Comments on: Evolution. Blogging. Evolution of a blog.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 04:18:27 +0000

Well, Beautiful Blog Designs has certainly grown and evolved. Where it will be four more years down the road – who knows.

Moving Forward, my personal blog, has kind of reduced in size. This year it looks like it’s going to be more of a photo blog than anything else. I’ve only had it for 1.5 years, so it still has more time to change again and again.

I agree, add back some stuff on the side. I would love the photography props and Etsy stuff (so addicted to Etsy).
Amanda´s last blog ..365-29 The News

By: Amy

Amy — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:25:27 +0000

I am so new at this…still learning and evolving. I suppose that will never stop, and if it does, than I should stop blogging . Thanks for the post!
Amy´s last blog ..The foyer remodel that almost brought on early labor

By: Mary Jean Taylor

Mary Jean Taylor — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 03:18:48 +0000

darcy-
i like it! I like that I came and read and enjoyed your words and thoughts that you took time to write. I did not feel distracted (I’m totally ADD) by anything on your sidebar. Sometimes when I see all that stuff I have a small panic attack b/c it all looks so fab and i want to take it all in, and then I start clicking and I’m deep into it and forget that Oh my gosh, I have kids, and i was suppose to put them to bed like 30 min. ago! So, thanks for all of us ADDers! Distraction free can be a good thing!

MJ
Mary Jean Taylor´s last blog ..The Kelly Ripa Arm Project

By: Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:26:17 +0000

Oh yeah, the evolving has definitely happened and it’s mostly been good. I’m hitting my 3 yr. anniversary Feb. 1st & have loved every minute of it. Glad I started when I did. It’s been quite a ride & I can’t wait to make more changes on my blog & see where else it will go.

Enjoyed your Blissdom post! I confess, I bought some mini-Moos, since they were so popular last year. I can’t wait to meet you!!

By: Anna K.

Anna K. — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 04:37:40 +0000

I’ve loved watching your blog evolve (and your businesses take off)! I come here for you, baby, not the ads. ;o)

As for my bloggy evolution…I’m in desperate need of a change. I would like to somehow link/integrate my art business and pursuits with my personal blog and Blogger just ain’t cuttin’ it. But growth, even when uncomfortable, is a good thing, no?

PS~ Took a gander at tax info. for small businesses/self employment….Oh, my!
Anna K.´s last blog ..Singing at a funeral….not as easy as I thought.

By: Tracy

Tracy — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 22:57:58 +0000

I love it. I love no ads. I would love to have a peak of what you know, though. I guess that I would like it somewhere other than where I am reading. Is that an answer?

My husband and I will be together five years in 2010, dating and all. I view your blogging as an evolution parallel to my marriage. I would say that you are definitely married by now.

By: Amy loves Bud

Amy loves Bud — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 20:24:24 +0000

Darcy, I don’t comment here much, but I do keep an eye on what you’re up to. I’ve been blogging since 2003 .I lost my first blog in the terrible Upsaid disaster, then moved to blogspot, where I’ve had a couple of different set-ups. But honestly I haven’t evolved much and with my new blog, I’m trying to move past 2003 in my blogging.

I honestly like to see ads, as long as there are not too many. I don’t like too much visual clutter, but a well-placed recommendation from someone I cyber-trust means a lot to me. I don’t like to go to the mall to shop – hate it really. And if I have to buy something, I’d rather someone like you get a cut – what an awesome thing to be able to support one another that way!

Giveaways can sometimes feel like a desperate grab for readers to me, (in general, not referring specifically to you – I think you probably know what I”m talking about) but an occasional giveaway, especially if a company gives you the product is just fine.

I love your wide layout. Really love it! It’s so relaxing to come here and read after all the busy-ness of so many blogs.

And there you go. My not so humble opinion! -Amy
Amy loves Bud´s last blog ..Rules for Kids by a Mom

By: Ruthanne

Ruthanne — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 18:21:52 +0000

I like everything you like. I want to buy everything you have.

So, basically ~ I wanna be like you. Walk like you. Talk like you, too-oo-oo-oooo.

I’m with Marsha on the Google ads and BlogHer ads. I never, ever, ever {like evah} click on those. What I like are recommendations to products/people that you luuuurv. Take Etsy, for example. I love Etsy, but it’s so vast that I know I’m missing out on some really awesome finds. You probably know tons of people who sell stuff on Etsy. I would highly value your recommendation on a product!

Been blogging for 2 years this March. {Go, Ruthanne!} When I started my blog, our family was just starting to come out of a pit of despair. Feeling heartbroken and bitter, I blogged that way. No wonder nobody read it back then! Blogging has been healing for me. I’ve found love, acceptance, encouragement, friendship and a whole gaggle of cheerleaders.
Ruthanne´s last blog ..A Valentine’s Day Treat

By: Beth @ Pages of Our Life

Beth @ Pages of Our Life — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:28:37 +0000

Congrats on 5 years! As a photography lover I don’t think I could part with my clean white space {If I had it). ; ) I love your recommendations. Your one of the few people I value listening to, because you only talk about what you love. What about a separate page of your favorite things with pictures of course! You could blog about things as you discover them and then add them to that page.
Beth @ Pages of Our Life´s last blog ..new {baby} and where I’ve been lately….

By: Richella

Richella — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:07:00 +0000

I’m still such a newbie that my opinion hardly counts. But since you asked. . . .

I like ads, links, giveaways, and all the rest, as long as they’re well-organized. If they’re on the side, I can choose to disregard them if I’m in a disregarding mood, or I can choose to read through them and link on them if I wish. I love the fact that a blogger might earn a bit of income and advertisers might gain some exposure and traffic. And I especially love learning about other bloggers via links.

I may be alone in this, but I personally prefer a more narrow column of text. Wide photos are beautiful, but wide lines of text are hard for me to follow, literally and figuratively.

You are my hero for blogging for five years. I’m so glad you stuck with it, since otherwise I never would have known you.
Richella´s last blog ..Rainy days and Mondays

By: shruti

shruti — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 08:28:30 +0000

i would love to know people from your network, but ours is more of one sided love affair!

i would have participated in your previous mcklinky too but i have same paranoid streak like yours when you went to grand canyon holiday….see your stats if you know what i mean…

anyhow…i prefer wide images and would prefer yours to be home of some awsome photo meme like shadow shot sunday, color carnival, i heart faces kind of thing..

By: Marsha

Marsha — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 05:50:49 +0000

hey, my old blog was born in 2005 too! and now it’s all stylish and modern thanks to YOU! does that mean we are practically twins… fraternal twins?

i don’t like the blogher or adsense ads at all. they just seem so fake.

i DO like to know tidbits about what people are reading, where they like to visit, fun new finds… those little pieces help paint the bigger picture of a person.
Marsha´s last blog ..F-R-I-D-A-Y

By: Tina

Tina — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 03:46:18 +0000

You’re welcome!

By: Heathahlee

Heathahlee — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 03:38:12 +0000

I’m coming up in April on 2 years, and I’m still evolving. I am so ADD I don’t focus on one thing long enough to decide if I like it enough to make it a regular part of the blog. I do know that I love networking and love meeting new bloggers and staying connected with seasoned bloggers, however that happens. I do have a blogher ad on my blog, but it makes me next to nothing. I’ve been considering canning it.

I know I don’t comment that much but I am still reading…however you decide to “evolve.” : )

How else will I get my grammar questions answered?
Heathahlee´s last blog ..A Hero Once More….My Husband Rocks!

By: Debi

Debi — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:21:26 +0000

I agree with Renea. I like a few, carefully chosen, sidebar buttons … that’s how I found YOU!
It helps us ‘newbies’ out tremendously!
Debi´s last blog ..Children and Chores

By: Darcy

Darcy — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:04:28 +0000

Veddy, veddy interesting, Renea. “You were a sidebar button at one time.”

And I do love me some link love. That’s just the kind of networking I’m talkin’ about.

By: Renea

Renea — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 23:29:06 +0000

I like both. Enjoy the bloggin’ but gotta have me some link love too! It’s the only way to find other great people on the www like you! After all….. you were a sidebar button at one time. I can’t remember who shared you with me, but I’ve linked to your site from my blog now too. I like links to other sites and even suggestions of things people have tried or organizations they support. But not a major fan of the ‘blogher’ ads or adsense to make money. Just my .02
Renea´s last blog ..[ The 'Good ole USA' ]

By: Darcy

Darcy — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 21:32:54 +0000

Sharon –

Hey – congrats on your new job. Now that’s a cool outcome for all your hard work.

By: Darcy

Darcy — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 21:23:29 +0000

“commitment issue” *snort*

By: Darcy

Darcy — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 21:07:13 +0000

ps – thanks for stickin’ with me all this time. <3

By: Darcy

Darcy — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 21:06:03 +0000

ha! Yes, back before music was widespread and it wasn’t a clutter of noise. Those were the good ol’ days.

They were on the Graphically Designing site. They are still there, but hard to find since I changed it to a site instead of a blog.

but I love this idea! I can totally make an html coding reference sheet. It would probably save me a lot of emails, too. not that I don’t love hearing from you all. I do! But I rather chat about just about anything other than code.

By: Darcy

Darcy — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 21:03:40 +0000

Becca,

You need a “gravatar”. I’d love to see your pretty face. Once you sign up, you will be seen on ALL wp blogs you network with.

Go here: http://en.gravatar.com/

Can’t wait to “see” ya!

By: becca

becca — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 20:05:47 +0000

quick question, how to I add a profile picture for when I comment here? have you already told us how? if so just direct me to that post!
becca´s last blog ..Words

By: becca

becca — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 20:04:46 +0000

I’m torn. I LOVE your new wide layout and picture size but I also like finding new places and I really appreciate and value the things you recommend. That probably doesn’t help much.
I say go back to having a few things on the sidebar. You’d be able to have the best of both worlds since you’d still be able to have the big beautiful pictures.
becca´s last blog ..Words

By: Tina

Tina — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 19:55:24 +0000

I can’t believe that it’s been five years. I remember when I first came to your site, you had a music player and it played KT Tunstall’s Suddenly I See. I loved that song, had to go buy it afterward! I’ve been evolving myself, unfortunately I’ve switched web homes each time. I just felt like each new venture needed a new home to go with it. I love the wide layout, but I do love hearing about the places you love. One thing that I really miss is that you had some AWESOME html tutorials either hear or on your graphic site. Ones that I’m still using the information from, but I wish that they were still around so I could get a refresher instead of having search through the internet for them
Looking forward to the next five years!