Welcome to the new Miscellaneous Mum! We made it!
I know I went on about some technical issues during the week, but let me give you a bit more information: I began using the WordPress Thesis theme in the middle of last year, modifying its look and framework to the best my modest skills allowed. The problem was it didn’t feel unified; I didn’t think it worked in providing the kind of reflection I wanted being mirrored back, not only to myself, but for everyday readers, right down to the casual visitor.
{Of course, this is the perfect occasion to talk about how the nature of our online identities are becoming a bigger deal, so much such that a blogger might take these sorts of steps. Are our created personas (insofar as one agrees to believe that our blogging selves aren’t our ‘real’ selves) threatening to take over in the world of the ever-growing Personal Brands?
I do think a lot about these issues. I just won’t address them today.}
So while I say this, I also need to thank some people.
This custom design comes courtesy of Kate from Picklebums and I want to thank her for her patience. I came to her with a pretty long list of what I wanted and she countered with an equally long list of design ideas and tweaks. It was the perfect match.
As we geared up for design change, it became apparent that some behind-the-scenes issues were happening with my install of WordPress (and then again with the reinstall – something I think I kind of broke, as it turned out, and would explain why Adam keeps banging his head on the wall in frustration). The Kate’s design install was impossible without first addressing the problems, and for their advice via email and Twitter I’d like to thank Veronica, MummyK, and Kate again. Particular thanks to Liz, who gave up hours of her own time. I admire and thank you x
Let me go through a couple of features:
Living List
Although this idea has been rattling around in my head for a long time, two things occurred this year that solidified my wanting to make it.
First, one of my tasks in co-organising the Aussie Bloggers Conference was to put together the ‘ice breaker’ game that we opened the day with. It was called People Bingo, a table of personal questions it was a race to try to fill out first. You may be familiar with it. It was a challenge to find a balance between questions basic and those more daring or unique. Who’d pushed themselves to a limit? Explored boundaries? And just what were those boundaries?
It got me thinking.
Then when this happened in May I decided it was the right time to sit down and start writing. To be honest, it was a confronting experience to finally acknowledge the things I want to achieve or do. It had been a long time since I sat down and gave myself permission to be completely uninhibited with my inner voice that refused to give up dreaming, some I’ve had since I was a child.
However I rejected the idea of a ‘Bucket List’ or a ‘Things I Want To Do Before I Die’ title. They always strike me as end-focused – I want to concentrate more on the ‘living’ part; the present. That’s why it’s the ‘living list’.
If you go look, the list features goals large and small – and I’ll be sharing these with you as they occur. This may take years, of course, but I plan on being around for a while yet. (Yes, I know I was a little despondent the other day, but I also have a site advertising for the next year I need to consider…)
Thrifty Thursday
I want to turn Thrifty Thursday into more of a feature instead of the occasional ‘Look What I Picked Up at the Op-Shop’ post (although I’ll still do that!). I want to investigate what it means how to live more simply and frugally, look at how others do it, and hopefully implement meaningful change. I want to see how this can happen on multiple levels: home, transport, design, clothing and fashion. Everything.
Take today to have a look around and tell me what you think!
