I knew that when I posted a blog post where I was asking for peoples opinions on my blog I would have to toughen up my skin a little before I read thru them all. I very much appreciated all the comments and I did read thru all of them (haha so did my mom), but I will be honest and say it was hard not to get defensive over things. Not because anyone was mean, but because it’s hard to hear things people don’t like about you/your blog. Over all it was very helpful for me to learn a few things…
1. You can’t please everyone. No matter what you do there is always going to be someone who wished it was different. I would have someone say they didn’t like seeing posts about Rowan (those ones stung the most. I am a proud momma) and then in the very next comment someone would say they wanted to see more Rowan posts. Some liked recipes, some didn’t, etc. etc… For every one who didn’t like something, there was someone who did.
2. I started this blog for me. I write this blog for me and I have to remember that. I love sharing my life with everyone and I am so honored that you guys like to read it, but I wouldn’t be very truthful if I went about writing posts trying to please everyone. I have to stay true to who I am and what I like. So, yes, I will take everyones comments into consideration but at the end of the day I am going to continue doing what makes me happy.
3. So…
-I will continue doing daily style files. That is a huge passion for me. I love it. It’s why I started this blog. I wont be able to do it everyday now with Rowan but it will still make up most of my blog.
-I will continue doing Last Nights Dinner post. I love cooking. I love being a vegetarian and I love sharing healthy ways for people to eat dinner. It is something I have been posting about for 2 years and I will continue to write about it. Yes, lots of people post pictures of food, but I don’t care. I have never just had a fashion blog with random food posts. I have always had a lifestyle blog where I share passions in my life. Cooking and being healthy is a big part of that.
-Rowan will always be a part of this blog. She is my biggest passion in life. I always hope I can share my experiences with people so that even someone half way across the world might feel like, “Hey, I am not the only one going thru this.” Maybe you are not at the stage of having kids, but one day maybe you will and I hope then maybe you will check back and like the posts about Rowan and being a new Mom. I am an open and honest person and I enjoy writing about this new stage of life I am going thru.
4. I will be handling sponsor posts in a whole new way. I totally agree with all your input so Thank you!
5. There will not be a schedule anymore. Yes, there will be regular posts you will see each week, but I do think that trying to stick to a strict posting schedule leads to a very stressed momma. I think I have gotten pretty good at keeping up on all my posting, so I don’t want to limit myself to what I feel like posting about each day.
6. The new blog design will DEFINITELY have a better search function and categories to find posts easily. That has always been my biggest pet peeve about my site. Now I just need to convince Kev to design me a new site sometime soon. (Looove. yoooou.)
7. I will definitely be trying to post more about our home decor, my art and try to do some craft tutorials. I do all that stuff already, I just have to get better about posting it. It’s hard putting your artwork out there. Art is very personal and I get nervous to share it sometimes, even though I enjoy sharing it.
8. I chose the picture above for this post to remind myself what is most important in my life. Not that I forget but everything I do is because of them. Those 2 are my world and I love them with every ounce of my being. They make me want to be a better women, wife and mother. This blog is really just a journey in all of that.
Thank you all for reading this journey!
* I just want to add that I did not think any ones comments in the survey were particularly mean. Please don’t feel bad for leaving me a survey comment. I really appreciated them all. Everyone it entitled to their opinions. These were just my general thoughts afterwards. I am not upset at anyone.
My mom has gotten hooked on your blog through me, and I’m sure you’ll be glad to know that she LOVES the Rowan posts and would read them all day every day if she could! Haha. I think you’re doing everything wonderfully. My favorite blogs are those that have a little bit of everything, it keeps it interesting!
I also couldn’t agree more with no. 2. I think when I stopped trying to do things to please people or gain followers I really found out who I was as far as blogging goes, and when it really comes down to it: neither of us are doing it as a real job, so it SHOULD be an expression of who we are and what we want to talk about, and if someone doesn’t like it, they can skip over certain posts or not read at all!!! Keep up the good work 🙂
Reading about Rowan is my absolute favorite part of your blog, Jen. I came for the outfits and the personality, and I’ve stayed for so many more reasons. You’re a great inspiration and I’d love to think I’ll be able to incorporate my life as a mama into my blog so effortlessly one day as you have. Hands down one of my very favorite blogs and I should comment more! xo
Keep on being brave… that’s all we ask
keep doing what you are doing. i enjoy everything you share on this blog. go momma!
I didn’t offer feedback in your other post, but I’d like to chip in and say I love your Rowan posts. I’m expecting my first daughter (this month actually!) and the posts about you and your family are my absolute favorite.
Best thing I’ve read all day! You go ahead & do what feel right. Btw, Rowan and her stylish baby outfits are so(ooooo) cute. I think they brighten things up & add a whole other dimension to your online presence.
🙂
Keep up the great work! I’m really happy to see that your conclusion is to be true to yourself 😀
This is your blog and can decide what goes on on it, plain and simple! I love your blog anyhow so it doesn’t really matter haha. 😛
Hi Jen
I didn’t get a chance to participate in your survey unfortunately. However I’d like to say that I’ve been reading your blog for quite some time now and the part I like best about reading is not necessarily the subject of your posts but the quality in which they are written in. I appreciate how well written everything always is and I’m not just talking about grammar. I an always in awe of how raw yet polished it can be. Not an easy achievement!
Thanks 🙂
I just adore your Rowen posts! I found you through the “What i wore” blog… With baby #3 possibly being on his/her way I’ve enjoyed all your style files! I plan on doing more with any future pregnancies.
Looking forward to many more of your posts!
good for you jen! anything you decide for your blog (kind of like being a mom) is the right choice. im glad you’re sticking to what you’re passionate about and excited about any changes 🙂
Jen, these are great ways to incorporate the feedback, and I especially love the idea of sorting things out so that you can still blog about all of the things that you love, while readers can take what they want from the blog. I also really miss your “I’d Wear That” features that you used to do.
I love the fact that you asked your readers how they feel about your blog but in the end it is YOUR blog and you should be able to write about anything you like.
I would’nt change it in any ways, it is great as it is! Of course there are some posts I like better than others but I always love seeing you posted something new and I enjoy reading thru everything you write! You are such a positive and inspiring person! Thank you for that!
You go girl!!
Can’t wait to watch Rowan grow up and for the crafty posts.. 😉
You are awesome and so are Kev and Rowan!!!
rowans awesome.
Jen, I didnt get a chance to respond to your survey but I do want to say that I think what you do with this blog is amazing. I read every single day altho I post very infrequently. Love your look, your take on life and your love for your family. I dont have a family (yet) but I hope to be able to draw on what I have learned here when I do. Blessings to you and yours – happy new year x
hey jen,
I didn’t fill out your survey, but I’ve been a long time reader (maybe 1.5 years? b/c i remember the post about your marathon. I know that was awhile ago!). Anyways, I just wanted to add my input b/c you are one of my favorite blogs for a reason…you are accessible! I love veggie-cooking and I almost always star your dinner posts in my reader! I’m 26, babies are the farthest thing from my mind, but I thought it was AWESOME that you kept up the blog throughout the pregnancy. To me, it would have been so easy to live in sweats and not care! Your little family is so stinkin cute it makes my head hurt!
I think your blog is great! You just have to remember that its an extension of you and what you choose to write about your life. People are gonna read or they won’t. I don’t love all your posts (I’m not a fashionista), but there are a vast majority that I do love that I keep coming back to read more about. So just stay true to yourself and your readers should understand. They started reading for a reason, and stay reading for that same reason … you’re interesting! 😉
Jen – I didn’t get a chance to fill out the survey – but I love almost everything about your blog, and the stuff I don’t love, I still like, and it is YOUR blog. No one is forcing me to read it – so I think it’s great that you’re going to keep doing what you’re doing for YOU.
PS – Rowan is adorable and I LOVE the posts about her!!!
I have been your blog fan for the past 4 months. I believe you should do exactly what you want… isn’t a blog done for those purposes to write about your interest? We, the readers, should feel grateful that you are allowing us to see your blog. I am a mother of 2 and probably one of the older women who reads your blog and I find much inspiration and admiration for the many lovely post you write about. Continue to the great job…and don’t let other people make you feel any different. If they want a specific blog catered to their interest, perhaps they should start their own.
You are fantastic and SUCH an inspiration!! The variety and creativity you share, from different topics to great photos and graphic design, is what keeps me coming back!
I don’t know why someone would tell you not to do posts on your own daughter. That is ridiculous. If they don’t like it, they don’t have to read it. Sorry, that is just so self-serving and rude. I love your blog. You do such a good job of mixing your personal life with interesting fashion posts. Keep it up!
Jen, I’m glad that you are staying true to yourself and what’s important to you. This is, after all, your blog! People who like it will read, and those that don’t will go away. It’s good to know that you’re not letting the meaner comments get you down. I think lifestyle blogs are much more interesting than one topic blogs, for the most part, and I’m glad you’re keeping yours that way. And as a fellow vegetarian, I really appreciate the Last Night’s Dinner posts. I’m glad you’re keeping those! 🙂
Brave of you to ask for people to answer questions about your blog. Maybe next time you could use a free survey tool – like SurveyMonkey.com or something so your results are consolidated into one place and then you can somewhat censor how responses are made by having multiple choice options. 🙂
I didn’t get a chance to fill out the survey either but I just love your blog! I’m expecting my first baby so of course I LOVE the Rowan posts and your motherhood journey. But I first started reading because of your fashion profiles and just fell in love with the rest. Keep it up girl and ignore the haters!
“There will not be a schedule anymore.”
I hope that gives you a real sense of freedom. I enjoy all the different types of posts you make and I think that together they are what make you, YOU. And I am looking forward to hearing more about your art! <3
So everyone already said everything i would have said. Good job and I love seeing everything you do. I think some people have to much of an opinion and I don’t see them putting their lives on the internet (not trying to be mean or anything it just hard to put yourself out there like that). But anyway i really enjoy read but mostly I love the pictures you take. the ones of Rowan having those big old smiles is adorable. But my favorite pictures are the ones that are father and daughter they just show how much you both love that little girl it amazing! And last but not least your art is fantastic and it is really hard showing your work. I have a really hard time showing mine as well. But you are a great person and so is everything about you 🙂
I didn’t get to post on that one. But what you said was pretty much what I was going to say. I would love to see more about Rowan and your life as a mom. I love the food posts. Would love to see more art that you do. And some blogs that I like have this thing “you may also like…” at the bottom of the posts and it’s always helpful to find other things. I really enjoyed the guest blogger posts when you were away (not that I don’t love your posts). I just thought that was fun. I also miss the “I’d wear that” It’s helpful to me to see how you put outfits together for certain occasions. I have a hard time doing that. I tihnk it’s cool that you won’t have a schedule anymore. And you’re right, at the end of the day this blog is for you! So do what you love to do.
i think you have the right idea about blogging and a great understanding of what you want to blog about. I look forward to JenloveKev 2011 and can’t wait to see the new blog design (Kev, we love you too!!! wink, wink).
I must admit, i was a little annoyed that a few people mentioned grammatical or spelling errors as a criticism. I’m not a blogger myself, but i tend to think of the blogging medium as pretty casual, esp given the daily postings that you do. Perhaps i’m also more understanding because i’m a mom too & regularly make those kinds of errors myself. Sleep-deprivation can do crazy things to the old brain 🙂
I love your recipes…. i am glad you are going to keep posting them. I think your blog is very original and very personable. I love it this way. Just keep being awesome.
Surveys are tough, huh? Kind of like crits in art school. Speaking of art, I am looking forward to more posts about about your art/crafts/decor. Loved your tumblr/inspiration site. I hope this blog (and your life) will give you much satisfaction and encouragement for all the creativity God has given you!
Jen,
As a new blogger, I find myself continually asking, “what would jen do?” Your site is absolutely one of my favorites, precisely because of it’s whole vision. I love that I can see your outfits, your cooking, your art, and your adorable family all in one place. So…I know you can’t make everyone happy…but you sure brighten up my day!
Jen,
When you put up the survey, I thought about answering it – but then I decided not to. Your blog is yours, and its a great blog because your passions and your personality shine through. It’s perfect the way it is because its what you want it to be.
– Ana
You go girl! Keep up the great work. Love you tons.
xomom
I love everything about your blog. The Rowan posts are so adorable, they are my favorite. I am not a vegetarian but the meals you post look delicious, so I don’t mind those either. I say keep up the good work because I keep coming to your blog daily to take a look. Sometimes more than once!
Your baby is adorable and I love reading about her! Just wanted to say that 🙂
Hey Jen,
I love your website…sorry I didn’t get a chance to reply to your survy, but seriously, I look at your blog at least every day (and sometimes mutiple times)! YOU and YOUR WRITING have really become the gold-standard for me about what a blog should be: awesome, beautiful, contain interesting and varied content, honest, creative and should really reflect who YOU are. And you’ve done it! I’ve been reading since before you were pregnant (yeah Rowan!) and I will continue reading forever.
All the best,
Kristen
P.S. It doesn’t need to do be a detailed post or anything, but how is Kev doing in his new business? I hope very well! I wish wonderful things for all of you! 🙂
The fact that you won’t change your content based on what some people want is exactly why I love reading! Keep being yourself and you’ll do well 🙂
I love your blog the way it is! Lifestyle blogs are much better than “just” fashion blogs! Just keep blogging about what you want!
By the way I love your dinner posts (I am a vegetarian too) and the ones about Rowan!
I loved this- and like I said, great minds really do think alike! I agree with everything you wrote…and I also LOVE your blog, like everyone else already said. I enjoy everything you post. xoxo
More art and home decor sounds awesome! Can’t wait 😀 And keep the Rowan love coming, that’s my fave part! 😀
I didn’t realize so many people didn’t care for your recipes – I love them and honestly they’re one of the few things that set you apart from the other fashion bloggers out there. I’m also a vegetarian, so I love all your new-to-me veggie recipes. Keep ’em coming!
love this post! blog for you and no one else 🙂
I love your style, your daughter is so precious and I really like looking at what you cook, even though I can’t cook much and don’t care for it. I don’t understand why bloggers ask their readers what they want to see more or less of, after all this is your blog and it should be about what you like and want to show and discuss, the reason people follow your blog is because they like it as it is, so asking what we want is kind of asking for a bit of trouble, like you said this is YOUR blog and you should feel free to write about what you love, if you left it up to your readers than it wouldn’t be you anymore. Keep up the good post, I like the fact that you are a mom and are still stylish and still look young and fresh, yes there are millions of single girls out there with great style, but as a mom I know it’s even harder to keep up with style, so that’s why I love your blog even more. =)
Good for you, Jen! You cannot please everyone and you know what’s important to you. I can’t wait to see what you’ve got in store for 2011!
I’m glad you’ve decided that the blog should be about what YOU want to write about. And I enjoy reading the vast majority of your posts- I love your style, the vegetarian inspiration and Rowan is seriously ADORABLE. And you are an amazingly crafty person.
Jen, Do you girl!!! I love that your blog reflects you, like you said, the blog is a creative outlet for you, so do what makes you smile! I feel like you’re my friend (in my head only of course).
I think you are darling 🙂
and one of my faves
(top 3? and i don’t even know who the other two are! haha)
Hi,
I really like your blog and I think it has the perfect balance of lifestyle and fashionstyle. I’m not a mommy and I’m not sure if I want to be yet, I’m not sure if I can picture myself being a mom and still being me…
but I really enjoy reading about your journey through being a mom, it is very honest and also really insiteful and makes me feel like it’s not a completely alien thing for me to do. I think you’re showing ladies that they can be modern and creative and independent and most importantly still be themselves and still be a mommy! It’s a great thing.
Thanks!
I can’t even remember how i found your blog, but I started reading for your outfit posts and the fact that you seemed like a person I’d be friends with if we randomly met (we live no where near each other, ha!). And then you had a baby! And she’s adorable! Seriously, your blog is honest and you have no aires of arrogance. I like that one day I get to see a sweet outfit and on another a really cute baby and then some food thrown in there (yum!). If I wanted it to be something different, I’d probably stop reading. Oh, and your art is super crazy amazing!
yes! be yourself. we obviously love you already, the way you are. 🙂
I missed out on the survey, but I love your blog just as it is! I think what I like most is that you always seem so sincere in your posts.
Even though I have been super busy and haven’t had much time for reading blogs lately I always love to have a wee browse through Jen loves Kev. 🙂
Does anyone else think that it’s hilarious that whoever wrote the comment about grammar managed to write a grammatically incorrect sentence? People ought to work on themselves before they start criticizing others.
And Jen, I read your blog daily. I love it just as it is and I’m excited by the possibility of seeing more art.
JEN! I too missed out on the survey! But of course I think everything you do is PERFECT! I love everything and am excited you’ll be doing more crafty/art project posts!
One thought I had was what if you gave tips on putting outfits together. When I go to stores I always pick just a top and a bottom… usually ones that are already styled on mannequins. Sometimes I just choose dresses b/c I don’t have to think about what goes with them. You’re SO good at layering and combining pieces… any tips you have for that would be fabulous! You definitely have a gift!!
Thanks for taking the time to create such a beautiful and inspiring blog!
Jen I LOVE your blog. Everything about it! It’s your life, and whatever you choose to write about I will be happy to read. if people don’t like it, they can skim through it!
I love your blog the way it is! It is a lifestyle blog and we should expect to read everything and anything on here. I’m not married, nor do I have kids, but I love reading about Rowan. Keep doing what you do! I love it!!
“Oh, good, so I’m not the only one going thru this” is what I think when I read almost each and every one of Rowan’s posts, so please, keep them coming! xo
i am so late commenting on this but i just wanted to say that even though in my survey comment i said i didn’t like so many photos of rowan i thought about it and i take that back. i love photos of rowan. i think what i was thinking of was the weekly ones (week 1, 2, 3, 4 etc…). i love how you’re always true to yourself though! 🙂 keep it up:)
I haven’t been keeping up on blogs lately due to my caaraaazy 8 month old girl, so I missed the survey. I just wanted to say I love your blog and connect with every different feature you do. It is obvious the blog is you and about your passions and that’s what it should be. Keep it up and don’t be discouraged!
I’ve only just found your blog, been reading through archives for the last hour or so (!)
I think what you do is so refreshing & keep it up!! Post about whatever you feel like I say. I really like blogs that have a variety of interesting things- Because like you I am interested in a variety of things! I’m a soon to be Mother, who is also vegetarian & loves fashion/ design of all sorts. I kind of feel that blogs like yours are scarce. Yours & Bluebird Vintage are my current faves- Motherhood + style + a life with substance= Good stuff. Keep it up!