Thursday, December 1, 2016

Blog Friend


You guys...I met a blog friend for the first time!  It's crazy where blogging will take you!  This summer I had the opportunity to photograph a wedding for a blog friend's best friend.  It's crazy how you feel like you know someone so well, yet have never really chatted.  It was like catching up with an old friend -- since I 'met' Kayla online she's moved out of state, quit blogging, became a abc, graduated from her masters program, we've both added children, Adam and I moved, we lost Murdock, switched jobs, started photography, and so much more. .  Now, we just need to plan a weekend for my family to meet hers -- perhaps at the lake this summer? :)

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Blog Revamp!

Many of you already noticed and commented before I got this post up, but here it is...my new layout!!
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About a year ago, I lost my website.  By 'lost', I mean the credit card on file for annual renewal expired.  I know this sounds dumb, but I couldn't find a way to renew it.  And believe me, I tried.  Probably a dozen times.  For 1-2 hours each time.  I know, it sounds simple, but it wasn't.  In fact, I'm completely convinced they do this on purpose so that they can try to sell you your website back {true story!} for thousands {yep, you read that correctly!}thousands of dollars!  Since that's totally out of my budget, I wiped my tears away, and asked Jess to help me flip everything back to .blogspot.com.  Luckily she's smart like that and had me up and running that afternoon.

All of that to say, when I 'lost' my website, all of my links quit working.  Many of the links within old posts are still broken.  So, I decided it was time to give the whole blog a facelift {even if I only have 3 'followers' now!} :)  Well that, and the fact that Cullyn isn't even in my header and he'll be two in a couple of months {sob!}.  So...without further ado, I encourage you to hop out of your reader and look at my new blog design thanks to Jess!

Isn't my new header gorgeous?!  I love the color scheme!  And you can't go wrong with glitter! :)
You may also notice that I have a header bar with popular posts at the top.  I'm hoping to get those completed/updated soon!

The new font & post layout may be my favorite part!  Especially since those of you that know me, know that I write in caps. :)

We're still working out the kinks on my sidebar, mainly the names above the sidebar, but isn't it nice to have updated photos?!  Welcome Cully! :)
My new Archive & Search bar

And the biggest change {other than the header of course} is probably that I've started replying to comments in this section instead of email.  So, if you ask me a question in a comment, check back {or make sure you notification settings are correct} to see my response.  I'm hoping this will help me not lose comments in my email inbox! :)

Again, big thanks to Jess!  If you need a facelift, she's your girl!  
After she makes my photography page of course! :)

Sunday, March 30, 2014

Real thoughts on Blogging {& why I do it}

Since this is my 1000th post {for real!} I thought I would blog a little bit about blogging...

I started blogging New Year's of 2010.  Crazy!  We were just married.  I was a nanny for four adorable children and Adam worked for a staffing agency.  We had our healthy, young pup, Murdock, but no kids of our own.  Fast forward 999 posts later and we've got two kids {two and under}, we'll be celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary this fall, we have a lakehome in addition to our condo, a minivan, and a photography business.  I am now the coordinator of Student and Continuing Medical Education for physicians at a hospital and Adam is a GPO specialist with an IT company {don't even ask me to explain what that means!} Unbelievable how much has changed since this all began.  And yet, I love dreaming about where we're headed from here.

I read blogs long before I started writing, and to be honest, I don't even think I knew I was reading 'blogs.'  I just came across a few families that had 'websites' and loved reading along.  Pretty soon I wanted to start one of my own.  To write our thoughts and journal about our life.  It helped my sort things out when I was still finding myself as a newlywed.  I write about small things that happen on the daily and big things that are milestones in our life.  I have learned I'm much better about writing small things, sometimes overlooking the largest things of all, but I love looking back to see what I felt was important enough to write about at that time.

I didn't tell a soul {except Adam} about this blog for over a year I think.  Since then, I've told a few people, to be honest, I don't even know who knows about this blog or not.  {I think more family knows about it that I think}  I'll admit, there are times when I still wish I was totally private so I could really say some things that are on my mind without hurting people, but as a whole I don't really care who knows about it.  At the beginning I think I wrote for others.  I even did giveaways and reviews.  I was really worried about getting new followers.  Now, I mainly write for myself and remembering things about my family.  Sometimes I'll do a product review if they are giving something that I think my family would like, b it's more about documenting my kids' life since I'm terrible at baby books and printing pictures!

I love the friendships that have come from this blog.  I've never met any blog friends in real life, but it's amazing to me the community that bloggers create.  Other than blogging for me and my memories, that's probably the best thing that's come from this blog.  I know lots of people {like my husband} laugh about blogging and think it's weird, in fact I always giggle a little when I say it, because even though I blog, I don't consider myself a 'blogger.'

I LOVE reading blogs and wish I still commented on blogs like I used to.  I'm going to blame this one on my kids.  I used to read and comment on blogs nightly.  Now that my nights are filled with babies until I go to bed {which I love & and am so fortunate for!}, I read blogs over my lunch hour, but rarely comment due to time.  I do however, make a point to reply to all comments {that are real & have reply email addresses}.  If someone takes the time to comment on my post, I think it's important to take a couple of minutes to reply back to them.  I used to bother me that 'big bloggers' never commented, but now I  understand it would be a full time job to reply to all comments.  Also, I understand why blog friends quit blogging {not only does it take time, but kids grow up life gets crazy} but I always wonder what those friends are doing now.

I know there is lots of drama about the pressure that blogging {& Pinterest} makes for moms, more specifically being the 'perfect mom.'  But I really think blogging helps me to be a better mama.  I get tons of ideas of things to create, books to read, and memories to make with my kids.  In fact, I think it helps be stive to be a better person overall.  Support more local {small} businesses, makes me more aware of life events, encourages me to spend more quality time with my loved ones, reminds me to give/be more involved with my community, etc.

Anyways, there is my rambling on blogging.  I love it.  I'm so happy I started it.  If you're thinking about starting one, I would encourage you to do it.  They're super easy and you won't regret it.  I do want to take the time to get my blog made into books {some posts, not all}.  I would be heartbroken if I woke up and my whole blog was gone!

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

I'm back! {sort of}

Wow...It's been a while since I blogged!

I think about blogging about 57 times a day.  Unfortunately when I finally have time to blog {Read: once both kids go to bed} I am exhausted and take myself directly to bed as well!  If I don't go to bed I'm cleaning, doing laundry, or editing photos.

I have 37 posts started and stilling my drafts {no really!} I swear I'm going to get at least a few of them finished up before I start to forget what I even wanted to say.  A few are vacation related, some are fun things we've done this summer, and most are parenting/baby/life related.

Our family photos are booked {for October 12th!} and the outfit planning {for J's 2nd Birthday, C's 6 Month, Our Little Family, & my Family}has begun.  I'm so excited about the colors, the coordinating, and most of all the finished product!! {Outfit Boards are also on my list to share with you!}

Am I the only one that feels like summer is over?!  Now that I'm back to working full time {4 days a week} it seems like summer is over!  :(  There are just a few more things that we have on the calendar to indulge in before I put my fall decor up {the Iowa State Fair, My Birthday, a Sleepover with our Nieces & Nephews}

Photoshoots are back in full force again.  Which I'm so so thankful for since we have birthdays {mine, my parents, Adams, and Jordyn's} coming up and Christmas shopping has begun.  I'm also thankful because I love them and I hope to get going enough that someday I can make it full time!

Okay...that's all I have time for now.  I'll be back with a bunch more in the next couple of weeks.  Until then, follow me on Instagram.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

I've joined the rest of the world...

This weekend we finally switched from Android phones to iPhones

So now I have Instagram.  I'm MurdocksMama.  Although I've only uploaded one photo...
Who else is on Instagram?  I need to find all of my blogger friends that have been on it for like 1618 years! :)

For the Instagram experts...how do I get all of those cute little bokeh dots like Allison always has?

And for iPhone experts...what are some good age appropriate apps [13mo.] for my daughter?  Or fun/useful apps for me!

And speaking of technology...Blogger not letting me upload photos all of last week was ridiculously annoying so I'm super [like 3 weeks] behind on posting Baby H2 updates...

 



Tuesday, November 27, 2012

FOR THE LOVE! [please share your blog knowledge!]

Can someone please tell me why I have been unable to upload photos to my blog for almost a week?!  A post without photos is boring!  Does anyone know if Word Press puts a limit on your photos?  Any other platforms people recommend to get me away from Blogger without a great deal of knowledge needed?!

Any help is appreciated!  Thanks!

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