Yes, that is the bull that lives right outside my window and no, it doesn't have a name.

If you haven't heard already, Cinnamon is launching a CHALLENGE!

https://media.giphy.com/media/6kktybleCBkmA/giphy.gif

No. Not like that one..

A video challenge!

As a way to get the community more involved and excited for where Cinnamon is headed, they're inviting us to compete against each other for prizes and bragging rights.

To kick off this series of challenges, they're asking us to make a video in a way that is creative and personalized to our brand, introducing the community to your Corona Co-Workers.

Read the Rules and find out more HERE! You have until June 2nd to upload your video.

As many of you know and have experienced personally, unless you were deemed essential, there's been quite a bit of sittin-at-home happening and not much else.

Personally I've been in a mood...

https://media.giphy.com/media/MDZcrJILOJgK3UBD8Q/giphy.gif

But recently I've gotten a few website clients which I gladly took only to be hit with realities of working from home. (It had been awhile.)

Dustin's been gaming and we had to figure out our schedule because it was just not working and as you'll see in the video, he is LOUD.

Nanny is always baking cookies and trying to make me fat. Literally, she baked 100 the other day for no reason. 😅

Princess is up in my business/literally sitting on my laptop 24/7. Seriously, as I write this, she's pushing my laptop down with her nose to get my attention. She knows it pisses me off.

And the cows, well, they just do their thing.

Needless to say, I'm thankful for work, but ready for life to get back to a semi-normal. But in the mean time, I was glad to make a video commemorating this time and showing off my cutie roommates.

Oh! And before I show you the video, I almost forgot. As an added bonus, I threw in one of my newer songs I FINALLY finished: “Broke”. I wrote part of it back in December but I finally finished it, because well, Corona is draining all of our wallets and making things a bit harder than usual. It can be really stressful, but I wanted to provide a bit of comic relief and remind us all that most of us are facing financial hardship and it's okay to be worried, but one day it will get better. And hey, we're taking it day by day!

I hope you enjoy the video and I cannot WAIT to see ya'lls take on this challenge. Have fun and I'll see you on Cinnamon!

xoxo – Ry

Video & Lyrics below for my lovely Coil Subscribers!

I cannot believe I am in my 2ND TRIMESTER! So crazy. I truly didn't think I'd make it this far, so I'm definitely grateful and celebrating. I kicked 13 weeks off with baby flutters, which felt crazy and amazing. And if you don't think I can get them this early, well, kindly keep it to yourself. 😂

So for those of you lazy like me, unwilling to watch a 20 minute pregnancy video which is really more for the next new mom that stumbles upon Cinnamon, here are my top regrets & things I'm grateful I did in the first trimester!

Things I'm Thankful I Did:

1. Told our friends and family early. Timelines are fine, but you don't have to follow the 12 week rule if you don't want to!
2. Switched doctors. When my first care center was rude and made me uncomfortable, I immediately switched. I was questioned at first, but I knew that if they couldn't be respectful of my choices and needs in the first trimester, they were NOT who I wanted helping me birth my baby.
3. Rested. I'm kind of terrible at resting. But because Corona took all of design clients and I had no energy, I gladly took the rest time.

Regrets:

1. Eating whatever I wanted- aka toast & ice cream. In the first trimester they say to eat whatever you want. But I wish I had been in more control over my body. Some days I was super nauseous but I still ate how I did on those days when I wasn't nauseous. And now my skin and thighs still pay for it.
2. Not enjoying the moments even after the scary part was over. I found myself not getting excited or still feeling sad at appointments, even when they said everything was okay. I guess I just didn't want to get my hopes up. I'm going to work on that during this next trimester. I also should've stayed out of mom groups until my 2nd Trimester. I was too dang freaked out about anything and everything.
3. Not taking more pictures. Now I barely remember what my pre-baby body looked like, especially right after I lost all of that weight in February. I wish I had a comparison picture for when the pregnancy is over.

I'm excited to feel good and work on my health and the nursery and all that fun stuff this next trimester!

Cheers 🥂 (with grape juice).

xoxo – Ry

Gamer Husbands or Wives of Gamers – Skip to 3:12 to see the Dustin I really live with. 😂 ⤵

“I am SO tired of these stupid algorithms, my posts never get seen anymore!”

“I wish we could go back to when I actually SAW my friends posts. Now they're just buried in between ads.”

“If I see one more ad for something I just talked about, I'm going to throw my phone across the room. They need to stop listening to us!”

“Ya, I got demonetized for posting something didn't like. It went against the agenda.”

“It takes me forever to get paid for my music and even worse, when I do get paid, it's barely anything. Sometimes it feels like I'm doing this all for nothing.”

These are ALL things that have been said to me or that I have said at one time or another. The fact is, we don't have much control over our social media anymore and to make matters worse, there is a clear agenda that is coming into the light that shows we are being pointed in a very specific direction of thinking. Companies are being paid off to censor content or people that goes against that agenda- resulting in a big pond of sitting ducks going whichever way the bread crumbs “fall”.

And what about musicians and other creatives who work their butts off only for their content to get pushed to the bottom of the barrel or to be told they have to pay for ads to be seen? How are they ever supposed to make any money?

You see, we live in a world where we don't want to pay for any content, because we think that everything we're taking in is free. And maybe that is the case in one sense, we aren't physically handing over any money to scroll through say, Instagram or Facebook. But what about the things you can't see that are being handed over? Like your personal information? Passwords? Etc. What about all of the data they're tracking.. and selling?

We've all had the experience of talking to a spouse or friend about let's say, quesadillas, and then two minutes later you see ads for Chipotle, Moe's and that cute quesadilla maker from Bed Bath & Beyond on your favorite social media platform. Ya. That's not a coincidence. Or what about the next day when you're not on that same platform, but you're just online shopping and lo and behold, there's that same ad on the side of your screen for that cute quesadilla maker. Ya, that's the problem I'm talking about.

It goes WAY beyond quesadillas. It infringes on medical and privacy rights, political agendas, you name it, they've got it in some system. Because we're allowing them access to it.

So here's the thing, we can complain about the things that we hate on these platform and the injustices they serve up all day long or we could start supporting other platforms. I for one, do a mixture. I'm AWARE of the data tracking and therefore I take precautions to turn off certain settings and I use those platforms sparingly in specific ways. But, for the platforms that I want to use a lot and shout from the rooftops about, I hold a different set of standards.

Enter, the platforms that actually have your best interest in mind and want to change the way things have been done.

1.

2.

3.

These three platforms have all been introduced in the past few years and although my experience has varied with each one, I find them all amazing platforms that are taking steps in the right direction.

In this article I am going to break down each platform, the perks, the cons and why I truly believe you should give them a try!

Let's start with..

If you're observant, you've probably noticed you're reading this article on Coil. Coil is a blogging platform that allows you to share various types of content in a setting that allows not only the user to be protected, but the creators to be paid fairly. Coil runs off of web-monetization technology that allows the creator to monetize their content without having to succumb to ad giants and their rules/agendas. Because of that, users are assured that their data will not be mined, tracked or sold. Creators are paid through micro-payments from the main subscriptions that exclusive users pay for – $5 a month flat. This is a great system because Coil gets paid when you're reading a “unlocked” piece of content, allowing them to run, but the creator gets paid when you're reading their “subscriber only” content. Rather than Patreon, where you have to pay for each person you support, you pay $5 a month flat and gain access to not only Coil, but Cinnamon Video exclusive content, Imgur Emerald, Twitch features and more companies are being added on a regular basis. It really is no strings attached and an amazing trade for the content that you are receiving.

Perks:

» Zero data tracking.

» To support all the creators, it's the price of a cup of coffee. $5.

» Access to a lot of amazing content and up and coming creators.

» You do not have to pay to create on the platform or even use it, you just won't have access to the subscriber-only content. But for the price of a cup of coffee, it's worth it to know that you are supporting creators without any added hassle on your part! For instance, you're able to read this because I made it a “Public” piece because I wanted to be able to share these amazing platforms with everyone!

» Creators can web monetize their personal websites very easily!

» Creators get paid in real time via direct deposits.

» There is a thriving Twitter community where you can connect with other creators and continue promoting the platform.

Cons:

» There is not an app yet... YET. But you can use the Puma Browser app which I personally love! The chrome app works as well.

» You do have to have a plug in and either use Chrome, Firefox or another compatible browser and download the plug in for the creators to get paid. This is being worked on, but if you're committed to changing the internet, it's a mere few seconds.

With that being said.. this is how easy it is:

Conclusion:

I've been using Coil for over a year and I have seen MASSIVE growth. For those of you concerned about the lack of current users, totally understandable! There may not be a ton of traffic right now, but I assure you that Coil sees that and has put measures into place to keep high quality creators around right now. Plus, there's more users joining on a regular basis and the more we talk about it and share, the faster it will continue growing! I know that new platfroms can be scary, but if you had to choose between starting a new blog from scratch on your own website and wearingly trying to promote it solely through Instagram and then hopefully get enough traffic to land you partnerships and ads which will just piss your followers off and just using Coil, well, I'm going to pick Coil everytime. And for users who aren't interested in creating, I think it's safe to say that $5 a month is worth supporting your favorite creators while maintaining your privacy!

Next up is:

Can I just fangirl for a minute and tell you all about how much I LOVE this platfrom?! So for those of you who have been following me for the long haul, you may remember segments such as “Unsugarcoated” and “Real Talk With Riley”. (My real friends know that we don't talk about this, ever.) Anyways, I've done the YouTube vlogger thing, I've done the official YouTube music page, I've even done couples vlogging with my lovely husband Dustin. I've had my fair journey with YouTube. Now before I get any farther, even the Cinnamon team will make it clear, they are NOT trying to compete with YouTube. But they are trying to create another avenue that actually cares AS MUCH about it's creators as it does the users.

As some may know, you don't get paid on YouTube unless you comply with their rules, never post anything that goes against “the agenda”, have a minimum of 1,000 subscribers, have at least 4,000 hours of watch time in the last 12 months, and have a Google AdSense account.

To get paid on Cinnamon, this is what you have to do:

Sign up using your Coil login.

Post your videos.

That's it. Two steps. SO. EASY.

Because they are not owned by advertisers with political agendas, we are not controlled as creators by these agendas. And it's SO refreshing. I never have to worry about sharing my faith or talking about things like miscarriage which on YouTube have often been flagged as “innapropriate” and other random tags. Bascially any chance to take content down that goes against what they want people to hear about. Now don't take this the wrong way, I don't care what you believe, I simply believe that everyone should have the chance to state and share their beliefs. Cenorship is wrong regrardless of which “side” you come from or how you look at it.

Anyways, Cinnamon Video is in it's baby steps and I'm obsessed. The branding is totally 80's, it's user friendly, their team is kinda the best and is super open to feedback and it's a great way to get started with video content! You're not up against a million people and you are guaranteed to be seen. The community on there pairs with Coil very nicely and is incredibly supportive. Cinnamon is also in the process of creating new ways to connect with their creators, lift up and highlight their creators and they seriously are so fun to work with. Like I said, they care about their creators and they make it known- also whoever runs their Twitter is hilarious.

Not sold yet?

Perks:

» Zero data tracking.

» For monetized content, it runs off that same $5 subscription that Coil offers. You're not paying for a Cinnamon subscription too- it's $5 a month flat and you get access to both of them; plus all of the other companies I mentioned above.

» A fresh place to create content that won't be drowned in a sea of “been there, done that.”

» Easy embeds and new features coming soon!

» Amazingly kind, super easy to reach team. You won't be waiting.. forever to reach them, only to get a copy & paste answer like other well known companies.

» Creators get paid in real time via direct deposits.

» Higher payouts than other companies.

Cons:

» An app is coming very soon, but for now you can use it on Chrome, Puma, and any of the others browsers/apps you can use Coil on. Same plug in- you don't have to download an additonal one.

» Not as big of a following as YouTube and you do have to do a lot of sharing to bring traffic in, but the more people that do that, the more traffic there will be.

Conclusion:

I've been using Cinnamon since the day it opened for “invite only” beta testers almost a year ago. Safe to say, I love it. You know you want to try it out, just give it a shot! Plus, you gotta get in on the saved-by-the-bell vibes.

And last but certainly not least...

I won't lie, I was skeptical at first, but I quickly saw my numbers go up and lots of real people adding my songs, gifting me notes and messaging me that they loved my music. This impressed me and I stuck around. It's not often you see heavily engaged music platforms that actually work. But LÜM is very committed to growing and helping their artists succeed. They often hold contests to get their best artists heard and to get the community involved. They create a lot of playlists that get a lot of follows which is another easy way to get heard. You don't have to pay to get on any of them which is very refreshing. So far, I love it and I definitely recommend it to any artist or music lover.

As an artist, I feel like I can see which of my songs are really doing well organically. Spotify & Apple Music have so many complicated strings attached that it's almost impossible to know how your music is really doing. I obviously use those platforms still, but I love LÜM for an accurate gauge.

LÜM's notes which can be purchased or earned and they're how your fans support you. They gift you with notes to earn badges. Those notes translate to real money and can be cashed out via a Stripe account once you've hit a minimum of 20,000 notes. It doesn't take too long if you're engaged. This is a higher payout than cents per stream you'd get at Spotify or Apple Music. Also much quicker than the 3-6 month waiting period it takes to get your money from mainstream platforms.

Perks:

» Simple, free, easy to use app.

» Fans & other musicians are very engaged.

» Very easy to build a fan base. They are there solely for the music and to support small artists, you don't have to beg like you do on IG/FB/Twitter/TikTok.

» An easy way for artists to meet other artists and collaborate.

» The LÜM team is amazing. Very friendly, easy to work with and they're very supportive.

» If you're putting out good music consistently, it's easy to get on playlists and rack up real plays.

» LÜM's notes are worth more than the cents per stream you'd get at Spotify or Apple Music. Also much quicker payout.

Cons:

» Still growing, but there are a lot of very engaged users. Some users have 30-40k followers on the app.

» You do have to wait until 20k notes to cash out. But this is also a motivator.

» Artists have to upload their music via computer which is slightly annoying but not a deal breaker.

» Heavily R&B and Rap, but a lot of room for Pop, Indie, Country, etc. It's definitely expanded a lot in the past few months.

» Annoying spammers are slightly prevalent on the app, but you can block/filter them out easily.

Conclusion:

In my opinion, artists should take any opportunity to grow their fan base and engage. I don't see any harm in trying it out. Like any other platform, you need to be committed to posting, sharing your music often, engaging with fans and listening to other people's music. But if you even just take 10 minutes a day to do this, you will see the benefits. And as far as listeners go, you have got to give it a shot. If you're tired of the same old artists and you feel like you're missing out on amazing new artists, you should definitely check out LÜM.

Whew! That was a lot. But if you have any questions about any of these platforms, I'd be happy to answer any questions or chat. I do not earn any kind of commission, bonus or refferal for advertising and sharing. I seriously just love these platforms and I want to see the way the internet and social media works change.

Feel free to reach out on Twitter, Instagram, or any of the other apps I mentioned in this article!

And feel free to comment on today's Tweet and let me know which of these platforms you're excited to try out!

xoxo – Ry

BONUS: Subscribers Only, check out a 4th new platform that I just started using that is worth checking out... Hint: It's creating quite the buzz on Facebook right now.

Happy Mother's Day friends!

Today is bittersweet as it is my first Mother's Day, but I am unfortunately not holding a baby as I hoped I would be.

Today I am sharing a song that was very difficult for me to write after I experienced my second miscarriage. I wrote it in January, just a few weeks before my due date for my June loss would have been.

I was absolutely a mess and struggling to comprehend how I could be in the position that I was in. Why couldn't God just bring my babies back? Why did He have to take them in the first place?

I was going to release this song in October, during loss & infertility awareness month, but I felt pulled to release it today as even though I am pregnant and excited for this baby, I still feel like I should be holding a baby right now.

This video, as homemade as it is, documents the love story and journey that Dustin and I have been on over the past few years. I cried many tears putting it together as it truly reminded me of just how special our relationship is and much I love Dustin. It also reminded me of all of the trials we have withstood together and it made me hopeful and excited for this baby that we are ready to welcome into the world in November.

I hope that you enjoy and if you are struggling with this day, I see you and I feel you. If you need to talk or rant or anything, I am here for you. I am recognizing my babies that aren't here with us today and I am celebrating the fact that I am a strong mother who has made it through so much already and I haven't gotten to experience the joy of motherhood yet, but I am a good mom.

Happy day to all of you who are celebrating, you're amazing and deserve all of the love and recognition and pampering today.

For those of you mourning today, or celebrating and mourning, I am giving you big big hugs and I hope that this song will give you a bit of hope and make you feel seen.

xoxo – Ry

https://www.cinnamon.video/watch?v=315416103222248487

Subscribers Only – Lyrics Below!