I picked up blogging again in 2016 after finally getting out of the haze of being a new mama. I didn’t realize it at the time, but blogging helped me to feel like myself again. It was the final step in pulling me out of my postpartum funk. I made a big, yet simple goal to blog 16 times a month for a year and I stuck with it, mostly. I didn’t share it on here because I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to keep up.
I’ve learned a lot about myself since then and have grown in my own self-knowledge. I can make them, but I don’t often like to stick to goals or resolutions, they feel too binding for my free spirit. I prefer to be spontaneous, leave the options open, which often means I don’t tie many bows and finish up projects.
It’s important for me to push myself, I find the most growth when I put in the hard work of doing something I love. When I taught high school art, I’d often share this quote by the artist, Chuck Close with my students:
“Inspiration is for amateurs– the rest of us just show up and get to work”
I have the most difficulty in just showing up and getting to work. I’m always inspired, constantly drumming up new ideas, and starting projects. Tell me to put the time into completing those ideas? You’re crazy.
Blogging isn’t always easy, it takes a ridiculous amount of time and effort. If you don’t blog, you should know that there’s so much that goes behind each post. Taking photos, editing them, formatting, writing, proofreading, sharing, keeping up with social media. While it is fun, it can be hard work.
But, it’s so good for my soul.
In these days of bouncing a newborn, sleepless nights, toddler tantrums, I find refuge in creating. My mind is so much clearer in these postpartum days with Margot than with Ruby. There were many other things going on a few years ago, but I know I owe a lot of it to being able to get thoughts out. To have a community of other mamas that say, “me too”. It’s worth it to me to find the time.
I love the start of the new year, it awakens my mind to so many possibilities and creativity. I think I started 10 different drafts and project ideas in the past two days alone. As I said before, inspiration comes easily to me.
My goal this year is to put in the work to finish these ideas, to tie up pretty bows.
I was chatting about blogging with my sister-in-law this Christmas. She and I are opposites in a lot of ways. I was sharing with her my problem of finishing up projects and she just looked at me a little funny. She’s one to always finish and to tie up loose ends. I was inspired to like her, see my ideas through the finish line and grow in an area where I struggle.
I talked with my husband, Jordan, who like Lindsey, is naturally more organized. He helped me to organize my thoughts and dreams for my blog. We came up with a plan so that I could successfully share with you all that I want to.
My goal this year is still the same, to blog frequently, and maybe even less. I want to free myself up to working on different series and categories. My blog is mostly sharing and documenting our days as a family and those are the easier posts. I want to start finishing up some ideas I have, to share some travel and wellness posts with you. And maybe a recipe here and there.
what to expect from this blog in 2018:
12-14 posts a month
(2-3 posts a week)
Here’s what you will see in those posts:
4 lifestyle posts – Our family photos, outings, and day-to-day things
2 photography posts – Photography how to, tips, ideas
The number one thing I’ve been promising and want to get out to you is a photography series. This is my most requested, so I’m doing it for you. Let me know what you want to learn, what you need help with, DSLR photos? Shooting in Manual Mode? Iphone photos? Composition? Editing help? I started it here with the equipment I use.
2 travel posts – Photos from our travels, itineraries, and tips
2 motherhood posts – more postpartum updates, stories, and what i’m learning
2 wellness posts – my catchall for my self-care, simplifying posts 🙂
1 recipe post – I hope to share some of my favorite vegetarian recipes this year!
The plan is that I feel less overwhelmed by my crazy mind that never stops running. To be able to take a couple of those ideas a month and share them with you. It’s ok if I don’t get to everything if I still have complete vacations undocumented. By having these rhythms set, if I show up and do the work bit by bit, it will come together.
And too, I want to have more posts for YOU. I know this blog is mostly for my family, to document our days, to remember these sweet and short years raising children. To journal our travels and share my love for photography. I hope that it does inspire you, to take beautiful photos, and to remember these days as well.
But, I also know there are maybe two other people that read this blog too. So, this is for you, to give you an idea of what you will see here. So, if you skip over my family posts to read some of the others, know there will be more for you!
For those of you that do read and follow along, thank you. I know that there are a million blogs out there and social media is way easier. But, I still think blogging is valuable and I’m glad you’re taking the time to read mine.
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I’d love to hear what you want to see on this space. What posts do you want more of? What series would you like to see?
