In the last week or so I’ve seen a lot of people talking about nuking their blogs and starting over. That’s not really my MO, so I wouldn’t ever do that myself, but I definitely understand how hard it is to come back from a dry spell.
On the one hand, you feel like you have to explain your absence and proclaim that you’re back for a while now. But on the other hand, no thanks. It’s been said so many times. And who knows if it’s even true? I sure don’t.
But I think what’s hardest for me about coming back is knowing where to jump back in to the story. Even though this blog might not be as much of a personal blog as it once was, I still think of it as a chronicle of my life. A digital scrapbook, if you will. And when there’s gaps, it’s hard for me to wrap my little brain about where to begin again.
So this post is about what I’ve been up to. It’s about releasing the backlog and unclogging the blog. Hey look, I’m a poet and I didn’t even know it! (Apparently I’ve gotten even cheesier in my absence. Yikes.)
Obsessing over houses.
Brian and I live with my parents. I get a ton of different reactions when I tell people that- so much so that I’ve considered devoting a whole post to the topic. But the fact of the matter is that while living here isn’t as bad as others might think, we can’t live here forever. Normal people check Facebook when they’re bored (okay, I still do that also) but my latest obsessive time suck? Looking for houses. It’s a problem.
Thinking negative thoughts.
This one is an issue of the chicken or the egg. I can’t tell if I start to get bored with myself first, and then start thinking negative thoughts about what I see online, or if the negativity comes from online, and then feel like anything I write isn’t good enough. Or maybe they happen at the same time? Either way, I know they’re related. And I know that’s a large part of why I haven’t blogged as much lately, so it’s something I’m working on.
Planning our trip!
My whole family is heading to San Francisco for a week in August! I’m so excited, but also a little nervous because we’ve never traveled this far together or taken this kind of trip as a family. Got any recommendations for us? I’d love to hear them!
Running and Yoga-ing.
I feel like I’ve hit a happy place with working out. I’m not working out the most ever in my life or anything, but I genuinely enjoy working out when I do. I’ve been regularly hitting 3 workouts a week and I do a combination of running and yoga. Typically I try to hit up a hot yoga class once a week, and then go on two runs. I’m training for a 10-mile race at the end of September, I’m excited!
Thinking about eating healthy.
While I’ve been feeling good about my workout balance, I haven’t felt that way about eating as much. I’ve more or less gone back to my pre-Whole30 habits, and it doesn’t feel so good. I read this post about giving up sugar, and it has me feeling more motivated to return to healthy eating habits.
An acting bar spouse, for the second time.
Brian took (and passed!) the Virginia bar last year, but this year he’s taking the Maryland bar. Actually, TODAY he is taking the Maryland bar. I know I sound like a brat when I complain given that I’m not the one taking the test, but oh man, I’m so ready for it to be over. He’ll be done tomorrow evening, and you can bet I’ll be doing a little happy dance.
Attending weddings!
Two of my close friends got married this month, and it more than made up for any of the negative stuff I listed above. July was one for the books.
What have you been up to lately?
You’re back! I’ve missed you blogging, friend. :) It was so good to hear little updates on your life! Hope to see more posts from you soon! Xoxo
Thanks lady, I’ve missed it! So nice to come back and reunite with blog friends :) xoxo
I’ve never taken a yoga class before but I used to dance as my exercise. I miss it so much, but it’s quite expensive! I’d love to take a yoga class one day though.
Mo | OllivanderMo.com
When I was in college, I totally didn’t get yoga. I was like “so you stretch…?” But at my gym the classes are such a good workout, and they also do a lot for me mentally. I totally recommend it!
Glad to see you’re back! I’ve been missing blogging lately too, and I’ve been working on getting a new domain up and running – no product posts or style focus at all, but more about things going on my real life and my experiences in advancing my SEO knowledge for my day job.
There’s no shame in living with your family, especially if your relationship isn’t one that makes you want to pull your hair out. You must be saving a ton!
That’s awesome, I can’t wait to read that! Thanks- we are saving a lot, and it’s been good for the most part. I’m just tired of having all my stuff in boxes in my grandma’s basement. I want to put my kitchen back together again!
I’m glad you’re back! I’m looking forward to reading your upcoming posts and I can totally relate to looking at houses – it gets addicting, doesn’t it? I hope your husband did great on his bar exam today and I hope you both have a great trip to San Francisco!
So addicting! I think I need to go cold turkey for a while :) Thanks Lauren!
I feel ya, sister, about pretty much everything above. Where DO those negative thoughts derived from?!?!
Seriously, I don’t know! Trying to get better about that, it’s not always like this!
Glad to see you’re back! I hope you’re enjoying your summer! :)
Thanks Allyssa, it feels good! Hope you’re having a great summer as well :)
I think there’s just this weird thing in the air – I’ve been a little MIA and wondering if I should just start over too. Obviously, I won’t! But I’m with you…sometimes you just don’t feel inspired.
We’re living with my parents now too, and I’m glad to hear that it’s not too terrible for you. I, on the other hand, cannot WAIT to get out of here. So here’s to hoping we are on our own again soon :)
Good luck to Brian today! I have a feeling he’ll nail it ;) xoxo
I saw you blogged about apartment searching the same day that I posted this! I was happy to be hanging out here for a while, I’ve just started to get the itch in the last few months- I’m just tired of all our stuff being in boxes, I’m ready to have my kitchen back!
Totally not brattish at all to be ready for bar exams to be over. Trust me, when it’s over and he’s passed, it will feel like a huge weight has been lifted. My boyfriend, Joseph, is an attorney here in Arkansas. We started dating in college, moved in together two days before law school started, and stuck through it all. He’s now opening his own firm.
It’s been a wild, wild ride. And he only did one bar exam! We thought about moving to Oklahoma, where his family is, many many times over the course of graduation and finding his first job and losing his first job (that’s a whole tale, ugh). Neither of us were very enthused about doing another bar exam.
I had to chuckle out loud that you ALSO feel the need to explain why you live with your parents. My husband and I are in the process of building a house (like within 4 years) and have renovated the basement of my parent’s farmhouse but I own the farm so I sort of own the farmhouse. Confused? Yeah, that’s my life. But I pinned your house love from Instagram because it is ideal!
I’m newish so to me… you never left. :) I found you on pinterest under your post :”bloggers you don’t want to be,2 ” & my new blog makes me feel like I’m eating lunch alone, so PERFECT i found that post of yours because in the comments you talk about that!!
I am a photographer. that blog – gets lots of traffic, even tho i barely post, & it’s mostly pictures. •• BUT – that’s my job like 24/7 . I don’t like mixing all of my personal things or diy STUFF on that blog. my main audience on the photo blog are 17 yr old girls & senior photographers. they don’t want to hear about teething. my most visited post is on KALE bc i ate it when i was pregnant.
I know my grammar sucks, sorry lady! Thank you for blogging & sharing what you’ve learned I was feeling discouraged early in the game. I’ll be back, can’t wait to hear more!!