It's official. I'm a blogger!



Some people jump into blogging with both feet, others wiggle their toes in the water before easing into the online world. Me? I'm definitely the latter. I've been slow to commit. With malice aforethought, I deliberately started my blog on April 1 so that I would always have an easy out. It could be my own private April Fool's Day Joke. During the first year, I celebrated each milestone - one month, six months and one year. This gave me the opportunity to reflect on the act of blogging and ask myself some questions. Should I be doing something more productive with my time in Paris, like improving my French or taking art history classes? Should I get a real job? Was I still having fun?

Since the answer to the last question was always a resounding "yes", I kept on blogging. But I could tell that part of me still wasn't ready to make the final commitment because I balked at the idea of getting blogger business cards. At meetups in Paris, there was always an awkward pause after someone gave me their card and waited for me to reciprocate. I couldn't. My solution was to jot my name and telephone number, which I had to look up because I don't know it by heart, on a ragged slip of paper. It worked for me. I wanted to keep my relationship with blogging casual.

While I'm still not sure that I'm ready to fully commit to blogging, my attitude towards having business cards has changed thanks to some gentle, and not so gentle, nudging by others. When Sylvia, who's always busy doing a million things of her own, offered to help me make some cards, I knew that I had to do something. So, I mentioned my dilemma to Stephane, who immediately consulted an expert in design, our son. During a Skype brainstorming session, we threw around some ideas for an "Out and About" business card. Since my profile picture is one of me going through the turnstile of the metro, it didn't take us long to come up with a card that looks like a metro ticket. Within a couple of hours, we had sent Philippe a photo of a real ticket and he had created an astonishingly close facsimile, with all of my contact information. Getting the final product took a little longer than expected because of the high cost of printing the cards in France. Fortunately, I have connections in Boston, so Philippe had them printed there at a drastically reduced rate. They recently arrived in the mail and I can't wait to start passing them out. Best of all, they were a true labor of love. Thanks, Philippe, of PNB - Design!

Comments

  1. Congratulations! I am thrilled to have come across your blog, reading each entry is a mini-trip in my heart to beloved Paris. Thank you for sharing your life and talents with us all!

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  2. This is such a clever design! And I agree - perfect for your blog. :)

    I completely understand what you mean about keeping the relationship casual. I don't have any blogging business cards, and I haven't signed up for any of the blogger meet-ups in either Paris, BsAs or Vancouver. Although I think I've recently put in a lot of effort into redesigning my blog to make the reading experience run more smoothly, I still haven't mentally committed to the fact that I am actually pretty mentally committed to it. LOL. Not sure if that makes sense... In any case, after reading your thoughts on it, maybe I will take the plunge and try to design something! :)

    Best
    Milsters

    (http://www.littlepiecesoflight.com/)

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  3. What a nice personal family effort for your business cards and a great design idea.

    I am a jump in sort of girl and learn as I go along. Nor really afraid to make mistakes, as you may have noticed. LOL.

    You have been a great support to me with my own blog. And you have remInded me that my own anniversary of " going public". Is approaching. Time flies.


    Thanks so much for all your encouragement

    Love Deniae




    Love denise

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  4. The concept and design execution are dead on. A great family/team effort.

    And congratulations, Mary Kay, on "formalizing" your commitment.

    As a small business owner, I full understand the process you've been through. It's a moment worth celebrating (but hold the foie gras!)

    Peter

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  5. Philippe has perfectly captured the essence of "Out and About in Paris" in his design of your business card. He could put this in his portfolio. You must be so proud!

    Congratulations on "owning" your status as a blogger!

    Patricia H

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  6. OK now I can really see it upclose and I love it even more! So clever! Can't wait for you to give me one of my very own!

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  7. oh, they are SO über-cool.... what a brilliant idea and how wonderfully executed. PLEASE send me one; I then send you one of mine.... :)

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  8. Nice cards. Can I sketch subway people on them?

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  9. The perfect card for you Mary Kay and a perfect match for your blog.

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  10. I'm a brand new reader/fan and am enjoying your blogs very much. Several of your suggestions are going into my "must do"list. Spouse and I will be in Paris 16-27 Dec 2012, then onto Lyon and Nice. I like your new cards. Spiffy and clever.
    Coco Paz Santa Barbara, Ca The American Riviera

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  11. PERFECT...love them and hope that you will have put one aside for me when I arrive in the Spring.
    It was a great idea relating it to the blog (non)photo of you in the Metro. Philippe's design shows that his talent is just as creative as I would expect knowing both you and Stephane.
    Enjoy handing them to others as you continue to be "out and about in Paris".

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  12. Mary Kay, how wonderful. Congratulations to the highly official blog. I hope you earn a lot of money with your blog and take it to visit Vienna :-) Kind regards - S
    PS The design is a fantastic idea!

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  13. BRILLIANT!
    Congrats,
    GMx

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  14. Very smart and clever, Mary.It's handy having designers in the family, isn't it? Our Caits is the one we run to for logos and other bits of artwork. Juidicious mothering on both our parts!

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  15. Well done, Philippe and Mary Kay! Your business card looks impressive and professional and very artistic - congratulations to a succesful cooperation!
    My godson and your husband's godson seem to have some talent in common... :-)

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  16. I seriously love your blog.. Excellent colors & theme.
    Did you make this web site yourself? Please reply back as I'm attempting to create my own site and would like to know where you got this from or just what the theme is called. Kudos!
    Check out my weblog ; English

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  17. very very clever, and so smart looking, I like your card a lot! Are the dimensions the standard card size? The look a little narrower in height than a regular card, if so, I like that too. Maybe it's just a fool the eye of the graphics, but really all well done.



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  18. Great design, love it!

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  19. So impressive! Well done Philippe! It wouldn't occur to me in a million years to have a card, but you're a much more professional outfit all round

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  20. What a fantastic (and so appropriate!) design concept. I just LOVE it! When I see you next, may I have one? : )

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  21. Love these business cards, what a clever idea! I don't yet have blogger business cards and have been blogging for 3 years... hmmmm. You have inspired me!

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  22. Genius card! I only have a tiny blog, and even so I sometimes encounter situations when I could use a business card - so it is definitely high time you had some!

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  23. Cute cards..!!! keep it up...if u want more cards visit this Elegant business cards

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