I go back to work in a couple of days (sigh), and I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about how to manage it all. News flash–I don’t manage it all. Shocked? Yeah, didn’t think so. I haven’t been blogging as well as I’d like to lately, so I made myself ONE goal for the whole year. You ready for it?
Blog BETTER
This means a lot of things for me. I’ve made the mistake of thinking that every single one of my posts needs to be life-changing or mega-influential. Posts can take hours (yes, hours), and I simply don’t have the time for that on a regular basis. I’m realizing that I don’t have to have a post loaded with pictures or full of lengthy tutorials. My husband reminded me the other day that people like to hear from me–he’s deep–and that I don’t have to fret over posts being “worthy” every time I write something. Well played, husband.
So there you have it. I want to blog more. I want to blog better. That’s my goal. There may be days that I fail miserably at it, but stick with me! I’ve said it out loud which means it has to happen now.
My first plan of attack? Share something I think is beautiful. I’ve been catching up on blog reading (WAY behind!), and my jaw dropped at this transformation by Lauren at Pure Style Home. It’s a client’s space, and I so wish I was that client!
Here’s the before shot
And here’s the after. Stunning, I know.
All of that being said, I’ll be back next week with a pretty big project we’ve been working on! Don’t forget–if you want some daily updates, follow along on Instagram!
Wow, what an inspiring transformation! I love the doors painted black. And good for you for setting realistic goals in 2013.
Chris, we are here for you! Your husband is right – we like to hear from YOU! We know you’re busy, we get that. But we love your wittiness, your charm, your insight, your home. We just like hearing what you’re up to, what projects are in progress and not quite done yet, tell us about your day – pretty much anything you want. We’ll be here, I promise :).
Oh I can relate. I generally blog about once a week and have been wanting to do more. It does take hours to create a good blog post and I sometimes fear that if I blog more frequently, even about little things I may wear out my welcome. That my readers will get sick of me. There are also weeks that I am SO busy with life that I don’t have any projects to blab about.
I am going to blog a little bit more, short and sweet mixed in with my marathon project reveals. Hopefully I will not bore anyone.
Another goal of mine this year is to find some balance in my life. Between work, my home life and woking on my beloved website/blog I feel that I am constantly being pulled in different directions and it stresses me out.
Here’s to working on our goals…Happy New Year!
I second that!! I have been slacking on my blog and I have GOT to get it together. We plan to break ground in the spring (which could be June in Michigan :P) so I need to get into the habit before we are buried with building a new house!! Keep up the great work….I LOVE YOUR BLOG!
Oh my goodness, that is gorgeous! I’m definitely jealous of the owner too! The only thing that would get me is all the light colors with our 2 dogs and 2 kids.
I love that space too! Chris, I will stick w/ya. 🙂 I always enjoy your posts – epic or not! Take care and Happy 2013!
I’m wondering if anyone else is having the same problem with reading your blog as I am? It usually takes about 2 minutes to come up and when it does, some picutres don’t appear at all & some pictures are very distored or half-missing. I read many blogs and yours seems to be the only one that has these problems. Any ideas on what’s wrong? I want to read yours regularly but am getting very discouraged.
Thanks.
Following you now on Instagram (I’m Janmary)
I find that my carefully crafted and thought out blog posts get little reaction, and my quick off the top of my head posts get much more comments.
I too plan to blog more in 2013 (and take more iphone pics too!)
We do love hearing from just you! You’re so stinkin’ funny. I think anyone who reads your blog feels like you’re friend. You’re amazing, girl 🙂
This was eye-opening for me because I tend to spend way too much time when I’m doing a tutorial. I need to remember to blog smarter not harder! By the way, I haven’t had any problems viewing your blog. I always check out my feeds from my iPhone so I’m not sure if that makes a difference from how others see your blog.
Thanks sooo much for the before and after. Very similar architecture – first thing you see from my front door, and it’s been a mystery to me for 5 years! Black paint, I think I love you!
Your husband is a wise man, Chris! Love reading your posts, life-changing or not. You come across in your posts in such an authentic way. It feels like we know you.
The Mr. is right! We really just want to read about whatever you want to share with us. On a personal note, I really miss reading little tidbits about you, your family, and of course Maximus… just sayin 😀
Elaine
In my short time being in the blog world, I have realized that blogging is very competitive. Ya think? Yes, I think so. I found that I started only posting projects and makeovers because that is what everyone else was doing and that seemed to attract the most attention. A reader (a non blogger) posted on my site late last year, “why don’t you post more about you and your family living arrangement? I mean, you do live with four generations. What do you people do all day with each other?” It dawned on me, that is why I started my blog to begin, was to keep friends and family updated on our lives together. It didn’t take long to get sucked into the blog bubble of competitiveness, recognition and ego driven world. Now I am babbling. I tell you this because, in the end, people do want to see your family and the person behind the projects. Comments may not be as much as if you blew out a wall or something but who cares. I will be doing a better job blogging about my family this year and adding them more into my blog as well. You are right, a quick couple paragraphs about what you have been doing with a fun family photo is MUCH easier then remodeling a room! ha. PS. I recently realized we both have a mastiff! Does yours love the camera as much as mine? Mine would pose for silly pictures all day long 🙂
Chris, thanks so much for posting this. (LOVING those black doors, BTW!)
I, too, have a FT job and a family. I started my blog in mid-September after attending Haven 2012, and I think I’ve posted 4 whole times so far. Why? Because I’m busy with family, work, church, my business, going to school part-time. Because I’m a perfectionist procrastinator. Because I don’t (yet?) take stunning photos. Because I am afraid posts will need to be earth shattering. But the blogs I love most, like yours, are those where personality shines through. Now THAT I think I can do.
Internet pretend friends for lifesies! xo