blogging is ruining my life ... part 2

In part one, our heroine was experiencing some serious stress about the blog and life and balancing said blog with said life.  And, admittedly, our heroine fell into that evil trap that so many before her warned about: The comparing the success of her blog with others.  Yes, our heroine knows we are all running our own race.  But once our heroine’s blogging moved from a solitary experience to actually engaging with other bloggers?  Turns out the blinders were knocked off …

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When I’m in, I’m all in.

So it should come as no surprise that my attempt to go offline failed …

… which leaves me with a bazillion unfinished projects.  And a house that’s still a mess.  Oh, and some very angry bill collectors …



Do I have a room to reveal to you this week?


No.


A new project to share?


No.


A confession?


Yes.


I’ve come to realize that, for me, blogging is like a drug.


And -- again for me -- trying not to blog could be likened to going through withdrawals …

… detox, if you will …

… and I failed.  Miserably.

You can just call me the Lindsay Lohan of blog rehab …


... and putting me under house arrest won’t help.  Strapping a bedazzled monitor around my ankle will just make matters worse …


So while I didn’t blog much last week, it was never far from my thoughts.  And, in fact, I spent much of last week working behind the scenes.


A behind-the-scenes that had me finally making a Facebook fan page for the Etsy …

… and feel free to click on the picture and “Like” my new page.  It opens in a separate window.

A behind-the-scenes that had me cleaning up my Twitter account by “unfollowing” hundreds upon hundreds who I followed … and who didn’t bother to follow back.


A behind-the-scenes that had me researching potential sidebar sponsors and reaching out to some of those potential sponsors.


A behind-the-scenes that might result in my writing not one but *gasp* two blogs …


A behind-the-scenes filled with not one, not two, not three, not four, but five pillows to make and mail from my crazy post office.


So with my behind-the-scenes-filled week behind me, I don’t have any answers for all of you who have been so very supportive.  And have offered some amazing advice and counsel.  And have been so kindly waiting on part 2 …


... and all I have for you are some general observations and guidelines I plan to put into place …


1. My health and the health of my family needs to be #1.  I bought a bike and now my daughter and I bike to her day camp each day.  I’m joining weightwatchers.com on Monday.  The Comcast “On Demand” 10-minutes Pilates classes need to become an integral part of my mornings.  And come August when camp ends there will be many, many beach days … and our Florida trip to visit Nanny and Poppey has been booked …


2. Balance is key.  And to achieve that balance I need to hold out “blogging” as a reward.  It’s the carrot I’ll be chasing as I race around the track (with my blog blinders firmly in place) …


3. I need a schedule.  Remember that chalkboard door I created in the kitchen?





… isn’t it the perfect place for me to write up a master schedule for my days?  Sure there will be changes.  Interruptions.  But a master plan could help keep me on course most days.


4. Link party withdrawal.  I’m cutting way back on the link parties.  It’s too much to link and comment and visit.  Overwhelming.  My numbers may drop … but, hey, I’ve got those blinders firmly in place.


5. Blog posts.  Over the next few weeks -- as I settle into my schedule and work to get my house in picture-worthy shape -- I may be cutting back on the number of posts that I post each week.


So that’s it.  Nothing groundbreaking.  But that’s my plan for now.  It’s a plan filled with everything in moderation …


Which sounds easy, right?  But remember ... I’m an “all in” kind of gal …

… “moderation” doesn’t roll easily off my tongue …

... and with all that said, I'm heading out now to have some Margaritas and Mexican to celebrate 49 years on this earth.  Which -- technically -- is the start of my 50th year.

... and yes, that scares the crap out of me ...

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