Meet Amy

I have struggled with the answer when asked, "What do you do?" and it isn't work-related. Ultimately, we settled on that I find things and untangle things. But I also read (a lot), pretend to wake surf, and watch Hallmark films.

Amy's bookshelf: 2024

The Weekend Away
it was amazing
So so good! Orla and Kate are long-time best friends off on a girls' weekend away. Kate is a bit of a player who is trying to get back at her soon-to-be-ex, causing her to spend frivolously and do drugs and hook-ups. Orla is a new mom ex...
tagged: 2024, audible-books, five-stars, thriller, and thoughtful
Written Off
really liked it
tagged: 2024, cozy, easy, and four-stars
Maybe Next Time
really liked it
Parts were a screaming 5 and parts were like “what?” And just irritated me. It is a Groundhog Day premise about a family of four - the mom is caught up in her own life and missing all that is going on around her with her kids and then he...
tagged: 2024, audible-books, fiction, four-stars, and thoughtful

goodreads.com

ProBlogger’s 31 days to Build a Better Blog Challenge – is underway

Wow, that was a long title.  Any way, over at “The Secret is in the Sauce” I’ve decided to accept their challenge to take on ProBlogger’s 31 day challenge.  I’m a bit nervous about doing it.  I’m not nervous about being able to answer the questions or being harshly judged.  I’m nervous because I (like everyone else) am really busy and it is the end of summer (yes it is the last half of summer all ready).  I don’t like starting something and not finishing.   So, please, wish me luck.

The first challenge was to write an Elevator Pitch.  I’m in sales so I figured this one would be easy for me.  I was wrong.  I’ve changed it several times and even what I have decided on will change and evolve over the course of these 31 days.  Just because I’ll figure out a different or better way to say the same thing.

So, here is my elevator pitch.  (PS – for those of you asking “What is an elevator pitch?”  Here’s the answer I was given years ago.  You step on an elevator with someone you don’t know.  You start up a conversation and they ask, “What do you do?” You respond with a 1-3 sentence answer telling them what you do- remembering you are on an elevator and the door will open any minute.  You want to tell them enough about what you do and who you are that they want to continue the conversation out of the elevator).

Here goes…

I am documenting my way through the race of life as a working mom while betting on the trifecta of my top three priorities – my family, my faith and enjoying life.  Throughout my journey I’ll share lots of photos, recipes, parenting and spiritual lessons, frustrations, stories and ideas.

Please be honest – does that make you want to come back?  Or does it say that I’m just another “working mother” blogger?  If you have any suggestions, I would love to hear (read) them.

I am really excited about this challenge and look forward to learning A LOT.

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23 comments to ProBlogger’s 31 days to Build a Better Blog Challenge – is underway

  • Good blog! I definitely love how it is uncomplicated on my eyes and the facts is well written. I am wondering how I could be notified whenever a new post has been made. I have subscribed to your rss feed which really should do the trick! Have a nice day!

  • Jessica
    Twitter: itrocks2bmom

    Great site! I love your Logo, and actually think that will draw people as quickly if not quicker than your elevator pitch itself. It speaks creativity. I need to make one 🙂

    You are right that the pitch is a work in progress. I changed mine 10 minutes after I posted a comment in BlogFrog of what it was. I’ll change it at least 30 more!

    I’m excited about this challenge and all the great tips we are getting. (Fellow SITStah!)I’m your newest follower. Looking forward to browsing your blog!

    Here was my pitch: http://itrocks2bmom.blogspot.com/2010/07/problogger-challenge-day-1-intro.html

  • Jenny @Home is Where...
    Twitter: henjenca

    I think it’s a good pitch, I agree- it leaves me wanting to know more. I don’t think it says, ‘just another mommy blog’- it’s more interesting.

    I just got my Day 1 post up..you are right, it was hard to do. I think I nailed my tag-line/short elevator pitch, but that my longer one is going to evolve and change, it’s kind of choppy right now…but I figured at least I got something down to work on.

  • Ramona
    Twitter: rwilliamsdesign

    This is a good elevator pitch. Concise, to the point. I will be visiting your blog again. 🙂

  • GirlCanCreate aka Lisa
    Twitter: lisagirlcancreate.com

    Really enjoyed your elevator pitch!

    I too had no idea what Trifecta is, and wonder if an explanation needs to be present for others to get it as well. It sounded like some sort of place, so i wondered if Trifecta was an area where you lived! I agree with gardensofplenty suggestions for sure!

  • gardensofplenty
    Twitter: gardensofplenty

    Hi Amy! I think you totally nailed it in your response back to me:”Trifecta is a wager in horse racing. If you get the first three horses to place in order you win the trifecta – which is a significant pay day.” Incorporating that somehow gives your blog name context and keeps your URL very memorable. Lucky you with all the blog comments. It’s working!
    -Erin

  • Mimi
    Twitter: bigguysmama

    THANK YOU so much for defining “Elevator Pitch” for me. I was SO not sure and now I can write mine!

    ~Mimi

  • Unplanned Cooking
    Twitter: jennifer52fights.com

    I think we’re all just another “insert here” blogger at some level. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to tune in. It is a good pitch – it will get me to your site, and then your writing will carry you.

  • I think it sounds great. I will be here!

  • Sonia Barton
    Twitter: SoniaBarton

    FYI – your BlogFrog community is either off line or not finished up or something – people can’t join??

  • Sonia Barton
    Twitter: SoniaBarton

    After you explained the Trifecta – it made sense. So maybe what you need is an about me where you can explain the Horse Racing definition. Your tag line will stay the way it is, but then you can incorporate some of ‘Gardens a plenty’s suggestions into the About me, short section somewhere. Or maybe you do have one and me being who I am, can’t find it.

  • Lynda
    Twitter: lynda

    Can you tell I love to edit? I already found a huge glaring hole in the suggestion I provided. The word “life” appears too much, so here’s my updated suggestion. 🙂

    “A working mom documents her way through the race of life while juggling her devotion to family, faith and fun.”

    If you really want to use trifecta, how about:

    “A working mom documents her way through the race of life while juggling her devotion to a trifecta of Fs: family, faith and fun.”

  • Lynda
    Twitter: lynda

    Hi Amy! Lovely blog you have here. I can’t wait to see what else you come up with in the challenge!

    I think your short elevator pitch is too long and I don’t think it should be in first person (that’s just a personal preference.) Here’s my suggestion:

    “A working mom documents her way through the race of life while juggling devotion to her family, faith and enjoying life.

    I think you could stop there without going into the specifics of what you share. I would expect all of those things from someone documenting her life, so it’s a little repetitious to me. In the second question, maybe answer the question of what do the readers get out of your blog, other than seeing what you’ve documented? What does a reader walk away with?

    I don’t like the use of the word trifecta in the elevator pitch because, let’s face it, most people read on a 7th or 8th grade level and foreign words scare them off.

    Great start!!!

  • Camille
    Twitter: makeitworkmom

    So impressive that you’re doing this program. I have a feeling your blog is going to be pretty big afterwards! Especially if you’re able to pitch yourself like this! 🙂
    I like that instead of just stating you’re a working mom, you’ve narrowed your priorities down to 3 and thought of a creative way to organize them: trifecta.
    Then once the stranger on the elevator sees your pictures, they’ll fall in love!!

  • […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Amy Andrus Sanford, Amy Andrus Sanford. Amy Andrus Sanford said: Well, I did the first challenge #31DBBB – my elevator pitch is posted. I'd love feedback – good or bad http://bit.ly/91WKsN […]

  • I think you are off to a strong start on your pitch. I guess I would like further refinement. In a way, you answered your own question. What makes your blog different than other blogs? I believe that you do have something unique to contribute. You just need to let those of us reading the pitch know what that is. I hope you enjoy the challenge! 🙂

  • Rachael
    Twitter: rachael1013

    I think it’s good, but I still think you could make it better. It’s descriptive, but not passionate. It would draw me in more if it really came across what you’re passionate about and how you use your blog to feed that passion. I like your tagline!

    I can’t wait to continue on this challenge with everyone, it’s so much fun already!

  • I found your elevator pitch post on Twitter right after I signed up for the 31DBBB SITS challenge myself. I think it’s effective because I’d like to know more; I’m curious to hear why you use the term “race” to describe your journey. You might have already talked about that in an earlier post, but if I were to actually meet you in an elevator I’d certainly ask!

    Thanks and best of luck to you in the challenge. I think with the SITS support we’re much more likely to finish than if we’d tried it alone, no matter what time of year!

    Amy
    Twitter: familytrifecta
    Reply:

    I do the “race” because trifecta is a horse race – betting term. I’m going to have to figure out a way to tie the race into my title 🙂

    looking forward to supporting one another through the challenge.

  • Gardens of Plenty
    Twitter: gardensofplenty

    I applaud you for taking part in the challenge while I live vicariously through you… I will be going on vacation (woot!) for 2 weeks in the middle of this challenge so I am passively enjoying it and hoping to learn from from you and all the bloggers as much as I can! Your elevator pitch is on target. My observation would be that I think you could make it even more specific. I know, I know… no one wants to get pigeon-holed in their blog for fear of not attracting a bigger audience. However, you could tell me in your pitch what you do for work since you’re a working mama, WHY you have picked family, faith, and enjoying life as your priorities… tell the reader more about your family dynamic and what drives your faith. I mean, I figure it’s a given that you will share your awesome photos, recipes, stories, etc. Plus, why the word “racing”? That is intriguing too! Now give me more meat. 🙂 Keep it up! —Erin

    Amy
    Twitter: familytrifecta
    Reply:

    I love all of your suggestions. I knew my elevator pitch would change through this exercise. Trifecta is a wager in horse racing. If you get the first three horses to place in order you win the trifecta – which is a significant pay day. I’m working now on integrating the rest of your suggestions. Thank you so much 🙂

  • Awesome. Well thought out and creative. I may need to try this!

    Amy
    Twitter: familytrifecta
    Reply:

    Linda- you totally should do it. I think it is going to be a lot of fun (and a lot of work).