.

In the past few years, I’ve also dabbled in a few direct sales clothing companies as the blogging market has changed. Don’t be afraid to pivot.