Holy crap that’s old!

30 didn’t seem old.

35 does.

I’ve been doing some reflecting as of late and trying to figure out exactly why I do this. And by “this”, I mean “blog”. A reader (shout out to Meghan) emailed me and asked that very question a month or so ago. (She had to teach a class about it at church…she’s not just nosey!)

Here’s part of my response:

(Disclaimer: A few parts are Mormon-y. While I’ve never hidden the fact that I’m a Mormon, I try to keep my faith separate from my blog, since it doesn’t really have anything to do with the subject matter. And it’s very personal. It is, however, a huge part of who I am and I think it’s relevant for this post. * = Mormon term.)

Why do I blog? It’s not for the money — I’ve never made a cent. I do occasionally get free stuff, and that’s fun, but it’s not why I do it. You know how a generation ago all the moms were outside on their front porches watching their kids play in the street? I think that blogging is this generation’s “front porch”. For a number of reasons (safety, moms having to work, more demands on our time, life being less simple), that phenomenon and the sense of community it created are gone. I get that “community” feeling from blogging. And, it works with my life. I have 4 kids, one of which has Asperger’s and Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). I’m the Camp Director* and in the Primary Presidency*. My husband is the Elders Quorum President*. Life is crazy. Blogging can happen at 10pm or 5am. I don’t think my neighbors want to hear from me at those hours.

I also got more help and information in one random off topic post about my son having SPD than I did in months of talking to the school district and trying to get evaluations. The blogging community is giving. They love to share and support one another. I love having a group like that I can go to for support. There’s also a huge range of life experiences out there that I can draw from when I have a question.

I think that blogging has also helped me develop talents. It’s definitely forced me to be more creative. I’ve tried a lot of new things and stepped outside of my comfort zone. (Dude! I was on TV! And I didn’t even freak out or curse!) My sewing has improved. My photography has improved. My writing? Not so much. LOL! I am who I am, though, and the greatest compliment I get is when I meet someone who reads my blog and they say “You’re EXACTLY the same in real life!”

Mormon-y part alert:

Remember that talk President Uchtdorf gave in the General Women’s meeting a few years back? This one….the part subtitled “The Work of Creation”, specifically. We DO need to create.

And I’ve created a blog.

*************

Do I know where this blog is headed?

Nope. I still have no idea.

I hope you’ll stick around for the ride.

Gratuitous picture to make this post cuter:

Happy first birthday yesterday to my freaking adorable niece!

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Since I’m SERIOUSLY behind on emails right now (as in weeks), I’m going to answer some of the questions I’ve gotten most often.

Where is this Pottery Barn damaged goods outlet you speak of?

It’s on 3505 W and 3500 S in West Valley City. Be prepared for A LOT of crap, but when you score? You score big.

I got this Spiderman backpack for Campbell for $4. It was monogrammed, but a little careful patience with the seam ripper and you can’t even tell.

What color is that paint? It looks yellow on my screen!

It’s Toasted Pumpkin by Valspar and I got it at Lowe’s. It’s most definitely orange. The lighting in my room may have been weird yesterday or maybe your monitor settings are different from mine or something.

Where’d your search box go?

It wasn’t working and from what I found on the web, Google was aware of the problem. There was no fix planned at that time. I should probably check and see if that’s happened yet. Or, does anyone know of another good search widget/gadget/whatever?

Where did the giveaway listing go?

I got a lot of requests when it was new, but then it kind of fizzled out. And it when it was active it was way more work than I thought it was going to be. If you’re looking for a good list of bloggy giveaways, Michelle over at Someday Crafts hosts one every Thursday.

What is the font called in your header? Is that your handwriting?

I have no idea. Kim at 733 did my redesign and she picked it all. It is most definitely not my handwriting. I write like a doctor.

Where did the buttons go?

They have their own page now. If you look on the left under “Connect With Me!” next to the Facebook and Twitter and subscription options, you’ll see a button. Click on it. I dare you. Or, just go here.

Anything else you’d like answered? Leave it in the comments or shoot me an email!

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if I’m ordering shoes from Piper Lime because we actually need them or if it’s really because the inside of the box makes me so dang happy.

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