Stream of consciousness
Before we get to that, I want to tell you that the winner of the coconut flour is Molly, commenter #9. Congrats, Molly! You've been emailed.
I'm writing a stream of consciousness post today because I'm running late. Why am I running late? Because I spent too much time this morning reading a book about, um, using your time well (168 Hours).
I'm thinking of that time as an investment, ok?
I'm having kind of a love-hate relationship with the book so far, but it is making me think, and overall, I'm happy I'm reading it. I'll tell you more about it when I do a "What I've Been Reading" post.
Most of you hated the cleaner-looking font, so I'm glad I asked. 😉 I switched it back to the old one, but I made the size a bit bigger (this means I need to edit my Q&A and Food Waste Friday blurbs so they fit properly into the space, but ignore that for now).
Are you guys good with this?
Do I sound like me again?
Would you prefer for the font size to be small like it is on my 365 blog?
Do you wish I would not be so waffly and just make decisions?
(don't answer that)
I initially changed it the font size because I read (on a blog about blogging) that small font sizes are bad and bigger is better.
But those same blogging experts say that cleaner-looking fonts are better, and clearly, you guys don't agree with that (probably because you're used to the Georgia font I've used for years). So, if you all lurve the small font, I'll change it back.
I had a lovely weekend. Because not only did I get to have a date night with Mr. FG, I also got to have an overnight with him, thanks to my parents. Usually we try to go away for a night when our anniversary rolls around, but August was an unusually busy month for us, and we never managed to get away.
We figured a late overnight is better than no overnight, so we'd planned to drop the kids off and then go for a solo camping trip because the weather looked fabulous. And because we bought an air mattress.
But, as so often has been the case here these last few months, the weather turned rainy. And cold! And we decided that a night at a hotel would be much more fun than a cold, wet night at a campground.
Fortunately, my brother works for a hotel, and they give a lovely family discount ($39/night? Yes, please!)
It was delightful and relaxing and over too soon.
But I am happy that after 14 years, we still feel like our time together is over too soon.
The overnight was one of those happy things I was telling you about in last week's Right Now post. More are coming!
One of those happy things is that Mr. FG's schedule is changing to Monday-Friday as of this week. He's officially done working on Saturdays. Yay!!!
This means that we'll be functioning on a schedule that is at least vaguely more like the rest of the world, and I am excited about that.
I also am excited that the 10 day weather forecast for my area includes more sun than rain. That hasn't happened for a while.
I'm thinking about Christmas after reading The NonConsumer Advocate's post yesterday. Though we both share a love for a less consumery lifestyle, Katy doesn't quite share my love of Christmas (I think Christmas rocks, myself). I've started writing an ebook about celebrating it in a fun, not-so-stressful, not-so-spendy kind of way, but it's not going to get done before this Christmas. I'm thinking about releasing it next September or October.
I'm super-excited about the things I have to share in that book, so I'm bummed I have to wait that long, but I just don't have the time to get it done right now. Also, I need a small break after writing Reuse, Refresh, Repurpose!
I am going to write a post about Christmas later this week, though.
And right now, I'm going to go get breakfast ready and get started on school with my kids.
Have a great Tuesday!
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Today's 365 post: I took a picture of a tree.
Joshua's 365 post: More Clouds and a Stop-Motion
1) Loving the return to your "signature" font (I'm a creature of habit).
2) Can't wait for your book on Christmas!, and
3) Congrats on having your hubby home on weekends.
Awesome Henry Milleresque stream 🙂 So glad you had a terrific Christmas. Really like the regular font-easy on the eyes.
Very much look forward to the Christmas book. We've been trying to streamline Christmas for the last few years, it's a struggle.
Ok, first comment made little sense. Have a miserable cold-glad you had a great anniversary.
I loved this post and I love Christmas as well...the whole season...sights, smells, sounds and experiences. Today, I'm working on my Christmas cards.
You and your hubby are adorable! I love that you had a night away together. It's something my hubs and I rarely get to do, but it's so vital to any marriage that involves kiddos. 🙂 Loving your blog - have for some time now. It's one of the few I check every single day.
Love that picture of you and Mr. FG! 🙂
I'm glad for you that his schedule is moving to M-F. My Dad worked some rotating shifts when I was growing up and it was difficult to manage. I know my mom didn't like it. It's somewhat better now that he works the day shift, but its M-Th and Sat. It can still be difficult for them to get away together.
I like the "old" font better, but I'm not decided about the size. I think the larger size is slightly better but either is fine.
I'm looking forward to your thoughts on the time management book - that's a topic I've been struggling with mightily lately!!
Yay for family Saturdays! 🙂
You crack me up with your coincidences- take out, time management, what's next?
Yay for Mr. FG having Saturdays off! That's very happy.
I'm not a fan of Christmas, but I am a fan of days off, so I'm going to go enjoy mine!
Yay for M-F schedules! I live in a town where it seems like most people work 2nd or 3rd shift and/or work weekends, so I've always felt a little spoiled that my husband has a relatively-predictable M-F work week. I'm so happy for you! 🙂
I like the smaller font size, but could live with either font style.
Good times ahead with the changing schedule. You must be so excited. And I'm totally with you on Christmas. No need to spend a fortune, but I love it!
Sorry, I should also have said that I'll get used to the larger font size if it stays 😉
I personally like the larger font!
Funny, maybe I missed it, but I didn't see a difference in your font at all! I usually read in my google reader and click over only really for comments (sorry!) but I clicked here when I saw you were questioning the font and it looked the same to me!
I do like the bigger font though, for what its worth 🙂
Based on the fonts you used, I interpret "clean looking" as sans-serif and the old font as serif. [A serif is the little bits on the edges and ends of letters, so sans-serif is a font that doesn't have those. Times New Roman is a serif font, Ariel is a sans-serif.] Serif fonts are easier to read as the serifs help the eye distinguish similar-looking letters. Sans-serif look tidier and fax & scan better, but take a little more brain work to comprehend.
Since you asked, I prefer the serif font in the smaller size. I'll read your blog whatever the font.
Interesting about the brain.
I have read several studies showing that for online reading sans-serif fonts are easier. In print, serif fonts are easier to read for the reasons WilliamB mentions above.
I personally think that as we have all gotten more accustomed to reading online, we are better able to process regardless of the font. But in general I do get frustrated with tiny font (whether online or in print).
I didn't see the sans-serif font here (I guess I missed a day :-)), but I prefer the slightly larger version of the serif-font. And like others have said above, I'll continue to read your blog regardless of the font or size.
Interesting about the online/print difference, and that it seems to be diminishing over time. I wonder if part of the difference is that screen resolution used to be vastly much worse than print - at least four-fold worse. Screen resolution has gotten much better and now approaches that of print (if you have a new, good screen).
I do like the larger font. Easier for me to read. I don't have to look through the very bottom half of my bifocals!
Happy for you guys that Mr. FG has Saturdays off! I like the bigger font but doesn't really matter...I am a fan regardless!
Wherever that BBQ/Fire is I want to be there...
Isn't it funny that it changed your "voice" when you changed your font? That's one of those strange mental twists. I love the serif texts online. Too many have gone to that terrible to read "Trebuchet."
I also like the larger font.
Congrats on all the good hubbie updates!
The larger font is easier to read. Thanks.
I'm not surprised that most readers prefer a font with a serif. The serif moves the eye from letter to letter and makes reading text-heavy material less burdensome. (BTW, a sanserif font is preferable for PowerPoint slideshows which should contain much less text.)
Buon anniversario! Aaaw, you are so cute, guys 🙂
I like the Georgia font either.
It can't be easy to get away with your hubby when you have four kids - kudos to you for making it happen! It's so important. You two make a lovely couple.
I think the larger font is easier to read but the smaller font looks cleaner and a little more professional to me.
I'm glad you switched back to the old font- I like it much better! Although I'm sure I would have gotten used to it, the new font didn't seem quite as "you".
And now that I'm examining your blog appearance, it seems like the ad bars on the side take up a lot of room (nearly half the screen). Was it always like that?
Happy anniversary to you and the hubs! 🙂
I prefer this font. It's what I use too! I like the bigger size because it's a little easier to read. I say keep it this way.
Since I read on my iPad I didn't get a bigger font. Your sidebars take up half my screen so the font has to stay small to fit on the other half. I just do the pinch to enlarge bit to get rid of the sidebars making the blog itself readable so I hope I'm not missing a lot by not reading your sidebars.
To expand a bit on what WilliamB said, the fact that you sans-serif fonts often in work related places makes them seem more formal and business like.
So the serifs then feel more casual, or even homey. Like we're having a conversation rather than being talked at. I'd say that's why the voice felt different.
I've noticed something similar when I do creative writing. I still prefer to write pen to paper, because seeing the words in print on the screen makes me feel it should be perfect right out of the gate. Writing by hand somehow lets my brain give me permission to be imperfect and fix it later.
I am VERY much looking forward to your book about Christmas. We are trying very hard to be financially responsible (after a lifetime of being quite irresponsible!) and I know Christmas is going to challenge me. Alot. Sigh. So I'm looking forward to your great ideas and having this Christmas be a wonderful holiday that doesn't bust our budget!
What the perfect couple. Great posts. You do need some more you time. Your kids are wonderful though.
From someone whose husband will never have a normal schedule (ER dr), I am most thrilled for you and mr. FG's schedule change!! Yay! Yay!
Aww Y'all are such the cutest couple! Christmas is coming 2 fast shhh! LOL
Soooo happy for you guys and a M - F schedule!
Love that picture of the two of you!
I will always go for the larger font. And soon I will also go for glasses! 😉