So I’ve been dipping back into the blogging world recently and I realized something kind of sad… a lot of the blogs I used to love during college are either inactive or completely gone. Like a ghost town complete with tumbleweeds.🥲
I used to hop on here and scroll through such thoughtful, funny, honest posts. People sharing everything from life updates to poetry to book reviews and rambling thoughts and while that’s not completely gone, many of the blogs I regularly interacted with and community feeling is greatly missed.
I’d love to get plugged back into the WordPress community and discover some fresh blogs to read. So if you have any favorite blogs you follow, or if you blog (please do!), drop a link in the comments! Whether it’s cozy lifestyle content, creative writing, faith-based posts, deep thoughts, or just good ol’ fashioned life updates, I’m right here, friend, and I’m all ears.
Help a girl fill her reader with good stuff again 🫶 Can’t wait to see what y’all share!
Choosing the Right Web Builder for Your Blog: My Honest Thoughts on WIX, WordPress, Blogspot, and Tumblr
When it comes to starting a blog, one of the first and most important decisions you’ll make is choosing the right platform to build it on. As a writer who’s tinkered with several web builders, I’ve learned that not all platforms are created equal. Each one comes with its own quirks, benefits, and, of course, irritations. Here’s my take on four popular web builders: WIX, WordPress, Blogspot, and Tumblr. Below you will find my opinions of each web builder and what it’s rightful ranking is (by means of a 5 star-system).
Alright, I believe this should be fairly straight forward, so let’s get on with it, shall we?
1. WIX – 3 Stars
WIX is often marketed as a “drag-and-drop” dream. And I’ll admit, the platform is visually appealing with its sleek templates and easy customization options. If you want your blog to look like an art gallery, WIX might seem like the perfect choice.
But here’s the catch: unless you’re willing to pay for their premium plan, good luck showing up on any search engines. SEO (search engine optimization) isn’t exactly WIX’s strong suit without opening your wallet. Plus, while the interface is simple, it feels almost too simple, like it’s holding back features you might need for a more robust blog.
For casual bloggers who aren’t worried about visibility, WIX could work. But if you’re looking to grow an audience organically, I’d suggest looking elsewhere. You may have a lovely site but one that no one sees (unless you want to pay a fair bit of moolah).
2. WordPress – 4 Stars
WordPress is the overachiever of web builders, and honestly, I’m impressed. With its detailed customization options and extensive plugin library, WordPress has everything you need to make a blog that feels truly your own.
What really makes WordPress shine is that it (mostly) doesn’t penalize you for staying on the free plan. You can still drive traffic to your site and enjoy a surprising amount of creative freedom without feeling like you’re missing out. Personally, I’m not a premium user, and I’ve been more than happy with what the platform offers.
However, the learning curve can be a little steep for beginners. WordPress has so many options that it can feel overwhelming at first. But once you get the hang of it, the possibilities are endless. Unless you want to add plugins. In which case, you’re out of luck on that free plan. It loses at least a half of a star from this alone. But, overall, I really can’t complain too much. I mean, here I am!
3. Blogspot – 2.5 Stars
Blogspot, also known as Blogger, is like the plain vanilla of web builders. It’s fine. It’s functional. It does the job. But does it spark joy? Not really.
The platform is overly simple, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you’re looking for a no-frills blogging experience. However, it can feel limiting compared to other platforms. Also, unless you’re willing to pay for a custom domain, you’re stuck with a URL that looks like it was generated by a cat walking across a keyboard.
If you’re just dipping your toes into blogging and don’t want to overthink it, Blogspot might be worth a try. Just don’t expect it to wow you. It’s basic. It’s fine.
4. Tumblr – 3.5 Stars
Ah, Tumblr. The home of fandoms, memes, and chaotic energy. If you’re planning to use Tumblr as a blog builder, it’s important to understand the platform’s culture. Unlike other web builders, Tumblr relies heavily on its algorithm and community engagement to drive traffic.
This means you can’t just sit back and hope people will find your blog—you’ve got to get involved. Reblog posts, follow similar accounts, and interact with your followers. It’s a bit of a commitment, but it can be fun if you’re already familiar with Tumblr’s vibe.
The downside? Tumblr isn’t exactly a professional blogging platform. It’s more suited for casual, niche interests than for polished, professional blogs. That said, if you’re blogging for fun and want to connect with a specific community, Tumblr might surprise you.
Final Thoughts
Every platform has its pros and cons, and the right one for you depends on your goals. If you’re serious about growing your blog and don’t mind a bit of a learning curve, WordPress is the way to go. For those who value aesthetics and simplicity, WIX might be worth a shot (just keep SEO in mind). Blogspot is fine for beginners, and Tumblr is a unique option for those who want to blog within an existing community (works great if you have a very specific niche or media-based lean).
At the end of the day, blogging is about sharing your voice and connecting with readers. Choose the platform that feels right for you and start creating. After all, the best blog is the one you actually create.
Joy of joys! I have been tagged by the lovely Stara to do the GIF-Y Love Tag! And this is where I ask everyone to discuss the correct pronunciation of the word down below because me and my family are divided. “JIF” sounds so much better in my head but one could argue that “GIF” should be pronounced similar to “Graphic” as it is a moving Graphic? It makes sense, it just sounds weird in my head.
Just another tag I saw floating around on weheartit. You can find the original post that I saw here. Feel free to do it too if you’d like!
a – animal i love
A humming bird. A Ruby throated humming bird to be precise. I saw one once in my homeschooling science textbook when I was about 9 and decided they were the most gorgeous creatures ever.
b – best feature/trait
Hardworking. I tend to overwork myself a little in fact. I’m sorry, there’s just so much I want to do! The struggle is real. I want to try everything and do all the things.
c – color i like
Any shade of blue really.
d – dream of mine
To get a book published. This is no secret. It’s been my goal since age 11. And someday I hope it will come to fruition. Fingers crossed!
e – element i connect with
This is hard. I like water but my personality seems more akin to air. Hmm.. air and water…so maybe like…steam? Rain? I don’t know man.
f – favorite tv show
Probably Merlin. It made me cry but I love it so, so, so much. I also adore Avatar The Last Airbender- the show of my childhood. I was into watching RWBY for awhile too until the very unfortunate and sudden passing of one of the main creators, Monty Oum, and the show took a strange turn as they switched writers.
g – great achievement
I survived high school? I have a blog? I finished the rough draft of my novel? I don’t know, while I love these achievements, I don’t really think about them a lot because I always want to do better or move on to the next thing.
h – height
5’1 and 1/2. Don’t forget the 1/2. (though that might be my shoes??)
i – in love with
Sleeping. And rain. Sleeping while it rains.
j – job of my dreams
Author! Shocking to no one.
k – kids i want
Like 2 or 3 maybe? Depends on what my life ends up looking like.
l – languages i speak
Sorry, dumb American here- I speak English. Das it. I took Latin in high school then quickly forgot everything I learned in the class when I graduated.
m – magical powers i want
I want to control elements of nature! Either that or control time. That would be pretty stinkin awesome. Or shape shifting… ummm… its hard to decide, what can I say?? Final answer is shape shifting I think.
n – number of siblings
Three. Two younger, one older. I am one of the dreaded middle children.
o – one favorite song
Just one, huh? Okay… the Narnia soundtrack? Just all of it.
Crud, I already failed, that’s like 20 songs.
p – personality
I honestly don’t know. Quiet if I don’t know you that well, loud if I do? Introverted? Sometimes moody?
q – quote i live by
Probably one from Tolkien but I personally have a lot of quotes that I adore and want to integrate into my existence. But for now, we’ll settle on this one by Van Gogh.
“It is good to love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is well done.”
*Slinks into a corner to weep*
r – reasons to smile
I’m alive, aren’t I? Sometimes that fact is great weight to me, but often it is a gift.
s – style
Warm. I get so cold. Bring the sweaters and the fuzzy socks. I want them all.
t – time i wake up
Varies like crazy. I have the morning shift at work when I do work in the summer so I would get up at like 4:30 AM, but during school its about 7AM. During breaks, I am a lazy slob so the time can range from 7:30-9:30AM depending on what I have to do that day or how late I stayed up the night before.
u – underrated feature/skill of yours
I can cut strawberries very nicely (I used to work at a tea shop where cutting fruit to look cute was VITAL).
v – vacation place
New Zealand.
w – worst habit
Was Nail-biting but I’ve actually stopped within the last year. I’m pretty addicted to thrift shopping but honestly my worst habit is probably isolating myself when I’m depressed or upset which makes stuff even worse. Angsty girl problems. I also have an unhealthy addiction to iced coffee. White girl problems.
x – x-rays i had
Only one, on my collar bone when I broke it. I was so small I had to stand on a chair while they took it. The chair nearly slid out from under me and I very nearly broke the other one.
y – your comfort movie
How to train your dragon, Toy Story, Rise of the Guardians, Inside-Out, Aladdin, any animated movie I watched young especially. The Lord of the Rings movies could be included in this list as well. And the disney Narnia movies.
z – zodiac sign
Capricorn. The Mermaid goat, ya know?
And that’s a wrap! Farewell for now, bloggers! Thanks for sticking around to know a little bit more about me! Feel free to do this tag if you so desire!
Hey there! Aaaaand we’re still snowed in. But, on the bright side, that leaves me more time for blogging and writing and such. So here’s a little post about my favorite movies. It’s short and sweet because I limited myself to five movies (otherwise we’d probably be here for ages).
Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
This one takes the #1 spot being my entire childhood. The only thing I love more than Lord of the Rings & Tolkien quotes is Narnia & C.S. Lewis quotes. In summary, these two authors made my childhood as did the director of this movie. Though I must clarify, the disney version. There is a British version floating around out there with a…. smaller budget resulting in a slightly… different cinematic experience.
To summarize, this Disney Movie is my most favorite move. I love everything about it. Everyone felt perfectly cast, the music in phenomenal, the animal characters are loveable, Aslan is grand, and the redemptive story of Edmund holds so much weight.
A solid 10/10 movie. I still want to be Lucy when I grow up.
2. The Lord of the Rings Movies
And here is where I sing the Praises of Peter Jackson. He did what seemed impossible- condensed down the enormous works of Tolkien into three wonderful movies that tell a cohesive and developed story that I find myself continually coming back to.
I sort of cheated here as these are technically three movies but I couldn’t pick a favorite among them as they tell one continuous story and each one is masterfully done and has its own strengths in their own rights.
These movies probably have my favorite soundtrack ever, my favorite fight sequences, and some of my favorite characters. My only complaints are Frodo’s character felt a bit off compared to the book and the Frodo and Sam parts sometimes felt like they slogged on too long (or perhaps that was the intention as we were supposed to feel the weight of their looooong journey with them?).
Overall a 9.8457/10.
3. Aladdin
The best disney princess movie that is not actually about the disney princess. Not really. Robin Williams is perfectly cast, the song “A Whole New World” is iconic and probably will be for a very, very long time and rightly so.
9.7/10
4. Star Wars: The Original Trilogy
Yeah, I’m going to cheat again. This is technically three movies but again, just like with Star Wars, its hard to pick a favorite out of these movies (though if you forced me, I’d probably have to say “The Empire Strikes” back but I could easily change my mind at any time. The ranking is that close).
Another iconic and phenomenal soundtrack. Lovably corny CGI effects and all, I love this movie. The writing is amazing and the story so full of hope. I know its simple in structure. A typical good vs. evil struggle but when you pair that with the sci-fi elements that, until that point, had never really been implemented on a big screen (with some exceptions with Star Trek but that was a show and was so stylistically and tonally different, I don’t really see them as that similar).
I grew up watching these which unfortunately led me to having a really high bar as to the level of writing I accept in my Star Wars films so I’m not a huge Disnified Star Wars fan. But, regardless, these movies continue to have a place in my heart.
9.68/10
5. Toy Story
One of Pixar’s crowning glory movies. Sure, this movies animation hasn’t aged that well. Their character models for humans were lacking (Andy may or may not look like a crackhead) but it makes sense for the time period it was in and definitely set a precedent for future CGI Animated movies. Woody & Buzz are THE iconic duo.
9.5/10
And that concludes my list although I could rant about my childhood movies for much longer. Thanks for reading and see you readers later!
Hello, everyone! Hope you are doing well this fine morning (or whatever time you happen to be reading this)! I have joyous news! I have been tagged for my first award! It is known as the Aesthete Blogging Award which is described best by the creator, Asmita.
“This award is to honor every creative person, irrespective of their number of followers and views. Because, as long as you create, that is all that matters. This award is for those bloggers who put an insane amount of thought in each of their posts and for those who spread creativity like wildfire! Just wow!”
Many thanks to Devangi over at Just Penning Down My Thoughts for tagging me! Go check out her blog and send her some love and support as she has some real interesting stuff over there that may interest you readers!
So, without further ado, onto the tag!
The Rules:
Use the official logo/graphic of the award and display it on your blog.
Tell me a something about this world that you admire.
What is your favourite form of creativity?
Nominate 7 lovely people and notify them by commenting on their posts; spread some love!
Ask your nominees 4 questions.
Share something you created. (can be anything!)
And lastly, just so you know: I LOVE YOUR CREATIONS!
What I Admire about this World
As a sort of cynic, I think I sometimes spend too much time looking at the flaws of the world so I think this is a lovely question to ponder. I really do love the kindness and gentleness you can find in the little corners of this planet where you least expect it. Despite this world feeling difficult and torn apart in so many ways, don’t let that make you believe that there isn’t some good to be find. There are still good people. There are still honest people. There are still kind people.
“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.
“So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. There are other forces at work in this world, Frodo, besides that of evil.”
Oh, did I sneak another Tolkien quote into one of my posts? Hmm, well, anyways-
What my favorite form of Creativity is
100% writing. Although I love to draw, paint, and play guitar every now and then, I think writing reigns supreme in my mental list of favorite creative forms. I love the images we can paint with words and the various themes and ideas we can convey through little symbols strung together in a specific order. It is a very fascinating concept.
Devangi’s Questions
What incredibly strong opinion do you have that is completely unimportant in the grand scheme of things?
That sweet tea isn’t that great and that you can be pretty southern and still hate the stuff. I’ve lived in the Southern part of the US my entire life and I have never understood what people like about it?? It’s just sort of gross and has a very tangy taste.
What’s on your bucket list this year?
Quite a few things are on the bucket list for this year, but I one of them is to see the Ocean for the first time in my life. I’ve somehow made it to my twenties and have never walked on a beach before. This fact has made me quite sad but this year I have had an opportunity that will result in me finally laying eyes on the Ocean.
What’s the last book/activity you gave up on and stopped reading/doing? Why?
I could not finish the Star Wars Solo movie. I am a big Star Wars fan having grown up in a house hold where we watched the originals on a pretty regular basis. I have a fond memory of The Prequels even though they’re pretty corny. I am, however, not that big of a fan of the Disney releases with the exception of Rogue One and the shows that are coming out on Disney+.
I wanted to like Solo, but no one beats Harrison Ford’s portrayal, not to mention after Han and Chewbacca meet, there felt to be very little reason to keep watching. I got less than half way through before realizing I really didn’t care or could predict what would happen next. I hypothesized that the girl would die because she wasn’t in the following movies and we all know that Han ends up with his ship and he and Chewie go on to be smugglers. There aren’t really many stakes because you kind of know what’s already going to happen if you’ve seen all the other releases up to this point in the franchise.
Wow. That was a long, drawn out mini movie review. Kind of had a geek moment there for a second, sorry.
What was the best compliment you’ve ever received?
Any compliments concerning my writing or skill that I’ve worked to hone. Those tend to stick with me because it feels to gratifying to be recognized for something you love but also work hard at.
Creations I’d Like to Share
A Digital Art Piece I did a few weeks ago on my ipad.
An Earring Set I made this week!
My Questions
What’s your favorite work of art you’ve ever made?
By the Brooke 