Blogging, Lately

Hello?  Is there anyone in the world who still follows blogs?  Because I can't tell you the last time I read or commented on any of the beloved blogs I followed for years.

What about this blog?  Anyone who still follows this blog?  Is there anyone who actually misses my posts?  Please comment if you do and maybe it'll give me the motivation to draft a few posts!  Seriously though, leave me a comment, something as simple as "Me!" if you still consistently read blogs, read my blog.  So what if you've never commented.  Who cares if you don't know me personally.  I would honestly love to know if there's anyone still out there!

Anyway, I've been noticeably absent.  I've written fewer blog posts than the months of this year.  I hate it that I no longer have the time or energy to record our memories.  Craig recently asked me why.  The answer is simple and two-fold.  

First off, three kids.  I absolutely adore having three kids but the energy required to care for three kids is exponentially greater than that required to care for one.  Also, my kids are growing older.  I find myself less excited about putting everything out there for the whole world to see.  As much as I think my children might look back and appreciate the recorded memories, there's a part of me that thinks they may resent it.  Like when their friends...or girlfiends...are old enough to read.  What are they / their peers going to think if they stumble upon my blog?  Are my boys going to appreciate being the subject of their mommy's Internet hobby?  Truthfully, who knows.

But back to the growing older thing.  With older ages also comes later bedtimes.  I used to be guaranteed at least two full hours to myself between their bedtime and mine.  Now, however, I'm lucky to get an hour.  An hour is not enough to put my thoughts onto the computer screen, let alone upload, edit, and insert photos into a post, especially given my slower-than-molasses laptop these days.  Besides, I'm usually too tired to do anything but scroll mindlessly on social media.  (See sentence two of previous paragraph.)

Which leads me to my next point.  Social media has changed.  Blogging just isn't what it was five years ago.  And that saddens me.

I used to really enjoy following the mommy + lifestyle blogs that were similar to my own.  Whether or not I personally knew the blogger, there was something very comforting about going through the same phases of motherhood with all these other bloggers across the U.S.  Blog reading was my number one hobby.  It's what I did in my free time.  I would check my Bloglovin' feed before any other form of social media, including Instagram.  Today, I'm like "Bloglovin', what's that?"  I haven't logged in for dayyyyys months.  However, I've certainly scrolled through Instagram once...or ten times...already today.

Blogging has become very scripted.  Never mind the authenticity of a blog post anymore.  You can't just read someone's true or real-life thoughts.  It's all about #sponsored posts all the time, and if not a sponsored post, you better believe the post is full of affiliate links.  Everyone wants to make a buck, or be "blog famous".  Did that person really like that product, or were they paid to say that?  You can't believe what you read and won't read what you believe.  Today more than ever, it's all about numbers--how many likes, how many followers, how many pageviews--and less about genuinely wanting to share.

Beyond that, Instagram seems to be the new Blogger, amiright?  Required is a pretty, cohesive feed, witty captions, and eye-pleasing, yet candidly gorgeous, photos.  The kind of photos that require either a professional photographer or a willing Instagram husband.  Neither of which I have or want to spend the money on.  And the witty captions?  Can we all just agree that they're for the likes?  Half the time, I don't even believe the captions to be true.  

On one hand, I get it.  I've certainly done my fair share of sponsored posts on this itty bitty blog.  And have you seen my perfectly cohesive School in Style account?  Part of the reason I started that account was because I enjoy clothes / fashion / shopping and posting a daily outfit photo is quicker and far easier than having to compose an entire blog post.  Another reason, affiliate links!  Although never my main goal, I thought that if I could make a little money to support my love of shopping, it would be worth the investment!  It satisfied my need for a hobby--a creative outlet--while also being an easier replacement to traditional blogging.  So I'm totally guilty of all the same things I'm sad about.

Making money via social media can be exciting, and getting free product is a definite perk.  But at the same time, it's. not. everything.

I hate that it's come to this.  I hate that, for me and many others, blogging has fallen to the back burner because of what blogging has become.  (Ironic, right?)  I hate that I no longer have the energy or the motivation to put my words and photos on the Internet.  I hate that I can't go back and look at our Christmas or Halloween recaps or the boys' first day of preschool from last year.  Why?  Because those blog posts don't exist.  Blogging was always a priority for me.  An out.  Therapy, if you will.

Perhaps blogging is coming to an end for me.  Or maybe I'll turn a new leaf, dig deep, and find some motivation.  (I wouldn't hold your breath.)  Only time will tell.

So if you've wondered where I've been, there's the answer.  This post has been brewing in my head for months now and it feels good to finally get it on paper the Internet.

What do you think about blogging in 2018?  What has it become?  Or what will it become?  Do you enjoy the "influencers" of this day and age, or are you like me, and wish we could go back to the good ole days of blogging and authentically wanting to share?

Here's a photo simply because a blog post without a photo is like a bag of chips with no salsa. 😉

Go Blog Social

If you follow me on Instagram or follow my blog's Facebook page, you likely saw the multiple photos I posted while spending my day on Saturday at the Go Blog Social conference.  I learned a lot, but to be honest, there was also a lot that was either a) way over my head or b) of no interest to me.  Yes, blogging is a passion of mine, but it's also just a hobby (+ my scrapbook), and there was some girls who were uber-serious about upping their blogging game.  Some days, I think it'd be fun to be a big-time blogger (ahem, make good money doing it), but other days I'm perfectly content with my minimal following and the small network of mom bloggers I'm a part of.

That being said....there were some definite perks of the day.  The gift bags, for instance.  The unlimited coffee.  The giveaways (too bad I didn't win).  The company.  The uninterrupted {by kids} conversation.  The venue--complete with an outdoor terrace that overlooked downtown KC.  The weather.  The food.  And the fact that you didn't need to feel embarrassed or ashamed about photographing each and every moment throughout the day!! #bloggerslovetakingphotos

 

 

Here's a recap of the day. 

Intro and Q&A with the GBS Team

Session 1: Photography for Bloggers with Allison Corrin

 Obviously a favorite since I love photography, but it was a 45-minute crash course and she really didn't say anything I didn't already know.  However, really great info for those who don't know much about shooting in manual mode!

Session 2: Business + Legal Basics with KC Fashion Week

This session was a bit confusing to me.  Was it meant to promote KC Fashion Week or inform us of legality aspects in regards to blogging?  In all honesty, it kind of freaked me out and now I feel like I need to create a fictitious name and get an LLC for my blog.

Session 3: From Blog to Biz with Fashion Column Twins

These twin sister bloggers are just adorable and really fun to listen to!  Though they talked mainly fashion blogging and their new clothing brand, Local E, it was interesting to hear their story and they have obviously made some very smart and successful decisions in the blogging/social media world!

Lunch Break

Session 4: SEO Tools + Strategies with Kelly Rivard

This girl is not only an amazing speaker, but a genius when it comes to all things Internet.  She was so, so fascinating to listen to.  I understood a lot of what she said, but let's be honest, I'm not a big time blogger, so there was also a lot that went in one ear and out the other.  Perhaps this is how my students feel on a daily basis?

Session 5: Influencer Campaigns with Acorn Influence

 Influencer networks are all the rage in blogging right now (and how bloggers make money) so I was extra interested in hearing from Acorn.  However, I can't really say that I took much from this session.  Perhaps I was just too anxious and excited (and on the lookout) for the keynote!

 Session 6: Keynote Speaker - Social Influence with The Bachelor's Jade Roper-Tolbert

Let's just say that Jade could have stood on stage and read the phone book and I would have been in awe!!!  I know she's just another person, but she's pretty famous in my book!  I don't know that she had anything super riveting to say, but she seemed very genuine and appreciative of both her supporters and her current 15 minutes of fame.  I think the best part was the Q&A session at the end.  Among the questions asked: What's your favorite part of living in Kansas City?  Was it weird having Chris Soules and Kaitlyn at your wedding?  How much of The Bachelor is produced?  Will you continue your high level of social media presence after you have kids?  Who do you think will/want to win Ben's season?   Do you have any inside insight on the next bachelorette?  (Hellooooo that was announced last week!)

 Jade was definitely the icing on the cake of the conference for me.  But the most amazing part?  She stuck around afterwards and we were able to talk one-on-one with her!  Yes I did, in fact, tell her about our neighborhood Bachelor watch parties complete with Bachelor Wine and Yoga Pants tanks!  I also said 'I'm pretty sure you have the same one!" #stalkeralert  She was also sweet enough to pose for photos with each of us, which was the highlight of my day year.

A great day, indeed!  I was hoping to meet a few more {mommy/lifestyle} bloggers like myself, but there just didn't seem to be many present (most were fashion bloggers or fashion blogger-wannabes...and I totally don't mean that in a mean way....they were very fashionable girls who intend to start blogs soon!).  Also, there weren't a ton of opportunities to connect with others.  In fact, I connected more on social media after the conference was over by searching the hashtags and the location of the event.  And those blog business cards??  Yeah, I think I handed out a total of six...and two were to the girls I attended with!  

 

In the end, it was a whole lotta fun being in the company of other bloggers (many KC based) and girls who love social media as much as I do.  And a day spent in downtown Kansas City with a good friend is always a great one in my book!

Linking up with Erin @ Her Heartland Soul, a another midwest blogger from the conference!

Yay Friday!

Not only is it Friday, but it's MARCH!  I'm pretty sure I've said the same thing in years past, but March always brings about such happy feelings for me!  St. Patrick's Day, Spring Break, SPRING, daylight savings, heck even March Madness is exciting when I compete for money in a tournament draft!

This first weekend in March is even more exciting because I'm headed to a blogging conference, Go Blog Social, all day tomorrow with my fellow blogger friend and neighbor, Vanessa!  Nerdy?  Maybe.  But I'm super excited for a day of blogging...or something like that!  HUGE thank you to my hubby for agreeing to fly solo with the boys all day so I can go do something fun!

In honor of this conference I have five blogging/conference related things.

via Instagram

| one |

Don't laugh, but I threw together some blogging business cards.  I mean, the conference info says to bring 100 of your business cards in order to network with others, so it only seemed necessary!  I paid $2 on Canva to create these bad boys and had them printed for $17 on heavy-duty, shiny paper at Office Max.  I cut them myself with my Fiskars rotary paper trimmer....which I had to do in shifts, because the paper is so heavy that it took a lot of pressure (read: energy) to cut through it!!  It was basically a mini-workout and my arm muscles have been sore from cutting all week! #wimp

However, they do look good if I do say so myself!  And I've never felt more official!!

| two |

I also threw together a media kit, which is basically a fancy-pancy PDF document that describes both me and my blog.

| three |

Which reminds me, I've got two product reviews in the works right now!  Stay tuned...

| four |

I mentioned yesterday that I'm unsure about what to wear tomorrow.  It's kind of a big deal, you know, and I want to make sure I'm dressed appropriately.  Here are a few options.  I've already ruled out #2 (too dressy), but I can't decide between the others.

What's your vote?

| five |

And finally, as if the conference isn't already crazy-exciting to me.........JADE is the keynote speaker!!!!  I'm ridiculously excited to be in the same room as one of my Bachelor faves!!

via Instagram

Happy Friday and have a great weekend!  Be sure to follow me on IG (@sarahbsides), as I'm sure there will be one or two (or 18) Jade conference instapics!

Linking Up With:

Momfessionals and A Little Bit of Everything for Friday Favorites 

September F A R M for Oh, Hey Friday

A.Liz Adventures for Five on Friday

Instagram / Facebook / Bloglovin' / Pinterest / Twitter

My 5 Ws of Blogging

Yesterday, I posted a little re-introduction of myself.  Today, I'm talking a little bit about blogging's current role in my life!

| WHO do I blog about? |

 I blog mainly about my family.  My husband (Craig), our oldest son (Brantley - 3 1/2), and our youngest son (Holden - almost 2).  Occasionally, our miniature schnauzer (Kinnick - 8) makes an appearance, as do our extended families, friends, and neighbors.

| WHAT do I blog about? |

 I blog about our outings as a family, our home, and our life - the vacations we take, the food we eat, the toys we play with, the crafts we create, the teams we cheer for, the DIY projects we conquer, the photos I take, the weird stuff my kids say, the holidays we celebrate, the things I believe in, and the random thoughts that flow through my head on the daily.  This blog has served as my pregnancy journal (x2), a baby book (x2), and a scrapbook + diary of my life.

| WHEN do I blog? |

 With a full-time job (9 months out of the year anyway) and two boys under the age of 4, finding time to blog can be a challenge.  During the school year, I will blog after my kids go to bed (7:30pm) and/or during nap time on the weekends (and sometimes at school - shhhhhh).  During the summer, I will use the 2-hour span of nap time to blog.  But not every night and/or day.  It truly just depends on how motivated I am and how much I have to blog about.  Sometimes (usually in September) I go weeks without a single post.  During that time, I tend to be so exhausted from the start of the school year and the last thing I want to do is stare at a computer screen and expel any energy to put my thoughts into words.  Other times, all the time in the world isn't enough to blog about everything I want to!  One thing is for certain though - I've never, ever considered blogging a "job".  I really, truly enjoy blogging (you could say I'm passionate about it) and I never, ever put pressure on myself to compose a post.  If I'm not feeling it, then I just don't do it!  It's easy to spot a transparent post and I never do I want to blog because I feel like I have to.

| WHERE do I blog? |

 I typically blog from the chair in our living room.  I will prop my feet up on the ottoman and blog using our MacBook.  My blog is housed on Blogger, but I paid the small amount of money for a custom domain (so that my blog url doesn't include .blogspot.com).

| WHY do I blog? |

Plain and simple: I love documenting.  I always have.  I was the little girl who printed her photos, captioned/dated them on the back, and added them chronologically to a photo album.  I was also big time into scrapbooking back when it was popular.  Times have changed and my blog is my current {digital} version of the scrapbook/photo album, but I love that there's a diary component to it, as well.  Blogging is very therapeutic for me.  I just love, love, love writing about our life.  I also love sharing with others.  Whether it's a favorite recipe or a favorite product, I love giving advice and recommendations to others.  Oddly enough, I have always hated writing, but for some reason, blogging feels so different!  I sometimes wonder if I will still be blogging in ten years.  I sure hope so, but I honestly have no idea where life will take me.  For now, I love this number one hobby of mine and can't imagine putting down the laptop anytime soon!


Who, what, when, where, and why do YOU blog?


Instagram / Facebook / Bloglovin' / Pinterest / Twitter

Versatile Blogger Award

One thing I love about blogging is the connections made and the friendships formed.  I know that is probably a foreign (read: weird) idea to non-bloggers, but I feel like some of these other girls are my actual friends!  So when my good blogger friend, Elizabeth, "nominated" me for this "award", I was honored and happy to play along!  Besides, this post is all about sharing seven facts about yourself and us bloggers love to write about ourselves, right??

The rules of accepting this award are as follows:
Thank the person who nominated you.
Link back to their blog.
Share 7 facts about yourself.
Nominate up to 15 other bloggers.

So, here we go with my seven facts!

1 | For 11 months of the year, I hate wrapping presents.  It's such a hassle and if it weren't for kids who love tearing into presents, I'd put everything into a gift bag.  But...at Christmastime for some reason, I love it!  I love picking out coordinating paper (a must) and I love the whole wrapping process!  (It helps that it usually involves Christmas music and a glass or two of wine.)

 2 | I've developed a strong fear of car accidents over the past few years.  I worry about being in a bad car accident and I worry about receiving news of my husband and children in a bad accident.  I have no idea why, but I think about it often.  Like every day often.  And I pray every time we get into our car that we arrive safely!  I try to remind myself that although fender benders can be common occurrences, most people live life without ever falling victim to a bad accident.  But still, I worry! Please tell me this is a normal side affect of having children??

3 | I love pretty sunrises and sunsets.  Growing up, my sister and I used to laugh at my dad when he would point them out, but as I've gotten older, I have grown to appreciate this natural beauty in life.  No joke, I probably have 25 or more sunrise/sunset photos on my Instagram account (I should make a hashtag) and significantly more in my iPhone photo library that never made their way to social media!

4 | I can twirl a baton!  I started taking lessons in third grade and twirled through high school.  And baton twirling is like riding a bike--one of those things that once you learn, you never forget!  So neighbor friends, don't laugh if someday you see me in my backyard reliving my glory days. :)

5 | I probably have one of the most organized lists of phone contacts ever.  Everyone has a first name, a last name, a phone number, an email address, a street address, and most have birthdays!  My phone literally contains everything I know about everyone!!  One time, I accidentally deleted all of my contacts (before iCould was a thing) and I truly felt sick to my stomach!!  Needless to say, it took a good 48 hours and lots of investigating/personal Facebook messages, but I got it all back.

6 | Unless it's 80 degrees (and even sometimes then), I'm probably cold.  I'm just a cold person - always!  Which is probably why I'm such a summer girl.

7 | I have Internet ADD.  I will go onto Facebook/Instagram/Pinterest/Bloglovin' for a very specific reason and then get distracted by another post and completely lose track of why I was there.  20 minutes later, I still haven't accomplished what I intended, and by then, I'm usually in the midst of nineteen additional tasks!  Internet ADD...it's a real thing, I swear!

So there are my seven!

And if you're new around here, here are a couple other "All About Me" type posts you might enjoy reading!

I Believe In...

32 on 32 

Sisterhood of the World Bloggers

Two Truths and a Lie

As for my nominations, they were hard because Liz and I follow many of the same blogs and she nominated all of them (thanks, Liz!), but here are a few extras - people I always enjoy hearing from!

Courtney at A+Life
Katie at All Betts Are Off
Ashley at Everything's Hunky Dorey
Brittany at Just Another Day in Paradise
Jana at Just Jana
Colleen at Meet the Sullivans
Staci at Miss Bloody Mary
Sarah @ Our Journey
Vanessa @ Sunflower State of Mind
Karen @ The Bishop Diaries
Traci @ The HALLway
Erin @ The Hydes

And one last thing, speaking of blogging, I'm guest posting today over at Meet the Sullivans!  Go check it out! :)

Sisterhood of the World Blogging Award

Awhile back, one of my favorite bloggers, Elizabeth, nominated me for the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award.  Now, before you get all impressed and feel the need to congratulate me, it's not really an award.  It's more like one of those chain email questionnaires that got forwarded back in the day.  Nonetheless, I was honored that she wanted to learn more about me (thanks, Elizabeth!) and happy to answer a few blogging-related questions!

Here are the rules for this award:

1 // Provide a link and thank the blogger who nominated you for this award.

2 // Answer a few questions about yourself.

3 // Nominate 5-10 blogs that you love.

4 // Include the award logo within your blog post.

Here are the questions Elizabeth asked of me:

1 // What do you hope to accomplish with your blog?

There isn't much I want to "accomplish" with my blog.  For me, blogging a way to document my life, journal about my thoughts, and record milestones for my babies.  And that's it, really!  My goal has never been to attract a bunch of followers, be the most popular blogger, or host giveaways...and I am a-okay with that.  Blogging is truly a hobby, something I really love doing, but mainly because I love sharing my life with others!  It's therapeutic, makes for a good scrapbook, and forces me to reflect upon my daily occurrences.  Except I don't like to use the word "force" because I truly do enjoy it!  Now, I will say, my blog has opened doors I never thought possible.  I have connected with so many people through blogging and made a number of blogging friends (who I would love to meet in person)!  It was also because of my blog (and their blogs) that I met two of my good friends right here in KC!

2 // What have you learned about blogging since you started? 

I'm not sure this qualifies as 'about blogging' but I've learned a lot about photography through blogging.  I'm constantly inspired by others' photos and my ongoing goal is to improve upon my photog skills!

3 // Provide a link to your favorite blog post.

I mean, how do I even pick a favorite??  I'm a sucker for birth stories, for which I have two of (Brantley | Holden), pregnancy announcements are always fun (also two: Brantley | Holden), then there was the time I blogged about our prayers being answered when Brantley's hydrocephalus normalized five weeks before he was born and the time I reflected upon that a year later.  But then I love the less serious posts, like birthday parties and my favorite things posts, I enjoy recapping our vacations, I love my year-end reviews, and there was the time I talking about breastfeeding and how it failed me big time.  Like I said, how do I pick just one??

4 // Have you made virtual friends because of blogging? Have you met them "in real life"?

Yes and yes!  I feel the biggest connections with the bloggers who have kids around the same age as my own and bloggers with either Iowa or Kansas City connections.  Some of my faves have both the kids and connections!  I met up with Brittany earlier this year after following her blog for nearly three years and I hang out with Vanessa on a pretty regular basis, as we live only a few blocks from each other!  There are quite a few other bloggers scattered across the country who I would love to meet!

5 // Does your family read your blog and if so does this affect what you say or how you say it?

Well considering one of my sole purposes of blogging is to keep friends and family updated on our lives, I hope they read it!  I know my mom and mother-in-law both read it occasionally.  My Aunt Debi and Grandma are probably my biggest fans!  I feel like I'm pretty true to myself and have nothing to hide, so knowing my family reads this has no effect on what I say!

6 // What's your favorite thing to eat and drink in the summer?

I love me some grilled food!  Ribs, steak, kabobs, summer fruits and veggies...summer eating is just so much easier.  And prettier!  My favorite summer drink is probably a Blue Moon (with an orange slice), but that's true year round!

7 // Are you a nail polish fan?  If so, what color and what brand are your favorite?

My toes are almost always painted--something bright and seasonal.  My fingernails, on the other hand, go in phases.  Typically, I like more natural colors for my fingers, but I'm not opposed to a little color either!  (Right now, I have a Barbie-doll pink on them!)  I love OPI.  It's a bit more expensive, but I feel like it goes on the smoothest and lasts longer.  I maybe buy 5 bottles all year, so paying $9/bottle, doesn't break the bank!

8 // What is your go-to meal for dinner?

One of my specialties is fish tacos.  They are de-lish.  Better than any fish tacos I've tried at restaurants.  Try them--you won't be disappointed!

9 // What is your favorite holiday and why?

I love Christmas--with the 4th of July coming in a close second.  I think the reason I love Christmas so much is that it's a whole season and not just one day.  I love all that it entails--the decor, the shopping, the food, the meaning behind the holiday, the activities, the music, the magic.  I mean, what's not to love really?  I love the 4th because it brings such happy feelings of summertime, hot weather, good food, fireworks, and freedom.  I love both holidays for very similar and very different reasons!  Luckily they are spaced pretty evenly so I get to celebrate a favorite holiday every 6ish months!

10 // What is one piece of advice you would give fellow bloggers? 

Make your own rules!  You don't have to blog every day.  Posts don't have to "go live" every morning.  Blogging isn't all about being the most popular.  And at the same time, be your own person.  Form your own thoughts and ideas and opinions and blog posts.  Although flattering, nothing is worse than being imitated and copied all the time.

Now for my nominations, I'd like to nominate these bloggers.  I'm lucky enough to call the first five my real life friends, and consider the last five my blogging friends!

1// Brittany @ Just Another Day in Paradise
2 // Vanessa @ Sunflower State of Mind
3 // Erin @ The Hyde's

4 // Jana @ Just Jana
5 // Katie @ All Betts Are Off
6 // Ashley at Everything's Hunky Dorey

7 // Courtney at A + Life
8 // Ashley at Words About Waverly
9 // Traci at The HALLway Life
10 // Staci at Miss Bloody Mary

Here are your ten questions if you choose to participate :

1 // When and why did you begin blogging and what do you hope to accomplish with your blog?

2 // What have you learned through blogging?

3 // What five words do you think your readers would use to describe your blog?

4 // What is your favorite thing to blog about?

5 // Provide a link to your favorite blog post.

6 // Have you met any of your "blogger friends" in real life?

7 // Does your family read your blog and, if so, does this affect what you say or how you say it?

8 // Do you think you'll still be blogging in 5, 10, and 20 years?

9 // What is your favorite season and why?

10 // What is one piece of advice you would give fellow bloggers?

Tuesday Tip

Last summer, I posed a few questions in regards to responding to blog commenters.  I had noticed that when I posted comments on others' blogs, they would respond to my comment via email. Their response would pop up in my inbox and we could then email back and forth and back and forth to our little heart's desire. I wanted to be able to do that same thing with commenters on my blog, but I didn't know how!  I assumed it was something I needed to change.

Low and behold, I was wrong!  It's on your end (the commenter's), not mine!

Turns out, some commenters are "no reply" bloggers.  What does that mean?  It means there is no way to reply to a blog comment and ensure that person sees the response. Basically because your email address is not attached to your name.  So although I can reply to you within the comment section, if you don't ever go back and re-read through the comments, you'll never know. :)

Source

When your email address is attached to your name, the blogger (me) can reply directly to the commenter (you) and it will show up in your inbox.  Cool, right?

Likewise, fellow bloggers, did you know you could simply hit reply to the comment notification email and as long as the commenter is not a "no reply" blogger, you can respond to their email address?  

Anyway, just sharing a bit of what I've learned over the past year.  I know most of this is old news to many of you, but trying to help those that may still be in the dark.

Source

I found a couple of tutorials on other blogs showing how to change your settings so that you are not a "no reply" blogger!  It takes, like, 30 seconds to do!  Follow these links for a better explanation and to ensure you are not a "no reply" blogger.  You're welcome. ;)

http://anyonecandecorate.blogspot.com/2012/09/are-you-no-reply-blogger-how-to-fix.html?m=1

http://www.ourprettylittlegirls.com/2015/01/no-reply.html

 

#BoyMomSwap

While many people may think the world of blogging is weird (putting your life out there for strangers to see and following the lives of people you've never met), I find it very entertaining.  I absolutely love following blogs similar to mine, especially other bloggers who have kiddos around the same ages as Brantley and Holden.  I don't watch much t.v. in my down time; instead you can usually find me catching up on social media, which includes all of my favorite blogs!  I've connected with quite a few people through blogging, and though they may not be my real-life BFFs, I feel like many of them could be!  Through blogging, I've also realized how small of a world this really is!  For instance,  I learned that one blogger I used to follow (Katie; she doesn't seem to blog anymore) is the cousin of a past student.  Another (Ashley) was a sorority sister to my friend Lauren in Atlanta.  Another (Sarah) used to live in Olathe and has all kinds of similarities to me, and yet another (Desiree) has both Kansas City and Iowa connections and we have a mutual acquaintance!  And then there's Brittany.  A local blogger whose blog I found in 2012, when we were both pregnant with our firsts--both boys and both due in July.  I couldn't not follow her (due to the crazy amount of similarities) and one day I mustered up enough courage to comment on one of her posts.  We've followed each other ever since, and in January, we met up for a play date!  Weird?  Maybe to outsiders, but to us, it was completely natural and normal! 

There's a whole other slew of blogs I love.  One is Elizabeth at Chasin' Mason.  She has a little boy who is just a couple of weeks younger than Brantley.  You may remember that I guest posted on her blog last spring about being a Boy Mom.  Anyway, when Elizabeth announced a Boy Mom gift swap, I was in!  The idea was that you'd be paired with another mom and her son(s) and the two of you would swap boy gifts.  Again, a gift swap between bloggers that have never even met?  Sounds a little weird, right?  Perhaps...I'm pretty sure my husband thought so...but so fun too!

I was paired with Rosemary and her sons Gabriel (4) and Rafael (2) at the blog Raising Bridges.  We sent them some little kiddo card games (War, Skip Bo Jr., and I Spy) because we are game-lovers at this house!  But because it was a boy-themed swap, I wrapped them as Legos!  So cute, right??  We also included some "dirt and worms" (i.e. crushed Oreos and gummy worms) to top their favorite ice cream or pudding (which I didn't take a picture of). 

From our new friends, we received some puzzles (Brantley loves the one with balls, obviously), Little People cars (Holden's favorite), veggie straws (always a delicious snack), and Laffy Taffy (my fave).  Brantley was pleasantly surprised about receiving a present in the mail and was super excited to tear into it!  So much so that I didn't have my camera ready and only snapped a few horrible iPhone photos.  Oops.  Bad blog-swapper right here!  Live and learn. :)

Thank you to Rosemary and her boys for the fun new toys!  We hope you are have enjoyed a family game night or two, complete with dirt and worm sundaes!

And for anyone interested, Elizabeth (and a few others) are now hosting a Mother's Day Mom Exchange.  Just for moms!  Because we deserve a gift every now and then, too!  Check out her blog ASAP if you're interested in signing up!  I think the deadline is tonight!  Thanks Elizabeth for helping to organize these fun swaps! 

A New Home for Us, A New Home for the Blog!

After blogging at www.craigandsarahsidesfamily.blogspot.com for nearly five years, I decided it was time to switch to a custom domain!  You can now find us at www.seeingallsides.com.  I feel so official. :)

You may or may not need to re-follow me on Bloglovin'!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

To Other Bloggers...Help!

Alright fellow bloggers, I've been doing this for nearly four years, but there are still so many questions I have unanswered!  (Or really, just two at the moment.)  And since you're probably my best resource, these questions are for you! 

1) When I comment on other blogs, the blogger will sometimes respond to me via email.  However, when I try to do the same, I don't know whether or not the commenter receives my response.  I've responded with questions, yet never seem to hear back, so I'm thinking no?  Is that something on my end, or theirs?  How do I fix it?

2) Is there a way to change blog settings so that if I just reply to their comment on the blog post, they are notified?  And vice versa when I comment on others' blogs?

If you can help, I'll be very grateful!  Thanks, friends!

Blogging

Blogs.  These days, everyone and their dogs have one.  (Except my close friends.  Not enough of them have blogs.  Hint hint, friends.)

I love blogging.  I love documenting my life.  I've always thought of my blog as part diary, part scrapbook.  And I love looking back on old posts and reminiscing.

I also love blog-following!  Friends, family, acquaintances, and even strangers - the blogging world is a lot of fun!  After all, it is where I learned to do all kinds of things from making diaper totes to making first birthday invites to making some darn good meals. Where would I be today without the world of blogging?

But...as with all things, blogging can have it downfalls.  It seems blogging (as well as other forms of social media) is a way to brag about one's seemingly-perfect life.  And that part often annoys me.  I recently read an article that parallels this opinion.

Everyone’s life looks better on the internet than it does in real life. The Internet is partial truths—we get to decide what people see and what they don’t.

Soooo true!  It's so easy to blog about everything good.  It's fun to post photos of your perfect meals (guilty) and your perfect wardrobe (sometimes guilty) and your perfect life.

Side note: I love my life, but it's far from perfect. :)

So I'm here today to remind myself of why I blog.  I don't do it to pretend my life is perfect.  I don't do it to show off.  I don't even care about how many followers I have.  I don't have sponsors.  And I definitely don't do giveaways.  I don't blog for anyone else.  I blog for myself.  I blog so that I can remember the little details of my everyday, semi-exciting, but mostly-boring life.

Does that mean I'm going to stop posting recipes?  DIY projects?  Heck no!  I love sharing my life with anyone that cares.  But please remember - my life is not perfect, and I will never pretend it is.  I'm not a perfect wife.  Not a perfect mom.  Not a perfect housekeeper.  Not a perfect teacher.  Not even a perfect friend.  So if you're looking for perfection, you came to the wrong place.  I don't blog to be perfect.  I blog to remember.

I recently watched this video as part of a leadership team for my school.  And it really hit home.  This is why I blog.  Why do you blog?

Snow Day

It's been nearly two years since our last one.  The Blizzard of Oz, if I remember correctly.  But these two wonderful words are what I woke up to this morning: no school.  A definite perk of being a teacher!

Funny, I don't mind waking up at 5:16 when this is the case.  Any other day I would be POed because it means my alarm will go off in a mere four minutes.  But not this morning!  Oh, happy snow day.  Of course, I was too excited to go back to sleep.  I may have fallen asleep for 15 more minutes before getting up at 6 to feed the B-Man. 

I had high hopes of catching up on blogging on my snow day.  I'm so far behind it's not even funny.  Christmas with my fam, graduation, B's 5-month post (yes, 5 months as in two full weeks ago), among others.  But it's almost 2:00 and none of that has happened.  Instead, I'm still in my pajamas and glasses, hanging with the babe, and enjoying lots of snuggle time.  And I'm perfectly fine with that. 

I may get around to blogging.  Or I may not.  Until then, stay warm and happy snow day!

 

I Believe In...

Lately, I've stumbled across some random and fun blogs.  A few fashion blogs.  Some DIYer blogs.  Some other new mommy blogs.  You name it.  I really enjoy following these blogs, despite not knowing or never having met the authors.  I guess that's what blogging's all about though, right?  Anyway, the author of this blog, Living in Yellow, recently did a post called "I Believe In..."  It was so fun to read, so I thought I'd do the same.  So, here goes...

I believe in happiness.  So much so that I have the following tattoo...

I believe in splurging on Starbucks every Friday.

  I believe in true love.

I believe true love can be found on "The Bachelor". :)

I believe in always being the bigger person.

I believe in going on yearly, family vacations.
{Next summer = Florida!}

I believe everything happens for a reason.

I believe in buying inexpensive clothes, and lots of them.
{Thank you Target, F21, and Old Navy.}

I believe Hawaii is the most beautiful place I've ever been.

I believe my baby's smile is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.  

I believe it's perfectly okay to steal copy others' creative ideas.
{Hence, this blog post and the majority of my DIY projects.}

I believe in the power of prayer.

I believe in taking photos to document life.  Lots and lots and lots of them.

I believe it's okay to scream and run and cry if there's a spider.  And I believe in making someone kill it for you.  Yes...even if you're 29 years old.

I believe in putting clothes on my dog, despite the hubs' disapproval.
{Look at this guy's wardrobe!}

I believe it's okay to never curse.  Especially the F word.

I believe in enjoying food and not worrying about every little pound or calorie.  After all, what's the point of life if you can't enjoy it?

I believe in finding a husband that makes you laugh.

I believe in taking mental health days.
{Learned this from my very first principal and the guy that hired me five years ago.}

I believe in BLACK and GOLD.

I believe in being girly.

I believe a hair appointment is one way to make yourself feel a million times better.
{Speaking of, I need one.  Have you seen my roots??}

I believe in miracles.

My sweet miracle

I believe in drinking beer over a nice glass of wine.  Nine times out of ten anyway.

One of my fave kinds.

I believe in always being optimistic.  Things could always be worse.
{Random fact: I was voted most optimistic female in my senior class in two separate polls, one by peers, the other by teachers!}

I believe it's okay to decorate for Christmas as early as November 1.
{Only one month to go!!}

I believe pretty girls can be good at math.

I believe in my students.

I believe in using proper grammer when texting.  And spelling words correctly: tonight vs. 2nite.
{This is a major pet peeve of mine.}

And along those same lines, I believe in knowing the difference between words like their, there, and they're.  It doesn't take a college degree...get it right.

I believe in seeing the best in people.  And always giving them the benefit of the doubt.

I believe in treating dogs like humans.  And allowing them to sleep in bed with you.

I believe a clean house makes you feel organized, put together, and on top of things.

I believe being early is the only way to be.

I believe there is always time for things you enjoy.  For me, that is "The Bachelor".

And finally, I believe more of my friends should start blogs.  It's fun.  I promise!
{Hint hint}

Now it's your turn!  What do you believe?