Wahoo! Time to celebrate. (Photo credit: tsuacctnt on Flickr)
Ta-da! The bandages are off, and Wonder, Friend has a new face. Welcome!
{Before I get too far, I want to thank Jen from Blue Yonder Design for this new look. Jen’s a saint. A very patient saint.}
I go into some detail about the impetus behind this face lift, and my goals for the blog, on an all-new About the Blog page. I hope you’ll snoop around today and check out the two, new About pages. I also hope you’ll apply to write a guest post, but more on that in a bit.
If, however, you don’t have a lot of time to hang out on Wonder, Friend today, here’s some of what I have to say in About the Blog:
I took time off in late 2011 and thought about why I blog. I’m not going to give you the I do it for me, and don’t care if anyone is reading or not line. I probably would write even if nobody was reading, but it would not be very stimulating.
So the real deal? I blog because I think in written words.
I’m not a talker, or at least not a good one. Oh, to be a funny talker, as Mel Brooks says. But that’s not me. Words get stuck between my brain and my mouth, yet they have a relatively smooth path from brain to fingers. So I blog in order to share my thoughts, to ask questions, to connect.
I’ve always agonized over having a rhyme and reason to my posts, and since I rarely achieve consistent rhyme or reason, you can imagine the turmoil. During what I’ve come to call (sound effects, please: bum, bum, bum) Blogging Hiatus of 2011, I arrived at this (it’s so obvious and why didn’t I accept this before) conclusion: Wonder, Friend is my blog, and I can write anything, everything, or nothing of consequence. The only common thread needed here? Me.
Oh, and wondering. That’s a key element I try to always incorporate (it is in the blog’s name, after all). A lot of life leaves me thinking I wonder… how that works or why that happens or can I recover from this? Therefore, most – not all, but most – of my posts close with a question for readers. I want to open up a dialogue in the comments, so stop by and share your thoughts, your advice, your funny or sad stories.
About those guest-posts I mentioned earlier…
For me, the best part of the blogosphere is exposure to ideas and people we would otherwise never consider, never know. I want to share some of those brilliant, funny, thoughtful people on Wonder, Friend. Starting next week, Wednesdays* are reserved for guest bloggers. If you’re interested – and you are, I hope – I’m not too proud to beg, but please don’t make me resort to that – click here and fill out the form. I’ll be in touch about dates.
Thanks for sticking with me through (bum, bum, bum) Blog Hiatus 2011. I’m thrilled to be back in this familiar space, refreshed with a new look. And a new perspective. I look forward to wondering with you!
Speaking of that, I wonder…
:: When did you last overhaul something, whether your blog space, your living or work space, yourself? What was the impetus for that overhaul?
*Some Wednesdays, such as busy holiday weeks and Spring Break, will not feature a guest blogger.
Lapsed homemaker. Looking to hire a full-time housekeeper who will work for the sheer joy of a job well done and free coffee. Interested parties, DM please. 
I do like the new look, congratulations on the overhaul!
I redid my blog in July (new design, new platform etc). I moved house in October. Now, I really want to find my own space in the house to write. Is that considered an overhaul? But with a toddler (and a baby on the way), it’d be kinda hard to retreat alone somewhere, wouldn’t it? Sigh.
@Alison@Mama Wants This, Thanks, Alison! I don’t think I’ve been really alone in almost 6 years. 😉 But I know what you mean – I need a new writing space at home, too. We’re working on figuring that out. My kitchen table/desk is not the best solution!
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! Well done Missy. I had been toying with a redesign, now I think, I gotta do it!
@Christina, Thanks! Re: a redesign, if it’s on your mind, you should go for it. P.S. – didn’t get to comment yesterday, but I’m with you on mean Ricky – funny does not have to be mean!
Missy, I love it! Best of luck on your new focus…we could all use a bit of that!
@Sherri, Thank you, Sherri!
I love the new look and am off to apply to guest post!!
Thank you! I look forward to your guest post. I’ll be in touch re: dates!
The new look, looks great. I love it!
Many thanks!
Looks Great Missy! Welcome back in FULL Force!
Thanks! So good to be back. 🙂
Site looks amazing, and know what? Just keep wondering!
Thank you! And I will. 🙂
Things look great here!
I need to get to work on the facelift over at my place.
And hooray for the end of hiatuses. Hiatusii?
Hiatusii. Think it might be my new favorite word. Thank you!
Everything looks wonderful, Missy. I appreciate the random musings and think the common thread — you — is all we need!!! xoxo
It’s good that you like the random, because it’s all I’ve got. 😉 Thanks so much!
I love the new place.
But more than that…
I love the fresh postive attitude behind it.
You go girl
Look at me, being all sunshiny. Thank you for the sweet words!
Looks great! Hoping at some point I have the time to guest blog 🙂
Oh, you know I’m coming after you for a guest post! So go ahead and start thinking about what timing is best for you. 😉
It looks fabulous! Nice job. I completely understand your reasons for taking a bloggy break and I get trying to figure out what your blogging motives are all about. I recently did the same with my own hiatus and re-design. Three cheers to our fresh starts!
Yes! Fresh starts feel great. Thanks for the encouraging words!
I love the new site. Congrats!
Thank you!! Congratulations on your half marathon, by the way. I’m inspired!