Today we’d like to introduce you to Jewel Hazelton.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jewel. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I launched my lifestyle blog Eat.Drink.Shop.Love in 2010 while freelance writing for a local magazine. I wanted to have a place where I could have my own voice and share my love of food, fashion, fitness, and travel with the online community. Blogging was still very new when I jumped into this industry and there were only a handful of lifestyle bloggers in Atlanta at the time. My background is in public relations and marketing, so I had the opportunity to pick up on the upcoming trends before they hit the mainstream influencer community. I’ve always had a passion for storytelling and writing, so blogging seemed like a natural fit. My blog really started getting noticed after I was selected as a brand ambassador for Glamour magazine. I along with several other influencers in the area were selected by the editors of the magazine to represent the brand in the local Atlanta market. We hosted events and created content for the magazine. This opportunity allowed me to connect with other bloggers from around the United States who I was able to bounce ideas off of on a regular basis. I was a brand ambassador for Glamour for four years. After Glamour ended the program, I continued to build my online presence and kept creating new content for my blog. I had no clue at the time that my blog would open so many doors professionally and personally. Since 2010, I’ve been to able to work with some amazing brands like Pinterest, Home Depot, Target, Kind bars, Everlane as an influencer and contribute content to several national publications like PopSugar Food and Better Homes and Gardens.
In 2018, I decided after almost a decade of blogging, that I would do a complete rebrand of my blog. I changed the name and brand identity of the blog and launched AfterSundayDinner.com. It was time for the blog to grow up and receive a major facelift. The new tagline of my blog is “Where the conversation starts and the story begins.” I really want it to be a place of community where I can connect with readers online and offline. My goal is to continue to reach people wherever they are and make an impact on their lives from years to come.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t been a smooth journey for me but I’ve always remained committed to sharing my authentic voice. There have been many times when I’ve felt overwhelmed and fell into the comparison trap. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that success will always come but it takes time. I still have goals and targets that I want to accomplish. With the fast-paced online world, you really have to learn how to wear many hats and pivot with the industry but can’t get lost in what others are doing. My advice to rising bloggers and female entrepreneurs is to take a leap because your passionate about sharing your story not because you want to make money. The money will come if you stay committed but success won’t happen overnight. I didn’t start making a sustainable income from my blog for first the few years, it took several years for brands to even want to collaborate with me.
The other thing I’ve learned about this industry is that the community you create offline is extremely important. It’s the key to your success. As the online world continues to evolve and change rapidly you must continue to build your network outside of the internet.
Please tell us about After Sunday Dinner.
By day, I still work full-time in corporate communications and social media. I love what I do for a living and will continue to work in the industry and remain to blog as long I can. I am also a servant leader and am committed to helping our local community grow. I am an active member of the Junior League of Atlanta where I currently plan learning and development workshops for our 3,000 female members. I am passionate about helping the women of our city become better leaders in their communities and workplaces. I also serve on the young professionals’ board of the Greater Atlanta chapter of the March of Dimes.
My blog, AfterSundayDinner.com was a passion project that turned into a side hustle. When I launched my blog in 2010, I had no clue that it would become a business. After Sunday Dinner is a place where readers get a glimpse into my daily life, love of food, fashion, fitness, and travel. It encompasses everything I love about life. Readers who are visiting my blog for the first time will be interested in reading about my year without shopping. At the beginning of 2019, I committed to giving up shopping and wearing only items that were already in my wardrobe. I’ve been giving readers an inside look into my year or less.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve benefited from using?
I’m obsessed with podcasts and books. I love listening to a Drink with James, Fohr Ground, The Influencer Podcast, The Dave Ramsey Show, The Wall Street Journal’s Secrets of Wealthy Women, The Strategy Hour, Side Hustle Pro, and The Marie Forleo podcast. I just finished reading WorkParty by Jaclyn Johnson and A Long Obedience in the Same Direction by Eugene H. Peterson, two great books for anyone looking to figure out their purpose in life.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.aftersundaydinner.com
- Email: Jewel@aftersundaydinner.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/helloitsjewel
- Facebook: Facebook.com/aftersundaydinner
- Twitter: Twitter.com/aftersundaydin
- Other: www.jewelhazelton.com
Image Credit:
Amber Jane Photography, Sarah Vitel Photography
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