Coffee With Summer - striving to lead a life of authenticity and grace, while encouraging others over coffee.

CWS Happenings // Vol. 34

October 16, 2017

Hey there, friends!! It’s time for a little bit of a life update here. Last month, I didn’t end up sharing a happenings post, because life was simply crazy. The funny this is life is still very crazy at the moment. I’m hoping, praying, and finger-crossing that I can finally share why with you at some point this week.

– HAPPENINGS –

I started back up my email newsletter, The Brew! I’m really motivating myself to stay encouraged through navigating the art of an email list, haha. It’s not something that comes natural – my blog friends know this! Here’s to having patience with myself in figuring it all out. II’d love to have you subscribe to be a member of my exclusive crew!
Sadly, I have been really delayed in getting all of my outfits shot for the blog. Michael is my photographer and now that it’s getting dark out early, it’s rare to get in a shoot after he gets home from work. If it’s not a light issue, it’s typically a lack of time or rain. Rain is the worst and we seem to get quite a bit of it in the Poconos.
While life has been insanely busy, I have been able to discern when I need a break. Even if all I do on my break is binge-watch Gossip Girl all day long, it’s very needed. Speaking of shows, I’m so happy that the majority of the fall shows that I watch are back on! I’d list them all, but there are too many – so funny to think I was never a TV person growing up. Also! Michael and I finished The Vampire Diaries last week and oh my heart, I’m so conflicted and I feel all the feels. I wish it never ended.
There hasn’t been any adventures in my life recently, but I’m hoping to at least go apple picking at some point soon. Again, life has been crazy!! You’ll know more soon.

– GRAB A CUP, GET CAUGHT UP –

Blogging & Social Media

Style & Beauty

Intentional Living & Self-Care

– SOME OF MY RECENT FAVORITE INSTAGRAM CONTENT –

Throwing it back to last fall with this photo! It’s my favorite shot from all of the photoshoots from last fall. Top knots & blanket scarves are basically what I live in all autumn long. Who else is with me?! My name may be Summer, but there’s no other season that I love as much as fall! Here’s to tomorrow being the first official day of the best season ever. 🍁🍂 P.S. This blanket scarf is linked in my bio! It’s under $10 and a total steal! 😘 *afflink

A post shared by Summer // Blogger (@summertelban) on Sep 21, 2017 at 4:03pm PDT

Good morning! 💙 Truth be told, I am crabby when I wake up, but coffee always helps to turn that around. Oh, Juniper helps too – only when she doesn’t pounce on me meowing for food. 😹 It has been one really dull and gloomy week here in the Poconos so far. Here’s to downing coffee and hustling hard today! We’re almost over the hump, friends! Hang in there. How’s your week going for you?👇🏻

A post shared by Summer // Blogger (@summertelban) on Oct 11, 2017 at 8:12am PDT

Hello weekend! 👋🏻 Did you stop by the blog today? If you love affordable & cozy fall fashion, you need to make your way over there right now. You’ll thank me! Promise. I don’t know about where you are, but tonight’s forecast is looking like a 100% chance of wine for me. 😉 Cheers to the freakin’ weekend, friends! What do you have planned? Anything fun? Tell me! Tell me!👇🏻

A post shared by Summer // Blogger (@summertelban) on Oct 13, 2017 at 4:34pm PDT

SUBSCRIBE TO THE BREW!

After months and months of silence from my email newsletters, I’m finally motivated to put the extra time and energy into making it into all I envision. This isn’t something that’ll happen overnight, but I’m excited to dive into the process of it.

If you consider yourself a member of the CWS community, The Brew is for you! You’ll get in on behind-the-scenes, recaps, special promos, encouragement, and more.

What about you? What’s going on in your life? Anything fun and exciting? Is there anything you’re looking forward to in the next few weeks? Let’s chat!

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Fall Fashion Finds Under $30 On Amazon

October 12, 2017

Wow, this has been an exhausting week! Can’t wait to say cheers to the freakin’ weekend very soon! Who’s with me?

It’s no secret that fall is my favorite season. I can never get enough of it – the foliage, the crisp air, the adventures, and of course, the fashion. I have said it before and I’ll say it again… If I could live in a world where it was fall all year-round, I would. There’s just something so welcoming about being cozied up in sweaters and blanket scarves that my heart just can’t say no to.

Today’s post isn’t something I usually share here, but when the idea popped into my head, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I’m not one to share gift guides and round-ups all year long, but I know so many of you love fall as much as I do, so I figured I’d break my little rule this one time. 😉

I have rounded up some amazing fall fashion finds on Amazon that are trendy, comfortable, and affordable! Enjoy!

FASHION FINDS UNDER $30:

The links below are affiliate links. This just means that if you choose to make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Any commission made is put to keeping Coffee With Summer up and brewing!

Fall Fashion Finds Under $30 On Amazon Click To Tweet

Loose Fit Cardigan // Cardigans are some of the most classic fall and winter threads. The loose fit and oversized cardigans are the best out there. I love this light gray one with dolman sleeves. It also has big pockets that are great for tucking your hands into on a chilly day. The main reason cardigans are one of my fall must-haves is because they’re the perfect piece to throw over almost anything!

Scoop Neck Striped Midi Dress // Fall dresses are my favorite kind of dresses. I have been eyeing this one up for awhile now and I’m hoping to officially “add to cart” soon! This dress has pockets, which we all know is a huge perk for dresses. This dress comes in blue, white, red, and green with stripes, as well as solid colors.

Cozy Wrap Dress // This dress is a faux wrapped dress and it’s absolutely darling. It comes in 4 different colors – army green, black, and two different grays. I love that the wrap style is coming back into style – I think it’s the ballerina in me, haha. The one reviewer on this dress so far said that it’s super cute, but to size up. The folds in the front can show a lot. It can be worn as a tunic or as a dress, depending on the sizing you order.

Plaid Blanket Scarf // This is the best brand blanket scarf I have ever owned! I own this blanket scarf in two different colors and love them both. This color is next up on my must-have list! It is a true blanket scarf in size and in coziness. You can’t beat the price!

Leaf Statement Earrings // These earrings are the perfect statement earrings for fall – the leaves are so fitting. They’re lightweight and comfortable to wear. You can add them to a super casual outfit to make your ensemble more festive, or you could add them to a dressy outfit to make it more classy!

Lightweight Drawstring Sleeveless Vest // I believe every lady should own at least one vest, and if you’re needing one for this fall, this is the vest you need. While it’s not thick, it’s full of character and can make any outfit look perfectly put together for fall. I love the dark red color it comes in, but it also comes in army green, dark blue, and black. It’s perfect for your day at the pumpkin patch!

Oversized Knit Sweater // Nothing welcomes fall like oversized knit sweaters! This sweater is perfect to pair with leggings or distressed jeans. It’s perfect for everyday errands and fall activities, like apple picking. It has batwing sleeves, which helps to create the oversized look. Cozy and cute – can’t complain!

Reversible Sweater // Reversible sweaters are a new trend that I have seen people starting to wear over the past year. I don’t have one yet, but it’s on my list to get one for this fall. It’s basically two sweaters in one! Super fun!

Floppy Hat // Floppy hats are some of the best accessories for fall, especially ones that come in neutral colors, as they can go with many outfits. I’ve been having my eye on a floppy hat just like this one for a bit now and can’t wait to get it. I was never a fan of hats growing up, but floppy hats have helped me change my mind on hats.

Fleece Lined Leggings // If you love leggings, you’re going to love fleece lined leggings for the cold months. When I was a nanny, the girl I nannied was a horseback rider, so we were always at the barn. In the last weeks of fall and all winter long, the barn can be very frigid and brisk, so I decided to purchase my first pair of fleece lined leggings. That was the best idea ever! They changed my life.

You need to have these gorgeous fall fashion finds! Check them out here! Click To Tweet

Black Faux Leather Peep Toe Booties // How fun are these booties? They are just so sassy. Sometimes shoes are what makes an outfit, and these shoes are definitely some that can do just that. For being such an affordable shoe brand, these are some really great quality booties. I can’t rave about this brand enough.

Cognac Faux Suede Booties // Cognac booties are a for sure staple item for your wardrobe. They simply shout fall, don’t they? They’re the same brand as the other booties I’ve listed here. Again, I love this brand! These booties come in over 7 different colors!

– SHOP THE POST –

That’s a wrap for my fall fashion finds under $30! Which one is your favorite? Which one are you dying to make yours? Let’s chat!

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How To Create Sponsored Posts Readers Love

October 10, 2017

As a full-time blogger and someone who’s been growing in working with brands over the past few years, I have learned how to create sponsored content that my readers will love. Sponsored content can have such a stigma to it and that shouldn’t be the case.

If you’re not familiar with what sponsored content is, sponsored content is when bloggers or influencers are paid to share about a certain brand or product on their blog and/or social media channels.

Sponsored content can have such a stigma to it and that shouldn't be the case. Click To Tweet

I have come to learn that when people don’t understand something, they naturally revert to looking down on it and they even tend to bash it… all because they’re mostly misinformed. This is why I started to touch on breaking the stigma of sponsored content a year ago. To see people (even other bloggers) lash out at bloggers and influencers who get to work with brands absolutely breaks my heart and it also infuriates me.

It breaks my heart because we should be building up one another, not tearing each other down. It infuriates me because people don’t want to take the time to get properly informed about sponsored work.

In last year’s post, I wrote to those who get annoyed when bloggers share sponsored content. This year, I want to write to my blogger and influencer friends who share sponsored content.

HOW TO CREATE SPONSORED POSTS THAT YOUR READERS WILL LOVE:

If you’re a blogger or influencer, you should know by now that what you write about online isn’t all about you. Yes, you want to share about things that you love, but you also want to reach your readers with things they might love to read about. It’s all about balance. Today, I’m sharing some key tips to help you develop a plan for only creating sponsored content that you readers will actually want to read.

How To Create Sponsored Content Your Readers Will Love Click To Tweet

1. Partner With Brands That You Truly Love & Use // Partnering with brands that you already love and use is the top key way to create sponsored content that your readers will love. Not only is it the way to creating content your readers love, but it’s also the only way to stay true to yourself and not become a sellout.

When you wholeheartedly love a brand or product, everything for your content will flow easily. Nothing will feel forced. This is what you want all of your sponsored content to be. Believe it or not, your readers can tell when you really don’t love, love a brand or product that you’re posting about. When this happens, you can start to lose your readers’ trust and interest.

To avoid this, always have a heart-to-heart with yourself when applying for sponsored campaigns or reaching out/responding to possible partnerships. It’s better to say “no” to something that your heart’s not all in with, rather than to lose readers because you’ve chosen to compromise your authenticity.

2. Share A Story, Not A Review // Reviews of products and brands are so overdone and to be honest, they’re dry and boring. Your readers don’t want to read another review of something they can just look up on their own. You want to draw your readers in with a real life story about how a brand or product has changed your life. You want to let your readers into your real life experience with brands and products. Open up and allow yourself to get vulnerable with your readers! Honesty and vulnerability is how you earn your readers’ trust and loyalty.

Want to keep your readers' interest in your sponsored content? Share a story, not a review. Click To Tweet

3. Know What Kind Of Brands/Products Your Readers Enjoy // The majority of my demographics are women the ages of 18-34, which is why I share about general lifestyle, fashion, and millennial lifestyle here at CWS. While my lifestyle categories can appeal to many ages, my content primarily targets millennials. After 3 years of blogging seriously, I have learned the kinds of content and products my readers love to read about.

How To Figure Out What Kind Of Sponsored Content Your Readers Enjoy Click To Tweet

How can you know what kind of brands/products your readers enjoy?

Analyze past sponsored content…
- Did your blog post get a high number of comments?
- Did your social shares produce further shares and conversations?
  - If so, try to introduce similar brands and products to your readers. If not, try straying from the brands/product that didn’t get much of a buzz going and introduce new ones.
Ask them!
- Conduct a poll on Twitter or Instagram.
- Conduct a reader survey.

6 Tips To Create Sponsored Content Your Readers ACTUALLY Want To Read Click To Tweet

4. Solve A Problem For Your Readers // I will only ever share brands and products that I truly love and believe in. The majority of my sponsorships are built around products that have changed my life for the better in one way or another. Whether I’m sharing about skincare or decor tips and tricks, I’m sharing my story on why certain products have helped improve my life.

Aside from wanting to share my story when introducing products to my readers, I want to make sure that these products have the potential to change some of my readers’ lives, as well.

Shared sponsored content about brands/products that help solve a problem for your readers. Click To Tweet

You want to share products that will solve a problem that your readers might be dealing with. From acne to organization and everything in between, there are products out there that can help not only you enhance your life, but your readers’ lives, as well.

5. Share On Social Media // If you’re creating sponsored blog posts, chances are you’re sharing on social media, as well. This is not only great for your blog’s traffic, but it’s huge in reaffirming your readers how much you love the brand or product you’re sharing about.

Pro Tip: If you truly love the sponsored content you shared, share it more than the required amount of times you’re asked to in your partnership. Go above and beyond! Over deliver. Don’t just share about a sponsorship once and be done. You want to keep sharing it.

In addition to my little pro tip… Share about products and brands that you love that you’re not paid to share about. Even if you’re wanting to partner with them in the future, share about them beforehand. This helps to further cultivate trust between you and your audience.

Go above and beyond! Over deliver. Always. Click To Tweet

6. Disclose Properly // My dear blog friends, you have to disclose properly on all sponsored content. If you’re working with brands through networks, proper disclosure should already be in part of your campaign requirements. If you’re working with a brand directly and they don’t tell you to disclose, you STILL need to disclose. If you’re working with a brand that tells you to not disclose… you probably shouldn’t be working with them.

Disclosing that you’re getting paid to share about a brand or product is not awkward, inconvenient, or any other excuse you want to come up with to not disclose. By not disclosing, you’re showing your readers (and other bloggers and brands) that you’re dishonest. Yes, that’s blunt. Yes, some bloggers need to hear that.

When you don't disclose sponsored work/affiliates properly, you will lose your readers' trust. Click To Tweet

The same goes for disclosing affiliate links. If you are getting paid in any way to share something, you must disclose that you are. It’s sickening to see bloggers and influencers skipping out on disclosures all in hopes of earning an extra dollar or two. Is compromising your authenticity, honesty, and relationship with your readers worth the extra dollar or two? I think not.

I could go on and on, but that’s for another time and another post, haha. For now, learn more about the FTC guideline’s here.

Point blank – be honest, be upfront, be open. Always. Your readers and followers will notice if you’re not.

Be honest, be upfront, be open. Always. Your readers and followers will notice if you're not. Click To Tweet

I know this post was long, but friends, I hope it was helpful to you! I want to see every blogger succeed in working on sponsored content and in general, of course. 🙂 What are some of your best tips for creating sponsored content your readers will love? Let’s chat!

Let’s connect! >> Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest | Snapchat

Tips For Homegating

October 9, 2017

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #HomegatingHeroes #CollectiveBias

It’s fall time and that means it’s football season!! I’m not typically a huge sports fan – at least when it comes to following sports. Football is definitely the exception, and Michael is definitely thankful for that! Michael loves football and will watch any game that’s on. Aside from the actual sport of football, one huge reason why we both love football season is because it’s one of the best times of the year to have people over.

We love welcoming people into our home and with football, it’s even more of a blast! Hosting people over for the big game is something we always look forward to doing, but it can be a lot of work from prep to clean-up. Today, I’m here to share some of our best tips to have a rockin’ homegating day!

TIPS FOR HOMEGATING – PREP, HOSTING, & CLEAN-UP:

1. Prepare The Night Before // Preparation is the key to being successful at anything, and that goes the same for hosting a homegating get together. Instead of cramming everything in the day of the big game, prep the night before. Be there for the moments that matter on game day. Georgia-Pacific and Dollar General will help you stock up on the hosting essentials you need to cut down on cleanup time and avoid a last minute run to the store. Head to Dollar General to stock up on paper products like Angel Soft® 12 Family Roll, Sparkle® 6 Roll and other necessities like Glad® ForceFlex® 13 Gallon and Glad® Food Containers Family Size. Don’t drop the ball and miss the big play, stock up and save now so you can relax later and keep having fun with your friends and family.

At home, do your thorough cleaning and organizing the night before. Focus on the rooms that your guest will be in or using, like the family room and bathrooms.

Pro tip that is often forgotten: Check all of your electronics that you’ll be using to watch the big game. Check your TV, your cable or streaming service, and sound. The last thing you want is there to be a technical issue before the game starts.

Sparkle® Paper Towels, 6 Roll is perfect for cleaning anywhere in the house – the kitchen countertops, the coffee table, and the bathroom. Angel Soft® Bath Tissue, 12 Family Roll has all that you need for bath tissue. Be sure to leave extra rolls out and available for your guests.

2. Create A Welcoming Atmosphere // There’s more to creating a welcoming atmosphere than just organizing and decorating. While those are important things, I’d say that having a welcoming attitude and hosting skills are right up there on the list. Always welcome guests with arms wide open and a smile. Make them feel right at home by sharing with them where everything is if they might need it.

3. Clean Up Right After Everyone Leaves // Friends, one of the best things you can do for your sanity is to get the clean-up over with right after your guests leave. If you put it off, let’s be real, who knows how long things may stay out or messy. Trust me, I’ve had many piles of dishes sit for days, so I’ve learned my lesson to clean everything right away.

My advice is to start in the kitchen – wipe down the tables, the counter tops, and do all of the dishes. After you’re done in the kitchen, move to the living room area and bathrooms. If you and your husband tag-team, you’ll be surprised how fast clean-up will go for you.

Glad® Food Containers Family Size and Glad® ForceFlex® 13 Gallon are two of the best clean-up products ever. I don’t know about you, but there are always leftovers after the big game. We like to push most of them off to our guests and some we keep for ourselves. Either way, Glad Food Storage are the perfect containers to storage away any leftovers there might be.

Buy 3 participating items, Save $3 at Dollar General, valid 9/24/17 – 10/21/17

Do you love hosting for the big game? If so, what are some of your best tips? Do you have any secret tips that have been hugely helpful for you? Let’s chat!

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