Tuesday Things.
1. I’m curious as to how you consume content. When it comes to blogs, do you follow for the person – or the specific content? Do you follow blogs for the person behind the blog (meaning that you’ll follow for mostly anything they are doing/going through) or do you follow just for content (recipes, fashion ideas, home decor, etc). Pretty sure I follow most for the person.
2. Majorly majorly craving this pineapple pulled pork sandwich.
3. After I asked you about s’mores combos last week, I may have caved and made a s’more in the microwave this past weekend. Sad. Or brilliant?
4. Completely obsessed with the sauce theory when it comes to meal prepping and eating healthy for the week.
5. The Affair is back! After last year’s finale (and season, ugh), I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about it, but I didn’t hate this episode. I wish it had two other people in it (hello!) but oh well – next week. Annnnnd I’m still super into Southern Charm but only on season 2.
6. Our magnolia tree is blooming and it is SO fragrant! Like so fragrant that I walk outside and can instantly smell it even if I’m not near. Can I take those flowers off and do something with them?
7. Being unproductive in a short period of time is totally me. I get so much more done when I have a lot to get done.
8. Embarrassingly got us all (mostly) matching swimsuits. I am now that person.
60 Comments on “Tuesday Things.”
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I have blogs I follow equally for content and the person (like yours!) and some that I follow specifically for the person – those tends to be blogs of women with whom I share very little in common. I find it helps me live a better life if I can stretch myself a bit and, honestly, it’s hard to be friends IRL with people like that, so following blogs helps me do it without awkward coffee dates. :)
this is so true!! I think that’s why I follow a bunch of different people too.
I usually start following for the content and then start becoming attached to the person. I’ve felt that way as you have grown your brand and your sweet family. Appreciate you inviting us all along for the ride!
Thanks Harper!
I follow blogs mostly for the person, if I fell like I can relate and get that person. I mean also for the recipes too though! Your recipes are always mouth watering for sure but I feel like I’m in the same season of life-with 2 kids and always crazy busy!
Yesss that same season of life thing is the reason I follow a lot of others with kids. Thanks Vanessa!
Both the person and the content! I like Day in the Life posts, but I also follow for recipes or whatever
So you like a balance of both? That’s what I like too!
I follow blogs for the person. If I can’t get into how they “talk” then I have a tough time reading their blog on a regular basis. That is why I like reading yours, it always feels real and authentic to me no matter the subject. Now I really want pulled pork for dinner and wish I had time to make when I get home this afternoon. I am thinking that would be good with chicken too. Totally agree with #7 too. I feel like I get more done when I have a lot going on.
Thanks Courtney!
I’ve been known to make smores in the toaster oven – when you’ve got a craving, you’ve got a craving haha.
So very true! Haha
I 100% follow for the person. I dont care how great the content is, if I dont vibe with the person behind it, I just cant get into it. I’ve followed some “bloggers” that dont really even blog anymore just because I feel attached them.
Same here! I follow lots of people who don’t blog anymore but started in that time when we only blogged about real life.
For the person mostly. I love it when it gets to the point where I feel invested in the bloggers lives and feel happy/sad for whatever they are going through. It feels like having a really good one-sided friendship! LOL.
Hehehe me too!!!
The blogs that I check every day, read religiously, I follow for the person. 100% It is his/her voice that pulls me in and keeps me interested. I still check other blogs sporadically for recipes and such but for whatever reason the voice isn’t compelling enough for me to commit.
A snack growing up was s’mores with mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, and saltine crackers, and “cooked” in the microwave… oy. haha!
Me too!
Started as content and became hte person. I guess even if a person has good content I won’t follow unless they’re an interesting person to get to know, humorous, entertaining, etc. For example I follow some “food blogs” just to read their stories, less so the recipe itself.
Interesting!! In this day of digital overload that’s what I tend to do too.
I follow blogs almost entirely for the person – content of course was the lead in, but after that? I can’t follow someone for content that I don’t feel connected with at all. (and funny you posted this because literally yesterday I was thinking about all the insta/blogs that I’ve unfollowed recently because they were way too curated with props and a ‘voice’ that didn’t feel authentic whether that’s cooking, lifestyle, books…)
haven’t made smores in the microwave but I have under the broiler. I think whatever works!
excited to see what they do with the Affair. Last season was ‘meh’ but now I’m intrigued again.
it was sooo MEH last year! I think this is the last season so I hope they step it up!
You are pretty much the only blogger I follow consistently. And I think part of that is because I’ve been on the ride since Dec of 2010.
I do follow a few other bloggers on Instagram but I feel like their blog presence is more inconsistent so it’s nice just to know when they’ve posted
Oh man, so since the really embarrassing years. Hahaha thank you Megan!
I tried my own hand at blogging, far more embarrassing… trust me 😂
Where did you get your matching family swimsuits??? ALL over that.
I got eddie and max matching ones from vineyard vines for Father’s Day (I did this last year too) and got Emilia and I ones that really color coordinated!!
I follow for the person. I think it starts out for the content and then I continue for the person. Also, I’m dying to see some pictures of these matching swim suits!!!
Oh they will def be on instagram stories!!!
#3 = BRILLIANT. I’ve been craving s’mores like whoa… and I haven’t had one in over a decade.
Ugh they are just sooooo good! A decade!? I feel like going 10 months is too long, ha!
If you see my IG, you’ll see I’m reintroducing a lot more foods now ;)
I agree about The Affair…What are they doing?! I think they forgot what the show was about.
Seriously! I need more cole and Allison.
I start off for the content but with many blogs I develop a “virtual” relationship and then I follow for the personal backstory as well.
This happens with me as well.
Take the magnolia flower and float it in a bowl of water inside, it smells fantastic. My husbands grandmother had a huge magnolia tree in her yard and she did that. Seeing that picture took me right back to time spent at their house.
Amazing idea! I’m going to do this when I get home from DC.
I guess it’s better than a candle S’mores or over the electric stove burner …..oh wait this is the best one …..carefully put together in the toaster oven. YES….. that’s for cravings at 11 pm!
I don’t have a Magnolia, but my yard is overcome with my Honeysuckles in bloom, I love it, I want the perfume to wear.
Love honeysuckle!
I used to make s’mores on a three wick candle in college bc they are legit my favorite dessert ever and I just couldn’t quit them in my apartment. I regret nothing. That’s way worse than a microwave, so you no longer need to feel embarrassed ;)
Omg hahahaha. Didn’t the s’mores taste like the candle scent?!
I definitely follow for the person! Like for you, I started following because I found your chicken enchilada spaghetti recipe (waaaay back in the day) and I have loved seeing your journey! You tell stories through your food and you kind of remind me of myself!
Oh man that was a looonnng time ago!! Thank you!!
Definitely follow for the person. Last week I had to unfollow a bunch of food bloggers on Instagram (I’m sorry but you were one of them), because all of their accounts were just reproductions of their blog and I already get their email newsletters, so don’t need to be seeing that content again. When I started following bloggers on Instagram a few years ago, it was all about real life. Then the photos became about marketing content. It was kind of okay when Instagram stories came along because that was still about real life, but now it’s all about food content too with the meal plan ideas and other round-ups. I hate it! So much better now that they aren’t in my feed anymore!
I enjoyed the new episode of The Affair too. Hopefully it’s a good season.
I also wish that Instagram was like it used it be and was real life again. It sucks that you had to unfollow me but just to give you some insight, when I post a picture of my real life or my kids or my lunch in my feed, the photos get very little engagement and hundreds of people instantly unfollow me. When I post a picture of t pretty food, I get some new followers.
I’ve never worried much about numbers and/or followers of platforms. But with Instagram being the biggest marketing tool at the moment (which sucks, Facebook totally destroyed it!) I’m just trying to give my followers what they want.
I’m curious though – do you open and read all the blog emails you get? I think that’s why a lot of blogs have gone this route, because people aren’t really visiting actual websites anymore. They’re using their allotment of time on instagram!
I agree it stinks.
That’s crazy, I love the stuff about your kids the most! But I totally understand. Your blog is your business and you have to do what is best for it to grow and be the best it can be and if that means doing what works on Instagram, then that’s what you’ve got to do.
I open every food blog email I get, but only click through to the blog if I want to pin the recipe or if it’s a blogger that I feel connected to and want to read more of their story in the post. I love day in the life posts, weekly real life posts (like your summer Fridays, even though it’s winter and cold in Australia!), your Tuesday Things posts, book posts or your yearly recipe fail posts. I feel like these kind of posts help me get to know the blogger better and make me more likely to click through on a recipe email to read the whole blog post.
I think it starts off with following for content, such as finding a post through social media. But then I subscribe and stay for the person.
Thanks Anjanette! (I love your name btw!)
If you start following someone for food content, do you unfollow if they start posting other content too, in addition to food?
Thank you! I love when people post different aspects of their lives. It makes it feel like I know them. Makes it more personable.
Depends on the type of content and frequency of unrelated content. For instance, if I follow someone for food photography and they start posting floral photography in the same photography style, I probably won’t mind. If floral photography begins to match or exceed the volume of food photography, however, I might unfollow. If the same photographer starts posting a high volume of photography of very unrelated content, say, dogs, or children, I will probably unfollow quickly. Nothing personal towards them, just depends on how I like to curate my personal content feeds. You do a great job of balancing your recipes and food photography with real life content, and make it very easy for readers to pick and choose posts to read–I don’t feel overwhelmed as a reader with extraneous content and enjoy small glimpses into your real life.
I totally follow blogs for the person and would read pretty much anything if I like the person behind the blog. But if I can’t get into their blogging style, I’m on to the next one.
I follow for the person! <3
We do s’more’s in the toaster oven. Break your graham cracker in half and top each half with a marshmallow which has also been ripped in half. Broil until the marshmallows are brown and puffy (this takes about 7 minutes in my toaster oven). Take them out, top with a piece of Hershey bar, and smoosh the two layers together. It’s almost as good as the ones you make over a campfire.
Some blogs I follow purely for the content, and normally just skim the posts for what interests me. Other blogs I follow because the person seems interesting or has a writing style I enjoy, and I am more likely to read their posts in full regardless of the content of the day.
Hi Jessica,
I follow a blog thru relating to the person. Jessica,
you make me feel like family. *Smile* Thank you!
You, Jessica are doing an outstanding job of balancing work, being a Good wife, & raising well mannered children!!!! Please don’t doubt yourself about balance of work & raising a family, so exceptional at all !!!! Much love & many hugs always!!!!
My go to sauce, which is a copycat of Chicken Kitchen (those from the MIA know) or similar to Pollo Tropical is a Curry Mustard sauce: mayo, yellow mustard, curry powder, mix and adjust to taste preference. S&P and garlic powder if you want. A little water to thin it. Best on your fav protein, rice (or riced veggies!) and roasted veggies.
Hi!!! I’ve followed you from I pretty much think the first few months of oh starting blogging. You were one of the first food blogs I followed and the only blog I’ve been with this long – or tied maybe with Cup Of Joe. Even though I’m a vegetarian I still ow along because you’re a fun, upbeat and colorful girl. I will say the only thing that has jumped out at me as unauthentic is you have never once mentioned anything about the political state of the US in the last couple of years. In a time when that topic is absolutely pervasive it does give me pause with your page regularly. I’m not saying you need to put any thoughts out there, because you’re exactly what I said, a fun light upbeat brand and lord knows these topics are not any of that. But just wanted to say I’ve noticed. Much love to your adorable family. Please keep blogging and posting on IG and being you.
I’m 100% a content follower. There are some blogger personalities I like more than others (yours being one of the best!) but a great personality can’t keep my attention if the content stops being relevant to me. I’ve unfollowed many fashion blogs because the blogger’s style changed, many food/lifestyle blogs because bloggers having children/getting married/even relocating has changed the content, many photography blogs if they start experimenting more instead of sticking to the content themes I followed them for initially. It’s nothing personal towards the blogger, but rather a way for me to keep my own internet activity limited to things I want to consume.
re: content, i do both. i’m vegan. i follow a lot of recipe blogs, many of which i followed before i went vegan. some fell off, but some i still follow because i love the person (like you!). i also follow some diy-type blogs, even though i haven’t made a dang thing from their sites. others i follow for the content. the content is what initially brings me in, but i’ll sometimes stay for the person, if that makes sense.