Coming soon to an Absolutely Bananas near you
June 23, 2008 – 9:45 pmFirst of all, thank you thank you THANK YOU for all the excellent and heartfelt advice. I love hearing what you like and what you think can be improved, and your feedback really helped me make some decisions about moving forward.
You may or may not have noticed some changes around here. Like, for example, I’m on WORDPRESS now!
woot! woot!
(ok, here I have to pause the seriousness to tell you that I TOTALLY don’t get this whole “woot” business. What is this word “woot”? Is it an acronym? An abbreviation? Something totally made up? Call me old-fashioned, but I just don’t get it!)
Meanwhile, back at the ranch…
I’m really excited about the switch from Blogger to Wordpress, because it gives me the ability to better interact with and highlight YOU!
For example, I can now respond to comments in email (Blogger makes this nearly impossible). And I’ve enabled the “Comment Luv” feature, which shows your latest post next to your comment (if you so choose). The Top Commenters plugin creates a nice little list (over there on the right) where I can show a little link-love to my top commenters.
I did my best to clean up the sidebars, since many of you thought they were a bit on the messy side. (But heck, MY WHOLE LIFE is on the messy side!) I also made some subtle design tweaks to better visually distinguish between the main content and the stuff on the periphery (e.g. shoving stuff under the bed.)
Several of you mentioned that the color scheme was a little blah, and I can see your point. Although I’m not ready to ditch my header completely, I did do some boosting like adding the BRIGHT FLAMING PINK that I find myself overly fond of at the moment.
GO BRIGHT FLAMING PINK! YEAH!
And that’s not all. No, that is definitely not all.
I have several SUPER-DUPER TOP SECRET events which will be coming soon. I’d tell you about them, but then I’d have to kill you.
Generally, I’ll be incorporating your other feedback wherever possible. For example,
More fun with Photoshop. You asked for it, and you’re gonna get it. Be afraid… be very, very afraid.
Less Make Me Laugh Monday and Hot Mamas Know. Many of you felt that these features were getting old, and I sort of agree (any time I find myself scrambling at midnight for SOMETHING FUNNY ACK I HAVE TO GET THIS POST UP!!!! I know there’s a problem). So, both are now on indefinite hiatus (Storm will be continuing to host MMLM). For those of you who enjoyed the community and traffic-building aspects of MMLM, never fear! I have a couple tricks up my sleeve. STAY TUNED!
More photos and stories. Fortunately there seems to be a virtually endless supply of attack dogs, drunk ninjas, and outdoor nudists for me to write about. And, if by some miracle my bad luck does turn around, I still have CJ who is endlessly helpful to provide content about syrup-drinking, BMW-decorating, and nose biting.
Thanks again from the bottom of my heart for reading this blog, for commenting, and for being honest and constructive. You guys are THE BEST!
woot!
(?!)
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By A Mama's Blog (Heather) on Jun 23, 2008 | Reply
Congratulations on updating your blog- I think it looks great. Can’t wait to see what else you have in store, especially the replacement for MMLM. I wrote a little R.I.P. to it today. :-)
A Mama’s Blog (Heather)s last blog post..R.I.P. Make Me Laugh Monday
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By Mrs. G. on Jun 23, 2008 | Reply
Welcome to your new home-it looks great. Hey, nice legs!
Mrs. G.s last blog post..Open House
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By All Adither on Jun 23, 2008 | Reply
Love it!
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By the planet of janet on Jun 23, 2008 | Reply
lookin’ good!!
and lookin’ forward to what’s coming up.
the planet of janets last blog post..I’m not sure I should post this stuff … oh, ok, you talked me into it!
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By Shamelessly Sassy on Jun 23, 2008 | Reply
Comment love is the best plugin ever. I love it. I also love the new look around here.
Shamelessly Sassys last blog post..Feeding me Falsehoods
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By TracyB on Jun 24, 2008 | Reply
I am liking the changes, but I am going to miss Hot Mamas Know! WOOT actually stands for “we own the other team”. Keeep up the good work!
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By Auds at Barking Mad on Jun 24, 2008 | Reply
It looks good. I wish I had your techie saavy and could deal with WordPress because Typepad is sitting on my very last nerve and I am about to lose patience with it. Alas, I know NOTHING about CSS and how to figure out WordPress. But seeing some of your neato toys and the clean layout is about to push me over the edge and force me to either a.) hire someone to do it for me or b.)go get that book on CSS I was SUPPOSED to get last night, but sort of didn’t and then lock myself in a closet until I’ve got the basics down.
Not sure which is gonna happen first.
Can’t wait to see all the new stuff you’ve got in store. Alas, I am still mourning MMLM but and dealing with my grief in very creative ways. *lol*
Auds at Barking Mads last blog post..Monday Madness: Random Thoughts
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By Maureen on Jun 24, 2008 | Reply
Woot! (sorry, just HAD to do that). Congrats!
Lookin’ good… and lookin’ forward to your continued doses of hilarity.
One day I may bite the bullet and move to Wordpress; one day….yeah….
Maureens last blog post..I Rock!
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By katia on Jun 24, 2008 | Reply
Love it! Very clean and uncluttered. I think the pink rocks.
katias last blog post..on being a role model
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By Elaine on Jun 24, 2008 | Reply
I like it! I really like the pink too!
Elaines last blog post..Moving on to the weekend
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By Carla on Jun 24, 2008 | Reply
Look at you!! All spiffed up! Give me an A! Give me a B!
Love your new blog look and your new cheerleading outfit. :)
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By KD @ A Bit Squirrelly on Jun 24, 2008 | Reply
Well Crap. Maybe I should use wordpress and not blogger, not that I am having all this traffic or anything but ya know! Site looks great!
KD @ A Bit Squirrellys last blog post..I got nothin’
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By World's Greatest Mommy on Jun 24, 2008 | Reply
It looks super fab. And you’ve got me all excited about upcoming things. How long will we have to wait? You know I don’t have any patience…my kids get that from me.
World’s Greatest Mommys last blog post..Motion Sickness
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By Robin on Jun 24, 2008 | Reply
I LOVE the new look!
About 4 or so year ago I would get text messages from a girl at work, and she said “Woot” all the freaking time. I had to ask around about what it meant because #1, It annoyed me for some reason, and #2, I didn’t know what the hell it meant, and didn’t want to look stupid. She was 10 years younger than me, so I figured it was some youth slang. (I’m only 32, but damn, these younger employees make me feel ancient sometimes)
I found out it originated by Dungeons and Dragons online players and it actually means “Wow, Loot”. So, combined, it’s “Woot!”. Since it was exciting to find loot, after awhile, Woot just started being used as a term for excitement.
I’ve heard other explanations of what it could mean, but this one was the most plausible, considering the people who I first heard use it were definite “gamers”.
Robins last blog post..Seriously, that’s enough.
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By ali on Jun 24, 2008 | Reply
love!
love love love.
wordpress rocks my socks. seriously. it’s amazing.
alis last blog post..whale of a speech. embarrasing ali story #884
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By Jackie transplanted Okie on Jun 24, 2008 | Reply
What about adding teeny tiny bit of yellow to the lower portion of the word bananas ? Just a hint like a perfume ?
Jackie transplanted Okies last blog post..Stone mushroom mailbox …
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By maggie on Jun 24, 2008 | Reply
The pink is awesome.
I would switch to Wordpress if I hadn’t spent so much effort learning how to screw up Typepad to my liking.
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By Melody on Jun 24, 2008 | Reply
Congrats! You look fabulous!!
Off to Google woot. I would have accepted the first definition as gospel, but once someone brought up another, I now have doubt. Gosh I’m a nerd…
Melodys last blog post..Random Thoughts…
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By MadWomanMeg on Jun 24, 2008 | Reply
Well I didn’t get to see the old one but I like the look of this one, as a new reader. I’m on Blogger and it’s working ok most of the time but I think Wordpress rocks it.
MadWomanMegs last blog post..I’m having a party……..
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By Carrie on Jun 24, 2008 | Reply
You rock Jenny!
Carries last blog post..One More Year
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By Honey Mommy on Jun 24, 2008 | Reply
Wow, nice hair!
So I have heart w00t before, but I totally had to go look it up. Thanks for educating me today.
By the way, here’s what wikipedia says about w00t:
Of uncertain origin; most likely from a 1993 dance catch-phrase “whoot, there it is!”,[1] but other theories exist, such as that it is a blend of wow and loot (as might be exclaimed during a role-playing game), an acronym for “we owned the other team”, a corruption of root (as might be exclaimed by a hacker on obtaining root access), or a derivative of Scots hoot.[1]
Interesting, huh?
http://honey-mommy.blogspot.com
Honey Mommys last blog post..I’ll wash, you rinse… or not!
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By Mrs. Schmitty on Jun 24, 2008 | Reply
I’m not much of a pink person…more of an orange gal, but I’m digging the pink flamingo on you!
Mrs. Schmittys last blog post..Next Time I’ll Buy Them A Stuffed Animal
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By Jo Beaufoix on Jun 25, 2008 | Reply
It’s looking fab Jen. I wish I could drop in more but it’s so hard to keep up with everyone isn’t it? But you are always fabulous and your photoshop skills are second to none so I will keep popping in if that’s ok :D Hugs.
Jo Beaufoixs last blog post..Dreaming of greens
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By In the Trenches of Mommyhood on Jun 25, 2008 | Reply
Lookin’ good!
In the Trenches of Mommyhoods last blog post..The Broken Camera Story
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By Julianne on Jun 25, 2008 | Reply
Love the new digs!
Juliannes last blog post..Naegleria Fowleri
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By staciesmadness on Jun 25, 2008 | Reply
fabulous. WOOT!
staciesmadnesss last blog post..Toothfairy, where are you?
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By Wendy on Jun 25, 2008 | Reply
Oh, duh, I just figured out why you’re weren’t showing up in my Reader. Changed site, Wendy, duh. OK, I got you now.
Wendys last blog post..Learn-A-Word Wednesday: prink \PRINGK\
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By Kim on Jun 25, 2008 | Reply
LOVE LOVE the new look. And the photoshop skillz you have kill me!!
PS.. I will see you running around BlogHer I am sure of it.. :)
Kims last blog post..Wordless Wednesday - Morning Creeping In
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By natalie on Jun 25, 2008 | Reply
when i get back to the states i think i am going to change over to wordpress. it seems pretty user friendly, and i love the email thing and the comment luv. totally love that!
natalies last blog post..Dirt road to fun
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By jennifer on Jun 25, 2008 | Reply
great! i love it! i was wondering why i had not gotten posts from you!! i had to update my reader!!! Looks great and i am glad you are happy about your move to wordpress!
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By Worker Mommy on Jun 25, 2008 | Reply
Groovy new digs!
Woman you were born to be a cheerleader because you look hawt in that uniform ;) I hear the SeaGals tryouts are soon.
Worker Mommys last blog post..I met bloggers and you-u didn’t…neener neener
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By Mrs. Flinger on Jun 25, 2008 | Reply
WOOTOWOOOT. you’ll love it. Promise. It’s lovely here.
Mrs. Flingers last blog post..Craving Me
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By slackermommy on Jun 25, 2008 | Reply
Me likey!
slackermommys last blog post..How not to discipline if you have an impulsive child
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By Mrs. F on Jun 25, 2008 | Reply
I am going to make it my life goal to be one of your top commenters, this I promise you!
Mrs. Fs last blog post..This and That and A Meme
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By Queen of Shake Shake on Jun 26, 2008 | Reply
I had NO idea you moved. How did I miss it? Oh, that’s right. I’m suffering from cabin fever and am delirious.
I am SO sad you left blogger, even though I totally hate the inability to interact with 98% of readers.
I’ll probably cave and go self-hosted myself now. First twitter, wordpress is probably next. (Good god, the technical blah-blah stuff. I want to have a stiff drink just thinking about it)
Queen of Shake Shakes last blog post..Mission Accomplished (Insert Maniacal Laughter Here)
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By Monique on Jun 29, 2008 | Reply
How cool!!! I love all of the changes and it looks wonderful around here!! :D
Moniques last blog post..The Beauty of Pride; Part I
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By Barbara on Jun 30, 2008 | Reply
It all looks great! I’m sooooo far behind on reading blog posts. It doesn’t appear that your new posts here are streamed into your old feed… just FYI.
Barbaras last blog post..Menu Plan Monday {13}
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