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The Misadventures of Mrs. B: Two BIG Questions!!

Cook. Writer. Wife. Daughter. Sister. Friend. Klutz.

Friday, April 9, 2010

Two BIG Questions!!

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately, the central theme of which is the direction and growth of this blog.

Blogging has brought me such joy and sense of purpose, I can't even explain it.  I have met amazing, talented and wonderful people who I adore and am inspired by on a daily basis.

But I find that this little old blog of mine has evolved into something far different from what I had originally intended a year ago.

I started this thing in an attempt to record the stupid, silly, clumsy happenings of my life and the stories surrounding them.  Because there's a lot of them.  Like, a lot a lot.  And I felt that my title reflected that.

Now I'm blogging about food, mostly, with random thoughts and little domestic tidbits thrown in there from time to time.  I would like to expand into a home and garden section if, you know, I ever stop killing the things I plant (although my basil and parsley finally look like they're growing actual leaves and not just sprouts! I cannot tell you the joy I felt!!).  Those are the sorts of blogs I connect most to, and the kind of blog I want to have.  Of course humor will always be a part of it because, well, life is funny.

Anyway, I'm sitting here breaking my brain over this.  Agonizing, really, over the idea of starting a NEW blog with all the old material in place but one which would allow me to go in the direction I want to go.  Away from misadventures and on to...other adventures.  "Misadventures", when my blog focuses mostly on cooking, makes it sound like I burn everything.  That's just my opinion.

I finally texted my best friend, aka my husband, aka Rob and asked him: "Who are my readers? Why do they read?".  His answer? "Ask them".

And the heavens opened and God said "DUH!".

Then he added, "Have a blog naming contest".

I won't tell you the verbatim reply to that one.  Let's just say it inspired me and leave it at that.

So that's what I'm doing.  I'm leaving it up to you...for the most part.  I want to know what your ideas are and we'll see if any of them ring my bell! And I'll have a special, as-yet-undecided gift for the reader whose idea comes closest to the one I have in mind.  I think it should be a personalized gift, so it depends on the reader.

My question is therefore twofold, and will be open for the next two weeks:
1) Who are you, friend? What is important to you? Do you feel that there are people like you, sweet reader, who would also enjoy what I have to offer?

2) When I rename and reconfigure my blog, which I will be doing, what should the title be? I have several ideas floating around in my head already but am open to suggestions! Who do YOU think I am? How does that translate into a name of a blog?

Now I am trusting you folks with my life! Okay.  Maybe not that serious.  But definitely with my blog which, as my husband will tell you, has become a pretty big part of my life.

Thanks in advance for your feedback, friends - and thanks, always, for reading!

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11 Comments:

Blogger Michelle said...

Oh wow that's tough. What about something like The Cookbook of Life? It encompasses the food, the gardening, the entertaining moments of life, etc. But yeah.. .that might take me the whole two weeks to come up with something :)

April 9, 2010 at 10:08 PM

 
Blogger Steph said...

It seems like everyone reaches a point of re-evaluating their blog (blogs do have a tendency to get away from us). What I like about your blog is hearing your own personality and voice - your fun thoughts and life stories. I also like that there are yummy recipes mixed in. So I'm not very much help (not too creative over here). But I will look forward to seeing where you end up.

April 10, 2010 at 12:56 AM

 
Blogger Brian + Cheryl B. said...

Hi Jen :-}
I read this posting and thought 'oh great! Here I go and comment on my blog about how much the title of your blog could apply to me and you then decide that you need to change the name of your blog. Good going Cheryl.' ;-p

You wrote, "I started this thing in an attempt to record the stupid, silly, clumsy happenings of my life and the stories surrounding them. Because there's a lot of them. Like, a lot a lot. And I felt that my title reflected that."

Jen, a LOT of us really enjoy reading those types of things!!! I, like "Steph." like how you do let your whit and personality shine through even when your posting a recipe. But I also like just reading about the 'misadventures' in your life, such as wearing new shoes without stockings. Many of us enjoy reading those type of things because of their reassurance factors - we AREN'T the only ones whom do things like that.

So... my suggestion is two fold (Hey, you asked two questions, so it is only fair o:-p)

First, I would recommend that you start a second blog. And my recommendation for it's title is "The Adventurous Mrs. B.". Use the new blog for postings about cooking and baking and gardening, etc..

Secondly, I would suggest that you keep this blog and it's title. Then start posting the type/style of postings you had originally intended to post about.

I bet (well, I would if I were a betting woman that is o;-p) that MANY of us, your readers, will end up being addicted to and enjoying both of your blogs.

There, that's my 'two cents worth' on your second question. o;-p

Now, back to the first question. (I didn't have to do them in order to be able to be entered in your contest did I?)

Actually, I answered part of the first question in the process of answering your second one (Whew - that should then cover any disqualification issues o;-b).

Who am I? I am Mrs. Cheryl B.. Wife to Brian. Mom to four now grown sons. MIL to one. Grandmother to one absolutely adorable grand daughter, whom I refer to as 'my sweetheart'.

What is important to me?
- My family. Very much so!!
- My Lord. And trying to live a life that will both shine for him and glorify him.
- The blessings in my life whom allow me to call them friends.
- Chocolate. (Of course!!!)
- Doing things for others. Being an encouragement to others.
- Cooking and baking foods that don't require a bank loan to purchase the ingredients for, but which satisfy the taste buds as well as the stomach.

Who do I think you are?
- A loving wife whom has also taken on the caring for her FIL, and yet has not neglected the loving friendships in her own family.
- A younger than me lady, whom has a wonderful sassy sense of humor. And she's learned to laugh at life rather than never stop crying.
- Somebody whom enjoys food. ~Eating it. ~Bravely trying new froms of it when the oppurtunity presents itself. ~Cooking and baking it.

May today bring many smiles your way my friend! :-}

April 10, 2010 at 12:28 PM

 
Anonymous Karen, author of "My Funny Dad, Harry" said...

I liked when you said ""Misadventures", when my blog focuses mostly on cooking, makes it sound like I burn everything." LOL

I think if you blog that much about food, you should definitely have a separate blog just for that. I don't read food blogs much but enjoy your other types of posts on here.

I have 3 blogs going now and am debating about just consolidating two of them into the one. I don't know what to do either.

Visiting from Blog Frog.

April 10, 2010 at 1:07 PM

 
Blogger Jo said...

Well, i am here to be of little help to you ... i love your blog title ... "misadventures" always has a bit of mischief, fun & adventure to it ... and it stands out ... the name grabs my attention! I'm not a really foodie so that is not what i look for in a blog but everyday humour and misadventures reassure me that there is hope for me yet :) See .... no help at all!

April 10, 2010 at 5:27 PM

 
Blogger MrsJenB said...

Thanks, everyone, for your helpful feedback so far! It's so neat, seeing what everyone thinks!

April 10, 2010 at 7:50 PM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey! I am new to your blog, but I just want to say what I have read so far I really like. I like hearing about random happenings in peoples lives as well as just recipes!
I'm also loving the 'misadventures' in the title. I say keep it. But I'm no expert.
Keep us up to date :) Love your pretty cinnamon rolls :)

April 10, 2010 at 7:53 PM

 
Blogger alicia said...

I think your name is cute. What's wrong with it?

April 12, 2010 at 9:45 PM

 
Blogger threesidesofcrazy said...

Jen, this is a tough one and one that I too have gone through recently and why OUR KrAzY kitchen and Always Eat On The Good China were both born. They are both thriving and in both cases I followed my gut. I suggest you follow your heart and your passion until it leads you to that special place and name. I do love your blog title though so maybe you want to keep it and just make a separate cooking blog?

April 13, 2010 at 1:10 AM

 
Blogger Inspired by eRecipeCards said...

I am in the midst of asking the same questions... Heck, i don;t even have a grill anymore, shows how worthless my name is...

John Lennon says, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans"

Stuff happens

But my advice for a new name would be, "Jen's Delicious Life"

;)

April 14, 2010 at 3:39 PM

 
Blogger MrsJenB said...

Ahem. Good idea, Dave. You must be a super genius.

See, I'm glad I'm not the only one who goes through this. If anything, I'm taking a lesson here.

April 14, 2010 at 3:54 PM

 

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