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I started my first blog back in the early 2000s, when we were all customizing Myspace profiles, writing angsty AIM away messages, and sharing our lives without filters or strategy.
In 2010, I created This Lexington Life as a way to document everyday moments – life in Kentucky, motherhood, my favorite finds, and whatever season I was in. For a long time, blogging was just my creative outlet. No pressure. No monetization goals. Just a space that felt like mine.
But everything changed after I had my twins.
After a traumatic pregnancy, NICU time, and getting laid off right after maternity leave, I found myself home with four little boys and a huge question mark hanging over everything:
What now?
I hadn’t planned to stay home. I hadn’t planned to lose my income. But suddenly, I realized… maybe the blog I’d built over all these years could be more than a digital scrapbook.
Maybe it could support my family.
I didn’t “start a blog.” I repurposed what I already had.
I didn’t launch a new brand or rebrand overnight. I looked at what I’d already created and started building something more intentional – one step at a time.
Here’s a transparent look at how I’m making money from This Lexington Life—so you can steal this playbook for your own blog:
1. Sponsored Posts & Links
- I partner with local Lexington brands (think family-friendly activities, boutiques, home services) and bigger national brands that align with my audience.
- I also partner with link-building companies like FatJoe to place links on my site that align with my audience.
- The key? I pitch with a media kit that highlights my audience demographics (mostly moms, many in Lexington), post analytics, and a strong story angle.
2. Digital Products & Downloads
- I created a 60+ page guide, From Dream to Domain, which walks moms through launching a blog, even if they feel overrun by motherhood.
- Plus, smaller resources like a Blog Launch Checklist and Notion content planner templates.
- These are called low-ticket products (From Dream to Domain is $14.97 right now) and I am new to this side of online income! The key to selling digital products is to 1) find a problem you can solve for your audience and 2) create the guide or course they need! This is extremely simplified of course and I’m learning more every day! I love teaching people so this is perfect for me!
3. Affiliate Links & Tools I Love
- I recommend tools, products, and services that I personally use: my WordPress theme, Amazon products I love, and my favorite planners/home making tools from Passionate Penny Pincher, for example!
- Each time someone signs up through my link, I earn a small commission.
- I have 30–40 affiliate links naturally woven into blog posts like my blog guide and tech setup posts.
From Dream to Domain: A Beginner Blog Guide for Moms
If you’re a mom who’s been thinking about starting a blog – or turning your existing one into something more – this guide was made for you.
It walks you through everything:
- Choosing your niche
- Setting up your blog without tech overwhelm
- Creating your first posts
- Actually launching
- Staying consistent even in the chaos of motherhood
It’s 60+ pages of step-by-step help that doesn’t assume you have hours of free time (because… you don’t).
→ Grab From Dream to Domain here
Or if you’re still in the “just thinking about it” phase, grab my free Blog Launch Checklist to get started.
If you’re wondering if it’s too late… it’s not.
I’ve had this blog for over a decade, and it’s only now becoming something that supports my family – creatively and financially.
Whether you’ve been blogging for years or have just been quietly thinking about starting, this is your sign:
You don’t have to be loud.
You don’t have to be perfect.
You just have to start.
Next up: In Part 2 of this blog series, I’ll help you figure out what to actually blog about – no pressure to niche down perfectly, just a starting point that fits your life.
In the mean time, join us in the Facebook group for one on one chats and daily inspiration!
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