Well, friends, we've talked about blogging misconceptions, my day-to-day routine, what I love most about blogging and my #1 piece of advice. But, really, when you think about it, no blogging FAQ series would be complete without a look to the future of this exciting and ever-changing medium.
One of the wonderful things about blogging is the fact that it such a reflection of its author. From the design to the topics covered, you can really make a blog anything you want it to be. There are no limits, and I think that's part of what's made the blog movement so appealing and successful. I try to do that with each and every one of my blog posts. I overshare. I write honestly. I don't hold anything back. After all, we all remember how this debacle went down, don't we? That's something people can relate to. With blogging, you can't Photoshop words to make them look pretty and perfect. Bringing your true self to each post is perhaps the best thing you could ever do. Be it raw and real and stripped-down emotion, like peeling back the lyrics of your favorite song.
Oh, where do I even begin? I fell in love with blogging from the moment my first post went live. While I've loved writing for newspapers over the years, blogging is decidedly more instantaneous, which is something I love. With the click of your mouse, you can send a post out into the world and get instant feedback on your words -- both good and bad feedback. Plus, blogging is inherently a creative endeavor, and I've loved being able to put my own spin on things. There's really nothing like self-expression for a writer. And by far, the most rewarding aspect of blogging for me has been the sense of community and all the wonderful friends I've made. You think blogging is this huge, faceless universe, but really, it's a small, tight-knit community of people who really care about each other. We get involved in each other's lives. We cheer each other on. It's great to have those sorts of people in your life.
How long have you been blogging, friends? What is your favorite part of the process? Writing? Meeting other bloggers? Snapping photos of your travels -- or of your adorable kitten? What are your favorite kinds of topics to write about? xoxo
That, friends, was my tweet from last night when Jenny emailed me to let me know that she was installing my new design. Remember when you were little, and you used to wake up like 10 times on Christmas Eve to see if it was morning yet? Well, that's exactly how I felt last night! After a few months of designing a layout, choosing a color scheme and deciding on a header, everything has finally come together in the new design you see on your computer screen right now! I'm so excited to debut lots of cool new features, so I thought we'd take a little tour this afternoon...
1. The new header is my favorite part of the new design. I wanted something that would be easily recognizable -- something that people could look at and immediately go, "Oh, that's So About What I Said..." Another one of my favorites: Drop-down menus for easier navigation. They're just below the header and will direct you to the most popular categories, including Love Lounge, Dream Vacation and In The Pursuit of Happiness.
2. A new mini bio on the right-hand side as well as my full bio under the About Me tab at the top. Also under the About Me tab? Sponsor info -- all in one place, making it easy if you'd like to advertise.
3. Simple sidebar titles with a touch of pink -- don't you love the paint splash effect? And, social media buttons with big pops of color! I love how they just jump off the screen!
5. Dying to share a post on your favorite social media site? Check out the three colorful share buttons under each post -- you can LIKE it on Facebook, Tweet It or PIN IT to your heart's content.
I sometimes find myself trying to explain blogging to my mom and what it is that I actually do for the majority of the day on my trusty (new!) laptop. She nods her head, says "Oh" occasionally, but that's about as far as I get. And then a few months ago, I was on the bus and the driver asked me what I'd been up to lately. I said that I'd be working on my blog, and he just sort of looked at me and got this look on his face as if to say, "Well, isn't that nice. You have a little hobby to keep yourself busy."
Well, here we are, friends! It's finally here. The. Big. Week. Can you believe it? After what seemed like years (but in reality was only a matter of months...) of planning and sketching and revising, I'm so excited to roll out the new blog design this week. As I've mentioned before, I've been working with Jenny from Maiedae Designs, and she'll be installing the new design tonight. I told my mom a few days ago that I literally feel like a child on Christmas Eve. And in the spirit of merriment, I thought it only appropriate to dedicate the entire week to my own version of Behind The Blog -- a behind-the-scenes look at my life as a blogger, what drives me and of course, the nitty gritty of some things you might not even think about when you think of a blogger and their career.
As long as we're on the subject of writing today, I snapped a few photos of my new laptop and thought I'd share.
I'm still trying to think of a name for the lovely beaut. Any suggestions, friends?
Remember when we mused about the kind of writer we were, friends? Well, this weekend, I have the opportunity to read a couple excerpts from my blog. Out loud! In front of an audience! I've been asked to be one of the guest speakers at my Unitarian church on Sunday as part of a sermon on women and their writing.
By now, I'm sure you can tell how important words have always been to me. They transport you to faraway places. They bring you home again. They make you laugh. They make you cry. They've been my own window to the world -- during those time when the literal window in my hospital room only looked out over a courtyard or I'd have to spend part of the summer inside recuperating from a surgery. Words allowed me to express what I was feeling; it was one of those rare times when I felt completely free. 
A few years ago, I stood in my kitchen happily making my lunch. As I made my way into the living room, I stopped suddenly, nearly dropping my entire lunch in the process. You see, I was forced to do a double-take as I came to our kitchen's island. Amongst the rubble of junk mail and newspapers and magazines and one lone house key, something extraordinary caught my eye. Sitting upright, like a lone water fountain in a dry dessert, stood a box of chocolate-covered shortbread cookies.
And if you think ahead and buy enough boxes from those girls wearing the sashes, then you'll have enough to get you through until your next fix. Any time you need them, those cookies will be there for you. I was always a bit disappointed in myself that I wasn't a Girl Scout. I could have rocked that sash proudly. At least I can console my dashed childhood dreams with a box of Peanut Butter Patties.
We've affectionately dubbed the kitchen table the Yahtzee table in my family. We've played hundreds (maybe thousands) of games on its sleek wooden surface. So many games, in fact, that last summer my mother had the entire table refinished. Apparently, our years of dice-rolling had left too many scratches and scuff marks for my mother's liking. I came home one day to find a table I almost didn't recognize. Two refinishing treatments was all it took. It looked like a new table right there in our kitchen, like something straight out of the showroom or a fancy catalogue. Shiny. Pristine. Scratch-and-scuff free.
Maybe you've got similar memories attaches to your home decor items. A rocking chair? A comfortable bed? A seemingly dusty end table? These are the items which mark our lives. What is it about a piece of furniture that can hold such powerful memories for us? How just the sight of it can take us back to that moment in time - times of joy and comfort? Does any furniture hold special meaning for you, friends? What does it mean to you?