What – And Who – Are Fifi + Hop?

Wow, time certainly does fly, as May marks fifi + hop’s 1 year anniversary! Thank you to all my readers for following along and for all your support! It really means a lot to me. I decided when I first started this blog that at some crucial point along the way I would reveal the story behind fifi + hop. What better time than now. So what – and who – are fifi + hop?!

Fifi is (actually, was) my younger daughter’s blanket, and Hop is my older daughter’s lovie (those tiny blankets with an animal on them..in this case it’s a bunny). They were for many years my girls’ travel must-haves. We couldn’t go on any trip without them, which was a scary prospect because god forbid we should lose them. But we never did, and the girls always had them. Whether it be a day trip to visit relatives or full blown vacation, Fifi and Hop were along for the ride. It was much easier to bring them than to leave them, as any parent knows. Until the time came when the girls outgrew them. Hop is still floating around, but Fifi is stashed away in a box labeled “Sentimental”. Fifi is one of those sleepers that babies wear to sleep in their crib that zip up at the bottom. My younger daughter became so attached to it that when she outgrew it (size wise) she used it as a blanket. She couldn’t say “sleeper” and instead said “fifi” (funny the words that come out), and fifi stuck. For years it was all about Fifi. And then the day came when she thought it was babyish and no longer wanted to use it, but I couldn’t throw it away. Instead I have Fifi saved so that some day when she’s older and can appreciate it, I have it for her to see.

When thinking about blog names last year, I never knew how difficult it would be. Honestly, that was probably the most difficult thing I faced when setting up this blog. I can’t tell you how many names I went through, and how many lists I made. Some I thought were so neat and catchy and perfect for this topic, until I discovered they were already taken. It is amazing how many names you can come up with that have been url snatched! Just when you thought you were being original, someone else was already on it! That was tough. And I really didn’t want to choose a name that was too generic either, so it was a grueling process going through a zillion words in my head.

One day I decided it would be best to choose something that was personal to me, because in the end, if I didn’t like the name later, at least it would still mean something to me. Fifi and Hop popped into my head, and I liked it immediately. I thought it was the catchy thing I had been looking for. But the next day I discarded it because I didn’t know if it was too funny sounding, and people wouldn’t get it. I brainstormed on and on, had talks about it with my brother and husband, and still couldn’t think of a name I liked. But then finally one day I thought, you know what, I actually think Fifi and Hop is perfect. It’s memorable, playful, and with the word “hop” in it somewhat alludes to travel. This is a family travel blog, and what better way to reflect upon my girls then with their two favorite travel items (at least for a number of years they were!). And thus, fifi + hop was born.

And that is the story behind fifi + hop. Just a silly tale about two girls and their travel blankets!