Day two assignment of Zero To Hero recommends fleshing out my name. I don’t foresee changing my blog’s name, but allow me to go into detail of how I chose the name, “Jean Has Been Shopping”. In 2006, my sister said, “Try MySpace. It’s fun and new.” I signed up, and waited for the fun to begin. It didn’t. Where was the fun? Took me a while to discover it, but I finally found fun in the blogging community. I thoroughly enjoyed reading blogs, and was inspired by the antics and honesty of my new-found friends. I felt that I could blog too!
Now on MySpace, we didn’t use our real names. Unlike FaceBook, I would never have spelled out my first, middle and last names. MySpace prompted you, when signing on, to share what you were doing or how you were feeling. I would fill in the status with, “… has been quadding”, “… has been napping”, “… has been SHOPPING”. Nine times out of ten, my status had to do with shopping, so the status (and name) stuck!
On December 21, 2006, I published my first post simply titled, “Online Sales”. It read, “Napastyle is having their year end sale. They have such nice items.” Can you believe I hit publish on that drivel?! No links, no photos, just two sentences.
Although my blog used to be about shopping, it has evolved over the years into a feel-good site dedicated to humor, family, friends, travel, photography & videography.
Through this wordpress challenge, I’ve expanded my tagline from “wife, mom, business owner, blogger” (yawn!) to “40+ wife, mom, publisher wears rose-colored glasses in the Southwest” (perk!). I’ve also added the Tag Cloud widget so you can see at a glance the tags I use most.
• How did your blog get its name?
• Do you use a tagline?
• Tag Cloud widget – fan or foe?
Comment By: Amanda
January 17th, 2014 at 3:40 pm
Ohhh, Myspace… we had some good times together, hahaha! I don’t use a tagline. The story of my name is kinda long, I’ll spare you! ;P
Comment By: Jean
January 17th, 2014 at 3:53 pm
Yes, we did, Amanda!
I’d love to hear the story of your name! The Voyage, the Mee Mee, all of it. 🙂
Comment By: Ron
January 17th, 2014 at 5:30 pm
Jean, how interesting to read how you came up with your blog name! And yes, I was on MySpace too at one time. However, I deleted my account because it seemed unsafe to me when it came to privacy.
My blog name started because it was initially entitled, “Ventriloquist…throwing my voice.” But I later changed it to just Vent with the tagline…a series of takes. I wanted it to have more of a movie theme.
HOWEVER…it’s too ironic you’re posting this today because I’ve been contemplating a new blog title. Shhhhh…but don’t tell anyone, okay? I may be doing it next week. If I do, I will let everyone know on my blog.
Great post, Jean! Have a great weekend!
Comment By: Jean
January 17th, 2014 at 5:36 pm
I can’t wait to hear your reveal of your (possible) new name! That is very exciting news!
I ended up closing my MS account too. It lost it’s charm, and now I hear it is totally music based. Oh, the good ol’ days. Remember when Tia Tequila got famous from MS? LOL!
Comment By: Ingrid
January 17th, 2014 at 5:45 pm
Boy, do I feel old….never did my space and just started Facebook 2 years ago. I do remember Tia Tequila though LOL. I have no clue why I chose my blog name….pulled it out of my *** I guess. And shopping used to be a sport for me so I like the name of your blog.
Comment By: Jean
January 17th, 2014 at 5:56 pm
If it makes you feel any better, in 1.5 years, I’ll be the 50 year old blogger. 🙂
Your blog name is excellent, and I like how your About page says, “About Us” <--- nice touch! Shopping was fun back in the day. Now, I haven't shopped in 2014 unless you count groceries.
Comment By: Bijoux
January 18th, 2014 at 7:35 am
I started blogging after a bad experience on message boards! My blog used to be called Musings from the Burbs, but there were a lot of similar names, so I changed it a few years back.
I used to have fun shopping with friends, but they all work full time now, so I don’t go out as much.
Comment By: Jean
January 18th, 2014 at 8:11 am
Message boards? What is wrong with people!
I’m glad you started blogging. I look forward to your posts.
All my friends moved away. ::: wah! :::
Comment By: Krysten
January 18th, 2014 at 1:10 pm
I always wondered about your name!
Mine is named after my favorite book… and I’m pretty weird, so maybe my blog will help explain Why Girls Are Weird 😉
Comment By: Jean
January 18th, 2014 at 2:02 pm
Now I’m curious about the book!
I’ve always liked your blog name. Girls ARE weird!
Comment By: Jayda
January 18th, 2014 at 3:30 pm
Such a cute story of how you got your name! I remember my friends having myspace, but I wasn’t allowed. Not that I regretted it now…I’m pretty sure my parents saved me from some embarrassing online teenage emo rants haha.
Comment By: Jean
January 18th, 2014 at 4:32 pm
LOL, Jayda! I swear, I was looking at screenshots from MySpace, and there WAS a blog/rant about teenage emo rants. Ranked pretty high!
Comment By: Mark
January 20th, 2014 at 12:43 pm
I never did get into MySpace. Which is surprising, considering how addicted to Facebook I became. As for your other questions…
1. “Mark my words” was an in-joke and a clever play on my name. I’m Mark, these are my words…
2. Yes. It morphed from “peace, love and wordiness” to “peace, love and wordiness in the pacific northwest” once I decided to focus more on where I live. Although really, I could and might drop that last part again.
3. No opinion either way. I don’t use it, but I’m not opposed when people do. It can give you a good idea of what their blog is about at a quick glance.
Comment By: Jean
January 20th, 2014 at 12:54 pm
You may have become addicted to MySpace too, so good you didn’t venture there.
Mark My Words – I love the play on your name! The play on my name isn’t as fun. It usually goes like this: “Hi Jean! Get it? Hygiene?” I obligingly laugh.
Comment By: elle sees
January 20th, 2014 at 2:09 pm
my blog name is my nickname from college that my friends call me. i want my readers to consider themselves friends as well, so of course it’s only fitting they’d call me Elle Sees!
Comment By: Jean
January 28th, 2014 at 2:59 pm
Elle Sees has a ring to it! It really flows off the tongue.
I’ll be by soon!
Comment By: Mark
January 20th, 2014 at 4:09 pm
By the way, here’s the bacon jam recipe we were given. Haven’t tried it yet, but it looks good – and easy!
http://www.realhousemoms.com/crock-pot-bacon-jam/
Comment By: Jean
January 28th, 2014 at 2:59 pm
Thank you, Mark! Bacon Jam looks & sounds delicious!
Comment By: catherine gacad
January 21st, 2014 at 12:37 pm
that is so interesting to hear the genesis of you blog. my space…blast from the past! an esthetician told me she met her husband on my space and added, “i know, shows you how old i am.” i was cracking up.
i love the tag cloud!
Comment By: Jean
January 28th, 2014 at 2:58 pm
Yes, meeting on MySpace is dated….. Do people meet on FB now?
Hope you’re doing well. I’ll be by soon.
Comment By: Rach
January 22nd, 2014 at 5:46 pm
I love the tag cloud widgets! It’s fun to see what people write about the most. 🙂
Also, I love hearing how you picked your blog name! It makes sense. I can see why you picked it. 🙂
Comment By: Jean
January 28th, 2014 at 2:58 pm
Hi Rach! Thanks for your comments. Sorry I’ve been m.i.a. for a while (working). Your recent family photos are so darling. I’ll be by soon to comment.
Comment By: David
January 24th, 2014 at 3:34 pm
Hi Jean, I popped over from Ron’s blog. Interesting how you began blogging and good that you stuck with it. Years ago, maybe about the time you started I created a couple. One I kept but didn’t do anything with, the other I deleted. Last year I began a blog and so far have stuck with it.
The name of my blog is One Percent because many years ago, my elder son told me that given 100 people, 99 with view a thing the same way; then there’s one percent who will take a different view. He said, “Dad, you are part of that one percent.”
Comment By: Jean
January 28th, 2014 at 3:00 pm
David, thank you for your visit! I will return the favor very soon! I’m sorry I haven’t visited yet. Deadline week at work, but soon I’ll have a plethera of free time.
Comment By: David
January 29th, 2014 at 11:54 pm
No worries Jean. I haven’t had time yet to read your latest blog yet but will if at all possible tomorrow.
Sometimes real life interferes with our blogging and I think that’s good.
Comment By: Sherri @ The Kitchen Prescription
January 25th, 2014 at 7:38 am
MySpace seems so long ago. I moved to Florida in December 2006 and wrote my first blog on MySpace in February 2007. Not too far behind you. We met through a blogging group, and the first blog I ever read of yours was the one about the French guy who abandoned your Wall Entertainment project. Hilarious! I fell in love with you then Jean.
I honestly can’t remember my MySpace blog handle but I know my tag name which I still use to this day is sherrismiles. I chose that name because people always tell me I have a beautiful smile. Of course, being the self conscious woman I was when I was younger, I would get so embarrassed of my smile. I’ve grown into it over the years. Literally, I always thought I had a big mouth, in more ways than one. Haha.
My blogging style and names have evolved over time, but I find myself to be in my element of food blogging. The Kitchen Prescription came to me while lying awake in bed one night. I was trying to find a blog name that fit my persona. I’m a Registered Nurse and I love to cook….hmmm, then it hit me. THE KITCHEN PRESCRIPTION! I googled it and as luck would have it, the blog name was available. Just a little fun fact… a Doctor in Hawaii originally had the name. He owned a health food catering service that went under. I wonder if he ever googles the name and my blog comes up!?Hehe.
Happy New Year and Happy Blogging Jean!
Comment By: Jean
January 28th, 2014 at 2:55 pm
Oh that darned French guy! He really left us hanging.
What ever blogging style or name you choose, I will follow you!
The Kitchen Prescription is genius! I’m glad that Hawaiian Doc. let it go. LOL!