My journey of being published in Mingle Magazine

Are you wanting to be published in a National magazine? Or fulfill a goal that you’ve had on your mind for some time? I hope this inspires you to chase after a dream you have had on your mind for YEARS. Here is the “Behind the Scenes” journey of my experience of getting published in Mingle Magazine. 

What is Mingle Magazine

Mingle magazine is a “book-azine” (the content of a magazine with the thickness of a book) that helps inspire you with festive gatherings. It has a thick cover and about 144 high-quality pages per annual issue. The ideas, stories and content range from unique get togethers, tablescapes, parties, holiday inspiration, tips and so much more. The photos and creative ideas get you hooked from the first page.

It is published by Stampington & Company. Stampington has so many magazines under them and have been inspiring creatives like you and me for over 30 years!

Why Mingle magazine

I have been wanting to be published in Mingle magazine ever since I learned about it from Alison from Allison Carter celebrates on the Memories in Moments podcast. I had never heard of it before and when I did I was ABSOLUTELY hooked! It was so me!!

Entertaining tips, tablescapes, pictures galore, parties, how to, inspiration, stories… I mean it’s like visual porn for women who entertain (a different kind of entertainment, haha)

So a mustard seed was born after I saw it. I was absolutely smitten and I wanted so bad to be in it.

This magazine represents my joy for holiday decorating and I have collected every issue since learning about it. It’s the only magazine I keep around (I don’t like clutter and I’m super selective on what I keep.) But this magazine is visual heaven and brings me so much happiness so I keep them. Plus, every time I look at them I see something I didn’t notice before.

The Journey

The Intention Behind the Scenes

So I made a decision. I HAD to be in it someday. But how? 

I was committed and so inspired. I created a vision board and had it front and center (behind my faith and family of course).  And not only was it on my vision board, I also took it a step forward. 

I physically went to the heart of it. 

To where my joy would take place once it happened.. 

I went to Barnes and Noble and would ask myself how it would FEEL like once I was published. 

I would have that mindset as I would walk up to the front doors. I would let myself “go there” and free any doubts and just allow myself to get excited.

Then, as I would walk through the store on my way to the magazine section, I would  think to myself “I will be in this magazine” and I would let myself get excited on how, once I was published, what I would be doing, experiencing and feeling.  

Over. 

And over. 

And over again. 

 

It never got old. It was fun to daydream. To stand there in its essence. It was peaceful. It was exciting. It was fun! 

From Concept to Print: The Submission Journey

As the years went on, every tablescape, or party I would design I would think.. Oh maybe I should submit this theme. Maybe this will be the one for the magazine? So I took pictures. LOTS. Of. Pictures.  Over the years I kept each occasion on my phone. Consistently running out of storage IYKYK

Well, I finally decided to go for it. 

The Decision to Make Mingle Magazine a Priority 

Mingle is now published yearly, not quarterly, so I knew if I didn’t go for it I would have to wait an additional year. I mean, if I didn’t take action what was I going to do- continue to be in my head, think and dream about it for the next 4 more years? I didn’t want to have any regrets. A motto of mine I try to live by. 

So…am I finally going to do what I say, or what? 

I was planning on going on vacation and I looked at the calendar. Oh I HAVE to get this done before I leave. The deadline for submissions is while I am away. And we all know no matter how much you think you are going to do a task on vacation, let’s be honest, your mind just isn’t in the same mindset. It’s on vacation mode! 

So I scoured through my pictures. Oh gosh. Which ones to pick!?!? 

My famous indecisiveness is in full swing. This is taking longer than I anticipated! 

OK… Michelle. Just. Pick. Something! 

I closed my eyes and asked my soul to guide me. 

But I knew all along. 

How My Soul Guided Me

Let me explain… I knew when I was done designing the Blue and White Thanksgiving tablescape that something felt… well, exuberant. 

It was one of my favorite ones so far and my body was pulled towards a feeling of excitement and peace. 

I could feel myself being like “oh I really resonate with this one. This one feels right. The energy with this one is good. I really like this table.” So much so I kept it a little too long into the Christmas season! 

So I followed Mingle’s requirements on what size and format the pictures needed to be in. You also have to include a write up about it and attach several photos. 

While I was at it, I did the same for 5 other submissions. I figured why not? You never know! I wrote the story behind each one. Why I designed that tablescape, what made it unique and why their readers would like it. Here is another one- A Green and White Thanksgiving.

As I was selecting my pictures on my Blue and White Thanksgiving Tablescape I felt a nudge. A push to choose a picture that I wasn’t going to pick. In my head I heard a voice “add this one too”. 

Huh? I’m thinking “Should I add this one? I’m not so sure”. I didn’t want to submit too many and be annoying.

As I’m questioning it, my eyes were closing. It’s the middle of the night. I’m groggy and my focus is being challenged. “OK. What can it hurt?” I’ve learned too many times when I do not listen to my intuition I wish I had. 

So as I’m falling asleep I add the photo to the others in the bunch. I’m going with it. I’m not going to second guess it. Even though it wasn’t part of the initial ones I had favorited, maybe it could add to the story? 

“Ok this is it. I need to hit submit.” Then, of course, the imposter syndrome came, the doubts. 

“What if this is all for nothing.” Why did you tell people you wanted to do this? Why on earth do you think they would pick your design? Maybe it’s not as good as I think it is. The other people in the magazine seem so much more talented.” 

Wait. Nope…Not this time. I reassure myself  “Oh gosh Michelle, stop thinking about it, hit send, and finally take a step towards your dream you have been dreaming about and playing over and over in your head for years!” Plus, I’m totally committed at this point. I’ve already done the hard parts. I pushed the thoughts aside.

With a nervous and mildly sweaty hand, I move slowly to click the button. 

SUBMIT.

Done.

It was 2:32am. 

And I did it. 

I FINALLY followed through on a desire I have had for YEARS. And I was so proud of myself. 

Proud of going for it. Proud of putting myself out there. Proud of taking a chance and following through on a dream. Proud of, well, honesty… ME. 

Regardless of what happens I took a risk. I realized the result didn’t matter. What mattered is that I took a chance on myself and believed in myself and stopped waiting for something I had been “thinking” about for YEARS. I finally took ACTION

And you know what? It felt amazing. 

The Waiting

I thankfully got an answer the next day. “Thank you for your submission”.

Wow- I’m impressed they responded and I knew they got it! 

As I went on with my life I had this secret hope bubbling inside of me. And at the same time- some dreaded doubts started creeping in again… 

“Am I good enough” “The issue is only once a year, so the competition is hard”. “I wonder if I’m going to hear anything – good or bad?” 

And the opposite side of thoughts- It’s OK. I still went for it. And “if it doesn’t happen this year, I’ll try next year.”

Time went on. Weeks and weeks. I kept checking. Nothing yet, but that’s okay. I knew it took a lot of time to do something like this. 

Then I got an email back…

The Approval

I am sitting outside on my lanai. Birds chirping in the background. The 90 degree sun is bearing down. 

Knowing it was around the time they may make their decision. I open my email and look. 

There it was. 

A response. 

An email from the editor.

As I nervously touch my keyboard to open it, I feel my shoulders tighten. My right leg is fidgeting, jumping up and down. Nerves are shooting through my body. “This is it”. I slowly click the email. As I open it, I feel my body relax.

CONGRATS! 

YES!!!! “Oh my God I got in!!” I. GOT. IN!! 

I feel so much energy flowing through my body- my excitement is electric. 

Immediately my brain switches- “Which tablescape did they pick?” 

I see It’s the Blue and White Thanksgiving one. My favorite of the ones I sent over. 

And guess what? The picture they selected is the one I hesitated to send. The one that my intuition nudged me to do! 

I sat there in awe. I soaked it all in. I took in the moment. I reflected. I paused. I stared at the screen and felt so grateful. I thanked God for this experience. Wow. Had I not listened to my inner voice this wouldn’t have happened. 

And then I thanked myself. 

For keeping a promise to myself and following through. 

Seeing the Vision in Real Life

It was released. October 1st. And It’s in print and at Barnes & Noble. 

As I walked up to the doors it felt so familiar. Just like all the times I envisioned it.  I soaked it in… It was happening. Exactly like I saw it for all those years. 

I walk through the heavy front doors and veer to the right, towards the magazine section. I feel my heart racing. The anticipation was building. The closer I get my excitement grows. My energy is high as my pace increases. 

Where was it going to be? Oh I’m SOOO excited and at the same time, I feel peaceful. It’s a familiar feeling, yet different this time. It’s the same route I’ve taken all the times before, but this time it’s for real. 

I take a hard right, then a left through the young adult section. I turn the corner. There it is. A wall of magazines. The wall I’ve seen so many times. And this time it’s unique. This time… I’m part of it.

I’m thinking “This is so fun! Where is it? It’s like an Easter egg hunt”.

Yet, it didn’t take long. I found the golden egg instantly. Like it was placed center stage knowing I was coming. 

It was on a special rack up front. Right on the top. 

Mingle magazine. 

I immediately lunge towards it and grab it. I feel my eager hands slightly shaking in joy.

It’s beautiful! Oh, I love the cover and the colors this year! 

I knew I was towards the back of the magazine. In the “It’s in the details section” But I wasn’t sure what page. 

I flip through it. There are 144 pages. I feel my heart. Thump Thump. Thump. It’s jumping out of my chest. 

And then I recognize the chairs. The beige chairs with the nailhead trim that I love and have been in my dining room for years. Here they are in a national magazine. 

And I stop. I stare at it. I pause… 

This moment. THIS is the moment I have been dreaming about all this time. THIS is the feeling I’ve been after. I embrace it. Grateful for it. And I savor every second. 

I accomplished my goal. The excitement is beyond words. It’s such a high. And it’s exactly how I imagined it would be. And I am so incredibly proud of myself. 

I did it. 

The Result and What I Learned

Through this process I learned that the feeling I had of making a promise to myself and following through felt deeply moving. I think about the positive impact of hitting submit and just taking action on something I said I was going to do for years. 

THAT was a huge moment. Honestly… The result truly didn’t matter. I initially thought it did, but once I did it, it was the follow through to myself that mattered. And that was an important one to realize.

And I also noticed it represents so many values that Hob Nob House is all about. No wonder why it was so important to me. I didn’t even recognize it until I listed what I learned. 

Fulfilling my bucket list goal is something I try to inspire others with Hob Nob House. In case you’re wondering here are some of the HNH values:

Live your eulogy now.

To add to it – I am a big believer in thinking about what you want said at your eulogy and working backwards. Your values, what you’re about, who YOU are, what you did with your time here and how you impacted others.

Taking the time (seriously it only takes like 20 minutes) to write out who you want to be and do. You’d be surprised when you look at your life from the end what matters to you and what doesn’t.

“A simple 20 minute daydream session for the plan of a lifetime”

And then being mindful of being that person and doing the things that matter to you. Not letting life be in control and you’re responding. You have a plan and you follow through with it. Not when it’s too late, but being conscious of it now and living that way now.

So what’s an aspiration you’re wanting to accomplish or be? Is it something you keep thinking about because your soul is nudging you to go for it? What can you not get out of your head because it represents what YOU are all about? If you didn’t do it will you regret it later in life, after it’s too late?  

Tell me what are your life values and what’s on your bucket list? I’d love to hear about them! Let’s encourage and inspire each other!  

My Experience with Mingle Magazine

My experience with Mingle magazine has been extraordinary.

The editor is SO kind, professional and I am so impressed with her follow up. I mean she’s the editor and is SOOO busy and I felt just as important as someone who has been featured 10 times.

I see why she’s the editor of such an outstanding magazine- She’s amazing, organized, kind, and someone I absolutely loved working with. I am so impressed.

The issue is one of my favorites yet. The articles I liked the most were the Festive Holiday Boards by Kelsey Klos and Autumn in the Orchard by Kelly Well. 

The ideas, the stories, the inspiration in the magazine are all so fun. If it’s your thing to read about unique get togethers, tablescapes, parties, holiday inspiration and tips then I highly recommend picking up a copy or ordering one online here. (Not an affiliate link)

Oh, and I’m on page 130 🙂

Encouragement for Creatives Ready to Submit Their Work

I hope this story encourages you to follow through, too.

If you’ve been thinking about something you have been wanting to accomplish, and are waiting, I highly encourage you to just go for it. Even if it doesn’t work out, just the energy and support you will feel for yourself is worth it. 

I believe God put your dream there. And we all have different dreams for a reason. Desires that can make the world a better place, that make you better so you shine your light brightly on others. And as a result, they feel good and then they shine their light brighter on who they come in contact with. This all works in synchronicity.  

The feeling you have, the desire that’s in you- it’s there for a reason. You can accomplish it. You can fulfill your dreams no matter how big or small they feel to you. They are inside of you for a purpose. Have no regrets. Go get them. 

Conclusion 

If you’ve been thinking about a personal goal you have been wanting to accomplish and are waiting for, I highly encourage you to just go for it. Even if it doesn’t work out, just the energy and support you will feel for yourself is worth it. 

The feeling I felt for myself after I hit submit was like nothing I can explain. The best way to describe it is being incredibly proud of myself. I thought about this for YEARS and when I finally took ACTION, instead of THINKING about it, was when I felt so elated with myself. 

Why did I wait so long? All those years of “thinking” about it was slowly starting to affect me without me realizing it, I started to doubt myself and feel crummy. When looking back I see all I had to do was make the decision. 

And that’s really it. As simple as that. 

A decision. 

And then take action by sitting down for a night and commit to it. No more YEARS of THINKING about it.

One decision. A few hours. One night.

That’s the lesson. I had made a secret promise to myself and I followed through. 

And not only did I get to be in my dream magazine.. I also was my biggest supporter and advocate. 

And there’s nothing like being your own best friend.