OT - The Blogging Thread

[shanendoah]

I'm prepping posts to go up over the weekend so that I don't have to think about it, and thought I'd check in with everyone and to see how it's going with ya'll and give an update.

After a couple amazing months, the traffic on my main blog is falling. That's okay with me. I'm pretty certain that some of the hits were from trolling type sites. I'm guessing I'm now settling in to about where my regular readership will be, with 500 views a month instead of 1,000.
Unless I think of a new way to drive traffic to it, it will stay where it is.

My budget-centric blog is taking off and already has more views than my pet-centric blog. I'm going to guess that's from all of you (so thank you). Right now, I'm doing a combo of small personal type looks at finances but also some bigger issue type things, as well.

DH complained the other day that he didn't realize I had 4 different blogs, and that I need to find a way to have something that gathers them all so that he only has to check one page. I think my LiveJournal may be able to do that, but I don't know if that's the way I want to go.

I am constantly being inspired by all of you! I think in August I'm going to document everything we buy out of the grocery budget on my budget blog, just to see what it really looks like.

Of course, thanks mostly to azmom, but also mrslynch I keep thinking I want a place to talk about the meals we make. DH is an amazing cook, but we also have some simple fall back recipes.
Because my budget blog is called Baking the Budget, I may try to start looking at food the way azmom does and call out our meals by price. Not really certain though. I don't have the energy for another blog, so I'll have to see what I can come up with that fits in with the vision I currently have for all of my projects.

Gin: I know you mentioned elsewhere that you had your best month ever for viewership on your blog, so I want to say CONGRATS for that.

[mizbear]

I can't figure out how to add everyone else's blogs to my following thing on my blog... grrr

[Deleted]

Thanks Shan! ;D

[Deleted]

Jun 10, 2011 17:21:46 GMT -5 bluecluessubtlety said:

Jun 3, 2011 17:34:43 GMT -5 ambellamy said:

I have been blogging for a really long time... few years in fact. I started out at an older domain and I've moved to:

www.southcountygirl.blogspot.com

I blog about my finances, a bit about my personal life and planning... and what I feel is relevant.

There's a link in my signature.

I started reading your blog. I really enjoy it. But wow, you're honest. Are any of your co-workers / friends / family aware of the blog?

My friends and family are. What makes you say "But wow, you're honest. "?

[mizbear]

Is there anyway to do 2 different blogs under your blogger address or do you have to do a different address for each blog?

miz bear's kitchen is under bearlygettinby but I kind of wanted that as an umbrella

[shanendoah]

You can link to different blogs from mizbear's kitchen.
Its possible you can use blogger to aggregate blogs, but I'm not sure. I actually have to check in to an aggregater myself, as DH wants to follow all my blogs but doesn't want to have to remember 4 addys

[bluecluessubtlety]

Jul 8, 2011 19:00:06 GMT -5 @gin1984 said:

Jun 10, 2011 17:21:46 GMT -5 bluecluessubtlety said:

I started reading your blog. I really enjoy it. But wow, you're honest. Are any of your co-workers / friends / family aware of the blog?

My friends and family are. What makes you say "But wow, you're honest. "?

She says things about work and family that I wouldn't necessarily put on the web. I'm very honest and say things to people's faces; they know how I think. But SCG is extremely blunt and puts everything out there. I really enjoy it though.

[Deleted]

Can you me an example? My mom has read it and not complained, so maybe I missed something. I have not put certain thing on there because of knowing my mom would be upset. Like my frustration with her and my MIL and their lack of saving for retirement.

[shanendoah]

gin: bluesclues is talking about southcountrygirl's blog, not yours. I think there was a confusion in how the original posts went up :-p
I read both of your blogs, and no, you, gin, do not put anything up that would upset your friends and family, but SCG on the other hand...

[azmom]

Shannen: Thanks for the mention in your blog! I am still trying to get my blog figured out. I like having the four sub topics because that is what I tend to write about the most but not enough of one subject to separate the blogs. You know? It's not like I am getting tons of hits a day-I average about 8 a day. Still I should reach 1,000 views in four months so I happy about that. Posting the way I do with food, etc keeps me accountable and that is why I break it out that way. I still have more ideas than I have time for and plenty post never get done because they become irrelevant as time goes.

I just started a Twitter account under anthrhousewife and will see what happens. I also obviously get more hits if I post a link on my personal facebook account (I only do that when it is something like a birthday or pics so I do not have to repost) and when I mention here that I have a new update that is somewhat money related, again so I don't have to post twice.

Gin: I too enjoy your blog. Very informative and easy to follow!

[Deleted]

Shan: Thanks, that makes more sense. I was kinda confused.
Azmom: Thanks! From a parent perspective is there anything you would want to see about college?

[bluecluessubtlety]

Jul 18, 2011 10:10:20 GMT -5 shanendoah said:

gin: bluesclues is talking about southcountrygirl's blog, not yours. I think there was a confusion in how the original posts went up :-p
I read both of your blogs, and no, you, gin, do not put anything up that would upset your friends and family, but SCG on the other hand...

Yes.

[azmom]

Gin: I have been thinking about your question for a few days now and as a parent who really doesn't know the ins and out of college, aside from saving for it, I don't have anything to base what I would like to see from a parents perspective. My DSS will be starting his second year at our state university but his mom is the one who has dealt with all of that stuff. (Not that we didn't want to be involved it just is what it is). He receives a full academic scholarship and lives with her about 15 minutes max away from campus. DH never went to college and I went to a community college on my own dime, cash-no loans. With three other kids to raise I have just been reading and learning as much as I can as we go. We have friends with kids a few years older and I just try and stay a step ahead of where I need to be. I haven't gone through and read all of your post but maybe something geared toward what to do in high school to prepare for scholarships and application process. Is it true your Junior year's grades are used to base some/most scholarships. I think right now that is where my focus is. Then the info you have going on is great and informative. (Even for me as I start the going back to school process for myself)

Today is my 4 month blog anniversary and I just hit my 1,000 view mark! I know it is not much in comparison but it was a goal of mine and I reached it.

I have been thinking about the YAKEZIE challenge but I do not know if I consider my blog a financial blog. I know lately I have been posting a lot to do with budgeting but that is just because that is what is going on right now. I tend to deal with the entire picture of being a housewife and budgeting is BIG part of that but coming up here will be a bunch of juggling school/extra curricular activities, my race schedule and training, being a wife, taking a leadership role at church, the emotional side of being me and how being motherless is at the root of many of my issues, parenting and keeping the spark with my DH. I thought about separating it but I like to keep it like it is to give a whole picture of who I am, even though one day I could be talking about budgeting for school and the next day I am talking about my dd playing softball! I think the reason I have been able to keep my post consistent is because it is true to my life.

Shannen: I'm still trying to figure out my meal planning portion. I like adding the cost of the meal but sometimes it is just too much for me and I don't have the time. Other times I don't really know because I am cooking out of the pantry and don't remember exactly what I paid for things. AND we tend to have the same meal in spurts so posting a picture of tacos every week just seems silly to me. I'm working on revamping that portion as we speak but I love reading other blogs on meal planning and the cost and pictures are a bonus treat for me!

**Sorry if this post is a bit jumbled but I had two cups of coffee today!!**

[Deleted]

Jul 25, 2011 16:42:09 GMT -5 azmom said:

Gin: I have been thinking about your question for a few days now and as a parent who really doesn't know the ins and out of college, aside from saving for it, I don't have anything to base what I would like to see from a parents perspective. My DSS will be starting his second year at our state university but his mom is the one who has dealt with all of that stuff. (Not that we didn't want to be involved it just is what it is). He receives a full academic scholarship and lives with her about 15 minutes max away from campus. DH never went to college and I went to a community college on my own dime, cash-no loans. With three other kids to raise I have just been reading and learning as much as I can as we go. We have friends with kids a few years older and I just try and stay a step ahead of where I need to be. I haven't gone through and read all of your post but maybe something geared toward what to do in high school to prepare for scholarships and application process. Is it true your Junior year's grades are used to base some/most scholarships. I think right now that is where my focus is. Then the info you have going on is great and informative. (Even for me as I start the going back to school process for myself)

Today is my 4 month blog anniversary and I just hit my 1,000 view mark! I know it is not much in comparison but it was a goal of mine and I reached it.

**Sorry if this post is a bit jumbled but I had two cups of coffee today!!**

Sort of, your scholarships/grant money comes from mostly sophomore and junior year. There are some that use the entire school GPA but since you apply for scholarships often during the summer after junior year they look closest at junior year.

[shanendoah]

azmom: Yakezie is for financial and lifestyle blogs. I'm pretty certain that yours would fall under lifestyle.
And I get what you mean about the cost of meals. I posted about our meals this last weekend, and when DH makes waffles - milk, butter, flour, eggs, sugar and vanilla extract...
We buy vanilla like once every 2 years if that. Some things simply are. I know they're cheaper than if we'd bought waffles already made, and I'll just be good with that.

And congratulations on you 1,000 view!