You Have Options, Very Cool Options, For Viewing This Blog

Scrolling linearly through blog posts is so old school. Blogger now has dynamic viewing options.You can view any site powered by Blogger in one of five different ways: Flipcard, Mosaic, Sidebar, Snapshot, or Timeslide. Click here to see my blog my two favorite ways: Flipcard style and Snapshot style. Very, very cool.

Blogs I'm Following Lately

I like to read blogs. I’ve posted links to the blogs I’ve followed before. I thought I’d share what’s been getting my attention lately.

http://reaganleigh.blogspot.com/  – I don’t think this mom will mind me sharing, it is a public site. If anything you’ll be introduced to another child like Mitchell to add to your prayer list. What’s remarkable about Reagan is how similar she seems to Mitchell. Just 6 days younger, Reagan’s delays are the same as Mitchell’s – she’s got cortical vision impairment, seizures, difficulty sleeping and even bites her fingers! Her mom does a great job of detailed every day’s activities. I understand why she would. A blog can be the best record of your family’s life.

http://www.tinyprints.com/  – I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this site and the custom cards and papers they create, not to mention the company's blog. I especially frequent their Thursday deals. Great service and quality!

http://bigthink.com/blogs/think-tank - Feel free to wander around, but as this section of the site says you can find "big ideas in small doses." This site challenges my thinking.

http://www.kellehampton.com/ - This mom is an amazing self-taught photographer and I've been trying to copy her style on my own. Yes, I have a way to go. Mom to 2 girls, one who happens to have Down Syndrome, her blog is vibrant and full of love and resiliency.

http://jonesdesigncompany.com/ - In a word, tasteful. I really enjoy her art prints and the messages they convey.

http://meandjilly.blogspot.com/ - More good taste plus these friends' ability to create design from deals is something to admire.

http://www.thetomkatstudio.com/ - Party ideas galore, this site has influenced my entertaining. Although my degree of creativity as well as time cause my versions to have more restraint!

I love a good writer and storyteller regardless the focus, so feel free to send good blog links to me!

How I (Blog) Roll

I've been reading a lot of "family" blogs - ones like this one that aren't commercial and basically are downloads of parenting happenings and musings. I've found something out. Some are hard to read.

I worry my posts are hard to read. You let me know on that. But in my attempts to be a clear communicator in this blog world, here's my approach:

• I post a lot of pictures. People like pictures. Especially family and friends who don't see us much. Case in point, I save every Christmas card that comes with a photo. I pitch the other ones. (If you send one sans photo, don't worry. I hang it up and truly enjoy it for its season!)
• I don't start a post in the middle of a conversation - you will be confused. It is not redundant to frame the discussion topic even though you get inside my head regularly at It's Browning.
• I mix up more reflective and introspective posts with shorter or frivolous messages. That way you don't think I'm overly self-consumed or worse, depressed.
• I do not post large blocks of text. Or at least I try not to. It's too hard to read! This is my biggest pet peeve about other sites. (Is a long bulleted list a large block of text?)
• I sometimes don't care about typos or grammar issues. In real life I care a great deal about these thigns, but sometimes not time to edat when u'r poring your sole out.
• I attempt to insert posts occasionally with helpful hints or neat sites I've found. Other moms/bloggers sell things or showcase their crafts.
• Rarely I've included a post written by others. I'd love to do this more. If you are interested in submitting a post, just email me.
• I break the rules I know about consistency and branding and change up the look of my site quite frequently. I rearrange my furniture a lot too. I hope maybe you are periodically surprised when you visit and the page looks different.

I saw these suggestions for blogging at: http://flowerdust.net/2010/01/06/how-to-be-the-most-awesomest-blogger-ever

Be engaging.

Make it thoughtful.

Be kind, and truthful.

And above everything else, show love.

But without being yourself, your blog will never be the best it can be.

I find when I'm bold enough to be transparent with our situation and my feelings on this blog, I somehow receive back a tangible hug in this virtual world - whether it be through an encouraging comment, an off the record email or an in person squeeze that comes just when I need it!