How to Blog

 Here you go, Lauralee — a clean, friendly, beginner‑friendly blog post you can publish as‑is or tweak to match your voice. I kept it simple, practical, and not overly technical.

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Blogging 101: A Simple Guide to Getting Started

Starting a blog can feel exciting, creative, and a little overwhelming all at once — but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you want to write about family life, faith, design, college, or anything else close to your heart, blogging gives you a place to express your thoughts and connect with others. Here’s a basic breakdown of what you need to know to begin.

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1. Choose Your Purpose (a.k.a. “Your Why”)

Before you dive into writing, take a moment to think about why you want to blog. A clear purpose helps guide your content and your tone.
Your purpose might be to:

• Share your personal experiences or creative work
• Help others by teaching what you know
• Document your journey (parenting, fitness, faith, career, etc.)
• Build an online presence or start a future business

You don’t need all the answers right away — just a general direction.

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2. Pick a Place to Blog

There are many platforms, but here are the most common choices for beginners:

➡️ WordPress.com

Great for flexibility and growth. Lots of themes and customization.

➡️ Blogger

Simple, free, and easy to use if you want a very basic setup.

➡️ Wix or Squarespace

Beautiful design options; great if visual aesthetics inspire you.

➡️ Substack

Perfect for writing-focused blogs and newsletters.

If you’re just starting, pick something easy that won’t overwhelm you.

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3. Choose a Name and a Theme

Your blog name should reflect what you want to share. It can be:

• Your full name (great for personal brands)
• A descriptive phrase (e.g., Mom Life & Faith)
• Something creative that fits your style

Once you choose a name, select a theme or basic layout that feels clean and simple. Don’t obsess over design in the beginning — you can always change it later.

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4. Outline Your First Posts

It’s helpful to have a few topic ideas ready before you publish. Common beginner posts include:

• An introduction (“Why I Started This Blog”)
• A story from your life
• Something helpful you’ve learned
• A simple how‑to
• A reflection on something meaningful

Don’t overthink your writing. Authentic is better than perfect.

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5. Write in Your Natural Voice

Readers connect with real people — not overly polished, robotic writing. (Your son would approve!)
Try to:

• Write like you’re talking to a friend
• Break up long paragraphs
• Use headings to keep things organized
• Add a personal touch: your thoughts, humor, or faith

Your voice is what makes your blog unique.

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6. Add Photos or Visuals

Images help keep people engaged. You can include:

• Photos you take
• Free, copyright-friendly images from sites like Unsplash or Pexels
• Simple graphics or quotes you create

Just avoid using images you find through Google unless they’re marked for reuse.

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7. Publish — Even If It Isn’t Perfect

The hardest step is clicking “Publish.”
But blogging is something you learn by doing. Your early posts don’t have to be masterpieces. They just need to be genuine.

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8. Share Your Blog (Optional but Helpful)

If you feel comfortable, share your posts with friends, family, or on your social media. You never know who might be encouraged by your words.

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9. Keep Going

Consistency matters more than perfection. That doesn’t mean you need to write every day — just try to show up regularly, even once a week or once a month.

Over time, you’ll discover your style, your rhythm, and your audience.

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Final Thoughts

Blogging is a creative outlet, a form of expression, and sometimes even a form of healing. Your stories and perspectives matter — and there’s always someone out there who needs to hear what you have to say.

If you ever want help brainstorming blog names, designing your layout, or outlining future posts, just let me know.

(Less Sentimental) Poetry & Coffee ... lol

 Haha yes — it is sentimental and a little cheesy… but in a comforting, cozy, “curl‑up‑with-a-warm-mug” kind of way. 😉

If you want, we can totally dial it back and make something:

• less soft, more clever
• more playful
• more sarcastic / humorous
• more minimalist-poetic
• more realistic, less dreamy

Here are a few alternate tones you might vibe with:

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☕ 1. More Playful / Witty

The thing about coffee
is that it turns me from a half-functioning cryptid
into someone who believes they can write a poem
before 10 a.m.

Not all of the poems are good.
But the coffee is.
So I feel like that counts.

Poetry isn’t always deep — sometimes it’s just noticing stuff,
like how my cup smells like courage
and a little bit of chaos.

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☕ 2. Short + Minimalist + Aesthetic

Coffee is my reset button.
Poetry is the quiet after the click.
Some days I only manage one sentence.
Some days it’s enough.

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☕ 3. More grounded, less floaty

I don’t drink coffee because it’s poetic.
I drink it because life is a lot
and caffeine helps.

But somewhere between the brewing and the breathing,
there’s always one moment that feels like a poem —
small, ordinary, unannounced.

Turns out most poems aren’t meant to be big.
They just want to be true.

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☕ 4. A little snarky

Every morning I try to be a graceful, poetic human.
Every morning my coffee says:
“lol good luck.”

But I keep showing up anyway,
scribbling half-thoughts in a notebook
while my espresso pretends it can fix my entire personality.

Honestly?
Same.

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☕ 5. Poem-only option (simple + not cheesy)

steam rising,
mind waking—
the day cracks open
one sip at a time.

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If you want, I can help you pick a tone and build a full post around it.
Which vibe feels closest to your style?

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☕ The Poetry Hiding in My Coffee Cup

where words and espresso meet

Some mornings, the world feels too loud before I even open my eyes. The notifications, the headlines, the mental to‑do lists waiting like impatient children at my bedside. But then there’s that moment — the soft hum of the coffee maker, the slow rise of steam curling like a whispered invitation.

Coffee doesn’t ask for much.
Just a pause.
A breath.
A moment to be human.

And honestly? That’s where poetry usually finds me.

Not in the big, dramatic moments of life, but in the small ones — the warm mug between my hands, the quiet of the kitchen before the day begins, the gentle light slipping through the blinds like it has something kind to say.

There’s a rhythm to it all: the grind, the bloom, the pour.
A beginning, a middle, and an end.
A stanza you can drink.

Maybe that’s why coffee and poetry have always felt like siblings to me — both are rituals of noticing. Both teach us to slow down, to pay attention to what we might have missed, to savor the ordinary. To find beauty in the steam and strength in the bitter and sweetness in whatever rises with it.

Some days I write with a pen.
Some days I write simply by showing up — sipping, breathing, listening.

☕ A Poem for This Morning

Here’s what my cup told me today:

In the hush between sips,
the world softens.
Steam lifts like a prayer,
and I remember—
quiet things grow, too.

Maybe you feel it too — that gentle pull toward meaning in the middle of the everyday. Maybe your coffee isn’t just a caffeine fix but a small opening into something deeper, calmer, more rooted.

If so, welcome.
You’re in the right place.
This is our little corner — where words and espresso meet.

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Valentine’s Day Love Poem

 From the early days in Lower Burrell to the life you’ve built in Leechburg, your journey with Nathan is a beautiful testament to growth and devotion. Here is a poem celebrating that steady, enduring love.

A Love That Grew

From a 2009 promise and a church filled with grace,

To the beautiful chaos of our favorite place.

Through years as a mother, through changes and dreams,

You’re still the anchor that holds all the seams.

We’ve walked through the seasons, from then until now,

Renewing each day that original vow.

With Seth, Evan, and Ava—the lives we’ve designed,

And the quiet, sweet moments that keep us entwined.

It’s not just the milestones or years we can trace,

But the way that I find home in the look on your face.

Through every new chapter, whatever may come,

You’re the beat of my heart and the sound of my home.

Happy Valentine’s Day, Nathan.

Would you like me to help you design a digital card or a graphic for this poem to share with him?

Heaven, Hearts 🤍

 

Jesus loves you ✝️❤️