I’m going to take a little bloggy hiatus during the holidays, and while I’ll probably be posting some-ish, I’m giving myself the gift of taking at least a week off, because really, nobody in my family wants to spend the Christmas season with someone who says, “OH! GOOD POINT ABOUT BABY JESUS! HOLD THAT THOUGHT WHILE I BLOG ABOUT IT!”
So I believe a bit of a break is in order.
But before I go, I thought I’d answer a few of the questions that have made their way to my inbox over the last few days.
Clearly this is going to be the most fun thing you have ever experienced in your WHOLE LIFE EVER.
Do you really read all of your comments?
I do. I read every single comment and every single email. I even read emails sent from made-up people like Goran Czuelaske that say, “Many moons have shone to your heart lit candle one millions. I friend to you! I bank account money send for trouble!”
Oh, Goran. You do amuse me.
But unfortunately, I have come to grips with the fact that I can’t answer all my comments and emails. I try – but the email alone can get a little overwhelming. Actually, one of my favorite things in the world is to go to a coffee shop with my computer and do nothing but answer email and respond to comments for a couple of hours.
The problem is that I get to do that approximately once a month, and it’s just not enough to keep me up-to-speed. So many thanks to you sweet people who email me and don’t say mean things when I don’t answer you for, like, two months. You are very gracious and kind.
I want to start a blog. How do I do that?
Until you know you’re going to stick with the blogging thing, I’d start off with one of the free blogging services. Originally my blog was on Blogger, and it was a great way to get my bloggy feet wet.
When I changed my domain to boomama.net, I switched to WordPress, and I am a huge fan.
Of WordPress. Not of BooMama. Because that would be tacky.
Anyway, there is lots of great information about starting a blog right here. My biggest piece of advice is that once you settle on a blogging platform, you also need to settle on how much of your real life you’re going to share on your blog…because once you publish that info (last name, kids’ names, information about where you live, etc.), you can never, ever take it back.
Which is why I never blog about all the trillions of dollars we keep stored underneath the flower pot by our garage. Because I would hate for a Ring of ThievesTM to steal that small portion of our vast fortune.
Ahem.
How do you get so much traffic on your blog?
I probably get this question more than any other, and the truth of the matter is that it makes me terribly uncomfortable, so much so that every single time I see it I want to cover my eyes and run away from the computer and crouch down in a corner and rock back and forth and shout “LALALANOIDEAWHATYOUARETALKINGABOUTLALALA.”
I am very mature.
But the bottom line is that traffic takes time. And also: traffic is TOTALLY RELATIVE. I may have a good bit of traffic for this little corner of the interweb, but the tech blogs that my husband reads get more traffic in an hour than I get in a whole day.
And honestly? Some of the most fun I’ve ever had in my life was when I had less than 100 page views a day, my friends from college were talking back and forth in the comments, and I had absolutely no idea that anyone other than those sweet friends would ever read. It was a blast.
In conclusion comma I really do think that if you focus more on building relationships than on building traffic, you’ll be a much happier blogger.
The end.
What does your Christmas Card Tree look like when you have lots of cards on it?
Okay. I totally made up this question. But we’ve gotten a ton of cards (Don’t worry. I am not being literal. That is what the writer-people refer to as hyperbole. If we had gotten a literal ton of cards, they would not all fit on the tree. Needless to say.) over the last two days, and OH, the fun that is the Christmas Card Tree right now.
If you happen to be at a day-after-Christmas sale and see an inexpensive Christmas tree, you should absolutely buy it for this very reason. You will heart it deeply.
Do you have any ideas for a kid-friendly Christmas breakfast?
Well, I don’t know how kid-friendly it is, but I can most definitely tell you what I’ll be cooking for Christmas breakfast. I did ask the little man for his input, but seeing as how his reply was, “CHRISTMAS BACON, MAMA!,” I figured I’d better add a couple of extra items to the menu.
So, here’s what we’re having:
Granite Steps Coffee Cake
Breakfast Casserole (made with sausage and no crescent rolls since the coffee cake has biscuit dough in it)
CHRISTMAS BACON, MAMA (known in culinary circles as, well, bacon)
Fresh Fruit
And nobody asked, but since I tend to overshare, here’s what I’m cooking for Christmas supper:
Asian Pork Tenderloin
Big Mama’s Dressing
Squash Supreme
Sweet Potato Casserole (Except I use butter. Go big or go home.)
Asparagus Casserole
Baby Lima Beans
Strawberry Pretzel Salad (Except I use real cream cheese and real Cool Whip. Go big or go home.)
Rolls
Pumpkin Rum Cake with Brown Sugar Icing
Slap Yo Mama Chocolate Pudding Pie (Make the pudding. Put it in a pre-baked pie crust. Make merengue. Put in oven until merengue browns. Find yo mama. But don’t you dare slap her. Just hug her real big.)
So.
I have a little cooking to do.
I hope each one of you sweet internets spends Christmas surrounded by the people you love the most. And more than anything, I pray you experience the joy of the One who loves you more than you can ever imagine.
Merry Christmas, everybody!
bwahahahahahaha
Go big or go home….giggle.
Have a wonderful Christmas!!!
And a merry Christmas to you. Enjoy the Christmas Bacon. Because that sounds like a beautiful breakfast.
Your posts always make me feel happy.
I was going to use the word “chipper”, but that would make me sound like a grandpa and I won’t be old enough for that for 25 years. Oh, and I won’t be a grandpa, I’ll be a grandma.
Thanks for what you said about the traffic on the blog…I just started a blog(and by just started, I mean I posted my first post yesterday!) after about 15 months of thinking about starting one. My delay was that I wasn’t (and am still not) sure why I even want one. You made me think about it a little differently.
See, your blogs not only make people happy, or chipper, but they push readers to look deep inside and ponder. Okay, I’m not exactly pondering, but I am smiling. :)
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
That is a fabulous painting of a dog to the right of your Christmas card tree! Is that a Boo original? If so, he is quite the talented four-year-old. Hope Santa is bringing some oils for the kid.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to you!!
Do you know what? We got a card from friends, who said they keep their Christmas cards in a box and throughout the year take out a card and pray for that family and think of a good memory with them. Isn’t that neat-o?
Much love to you and blessings in Christ!
Holly
Okay, apparently it is now becoming an over 18 statement. I must apologize to my husband.
He tried to use the ‘go big or go home’ theology on me in regards to the RV we are about to purchase.
When I mentioned his choice seemed, well, a bit BIG, he said ‘go big or go home’ to which I replied, ‘how old are you?’
Then he replied ‘go big or stay home’
We are a sophisticated lot.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas, Boo Mama!
Merry Christmas.
I am making your Asian pork tenderloin for Christmas too. OH IT IS GOOD.
Ah, yes, I remember the Spring Green Infant BooMama Blogger blog of ye olden days quite fondly. After all, most of those 100 page views were from my URL. I was nothing if not an earnest and enthusiastic BooMama reader. As I told you then and since, you probably thought you’d befriended an OCD stalker, LOL! ;-)
I wish you, Sister and the whole family a blessed and joyous CHRISTmas, filled with love, laughter, good food, good friends, good memories and beloved family.
Y’all have a good one, Sophie and Sister.
Love y’all,
Diane
You have traffic because you can make anything funny and interesting, and it’s clear that you just a really nice person. Everyone is attracted to that/you!
Love your writing style, too.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas from my corner of blogland in Ireland to yours.
This year I will again post for each of the twelve days of Christmas, and while I feel it is an actual ministry to people (oh, the presumption!), it also wears me out like a wrung-out dishrag, by the time I’m done. I envy you your blogging respite.
Have the merriest of Christmas!
I hope your family really enjoys the time together. Have a great Christmas!!
I have enjoyed reading your blog the past month… I am new to blogging and I am finding out I must be a “lurker”, so I thought I’d send you a Merry Christmas comment and a big ‘ol Hello… I look forward to reading your blog in the new year!
LOVE the card tree!! SUCH a great idea. The tape is pulling mine off the wallboard! Hmmm! See my three amigos! Whose is the pink with brown polka dots? So very cute!!
Merry Christmas, BooMama, and thanks for brightening up my life, each and every day, with all your rambling all the way to nowhere.
“The odd thing about this form of communication is that you’re more likely to talk about nothing than something. But I just want to say that all this nothing has meant more to me than so many somethings.” (You’ve Got Mail)
i hope ya’ll have a merry christmas too. and remember, bacon isn’t just for the holidays. i have a piece every day.
Merry Christmas!!! :-)
so many wonderful ideas! thx for the recipe links. =)
enjoy your Sabbath and we’ll see ya!
People read tech blogs??? Why?
A very merry Christmas to you, Sophie! Hope it is the best one ever. Even though you ARE robbing us of some Christmas joy by leaving us.
Love your Christmas card tree! Merry Christmas!
you are a very funny chick! and i enjoy reading your blog.
have a very merry christmas.
sporty mama
As I look back over this year, one of the things I count as a happy memory, is that I found this blog….it has brought me countless smiles, and I look forward to many more.
Have a blessed Christmas, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!!
I hope you have a great Christmas, Sophie!
Merry Christmas, BooMama! Looking forward to reading all about your holiday when you return! :)
You are so enjoyable! May your family time be blessed…
Oh heaven have mercy upon me….you crack me up so much. My husband JUST TOLD ME TO GET A LIFE (in love) because I’m sitting here eating M & M’s, LAUGHING OUTLOUD (especially at GO BIG OR GO HOME)….he said I need to get out more…..WHY? I get great joy in reading my favorite blogs on a Friday night. Thank you for GREAT laughs. Oh you kill me.
Blessings and God’s peace and PLEASE LORD JESUS keep BooMama (and BigMama) (and Beth Moore) FUNNY!
I have no life. (My husband said so)
Kelly in Michigan
Merry Christmas BooMama! Enjoy a little blogging break. I’ll be doing the same!
Um, Boomama, I got a little teary-eyed at the end….i was all happy and giggly with your wonderful answers and then BAM! entered Jesus and He just does something to my heart! I love Him and I love you for what you do for all of us.
I do consider you “friend!” Merry Christmas Boomama! And you tell that family of yours, we love ’em too.
Thanks for the recipes! Sounds wonderful!
Wishing you a very special Christmas and many blessings in 2008!
Have yourself a Very Merry Chrismas, all the best for You and Yours and a big thank you for getting to know you.
Merry Christmas! I hope that you enjoy your blogging break. I have so enjoyed this blog over the last 6 months or so. You are a sweet & sassy lady!
BTW, tell your mama that know how she feels now because on Monday I fell down the ONE step from our kitchen to the laundry room. (sorry, no picture!)
Christmas Blessings from my family to yours!
The casserole sounds like a great Christmas morning breakfast! Thanks for the recipe. Do you think it could be made the night before, refrigerated, and then baked in the morning?
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas! Enjoy the bloggy-free time!
I have my card tree on the screened back porch-It was a Wal Mart special tree! $29.99! but you can’t tell because of all the cards! I didn’t have any where to put it in the house and the lights look great at night-
Anyway, I will be making your squash supreme and cranberry/mandarin jello salad for my contribution to Christmas supper at Mother and Daddy’s house!
Have a wonderful Holiday! Can’t wait to hear some holiday Martha stories!
Merry Christmas boo mama.. I hope you also have a terrific and blessed holiday!
It’s going to be lonely without spending the evening with you for over a week. I almost feel like you’ve become a friend!
Thanks!!
First of all, why would anyone cook with margarine? Don’t they know about trans-fats? Don’t they know that butter is actually GOOD for you now? At least that’s what I’ll be telling myself when I put two whopping sticks of butter in my cheese grits on Christmas morning. It will be an act of supreme love for all 25 of my dearest family and friends gathered in our home.
And I really want to say a thank you for bringing so many smiles (okay, and sometimes tears) to my days. I can’t tell you how often my husband looks over at me whilst I am laughing out loud reading your blog and says something like, “Let me guess…it’s that Boo-whatever person again?” See, you are nearly a household name! God bless you this Christmas and always.
I am grateful for the opportunity to sing the praises of the Strawberry Pretzel Salad. MY, IT IS TASTY! It’s hard to convince newbies to try it with “pretezel” in the name and all, but pretty soon, the whole dang 9×13 pan has been licked clean.
(Not by me, of course).
But Merry Christmas and thanks for just being your thoughtful, hilarious self for all of us to laugh at. Ahem. WITH.
I heart that pink and brown card right smack in the middle of your tree. Soo cute!
MERRY CHRISTMAS BOOMAMA!
I’m making your breakfast casserole for Christmas brunch.
Merry Christmas to the funniest woman I know!
Merry Christmas, BooMama! Enjoy your well-deserved bloggy break.
I like the Card tree idea! If I find one for under $5 -I can now have a valid reason to get it. :) Merry Christmas!
Oh Boomama – thanks for answering some of those questions. I just love your blog. I love it just because.
You’re right – if we focus on “relationships” on a and within a blog, we’ll be a much happier blogger :)
You’re a blessing in the internet. Merry Christmas!
Thanks for sponsoring the Christmas Tour. It was my first time and it was so much fun. I’m still trying to get around and look at all of them. I’ve really enjoyed blogging the last couple of months.
I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas.
Hugs,
Nan
Merry Christmas and thanks for the hours of enjoyment your blog has given.
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!! Yippee!
Have a wonderful, fantastic Merry Christmas and a nice bloggy-break. I’ve so enjoyed your blog and I look forward to reading more in the new year.
Merry Christmas BooMama!
And thanks for bringing me daily bits of joy.
Merry Christmas!!!
Strawberry Pretzel Salad is truly one of life’s great treats. I’m glad you brought it to mind. My husband is at the store now (I’m still wondering how I pulled that one off) so I think I’ll call him to get the ingredients. Woo hoo!
Merry Christmas! :-)
I have my girlies on my lap this morning reading the blog and the 3 year old just said to me “That’s a very pretty tree Mommmy!” So I think a card tree may be in our future too! She will heart it mightily, I’m sure!
And I too am making Strawberry Pretzel jello salad..twice this weekend in fact. One for the church potluck tomorrow where we say farewell to our head pastor (sniff!) He’ll be judging the best Lutheran jello! Hahaha! I don’t know how Lutheran it is, but it’s far and away the best jello recipe I’ve got on hand! And then for the family on Christmas Eve, because I don’t see us getting much strawberry pretzel heaven at the church tomorrow! And yes, I do the real cream cheese and Extra Creamy Cool Whip. Wouldn’t extra creamy cream cheese be a great thing? But I digress…
I’ll think of your Granite Steps coffee cake longingly Tuesday morning because that is just major yummy!! But we get my mom’s cinnamon rolls so that will be fabulous too!
Merry Christmas to you and yours!
I sent you an e-mail with a podcast question and it got kicked back to me…
I LOVE strawberry pretzel salad, and I look for any semi-festive occasion to serve it. If I made it just for our little family of three, I’m sure I’d eat 2/3 of it in one sitting. (You think I exaggerate? I don’t.)
As I sit here awaiting the arrival of my daughter (Kelly, the one who you mentioned on your blog and then she called me and told you we squealed! I would say we probably let out a small whoop!) and her hubby for our Christmas get together, I was thinking Sophie, how much joy you have brought to so many this year(including me)!
If computers had even been around when I was a young stay-at-home mom and there had been other young mothers to talk to ,I would have not been so lonely as I was when I had no one and a husband who worked 14 hours a day.
So, you young women, thank the Lord for modern computers and sweet lovely women like my daughter and yourself who are smart, witty and fill such a void in this busy world today. You, hubby, Howard, Sister and your Mom and Daddy have an awesome Christmas. God bless you richly for your sweet sweet spirit!
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to you! Hope you enjoy your time away from blogging.
I’ve been away for a week at a time, mainly because I’m busy caring for a 6 week old and a 3 week old, as well as preparing for Christmas and awaiting a visit from 2 siblings and their families, flying in from NE.
I hope to get back in to blogging in early January. :)
No wonder I’m your Central Texas Fan Club! I’ve been hankerin’ for some pretzel salad but hadn’t looked it up, and here you go posting it! Ain’t you grand! I love you, sis! Happy New Year to you and yours.
As to why you get so many hits – you’re funny, your blogs encourage comments, and then they are funny. I’ve spent hours reading you and then reading the comments. Also had to hop over to a few other sites while I was at it.
You should teach a class on it.
I’m hosting a little Christmas Show and Tell over at my blog….I would LOVE for you to participate and send some readers over to get the party started! It’s fun to see what others got for Christmas and Why they enjoy it! Thanks so much!
Merry Christmas BooMama!
I love the card tree….I already have a lot of trees, but I may just have to add another one next year. It is a great idea!
Merry Christmas to you! I have so enjoyed getting to know you this past year! I remember last year wondering who in the world this Boomama was and why is she doing a Christmas tour???
Knowing you’re from my “neck of the woods” makes it all the more special!
I hope you and your family have a wonderfully blessed Christmas season!
Sending love your way!
Tracey
I am so doing the Christmas card tree next year!!!!! Thanks for the idea. Merry Christams from one MS girl to another. Go Bulldogs.
Merry Christmas back at cha! Thanks again for all the laughs these last few months. I am a huge fan :)….doesn’t that word scare you….I’m not that kind of scary fan…just enjoying your bloggin’ skillz. Happy 2008!
Having read your answers, they make me want to ask more questions. Not that I asked any of the original questions, I would just like to ask some additional ones. But I shall refrain.
Merry Christmas, oh Mother of Boo.
Thank you for the recipes. I’m doing a stuffed pork roast for Christmas eve and I think that sweet potato casserole would be just lovely with it.
Merry Christmas to you, my dear! Even though I don’t know you, I consider you a “friend”, which is probably weird and kind of scary. But I do care about your life, and often think to myself, I wonder what BooMama is up to.
But I’m not a stalker. I promise.
Have a wonderful holiday!
Have a blessed and wonderful Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
I really enjoyed the Christmas tour of homes…it was so much fun to see how everyone celebrates the holidays. I ran late and just today got my pictures posted…oh well, better late than never, I guess! Have a wonderful holiday!
Thanks for all the smiles.
Merry Christmas!!
Sue
Your posts are great. I love your Christmas card tree idea. I used to scotch tape them up around every door frame in the living room…. a bit tacky! I do have a fake tree with handkerchiefs on it… maybe I will just buy a new tree just for cards.
I also stole your sweet potato recipe, we will be making today too.
Merry Christmas!!
Alyson
LID 01/27/06
I found your blog via Beth Moore’s and am so lovin’ it!! Thank you so much for spreading joy – it is such fun reading your posts. Have a very Merry Christmas!
The Christmas Card Tree is brilliant! Hope you had a fantastic holiday!
MMMMM Christmas Bacon Mama!! That sounds pretty good. . That would probably go with the “Knock your momma over with a feather cause you actually cooked, Quiche”