Tag Archives: musings

This Business of Blogging

17 May

I’ve been tossing around an idea for a long time, but it’s kind of scary.  It would require me to take a chance, hence the reason I haven’t done it yet; however, it’s been on the brain and I’m wondering if now might be the right time.  Will you help me make an informed decision?

I’m talking about self-hosting my WordPress blog.  You see, The Domestic Fringe doesn’t have sponsors or advertisers because it’s against the WordPress rules.  Now I love WordPress.  I’m one of their biggest fans, but unlike Blogger, they have some pretty strict rules about what you can and cannot do.  I respect that since they provide such great service for FREE.

You can never beat free – a big reason I’m still here blogging.

I’d like to do more though.  Right now WordPress throws an ad on my page.  I never even get to see the ad or video they insert and I would like a bit more control over that.  I’d also enjoy making a buck off the blog if that’s possible, and believe me, I have no grand delusions about getting rich.  I just want to expand a little, take on some sponsors, and maybe sell a little ad space.  Nothing crazy.  Just a start.

Here’s my problem.  FEAR.

I can talk myself out of anything.  ANY-THING!

It will be too much trouble transferring my site to a self-hosted WordPress site.  I don’t have enough facebook followers.  My stats are too low.  My readers won’t be able to find my blog if I move.  I’ll lose everything I’ve ever written.  I’ll have to pay a monthly hosting fee.  I’ll have to maintain my site myself.  Yada, yada, yada, yada…

You see?

That’s exactly why I haven’t done it.  I’m not much of a risk taker.  I haven’t ever jumped out of a plane, gotten a tattoo of my imaginary friend in the first grade, or threw my money into the stock market.

Sometimes I’m too safe for my own good.  Anything worth getting takes hard work and certain measure of risk, faith if you will.

Maybe it’s time to take the plunge.  I am claiming to live on the Fringe here.

Here’s where you can help me out…Do you self-host?  Have you tried to turn your blog into a little more than a hobby?  How many readers are enough?  Will I just be throwing my money away?

Help a confused girl out, will ya?  Tell me your story please.

And for the record, I didn’t have an imaginary friend in the first grace and I have no money to throw into the stock market.  I just didn’t want you to think I’m stuffing my mattress with cash and talking to little people in my head.

Thanks for the help!

The Ugly

20 Mar

For many months I’ve had this thought in mind…do a post on the ugly.

I don’t really know why, but I feel I must share with you the ugly, because sometimes life isn’t pretty.

Usually bloggers, including myself, only photograph the lovely, the good, and the bright; however, we all live with some ugly.  At times, the ugly takes over, but don’t lose hope.  God makes all things beautiful in His time.

Maybe that’s the message I really want to bring you.

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

FringeKid and I armed ourselves with a camera and set out for a slow stroll around the block.

Yes, this is my neighborhood I am showcasing.  In the three years I’ve lived here, we’ve had so many houses burn it’s like regularly scheduled programming, only it’s terrible.  Real people lose everything.

Some of the fires were arson, but mostly it’s just because this town is old and there’s no money in it.  People cannot afford to update the systems in their houses, so they fail.

Will you walk with us as we journey through real life?

An abandoned house, the third house to the right of my own.

This house had a fire our first fall in town.  It’s been vacant ever since.

These steps could welcome the Morticia, but others?

You can rent-to-own this gem.  Wanna be my neighbor friend?

Burned two years ago.  Arson.

Soon enough, this dumpster will smell as bad as it looks.

Are you feeling better about your ugly, whatever that means to you?

The grass isn’t always greener.  Sometimes it’s dead.

Even the flag looks tired of flying.

And just when you think all hope is lost…

a little glimmer of new life grows up and surprises you from the inside out.

He has made every thing beautiful in its time…

Ten Trivial Things I Know

15 Mar

I admittedly do not know much, but these few things I know.

My son’s room will never be truly clean.

Laundry is a constant.

In America, free speech is welcomed until it clashes with mainstream media.  Then you best be silent or grow a very thick skin.

My daughter is growing up because she wants me to do her hair every single morning.  This is a first in her ten years of life.  Now I’m watching YouTube videos and scrambling to learn how to create any other look besides bedhead.

My body needs a diet.  My mind hates that idea.  My clothes like me a few pounds slimmer.

Every year when winter melts into spring, or even when it hesitates, I buy a new pair of shoes, as seen here and here and here.  (The first pair is terribly ugly. The second two pairs are much cuter.)  Shoes seem to be my lifeline out of winter’s depression.

I really cannot think of a good reason to bungee-jump.  Ever.

My Facebook friends are very wise.  Last night I put together an advisory board and they fixed my problem in moments.  Really, we have an amazing resource called friends and family.  We ought to tap into that resource from time to time.

I am very picky about which foreign countries I would like to visit.  There are many on  my must-see list, but others tend to fall off the little “earth” I’ve created in my mind.

I don’t do “puke” well.  Just yesterday a little girl riding in the back seat of my car uttered the words, “I’m getting car-sick.”  Immediately I panicked.  “You’re not gonna throw-up – Are you gonna throw up – Tell me if you feel like throwing up – Please don’t throw up in the car!”   I scared the car-sickness right out of that poor child.

Now it’s your turn.  In this world of constant unknowns, tell me what you know.

 

When Little Girls Grow Up

8 Mar

I’m sitting with my coffee in a silent house feeling a bit nostalgic.  I just sent my daughter to school looking more like a teenager than a little girl.  All of a sudden, I don’t like that.

I’ve seen her in a silly animal hat so many days that I forget how quickly she’s growing up.  It’s hard to tell the true age and maturity of a child with a red and gold chicken on her head, but this morning, while she ate her toast and drank her milk, I took the time to give her a top-knot with a bunch of little twisties and baby claw clips.  The bangs I’m making her grow out because I can’t stand to cut them every two weeks fall into a very chic swath nearly covering one eye.  Then she put on her glasses and it was over.  It seemed she went from two to twenty in two seconds.  Now I am in shock.

She already talks about boys following her around and poking her with pencils and I know I’ll be tempted to lock her in her room before too long…with FringeMan standing guard.

My mother put this up on facebook.  I wish I knew the source.  If anyone knows, please pass along the info and I will give that person/site appropriate credit.

At first I thought this application was funny.  Now I think it’s necessary.

Her Easter dress came in the mail yesterday.  (See dress here , sweater here, and shoes here.)  I’m thinking I’d better throw a bear hat on her head, even for Easter, because she’s the kind of kid that I want to keep a child forever.

My son grew up at two months old.  My daughter is just beginning at ten and still, I’d like to slow her down.  I suspect this is the plight of many a mom.

So for now, I’ll keep brainwashing her into thinking marriage is only for thirty year-olds and brothers always go on all dates with their sisters.

The end.

Building a Community

29 Feb

FAAACEBOOK!!!!

 

I like blogging.  I know you’d never guess by all the words I use, but I really enjoy making connections with people in Portugal, Canada, Texas and everyplace in between.

Through blogging, I’ve had the opportunity to meet and develop friendships with some of the sweetest people.  I even got to know a girl in Spain with whom I attended the same college, but didn’t know her then.  How cool is that?

Blogging opened up a whole new world for me.

I sincerely appreciate each of you who take the time to read my ramblings again and again.  I never assume someone will read or comment, but I appreciate every person who does.

So thank you.

Because I’d like to keep in better touch with all of you, I created a facebook page for The Domestic Fringe.  You may have noticed a box for it in the right sidebar, but maybe you missed it.

I’m asking that you take a second to *Like* The Domestic Fringe on facebook.  I hope this page evolves into a place where I can help promote you, your blog, and your business.  I’d love for it to be a place for my readers to not only connect with me, but to also connect with each other.

Doesn’t that sound corny?

It’s true though.  I think my readers are some of the most amazing people in the world.  You are good at what you do, whether it be writing, sewing,  making jewelry, or sharing your life through blogging.  I’d like for us to become a community where we can encourage, promote, and support one another.

via Pinterest by handmadebyryangosling tumbler

I’m also trying to talk some people into sponsoring a giveaway or two on the facebook page.  So get in early and go *Like* The Domestic Fringe on facebook.

I look forward to getting to know you better.  If you have a business and you’d like a shout-out on the facebook page, send me an email with a link.  I may not get to it tomorrow, but I promise, I will get it.

 

Thanks for being awesome.  Thanks for being you.

An Ordinary Day

23 Feb

It was just an ordinary day.

With my extraordinary family.

I’m not using many words today and that’s more difficult than it sounds.  I’m simply trying to chronicle a day in photos, only I fell off the picture-taking bandwagon.  I should have snapped a photo of my dashboard for all the running around I did, a photo of piano lessons and the grocery store, a picture of the ladies at Bible study last night, and a picture of dirty dishes…definitely dirty dishes.

Well, you get the point.

I’m linking to Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop.

P.S. Yesterday afternoon I put up a little post about reviving Fiction Friday, at least for this week.  If you like to write or even if you don’t, you’re invited to post a snippet of fiction to your blog and then link it over here on Friday (tomorrow).  You can click here for yesterday’s example.  I shared a (very rough) page from my WIP Not My Life.

Fashion isn’t Nuclear Fission, or Is It?

17 Feb

So many in blogland participate in Fashion Friday, but I generally refrain.  Me giving you my opinions on fashion is a little like me weighing in on nuclear fission.  I’m just out of my league.

I’m no expert when it comes to “What to Wear;”  however, I do generally know what I like, and I have fun shopping.  I just don’t shop as often as I would like, but this weekend was an exception.  It was my birthday.

I know you’re all tired of me bringing up the birthday thing, but I promise today is the last time I’ll mention it until next February.  For my birthday I went on a crazy shopping spree.  I bought this bag, these shoes, and a dress.

The dress called to me when I was in H&M looking for a telephone.  I won’t embarrass myself further by retelling the story.  Today is all about the dress.

Here is the dress, only mine is greige (gray/beige combo).

Since I’m a good six inches shorter than the shortest super-model, the dress is longer on me.  It hits somewhere within an inch of my knee.

I like this dress because it is cotton, super-comfy, and it has pockets.  It’s a win-win in my spring/summer fashion book.  Here’s my question – Since the skirt is so flowy and full (much more than in this photo), and since it’s super windy where I live, can I wear legging underneath?

I’ve never tried this look before, but I think it might work.  Picture black leggings and cute shoes, maybe a cardigan.  Would that be too 2010?  Am I crossing style boundaries?

I told you, it’s like nuclear fission.

On the shoe front, these little lovelies should be delivered tomorrow.  I cannot wait.

Seychelles Asterisk Tan/Red

I really like the Seychelles brand.  (No they’re not paying me to say that.)  They have some very trendy, almost retro, styles.  The best part is that they have a blog…Seychelles Mise En Scène.  So fun.

So that’s my shopping spree.  Pretty good, huh?

Till next year…

Be sure to weigh in on the legging issue.  I need honest opinions before I go spend twenty-bucks on a pair of leggings.

Have you ever attempted the Legging + Dress look?  How did it work for you?

I thank each one of you fashion-lovely people.  Have a great weekend!

Forever Young (at least in heart)

10 Feb

Forever Young

Lyrics  -by Bob Dylan

May God’s bless and keep you always,
May your wishes always come true,
May you always do for others
And let others do for you.
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung,
May you stay forever young.

May you grow up to be righteous,
May you grow up to be true,
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you.
May you always be courageous,
Stand upright and be strong,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

May your hands always be busy,
May your feet always be swift,
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift.
May your heart always be joyful,
May your song always be sung,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

Forever Young – The Theme Song to my birthday weekend.

Yes, my birthday is not just a day this year, it’s a weekend.

I think I’m old enough to warrant a birthday celebration longer than 24 hours.

Sunday is the official day my life flips to another year,

but this year deserves to be big.

It deserves a new pair of shoes.

I’ll be forever young.

How about you?

It Holds the Power to Change a Woman’s Life

4 Feb

SHOES

What?  Did you think I was talking about chocolate again?

Shoes hold the power to change a woman’s life.  It’s true.

I present:

Dorothy

and…

Cinderella

I’m sure we can add a few more women to that list, but I refrain from name-dropping whenever possible.

For my birthday, coming up in just eight days, I decided to buy myself a pair of shoes.  Apparently shoe shopping while in the throes of winter is becoming a habit.  I bought these last year.

I blame it on the lack of sunlight, SAD, and whatever the newest disorder is; however, I figure a pair of shoes is cheaper than both a tropical vacation and five sessions with a shrink.  Besides, it’s my birthday!

That’s reason enough to buy a pair of shoes.

I need a little help though.  Let’s pretend we’re all shoe-shopping together.  Wouldn’t that be fun?

I’ll show you some options and you tell me how wonderful they all are.

Kidding.

I do like honesty, and I realize my propensity for poor taste in everything from bedding to bangles.  I can be slightly tacky at times.  My husband says I have a bit of Mini Pearl in me, but I disagree.

I would never wear tags on my clothes.

Back to my birthday gift…

Let’s begin with The Wedge.  An entire post can be done on the wedge, and I think we have Spain to thank.  They showcased the Espedrille and now there are variations of all kinds, colors, and spots.

Nine West Blue Espadrille

Pink Polka-Dot by C Label

Red Nautical Stripe - Runway by KMart

I don’t want to buy wedges though, because with the help of a little hot glue, last year’s flower wedges will walk another mile or ten.

The next category is The Shiny Red Heel.

Maybe I have a bit of Dorothy syndrome going on, but I’ve longed for a pair of shiny red shoes for as long as I can remember.  Ok, I remember when the infatuation began.  It was in a Panera Bread and this woman’s patent leather red spiky heel dangled right in front of my eyes.

I thought, “I’m in lust.”

Then I thought, “Thou shalt not covet.”

Then I thought, “I’m really in love.”

I’ve never been able to shake the desire for a pair of these sexy and slightly powerful shoes.

Calvin Klein Carley

Because I live in a land where feet wear sneakers and snowboots, these would be terribly impractical; however, I’m getting old.  Who wants practical when you can own a pair of these.

Or these.

Gabriella Rocha Dancy

Aren’t they gorgeous?

Now you know why I am enamored.

It’s just that I have no place to wear a pair of these.  A night out at McDonald’s with the family usually doesn’t warrant red shiny heels; however, they are a dream I must fulfill.

I think I’ll put them on my bucket list.  I don’t have a bucket list, but I’ll make one for these shoes.

This is my honorary mention for Neutrals category.  I love these shoes, but I’m not buying a neutral.  I would if I had twenty pairs of shoes, but since I don’t, I need something a little happier.

Rockport Audrey Cross Strap

RSVP Akela

Winter Shoes I love.

Poetic Licence London Calling

Nine West Brown/Yellow

I really do love both of these shoes.  They aren’t totally impractical either.  They actually look like I can walk in them, and they go well with jeans.

Maybe cuffed jeans like this?

The top runner in my shoe selection…

Seychellis Asterisk Tan/Red

I like the colors, the style, and especially the heal.  I think the whole shoe is cute and since I can only pick one shoe, I’m leaning towards this one.

What do you think?

Should I reconsider?

Do you have a pair of favorite shoes?  Tell us about them.

Or

Are you secretly lusting for a certain pair of killer shoes that can potentially change your life? Do share in the comments.

P.S. If you click on the photo of any shoe, it will link you to Pinterest and then you can get to the actual shoe seller.

Hope Lives Here

2 Feb

This weekend we went into the city to see my uncle.  While he is being treated for throat cancer, he is staying in The Hope Lodge, a residential facility run by The American Cancer Association.  It’s a place for cancer patients and their families to live during treatment.  It is close to the major hospitals in NYC and brings commuting to a minimum.  Some patients are from out-of-state and some live nearby.

It’s a place where hope lives.

Unfortunately my photograph does not do this collage justice.  Each little square has writing in it – encouraging words, parts of Bible verses, little messages – all things to give hope.  Many of these little tiles, if not all, were made by children.

I got to thinking how nice it would be if we had one hanging in our house.  Isn’t that what we all want to know?

Hope Lives Here

Hope that despite the dark patches, the future is bright.

Hope that there is healing on the other side of pain.

Hope that joy comes in the morning.

Hope that tears only last for a time.

Hope that there is victory to be had.

Hope that you will be able to love again.

Hope that broken hearts will be made whole.

Hope that the sun will come out tomorrow.

Hope that you will get through your present trial.

Hope that what you do today will make a difference tomorrow.

Hope that your labor is not in vain.

Hope that your little light will shine for eternity.

Hope that people can change.

Hope that the economy will recover.

Hope that God does what He says He will do.

Hope that your faith is not blind.

Hope that life truly does go on.

Hope – Hope -Hope

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. – Romans 15:4

Let hope live in your house.

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