get real.

Happy 2013! On New Year's Day, {cv} and I made the trek back to the Northeast after a few glorious days in the Midwest. We finally made it back in the early hours of the 2nd. If I had been on my game, I would have had a post ready to go for the morning but I soaked every minute out of the holidays instead. I was exhausted and I knew the quality of what I could blog would be less than my standards. I tweeted that I wasn't blogging that day--and the responses encouraged me beyond measure. 


Truth: After nearly 600 posts, there are just some days when my brain doesn't have the creative space to make something truly wonderful. If you're a perfectionist like me, mediocre just doesn't cut it. For the first time in 25 months, I let myself "slack off" over the holidays. While I missed blogging, I finally let myself be fully engaged in the present--and not worrying about my next post.

Since I started blogging in November 2010, I feel like my brain has been on overload. I have a potential post list which continually ebbs and flows. I am always on the look-out for new Instagram shots because I'm downright picky about what I share. I refuse to pin anything without finding good sourcing. I am constantly evaluating my wittiness level on Twitter. It's kind of exhausting. Ok, I lie. It's really exhausting. 

While some people are lucky enough to make a living through blogging, I never intended to blog to make money. The truth is that I started blogging to find a community--and find a community I did. I have made lifelong friends from this little adventure. I have met some seriously amazing people. It also goes without saying that I love the ladies who link up for Friday's Fancies with all my heart. If I came to blogging because of the community, I should respect your time {and mine} and avoid clogging your readers with useless posts. I decided over the holiday break that I will now only share posts I feel worthy of your time.

I feel a bit like 2012 went by without me truly getting to appreciate it. In 2013, I will not let the "I have to blog every day" feeling get in the way of more important things--like standing up in weddings for my best friends or building our house. I'm not going anywhere, but when you do see me pop up in your reader, please know I thought long and hard before pressing publish.

Our time on this earth is too short to waste our years in front of a computer screen creating mindless content. Let's use our brains for something better this year. Take the pledge to get real in 2013. I think we'll all be happier for it. xoxo {av}

P.S. If you're on board, let me know below--or on twitter with the #getreal2013 hashtag :)

37 comments:

  1. I'm absolutely on board with you about this. A little routine is healthy but when it turns into pressure it's time to take a break! Happy new year! xoxo, eliza

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  2. My blog is much smaller than yours, but I decided to do the same thing. I started the blog in August, and I've been posting 5 days per week. Exhausting! I decided I was going to go down to 4 days per week, and that alone took a huge weight off of my shoulders. I too would like to be more present in the real world!
    xoxo,
    Sheaffer :)
    www.pinteresttoldmeto.blogspot.com

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  3. i started taking breaks last year as well. when i changed jobs in july 2011, something had to give. i just wish i had realized that before 2012. i also hate writing (and reading for that matter) "forced" posts.

    also, i didn't set out to make a living either through blogging so why make it become a chore?

    http://lachapstickfanatique.blogspot.com

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  4. Great post! I agree that sometimes it's easy to get wrapped up in blogging and to start doing things "for the blog" or taking pictures for the blog and sometimes you just have to put the phone down, put the camera down and enjoy!! love it! i support #getreal2013

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  5. I know what you mean! I blog everyday, yes, but I do it for fun! Sometimes I want to skip a day but then I have something I GOTTA say!

    As for the making money part?? I tried that. Didn't work. I think the most money I have ever made on my blog was $50. And that was ONE TIME! I have been blogging since Jan 2011. And I am NOW making money? Nah. I will stick with my designs and blogging for the fun of it!

    I love your blog btw :)

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  6. I am experimenting with the same idea... although it might be hard in the beginning (not to have that constant urge to "blog this" and "blog that") I think I will get through. I am aiming for 2-4 posts per week - and they have to be meaningful!

    Best of Luck to you! #getreal2013

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  7. i've been doing this too! it just came to me one day that i could take a break mid-week, and it's great. though i would love to have the time to pop out five posts a week, creativity comes to me more when i'm relaxed! xo

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  8. Love this post! I can't tell you how many times I've given myself a guilt trip for letting blog posts past me by or not capturing something that I felt blog worthy. Seems like all of the community are looking for a break in 2013. I'm all for more quality posts and better connections in order to give people (their brains especially) a little break!

    Memoirs & Mochas

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  9. I'm with you. I totally need to just relax sometimes and not stress out because I don't have something planned and then write a post that I'm not content with because I wanted to get something posted.

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  10. great post and totally agree. Lets get real in 2013!

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  11. Yes yes yes! I fight with this all the time. I want to create the best posts for my readers - but some days it just doesn't happen. I have to keep in mind it's quality NOT quantity! I am so happy to have met you in real life, and follow your blog. You're honest and real! :)

    Alissa
    FeelingGoodFashion.blogspot.com

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  12. I love this. It's really awesome when other people are are so real about blogging. It can be really hard to be so creative all the time. xo, Maria

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  13. love this!! i have totally struggled with this too and really enjoyed the break over the holidays. i'm trying to encourage both my husband and myself to decrease our media time and increase our time doing old-fashioned things like board games, going out to dinner, etc.
    happy new year, lady!
    xoxo

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  14. Great post + totally agree. Looking forward to all your posts in 2013!
    -Becky
    The Pumpkin Spot

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  15. finally. see it's not so bad!
    enjoy life... skip the blog... and come visit me.
    sorry, had to.
    xo

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  16. I adore you! I just don't have the brain or time to post everyday and I am soooo okay with it! Hope you had a great time at home! xoxo

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  17. I absolutely love this–and I couldn't agree more! While I love blogging, the pressure (that I admittedly put on myself!) to get a post up every day, be present on social media, grow my blog, etc. can be completely exhausting. I took a week long break over the Christmas holiday and it was really revitalizing. In the new year, I'm definitely going to make an effort to go easier on myself! Thanks for this!

    Alyssa
    The Glossy Life

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  18. amazing words of wisdom! Right now I have all the time in the world to blog, but I know once my life settles down after my wedding, that won't be the case. No more writing for the sake of putting something out there!!

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  19. Good for you Alison! I've felt like this a lot throughout the past 6 months or so. With school getting insanely busy, I find myself with less time to write blog posts. But you betcha those posts I DO write are well-thought out and spoken from the heart.

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  20. Of all the posts I've read about "unplugging" this one resonates the MOST with me. Thank you for putting into words what I feel so often. Definitely sharing this!

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  21. I love this! I often feel the need to blog just to get a post up. Instead, I should be focusing on quality content and posting when inspiration strikes!

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  22. DEFINITELY on board. :)
    What an awesome post!
    xoxo

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  23. This is an amazing post! I totally agree; I'd rather read a few amazing posts every now and then than a "meh" one each day. Sometimes my dashboard just feels cumbersome with useless posts, and I think we should all work one this!

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  24. Love love love this! I've been trying to post 4-5 times a week and this week, it just wasn't working out for me get up a post for either Wednesday or Thursday. The first thing I did was panic. How could I go two days IN A ROW without a post?! But then I realized, no post is better than a bad/unthoughtful/rushed/just because post. Only thoughtful posts this year for me, too!!

    xx, Jordan

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  25. Right there with you!
    Thank you for hosting FF... it's always something I enjoy doing and that's what blogging is supposed to be about :)
    xo

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  26. I like your decision to "get real"! That sounds like a perfect way to start (and finish) a year! I'll be looking forward to your posts!

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  27. Totally agree! That's what I love about blogging-we are in control of what and how often we post. No one telling us what to do!

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  28. Thank you so very much for posting this. I'm completely on board with this. I cannot tell you how many times I beat myself up for not being creative enough. Quality over quantity.
    I'm so happy to be apart of Friday's Fancies, it's so much fun and I love being apart of this terrific group! Hugs!!

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  30. Love this post - thanks for sharing! I definitely agree that life is too short. For me, blogging is my career - but still, I have decided that if I only get around to blogging 4 days a week, I can't feel guilty. Finding balance is so key! And you're right, it's about quality, not quantity! Plus I think I can take a breather after the almost 1,000 blog posts I've published. At least that's what I'm telling myself! Oh, yeah and I have 3 kids to take care of now soooo... yeah I'm definitely on board! Cheers to the new year! Ps. I just realized that I owe you an email!

    xo, chrissy

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  31. Found you through Amanda...I absolutely *love* this post. I couldn't agree more!
    ~lisa
    Floating Along

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