Absolutely Bananas: Seattle stay-at-home mom blog

44 Responses to “Wanted: Your honest feedback. Win a custom blog header or business card design!”

1. By the planet of janet on Jun 17, 2008 | Reply

   honestly? i’m not crazy about make me laugh monday … but i might be in the minority there. i prefer original content to jokes or you tube videos or whatever.

   personally? i love stories about cj!

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2. By ThatGirl on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply

   I just started reading, so… can’t give very valuable feedback. But I’m committing to reading it more this week, to see what I can see.

   I think the idea of improving is a good one for everyone, keeps things interesting…

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3. By the rabbi's wife on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply

   I love it when you do photoshop on pictures. I still laugh (to myself, mostly) at the picture of “the beast” truck all blinged out. I’m not so crazy about make me laugh Mondays. I would like to see it more as anecdotes saved for a special occasion!

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4. By freeformkatia on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply

   1. I like your stories/anecdotes and find your writing style to be engaging.

   2. I don’t like the image-heavy side columns … if they could be smaller or less obtrusive then I, for one, would not get so sidetracked from the reason I visited: your writing.

   3. I wish you’d post more photos!

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5. By Carla on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply

   Love the stories of goofy stuff that happens to you(and all Moms)

   So need to see your head photoshopped if not daily then weekly.

   I know time does not permit this but to see you responding to comments once in awhile would be awesome. You know, wander through the lowly masses, waving a parade wave and throwing out a comment or two.

   That’s all I’ve got. I think you are awesome and absolutely bananas.

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6. By Midwest Mommy on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply

   Honestly I read your “Make me Laugh Monday” and the beauty one but it doesn’t really interest me. I get so many email forwards with jokes that make me laugh monday just seems like a forward.

   I think your site could use some more color. Like the white background is kinda boring (I have no room to speak with a black background but I am not designer cool like that :-)

   There is a lot of stuff on the side bars that I have no idea what it is or read it but you have ALOT!

   Ok, now I feel bad…still love your blog!

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7. By Queen of Shake-Shake on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply

   Oh you know how I lurve me some seriousness!

   Hmmmm, how to perfect the perfection of your blog…..???

   Got me!

   I love white backgrounds. I have some leftover mardi gras beads you can have to throw to the lowly masses during a comment parade. hahahaha

   In fact, I like the idea of a comment parade. Can we organize one of those? It sounds fun.

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8. By Rachel on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply

   Dude, I got nothing.
   I would like more photoshop stuff, but I love your stories. They’re awesome and that’s why I come here. To read.
   Whatevah :-)

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9. By Mylhibug on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply

   Not that big a fan of Make me laugh Mondays (sorry), but I do like that you make me laugh with your writing. It is what attracted me to your blog in the first place.

   Not a big fan of the all-white background either, as it tends to make me nod off and fall asleep (okay not really, the sleeping part that is).

   I LOVE to hear more stories, because you tell them so well. I also enjoy your articles on blogging, because they have made me think about what things I can do with mine - you are very helpful, don’t forget that… EVER!

   Have a nice day!

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10. By World's Greatest Mommy on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply

    Okay, I’ll bite.

    I love your humor. You’ve got just the right amount of sarcasm mixed with honesty.

    I love your posts about your son. They are honest and searching. They reveal you.

    I love your advice about blogging. It’s been instrumental in the, still small, but growing amount of success I’ve been able to achieve. It’s so nice to know that every post I make will have at least a few comments.

    I wish that you could post every day, or nearly every day, but I know that’s hard. I want to come to your site and read you every day.

    Your photoshop stuff is gold, baby, GOLD! I think you should have a weekly photoshopped image.

    I like your background and header. It’s a very clean site, which allows interest, but the focus to still be on your writing.

    You’re the first blog I really started reading, and the reason I started a blog in the first place!

    Lots of love, here!

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11. By KD-Pie on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply

    I feel like your side columns are too busy and I don’t liek the all white. I really like the header though.

    Hmmm…

    I love when you photoshop too. That cracks me up!

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12. By Ali on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply

    let’s start with the smooches. i heart you!

    but…i’d ditch the make my laugh mondays.

    and a more clean layout. right now it’s too cluttered…maybe it’s because the two sidebars are very busy and it’s sometimes hard to differentiate between them and the content??

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13. By Abbreviated on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply

    Agree with the sidebar clutter. Either clean it up or put it on another page with a link on the front page.

    Disagree about MMLM, but it is for selfish reasons since I am new to blogging & it is one way I receive comments & traffic. But I am sure someone would adopt it if you decide to ditch it. It is interesting to visit blogs of your readers. Last week I had pool envy !

    Maybe instead of comments have it changed to something clever. Right now all I can think of is banana peelings.

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14. By followthatdog on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply

    I’m not crazy about Make Me Laugh Mondays. I like your original posts better.

    Photoshop stuff is great.

    I think your sidebars are cluttered and distracting.

    Other than that I really like your content and overall look.

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15. By Wendy on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply

    I shocked about the no’s on MMLM!! But I probably like it because I get traffic on that day from you! So thx, before it’s gone! :)

    I’d add that comment luv feature on comments (I don’t know how to add it to mine or I would have).

    And, yeah, photoshop every WEEK, woman! You know you want to…. ;-)

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16. By Kimmylyn on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply

    I with the masses .. MORE photoshop please.. that stuff makes me laugh out loud!! :)

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17. By Just Me on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply

    I like MMLMondays idea, but perhaps less frequently, like once a month or something. I love your original content so much, I miss it when we just get a video or such.

    The stories of cj are hilarious!!

    The side bars can be distracting, maybe if they were sectioned off or something, not just hanging it white space. That could keep you from getting distracted by the links or ads.

    But I love you site! I’m sure any improvements you make will be awesome!

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18. By Suzy on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply

    Not crazy about the Make Me Laugh Mondays either, but actually like the beauty tips/advice. Where’d they go anyway? And more pictures and reviews on stuff are always nice. I like your blog…I’ll be back either way. Thanx!!

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19. By Living For Today! on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply

    Everyone is repeating the same comment as the previous poster’s comment.

    You want the truth?
    Coming from a graphic artist point of view, I would like to see some yellow in your name or header to reference the word BANANA.

    Keep the white background behind the posts but add colored side panels. It will help make your eyes not go all over the place trying to distinguish what is what.

    Not sure I understand what “blah blah blah with a lemon twist” means.

    I hope to have helped you in some way.

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20. By Mama Dawg on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply

    I’m not to keen on the white background and the side bars are a little busy (I’m honest, just not original in my critique). However, your writing is A-plus and is what keeps me coming back for more. I don’t mind he Make Me Laugh Mondays. I’m always up for a laugh.

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21. By Deb - Mom of 3 Girls on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply

    I’m not terribly fond of the Make Me Laugh Mondays either - but they don’t bother me. I love your original posts, whether about your family or about blogging - you have just the right amount of humor, sarcasm and engaging writing style to keep me coming back every day! :)

    Maybe a design with a little (just a little) more color would be nice too, but I like the white background.

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22. By AGSoccerMom on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply

    MMLM gets me thru Mondays. I hate Mondays.(hmm new Monday theme) The white is okay, but reminds me of work(microsoft word). Your Sidebars don’t bother me. I actually learn from them. Go figure and I borrowed a button.
    You Rock! Keep up the great work.

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23. By Storm on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply

    The white background and overall feel is bland; adding a fun, creative background would be great. The sidebars have a lot of information and looks a little clutter-y; make it less chaotic with fewer titles, etc. More space between the sidebars and center would help with the clutter feeling too. I love the stories of the family and love your engaging, funny style. I love the memes that you do on Monday and Tuesday. Maybe participate in more memes. Respond to comments via comments or email. Just some humble opinions. I can’t wait to see what you do with the blog. Keep up the great work!

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24. By ::Jenn:: on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply

    I came across your Blog because i typed in stay at home mom.. I started to read and i LOVE your humor. I love your writing style and the great stories that you tell…. I have even thought about getting a van because you made it sound so wonderful… But i did learn that i will NEVER sell my own car… :o)

    Love your blog!!!

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25. By Mrs. G. on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply

    I’m not crazy about MMLM though many of them have made me laugh. I’m not a fan of the carnival post (I think that’s the term for shared posts)because they feel canned. I also think you have to many buttons on both sides and that they distract from visual impact of your writing-when I click my reader to visit your blog, I want my eyes drawn to what I consider the meat of the blog-your wonderful writing. Just my two cents-take with a grain of salt. And please feel free to give my your two cents about mine-I would value your opinion.

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26. By Bananas on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply

    You guys are awesome; this feedback is seriously so helpful and insightful. Keep it coming!

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27. By Chelsea on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply

    Bananas,

    Hands down, you are one of the funniest storytellers in the blogosphere. I love reading about Happy and CJ and all the other crazies that you encounter. The writing is the best part of the blog.

    The second best part? Your goofy Photoshop entries. You and Bossy always have such clever Photoshop bits.

    I think the button for Make Me Laugh Monday is kind of creepy. I guess I’m not a fan of livestock graphics. Sometimes the content on MMLM is pretty lame, too, but you have no control over what people link to.

    I’m picturing more green in the header. You live in Seattle, right? Maybe the header could reflect more of the NW.

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28. By thediaperdiaries on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply

    I really like your blog and the content. Love Make Me Laugh Monday. I feel like your sidebars are just a bit cluttered. I am not sure what about them makes them feel that way to be honest, but I feel like they are. And I feel like you could use a bit more color in your header.

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29. By carrie on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply

    Wow, everyone has already given you such great feedback, I have nothing to add - well, except that you rock and I’m excited to see what you do with the place!

    I know, just what you did NOT want to hear!

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30. By MommyTime on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply

    I love the idea for MMLM (I know I’m in the minority here) because I always think it is fun to meet new blogs through linkies and because I find it generous in established bloggers to facilitate that. Of course, I love to laugh, but I will say that your original stories and awesome comedic pacing are more reliably funny than what one might encounter on some MMLM links. That said, I would keep it but perhaps do it only once or twice a month and have people save up their funniest posts/stories for it? It might help, frankly, if you saved up one of yours too, so that your post modeled a really great MMLM post by containing an original and funny story.

    You are in the ranks of Photoshop Wizards with just a few other bloggers I read, and I’d love to see more of that.

    While I don’t want to repeat what others have said unnecessarily, I do think that a little comment reply here and there would be nice. Not possible to do to everyone on every post, but an occasional mingling in the conversation is always nice to see.

    And just in case you are considering comments by consensus rather than individually: Ditto what everyone else has said about de-cluttering sidebars by adding pages. And the idea of adding yellow and a more punchy tagline seems right on to me.

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31. By Rachael on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply

    I agree with cleaning up the sidebars… you have a LOT of lists and some of them could be combined (ie on the left sidebar, maybe you could combine popular posts, favorite posts, and award winning posts).

    Also things like the advice for bloggers could be changed into just one link, or a label, so you don’t have all the titles listed there.

    I also agree that you could use a little more color to break up the sidebars from the blog posts. I’m not absolutely crazy about the pink & brown… I think you need a little more pop!

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32. By Anonymous on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply

    I love your blog. Your writing is always so funny, honest, and heartfelt. It’s kind of like a conversation with a great friend.

    Ok, I love MMLM, even though no one else seems to like it. But it always makes me laugh, just like it’s supposed to. I usually lol. And I hate the acronym “lol”, it’s way over used don’t you think? I wouldn’t miss Hot Mama’s Know, however. I wouldn’t mind an occasional HMK, but it’s not my favorite.

    I guess you could tinker with some of the graphical aspects of your blog, but what keeps me coming back is the writing, the other stuff is less important to me.

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33. By Mommy Cracked on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply

    Maybe more color in your header and section your sidebars? Your content rocks. And I LIKE MMLM. I don’t participte, but I love to see what everyone else comes up with.

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34. By Monique on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    I agree with the cluttered sidebars. There is a lot of information there. I force myself to have one sidebar because I love to fill them up. :/ Wordpress has the great “page creating” capability that I truly appreciate. I wish they’d bring something like that to Blogger.

    I like Make Me Laugh Monday, and I’ve never participated in it, I enjoy reading all of the funnies. :)

    I’d like to see a different layout, but even if not- I really like this one. The Seattle skyline is so nifty {maybe that’s just the obsessed WA “newbie” in me?}.

    That’s all I got! Good luck with the changes. :)

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35. By Harmony on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    I am a very new reader to your blog. I love your header and maybe you could carry the colour scheme into the blog? Or at least maybe divide the columns somehow, like use the colours from the header into the side columns and leave the post background white. I love the Make me Laugh Monday and think it is great. Really the only thing I see (like I said, very new reader) is the busy side columns blend into the post column and can be distracting. Good luck!

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36. By Kelly on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    I love a woman who wants honest feedback in order to improve herself. Some of my comments mimic the others, but they are honest.
    First, I link the info you have in your side bars, but think you could condense them with links to another page. (you are so good with the buttons, how about a FEW to direct) (not too many as that ALSO will make things look cluttered)

    I have benefited from MMLM for trafic, but agree that perhaps something new is in order.

    I like the 3 column layout, but think it lends itself to clutter and “filling up the space”. Some color or pattern to help the FESTIVE mood, perhaps?

    But most of all, don’t change your writing style, it is authentic and funny and heartfelt and I love it.

    One thing that I think will keep you fresh and all of us coming back is trying new things, carnivals, memes, writing, reader participation by asking questions, pictures. Just keep it REAL and don’t get too bogged down in what your readers think or spend too much time “trying” do what you do as you do it well!

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37. By mamikaze on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    *deep breath*
    I love your posts about your daily life.

    I love your series for new bloggers.

    Make Me Laugh Monday is a good Mr. Linky but I keep feeling like most of my posts are “you had to be there” type stuff. Therefore, I rarely participate.

    I love widgets. Yours are tame compared to some of the craziness I have seen reviewing blogs at BlogExplosion. If you want to tame it, maybe make your archives a dropdown. You could move some of your buttons around. They are great buttons. I wouldn’t get rid of them.

    Are you still having trouble moving to wordpress? I used fantatico deluxe. it’s only good for setting up the site. and I like WinSCP for file management.

    You are doing a great job and I am rambling. I need to get back to my blog(s).

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38. By Donielle on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    I like the MMLM. :-) But then again, I delete forwarded e-mails before I read them so I never see that stuff! I also agree with the sidebar clutter. Maybe rotate them a bit so we really notice what you got goin’ on. That and more pictures!! I was just thinking earlier this week, you hadn’t posted pics in awhile.

    Love your writing!!

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39. By TracyB on Jun 20, 2008 | Reply

    I liked the idea of MMLM, but not really crazy about how it cameout in practice. Please please please keep hot mamas know, I live for that every month! Yours is the first blog I ever started reading, as long as the writing remains yours…I will keep coming back. (PS-I like the white, I don’t have to strain to read it!)

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40. By Donna on Jun 20, 2008 | Reply

    I’m so surprised at how many don’t like the MMLM … I love it - although I prefer the stories of photo posts over videos. Maybe because I’m pretty new here so I’m not bored with it yet.

    I agree, the side bars are a little busy … and often wonder if mine are.

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41. By Auds at Barking Mad on Jun 21, 2008 | Reply

    I’m torn on MMLM…it’s brought me traffic and helped engage me in other’s blogs. But I do agree that perhaps instead of dropping it altogether, it could be a monthly type piece instead.

    As far as content and layout, I agree with the comments about the sidebars and how distracting they can become. Bordered off, or something like that so that my eye stops rather than wandering over there when I’m reading would be helpful.

    And of course, it goes without saying; MORE PHOTOSHOP, LOTS MORE! *lol*

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42. By Jennifer, Playgroups are no place for children on Jun 21, 2008 | Reply

    Girl! What you need is PAGES! They take care of sideblog clutter (by the way, I have my sidebars are a little too cluttery so you shouldn’t necessarily listen to me.) Pages can link with JUST ONE WORD to all the sidebar stuff and be put discreetly under your header! I think it’s done through custom css/html…things I know very little about, but I know it can be done.

    Other than that, you rock! We should totally hang out this summer at the pool. Have a great summer, see you next year when we’re SENIORS! Lylas!

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43. By Jennifer, Playgroups are no place for children on Jun 21, 2008 | Reply

    Dude. I just looked up there. Um, yeah, I’m stupid.

    You have pages!!!

    I’m dumb. Did I already mention that!

    But, hey, the blog is looking MIGHTY FINE!

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44. By Honey Mommy on Jun 22, 2008 | Reply

    I’m torn on Make Me Laugh Monday too. I like some of it. I think that I would like Make Me Laugh Monday if it contained more funny stories and anecdotes and less YouTube videos or the kind of stuff you would get in a random (junk) email.

    That said, I also would like an archive somewhere so if I get behind on your blog I can easily see what I missed and just read those posts.

    A new color scheme could be fun too. Not that pink and brown and white aren’t nice or anything.

    Honey Mommys last blog post..Soggy Saturday

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