So, thank you. For all the likes and the comments and the encouragement and such. I'm so glad that you're still around. Here is the 411 on this new place.
THE NAME
Since The River Into Words had run it's course, I decided that I'd rather just be me than adapt myself to a new brand or quirky catch phrase. I hate the term branding when it comes to writing, anyway.
Sadly, karenhuber.com belongs to some cake lady in New York, so karenohuber.com was born. Yes, now my email, twitter handle and blog all line up. I know: big important victory for humanity there. But it sounds vaguely Irish, keeps my maiden name (Ogran) still in the background somewhere and connects my online identity.
I'm still just Karen Huber, give or take the O.
Also, I didn't think of "Karen Go Bragh" until a month after I purchased this domain. That would've been super cute (I am using it on instagram, though).
THE TAGLINE
With the new name, I wanted to focus on a new vision. I needed a tagline that might accurately reflect my writing - and keep me going. Hence: Lazy Writer. Expat Mum. Loads of Baggage.
Lazy writer is pretty much self-explanatory.
My 31 Days series on Life at Home in Ireland was so much fun, and I loved hearing from other expats around the world on their new cultures and life experiences. My hope is to keep up with my American compatriots (Happy Independence Day! USA!) while connecting with my Irish and European readers and those of you who find yourselves living cross-culturally. When it comes right down to it, I think we all have the shared experience of starting over.
And let's face it: I come with a fair amount of baggage. Literal and metaphorical. This fact of my life often comes out unintentionally in my writing, my thoughts and fears, my hopes for my children and the stories you and I share here. I can't hide from the baggage, so I may as well embrace it.
THE TECHNICAL DETAILS
I moved the blog from Blogger to Squarespace. I loved the variety of template options they offer (I'm using "Beatrice") and I could purchase and run my domain from the same platform. Everything I've seen from them has been modern, professional and easy to customize, with great customer service. My new friend Megan Bowker also gave me a gentle nudge in the Squarespace direction. Love her blog.
I'm getting used to this space now. It feels open and clean and I'm in no rush to add to it, change it or remove anything from it.
Hahaha... who am I kidding? I can't just let anything be. Ever. But I am really happy with the platform, format and aesthetic of my new little corner of the internet. And I'm sure it will go through many tiny evolutions that only I will notice but can't help messing with because that's how I deal with writer's block and crazy life happenings and need to do when I'm having an Alias marathon because it's healthier than emotional eating.
THE WRITING
Speaking of which, you will also notice: I'm writing slower (hello, lazy writer). I'm filling up notebooks with a lot of rubbish and contemplating what direction the blog and my work away from the blog will go, and how.
I don't want to fill up your browser with nonsense. My hope is to offer a fresh perspective on faith and cultural issues, promote the things I care about, and share stories from our life here.
And plenty of pretty pictures of Ireland. And the kids. And sometimes the dog. And coffee.
I just can't help myself. Life is beautiful.
Even with all the baggage.
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