What I’ve learnt so far as a newbie blogger…

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Bo

Okay… Big news!

I’ve taken the plunge and bought the WordPress URL for my blog. This means I am the official owner of the http://www.keepingupwiththewalkers.com web address. Yahoo!

Since starting my blog in July, I have been overwhelmed by the amazing support and the interest shown in what I have to say (3 000 hits in such a short time). It’s been such fun and I thought I’d pause and just share with you some of the lessons I’ve learnt so far.

Number 1: Speak to other bloggers. Read other blogs.
Some of the best advice and support I got was actually speaking to other bloggers. They are so willing to share what worked and what didn’t work for them and gave me some awesome tips and hints. It also helped checking out other blogs and finding the ones I enjoy reading.

Number 2: Spell check. Then check your spelling. And then spell check again.
Do not rely on spell check. An epic example is where I was blogging about a serious issue and wrote ‘lunch’ cancer instead of ‘lung’ cancer. Trust me, it was a few days later before someone told me and by that stage, over 40 people had read the blog post. I wanted to die of embarrassment!

Number 3: Experiment. Play around. Learn and grow.
I was so nervous when I changed my WordPress template. I thought that if I changed it, people would not ‘recognise’ my blog. How silly. It’s more about what I’m blogging about that (hopefully) makes people want to read it than what the site looks like. Besides, change is good and my blog should reflect the changes in my life. (check out the manual I bought! Totally screams geek but I’m learning so many cool things!)

Number 4: What I think people are interested in reading… is not always what people read.
My biggest surprise was the day I posted 13 arb photos from my holiday. Not thinking that this would even interest people, I had over 400 hits. And some blog posts which I did not think would be that interesting to people have received so many comments and stirred up so much emotion.

Number 5: Make sure your boss knows about your blogging schedules.
After some clever research, I realised that by publishing my blog in the morning and evenings would ensure maximum traffic, especially since these are the times when Twitter and Facebook are most active. So I prepare my drafts in the evening and then schedule them to go out at different times. The problem is that my colleagues (some of whom subscribe to my blog) would receive my blog and think I am sitting at my desk all day blogging. I’m not… (Although I am constantly writing my thoughts in a little moleskin book which I carry around with me everywhere! Nerd alert!)

… and the biggest lesson I’ve had to overcome is …

Number 6: Exposing myself is tough.
It’s a funny thing. I somehow don’t mind strangers reading my blog. But when I get comments from family, friends and people who ‘know’ me, I do feel incredibly vulnerable and exposed. It’s as if they are getting insight into parts of me with the added benefit of actually knowing me. It’s weird to explain. I feel as if I am opening myself up when actually, I tend to be a pretty private person and do not easily share things (sometimes not even with KK).

I can’t tell you how much I am enjoying blogging. I still have so much I want to share and talk about and learn… especially now that my training for the 2012 Two Oceans half marathon has kicked into gear. *goosies*

To all of you who subscribe to my blog, thank-you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to read my blog posts. I love sharing my thoughts, dreams, fears and joys with you!

Ps: @HayleyM_ thanks so much for inspiring me and your support. I love your blog! (everything inbetween)

10 Tips for a Decade of Marriage

Posted on August 10, 2011 by Bo

My hubby (KK) and I celebrate 10 years of marriage in September. I’d like to share with you my 10 tips that have kept us together over the years…

1. SAY SORRY

A simple sorry breaks down barriers. In the end, it doesn’t matter who was wrong or right. But what matters is how you both feel when you are fighting. It’s horrible and miserable and in the end, so pointless. Say sorry and mean it. Then when you are ready, sit down and talk about the issue.

2. ALWAYS LOOK YOUR BEST (ACT AS IF YOU ARE STILL DATING)

Make the effort. Why is it that when the doorbell rings, we rush to comb our hair and quickly apply make-up, yet we are okay with our loved ones seeing us at our worst? I like to make sure I always look my best and pretty when I’m around KK. I wear my pretty ear rings and apply make-up on, even on the weekends. Don’t pluck your eye-brows or wax your legs in front of your man. Keep that element of surprise there.

3. FAMILY & FRIENDS

Most couples fight about each other’s family and/or friends yet these are the people that each other cares most about. Agree to disagree. Always remember that these are the very same people that helped built the character of the person you love.

4. HOUSEHOLD CHORES – DIVIDE AND CONQUER

We both work very long, stressful hours, as most couples do. It is not fair to expect one person to still come home from work and ensure all the cooking and cleaning is done all by themselves. KK and I each have a list of set chores to do and we are each responsible for ensuring it gets done. We both contribute. I am grateful to have a husband who does the washing every day.

5. GET A DOG (OR TWO)

Annie and Emma have given us hours of pleasure and brought joy to our lives. They make us laugh with their funny, unique personalities. Enough said. (I guess this is true for those of you who have kids)

6. THANK EACH OTHER. CONSTANTLY

Acknowledge one another. KK thanks me every night for supper. I thank him every morning for breakfast. And we both mean it. It’s not about what is being thanked for, but the acknowledgement that I am grateful for him in my life and what he means to me.

7. MAKE TIME TO BOND

A friend of mine criticized me recently, saying that KK and I need a break on weekends, that we do everything together. Yes, so we go to Woolies together, clothes shopping together, even gym on the weekends. Almost every Saturday evening, our ritual is to go to an early movie and supper. Our “Date Night”. We know that whilst we are hectically busy during the week, we can look forward to that time when we set aside everything to enjoy the time spent with each other. This is what works for us and it is still not old.

8. KNOW WHAT MAKES THE OTHER PERSON ‘TICK’

Recognize the things in life that are important to each other. Make an effort to understand what matters in each other’s lives. It is easier then to understand their hopes, challenges and disappointments.

9. EXPECT EACH OTHER TO CHANGE AND GROW

It’s only natural that you will each change and grow. But it’s important that you take each other on that journey with you. Or else you will drift apart. Change is a good thing and as long as it’s for the good, embrace it. KK cannot expect me to be the same person I was when he met me at 23 years of age to the woman I am at 36.

10. HOLD HANDS. KISS. SMILE AT EACH OTHER.

It’s the little things that add up to the big things. We still hold hands when we go out. And we still kiss before each meal at night. I won’t start eating until he does. And he won’t go to bed until I am ready to. And often, I will catch him out and just stop and say hello. And smile at him. And tell him I love him. Because I do…

11. MAKE TEA – Babes, I threw this one in just in case you’re reading my blog! *kiss*

Counting the days…

Posted on August 4, 2011 by Bo

It just so happens that in September KK and I will be celebrating our 10 year wedding anniversary. It’s okay to gasp, I did!

How the hell did ten years fly by so quickly!

We decided a while back that we would celebrate by going on an overseas holiday and so we made a list of our favorite destinations.

Egypt was on the cards, but after that extraordinary revolution that happened in the country, we didn’t think it was the right time to go there on holiday.

KK suggested Japan, one of his favorite countries where he’s always wanted to take me to. However, that terrible earthquake hit. Recent attacks on tourist resorts in Morocco put us off Club Med Morocco, which was also on our list.

Oh boy! It felt like it was never going to happen.

We finally decided on a cruise of the Mediterranean. It couldn’t have been a more perfect choice of destination! It was meant to be! (Girlie moment)

For our honeymoon, we had gone on a similar cruise 10 years ago.

This would be a trip rekindling those memories and going back to the places where we originally sat, watching the sunset, sharing our dreams for the future.

We simply cannot wait! *WHOOP*