Welcome to The Silver Pen!
Imagine, if you will, me opening the door to my new home welcoming you with a ginormous smile and an even bigger hug (because I CAN hug now!).
How about if we sit down with a glass of champagne and I will give you a little tour to highlight some of the changes?
One thing that I have attempted to do is make the blog more user friendly. One of the things that I hear so often is “Where can I find…?” Well, in its new format, information will be much more accessible and better organized. For example, if you go to the “cancer” category, you will find that the story is delineated into Diagnosis, Surgery, Chemotherapy, Radiation, Recovery and Awareness. I did this because I recognize that not everyone has surgery or chemotherapy or radiation. This way people can go to the specific categories that pertain to them.
Additionally, I’ve added several new categories, including: Giving, Images and Inspiration.
Another exciting feature is the creation of a community, called “Conversations,” wherein people can share their own stories. I have been buoyed by the experiences of others and I am hopeful that by creating a forum in which people can share their own experiences, we can create a community of support and, of course, Silver Linings. So, I ask you to please share…your stories, your questions and your Silver Linings!
I invite you to poke around and check everything out. Go ahead and click away. And when you’re done, please let me know what you think!
Thank you for taking this journey with me. I am so incredibly grateful to you all for reading. It means the world to me. Truly. Thank you.
The only thing constant in the world is change.
– India Arie
Looks divine, I love the makeover.
And you look great too. (I think our hair is the same length!)
xo
Thanks so much, Jane! I really appreciate it. Low maintenance hair, right? It's so easy!
The new site is gorgeous! And the name is brilliant. Hollye, I read your site every day and I carry so much of what I read there with me. Love it!
Thanks so much for your comment and for reading everyday! I really appreciate it!
Gorgeous redesign! Keep writing!
Thanks so much, Kath! Means so much coming a writer whom I admire so much!
It's beautiful! Congratulations to you! Excited to read and experience Silver Pen every day.
Thanks so much for everything!
Congratulations on your beautiful new home. I love the new layout and name. Just gorgeous.
Thanks so much! I really appreciate it!
Gorgeous and brillant job, Hollye! Added silver lining of your new site is the beautiful photo of you and darling Buzz! xo
Thanks a million, Michele. So much!
HFS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AMAZING!!!!!!!!! The whole thing is visually stunning and perfect, just like you, HFJ!!!!
What a wonderful new site!!! I'm new to you and just love sharing my day w/ you!!! That is awesome of you to invite us to share, thanks!!!
Enjoy your day!!
Congratulations on your new site ! It was like opening a beautifully wrapped gift this morning and finding a real treasure inside !
Thanks a million, Adrienne! What an incredible compliment!
Absolutely lovely Hollye! The new site is feminine, organized, strong, elegant, open… just like beautiful you. Congratulations!
Thanks so much, Emily! I really appreciate it!
Love this new design! Keep writing, Hollye. You're amazing. Plus, it keeps me up to date with beautiful Finally Five. xx Tiger
You bet we will, Tiger! Thanks so much!
Hi Hollye, I love the big reveal! It is even more beautiful and wonderful than I anticipated! I too love the picture of you and Buzz right there on the home page. I really "enjoyed" the Brookside Buzz if that's the right word but am excited for your new adventures, insights, recipes, photos, etc. on Silver Pen. You are doing an amazing thing for everyone who needs some SLs in their day (and who doesn't?) Thanks for taking me with you on this journey. Congrats & Love, Wynne
Thanks a million, Wynne. I really appreciate it – so much!
This is you as a blog! Love everything about it Hol! xx
Thanks so very much, Meika!
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE the new design. It is so beautiful, just like you!
Thank you so much, Maili!
love your new site! it is so beautiful and much easier to read!
xo
janet
Hollye – The site is beautiful. Very clean, fun, bright like it's lit from behind and easy to navigate. Brava!!
Thanks a million, Mimi!
I just forwarded your bambinos section to a high school friend (48 year old) having a mastectomy this week. She has 16 and 8 year old children. I enjoy your humor, your beautiful photos and raw honesty in your writing. I also began writing about the breast cancer journey when I was diagnosed at age 44 in 2008. We are a military family with friends and family literally around the globe so the blog seemed the best way to put information out there without trying to keep up with correspondence during my year of cancer treatments. Just when I thought the cancer chapter of my life was closed and maybe I would stop blogging, it (the blog) has become a place where I vent, express gratitude, share beautiful songs and stories that help me cope with cancer fall out, which is a phenomenon rarely talked about in the out-of-cancer-circles I find myself in. The fall out of drug side effects, chemo's life changing little gifts that keep on giving, living in a constant state of fear that the Boogie-breast-cancer-man is going to jump out at you from around every new corner, all of which there are no prescribed treatments for. Silver Lining for me has been my volunteer work with Y-me.org where I counsel other women who are newly diagnosed with Her2Neu positive breast cancer as I had. Being there for a woman who is drowning in the flood of cancer terms and fears before beginning treatment helps me heal too. It helps me know that my suffering was not a complete waste. I look forward to sharing your blog with others too! The newly diagnosed need to know that there are indeed Silver Linings ahead for them too!
Thank you for your note, Koryn. I am very hopeful that the post helps her. If she has any additional questions about it, please let me know so that I can provide more information. I'd be very happy to help. FYI, for some reason part of one sentence under point number 2 didn't make it to the final post. I've since made the correction.
I'm so glad that you have been able to use your blog as a place to express yourself and that you are volunteering to help other people diagnosed with FBC. Helping others is definitely a win-win! Yeah for you for seeing this Silver Lining! Thanks, again.