branding bits

Pick one thing about yourself and run with it. One trait, one interest or lack of one interest, one quirk, one theme… that’s now your new persona or voice. That’s essentially what blogging is, or seems to be -- that’s not easy.

I take that back. It’s not what blogging is, it’s what branding is. But the two happen together or branding comes however shortly after you start blogging. If you read on, you’ll see I’ve touched on multiple topics - choosing one isn’t easy. But my topic and content within that topic need to be focused, or else some may not read on.

Tom and Lorenzo, married couple who own and run a fashion, celebrity lifestyle and TV review blog, have a clear voice throughout. A bit sassy, but smart too, as Tom has a film background and gives detailed insight on camera composition, costume design and other aspects within a show.

But I’ve met Tom and Lorenzo, and together they are funny but sweet and dish out punchy one-liners in their normal tone. Maybe their voice is the same on their blog than in real life, but they’ve said otherwise.

After making blogging a full-time gig and bringing on advertisers, the content changes a bit. It’s the same ideas, but it’s more focused on what the audience likes to read and writing things that will give your site hits. It’s a business now. And with that, comes the need for branding your site and branding yourself and sticking with it, running with it.

Your readership can only know you for so many things. Writing about your love for fly fish and fashion on the same blog could work, but your audience would be completely split, there would rarely be overlap from a reader coming to the blog for both topics. It would be weird, no?

My voice here is a positive one, not unrealistically positive, but this is a space where I’ll share things that make my life a little bit better, more enjoyable -- whether that be through something I learned, ate, did, saw or heard about. But again, not specific enough. Give the people what they want, dammit!

Being myself is key here. No one wants to read something if it’s obvious I didn’t want to write it, but did so to keep up with the brand that is myself. Here you’ll find things that make me happy because I’m making healthy choices for myself. I do mean physically healthy, but they also make me mentally and emotionally healthier because science, man.

I’ve wrote and will continue to write about little things that are a smarter choice, almost an easier choice when all said and done… more on those little things later. 

don't hold the avo

Everyone -- really I think everyone -- is eating avocados. They’ve always had the same nutritional value, but this time around they’re getting much more attention and affection. I was late jumping on the avocado band wagon. I didn’t really even try a piece of avocado until about a year ago.

I can’t really explain why I waited to so long to try one, except that I was probably afraid of its texture, which happens with me and food a lot. But I will say that my enjoyment of eating avocados made it worth the wait.

Expanding on why and how these fruits (and yes it’s a fruit; the avocado is the fruit from an avocado tree) got so popular is a post upon itself, so today I’ll focus on how I utilize these green guys.

Avocado is pretty much amazing with anything: on toast, in salads, on sandwiches, by the spoon with some salt and pepper, in wraps and burritos, the list continues and doesn’t end. I don’t always make avocado-including meals and snacks at home, which makes eating out more expensive because adding avocado to something = $$$ but sometimes… most times… actually, all the time, it’s worth it to splurge.

At home, I typically eat avocados on rice cakes. Sounds boring, but it’s so delicious and the possibilities practically go on forever.

I slice the avocado in half, deseed and cut into chunks that I mash onto each rice cake (one half per cake). Sprinkle some salt and pepper on top, and game over -- you have your snack/mini-meal.

Mini-meal, you ask? One avocado has 29 grams of fat (44% of the recommended daily value), and by fat I mean the “good-for-you-fat.” It also has four grams of protein (8%), 14 grams of fiber (56%) and 322 calories.

Am I a certified nutritionist? Absolutely not. But between the calories, fat and fiber, I’d say that’s a solid snack or mini-meal (if you add some protein).