Bringing the Blog in Blogging Back

Where did blogging go? I started back in May of 2010 and things in the blogging community were far different than they are today. Back then everyone was on a BlogSpot or WordPress. No one had super fancy, website looks with links and tags to instagram (well to be fair instagram didn't exist yet). We didn't link our entire outfits to a site and made you click on it to find out where we got our shirt from. We just told you in the post. We didn't wear 500.00 shirts either! Who has the money for that?! And those Gucci belts...


We had other bloggers come over and be our guests. We did link ups talking about our Mondays, meals and television shows. We talked about our daily lives.


I miss that kind of blogging.


Half the people I follow on social media today- instagram and facebook, are the people that I "met" online back then. We shared our entire lives. If they went through a break-up then you went through it too. When they bought houses, you celebrated, when they started having babies you cheered them on and wished them good luck. Very few blogged full time for income. Now so much you see is "click this link to find out where I got this" or sponsored posts of "Oh, this tea is so fabulous!". Is it really? Is that tea that fabulous or are you trying to make a buck? Just say it girlfriend! We know you don't really like the tea! Haha! It's ok that you want to make money. Just throw us a little content about your life on the blog too! Don't post ads all day long and call it your life. Last time I checked we weren't machines.


Well I'm making it my mission this year to bring real blogging back. I'm hear to TELL you what shirt I'm wearing, talk about the vacations we go on. The shows we are watching. The books I'm reading. The real life ups and downs because that's what blogging should really be about. Not 10 different angles of me in an overpriced t-shirt and belt that half the people reading can't afford or better yet, place in their online shopping cart but will never buy.


So what will I be blogging about here the most? Life. Daily life because when you have a 10 month old, a full time job, a husband, a cat real life happens daily. Do we go on vacations during the year? Yes and hopefully this year we will again. We also have a first birthday party to plan for February! But I plan on trying to blog and blog about life. I miss going to my old favorites and reading about their life as well. While I love instagram, it's only photos a few lines of caption. It doesn't tell a real daily life story.


Also, I'm really going to get into food this year and not just the shoving it into my face kind. We are going to try to only eat out once a week in our house. We are going to make all our meals for Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Shewww, just saying it out loud makes me a little nervous but I know we can do it! So I'm sure I'll be sharing and talking about those ups and downs with new cooking adventures. I'm also going to get back to baking. Did I mention I have a 10 month old? Yeah... let's throw that into the mix of cooking and baking. I'm a first time mom and I plan for him to be an only child so this is a whole new territory for me. That in itself is a daily blog story.


Am I the only person who misses real blogging? While I have my favorite girls on instagram that I follow who do link their clothing etc, I'd just love to see them blog as well! Come join me in this blogging journey. I'm calling on all my old favorites!

Здравствуйте

Every now and then I check in on my statistics to this little place I call home on the world wide web. Last month, I saw a staggering number of people from Russia, Ukraine and Germany checking out my space here. I've been noticing for the last several months that more and more people from Russia are reading so I want to say a big hello to all my foreign readers. Maybe I'll finally visit your countries one of these days!

When I go on to check my statistics I do more than see where my readers are coming from. I also see what posts are popular reads and what key words are pulling people in. I thought I'd share the top five blog posts I've had all time and share some back stories to go with them.

1. Crossing Fingers

When I wrote this post, I was desperately trying to get on the travel team at work. I had applied and was in a grueling process of interviewing, testing and just playing the waiting game. I waited for probably seven months and then found out that I got passed over. What really upset me the most was at the time there was another person at my work applied just because I did. You know that type of person. Everyone has one of them in their life. Well they ended up getting it and didn't even really want it. I got stuck and they travelled all over on the department's dime. But I did appreciate everyone's good thoughts for me!

2. How I Could Have Almost Went to Jail

Back in 2011, I was cruising around in my Pontiac Grand Am Sport (Aka it had two doors but no spoiler and the front passenger seat was broken and would slide forward if I braked hard). One winter night during the holiday season, at the height of  the inflatable lawn ornament craze my best friend and I  decided to drive around and ended up at a Walmart. Well my strong hate for those inflatables kicked in when we eyed the BB Guns in an isle. You can only guess from there where the story goes...

3. An edition of, The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

I have done several editions of The Good, The Bad & The Ugly. The only reason I can figure out why this one might have been so popular was the television show that I talked about that got cancelled. Geez FOX aren't you kicking yourself now? I still wish that show had continued. I bet it could have had at least one People's Choice Award by now.

4. An edition of Theater Thursday

This is by far the most seen Theater Thursday. It was a Christmas Edition and a classic Christmas movie. I included fun facts and talked about the movie. I still watch this one every year during the holidays. Do you?

5. Dynasty

I have seen every episode of the show Dynasty. When I moved to California, my mom found out that the original house that was used during the opening of the show is located only a few hours away. I set out to tour it and found out at the time of the post that it was closed for the winter season. Don't worry that summer I went and toured it!

Those are my top blog posts as of recent! Now the keywords cracked me up a little bit on how people find my space...
1. Crossing Fingers
2. Bratz Dolls
3. All I want for Christmas
4. Good Bad Ugly
5. VooDoo Dolls

Now I'm curious... how did you find my little space in the big world wide web?

This Idea Sucks

As many of you already know, Google Reader will be no more come the summer. This makes me super sad because it's how I read the blogs that I follow. So now I'm trying to figure out how to follow and read blogs in a new one. Apparently it's through Bloglovin'. 

I don't know who came up with this decision but frankly I think it sucks. Like really, really sucks. So now I've had to go onto bloglovin', create a profile and start trying to import the blogs that I read. This kinda takes the fun out of blogging and reading blogs. Does anyone else think this? 

Anyways, I've added bloglovin and I'm trying to add everyone. If you have it please let me know! 
Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Social Sunday

1. What is the name of your blog? How long have you been blogging?

Crazy Shenanigans

4 years and counting

2. Why do you blog?

I love to share my life with family and friends. Now that I've moved 2,600 miles away from my family, it's a way to keep in contact and in touch. I also love the people that I've met through blogging and in the blog community! 

3. What is the first blog you ever followed?

Sadly she doesn't blog anymore but it was called Just Another Day in Paradise.

4. What is your favorite post you wrote in 2012?

I wrote 203 blog posts in 2012 so it would be too hard to narrow it down to just one favorite but this one: Turning off the Noise , is up there in my favorites.

5. What are your blogging goals for 2013?

I would love to get more followers. I mean who wouldn't? I love it when people read what I write and join in with the comments.

6. Name your top 3 favorite blogs.

The Roaring Twenties 

Eric and Courntey 

Across The Pond 

Be a Follower!

I've been blogging steadily since the end of 2008. Over time, I've came into contact with some really great people through this outlet and I love it! I love getting comments from people, the support that's given on rough days, the thumbs up on photos and the congrats when good news comes. That's why I've decided that if I reach 800 followers by the end of the year aka on New Years Eve then I'm going to have a HUGE giveaway. 

I'm talking HUGE! 

So tell your friends! Tweet about it, blog about it. Instagram about it! If you tweet or blog about it, come back here and comment with the link and I'll save an extra entry for you in the giveaway!!! Trust me... it's going to be well worth it!!!

Sunday Social

It feels good to be back to regular blogging again! This week I'm linking up with Ashley for Sunday Social! This week it's all about blogging!

1. What is the name of your blog and how did you come up with it? Crazy Shenanigans! Living and Working through life, one crazy adventure at a time. I came up this this name because I'm always into some kind of crazy shenanigan. 

2. What do you love the most about blogging? I love the friendships that I've built with people all across the world. I also love the fact that it allows me to keep in touch with friends and family that I don't interact with everyday. 

3. What are your 2 favorite posts you've written? This is a hard one. I've been blogging for a few years and it's hard to narrow it down to just two. I'd have to say anything that has to do with vacations, Elvis Week 2012 and the holidays. 

4. What is something you'd want to tell someone just starting out in blog world? Just be you. Don't worry about people following you. Don't worry about sponsors. Just be you. 

5. Biggest blogging learning experience you've had? Not everyone is nice. 

6. Give us 3 blogs we NEED to be following that you love. I follow some really great blogs but three that I try to never miss are... 

Jackie from The Roaring Twenties and Thirties .

Megan from Across the Pond .

Krysten from Why Girls Are Weird . 

Check them out! Their all really funny, smart, clever and great bloggers! 

There's No Rain On My Parade

On Monday, I found out someone I would rather not know anything about my life found this blog. Oh great, it's going to be one of those kind of weeks. 


It instantly gave me that gut reaction of, "I'm going to shut it down." 


Then I started thinking. This is MY life. I write what I want to write. I post about what I want to post about. I like putting it all out there. The good, the bad, the ugly. It's MY life. I make the rules. I get this tiny outlet in the world, to share what I think, feel, see and do. It's my space to come and vent. To ask questions. To see other parts of people's worlds. To come in contact with people I would never have known about. To have made friendships with "strangers" who've become friends. 


So what if haters can come here and see my life. Guess what? If they didn't really care or weren't even a tiny bit jealous of my life then they wouldn't feel the need to come on here and stalk me out. I find it flattering the more that I think about it. 


So am I quitting blogging anytime soon? NOPE! I'm here to stay. And even better I'll give you some good facts. How about these jelly bellies......

I'm going to JAMAICA. To an all inclusive resort, where I plan on sunning myself while wearing sunscreen (unlike some leather face that I know). 

 

I have a fabulous family. I have fabulous friends.

 

The list could go on and on......


There's always going to be people out there who want to see you fail. There's always going to be that person who yells out petty, snide remarks. The key is to remember that those people are miserable, unhappy and want to rain on your parade. The best revenge is when you succeed. 

Blogging Friends!

This is a scheduled post. I'm currently in Memphis still...

I began my journey into the blogging world in 2008. When I first started blogging, I didn't know anyone from my real life that was also a part of the blog community. When I would mention the word "blogging", I could see a cringe from some people. It was as if I'd said a dirty word. It wasn't cool. It wasn't the hip thing to do. But I did not care. It was a fun way for me to talk about my life and share my crazy tales and travel stories. Along the way, I've met some great women and rekindled some great friendships. 

So I thought, I'd share with you some of my long time friends who blog! You may know some of them, if not... check them out. I can vouch for each and every one of them: They're awesome ladies! 

First up, Erica! 

Musings of a Suburban Girl

She's new to the blogging community but we've been friends since college. If that baby faced photo above isn't proof enough then I don't know what else to tell you! She's been reading my blog for awhile but finally started to share her witty personality with the world! Since she just moved to South Carolina... I see a road trips in the future! 

Next up, Miranda!

Hangin Loose with the Tuccis

Miranda is a WV girl now living in Hawaii with her husband Shelby and son Tristan. I've known Miranda since high school. She's also got a new blog design business. Check her out! 

Then there's Amanda!

over at It's Blogworthy 

Amanda and I met in college. We were in the same sorority but I was entering it as she was leaving. We weren't really close back in college but once we both entered the blogging world we got a chance to know each other more! She's currently living in Florida and expecting her first child with her husband! 

Last but not least Mariah!

Mariah Smile

Mariah and I went to high school together and undergrad together. However we didn't become better friends until... blogger!! Now that's she back in town from graduating from dentistry school, I hope we can hang out and go on some Sephora shopping trips together!

So there you have it. That's just a sampling of some the great women I know in the blogging community!

On the Wagon!

I usually don't jump on the bandwagon but this time I just couldn't pass it up. It looks like so much fun! So without further ado, I've joined in for the Blog Bash! 

First, I need to introduce myself to new readers: 

I'm Jennifer, I'm in my mid-20's, born and raised in West Virginia and graduated from Marshall University. I'm a big fan of traveling and do it as often as possible. I love to watch reality television, take ridiculous photos of me with food, blog and in the winter you can usually find me knitting and eating popcorn. I usually can be found on the go. If I have at least 2 days off in a row, I'm usually trying to go on a road trip. I hate being tied down and hope to one day have enough money to just travel non stop. 

Since graduating college (4 years ago...ekk!), I have moved several times. For awhile, I lived in the deep south, working for a government program. It was a great learning experience. Since then, after many different factors, I now reside back in my hometown and am planning a cross country move (which gets closer every day thank goodness). I also have an amazing family, a great circle of friends and someone special in my life. I feel very blessed and hope that life will continue to be filled with happiness and success. 

And now for the Blog Bash questions:

Why do you blog? 

I originally decided to start blogging with a friend for fun. If you go back to my very first post at the end of 2008 you'll see that it's not an "I" post. My best friend and I started blogging but after about 3 weeks, I decided to take it over and it be my space. Now I blog because I want to. It makes me happy and it lets me talk about things that I may or may not get to bring up other times. 

What do you blog about?

Basically anything! I talk about my crazy travel adventures, my neighbors, my daily life, sometimes work but never my relationship. I use to talk about my relationship but then stopped altogether. Slowly, I've been hinting back at it and I'm actually thinking of just revealing us with a photo on here. Good idea or bad idea? I can't decide Haha!

What do you find to be the biggest award you get from blogging?

Hands down, the people. Everyone (excluding one) that I've came into contact with have been nothing but supportive, caring, loving and all around awesome. I love getting to "meet" new people and share in their lives. 

How long have you been blogging?

I started blogging at the end of 2008 and haven't looked back. I love it and as far as I can see, I'm going to keep doing it.

Let's hear the story behind your blog title!

It's me! I'm always getting into Crazy Shenanigans. Live is never boring and it's never predictable. I live and work through it all one crazy adventure at a time and I wouldn't have it any other way. This is my life and I'm living it to the fullest.