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Ending My Hiatus

 April 30, 2013 - Author: admin

I wish I had pictures handy to post, since this is my first attempt to blog since February (um, three months ago) and so much has happened!  Unfortunately, as I sit here at work in my office, I am unequipped with images.

I don’t feel guilty for falling off the blogging wagon, though.  I feel the opposite: well lived, and reminded that life still happens just as greatly, or even better, off the internet.  With that fresh perspective, I return to blogging with admittedly less devotion to the internet at large (and almost no interest in blog stats), but a renewed focus on the idea that the internet can connect people who care about each other, and that I am here to be nothing but my genuine self and share my story.

So, in a nutshell here is what has transpired in my three month absence, which with any luck, I hopefully will get around to posting about soon:

  • We went on a wonderful vacation to CA in February, and reunited with dear old friends and family
  • Family pictures with the wonderful Tegyn Friedman!
  • Upon returning, discovered a surprise pregnancy! (we’d been trying for a year, so it was a fun surprise)
  • Moved into our new house!
  • Made and sold over 300 pillows via brickyard buffalo…(during first trimester woes…yikes)
  • Brigham obtaining a long term sub teaching position, and also interviewing for teaching positions next year
  • Boston Marathon weekend (and how we entertained my parents when the city shut down)
  • Home improvement overhaul in the kitchen! (new pantry, new island, new base moulding, new dining bench)
  • Budgeting, and temporarily closing my Etsy shop

Look forward to updates soon!

Jones

1 Comment - Categories: Jones, Write

8 Things that bother me about the blogging community at large

 February 1, 2013 - Author: admin

(click for image source)

Like everyone else and their dog this week, I was bombarded with an influx of #vine profiles in my favorite instagram feeders.  So, after grumbling a little bit to myself, and feeling akin to a single cow in a giant herd making a mass exodus for the hills…I, like others, succumbed to peer influences and created an account.

And then I clicked ‘follow’ on all my favorite bloggers (all 2 of them) and then I clicked on who they follow, and clicked ‘follow’ again on most of them…hoping for some fun and interesting inspiration in my daily feed.

What I’ve been finding instead, though, is a creepy mix of children’s bedtime/dinnertime/bathtime rituals (is anything private anymore?)… shaky filming, really poor editing skills, and a lingering feeling that I am sitting in the family room of a stranger watching boring-to-me home videos…wondering why I am even there in the first place.  Am I alone on this point?  I’m not saying the app doesn’t have potential, once people figure out how to use it properly, or I mean, at least artistically.  But that’s the thing, isn’t it?

What is proper use?

I heard on NPR yesterday afternoon, that it historically takes people at least a generation to figure out how to safely operate new technology.  I don’t profess to be an expert on any type of technology nor the Internet, nor social media, nor blogging, but I’ll take NPR’s word for it and assume that in the millennial age of the Internet, we’re not quite there yet — particularly when it comes to our general lack of self regulation and propensity to over-share, and place implicit trust in the small percentage of people profiting billions off of those two qualities.

That said, as a blogger (and I reluctantly label myself that), I think it’s time to put my 2 cents in on what I’ve observed over the past year or so, from personal experience and from an observer.  I feel specifically inclined to comment on the small niche of internet that I frequent daily: mom blogs, design blogs and pinterest.

And I’m just going to say it.  Ladies, things are getting out of hand!

Without further ado, I bring you my list of the 8 things that bother me about the blogging community at large.

[please note, these are not criticisms of particular blogs, just blog trends in general]

1. Blog Conferences & Carbon Copies

2. Perpetual Photo Shoots

3. Over Accessorizing

4. Over Designing

5. Over Advertising

6. Over Sharing

7. Over Branding

8. No Interesting Content

And because I love to elaborate and write, even though most of this list is self explanatory, here is an exhaustive summary on why each of these things are problematic for me.

Blog Conferences & Carbon Copies.  Every time I have seen a major blog conference happen (or get promoted online, and see blips of it on instagram), I subsequently see (a) shameless advertising for #bing (hmmm) (b) excessive worry about what people are going to wear to impress other people (c) following the money here – the web developer or search engine hosts an event for exposure and notoriety, top bloggers get paid to speak and get a free trip, and then the wannabes foot the bill – and (d) after the conference ends, bloggers/instagrammers start to morph into one another to stay “on trend.”

I think if your blog is worthwhile, people will find it and enjoy it, and no blog conference will turn you magically from a fledgling blogger into a starlet.  Sure, there are great opportunities to party and network – but, I mean, network?  You’re a blogger – isn’t that what the internet is for?  Unless you’re speaking and getting paid, or want to pay to make new friends, blog conferences are kind of overhyped.

Perpetual Photo Shoots.  I’m just going to leave this one unexplained.

Over Accessorizing.  I’m all for a good arm party or classy fashion post, but when you start looking like a 4 year old little girl who has hacked into her mom’s closet and dressed herself with everything she can reach, you may be trying a bit too hard.  Fashion bloggers, it’s beyond okay to skip a few trends from time to time, or, in some cases, often.  Keep it classy and you’ll minimize regrets 10 years from now (when p.s., those pictures will be just one google search away).

Over Designing.  I’m the first one to appreciate good design.  I love designing!  But so many miss the mark on this one, over-designing or worse, badly-designing every single photo shoot, post, linky, advertisement, title, etc. to the point that it is actually no longer enjoyable and overwhelming to look at. The key to EDIT people.  Focal points apply to blogs too!  Also, when everything is special, is anything special?  Something to think about.  Juxtaposition does wonders for good design.  On a related side note, please cool it on the patterns and colors overload!

Over Advertising.  I can’t even tell you how many times I have excitedly clicked on a pinterest link over to a blog tutorial, and almost immediately clicked away because I was immediately inundated with banner adds, pop up adds, sidebar adds, adds designed to hover over exactly what you are trying to read.  I mean, you may as well throw trash all over your blog and call it a day, because that’s exactly what I do 2 seconds before I close the browser and move on, and never come back.

Over Sharing.  Again, the practice of disciplined editing would add remarkable value.  Above all, think of the children.

Over Branding.  I know that the internet would have us believe otherwise, but people are not, in fact, brands.  People are people.  Brands are brands.  People have pets, and children, and relationships.  Companies have brands.  If you feel inclined to brand yourself and everything in your life or on your blog with ‘your mark’ or worse, another company’s mark, please start a company and brand that instead.

No Interesting Content.  Okay, this one is totally subjective to readership, admittedly.  But am I wrong here that some serious, full time bloggers have almost nothing interesting to say, even though they have a beautifully designed page and decent pictures?

Okay, the rant is officially over.  I suppose this is me resisting to the pull of blogging trends, and per my usual protocol, marching to the beat of my own drum with unlikely, unwarranted conviction.

This blog gets over 20,000 hits per month.  Originally, it seemed logical to aspire to monetize and make money from advertisements, but it quickly became apparent to me that advertising and sponsorship is not the way to go, even though I invested my own money into buying a domain and server host, and I have spent countless hours building and designing it.  It’s not the way to go because turning this blog into a business might dilute the purpose of creating the blog in the first place – and I don’t want to run that risk.  At least, not for a very long time.

So, for now, dear readers and friends, you can certainly count on us here at everythingforthelove NOT joining in on the hyper-amazing-festivities happening elsewhere.  Hopefully, to your refreshing relief!

-Jones

 

6 Comments - Categories: Jones, Write

A View from the Top

 January 30, 2013 - Author: admin

(click image for source)

In the past 30 days Brigham and I have…

…jumped into purchasing a home (99% there – 2 weeks to go), and therefore experienced every conceivable emotion from joy to relief to frustration and tried patience, to hope and back to joy. {When you get there, basically, it is the emotional equivalent of falling desperately in love, hastily proposing to someone with a huge rock -aka your life savings-…and waiting one month for them to field your competition and get back to you}

…sold out of 140+ pillows IN 4 HOURS thanks to the marketing geniuses at Brickyard Buffalo (making this little etsy shop a viable prospective full time job, and super fun to think about and plan and design for)

…graduated ‘cum laude’ (Brigham) from the Boston Conservatory with TWO distinguished Master’s degrees in Music Performance and Music Education

…been selected for a prestigious award (Brigham) as THE  standout “Most Promising Music Educator” from the Boston Conservatory by overwhelming vote from the faculty.  The award will be presented at the Massachusetts Music Education Department in March, by the keynote speaker.


…started plans (Brigham & Mike) to make a new (3rd) CD to hopefully be released Summer 2013!

…been requested to play a fireside in CA later this year (Brigham)

…been offered a dream job (Brigham…at least for now) as a long term substitute Strings Teacher for someone going on maternity leave.

…released sheet music online for purchase so that anyone can play Hardey and Welch music (Brigham worked really hard on that one)

…got back in touch (i.e. long and enjoyable phone conversations) with almost all of my best friends!  Love them so much!

…accepted new callings to serve as mentors to youth in our ward.  We are both honored and excited about this!

…joined an indoor soccer team!  And I’m thrilled about it.

…booked a trip to our homeland (so cal) for some much needed sunshine and enjoyment.

Perhaps it is because I live on the 3rd floor, and all it takes have ‘a view’ is to peek out my bedroom window, but obviously it is much, much more meaningful than that.  It’s even more than the ocean view from upstairs at our new house.  More than any physical view, it is all of our recent blessings lifting me up to see how wonderful it feels to have believed in a path that was difficult at times to believe in, endured the journey tenaciously, and now seen it through to completion.  I feel like a champion who is very much at the peak of a mountain top, seeing everything so clearly, after never-ending treacherous switchbacks, and everywhere I look I am literally overwhelmed by the beautiful scenery, while simultaneously experiencing a deep, deep sense of sanctification and appreciation and in particular, vindication, for the journey and struggles and climb and the faith that carried me up to this point of joyful resolution.  And as an added bonus, now I understand why my dad climbs Mt Whitney every other year.

Particularly as I reflect on the decade of my 20′s (my days in this era are numbered – thankfully), it’s easy to recall the knotted mess of confusion and heartache that was constantly abounding as I searched tirelessly for a place to plant my roots and flourish, but seemed to be met with constant disappointment.  For so long, nothing fit.  For so long, something was always off, and preventing me from success and enjoyment and accomplishment.  I was basically Edith Crawley.  But now, everything clicks, and everything we work hard for actually happens.

I see myself in my current condition – thriving, utterly unscathed and whole and happy to the highest degree that one can feel happiness, able to love and forgive and express compassion and understanding; happy self, happy marriage, happy friendships, happy accomplishments, happy testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and beyond optimistic about the future.  And then I ponder “how is it that I have been so blessed?” I have not been particularly fantastic or spiritual or fanatical or diligent – I’ve just consistently followed my heart and put one foot in front of the other, and hoped that one day karma would eventually accumulate to my benefit.  To that end, I can say that the Lord has remembered and returned my fondest, forgotten hopes in great detail.  It is astonishing what Christ can do with our lives when we faithfully endure.  What he wants to do and clearly will do in his own time and his own way, it is utterly breath taking.  And I am one grateful girl.

Hebrews 12:2

“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

-Jones

 

No Comments - Categories: Insight, Jones, Write

Settling into 2013

 January 4, 2013 - Author: admin

It’s a New Year!

In the past month, I have made some honest assessments with regards to my personal life, my professional life, my creative life, my spiritual life, my family life, my financial life, my school life, and how it all rolls into one to help me measure up to the happiness I hope to live each day with.  I have examined everything from how often I blog, to how and why I have drifted from reading my scriptures everyday, to how I treat my husband, family and friends, how much time I waste on facebook and instagram, or the internet at large, to time spent watching TV, to giving service (or not), to exactly how much money I spend and exactly why I save it, or give it away.  Like I said, I’ve looked at everything.  And in 2012 I have come up short.

Now, I didn’t consciously wake up on mid-December and tell myself: “you need to think about all these things.”  But I just sort of recognized that the world was changing, and so was I, and I was not sure how much I consciously had anything to do with it.  Strangely, I have felt slightly out of focus, even though I can avidly recognize that I’ve been extremely blessed more so than any other time in my life.  That relationship of being foggy midst abundant blessings is what really hit me.  Why?

I can think of a few good reasons.  All of them have something to do with not putting my whole heart into my everyday activities.  And in the new year season, I want to make sure that I have something to do with changing focus.  Changing me.

As a result, you may not hear from me as often on this blog.  Pardon me while I spend my time in real life.  I’ll reserve this space for important and interesting updates, the special things!

So, the focus is changing this year.

So 2013, you will be the year of full purpose of heart.

No Comments - Categories: Insight, Jones, Write

Flashback Friday: IWA

 December 14, 2012 - Author: admin

Happy Friday everyone!

Oh blog, it’s been far too long…

Well, our good friend Meg dug up some photos from back in the day and since I am in ummm… ALL of them, it’s only appropriate that I do the “talking”! (Turns out I had A LOT more photos too!)

*Disclaimer: Friends, please don’t hate me. We all have regrets over past clothing choices, hair styles,  and at least for me, dabbled in the freshman 15… but the memories. The memories!*

So we’ve mentioned more than once on this blog that our college days were some of the best days of our lives. So many of the great friendships and memories I made were due in part to being involved in a program called, IWA (Institute Women’s Association).

A quick history, for you unfamiliar with the lingo:

Institute Women’s Association used to be called Lambda Delta Sigma… and was like a sorority for Institute. (And if you’re really not keyed in to the LDS lingo – Institute is a place usually associated with a college campus where you can take religion classes. At CSULB, there was an institute building basically on the campus. Each semester you could register for a religion class… like Book of Mormon, New Testament, Teachings of the Prophets, etc…)  Institute also happens to be a place for the singles to mingle! And where in fact, I first met my husband. (How about that?!)

I remember the first activity I was invited to… and I almost didn’t go. I wasn’t sure that I wanted to be a part of another extra curricular activity. Little did I know that I would become very involved with the program and how it would shape so many of the great college experiences I had.

Now might be a good time to mention Bro. Jones, our institute director. He was sweetest, kindest man… and sadly passed away in the spring of 2006. I can’t think of institute without thinking of him. He always cheered us on and encouraged us… was always willing to listen and I know genuinely loved us.

I started going to IWA my freshman year and by the beginning of my sophomore year, I was called to be the IWA president. It was a tough calling to have! We met almost weekly and had a planned activity each time we met. We centered a lot of our activities on service and fostering spiritual growth.

I spent a couple of hours delving into some of my journals from way back when, seeing if I wrote down any of the activities that we did… after weeding through pages of entries that had a lot to do with worrying about guys, money, roomie drama, and my weight… I did find some gems! (Oh, if only my future self could visit my past self – I would have a thing or two to say! Like… DON’T WORRY SO MUCH!)

Anyway…

Let’s let some of the pictures do the talking:

Sis. Wurtz! Our IWA “Mom” if you will… she was our “adult” support in the program. She was a super great lady and I appreciate all she did for us!

Meeting at a restaurant, yes please!

Sis. Wurtz hosted a sleep over at her place and fed us!

We helped clean a battered woman’s shelter… (I remember this pic was taken there, but the rest of the pictures are pretty bad. You ladies might not forgive me if I posted them)

IWA even had an official “logo”. I know each picture stood for something… Too bad I can’t remember now :( Charity? Service? Anyone remember?

We were in charge of an 80′s themed dance… and were the only ones to dress up.

Yep.

Note: my AWESOME boots. At the time we could not get over how hideous these boots were. I think I got them at a thrift store for a dollar or two. And NOW, you see that style of boot EVERYWHERE – maybe not in that color. Clearly I was a budding trend setter. NOT. (Check out that blonde-mop hair… no bueno!)

We had a few formals.

And we bowled. Of course.

 We were also tasked with decorating the institute for Christmas each year. (With a little help from the IMA)

And probably my favorite thing we did… Bonfires at Balboa Beach. We usually went around and shared a favorite scripture or testimony building experience. These ladies’ love of the gospel was so inspiring to me.

And while this isn’t exactly an IWA activity… it was at institute. That there is the hubs, trying to play it cool and put the moves on me. Haha.

 I am so grateful for institute and for IWA! If you have one nearby, you should go! I highly recommend it.

3 Comments - Categories: Bayba, Flash-Back Friday

The many talents of Sarah {anne b}

 November 27, 2012 - Author: admin

Since this is a creative accountability blog, we like to make every effort to acknowledge and support friends who are proactively making an effort to be creative {we are not a for-profit blog- this blog exists solely to foster community and creativity and inspire others to create}.  Sarah is one of those talented friends.  I introduced Sarah on the blog when she came up to visit Boston this summer, and we frolicked around town all weekend long…

It was a fun time, but since then, she has been busy doing everything you can imagine!  Lead dancer in a flash-mob? Check.  Blogger?  Check.  Etsy Shop owner?  Check.  Online video tutorial host?  Check.  I wanted to feature her beautiful handbags today because I just love her style and it is also inspiring to see my friends pursuing their talents. 

Hope you enjoy her creations as much as I do!  If you want to learn how to sew similar purses, she has great tutorials on her blog (and links to the finished products if you’re not the crafty type)! 

-Jones

No Comments - Categories: Art, Guest Bloggers, Make, Sew, Write

Cyber Monday Sale 50-70% Off!

 November 26, 2012 - Author: admin
brickyard buffalo deal

I am so excited to announce that I officially get to cross #10 off my 30 before 30 list only one week after my 29th birthday!  I am going to be featured on the daily deal site Brickyard Buffalo for the entire week, and there is more to come later in the month!  For those unfamiliar with this site, Brickyard Buffalo has a specific style and aesthetic and only feature high quality, handmade or unique items.This deal is only available on their website, so please {click the image below} head on over there and check out all their cute things!  I feel so honored to be featured among such classy and cute vendors!  Thanks!  I hope you enjoy it!

UPDATE!!!

And speaking of buffalos…this one is courtesy of Bayba.


-Jones

No Comments - Categories: Art, Jones, Make

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