In an effort to streamline my blogging and do it more effectively, I am attempting to prioritize even further. Time has come for me to redefine once again what I want for this blog. I love writing about things that I write and posting photos from our lives and travel. This has always been a sort of outlet for me. Now that I am busy than ever, I also want to hear from you what it is that YOU, as readers, want to see on the blog. I will still write about what I feel like in the moment, but knowing what you enjoy reading the most helps me be more focused.
So everyone, please help me here. If you enjoy following The Art of Making a Baby, take a second to vote on your favorite types of posts. You can select all if you’d like. It doesn’t have to be either/or.
Photo posts: playdates, outings, daily life
Travel posts: we do travel a lot and of course I take lots of pictures. This would be a mix of beautiful travel photography and our photos as well as stories about how we travel
Parenting: this is the good stuff. The stuff that gets people’s panties in a bunch 🙂 Everything about how we do things, what we believe in and also what we discovered
About Lexi: her personality, her life, her achievements, her development, her activities.
Product posts:  things I discover and love that I want to share with you and spread a word about. This isn’t sponsored stuff, it’s truly items I am obsessed with and think YOU should get, too. 🙂
Woman-focused posts: I wasn’t sure what to call this, but this is about us, women, as individuals, rather than just someone’s parents. Self-improvement, activities, tips, tricks, basically what and how I live my life when not focused on my child. It could be what apps I use, my work life, how i manage to find time for everything, my plans, my activities, my fitness routine, etc. Basically, my life outside of JUST being a mom.
what do you like reading about on the art of making a baby?
[yop_poll id=”6″]
Honestly, I would love to read more anecdotal posts about life with Andrew and Lexi. I find I tend to gravitate most to blogs that are personal and “daily-life” oriented, and I really enjoy reading about how other parents navigate the challenges of parenthood and balance that with their marriage/spouse and career. Maybe it’s just me, but I found it helpful and comforting to know that during year 1 (when Little L was the worst sleeper and oh so clingy) that Hubbs and I weren’t the only ones that struggled to preserve and build on our marriage. During that rocky year, I was thankful to discover other blogger mommies who were ready to throw in the towel but persevered, or those who found humour amidst the sleep-dep tensions. Reading about how others do date nights, or “business time,” or try to find common ground when parenting perspectives clash – this to me seems most authentic and is so satisfying to read. In your case, I’d love to hear how you two are balancing the busy schedule with quality family time, and what sorts of fun family activities you are doing together each season (e.g. the pumpkin patch post, Christmas stuff, family vacations, berry picking)..
I agree with wss^ The best “mommy bloggers” are those who are real about the day to day struggles, but still obviously love their kids. So many people struggle with work/life balance, so posts on how you manage would be amazing.
I voted, but I’d like to add that I’ve been reading your blog for a long time (before you were even pregnant) and I’d just like to see an increase in your posting if you want to be a blogger. I know you are busy, but you either want to blog or you don’t . Either is ok, but own it and then do it. Also, the constant sponsored content is a turn off. I think across the blog world most readers don’t want to see them all the time. It’s cool that you get free stuff, but couldn’t you just keep that to daily mom? We want to know about you and your family, what your life is really like, not the glitter and rainbow stuff that bloggers want to portray.
It’s good I am not a sensitive person lol But “do it or don’t” is kind of rude. and wrong.
I don’t have to DO anything. If I want to, I can blog once a month. I don’t really need to do anything “to be blogger”, I am not trying to “be a blogger”. I blog because I like it. I don’t blog because I don’t have time ( physically, no. extra. time)
As far as products, the only reason I ever post about them on this blog is for readers, simply because the products I find are really cool. Not really focused on “free stuff”, as you say.
I know you didn’t mean “much” bad by saying what you said, just expressing your opinion. So that’s just me disagreeing with your sentiment. 😉 Don’t take it personally.
I agree with the commenter above – Ms. L: it is a lot more interesting to read about parenting, life with toddler/kids, how you navigate challengers, etc. I do like the product descriptions, as long as it is not every other post 🙂 , but I am not a big fan of photo posts or travel posts, frankly. One in a while it is OK, but more than that it just seems like a blogger are doing a photo dump when they can not be bothered with a real post. I also understand that blogging is a job and sometimes bloggers don’t feel like it… but it does not make it any more interesting for the readers.
I hope you come back to the blog, but if not, it was good while it lasted 🙂 and don’t feel bad. Hope all is well – good luck!!!
Thanks for the feedback guys! It’s helpful!
I do want to continue blogging. Always have. There just seems to be periods in my life, usually connected with travel that I have so many more urgent things to do than posting and that’s why there are longer term breaks it seems. Just taking it one day at a time…
Take your breaks and breathing time!! You need it. We all do! I love any and all posts/information you choose to share. I always find valuable ideas, products and suggestions. Thank you for that. We are all doing the best we can. Be gentle on yourself, enjoy that little girl, and keep doing what you love.
I don’t know you but I Love you, Emily! Way to spread the love! Thank you! That is the message that I send to myself daily.
“Pace yourself, enjoy the moment, be organized, get it done, be real”
I agree with the above posters that I like more genuine and open posts about your parenting and your marriage. I feel like that is what this blog used to be and as of the last six months or so, it’s gone away. I actually don’t mind the sponsored posts, I feel like you give genuine reviews about your thoughts. I suppose for those of us who have been reading since before Lexi, we are wondering “okay, now what.” Your husband has been MIA for months and things yield to a different relationship than what was. This is fine, if it is the case, but I feel like you started a journey with your readers and many of us want to know the realities that came through. You may be surprised to find others with much to share.
I read this blog all the time while pregnant and then forgot about it. I would like to hear your plans for baby #2
I voted for women focused posts. 🙂
I was sucked into your blog right around the time you found out you were pregnant wiht Lexi and I litterally read and read and read til there was no more to read. I loved how honest you were about your life and thoughts. I know just how hard it is to be honest about life as a mother with all the drama lamas out there. And I imagine being in the spotlight makes it even harder. I don’t want to say I liked your blog better before Lexi was born because I love you as a mom and ofcorse love hearing about Lexi! but I think posts about you just being you would bring that spirit back a bit.
You know how you always wished you had blogged while you were modeling? You wouldn’t have given us lists of Go Sees addresses and designer’s biographies (or whatever the heck technical stuff – I’m sleep deprived and that is all that came to mind), you would have blogged about your feelings and thoughts and struggles and perceptions. I don’t know if that made ANY sense. Anyway.
Your zest for life and love and learning and happiness was contagious and really inspired me. And your Get Fit, Get Healthy, Get Confident challenge really helped me add some zest back into my life. So I guess, personally, I’d like more of that type of stuff. I’m bombarded with parenting stuff everywhere and honestly, when it comes to my child, though I’ve learned to trust your opinion because it’s proven to be right many times, I usually do my own research. I don’t know. Again, am I making ANY sense?!?
Yes you make total sense and I love your comment. I feel like whenever people go into the public eye, they look the honesty, not because they are actually lying but because they start second guessing everything they write. I guess I am also finding it hard inspiring people when I don’t have much time. But I hear what you’re saying and I do want to write more authentic posts about what I think and how I feel.
i LOVE your blog and I would read anything you wanted to write about. I’ve been following your blog and social media since before I moved to Florida and now that I live here I connect even more with everything you write about because the lifestyle and climate are so different here than anywhere else.
I love posts about Lexi and daily life….what you guys are up to, how you juggle it all, what your future plans are, etc. Of course I also love your Disney posts! I’m a season pass holder as well and I’ve always taken all of your Disney advice.
You’re doing great! All that you are and all that you do is enough. 🙂
Any plans for baby #2? I loved your pregnancy posts
Not at the moment :))))
I haven’t been able to read your blog in a while but when I was pregnant I was really into your list of what you took to the hospital. If you look at your search terms and saw that someone looked at it a gazillion times back in 2014, that was me! 😛 It was helpful, btw, thank you.
I really enjoyed your pregnancy posts and now I read your older posts because my daughter is way younger than Lexi (so I can’t relate to your recent posts).
Hahah that’s funny!!! Glad you’re back 🙂