Blogging from my phone.

In January of this year, I begged many of my blogging friends to consider getting back to blogging. 

Then... I continued to hang out on Instagram with longish captions and planned out posts instead. 

In these days of mobile apps and hand held tablets, I realize I have neglected to blog mainly because it just took too much effort. Being at home, finding the laptop, disconnecting it from someone's TV that used it the previous night to watch Netflix, finding the cord to plug it in, and finally sitting down to type out words and edit photos after transferring them from the phone I've been holding in my hand all day! 

Now I'm on to the blogger app. Seems like the last time I tried it, I was afraid of it and a little confused. But just this minute, I am thrilled. For example...my daughter texted me these fun fair photos. I saved them on my phone. I posted them here and now I'm tapping out these words with one finger, and the auto correct is doing its thing. So nice! 

Here's to getting back to it!

Do you blog on your phone? Tell me you haven't been doing it (this easy) all year. 

Jen

Can we just get back to blogging?

I used to be a blogger.

A pot of coffee would be waiting as I returned home from dropping my kids off in front of the school. I poured a cup, added my favorite creamer for the season, and headed to my desktop for an hour or so of community. 

I wrote blog posts. I read blog posts. I commented. I responded to comments. I linked up. I blog hopped... and you know the rest. 

Before I knew it, I was out of time and even though I wanted to continue mingling around in that wonderful community full of inspiration, DIY projects, crock pot recipes and friendly conversations, I had to get on with my actual day, the one waiting for me with things I actually had to do and people that I could actually see and touch and talk to in person. 

Blogging was a time sucker, Yes.... then Instagram came along and was easier, requiring only a LIKE instead of a thought out comment. A quick photo from your phone and a short caption kept you in the loop. So with more demands of my time from work, kids and other activities, combined with the ease of the like button, and less comments from my own readers, I (like many) blogged less, even less, and then hardly ever.

Some of the things I miss the most...

I thought more about taking photos. I took more photos of my kids in every day moments. I stopped the car when I saw a rainbow, or a pretty front porch decorated for the fall to sneak a photo. I noticed things more.

I wrote more stories. I wrote about experiences, even if I didn't have a photo to go with it. I wrote about myself and thought about things that I would not have normally thought about. I had a scrapbook of memories that was mostly up to date. I could look at it anywhere and show it to anyone. 

I gave myself deadlines and worked hard to meet them. I felt more intentional in my every day living. I wanted to write material that would mean something to someone, so that meant that at times I had to do things or watch things or try things just to write about them. 

I made friends with some amazing people. Its funny to think about how commenting on blog posts and sharing in an online community for months can yield a deeper connection that living next door to someone that you hardly see.

For a while now, I have been trying to talk myself into writing a blog post. I have seen a few other "used to be bloggers" getting back to it, as well. Some have been "blogging" in their Instagram captions and might as well post a series, you know? 

I want to get back to it. 
If you used to be a blogger, I want you to get back to it too.

For the love of coffee... And books!

There once was a time when we couldn't force her to read.

She loved being read to, but would not do it alone.

In the ninth grade, Emily read To Kill a Mockingbird, and A Walk to Remember and the first few chapters of Twilight so, I thought she might be on her way.

Soon afterward, however, she purchased her first iphone and then it was Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest that monopolized her reading list.

Things are different now. This morning we drove uptown to a very special coffee shop called Julia's Cafe and Books. It is the most fabulous little used bookstore. It calls to your sense of adventure and mystery. It causes you to want to read. It smells like coffee and books, and old things and leather. It is full of people searching the shelves or sitting and chatting with friends over a blueberry scone and Chai tea.

 The books are priced so that you leave with many. Books selling in Barnes and Noble at full price are going for 3 for $10. Paperbacks for .99. It is incredible.  The books are all donated and the profits support Habitat for Humanity, which is housed in the same building. When you finish reading the books, their hope is that you'll donate them back. What a lovely concept it is.

Emily walked around the shelves with her cinnamon something or another latte, looking up titles on her cell phone, searching by author and subject, and making a huge stack of possibilities. She stopped at 11 after eliminating a few more.  She wanted them all. Some of them she chose for the content, and others she chose because they were "pretty"and "would look great on her bookshelves one day."

I am more practical when it comes to books. I buy what I think I will have time to read.  After all, I can always return for more coffee and books.

Graduations all around!

Everyone graduated this year! Zac from Elementary school, Jonathan from Middle School and Emily from High School. We had a super busy week! 

Jonathan was first!

 

 

Zac was next!

 

 

 

Then we had a backyard party....that got rained out!

So everything and everyone had to come inside!

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 Tons and tons of presents!

 

 

 

Then Emily had her turn! 

 

We made it!
Congratulations all around!

Re-takes for a new look!

Last fall, Emily had some amazing senior photos taken by a legitimate photographer. We were all set to order the graduation announcements. Then, Emily got her hair cut... a new look, and wanted to take more photos.  We waited until the last minute, of course, but we were able to get some really cute pics.

The announcements we chose were from Walgreens. They turned out really cute! I loved the mix of black and white photos of a younger Emily, with the color photo of the graduate Emily!

I cant believe this is actually happening!
Where did the time go?

Prom Love

Emily's senior prom was one for the record books....the most prom photos taken in one evening. This year was special because she was escorted by her boyfriend of 2 months, Alex, her very first boyfriend at that. We took photos at home, with friends and without, we took more photos at the farm up the road, and then even more with a large group of kids in uptown. I feel certain that there will not be as many photos taken at her wedding. Her boyfriend was a great sport. He had been warned.

 

Also...She is wearing the fifth (and final) dress that was purchased for this event. The first 2 dresses were bought on major clearance at Belk. By major, I mean 19.80, marked down from 275.00. Yes! They were gorgeous, but both would have to be altered.... a lot!  The next 2 dresses were ordered.  When they arrived, she loved them both and had almost decided which one to keep and which one to return, when she headed to NYC for a school field trip. And it was there that she found this dress. It was hanging in the window at Anthropology. She spotted it and knew that it was the one. She called me to ask if she could use the "for emergencies only" credit card to purchase the "dress of her dreams"....and she would return the others as soon as she got home. It was less expensive than what seemed to be her favorite, and who was I to crush her dreams, right?

The boutonniere was carefully chosen. Emily wanted something different, that would match the style of her dress. We found it on etsy at Bohemian Bouquets. We sent the stylist a photo of the dress and she created the perfect combination of succulents and flowers. Emily said Alex got tons of compliments on it all night.

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That night, they had dinner at a fun restaurant in uptown with 22 of their fancy friends. They walked to the frozen yogurt store, and then headed to the prom where they danced until the dance floor was closed. They finished the evening at one of the kids home playing games and eating a late night, very early morning breakfast. The next day, Emily slept until 4 p.m.

The night was just as Emily had hoped it would be.
Don't they make the cutest couple?
Prom love. Sweet times!