Friday, February 1, 2013

When your husband tells you he wants you to quit blogging.

Last night—as I was fervently typing away, answering emails, getting new ads up, photo editing, etc.—Daniel, who had been sitting on the couch waiting for me to finish so we could hang out, said to me, "Aunies? I think it's time to give up blogging."

Excuse me—what?!

But actually, I get where he's coming from. Some nights, I'm engrossed in it. I can easily lose hours and hours spending time editing, writing, and planning for this little space. It's kind of ridiculous. And, with all of the other things Daniel and I have been talking about for our future, there may come a point where blogging just doesn't fit... but that's an entirely different topic, and if those plans end up being put to action, I'll be sure to keep you in the loop.

So, what does a girl do when her husband tells her that he wants her to quit blogging? She gets some new design elements installed. I mean, what's better than a little blog pick-me-up?


Enter Kristen (of KV's Confessions and KV's Design Studio). She and I have been blog-friends since 2011 when I first started. She's a dream to work with and really gave me that little oomph I was looking for. If you're looking for any new design elements (header & navbar—that's what I picked—blog buttons, profile pic, sidebar titles, or even an entirely new look), she is your lady.

/ / And now, because it's Friday, here's a little bonus to kick-off your weekend. I've been contacted by a by a marketing group to help with a blogging research & publishing project (trust me, it's legitimate).  The study involves a quick survey, and it's going to be used for a book about bloggers.  The survey is for active bloggers and takes less than 2-minutes. As an incentive to take the survey, they're giving away a $20 Visa gift card. To take the survey, CLICK HERE. They need a couple hundred more responses to give accurate data, so share the survey with your blog friends if you can! Also, don't forget to enter your blog name and first name in Question 1 to be entered for the gift card giveaway. 

Happy Friday!

46 comments:

Becca Moss said...

Love the new look of your blog! But, your picture in the right hand corner is absolutely gorgeous!

Julie said...

Of course I did the survey :) I'm a marketing major, taking a marketing research class this semester. I would have felt guilty if didn't.
The new layout is looking great!

Kayla at Kouponing Kayla said...

I really love the look of your new blog! It looks great. :) I participated in the survey. Thanks for sharing the offer with us!

Sara Simonsen said...

Love your new design elements and the new layout in general! I'm can't wait - I'm working with Kristen, too! She's amazing, and I have your blog to thank for introducing me to her blog last year!


Also, I think my husband thinks the same thing about blogging! Must be a husband thing?!


Have a wonderful weekend! PS - I have a teeny snippet about you in my post today! :)


Sara

Courtney Hinds said...

ooh la la! I really like the new design, its so chic! I enjoy reading your blog on the daily so I hope you stick around a little while longer!

Liz Edwards said...

I'd love to do that survey, but because I'm a smaller blog it's near impossible to do! Love the new layout!!

Priya Pappu said...

Love the new look! I would seriously like to invest some money in a new look...maybe someday. Ha I have to be really good about sharing time with blogging/my boyfriend too! Survey done. Happy Friday to you!

perfectly priya

jackie korey said...

love the design! so pretty! xo

Postcards f/ Rachel said...

Love the new design!

Lindsey said...

My Husband asked me the same thing this week, hence today's post on my blog was about Monday date nights....I find it hard to balance the art of spending time with him while still working outside of my normal 9-5. It can be difficult, that's for sure! My current plan is to set aside a few nights a week dedicated to him and then try to manage my time more efficiently the other nights. We shall see!

Kelly Ann said...

I love the heading and I get where he is coming from, good luck finding a balance and Happy Friday!

xx
Kelly
Sparkles and Shoes

Laura said...

I totally understand about blogging not fitting in. I see all these bloggers who start blogs after their relationship, but if/when I ever get a boyfriend, he has to accept me and the blog. Some people don't feel comfortable about that, and I wonder if I'll have to give it all up. But, hopefully you won't give it up for a long time!

Elisabeth Gringeri said...

its seriously such a beautiful design - i know its not all that different but i think its just perfect and completely revamps the space.

Chelsea Thom said...

Absolutely LOVING your new design. Way to rebel against the hubs ;) That cracks me up. Cory gets a little annoyed with the time I put into blogging as well, but it's nice to hear their honest opinion. It keeps me in check and reminds me that there needs to be a balance between my blogging and my "real life," you know? But don't ever leave, mmk?

Sammantha B. said...

So wait. Your husband tells you you should stop blogging and you decide to get a new design? Color me confused girlfriend.

Annelise @ Aunie Sauce said...

not going anywhere, yet! don't you worry! and last night WAY too much time was spent blogging because i'd put it off all week to hang out with daniel :) ha!

Annelise @ Aunie Sauce said...

that's a REALLY reasonable plan!

Annelise @ Aunie Sauce said...

liz, please do it! just pick the closest number to what you have... it's for anyone, whether they've got 10 or 10,000 followers :)

Annelise @ Aunie Sauce said...

aw thank you! my friend taylor, of taylor love studios, did it for me!

Annelise @ Aunie Sauce said...

ha. it's been in the works for a couple weeks and was being installed as he asked me to quit. i thought it was a little bit of an oxymoron.

Wishin GoodLuck said...

Love the new design - very fresh and springy :)

Allyssa said...

Love the new design! Kristen did an amazing job, as always. PS: I filled out the survey!

Elizabeth ⚓ said...

My poor husband is so understanding about my blogging time and I find I have backed away A TON now that he's home from deployment. I moved my computer into the office space and try to only use it while he's at work! Works for me, and I'm able to keep up with my readers and bloggy friends via facebook and twitter over the weekends! I hope everything levels out for you! LOVE the new design!

Crissy said...

Pick some days that you'll do no blogging and have hang out days! :D I filled out that survey but there's no options for 'none' or even lower #'s... It's just a little too specific/high D:

Chloe said...

Love the updates! Kristen is so good at what she does! I have a question for you! Why the change to disqus? I started off using it because I think it is easier to respond to people, and I like the look of it, but then changed back to google's version. So I am just curious as to what made you switch :)

Rachel said...

Love the new look (and that you're using Disqus, too!)

Jennifer M. said...

See here's the deal… for me, blogging is a personal expression… kind of a combination of journaling (which I would do anyway on paper if I didn't have a blog) and chronicaling interesting photos, ideas, etc that I run across online. Someone telling me that I wasn't allowed to do that anymore would feel like they'd told me I couldn't think/mentally process my life anymore. That seems like a very personal thing to tell someone they can't do.


I would venture to guess that his intent behind this is more that he maybe feels that you don't spend as much time with him as he would like, not that blogging in and of itself is a bad thing. Sort of like those wives who don't like their men to play video games. It's not particularly about the activity, but more what it represents… time spent away from them. I, of course, don't know you or your husband, but I would wonder if he may be coming more from that sort of angle (in which case you could make a point to spend more time with him) rather than from inherently not liking your personal expression of blogging.

Jennifer DeSantis said...

Annelise!!


Totally agree with this. My boyfriend is a bit jealous of my blogging and sometimes its hard for me to get off. WEll, because it's so fun. Cute post- very true!!
Speaking of fun, I'm hosting my first link up ever on my blog- would love it if you jumped in :-)


XO Jenna
Demureindiamonds.com

Chelsea said...

OH no! Please don't stop blogging!

Shannon Heart's said...

I've had the same conversation w/my hubby before too. But, he'll get over it! :) Love your blog... don't EVER stop! :)

http://shannonhearts.blogspot.com/

Oh leona said...

I think logging should be a nice balance of living - spending time with your husband and friends and then blogging - spending time with your online pals! After all, if you don't spend time doing fun things with loved ones, what do you have to blog about?!

Love the new design, it's adorable.xx

Oh Leona said...

Totally meant "blogging" not "logging"...

kristen joann said...

Blogging really can be a big time commitment, but it is so great to look back after a few years and see all the writing & photos. It's an investment in memories. :) That's how I see it anyway!

Sierra said...

Hahahaha my boyfriend says the same thing. And you blog more than I do! Go you!

Cody said...

I know how you feel. I can totally loose HOURS in blogging. That's why I don't blog big time because sometime, my real life need to take the front burner. Like today, I could have stayed in blogging but I went out. I love my blog but I love living my life too.

Jenny said...

I don't have that problem. I kinda hate my blog. But if someone told me "It's time to dump it" I'd be like uh no? Yea... not gonna happen, husband or not. But that's just me.

Lily Garay said...

I feel like blogging is just supposed to be at most 1 hour a day. It's just you writing out your feelings, sharing a giveaway or a laugh, share about your day, etc. I hope you never stop blogging though:) Even if it's just once a week!

Tina Byland said...

I am glad to know I'm not the only one who can accidentally spend the entire night writing posts, editing pictures, commenting on my friend's blogs, scheduling this or that.... and I feel like our husbands should have a support group. They'd probably have a lot in common. :)


I agree that sometimes I look into the future and wonder when blogging will cease to be a part of my life. But the blogger balance isn't going to keep me away from it now. Our husbands will have to just watch one more episode of dumb tv tomorrow night, right?

Annelise @ Aunie Sauce said...

It's good you mentioned that! I was REALLY into it (well, always have been), but especially while he was gone to tech school. Now I find it hard to pull back and LIVE sometimes, but I'm definitely working on it.

Annelise @ Aunie Sauce said...

Good Q, Chloe! I wanted to be able to have others see what I respond. I feel bad if someone asks a question, I email them the answer, but then a couple other people have the same question... this way everyone gets to see the answer!

Annelise @ Aunie Sauce said...

Jennifer, that's exactly it. Thanks for your viewpoint on this.

Annelise @ Aunie Sauce said...

ha! exactly! i spend more time doing it during football season, that's for sure :)

Shane Prather said...

No no no you can't go! Stick with us girlfran :) xo

Emily Hope said...

It's beautiful! One day I am going to hire Kristen to redesign my blog. Every design she pumps out just keeps getting better and better.

Krysten said...

I'm super lucky that Izzy is VERY okay with me blogging... but he's big into World of Warcraft and so we try to do our gaming and blogging either when the other isn't around wanting attention or when we're together and both want to work on our things at the same time. Luckily for us it works out pretty well.

criEvryt1m3 said...

I must say, I agree with Donnie, please quit blogging immediatley

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