Thursday, January 26, 2012

What's in a Name?

Almost four years ago now, after enjoying many of your blogs, I knew starting my own blog was something I really wanted to do.

Being the think-it-out (probably way too much) kind of person I am, I began thinking about what I would call my blog. To me, it had to be something that represented me, not only today, but a name that would still be a good fit for me ten years from today. In other words, things may change, but would the title of my blog still make me just as happy many years from now? Because I hoped this blogging thing would be long term.

So as I always do, I probably also bugged my family. Well okay, I know I bugged my family way too much with names to consider. I remember narrowing it down to just three or four. The one thing they all had in common was the word “country” because that’s me. It fit me like a glove. From the time I was a little girl, I’ve loved any and everything country, from the books I read, to the things I pretended as a little girl, loving my grandparents’ home on the lake, walking down the dirt roads and playing in the fields, country based TV shows, and just loving farmhouses and log cabins. And I’ve always liked things old that tell a story.

In the end, Country Girl at Home was the one that made me the happiest. I knew years from now, even if my decorating style wasn’t exactly the same, it would still have a country flare. It would still be some variation of country style.  I know that because I go in other homes that I think are beautiful and I really do enjoy looking at the different types of décor, but when I come home, I love what welcomes me. I love being enveloped by my country home and country things. It just makes me happy. So I knew that years down the road, I would still be a country girl at heart, no matter what.

I also knew that home is the place that makes me happiest. It’s the place I love to be the most. I wanted to open my home to blog land and share a little bit of what goes on in this country girl’s home and family and hopefully be an encouragement to others along the way.

Thus, Country Girl at Home was born. For my very first post, you can click here.

Early on during that first year of blogging, Mandie of Life in the Craft Lane, out of a random act of kindness, and as a complete surprise to me, created the banner graphic (that you see at the top of my blog) using a photo of our country home.  I love it then and I love it now.  :)




She also created an avatar for me as well.



Mandie is also the sweet lady that made the button for Joy’s Faithful Fridays.




As I was visiting blogs the other day, I was especially taking note of blog titles. I’ve often wondered this, so I decided I was just going to ask! Many times as I visit a blog, it is obvious to me why the blogger chose that name. I can see it fits. Others I know must have a story or special meaning behind it. Whatever the name, I know some thought has gone behind it. It says something about the blogger.  And many times the name of the blog catches my eye and makes me want to visit!

So today, I’m asking all you bloggers out there, how did you choose the name for your blog? What made you pick the title that you decided on and how does it represent you? Please leave me a comment and share your blogging title history!

And as always, thank you for stopping by!  Have a great day!  :)

15 comments:

Sharon said...

Dear Tammy
I also struggled with a name that would fit me.
I came up with the name after my dil mentioned to me that after we bought our acreage in the country and moving out of the city that I was new to the country. So Newcountrygirl seemed to fit.
I was raised in the city and never had much to do with country till I met my soul mate who was a country boy.
Hugs

Farm Girl said...

I like how you picked your name and everything behind it. My main blog that I have, is called My Field of Dreams, The land I live on was a pasture where I kept my horses as a young girl. The tree that is now in my front yard was where I spent so much time dreaming. My grand parents died and that same tree, my kids would climb and we would sit out under it and dream about living here. Then God did some amazing things and we were able to build.
So as I still stare out into my pastures and the land around it, it is still filled with dreams. So that is what I write about is my field of dreams.

Linda - Behind My Red Door said...

I too wanted a name that would always reflect me and since my home is my biggest hobby, my haven and where my heart is, what goes on Behind My Red Door is what it most important to me. We plan to stay here as long as were are physically able to as we age and so I hope to always have my red door! Now the shade of red has changed a few times, but it works so well and it is me!

I think your name reflects you perfectly!! hugs!!

LynnMarie said...

I picked the name of my blog because I had just come back from the eye doctor who told me that I needed bifocals now and that with the new "No Line" type no one would know but I felt old, tired, worn out and like I was hiding from the world. I decided to show the world the "elephant in the room" and announce to the world that I now wore bifocals and I'm still breathing. I think it does reflect who I am because I try to always to open and honest. I love your name and your buttons and banners. They are all beautiful and I think reflect your blog just right.

Cat Nap Inn Primitives said...

Tammy need you ask about mine? lol..I have a sign in my living room with a white cat napping and under are the words cat nap inn..and I love primitives..and it just stuck and the fact that I have 9 cats and love!!! cats.:)

jennifer768 said...

Tammy I picked out the name of my blog simply because most of the time I am like the country mouse in the story book The Town Mouse and The Country Mouse.LOL! I have always loved mice and could never be satisfied anywhere but in the country,so it seemed to fit me.Have a blessed day!Hugs,Jen

Lois Christensen said...

Hi Tammy! I love the name of your blog and the story behind it as well! The name of my blog just came to me rather quickly when I started blogging almost 4 years ago. Walking on Sunshine was the name of the song that relates to my hubby and me. I wrote about it back in the fall and the story is on my blog under the tab, "About Me." Great post today! Enjoy your day!

Football and Fried Rice said...

I love your house, I love your blog name and I love your header!! I agree, its fun to come up with a blog name that fits your family :)

Hollie said...

The original title to my blog was, "Life in a Small Town" as we live in a small town. After acouple years, I recently decided to start another called, "A New Beginning."

Angee @ The Thompson Household said...

I chose the name for my blog with my mother-in-love's help...she was encouraging me to start blogging and sharing the tales of my household. It was around that time that I fell in love with (now my life verse)the scripture :Proverbs 15:13, "A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance." Out of that Homemaking Merry Hearts was born... because this is my mission in life to have a home that is full of "merry hearts"!

Wendi said...

When I started blogging we were waiting for our referral and I was working outside of the home. I knew and had always known that I didn't want to work. I wanted to be home. That is where my heart was. I knew that no matter where the journey of life was taking me my heart was really home. So My Heart is Always Home seemed perfect!

Linda ★ Parker's General said...

Love the story....
Mike and I have always had a garden. Long before I started blogging, we had an old barn wood sign that I had painted. I had done many outside signs. This particular one is still out there and it says 'Parker's Paradise'. To the two of us, our little 60' X 90' lot is our paradise. We built our home. We created our gardens. There's no place like home.
Linda
BTW~ I think you can imagine how Sara chose the name for her blog!

Simple Home said...

What a great question. It is difficult coming up with a blog name, isn't it? My email address had blessedmom in it for years, so that was kind of the name I went by everywhere. I'm a pretty simple gal, so I put that together and came up with Blessedmom's Simple Home :)
Have a wonderful weekend!
I'll be praying for your friend too :)
Blessings,
Marcia

Tanya said...

Hi Tammy,
What an adorable idea! I always read the names of blogs and wonder how they came up with their name! It's been fun reading your comments!
My SIL started a blog and told me I should...that I'd like blogging. So my girls were helping me set it up and then it came to the name part....oh my! It was Spring time and I love when it changes from Winter to Spring. We were talking about how lucky we have all 4 seasons here in Kansas. I was telling them how I loved Carole King and her song Sweet Seasons...and thus my blog! I really have learned to appreciate the beauty in each season ( I used to despise Winter...now I find the beauty of it!) I'm definitely an outdoor person so Spring, Summer, and Fall are my favs but I am learning to appreciate Winter! HA!
Have a great day!
Hugs,
Tanya

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