not this cute anymore!I hate writing THESE kind of posts. I really do. But let's get it over with....
#1-- BLURB has updated their software and it's NOW compatible with Blogger! You can finally upload your blog into a book! I am really so happy about this... because even though I figured out an easy way to do it, I didn't want to do everyone else's! Selfish I know, but I have plenty of things to occupy my time. Having said that, my computer skillz quadrupled in the past two months. I am fluent in computer code and have cool tricks to upload blogs (like uploading certain posts comments or doing a book just on one LABEL.. meaning I can easily make a book out of every post that mentions Zack, etc. I will probably get around to making a book for each of my boys.. no more scrappy, cute-tsy stuff. Hard bound is so much better!) Blurb is great software, even though I have questioned their computer programmers several times. Seriously, if a stay at home mom with no computer training whatsoever could figure out the glitch, what is their deal? But someone has come to save the day! Blurb is relatively user-friendly and it's very cost effective. To sum things up, if your current version of BLURB software isn't uploading your blog, then update it... Happy book making!
#2-- Staying on topic, my 2008 book is DONE and is currently being printed. I can't wait for it to arrive. It's 432 pages all together. It was about $90 to print... not bad considering there were over 1500 pictures for the year. When it arrives (and when I get around to it) I will post pictures with my favorite things about the book (like scanning in my Christmas cards from friends and family and adding them to my Holiday section.. ) I am very happy (and relieved) that it's finished.
#3-- I learned several lessons while composing my book. Most importantly is that I really don't care about the comments on my blog. Shocker, I know, especially after giving so many scoldings in the past... but the truth is, I DON'T blog to get feedback. I DO blog to document and keep record of the things going on in my life/home. The only comments that were published in my 2008 book were from the memory post and a couple from the kids' grandparents (including our adopted grandma.) The hundreds of other comments never get documented.. So why spend time writing/reading them when they don't matter in the long run? Entertaining purposes and keeping in touch is a wonderful benefit of blogging.. but comments seem to be a bother, and I am all about eliminating the unnecessary. If you want to "talk" to me, send me an email. This way, those who feel like keeping in touch with me will... and those who don't aren't the ones commenting in the first place.
#4. Am I crazy to close comments? Probably. But the blogging world is a complex one. Comments can make the blogging world awkward and I hate that it ruins such a good thing. I have fully embraced the fact that I can't force people to introduce themselves and therefore, I will stop being so personal. It doesn't mean I am going to stop blogging, but it does mean that the majority of my posts are going on a private blog.. Don't worry, the best of the best will get posted here.. the other stuff isn't going to make it.
#5. And now that I am limiting WHAT I post on my blog, I have opened up FULL content of my posts on google reader. I know I keep going back and forth with this... but I feel like it's another way to save much needed mommy time. If you are wondering HOW to change your feed content (meaning the amount of info others can read when they get an update if you've posted something new) it's under Settings/SITE FEED. If you chose "short" only 250 words will be sent to Google Reader. If you do "full" others will be allowed to read the entire post (and see pictures and links) in the particular site feed. If you don't know what I am talking about, you need to sign up for Google Reader.. It really helps me limit my time on the computer..
#6. Sometimes I write merely for discussion... so obviously when I post something to ask your opinion, comments will be opened. Blogging CAN BE a great way to "discuss amongst ourselves"-- but there is a time and place for feedback.. and it'll be obvious when I want it. The thing is, not a single "discussion post" made the cut into my family archive/blog book. I just don't think that my grandkids will care who I voted for on American Idol or what my friends thought about my decorating dilemmas.
#7. Speaking of important/shallow discussion topics that will not make it into my book at the end of the year, I just have to ask.... Who is watching the Bachelor and what do you think about the final four? To me, this seems like an obvious answer, but maybe they are setting me up. Honestly, it CANNOT be anyone else but Jillian. If she isn't the last one standing, I swear to you, I will never watch the show again. I am so happy that Steph was voted off this week. She was a sweetheart and I am sure she will find a great guy... but she looked too much like an ostrich and sounded like Mother Teresa. Melissa is cute, but isn't going to last because she scrunches her nose too often. And don't get me started on Molly. I seriously HATE Molly. I don't know why I let a nice girl on TV get under my skin like Molly does, but I literally fast forward the show every time she talks. So, back to Jillian. She is confident, smart, beautiful, honest, and so darling. The only concern I have with her being the last one is that Jason might not measure up. She is a class act, in every way except for the fact that she is on the Bachelor in the first place. Seriously, girls are crazy to do that to themselves... and I am sleazy for watching it.
#8 If I seem distant or impersonal, it's because I am trying to be. We're still dealing with a lot at home, but we're tough and we're aware that life isn't always hunky-dory. We ARE counting our blessings and feeling grateful that our schedules are busy.. We seriously have lots to occupy our time.. birthday parties, visitors every weekend, freezer meals up the wazoo, and the biggest Valentine party we've thrown yet! If you're in the Coronado Ward, clear your calendar's for V-day. It's gonna be wild! Call me if you want to help... we need you!
#9 If you're interested in throwing Valentine's Party of your own, let me know. I will email you the outline games, etc. Just leave a comment with your email address and I will load you up. I explained it in better detail last year on THIS POST. I just wanted to let the newcomers know that the offer is still good. It's a great month to spread a little LOVE.
#10 Several people have asked if you can link my blog to yours, the answer is always YES. I take it as a compliment and never want to shun anyone away! Please link your blog to ajshumway and NOT my fake "going private" blog at shumwaygang because that blog is now inactive... (oh the confusion!) Thank you for reading and please don't feel scared to contact me. I sincerely apologize for the "comment lectures" in the past. I was feeling vulnerable and it was my fault for being so open and personal. Obviously, I love blogging and don't want to stop any time soon, but I'm constantly trying to figure out a balance in this vast blogging universe.. blogging is great, friendships are better, but spending quality time with my kids is most important. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Take care and please come back!
Janet
#1-- BLURB has updated their software and it's NOW compatible with Blogger! You can finally upload your blog into a book! I am really so happy about this... because even though I figured out an easy way to do it, I didn't want to do everyone else's! Selfish I know, but I have plenty of things to occupy my time. Having said that, my computer skillz quadrupled in the past two months. I am fluent in computer code and have cool tricks to upload blogs (like uploading certain posts comments or doing a book just on one LABEL.. meaning I can easily make a book out of every post that mentions Zack, etc. I will probably get around to making a book for each of my boys.. no more scrappy, cute-tsy stuff. Hard bound is so much better!) Blurb is great software, even though I have questioned their computer programmers several times. Seriously, if a stay at home mom with no computer training whatsoever could figure out the glitch, what is their deal? But someone has come to save the day! Blurb is relatively user-friendly and it's very cost effective. To sum things up, if your current version of BLURB software isn't uploading your blog, then update it... Happy book making!
#2-- Staying on topic, my 2008 book is DONE and is currently being printed. I can't wait for it to arrive. It's 432 pages all together. It was about $90 to print... not bad considering there were over 1500 pictures for the year. When it arrives (and when I get around to it) I will post pictures with my favorite things about the book (like scanning in my Christmas cards from friends and family and adding them to my Holiday section.. ) I am very happy (and relieved) that it's finished.
#3-- I learned several lessons while composing my book. Most importantly is that I really don't care about the comments on my blog. Shocker, I know, especially after giving so many scoldings in the past... but the truth is, I DON'T blog to get feedback. I DO blog to document and keep record of the things going on in my life/home. The only comments that were published in my 2008 book were from the memory post and a couple from the kids' grandparents (including our adopted grandma.) The hundreds of other comments never get documented.. So why spend time writing/reading them when they don't matter in the long run? Entertaining purposes and keeping in touch is a wonderful benefit of blogging.. but comments seem to be a bother, and I am all about eliminating the unnecessary. If you want to "talk" to me, send me an email. This way, those who feel like keeping in touch with me will... and those who don't aren't the ones commenting in the first place.
#4. Am I crazy to close comments? Probably. But the blogging world is a complex one. Comments can make the blogging world awkward and I hate that it ruins such a good thing. I have fully embraced the fact that I can't force people to introduce themselves and therefore, I will stop being so personal. It doesn't mean I am going to stop blogging, but it does mean that the majority of my posts are going on a private blog.. Don't worry, the best of the best will get posted here.. the other stuff isn't going to make it.
#5. And now that I am limiting WHAT I post on my blog, I have opened up FULL content of my posts on google reader. I know I keep going back and forth with this... but I feel like it's another way to save much needed mommy time. If you are wondering HOW to change your feed content (meaning the amount of info others can read when they get an update if you've posted something new) it's under Settings/SITE FEED. If you chose "short" only 250 words will be sent to Google Reader. If you do "full" others will be allowed to read the entire post (and see pictures and links) in the particular site feed. If you don't know what I am talking about, you need to sign up for Google Reader.. It really helps me limit my time on the computer..
#6. Sometimes I write merely for discussion... so obviously when I post something to ask your opinion, comments will be opened. Blogging CAN BE a great way to "discuss amongst ourselves"-- but there is a time and place for feedback.. and it'll be obvious when I want it. The thing is, not a single "discussion post" made the cut into my family archive/blog book. I just don't think that my grandkids will care who I voted for on American Idol or what my friends thought about my decorating dilemmas.
#7. Speaking of important/shallow discussion topics that will not make it into my book at the end of the year, I just have to ask.... Who is watching the Bachelor and what do you think about the final four? To me, this seems like an obvious answer, but maybe they are setting me up. Honestly, it CANNOT be anyone else but Jillian. If she isn't the last one standing, I swear to you, I will never watch the show again. I am so happy that Steph was voted off this week. She was a sweetheart and I am sure she will find a great guy... but she looked too much like an ostrich and sounded like Mother Teresa. Melissa is cute, but isn't going to last because she scrunches her nose too often. And don't get me started on Molly. I seriously HATE Molly. I don't know why I let a nice girl on TV get under my skin like Molly does, but I literally fast forward the show every time she talks. So, back to Jillian. She is confident, smart, beautiful, honest, and so darling. The only concern I have with her being the last one is that Jason might not measure up. She is a class act, in every way except for the fact that she is on the Bachelor in the first place. Seriously, girls are crazy to do that to themselves... and I am sleazy for watching it.
#8 If I seem distant or impersonal, it's because I am trying to be. We're still dealing with a lot at home, but we're tough and we're aware that life isn't always hunky-dory. We ARE counting our blessings and feeling grateful that our schedules are busy.. We seriously have lots to occupy our time.. birthday parties, visitors every weekend, freezer meals up the wazoo, and the biggest Valentine party we've thrown yet! If you're in the Coronado Ward, clear your calendar's for V-day. It's gonna be wild! Call me if you want to help... we need you!
#9 If you're interested in throwing Valentine's Party of your own, let me know. I will email you the outline games, etc. Just leave a comment with your email address and I will load you up. I explained it in better detail last year on THIS POST. I just wanted to let the newcomers know that the offer is still good. It's a great month to spread a little LOVE.
#10 Several people have asked if you can link my blog to yours, the answer is always YES. I take it as a compliment and never want to shun anyone away! Please link your blog to ajshumway and NOT my fake "going private" blog at shumwaygang because that blog is now inactive... (oh the confusion!) Thank you for reading and please don't feel scared to contact me. I sincerely apologize for the "comment lectures" in the past. I was feeling vulnerable and it was my fault for being so open and personal. Obviously, I love blogging and don't want to stop any time soon, but I'm constantly trying to figure out a balance in this vast blogging universe.. blogging is great, friendships are better, but spending quality time with my kids is most important. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Take care and please come back!
Janet
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