Blogging — Tatter Scoops

Blog Envy

14 Oct posted by Maureen

It Started With A Funk…

Yes, I’ve noticed the funk came back a few days ago. If you are a blogger you might not be a stranger with these feelings. You know moments where you questioned just about everything about the blogosphere and wondering out loud in your head if it’s worth it to put yourself out there.

I thought I was going to jump right back in the blogosphere wagon when I had my 30 days break from work. I tried…but I feel like since my niche has changed, since I have changed…things are now different.

No wait, I have a confession…I have some blogging envy.

When I started Tatter Scoops I didn’t know the secrets, the magic formulas to be a successful blogger. All I know is just writing. Read here for a great recipe by Alison from Mama Wants This for blogging.

Back then I got to ‘connect’ with many great bloggers out there. Some were newbie’s much like me. We learned about each other through our posts. We promote each others’ posts. It was good times. I invested so much times burying my self in blogging.

Then my world changed…

Devoting my time to blogging fell off priorities list. Times I spend commenting on other blogs decreased. My days were just too chock full of work – home – work. Rinse and repeat. Even when I have domestic helper, after nearly 12 hours day of staring into computer screen…getting online sometimes is the last thing I wanted to do.

So now when I see these other bloggers who were newbies – just like me – have thousands of followers, thousands of readers, they went to conferences, they have lots of sponsors. They are now famous, I can’t help but feeling a bit envy…jealous even.

Yes, I am happy for their success, I honestly do but part of me is a bit jealous so don’t stone me for being brutally honest here.

These are the bloggers that truly has been doing everything ‘right’ to climb up the blogosphere ladder of success and I salute them. It takes a lot of commitment to take blogging seriously and kick it up a notch. Some conquer that spot in just mere months, some after a year or so.

Seeing their success made me see where I’m lacking…time to commenting, time to visit, time to be actively involves in bloggers community. Time to be fully committed to blogging. That, I don’t have much since I started working a year ago.

Maybe Being Ordinary is OKAY

Accepting that I might not have thousands of followers on this blog – while I do thanks my followers on Twitter – or I might never go to any of the prestigious blogging conferences is actually liberating in a way.

I am thankful enough for those of you who do read and commenting here. Really, it means a lot.

Maybe being ordinary in this vast blogosphere is actually OK. Nothing wrong with it, for the fuel that keeps this blog running is my love for written words, for expressing views, to channels these thoughts that sometimes would just be swept under the rug without this platform.

I’d like to think that this blog is indeed different…my stories are uniquely mine but to fully accept that I don’t have to try so hard to catch up with the big hot shots bloggers is actually a nice feeling. That it is OK to be where my blog is today.

Of course we all dreams to be big and honestly, who wouldn’t love that? But realistically we can’t all be Dooce or The Pioneer Woman, right?

So, I guess I’m fine with the small circle I have right now and knowing that these funks will come and goes and it is perfectly OK.

Do you feel your blog is growing in a rate you wanted it to be? Have you ever felt this blogging envy? How do deal with it?

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Filed Under: Blogging

Awesome Twosome

5 Oct posted by Maureen

Just as I’ve been feeling a bit ‘down’ about my blogging journey, yesterday gave me reasons to smile.

Why?

Because I was in two places at the same time.

Where?

First, I did warned you that the team at World Moms Blog has graciously accepted me as one of their contributors, right? They published my first writing yesterday. Where I talked about motherhood from my point of views after it was being altered with different cultures and backgrounds.

A little about World Moms Blog from their About page:

Join us on a journey of motherhood around the globe! World Moms Blog came about from the idea of merging what it’s like to be a mother, writing, anthropology and all things international. It is written in English and is a volunteer effort.

As busy mothers we often find ourselves without the time to be jet-setting around the planet. So, we invite you to come travel the world with us, through our global writers. We will read about how women across the planet are mothering, how their lives are similar or different from ours, what’s on their minds and expand our horizons into corners of daily life around the world.

To be brutally honest, I was nervous about my writing. Worried that it might not be good enough. Go and see it for yourself and let me know what you think.

Then here comes The Parent Du Jour…

Maria from Bicultural Mama was kind enough to introduced me to Lisa Duggan, the brilliant mind behind this website. It was this post that Maria referred me to. Intrigued by the idea, Lisa and I soon got in contact with one another.

A little about The Parent Du Jour:

365 moms and dads, served fresh daily!

Our goal is to feature 365 moms and dads from around the world. We want to feature at least one parent from every country inthe world—195 at last count.

Moms, Dads, Grandparents, Guardians, Aunts and Uncles— all are welcome to participate

It doesn’t matter how young or old, seasoned or inexperienced, or whether a parent is single, married, civil-unioned, separated, widowed, divorced or re-married, or if their children are babies or completely grown, with children of their own. We consider anyone taking an active part in the raising of a child a candidate for this project. Grandparents, aunts, uncles—consider yourself invited.

Each day we’ll serve up a different parent telling us, in their own words, how they combine work, family, and life. Dads will be featured in our “A Dad a Day” series, moms in “Once Upon a Mom”.

The result? Well, you just have to check it out yourself. I am just so excited to be their first international mom – outside of Canada. If you are interested, please do get in touch with Lisa by their Twitter or Facebook, they are looking for more international parents.

It’s been an exciting day here at Tatter Scoops, that’s for sure.

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Filed Under: Blogging

World Moms Blog Interview

23 Sep posted by Maureen

Can’t you tell how excited I am to join the wonderful women behind the World Moms Blog?

Today my first post – which is like a short interview with them goes live on WMB. I would love you if you would take a look at it.

Thank you!

Blog Revamp And Guest Post

31 Aug posted by Maureen

As you can see here, I had decided – against my brain capacity maybe – to tackle redesigning my blog solo! Gasp…yes, you read that right. The old design was self made using Thesis but this time I am using a new platform, the famous Genesis.

A friend of mine, a fellow Indonesian blogger – travel junky – photographer enthusiast – Miss Lai Lai tweeted me:

She basically said NO but being the worst critique, I feel I need a new design, a fresh new look and what better timing than doing it now while I’m on my break? So I’ve been wearing my geeky hat – read glasses – on since yesterday and ended up with some headaches from coding but there sure is a different kind of satisfactions from doing it alone. Do excuse the mess.

On a lighter note, today I’m guest posting over at A String of Pearls, a lovely ezine web made by a group of amazing women. There, I’m sharing my inner war about where home really is . So do stop by and read my post. Promise, I’d love you!

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Filed Under: Blogging

Surviving The First Month

17 Nov posted by Maureen

Yes, I had survived the first month of being a full time working outside the home mom! Being back in the corporate world especially here in Jakarta after months of rejections, sure feels damn good!

“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life” – said Confucius

That maybe have some truth in them because I love what I’m doing now, it’s high paced but also enjoyable. I still have much to learn from the other girl Miss F who’s been kind enough to let me ask her tons of questions. Numbers confused me – except for cash that is – and working with so many different assigned job numbers still got me a bit confused but Miss F has been so patience and allows me to double check the numbers like a gazillion times.

Miss F and I would giggled like two school girls on some days that when our boss walked by he would look at us with such a suspicious look on his face that only makes us giggled even more. Both of us would just laugh the stress out which is pretty cool because what else can you do?

I’m loving my job, that’s for sure!

On the home front, Lil’ A has adjusted quite well and stop acting out. His pre-K schedule has been postponed until early of January (school is moving to a new bigger place).

He came to picked me up at work last Saturday, but of course he was too shy but thanks goodness he’s over the I-will-scream-to-every-strangers-trying-to-talk-to-me phase. He hid his face while the ladies at work hovered and tried to grab his attentions. My boy is shy what can I say…lets hope by starting pre-K he would nip this shyness in the butt for good.

The boy would still try to pry open my eyes if I fall asleep before he does, which is cute but oh it’s so darn hard to keep my eyes open at night. His hugs and kisses and “I love you, Mommy!” is what keeps me going.

On another side, I am honored to be featured alongside many already great established blogger/websites on this months’ issue of Indonesia Parenting Magazine (yes, just like the Parenting Mag back in the States but this one is the Indonesian franchise of it). That piece further opened up about my status and revealed its way to some people at work.

One positive thing is I found out that one of our IT guy is actually the founder of Indonesia Single Parent Group and had invited me to joined their mailing list.

Working has proofed to be a great ‘medicine’ for my situation…it fills up my days a lot quicker, occupies my mind and kicking those yucky feelings to the curb. Yes, there are still moments when those thoughts crossed my mind but not as often as before. Working has given me a great ‘escape’ that I desperately needed besides the obvious of giving Lil’ A a better future.

That much anticipated trip to Rote island has been postponed due to all the catastrophic tragedies in Indonesia recently. I’m disappointed of course but I think it was a wise decision from the tour coordinator. We’ll be going sometimes next year instead. Our Bangkok trip has been booked for end of April 2011 – only 5 months away – my two brothers will be going along with me and Lil’ A. Can’t wait!

Hope you guys are all doing well!

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Filed Under: Working Mom

10 Things I Like Plus Some Awards

4 Nov posted by Maureen

Juggling a new tittle as a working mom, dealing with a toddler who’s slowly getting used to our new routine, blogsphere seems like a far away world lately.

I miss it terribly!

And I’m missing the daily interactions with my bloggy friends – old and new.

Lish from A Beautiful Mess gave me this award awhile ago. Thank you, girl! She’s an awesome blogger/photographer if you haven’t heard of her, please do pay her blog a visit.

Sweet Amanda from Home Age also gave me a Versatile Blogger award. She’s such a sweetheart! Thanks, Amanda!

Over at After Bedtime Blog, Vanita gave me an Awesome Blogger award. What a sweet surprise. Thanks again, Mama!

Now here are the ‘rules’ to disclose 10 things me likey in randomly order:

I love err like and miss Coffee Mate French Vanilla Creamer. They don’t have them here and I miss them oh.a.lot!
Vanilla scents. From body sprays, scented candles to ice-creams.
The calmness of early morning, sipping my first cup of coffee and just savoring the only me-time I have during my now busy day. Now have you figured why I’d rather wake up at 4 am everyday?
The jolt of excitements when I’m flying in an airplane – big or small – what can I say, I’m just a sucker for traveling.
The smell and softness of freshly washed bed sheets.
Lil’ A’s “What’s so funny, Mommy?” every time he hears us adults laughing out loud.
How the boy tried so hard to glare his eyes out – poor thing just can’t do it and it only makes him look even more adorably cute.
My bloggy friends…you are all meant so much to me and me love you long time!
Checking out the pictures that I took – albeit the painfully time consuming post-processing – I still squeals when I got some unexpectedly good shots.
My hair spa! Gotta love my two hours of pure relaxations for a mere 5 bucks! Speaking of…I need one badly.

Now, let me pass along these awards to 10 other rocking bloggers who I’m proud to call friends:

Maryline over at Franco American Dream – my soul sistah whom I love!
MamaOnDaGo – sweet lady who let me guess post last week. She’s a working mom of two and pure joy to be friends with!
Sweet wise and did I say sweet? Jane from Life @ Number 8. We chatted a lot through twitter and I adore her!
Booyah’s Mama – this girl can writes and crack you up with her witty play of words. I heart her and her blog for sure! Her writing skills are something to die for!
Another hot mama in bloggy world who crunchly writes about motherhood and life in general, Veronica of Crunchy VT Mommy is not only beautiful. She’s smart, sharp and oh such fun to know of.
Big Teeth & Cloud’s owner – Joey. She too is a talented writer, I just love how she can take you into her life with mere words and laugh with her.
An attorney and freelance writer, L.Eleana J from A Writer’s Den is fantabulous with her words! That’s for sure.
The amazing Mrs. Mayhem! Love this lady! Not only she writes beautifully with her heart but she takes killer photos.
Ecky from Cisayong Girl is leading a new life as a diplomat wife full of adventure in an exotic place called Pohnpei somewhere in Micronesia.
Maria of Tough Cookie Mom – such a sweet sweet lady. Again, we twitted back and forth together but I adore her!
My dear friend, Esti over at EstiMiguelAriel she makes dangerously delicious cupcakes, takes awesome pictures and blog about their adventures living in Bangkok.
Last but not least, have you met Jessica from Mommyhood Next Right she writes with a passion that comes from her heart and soul about motherhood.