Thank you.

I’m feeling the need to say thank you to anyone reading this.

When I began blogging 2.5 years ago, it was a way for me to flex my creative muscles and practice writing so my brain didn’t stagnate.  I was filled with enthusiasm and ideas, enjoyed writing immensely, and saw a bright future of creating and sharing projects amid our happy household of three– even if my mom was the only one reading it.

The next month I got pregnant.  Happily so, but still, it certainly rearranged my priorities.  Instead of posting fun projects and home ideas like I expected, it forced me to sit back and watch everyone else create beautiful things.  Some of my favorite blogs took off quickly, deservedly so, and I was left battling nausea, cleaning up diapers and fighting with insurance companies over medical supplies for my daughter.

While some bloggers struggle to find topics to write about, my “to-write” topic list is now on page 4.  For every post I publish, there’s 10 waiting in my head and heart.  Project ideas sit waiting, and I’ve been almost paralyzed by minutia to get started on anything.

It’s too cold to spray paint.  
I don’t have the perfect color yet.  
What if that piece doesn’t look good there?

In addition to the project paralysis, I’m embarrassed to tell you how many hours it takes to put together the weekly Refresh Your Nest party.  Especially since my favorite part is visting all your blogs and attempting to comment on them.  I’ve been thrilled to feature all of your great ideas, but doing so means I’ve had no time to work on mine.  It’s like lemonade with no lemons, surely you’ve noticed?

A year ago it was also a big decision to start writing sponsored posts.  Most important to me was not abusing your trust, and selecting only opportunities that fit with my mission of helping you live a lovely life, for less.  Sponsored posts are a lot of work, yet in February they paid for Noodle’s monthly preschool tuition, her ballet class, and co-pays for three doctor’s visits.  My biggest fear was you’d stop reading because one or two posts a month were sponsored.  My finger always hovered above the publish button for a few extra seconds each time.

Yet, you’ve continued to read my little blog.  And commenting, oh how I love your comments!  When I do post a project you’ve been so supportive by pinning and sharing via Facebook and Twitter.  You really have no idea how important that is to a blogger– or maybe you do, because you continue to do it.

Last week I got an email with a really really cool pitch.  I can’t share it yet, because it’s not solidified.  But if it works out it would be a great opportunity indeed.  And if it doesn’t, well… I’m okay with that.

Why?  For some reason that one email flipped a switch for me.  Within minutes, I’d brainstormed over 27 new projects.  By Friday I’d visited four stores to pick up supplies.  It’s Sunday night, and I have glue/paint/clay drying on eleven of those ideas.  ELEVEN.  That’s, um, eleven more than I had last week.  😉

It’s not always easy.  Bee’s fingerprints are all over my clay projects.  Noodle raided my sparkle supply and created a “rainbow fish” with the rhinestones set aside for something else.  Pretty much every photo I took of the finished product has a blurry hand trying to grab it away.

Would I have it any other way?

Not in the least.

I’m excited to share lots of new ideas with you.  Plus the parties I’ve yet to post, recipes I know you’ll love, and blurry hand photos of The Danger Twins playing with them all.  I’m also attending TWO blog conferences this year: Bloggy Boot Camp Philly and Haven in Atlanta!  That’s only going to mean more great things coming your way, with all that motivation.

And probably no time to write about it, haha!

But as everyone tells me, these little munchkins are only young once.  I’m not sacrificing that time.  Sure, my dream is to post every day, reopen my Etsy shop, write an eBook, paint the dining room and…

I’ll stop now.  The kids are in bed, I’ve got to get working so I’m ready to play in the morning.

I just wanted to say thank you, again, for sticking with me. 

XOXO,
Carrie

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