Odd Blog Traffic

I woke up a few days ago and did my morning computer routine- email, Facebook, Blogger. Now, I average about 20 views a day on this blog, respectable for my size blog, and because I think my mom is only about 10 of those views. But that day I woke up at by 9 am I already had 40! I checked out the traffic sources to discover that 22 different people Googled "Chucky Real Life Twin" and found my blog.

The weirdest part is not that they found my blog: but that 22 different people searched those terms and instead of clicking the actual scary Chucky twins which clearly they were looking for,  they were sidetracked by MY blog.

Welcome Chucky Enthusiasts! This is not the blog you're looking for.

Simply 14 in 2012

I'm usually not one for New Year's Resolutions. I think that if you want to change something in your life you shouldn't wait for a particular day to do it.  But this resolution just happened to come to pass around New Years- Yay happy accidents!

My resolution is to this blog. it deserves a bit more of my time and effort- if you've noticed after my blog-a-day in October I've relapsed into hardly blogging and when I do it's just quick and small posts. I want this blog not only to track my family's history but be entertaining! I want to share products with my friends, and sell my art on here too. (I know, I've been saying that for what? two years??)

After our move to Big City, I felt like I needed something, something that wasn't a "wife" thing or a "mom" thing. Something that was completely mine to do everyday. I looked into part-time jobs from everything to day-care helper to photographer assistant- even sent a resume to one or two. I thought about taking an online course in art or writing. I meditated and prayed about all the choices, and discussed at length with Jake what I should do. A few days before Christmas (which by the way, DOES have it's own whole post coming up, promise!) I felt that I already had "my thing". This blog! This blog helped us out during that two week stretch-your-dollar time, it's been a way to for me to organize my thoughts, to showcase my art/crafts, to remember cute things Chucky Sue does, to share my life with the world of the internet. So my resolution is to blog more and blog better. I'm also focusing a lot more time on the "shop" part of the blog (yeah, there's been a shop button here the whole time folks!) and just providing higher quality content in general.

So here is what to look for on Simply 14 in 2012:

+well thought out and planned posts- this means less rambling, more concise descriptions of our family and our goings on. I assume the grandmothers are most happy about this.

+ better quality photographs. Yes, I will still post mostly cellphone photos cause dagnabit, that cellphone is far more convenient than Jake's point and shoot. But if I know something photographable is coming up- I will strive to take the point and shoot with us!

+ Jewelry LINE. I know it sounds so fancy to call it a line. I've actually spent quite a bit of time designing this line and can't wait to share it with you! I'm aiming to have the first phase available by the end of March, with a preview in February.

+ More product in the shop in general. I'm using Facebook's application called Payvment. It's great as a seller- but I want to know your thoughts as buyers- check out my store's current stock here.

+More Freebies/Printables, I want to create more just for the sake of creating and sharing it with you guys!

+Guest Posts. I have lots of blogging friends- all of them have interesting things to say and share. ALL of them are far more talented writers than myself, as well as more creative!

I hope all my plans work out- we all know how successful most New Year's Eve resolutions are. Here's to a GREAT 2012!

Clean Up Time!

You may have noticed some craziness going on if you read my blog from the direct URL.

I'e changed the layout, deleted a lot of personal information- changed the name of the blog itself! what's going on here??

Since my online consulting gig is gone until further notice, I'm trying to make up that money through my blog here.  To do that however, is to allow, nay, ENCOURAGE strangers to come to my blog and read about my family, my thoughts, reviews (like the one below) and what have you. Jake and I decided that to do that- we're removing any and all personal information- including our real names, locations etc. etc. <- that sentence was an example of that change. I'll have a "Who is Who" posted in the sidebar soon, so you will be able to follow along at home! (Edit: it's up in the left hand sidebar now, go enjoy!)

Now I have the daunting task of going through each and every one of my 200+ blog posts and changing the names, generalizing locations and removing some pictures (and boring posts. some of them were HORRIBLE)

and to my family: oh yes,you will just love the nicknames I've come up for you all. mwhahahaha!!

Journaling

In effort to keep my creativeness going, even when I don't have time between babies and jobs to sit down and do "real" art, I've started up a simple watercolor journal. Throughout the day I sketch something about that day, or an idea that floats into my head, and then after bedtime I give myself 5 minutes to watercolor it.

here are my past three days:

we've been planning our future

this was based off my entertainment center (and yes I know I'm missing the U!)

The Baby has been sick. ew.

Amateur Hour: Photography Lighting

Please tell me this is how all beginner photogs start off. :)

Jake walked into the kitchen (my makeshift studio) and started laughing at me. I was balancing my lamp in my lap, holding my camera in one hand and some earrings in the other. Eventually this little project will take-off soon and I  can afford real lights/filters/tripods!

Blog Customization

I've spent the better part of today learning how to make blogger layouts. (Hey, it's rainy out, don't judge =D ) My first successful one is currently online as my blog! I used a tutorial on cutestblogontheblock.com and a few online scrapbooking sites for the images and backgrounds. I'll definitely be posting a few more on here, and I'll gladly make ones for you guys if you want. (of course, it looks good on my screen, I have no clue if they'll work on different resolutions.
Edited:

Here are some other layouts I made today :)





I am hoping that the doctor will let us find out what we're having on tuesday, if not- we have to wait until after our vacation.
-Tracy

Blogging

I was asked to join a panel about Preserving Life's Memories for church. I'm supposed to talk for ten minutes about Blogging.


...Ten whole minutes. I love my church friends, but I stutter just talking to THEM. Imagine me mumbling, stumbling and stuttering for 10 minutes in front of people I don't know as well. :) It's gonna be an experience alright.

I love blogging. I could blog all day, but apparently I have to work and help provide for the family or something like that. I have a lot of blogs, each one on a different site. Each site offers different blogging styles to fit different needs. (Livejournal is GREAT for connecting with other bloggers, Blogger is not. Facebook is good for mass communication and photo-sharing, Myspace is good for emo music lyrics haha ) I blog for too many reasons to list here, and I have no idea how I'm going to be able to explain them to a room full of people.

I like how blogging (Specially on Livejournal and Blogger) appeals to both 90 year old ladies and 15 year old punk rockers and everyone in-between. You can completely customize your page as much or as little as you want. You could only post recipes if you want, or short stories, poems, or anything you could come up with.

If you could post here why you like or dislike blogs, that'd be awesome. I don't want to just teach my opinion!