Welcome to Social Hour, our  blog series where we introduce you to members of the Socialix community. Writers, photographers, artists, videographers and social media enthusiasts share their journeys as they transformed from social users to social influencers. 

For our second Social Hour installment, we connected with Toni Hammersley, the organizational guru and creator behind A Bowl Full of Lemons. On her blog, Toni offers organizational expertise and tips to help her readers infuse organizational practices into their lives.

Do you remember writing your first blog post? What was it about?

I do. It was a blog post about my old kitchen renovation. I shared the before shots of our dated oak cabinets and the after photos displayed newly painted white cabinets, bead board backsplash and new countertops. Looking back at those pictures, we’ve come a long way. Wow, I can’t believe that was 6 years ago.

Do you have a set schedule for managing your blogs and social media feeds? Any social media productivity tips to share?

For the most part, I don’t go by a schedule. I try to post 1-2 blog posts per week but sometimes there’s more and sometimes less. I try to check in every day on social media but I don’t let it consume me. I used to be so worried about the numbers and algorithms but now I just share when I feel inspired to. I realized that it wasn’t the end of the world if other bloggers had more followers than me or if my Facebook post didn’t reach a certain number of people. I want to enjoy blogging and not let it control my life.  I’m not only a blogger but a stay at home mom. My family definitely comes first. This has been working great for me – my job doesn’t feel like a job. I’m sharing what I love and inspiring others to do the same.

What is the first social media network you check in the morning?

Instagram all the way!! I love that I actually get to see posts from all of the people that I follow AND they get to see all of my posts.

If you could only have one app on your phone, what would it be?

That’s a hard question to answer but if I could only choose one, it would be Instagram.

What are your three favorite blogs to read in your spare time?

To be honest, I don’t have a lot of time to read other blogs. If I do have a little time to browse, the first three are always www.athomewithnikki.com,  www.CleanMama.net, and www.house214design.com. All three women are inspirational to me.

How do you interact with your readers?

I am very present and engaging with my readers. I have several Facebook community groups that I interact with and answer questions on a regular basis. I also chat with them on Instagram. Of course, emails and blog comments are an integral part of blogging as well.

How do you find inspiration for new content?

I find inspiration all around me. Whether it’s from a movie, a magazine, an Instagram post, or a YouTube video, I’m constantly inspired.

What is your dream brand collaboration?

I would love to create my own line of planners & inserts and have them available for everyone to easily purchase at the store (whether it be at Staples or Target). Most planners are purchased online and are hard to find in stores these days. This would be a true dream!

What is your favorite part of running A Bowl Full of Lemons?

Hands down, seeing how I have inspired my readers to finally get their lives in order. I get so many emails, photos, and comments from women thanking me and letting me know how much I have influenced them to change their habits and their lives. It warms my heart.

What is your least favorite part of running A Bowl Full of Lemons?

Blogging can be very time consuming and I never get to “leave work”. I work from home so it’s always around me. Sometimes it’s hard to close the office door, respond to the comments on Monday, turn off the phone and close the laptop. It’s very difficult for me to shut it all off and relax!!!

Is there one area of your blog or social media accounts that you’d really like to focus on this year?

I would really like to be more consistent with posting. Life gets in the way and sometimes the blog gets put on the back burner.  I would like to stay focused and remain consistent.

Be sure to check out A Bowl Full of Lemons and follow Toni on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.