What is the name of your blog and how did you come up with it?
Harvesting Kale. I'm hoping the play on words is pretty obvious. Here's a hint - this blog has nothing to do with growing the leafy green vegetable and everything to do with a kid who happens to share the namesake of a leafy green vegetable.
Connecting with other mom's. I don't have many friends with kids that live close to us, but I've been able to build some really meaningful friendships online through blogging. Some of which I've been able to take "offline," like with Lisa of Love3 and Meg of Two Steps Forward. Which means we can have "blogfamous*" play-dates.
Blogging is also a creative outlet for me. I enjoy writing and photography and design and playing around with photoshop. It's a nice change from 9-5.
What are your 2 favourite posts you've written?
This is a tough one. I don't know if these are my absolute, without a doubt favourites, but they're definitely up there -
Kale's birth story. Because basically it's the most amazing story I've ever had the privilege of telling (and in first person! Bonus!).
The best weekend (ever). While I was flipping through my posts, trying to find a favourite, this one popped up and made me smile so much. Not just because there is an incredibly adorable picture of Kale with no pants on wearing rain boots, but because it reminds me of exactly why I started this blog - to capture the amazing and the beautiful in my family's simplest moments.
What is something you'd want to tell someone just starting out in the blog world?
People blog for different reasons and those reasons evolve and change over time. Being aware of this can save you a lot of feelings of resentment, judgement, and inadequacy. Take time to reflect on the reasons you blog. Allow yourself to explore. Figure out what you like about other blogs and let it inspire you. No one is exactly how they are on their blog.
Biggest blogging learning experience you've had?
This is something I'm still learning - something I'm always trying to come to terms with in the back of my mind. There are three people that I have been close with in the past (two of whom I would have considered among my best friends) that have chosen not to have me in their life anymore. Before you go on thinking that I must be a horrible person, I should note that the reasons are all different and complex. Ok - one thinks I'm a horrible person (I'm not, I swear!).
What I'm learning, or learning to accept, is that despite this - they still have access to a big part of my life through this blog. Even though they've shut me out of theirs, this blog still welcomes them into mine. And I struggle with the unfairness of the situation.
Heavy stuff, right? Moving on...
Give us three blogs we NEED to be following that you love.
I'm a fan of people who blog the every day. Blogs that aren't drowning in giveaways and sponsor showcases. Blogs that don't show post after post of DIY's and pinterest projects (reminding me of all the time I don't have). I like blogs that are simple, with lots of white space. I like when bloggers post pictures that show messy living rooms and kids with mismatched outfits. And yes, I like pretty blogs. With pretty pictures (Documenting Delight), and pretty words (E Tells Tales), and pretty perfect looking lives (Rockstar Diaries). I like those too. But they're not my favourite. Here are three that are:
Ot and Et.
Saige Wisdom.
The Stork and the Beanstalk.
wow! thank you! reading this post with a brownie in my hand has been the best midnight treat i've had in a really long time! i'm so glad we found each other through the lovely (awesome, amazing!) blog world <3 i think you're rad! xoxoxoxo
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I was able to give you a midnight treat.
DeleteWait.
Umm...you know what I mean.
I have been thinking of doing this - I saw it pop up a few times in my reader yesterday. Maybe I'll pull a post together. MAYBE. I'm lazy.
ReplyDeleteI should check out this linkup for the fun of it! Looks like you had a good time putting this together. I had a fun time reading it! =)
ReplyDeleteummm is that my blog name linked up and bolded?! holla! thanks giiiirlfriend - I'm calling you that cause I know us and our kids would be besties if we lived in the same neighbourhood.
ReplyDeleteI guess I should put up some new material... I've been 6 away from 300 followers for like 3 months, I may have plateaued.
ANYWAYS you da best. I wuv you.
P.S. - I'm still trying to wrap my head around why some people would shut you out of their lives when I'd do anything to have you in mine. I think it may have something to do with your awesome parenting, mad writing skillz and toddler lunches.
ReplyDeleteBahahaha - yeah, my toddler lunch skills totally create enemies.
DeleteI loved your specifications of Kale vs. kale :) Also, fantastic advice to new bloggers--I keep trying to remind myself of such things, and it's good to have someone else put it in words!
ReplyDeletelove your kale/kale comparison! what a good boy eating so healthy! adorable little guy you have there!
ReplyDeletethis was good. completely with you on your advice for new bloggers. everyone blogs for different reasons and no one is exactly how they are on their blog as they are in real life. i've seen a few wars over different opinions on why one should blog and/or putting down people that blog for different reasons than one's own. ridiculousness. just not necessary. i honestly read blogs because i genuinely love them.. without criticism or envy. and never comparing my blog to anyone else's. no point.
ReplyDeletemeeting people and forming relationships used to be up there on my list for blogging as well... even though in real life i am quite shy and anti-social. and slowly the real me took over and the need to just express myself and journal has taken over my blog and i've never looked back. i do regret not posting as many photos of seba as i used to (especially because Stefano's entire family lives in Italy and they look forward to those posts). I also miss doing food/recipe posts... But right now it's just not there, you know? I just follow what I feel and blog for me right now. It's almost selfish I guess... and so I'm glad we met and became friends before the hermit psycho blabber took over my little space on the web.
I also cannot imagine anyone shutting you out of their life. Adults? Weird. But I can totally imagine how odd it would feel to know that they can get updates on your life via your blog. I sometimes think about that... people that used to be in my life reading my blog and my deepest inner thoughts.. then i snap into reality and realize they probably don't give a shit about me. bwahahaha.