I found Ashley years ago on Instagram when her, her husband, and their THREE kids were living small in an RV. I was so intrigued with the lifestyle of RV living (as well as the beautifully designed interior), but I was mostly so pulled in to her family’s infectious joy and charm.
Today, Ashley shares behind the scenes of how she has built her dream life and business by simply sharing her passions and personality on social media.
She dives even deeper in to this topic in her E-Book, What’s Your Story? Instagram Guidebook by Ashley Petrone & Jennifer Griswold, and was kind enough to share a special offer with MIP listeners that you can access by the following link- https://arrowsandbowdarlingiloveit.selz.com
Notable Timestamps:
2:30- meet Ashley and hear how she got started in this space
5:45- Ashley shares where she’s seeing the most engagement on IG
7:45- IG story engagement vs post engagement
10:30- Tips for being comfortable on stories
12:30- We dig deeper in to how Ashley monetizes
17:55- Learn how Ashley manages her time
21:00- Ashley’s experience turning out story messaging
25:20- Ashley’s airbnb experience
32:20- How instagram and her blog have led to media opportunities
34:00- Influencer tips for creatives in the interior design space
36:35 Why community is important
39:00- What’s your story- Instagram guide book
45:00- Rapid fire questions
Full episode transcript
Christy Keane: 00:06 You’re listening to the Mommy influencer podcast where we dive into motherhood, social media marketing, and hear from inspiring Mommy influencers, brands and industry experts to bring you the inside knowledge, tools and strategies to grow your implants in business through purposeful online content creation. I’m your host Christy keen and I’m a navy veteran and registered nurse. Turned Stay at home mom turned full time motherhood influencer on track to be a six figure earner this year through social media marketing alone. So come in and cozy up mamas and get ready to take your influence to the next level.
Christy Keane: 00:43 man, you guys, I am so excited to be chatting with Ashley Petrone today from Arrows & Bow and I can’t even begin to explain how much I adore this Mama and her family. I found Ashley on Instagram a few years ago when she was sharing her journey, living in a renovated trailer with her husband and three kids and I was just so fascinated by her tiny living lifestyle and, but mostly I was just immediately drawn to her contagious energy and dancing and super obsessed with her daughter Q. Like, I don’t know why I could watch her videos all day long. They are adorable. Um, but since then today actually has over 200,000 followers on Instagram and her and her family have moved to California where she has leveraged her love and eye for interior design, as well as hosted cozy airbnb guest house. So Ashley, thank you so much for taking the time to come on and chat with you
Ashley Petrone: 01:35 me today. Well thank you so much for having me, Chrissy. This is so fun.
Christy Keane: 01:39 Oh my gosh. You probably remember I reached out to you, I don’t know if you remember or not, but I reached out to you a while ago cause it was like I just cannot get enough of your daughter’s videos. I am so jealous. Like my kids, as soon as I try to open up my mouth to sing or dance, they asked me very politely, they say, no thank you and asked me to stop. I’m not bad. They just aren’t into it. And I just love watching you and your little family. The joy is so contagious.
Ashley Petrone: 02:02 Oh, thank you. Yeah, it’s been fun. You know, she used to be so much crazier to in the younger years and as she’s getting older I can tell she’s starting to kind of be aware of what she’s doing a little bit more. And I’m like, oh, where’s that boldness?
Christy Keane: 02:16 I know I love when she would just be recording videos on your phone that you would find and just so authentic we could learn so much from our kids and it’s so true. So why don’t you share a little bit more about what you do and how you got started in blogging and Instagram?
Ashley Petrone: 02:31 Okay. Um, so I was a stay at home mom who homeschooled my kids. I have three kids. They’re now almost 10, eight n almost six. Um, and I’ve always just had a desire to create and kind of that entrepreneurial, you know, side of me and my mom is very much that way. And so I was kind of like trying things here and there. I went to cosmetology school to be a hairstylist just like my mom did. Um, my mom was like selling something. I tried selling it and I was just like searching for that thing. And I really just kind of went deep inside myself and was like, what do you love to do? What is like your passion? And what I love to do is to, you know, find deals and design like our home and decorate. And I’ve always been like into going on craigslist, finding a table for $30 refinishing a and then selling it for like $300, you know?
Ashley Petrone: 03:34 Um, so I just, I met with, um, kind of a mentor and she just really encouraged me to just start. She was like, you can’t, you can’t just stop. You just got to stop thinking about it and using it to start. And if you’re yourself and if you’re you, then that’s what people like. People like authentic. So that’s just always stuck with me. And I really just went home the next day and I just started and I started a blog, started an Instagram ad, no idea what I was doing, but I was hungry and I wanted to learn. So I just looked at what other people were doing. I read every article that was out and I just like had fun enjoying the journey and as it’s, you know, almost been three years. Um, I’ve definitely changed and my page has changed, but it’s kind of just evolved and changed with me.
Ashley Petrone: 04:27 So it went from sharing, you know, uh, design tips and deal fines to kind of shifting into a little bit of marriage stuff and family. And then when we moved into the RV about seven months into my blogging, um, it definitely shifted to fall, like lifestyle, um, just really incorporating our story into everything that I was sharing because it was just hard not to. And then the, the pretty designed, you know, Rv was just kind of a perk. So now, um, you know, we lived in a trailer for 17 months and now being in a house, it’s just, it’s still the same thing. I’m just kind of allowing my page just to be a reflection of our story and what we’re doing.
Christy Keane: 05:07 I love that. And I actually have already decided that the title of this podcast has to be something along the lines of designing your dream life because you just merge design and your lifestyle so beautifully. And I love it. I just can not get enough of it.
Ashley Petrone: 05:25 Thank you.
Christy Keane: 05:26 And so with balancing that, just a question that comes to mind. Thinking about how you’re able to do both, so well, where are you seeing the most engagement these days? Like between design versus the lifestyle stuff?
Ashley Petrone: 05:38 Yeah. You know, it’s, so I feel like I, my goal is to figure out Instagram on the enneagram. I’m an eight, seven, so I like definitely like control. I like getting after things and the fact that I can’t like decode Instagram. I mean that just drives me. Um, but there is necessarily this, they’re not really a formula for it, but I feel like as far as, you know, from my page and what people respond to, people definitely love when I’m honest and open and real and authentic. And there’s a, there’s a beautiful fine line between being, you know, authentic and down all the time. Or, um, I try to keep everything on the positive because that’s just really the way that I am in general. Just trying to find joy in everything. And so I just try to reflect that on my page as well. So I think it goes back and forth. It really just depends. I think that people are tired of seeing the same spaces over and over. You know, if you’re a home account and you’re purely showing your home for two years straight, it can get a little, you know, one note. So I think the fact that I bring in a lot of different elements keeps things exciting and keeps people guessing.
Christy Keane: 06:56 Yeah. And you do a great job at that. And even on your stories when you share other people’s homes who have been inspired by a space that you have created it, you know, it makes it a little bit more diverse and people can draw their inspiration from, you know, you’re awesome followers as well. Yeah. And I crack up because you see you can’t figure out Instagram and I look at your page and I’m like, she hasn’t figured out because your engagement is so great and I can only see what you know I can see on your post. But I can imagine from how much I love your stories that you probably have a super high engagement rate on your stories as well. Or do do you feel like people show up more for one or the other?
Ashley Petrone: 07:39 Um, you know, I actually asked everybody in a poll that I think like a month or two ago, and obviously it was in stories, so it was story people saying it, but 86% of people said that they watch stories rather than posts.
Christy Keane: 07:52 I believe it. I think I’m seeing, I like on my page, I mean my put my actual fetus, like crickets right now, but my stories, I feel like, wow, I am. People are showing up. And it’s so nice to, I don’t know, it feels a little bit more personal and easy to be yourself there, but there’s still something to be said about creating a beautiful feed that gets eyes on it and gets the attention of new followers and brands. And you just are nailing that right now. So I think you’re doing an awesome job.
Ashley Petrone: 08:20 Thank you. Yeah, that’s something I know that, I mean, you can’t disregard a beautiful page because that is what’s gonna bring people in and that’s gonna that’s gonna be the thing that, that gets them to click. The follow button is by your beautiful photos or captivating, you know, um, post something that you write. And then I feel like the stories are really what keep people there are the personality. People just are longing for that personal connection and for a little more realness.
Christy Keane: 08:49 Exactly. Yeah. It’s so true. And I love the way you put it that way. It’s one brings them there. One keeps them there and you’re, I mean I just, again, I’m assuming, but I would think your story’s just have such engaged followers because you, you do like the um, arrows limbo dance off the a, the Hashtag AB dance off and I’m always seeing people pop up doing their little dance offs with you and it’s going to just feel so good to see that you’ve created this space in this platform that merges what you love with just making people have these simple joyful moments in their lives.
Ashley Petrone: 09:28 It really is like what all I care about in this space and I just love getting messages from people saying, Hey, I just want to let you know that you made me realize, you know, to think a little bit more before I purchase or to really love the space that I’m in and this is what I did. Like getting messages like that is, makes it all worth while.
Christy Keane: 09:52 It’s so true. It’s, it’s what you do to help other people in this space that just makes it worth keeping going on. I found that right off as well. Speaking of your dance off videos. Just randomly. I’m like, I need to do one whenever we launch this podcast episode, but you are, I’m not as comfortable on the story side of things and just like just letting it all just hang out and be me. Like I, I’m, I’m working on it but I still struggle with it. But you just, you are you through and through and I see it through, you mentioned your mom earlier, like you see your mom on your stories and your profile and you’re like, you could see where you get a little bit of that from. I’m sure you have. Do you have any tips for people to be more comfortable and be themselves in front of the camera in this space? Or is it just something that comes so naturally to you?
Ashley Petrone: 10:41 You know, not, yeah, so I, as soon as stories came out, like day one, I just, I remember I’m sitting in a home goods parking lot and I was like, I don’t even know what you’re supposed to do with these story things. But I was like, I’m going into home goods. I have no kids. And I did a dance in my car and I got such a great response from people. They were like, this is so fun. I love seeing you do this sort of thing. You know that it kind of gave me a little boost of confidence of course, because I was like realizing, hey like it is actually the most fun for me. And obviously others are either going to like it or not, but when I’m just being myself. So that’s always my best advice. I feel the most comfortable and the most joyful when I’m just being myself.
Ashley Petrone: 11:30 Anytime I’m trying to be less or being more, I am just not as happy. So I really just try to think, okay, is this me? Then just do it. And you know people, not everybody’s going to like it. I’ve had somebody write me before a few people and say, you know, you really used to annoy me, but now I kind of like you but I’m okay. Yeah. So I really just think that, um, you’re not going to be everybody’s cup of water, a cup of tea or whatever you call that, but it doesn’t really matter. Whatever is going to be the most fun for you and bring you the most joy. I just feel like you should just be yourself.
Christy Keane: 12:07 I love that. And you know, and maybe not everybody, their true self isn’t just dancing in the kitchen with their kids. And that’s okay too. Like you, yeah, I love seeing your personality is so you can just feel your authenticity and I love it. Just to dig more into the business side of things, do you monetize your Instagram or blogging? I’m, I’m, I mean, I know you have your airbnb and you’re really good at diversity versifying
Ashley Petrone: 12:35 that, um, but I’m just so aloof to the interior design space and how that works too. Just curious. Well, we can dig into the beginning years, you know? Right. When you start, you’re like, Oh, here, do you want a free shirt or do you want to three watch or whatever. And you’re so excited about taking free stuff. Um, because it’s all new and free stuff is awesome. And then I realized, you know, a couple months in, I was like, I don’t like this. Like I feel like I’m just gathering things that I don’t even really love and I have to share it and then I feel obligated and add stress to me. So I really stopped doing that, um, especially when we moved in the trailer because really I didn’t need or couldn’t hold anything. Um, so, and I really just wanted to think about the long game and think about, you know, what I wanted to represent to my followers and I really just wanted to and want to create an authentic following where people know me so that when I do share something that they don’t even have to second guess.
Ashley Petrone: 13:38 If I’m, you know, pushing a product that I don’t love, I want them to know me so well. That went whenever I open my mouth that they know it’s the truth. And so really, um, said no to a lot of stuff. And, um, then as I think within the last year, I just started to slowly incorporate more like trade stuff in, you know, trade for a free whatever, um, something that I wanted, but um, and that would, I would buy for myself anyways, but nothing of nothing that I was getting paid for. And then the last six months, um, I actually have finally hired on a manager, a management company. Um, because like you said, the dms, the, the time spent on here and creating content is just becomes so much, um, especially as your followers go up. And I just really wanted to put my focus and time into being able to respond to every DM and being able to respond to posts into write my own continent.
Ashley Petrone: 14:40 Um, and so I hired them and it has just been a game changer for me. Um, they take care of so much of like the business emails that I get from people and then they, um, have also brought jobs that really aligned with what I want to do and what I represent. So yes, the answer is now I am monetizing off of it. And looking at more as you know, a place to inspire and encourage but also as a business now because it is such a fulltime job and for the first couple of years I didn’t really look at it as a job and I really kind of have to because it’s, you know, 40 plus hours a week of my time.
Christy Keane: 15:25 And I think if somebody hadn’t started following you yet, they knew two arrows info and if you already are already following her at like I am, I think what really shines to me is you are so hands on like you are not just posting a pretty space and saying oh buy this couch or look at this decor like you are showing yourself transforming these spaces and using your hands to do the hard work. So I was going to ask you about time management but I think it’s absolutely brilliant that at the level you’re at that you’ve gotten a management team and now can focus more on doing the work that you love and engaging with people and you know, treating your content as your business and being able to be more intentional. And then having the help to run, then you know, the business side of things or the stuff that you does it, it probably just doesn’t spark as much joy for you too
Ashley Petrone: 16:19 to standard, you know, a lot of this stuff. So I used to look at it as, you know, oh, I would never, I would feel bad, you know, making money off of a post or something like that. But then, you know, again, as you grow, and I think in the last six months I was just like, wow, you know what, everybody that’s on Instagram with whether you’re, you’re doing it as a business or are not your influencing people. And the time that goes into creating content to editing photos, to being, you know, I’m very intentional about what I share and how I share it. And so I just, I wasn’t seeing any value in myself. And as soon as I started to see what I was putting out there as value or valuable, I feel like it even reflected in how I was sharing. It gave me more confidence in how I was sharing because I was seeing myself, um, as a more valuable person.
Christy Keane: 17:13 It’s so true. And there is, it’s, I feel like everybody goes through that inner dialogue in that inner struggle when they first get started in this space because it seems like, Oh, you know, is it really fair that I can put ask for money to just post this picture? But it is so much more than just a picture and, and what you create and the intent behind it and the time he, you know, and you have a family. That’s another big thing about this podcast is most of the listeners are moms and have families and balancing the time and being able to, um, protect your family and protect the time that you’re putting into this space and for your family is so important.
Ashley Petrone: 17:50 Yes. I 100% agree.
Christy Keane: 17:53 So how do you manage your time between doing the hands on design stuff, blogging, running your own beer, airbnb and then mama all at the same time?
Ashley Petrone: 18:04 Yeah, so, well, the first year that I started I was homeschooling the kids and it was really hard because I was kind of already checked out of homeschooling. I was struggling with my oldest son and just having him focus. And then my mind really wasn’t there anymore because I was focused on doing my own thing. And so that was a really tough year and it was also the year we moved into the trailer. So just a few things and just a little bit on your plate. It was a rough transition for everybody. But I again, um, made a decision that was best for our family and for our kids. And we put our kids, our boys in school that year. And it was a thing that I struggled with for a while because I felt the mom guilt and shame, like, how could I not homeschool?
Ashley Petrone: 18:51 Especially when you’re in kind of a homeschool community. When you leave it, there can be a little bit of shame, you know, just, or at least that you put on yourself, like, why can’t I do it? But everybody else can sort of thing. And they just came to terms with, you know, what, it was wonderful for the season we are in, but now it’s all done and we’re in a new season and we may go back to it and we may not and that’s cool. So, um, yeah, just, um, figuring out how to navigate timing and once the kids went to school, I had definitely more flexibility and freedom. But then I also had dino, my husband and I’m not making any money in putting a whole bunch of time into something. He definitely has always, always been supportive of it. But I know for sure now that I am making money that it, he’s definitely more supportive of it because it is such a, such a time, um, take her. But I really just try to be intentional about the time that I spend on it. Evenings off. I’m now taking, you know, one to two days off a week just completely off of my phone. Just putting it away. It gives me uh, a time to just refresh my mind and it actually helps me to just create better content too. Cause I’m not so rushed to try to come up with something that isn’t really authentic.
Christy Keane: 20:07 I keep hearing that from people how taking a break is just helping them so much more. And it’s just such a scary step to take because we’re brainwashed once we get so involved in the space that you feel like you have to constantly be in front of people or else they’ll forget about you or something. And so you are obviously proof that that is not true is, you know, I think it probably what is, what makes you come to this space even more refreshed and happy to share. So yeah. Yeah. I’m going to have to look into and taking a day off.
Ashley Petrone: 20:41 I found it to be really great and like I said, it just really refreshes mind. I have such a creative mind, which I’m sure you do too. And so it’s hard to turn it off even when you’re not on. I’m always thinking about what I could be creating or sharing or writing. And sorta completely shut it off. I almost have to do such an extreme thing to know that I don’t have to go and check it or write something down and I can just shut my brain down for a day.
Christy Keane: 21:09 I think that’s really smart. I think that is the advice that I’m going to have to take. And another smart thing that you’ve done recently, um, that I actually messaged you about when I saw it was um, something along the lines that I think is important in protecting your time and your space and your mind and your personal life is you turn off your dms for stories. Are they still off? We are. Okay. Tell me about that. Cause I just don’t so refreshing. So another,
Ashley Petrone: 21:38 a friend of mine on here does, does that cotton stem and I try to, you know, a couple months ago and it’s like you said earlier, it was scary. Like I was like, what’s this going to do? The algorithm, you know, Instagram’s going to punish me because my dms are in the hundreds every day. And so I know that brings a lot of engagement. And I really didn’t know how like Instagram was going to punish me. Isn’t that, I mean it’s so silly, but I was,
Christy Keane: 22:04 no, I had that same thought. Like that is why I need you to tell me everything. That’s, I, I think it’s great.
Ashley Petrone: 22:10 So I, I ended up turning it back on, but then the stress and the anxiety because I love, love connecting with my followers. That is why I’m on there. But, so I would say, you know, 80% of the messages are so negative without meaning to be negative. They’re questioning you there. Uh, giving just a lot of unsolicited advice and it’s so I love that people, right? But it can be so mentally draining. Um, so I decided to shut them off again. I took like a four day break and then I decided to shut them off again. And the crazy thing is, is that my engagement has been better than ever since I’ve had them off. And there was one day that I turned them back on and I had a post that one day like just really fail. And so I’m wondering, and maybe this is just in my head, but I’m wondering if, because people can’t say as much through the dms that they are now engaging more on my posts aging more than the other spot. So I have no idea and I really don’t care now. I just love the ease of going on there and being able to connect with people that genuinely want to connect. People can still message me, they can still go to the button and click send message. And so I still get lots of messages but it’s just takes a very intentional step to do it instead of a non thought and just writing whatever comes to your mind. And that’s what I’m trying to protect
Christy Keane: 23:46 myself from. I think that’s brilliant. And I feel like maybe I’ll do an experiment and turn mine off and just see if we can, I don’t know, do an experiment based on what you said engagement wise, but for me it’d be the same reason. It has nothing to do with the engagement. It has more to do with it. We want to be able to respond to every DM and it does feel draining when you open up that inbox and as happy as it makes you feel that people are reaching out. You know, sometimes it is just somebody with it, something negative to say or I get a lot of just emojis like, which is nice. Like I’m glad they’re saying a nice Emoji and response to a picture that they yeah, resonated with. But you’re right. If, if it was something that really touched them, all they would have to do is just hit the message button and then we can start the conversation that way. So I really, really like that. That has given me so much to think about.
Speaker 4: 24:35 I want you to tell me how it goes when you try that out with your DNA
Christy Keane: 24:39 because I’d love to know myself. Oh yeah, I’m gonna. I, maybe I’ll do an experiment and I’ll even do a little mini podcast episode to share how it went because I, I’ve been actually looking into doing that for quite some time. And again, like you said, it’s like I’m afraid I’ll be punished by Instagram, which is so silly. We’re so brainwashed in this space sometimes. I know. So I, I want to transition over to talk about your airbnb because I think that is so cool that you guys are doing that on the side. And I would love to hear more about how running and Airbnb goes and if you think social media and Instagram has helped contribute to the marketing for that. I just, I’m so fascinated by that whole process.
Speaker 4: 25:22 Yeah. So, you know, we bought this house just about a year ago and that had this little, um, detached but attached to the garage guest Caseta and we thought, oh, this would be so great for guests. And we never really thought about it as an airbnb. But, um, do you know when I are always thinking of, you know, outside the box and we’re dreamers, like what could we do next? And the idea of renovating a space and you know, um, maybe buying another property and airbnb ing, it was like at the top of our list. Um, but we just thought, okay, this is silly. Why are we going to invest money in a property right now when we have a piece of well space in our backyard that we could start with? And so I was a little hesitant at first because, uh, you know, having somebody right in your backyard.
Speaker 4: 26:10 I had never really worked with Airbnb, never really used airbnb before and, um, wasn’t sure like privacy issues. Um, and then I also was hesitant even sharing it on Instagram cause I didn’t know, you know, who, if people were going to want to come just out of that and how, what that was going to look like. Right. We kind of went back and forth with it and then ultimately just decided to go for it. So it took us like a month to get it really, really prepared. Um, we didn’t want to invest a ton of money into it by like, you know, ripping out the old bathroom and putting new tile in and putting a new vanity in. So I just got really creative and I wallpapered in there and I put fun pink colors and then I stencilled the flooring that was already there, so we didn’t have to rip it out.
Speaker 4: 26:59 Um, really just utilizing what was there and just elevating it as much as I could to make it, you know, kind of like a fun feature. And then we just did that with the whole space. I asked all my followers, you know, what do you like to see when you go into an airbnb? And that was so awesome and so helpful because they, everybody gave advice. And so I really just tried to pick, you know, and tie things what I would find important going and then kind of take what everybody else was saying and include that into the space. So we opened it in February, um, the middle of February and it has just increased in its, um, bookings. And, um, yeah, it’s like booked out actually for the summer right now, all summer for three months straight, which is awesome.
Christy Keane: 27:46 Wow, that’s amazing. Is it weird having strangers in your backyard or what does that like?
Speaker 4: 27:51 Yeah, so I was really hesitant about that. But I did talk with somebody actually from Instagram who runs, uh, an airbnb and she’s a super host and she told me, you know, kind of what to do to kind of protect yourself. And so you can include a lot of stuff on your profile, like your house rules. And so what I have on there is that, you know, I want to see a picture of the person I want to see. I want to know why they’re coming and who they’re coming with and exactly who staying there. I don’t want to guess who’s coming back into the back of my house cause I have kids and I need to know everything that’s going on. So I make that very clear. Um, on the listing, you know what the requirements are and they need to be verified. They need to have a government issue id.
Speaker 4: 28:37 Um, so we also have cameras. We have cameras outside, not in the Airbnb, but outside on our driveway. We have cameras at our front door. And so, um, that’s been so great. We can see when people are walking back to the AIRBNB even if we’re not there. So it actually has not been weird. It’s been wonderful to be able to, most of the time I don’t even ever see the people there in and out. They’re here for a funeral, a birth of wedding work and they’re busy and they’re gone. Um, and then a couple of times we’ve hung out with people like on our back patio and it’s been amazing to meet some of the people. So so far we’ve had a really great experience from it.
Christy Keane: 29:18 I love that. I think, I think that your personality would be so well suited to be a good host, but I, I would have the same fears just as a mom. Like, okay, who’s going to be in my property space with my kids right here. And I’m sure you have to have conversation with your kids to, to, you know, what their boundaries and limits are to keep them safe and yeah,
Speaker 4: 29:39 keep guests comfortable and yes. Yeah. I, you know, I try to respect the guest privacy and um, if there, you know, around, we try not to go back there, but usually they’re gone. And so that really hasn’t been a thing like, oh, you can’t go back there. It’s more like at 7:00 AM my, if my kids want to go in the back to play ball, I’m like, you have to go in the front because you’re going to wake up the renter, you know? So, um, it’s just been simple things like that. And yeah, it’s, it’s, I’d say, you know, you asked about if Instagram has played a part in it and I feel like the first little bit, it was so great to have Instagram because I did get the first, I’d say five bookings from that. And that’s really helpful with Airbnb, I came to find, find that you really don’t get shown too much until you have a certain amount of bookings under your belt. So it kind of pushed me quickly, um, to get seen quicker and to have my listing show up at a higher rating and I’m, the more bookings you get, you know, you have to have like, I forget what the number is, 10 bookings and a certain amount of days to get super hosts. So we made superhosts oh that’s awesome. Yeah. I mean the last month we had one day that was not booked. Um, wow. So we’re really, we are loving it. It’s so fun to have. I love managing it. Um, I actually do the cleaning myself
Christy Keane: 30:58 self. You would be like, are you, are you like a neat freak or type a when it comes to your cleaning? I feel like you, I’m not, no
Speaker 4: 31:06 really. I’m really not. But you know what it is that I am like the type a about somebody could come in and totally clean it just fine. It’s the finishing touch that is me.
Christy Keane: 31:15 I can see that. Yeah.
Speaker 4: 31:17 Want to put on it. I feel like only I can do. So, um, I clean it and you know, every time it gets cleaned, we get $40 for it to be cleaned. And what I do is I, this last month I decided to hire a house cleaner for our house. So they come every two weeks and we haven’t had how schooling or ever, but I thought, you know what? This is a nice tree. This is a good balance. The again, like I want to do things that only I can do, like the Airbnb, I feel like only I can do, but somebody else can clean my house for me and I can use that money for that. And then I then have more free time to put towards my family. So it was a good, good trade.
Christy Keane: 31:57 Oh yeah. That’s really smart. And that space is so cute and I’m not surprised at all that it’s so booked up because it’s just so cute. And I love the pool that you have in your yard. What is that called? The um, stock. Take listeners. The what? Stock tank pool. The stock tank pull. That is so cool. I’d never seen that until your, um, your posts. So, so cool.
Speaker 4: 32:18 Yeah, we were loving that this summer.
Christy Keane: 32:20 Do media outlets ever reach out to you and want to share your space? Like, I don’t know, I just feel like you’re such an HGTV kind of Gal. I don’t know. Diy Network, something like that. Opportunities like that come from your platform.
Speaker 4: 32:36 Yeah. Um, I’d say since, you know, we in, in the RV, we have definitely been featured in a lot of magazines, a lot of, you know, um, big media pages online and done a little bit of work with Hgtv. We actually were pitched to HTV last year and actually none of my followers know this. Um, and we got to the final step and um, they were like just about ready to go and it just didn’t work out because of a certain certain reason. Um, but we are in the talks of possibly something happening in the future somewhere else. So we will be, we’ll see. And that’s all I can say.
Christy Keane: 33:17 Oh my gosh, that’s so exciting. Well yet I won’t make you smell anything more, but I just, I’m not surprised at all. Because you think of like chip and Joanna Gaines and when you see you and your husband interact, I don’t know, the fun is there, the talent is there, the eye for design and just the hard work is there. So I’m going to be praying for you to hear about that opportunity in the near future because I just see it. I, I don’t know, when I see your page I just keep having a feeling something even bigger and more amazing. It’s going to come from your platform and I am so here for it. I love it. Sweet. So for interior design stuff in general, because it’s just not my space, but I know that a lot of moms who are tuning into the podcast do have, you know, a creative outlet or inspiration to start more of a design page. Do you have any tips for them or are there any special resources for interior design influencers? I guess you could say.
Speaker 4: 34:15 Yeah, you know, I, I really just started, like I said, by looking around at what other people were doing. Um, it’s so great to find people that are doing exactly what you want to be doing. And then there it’s also great to kind of peek into what other people are doing that are a little outside of what you’re doing. Just to get a little bit from every type of personality, every type of design style. And I feel like there’s just so much to learn from just watching and listening and asking questions. Um, so I always say if you’re going to start that, um, just start, you kind of, it’s like research, really read the blogs, read and follow what people are doing, watch people’s stories, see how people are sharing and what’s working and what’s not and, and then kind of just play around with it. It’s, I think Instagram and blogging is such a, it’s an evolvement and it’s constantly changing, so you kind of have to keep up with it. And then you’re also changing as you’re sharing your, you may start by sharing, you know, uh, all types of rooms in your home, but then as you go along, realizing what I just really love photographing my kitchen and I really want to focus on blah, blah, blah, and my kitchen. So I think it’s cool to allow yourself to grow and evolve as, as you share.
Christy Keane: 35:35 That’s a good point. And I think you mentioned to community, which is a big thing when you’re trying to find a niche that you really want to create an but you in the beginning of the podcast mentioned that you had a mentor when you were first starting out. How did you find that mentor? Was it somebody you just looked up to and reached out to, or somebody you knew through real life?
Speaker 4: 35:59 Yeah, this was just somebody that, um, is kind of like a mother figure. I’m not anybody that was on Instagram or blogging, just somebody who I really respect and who I just knew would speak the truth to me and tell me exactly what was up and I needed to hear whether it be good or bad that she would just lay it out there. And that’s the best type of advice I think.
Christy Keane: 36:21 Oh yeah, definitely. Definitely need somebody who’s gonna put a little bit of wind in your sails, but hospital like keep you grounded in reality.
Speaker 4: 36:29 Yes. But I, Instagram goes in connecting and having community. It is a huge community and it’s so important to connect with others because I think that it can be a slightly lonely place when you share so openly. People feel very connected to you. But um, on the other hand, you don’t know them and you’re not as connected to them on such an intimate level. So having other people, um, you know, when I first started I joined like a DM group of just some moms that we all kind of, we’re doing the same thing, design and lifestyle and it was just such a refreshing space to go and kind of talk about things, run ideas by each other. If somebody said something that was hurtful, we could go and say like, talk about it. It was just was so nice to have that little hub to go to and, and um, yeah, focusing on building that community is just huge in this space.
Christy Keane: 37:24 Oh yeah. It’s so important. Like I, I don’t even consider, I think people talked about pods a lot in the past as a growth hack. And I have two groups that I chat and it’s not like we send people’s pictures to go share and like and engage on. It’s more this space. You have to, you can’t do it alone. I feel like because it’s always changing and you can always get really great feedback from people who are in your same space and who understand what your goal is and their dreams are kind of aligned. So I think that’s a good point. I think community and your specific niche is so important
Speaker 4: 38:02 and, and you know the other thing you just kind of reminded me of, we knew sit back and you just watch people so you don’t interact at all. You don’t like photos. I feel like that’s when the jealousy or the insecurities or the questioning of yourself or bitterness or whatever can come out. But when you get to know the people that are behind it, you realize that everybody feels the same way and work together and that we all want to connect with one another and we all are going through the same exact emotion. So all of those feelings that people that, oh, social media is so bad because of it brings this and this up. We are all are in it together. So when you start to connect and have that community, all that stuff goes out the window. And I’ll just disappears.
Christy Keane: 38:46 It’s so true. It’s the human element on, in this space. Like these are other moms and other creators who, I mean our, yeah, exactly. Having the same struggles that you are, you hit the nail on the head with that. And I think listeners would be super excited to know that you, and is it Jennifer Griswold? Yes. So you guys released an Instagram guidebook and I would love to hear more about what your inspiration was for creating the guidebook. It’s, and for listeners that’s an Ebook, and I’ll link that in the show notes so that you guys can access that. But what was your inspiration for sharing such valuable content and what sort of things do you cover in the book?
Speaker 4: 39:26 Yeah, you know, um, we, uh, early on just both kind of did the same thing, really sharing our stories. So instead of just sharing home design, really just incorporating whatever you do, um, you know, me loving home design is so awesome, but you can only get so far with that. So intertwining your story, um, was really how we just decided to share. I’m just sharing kind of more of ourselves. Um, and so, uh, this such a big question like how do you start, how do you share on here? And so we just simply put it into an ebook on, you know, finding out what your story is like. Cause a lot of people don’t even know what they want to share and then how to share it. And then it really just goes into a lot of practical stuff. You know, the value of Instagram stories, the value of engagement, um, how important it is to be authentic. And so just a hoe, a photography and just a ton of different points, um, that are super practical but also, um, just a little more intimate on, you know, how you even start and figure out what you want to do. So it really is an awesome book because it, I think it helps you kind of unpack yourself a little bit and help you figure out kind of more who of who you are.
Christy Keane: 40:46 And that’s so important in this space. And my goal with this podcast and to inspire moms to do purposeful content creation is finding what it is that you are passionate about and wanting to share and what your message is before you even bust out the camera to get creative. And it sounds like your guidebook is definitely a great place to start with that.
Speaker 4: 41:05 Yeah. Thank you. And we, I’ve decided for this podcast for the listeners that um, the book for the next 48 hours, we’ll be in 1999. So good.
Christy Keane: 41:16 Oh Gosh, that is so generous
Speaker 4: 41:18 for you guys to, to grab it.
Christy Keane: 41:20 Okay. You guys. So I’m going to link that in the show notes because that is such a good deal. If you’re listening to this podcast, obviously professional development, personal development is important to you and there is nothing better than at the end of day when you put your kids to bed and you have a good book to dig into that inspires you to create and just find that, dig into that other side of your, of yourself that I feel like once you become a mom, sometimes we tuck it away or were afraid to pull it out. So I think that guidebook would be just an awesome way to get started in that. Yeah. Thank you. And can you tease the listeners with like one of the biggest tips that you share in the guidebook?
Speaker 4: 41:59 I’d say the biggest tip is engagement. Um, I really feel like that has been something that has set me apart from the beginning. I decided that I was going to respond to everybody’s dms and I have not let that go. And, um, I think that that creates just a very intimate relationship with your followers, that they feel like they’re actually following more of a person rather than rather than just pictures. So, um, engagement in, you know, even if it’s just a heart, uh, just something that says like, Hey, I hear you, I saw that you engaged with me and I’m responding back to you.
Christy Keane: 42:39 I feel like I’ve been on the other side of that with you because I have messaged you randomly in the past just because something or another that you’ve done or maybe even your daughter because she’s just so silly and cute, but you definitely took the second to let me know that she saw the message and heard me and I did feel more valued as just somebody peeping on, peeping in on your journey at that point in time. So I think that’s great advice.
Speaker 4: 43:02 Yeah, it was something that really made sense to me because I feel that way when I follow somebody else. And to be honest, there’s a lot of people that inspire me, but if I messaged them, you know, a few times and I don’t connect with them, I tend to unfollow them because I value my time and I want it to be with, you know, somebody that I feel like we’ll respond back to me. And I know people are busy, but that’s just something that’s important to me. So I tried to do the same.
Christy Keane: 43:27 I’m the same way. So I think it’s really nice that she brought that up because I think people are afraid to say it like, you know, if you don’t engage with me, like I’m not going to follow you. But it just, you know, it’s a community. And again, it all comes back to valuing your time. Like we’ve been talking about a lot in this episode. So I think, I think that’s great. Yeah. Well I’ve loved chatting with you at the end of every podcast. I like to do a series of rapid fire questions that I know are the questions that everybody is always asking. Yes. And the first is my favorite. It’s what do you influence that you are most proud of?
Speaker 4: 44:03 I, you know, my favorite messages, I said earlier, some other ones, but my favorite messages or one more on marriage and somebody messages me and says, Hey, I just want to let you know that you inspired me to give my husband more attention and to be a better wife. And I think that could just make me cry right now. That is best. If I can influence another woman to, to feel that way about her. Man, that makes me so happy.
Christy Keane: 44:28 Oh yeah. And it’s, you’re so dynamic. I love that if somebody to your page right now and just typed in arrows in bow, they would probably think just off the top of their head that it was the design page and in lifestyle page. But to know that when they dig into your content and follow your stories, you do share so much more of that messaging and have such a greater purpose. And I think that’s a beautiful thing to be proud of. To influence. And I think we talked about this a little bit, we touched on it, but how much time do you dedicate to social media and engagement since that’s something that’s really important to you on the APP?
Speaker 4: 45:00 Well, it’s all beyond the APP. So much happens outside of the APP. I’d say five, six hours a day.
Christy Keane: 45:06 I think some people will be like, oh my gosh, what? But really when this is your business and your brand and yeah, and when you are making make an engagement such a priority, that is doesn’t sound unrealistic at all.
Speaker 4: 45:20 Yeah. A lot of that time is just me thinking about what I am going to share, how I’m going to share it, what I’m going to write. It’s not even me scrolling on other people’s pages. It’s me working on my own content. So they say that time definitely goes into it and that we should value that time. Like I’m seriously, it’s a, it’s, which, you know, um, it’s a good amount of effort and time that goes into it.
Christy Keane: 45:45 I think as people getting into this space, whether you’re an influencer, a youtube or podcast or whatever the case may be, when you actually take an inventory of the hours that you’re spending on content creation and posting and engagement and everything goes into it, it really teaches you the value of even a minute of your life. So yeah, for sure. I’d love that you share that. And is there a mistake that you’ve made in this space or something you would go back and change if you could? Oh, that’s such a good day
Speaker 4: 46:19 question. Um, a mistake that I’ve made. I’m sure there’s lots of mistakes. Yeah. You know, at the beginning I would post pictures and I was learning and new in this space and I was still very insecure and I definitely have insecure moments still, but more so than, and I would post a picture and you know, second guess myself and delete it. And I remember seeing this movie I don’t even know like a year ago or two years ago about social media and how it can like affect us and all that stuff. And I just kept thinking about my kids and I thought, if I can’t post a picture and feel competent in what I’m sharing and you have to go and delete it, then I shouldn’t even be on here. You know, I can’t do that. So I really, after that I just stopped. I thought, whatever I’m putting out there, I’m putting out there. And that’s it. So it causes you to be more intentional about what you’re putting out there. But in the end, I just, I can’t care about it so much.
Christy Keane: 47:19 [inaudible] and biggest advice for someone starting from zero,
Speaker 4: 47:25 starting from zero, I would say be there are so many different people and this is Instagram. So saturated right now, you know, blogging is saturated, but there’s only one you. And so be yourself. Figure out who you are, figure it out along the way. Um, but just be herself and that’s such a damn, I feel like thing to say like so easy sounding, but it’s hard.
Christy Keane: 47:51 No, that’s, I mean it’s when you, it’s easier said than done for sure. Especially when you do have so many eyes on you or the potential for people. You just, it’s true. It is much easier said than done. But it, everybody that I’ve talked to so far on the past that basically the same thing, which is just being authentic and being yourself and just starting beats anything, any other day of the week. So I think that is beautiful advice. Yeah. And I think this is probably listeners, favorite question, but what gear do you use as far as what camera? I’m editing any apps that make your life easier in this space?
Speaker 4: 48:30 Yeah. So I only use an iPhone. I remember that from one of your stories and I couldn’t wait for you to share that. Yes. So, um, you know, I just had like the biggest compliment I feel like I’ve ever gotten. I posted a photo the other day, do you know, outside with my son jumping, um, we were barbecuing and this very big [inaudible] sorry, very big blogger who’s a photographer wrote me and she said, what camera did you use for this? This is stunning. And I was like, oh my goodness, it’s my iPhone. And she was like, what? That’s crazy. It was so fun to be able to say that. So I love the iPhone. Um, it’s been a fun tool for me to kind of navigate and learn how to manipulate photos. I like things to look as real as they do to my eye, but just, you know, slightly enhanced. I don’t use a lot of filters or white a wash things out. Um, but if I, when I do edit, I usually edit in a disco and um, I just kind of play around in there a little bit. I typically will do m five s but like halfway and then I change a whole bunch of it. So there’s really no specific formula. I just kind of go off what my ics
Christy Keane: 49:48 and for our listeners, um, Fisco v, s, c, O, I will link that in the show notes as not as well as the filter that she’s talking about. But if you head over to her Instagram page arrows in Beau, like her pictures are beautiful. They’re so Chris and clean and bright, you would just not, I don’t know, I just don’t think people would guess that it’s offering an iPhone. And I think it really is inspiring to show mamas how accessible this space can be with just what you already have in your pocket. Yeah.
Speaker 4: 50:21 Yes. That’s so true. And that really goes along with, I think, my, a lot of my design messaging anyways, so that’s awesome that you just said that because anybody could can do this. Um, you just kind of have to play around with it and figure out what, what you’d like to see out of the photo.
Christy Keane: 50:37 I love that so much and I again, I’m so thankful you came on to talk to me today. Um, I know that you’re really busy and you are doing a lot and I don’t, is it data is, I mean, I’m like, you’re three hours behind. So are your kids in school right now or are they home just about to get out. Oh, okay. Well, I will let you enjoy the beautiful peace and quiet you have until they get back. But why don’t you tell listeners where they can find you?
Speaker 4: 51:02 You can find me on instagram@arrowsandbooroveronmyblogatwwwdotarrowsandbo.com.
Christy Keane: 51:12 Well, thank you so much for coming on today. I, again, I can’t say enough about how much I just adore you and your family and your joyful spirit and I, you know what, I’m going to go home and I’m going to dance with my husband for you and I’m going to turn off my dms and I, and I’m going to share, I’m going to be more intent. I’m going to be intentional with my husband and with my dms and I’m gonna I’ll update you and let you know how that goes because I feel really inspired after talking to you.
Speaker 4: 51:42 Oh, I love that. That’s so awesome. Thank you so much for having me. This was fun. I felt like I was just saying no girlfriend.
Christy Keane: 51:47 I know. That’s my goal and it’s, it’s so great. Like I think that’s the best thing about the podcast is we connect with people on Instagram but wins. When are you just going to take 45 minutes to have a phone call with somebody and just, I don’t know, dig a little bit deeper. So I’m happy to have gotten to get to know you a little bit more today in that way. And I just appreciate your time today. We’ll meet two. Thank you so much. I hope you guys enjoyed my conversation with Ashley as much as I did, and I really hope that she inspired you to design your dream life. I love that she is so authentically herself and that she pulls in all the elements of our hard work and just design and her personality and her family, and she blends. It’s so nicely. So I know I for 1:00 AM super inspired by that conversation. If you’d like the podcast today, please subscribe and leave a five star review. And don’t forget to join the Mommy influencer podcast insiders Facebook group where we can dive into these topics a little further. I love hearing your guys’ stories. I’ve loved so many introductions and getting to know your Instagram names and to see a little bit more about this community that we’re building here. So I hope you guys have a great day. Bye. Mamas.
