What Goes On The Blog

Recently, a fellow-blogger asked me how I find balance between what I blog about and what I don't.  I did answer her, but thought it was a question worth discussing on my blog.  
The other day, I made a vlog about my answer.  Try not to laugh.  :)  And ignore the fact that I was too nervous to make eye-contact with the camera.  And also ignore that I fidget and play with a random ink-pen.  Alright...there are thousands of other things I could point out and apologize for, but I'm done.  Just watch the video if you want or skip it and come back another day.  :)  

How do you decide what to blog about & what to keep private?

Friday's Letters!

Honestly, I've been trying to stay away from participating in link ups lately, but I have a wide variety of topics I'd like to touch on, so why not put those thoughts into letter format?  Enjoy...and Happy Friday!  I hope only lucky thinks happen to you on this unlucky day.

Dear Mr. Robinson,

I have missed you so much this week.  Work has been crazy, I've been feeling lonely and down in the dumps, and you weren't around to sing "suck it" with me when the Psych commercial comes on tv.  Life just isn't the same when you are around.  I get lazy.  I eat Easter candy for dinner two nights in a row.  I don't get off the sofa.  I cry over everything and I'm terrified of something  bad happening that will make me a widow.  It's a little morbid, but it's a legitimate fear I have when we are apart.  Especially when you're traveling.  Just...come home safe to me today?  I love you too much to be without you, even if it's just for three days.  Sleeping with a body pillow just isn't the same as snuggling with the real thing.  Zombie agrees. 

      

Dear 99 Followers,

Seriously?  99 followers.  It baffles me.  You guys are amazing. Thanks for always reading, always commenting, and bless your hearts for finding me interesting or funny on occasion.  I love connecting with y'all, leaning on each other, and learning from each other.  I don't if people think we're crazy or not...I love the friendships I have in my life because of Blogger - even if my husband does think all of you are probably serial killers plotting my murder, haha.  

Dear Body,

Honestly?  I'm mad at you.  I eat a salad every day.  I gnaw on lettuce and carrots and veggies when I would obviously prefer to eat burgers, pizzas, pastas, etc.  I don't.  I refrain.  And you gain 4 pounds?  Why can't you just be one of those bodies that never gains weight?  Or why can't you just AT LEAST be a body that loses weight when it's treated right?  I give you foods that are GOOD for you.  Couldn't you just, return the favor and shed some weight?  In addition...I'm starting to see the first signs of aging in my face.  It breaks my heart... 

Dear Bloggers Who Let Their IRL Friends & Family Know They Blog & Bloggers Who Keep Their Blogs a Secret,

You may know that I keep my blog a secret from my family and IRL friends.  When I first started blogging, I didn't even tell my husband.  I guess it's been a secret because (1) I didn't really know how to tell people that I'd started blogging and (2) I didn't want people to think I was weird.  I'm starting to feel a little nervous because I have a feeling my family is about to start putting the pieces together.  My mom and sister recently joined Pinterest...and I've pinned things FROM my blog.  I'd hate for them to find my blog that way.  My sister somehow found me on Instagram, even though my name is "mynewwifelife."  I have several blog-friends who have turned into Facebook friends, and I keep waiting on someone to ask me who they are.  How did I become such GOOD friends (suddenly) with a girls from all over America? Not to mention the fact that I'm attending (and helping organize) a Blogger Meet-Up in Charlotte, NC.  It will be hard to explain that away to my family when Charlotte is such a random place for us to go for a 5K.  So...do you guys have any advice for me?  What should I do?  Keep it secret, delete my Pinterest account & maybe create ONE of my blog & ONE for personal life?  That's too complicated..maybe delete Pinterest all together?  

Another thing...I've been considering telling y'all my real name.  And you guys already know my last name...some of you know my first name.  A lot of y'all use your full names on your blog.  Have you ever had any problems?  So many questions...I'd appreciate any advice you guys have to offer!  

Dear God,

Thank you for all of Your tremendous blessings.  I am so undeserving, and Your love brings tears to my eyes - especially when something amazing happens.  Thank You for giving me such a wonderful husband to love me.  Please keep him safe today as he travels.  

So, go link up your letters with Ashley.  She actually responded to one of my comments the other day.  Even though she put on her blog that she can't keep up with responding to all of the comments.  So, yeah, hashtag ballin'!  Haha.  I kid.  Well, not really.  I did feel pretty cool for having the "biggest" blogger I follow respond.  Anyway, go link up your letters!  & think lucky thoughts...Happy Friday the 13th.  Oh...and give me some advice on the whole taking my blog "public" thing!    

Mr. Robinson's Opinion of Me Blogging

One of the cool things about marriage is discovering your spouse, no?  I love learning new things about my darling Mr. Robinson.  Every day, every task is an adventure & opportunity for growth.  I know it sounds mooshy and dorky, so let's cut to the chase.

Sometimes it can be difficult to learn something new about your spouse.  Sometimes you don't like what you learn.  And no, I'm not about to husband bash.  Haha.  This post is about something my husband doesn't like about me.   

My husband doesn't like that I blog. 

He thinks it is weird.

He thinks that all of us blogging ladies who e-mail back and forth and feel & act like we are FRIENDS, are dorks.

He thinks it is silly.

He thinks that if I meet any bloggers in real life, they will murder me. 

He thinks it's a waste of time.
He thinks that what is happening tomorrow (gotta come back to find out) is ridiculous.
When I call y'all my friends, he makes fun of me.
He refuses to follow my blog's Twitter account.
And don't get me started on what he thinks of me playing Draw Something with my blog friends, haha!

I think that blogging is fun, and a great way to document our life together! I think that those of you who I do correspond with regularly, are particularly awesome.  I know that there is a slight possibility that a serial killer could be among you, and I certainly hope that's not the case.  Do any of your husbands tend to feel uneasy about your blog or about your love of blogging?  

I want to say, specifically, that my husband would never tell me that I'm not "allowed" to blog.  We are independent enough to make our own choices.  But we do consult each other in all things.  He just thinks it's weird that I blog and picks on me a bit.    It kind of makes a little sad to think that the friendships I have with some of you are not regarded as "real" by some people.  So...talk to me about your husbands + their opinions + your blog....and so on.  How do you deal with it?  Is there a compromise?
  Have a great day!   

Don't forget to  come back TOMORROW for some pretty exciting stuff!! =)

How To Remove Word Verification

The whole word verification thing on Blogger has gotten out of control.  I've posted links, tweets, I've done a guest post about this..other people have done guest posts about this.  Please, please, please remove your Word Verification.  Everyone.  I'm not sure why some of you think your an exception to the general public's opinion that word verification is annoying, time consuming, and pretty difficult.  It's Saturday.  You have time.  This post has been up since 6 am.  Read it.  Follow the steps, and magically watch MORE comments be posted to your blog!  =)

"Please prove you're not a robot?"  So...basically Blogger is telling us that when we fail to recognize some of the extremely skewed letters, we fail the human test?  That's pretty harsh.  I don't know about y'all, but that messes with my self esteem!  Haha.  :)  The best thing to do in negative relationships like these is to get out and get out now.  I'm going to tell you how to give Word Verification the boot.  Simple steps, with pictures, arrows, and written instructions.

How To Remove Word Verification

Step 1:  Determine if  you are using the old or new Blogger.  Refer to the pictures below if you aren't sure.  

Step 2:  If you are using old Blogger, skip to Step 4.  If you are using new Blogger look in the top right corner of your screen and find the "Blogger Options" button.  Refer to pictures below to see where this button is and what it looks like.

Step 3:  Once you have found the "Blogger Options" button, pictured above, click on on it and you will see a menu drop down.  Click on the 5th option - "Old Blogger Interface."  Be patient while your page is reloading.  :)  

Step 4:  You are now looked at the old Blogger Interface.  Beneath the "Manage Blogs" header, find and click on "Settings" as pictured below.

Step 5:  Once you click on "Settings," you will see the page below.  Click on "Comments."  

Step 6:  After you have reached the "Settings" & "Comments" Page, scroll down until you see the left-justified words, "Show Word Verification for Comments?"  See the picture below for reference.

Step 7:  Select "No" because that is the correct answer.  Scroll down some more and for the love of all things precious, SAVE your SETTINGS.  :)  I always forget this part!  

To return to the new Blogger, simply scroll all the way up to the very top of the screen and click "Try the updated Blogger interface."  

And they all lived happily ever after in a land full of comments, e-mails, and friendship.  The End.  Happy Saturday!  =)  

Oh, and don't forget to come back Wednesday for a super awesome (and currently top secret) one time only link-up party!  You won't want to miss it!  =)  I'll give you a hint, just to peak your interest, you could be meeting some super awesome bloggers in REAL life...okay, that's it!  Come back Wednesday for the full scoop!