Friday’s are always a fun day here in the farmhouse.
We publish a new video to YouTube every Friday and I have to say, I really, really enjoy this new “vlogging” adventure I am on. It wasn’t always like that.
About a year and a half ago I got a call from a reality television network. I’m human. My heart pounded with the excitement of being able to share my joie de vivre with a much bigger audience. I “passed” an extensive phone interview and then another video interview as well. It was time for the crew to come out and film what they call, “A Sizzle Real”.
I had visions of beautiful footage, garden tours, recipe making and children frolicking in the fields. I had a huge vision. But duh, it wasn’t MY show. What was I thinking? The contract for permission to film the sizzle real came across my desk and I got a pit in my stomach. Clearly, my fantasies were delusional.
The reality check (pun intended) was that this was for reality TV, farming show or not… they were going to get to do whatever they wanted with the footage, whether my family liked it or not.
And yet, there was still a HUGE part of me that wanted to use this show as a stepping stone. Fame is NOT my desire. But a bigger platform? For sure. I’m a businesswoman and darn it, I’ve got stuff I want to offer the world. On my good days 🙂
My attorney said, No way. My husband said, No way. And yet I continued to squirm and fight, knowing we had an impending move on the horizon… How could I ask them to film this sizzle real and then cut and run to a new home? They’d have to start over. That wouldn’t be fair to them.
I was lamenting all these crazy things to my best gal Shaye and she said, “Why don’t you build up your YouTube channel? Create your own show, where you could have creative control?”
Control? Who me? Are you insinuating that I’m a control freak?
If the Louboutin fits.
It’s the same reason I chose to self-publish my cookbook.
I wanted FULL creative control and I didn’t want to wait for approval from a publisher. I was encouraging a new cookbook author the other day to hold her head HIGH over her decision to self-publish. It’s not like “the old days” where you would self-publish out of a desperate feeling to share your content after numerous publishing rejections. Many of us have decided to self-publish so we can write, design and print our books with… you guessed it. Full creative control.
Would it be incredible to get a book deal? OF COURSE.
But there is no shame to self-publishing. It’s totally legit. I just did it again with my new day planner. But now, Let’s return to that pesky notion of having our own show.
I ruminated on Shaye’s idea for a few months. Stewing over it as we packed up moving boxes and made the huge move last December. I was COMPLETELY oblivious to the success people like my friends DaNelle, Toni and Lisa were experiencing on YouTube. I didn’t know about Justin Rhodes or anyone. I must have been under a rock.
And so, once we finally returned the moving truck I realized I had some major content to share. I could keep cooking and gardening and videoing that content BUT I could also journal… vlog… this amazing adventure of adjusting to life here in Door County and remodelling this home over the next few years. I could study this phenomenon we call YouTube… I could improve… and I could try, fail and try again… I love a good challenge.
And so… I’ve got my own show. We’ve got our own show…
Everyday Château.
And I love it. Like any project, it starts rough… bad camera equipment, no microphone, my stupid shaky hands… BUT it’s all heart. And it’s growing into something beautiful. I’m particularly proud of this week’s episode. And when you email me and tell me that you sat with your hubs and binge-watched the entire season… well, that makes me cry. You ladies know who you are.
Would we have gotten paid for the reality show? Yeah, just a little. Probably not worth the hassle of camera crews following us around all the time.
Do we get paid for our YouTube Channel? Yeah, pennies. But that’s OK. It will grow and we are so blessed to have you along for the ride.
Snow has fallen here in Door County.
We are just six weeks away from our one year anniversary. God is so good. He has been so gentle and gracious to us. I can’t believe we are here and I can’t believe we get to share this journey with you. Would I say yes to a “real” TV show in the future? Perhaps. But that’s not even on my radar. As the snow falls, it reminds me of how the dust has settled in my life. I’m settled. I’m content. And this is a good place to stay.
God Bless you and your husband and your family, and thank you for all you do for your family and for us, your viewers! Yes, I have binged watched more than once. Same with The Elliott Homestead, so much great inspiration in the videos, and blogs. Your warmth and authenticity is what keeps us all watching and reading. Thank you again for quality content.
Loved the new vlog! You can have so many adventures in the midwest for the kids to remember. The boat trip looked fun. How do you sit on a rock covered beach? Loved seeing a tad of the garden too.
My favorite? The baptism. Beautiful, and such a joy, isn’t it?
Beautiful, just beautiful, Angela. And to be able to be baptized in water, outside, just like Jesus….. love it. Please keep sharing your faith in the Lord and your wonderful life in Wisconsin. Thank you for sharing!
Angela,
What a beautiful video!! I especially love the lavender fields!!
I look forward with so much anticipation to each new video and have Monday night’s live one marked on my calendar. You all never cease to amaze me with the beauty of your home life and the quality of the videos. I am always inspired by them.
I would watch any television show of your family but with a son in television production I have heard stories of the reality of reality television and would hate for you not to have control of how they handle it. So hang on to your dreams and your reliance on God’s will for it all to happen beautifully in the right time and way.
I’m glad you said, “No” for all those reasons. I’m a recovering control freak. Meaning that I’m learning to let go of things I can’t control, and learning to let others help me. But let go of the creative control of telling my family’s story? I don’t think so!
Love it Heather! So true.
God Bless you and your husband and your family, and thank you for all you do for your family and for us, your viewers! Yes, I have binged watched more than once. Same with The Elliott Homestead, so much great inspiration in the videos, and blogs. Your warmth and authenticity is what keeps us all watching and reading. Thank you again for quality content.
God Bless you and your husband and your family, and thank you for all you do for your family and for us, your viewers! Yes, I have binged watched more than once. Same with The Elliott Homestead, so much great inspiration in the videos, and blogs. Your warmth and authenticity is what keeps us all watching and reading. Thank you again for quality content.
Well Shaye is my best girlfriend so that means a lot. Kind words like this make me want to keep pressing forward. Thank you so much.
I’ve recently came across your channel and blog and would like to go back to the beginning and read all your blog posts. It’s there an easier way to do that besides just hitting older posts? After reading a blog it reloads back to the latest post.
Hey Renee,
So that you don’t lose this page right click on the blog post you want to ready and select “Open Link in New Tab”.
Hope that helps and thank you for reading!
It’s rather a pain. I’m so sorry. I think my first post was in October of 2014. Wonder if you could google that. It’s pretty funny… I was pretty snarky back then:)
Just found your lovely blog! How can I subscribe for emails?
Would love to follow you!
I feel as you are telling my story, it’s one I know all to well. A dream that you have, sharing it with others, the beautiful life we get to enjoy but in the end my life wasn’t juicy enough for reality TV and that I am okay with. It definitely is hard to say no to something you know would be great for sure I just prayed that God would open or close the door for our little farm and for know it is closed and I have complete peace. Love watching your YouTube, you have a gift my friend.
Hi Angela,
I have been considering DoTerra for some time. I don’t know how to be successful in sharing the product, that is the reason I have sat on the fence. We are moving to the Lake of the Ozarks, into a little lake cabin that needs renovating; Yikes! Anyway, I don’t know many peeps there, can I do this? If you could recommend someone in my area I could hook up with and help me start a business I would appreciate your help.
Much Love,
Sue Craven
What makes your content different Angela, besides your creative talents, it is how real you are and inspiring. I too watched two seasons of your channel over this crazy period and found it so comforting. I have pulled out english bone china to serve Spring Sunday Brunch on the patio for just the Hubs and me. I have snipped and placed cut ivy and flowers in every room and rummaged through my stored throw pillow and basket collection and strewn them everywhere. What joy this has given me, and my family.
Most of all, I realize the way you look at the viewer, all of us, your extended family of fans, and hit hit me. It is the look of love. You are looking into to the camera held by someone you dearly love. And it shows.
Now, that’s reality TV.