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Friday, March 2, 2012

When My Blog Grows Up...

Today I am reflecting on what my goals are for my blog. I will be linking up over at Thistlewoodfarm to share my hopes for my blog with other bloggers today, doing the same. As a new blogger, these are all things I have been thinking about (losing sleep over) since hitting Publish on my first post. So here goes...

When my blog grows up she wants to be...

1.) Beautiful.  -My blog wants a fabulous new header, background, and professional design. My blog is in it's infancy right now, and still has a long way to go. I set up my blogger account and proceeded to create the template that is my blog today. I am NOT AT ALL tech savvy, so it is nothing short of a miracle that I actually have a functioning blog, and one that I did all by myself! My new look is currently in the works, and best left to a professional!

2.) Fun and Genuine.  -When someone reads my blog, I want them to feel like we are sitting together in the same room having a conversation. I want my personality to shine through, and my goal is to channel how I think and talk into each post. I want to feel like I am chatting with my girlfriends.




3.) Have a Great Home Tour Tab.  -Because as a visual person, THAT is what attracts me to other people's blogs. When I go to someone else's blog, I always want to see their home photos! It gives me the big picture as to who they are, what styles they gravitate toward, and often inspires design ideas for me that I can use in some way in my own home. I have procrastinated long enough on this one, so it is currently in the works as well.

4.) Have Pretty Pictures.  -My blog, and her readers, deserve PRETTY pictures, taken with a BIG GIRL camera. I really have no excuse for this here. We have plenty of camera equipment in our home. The hubs is an aviation photographer, in addition to being a full time commercial and military pilot. He actually has an insane amount of camera equipment that I could, and SHOULD be learning to use properly.
 Exhibit A.
 Exhibit B. (Haha. Blurry!)
Exhibit C. 

I could continue to the floor of the closet full of tri-pods, light stands, and pelican cases, but you get the idea.
I need to take a class and learn how to shoot in manual setting. I learned long ago, that it is NOT a good idea for Mr W to "teach" me things, as we have completely different learning styles, and I wind up feeling like I don't have a brain in my head. Best to steer clear of that mine field to preserve marital bliss! ;-)

5.) Make Lots of Friends.  -For me, getting into blogging, and trying to create a network of new friends, is kind of like going to a new high school in your sophomore year. I moved 12 times as a kid, so I know how to be the new girl, but that doesn't mean it's not intimidating. 
  • I don't know anyone.
  • I want to be liked.
  • Will anyone "get" me? 
  • Will they like my style?

How will I be received? Other girl's design talents, and blog beauty can be quite intimidating to a newbie. This is where I can equate it to high school...Will they like me?...Will they accept me?...Will they let me into their inner circle?

I want to make lots of new connections and have a great network of fellow bloggers to turn to for advice and inspiration.

6.) Host Some Great Parties!  -Most bloggers know that one of they keys to growing your blog is to attend and HAVE great link parties. Before I can make this happen on my blog, I need to have some buttons made. I have to be honest here, I have NO flippin' idea how to do this, and I have not even attempted to find out!! Some things are better left to the blog designers. I hope to have this done soon, cuz I'm ready to par-tay!!

7.) Monetize.  -Finally, when my blog grows up, I would hope that she makes some money. Let's face it, as bloggers we put a lot of time and thought into our projects and posts. I would love it if my blog could make a little green for mama!

I've been told many times, "Do what you love, and the money will follow." I am hoping that will be true of my labor of love, my Budget Design Girl blog. I feel like, if I am going to investing my time and energy on projects and posts that ultimately take time away from my family, or my precious little "me" time, I hope to eventually be compensated for my efforts. After all, as much as I love it, my job as Household CEO does not line my pockets, but thankfully, it does fill my heart!

So, those are my hopes for my blog as she grows. I will do my best to make sure they come true. I love my blog, and look forward to carving out my own little niche in blogland.
xo
-Lisa


Linking up here...
thistlewood farm


23 comments:

  1. Lisa,

    This is wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing your heart. I do feel like I am visiting a friend when I come over here.....so you have accomplished one of your goals :)

    Thanks for the inspiration.

    blessings,
    karianne

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    1. Karianne, Your comment means the world to me! Thanks so much for hosting this fabulous party! I feel so much more focused on what I need to do, and I have already "met" lots more great new friends! What a gig this is!
      Looking forward to Haven!!
      xo-Lisa

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  2. I already feel like I know you! And I know what you mean about the insecurities...I've only been blogging for four months but it has been such a good experience. Glad to meet you! Looking forward to watching you grow!!! Linky following. I'll see you again soon. Thanks for stopping by my place too!

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    1. Sherry, Thank you! You are so sweet! I am so happy to be a part of such a great group of people who DO actually understand what I like, what I do, what I think about, lose sleep over, and feel so much pride about! I am LOVING being a part of this crazy , wonderful world of blogging! Very nice to meet you! Talk to you soon!
      xo-Lisa

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  3. Hey Lisa, thanks for visiting, i guess you and i ARE having the same thoughts about our blogs!! I look forward to watching your blog evolve! I think mine is going to get some revamping as well! You know how you get that feeling about something that tells you it's not quite 'right'? That is how i'm feeling about my blog! Stay positive, WE WILL FIGURE THIS OUT!!

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    1. Stacey- Your blog is fantastic, and I thought your post today was so well written! I look forward to watching your blog grow as well! Aren't we lucky to have so many great women cheering us on? LOVE that!
      I will be watching to see what you are doing over at Flickerwhips!
      xo-Lisa

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  4. Hi Lisa,
    I love your post. (And it gives me an eerie feeling of deja vu as I wrote something kind of similar on my blog. You know what they say about great minds...)

    Anyway, I can't wait to look through it some more and get to "know" you in the process!
    ~Elena
    http://acasarella.blogspot.com/

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    1. Elena,
      Thank you so much for taking the time to stop and leave your sweet comments! I went right over to your blog, and read your post. I was amazed at the parallels! Great minds indeed! Looking forward to watching your next steps! Congrats on the Etsy store. It's something that I have been stockpiling for as well! (Yet another parallel!) Linky Following you now!
      xo-Lisa

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  5. I really enjoyed this post a lot. I have the same feelings. I'll definitely be back.

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    1. Yay! Thank you! I hope to see you again soon, and often!
      Have a great weekend! xo-Lisa

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  6. your blog is adorable. And I'm totally jealous of the camera equipment (and the closet space)

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    1. Micki- Aww, thank you! That makes me feel so good! Hopefully it will get better with each new day. :-) Yes, he has an impressive arsenal of Nikon. Good thing I, at least, am frugal!! Haha! Thank you so much for stopping by! Have a great weekend!
      xo-Lisa

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  7. Love your goals and I "get you"!

    Don't be intimidated - just be yourself and you'll find friends who continue to visit. Love the idea of just "chatting with girlfriends" - isn't that what blogging is all about?!

    I am seriously going to raid your camera equipment (even though I have no clue how to use any of it)! You need to get the hubs to give you some lessons then pass them on to the rest of us!

    New linky follower
    Kelly

    So glad you joined our party.

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    1. Yay! Thanks Kelly! I'm so glad that you totally "Get" me!! :-) I am thrilled that you ladies decided to host this party. It was good to sit down and type out all of the loose threads in my head. It actually gives me a much clearer idea of the path I need to take to reach my goals!
      So happy you stopped by! And, Yes, I know it's quite the closet. The man loves his Nikon!
      xo-Lisa

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  8. Hi I'm your newest fan. When you get the photo thing straight please write about it I need all the help I can get. Yours are not bad now :)

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  9. Hi Debbie! Thanks for visiting! I hope to see you here again soon! I certainly will post about my adventures in photography. As of right now, I am using my iPhone WAY too much of the time!
    xo-Lisa

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  10. Lisa,

    Such well-written well thought out blog goals. As I read through, it certainly did feel like a chat with a friend who was opening her heart and sharing her dreams and fears ...

    So happy that you put them together and shared them with all of us at our link party!

    :)

    Linda

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  11. Thank you so much, Linda! I am thrilled to get such nice feedback from so many bloggers that I admire and respect! That most definitely includes you! I'm a big fan of your blog, and so happy that you girls put together such a great link party. It caused me to really focus on what I want to do with this platform. I am so happy to be able to form new relationships with other women who are just as obsessed with the same things I am! Thanks so much for the kind words. :-)
    xo-Lisa

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  12. looks like you have several goals and they are all very doable! thanks for sharing- and best of luck!

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  13. you have clearly laid out some great goals. I love the thought of sitting around with friends when reading the blog. :)
    Thanks so much for linking up to our party, sorry it's taken me so long to come by to check out your goals. Happy to be a new follower.
    Karah @ thespacebetweenblog

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  14. Thank you, Karah! I hope I am on the path to making them a reality! I am loving the new relationships I have formed with other bloggers! There are so many amazing people out there!
    Thanks so much for stopping by, and for following! :-)
    xo-Lisa

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I love reading all of your thoughtful comments!