I’ve put off writing my first post of 2014. Partly because I wasn’t all that happy with how I finished out blogging in 2013. For all my grand plans the reality became that I posted very little in the month of December. Then as is my habit, (some of you may remember that I am a recovering perfectionist) I began an ambitious list of 2014 goals. Then I started reading all of my favorite bloggers and their lists of goals. Suddenly my exciting plans began to seem both tame and yet unattainable.
So I put off declaring or promising anything. But my trusty paper tablet and pen told a different story. I had list after list of blog post ideas and other things I want to accomplish this year. But I was afraid. Would I just disappoint myself again? You see, I am harder on myself than anyone else. I set goals that are far beyond my reach and then berate myself for barely attempting to reach them.
That being said, I do have some exciting things I hope to cover on my blog this year as well as off line activities. I share them with you now, hoping you will join me in my humble anticipation. Based on my track record I know I won’t accomplish all these things this year, but I’m putting my intentions out there anyway.
Blogging Goals
Bringing Back Continuing Series
I want to fill this space with my own thoughts and experiences, hoping to encourage others who are embarking down similar paths. I will be returning to my Frumps to Pumps series. I’d like to get back to organizing my home, though I haven’t decided whether I’ll be returning to the previous program where I left off almost two years ago (52 weeks to an organized home ended abruptly, shortly before the birth of my son and never really returned. How embarrassing.) Or I might follow a different schedule. There are several blogs that I follow that are using a New Year’s organizing schedule so I may jump on one of those band wagons at some point.
Cloth Diapers and Other Reusable Products
When I reviewed my stats from this last year I discovered that my most popular posts to date are those about cloth diapers, cloth pads and other reusable products. I find this especially interesting since I blog less about cloth diapers than I used to, though it was originally one of the primary reasons I began blogging. So I’d like to revisit the topic from time to time. We are now in the full throes of cloth diapering our second child and I feel like I’ve become much more confident and ambitious than before. I’d like to share some of that experience with you.
Marriage and Parenting
These are two topics that are very close to my heart, not because I think I do it wonderfully, but rather the opposite. The longer I’m married and the more time I spend as a parent, the more I realize how much I have to learn. For the first time my author husband, Rob Vitaro will be joining me as we jointly post our reflections and reviews on some marriage and parenting books this year. My husband is an amazing author, but has struggled to find his blogging niche, so I’m looking forward to helping him develop a consistent blogging habit while he helps motivate me to get back to work on my novel.
There are some other topics I’d like to talk more about such as sewing. I first got my sewing machine almost three years ago and I’m still very much a beginner. My husband gave me a great sewing book that I’ve barely begun to tackle so I think I’d like to blog my way through those lessons.
Apparently once I get started with my goals I just can’t stop. I’ll be continuing this post tomorrow where I’ll be talking about the goals for my life off line.
I am really excited to read your and Rob’s reviews on the marriage and parenting books! I think it is an area most of us feel we could use some help. I just want to lift you up right now and encourage you! I think these are wonderful goals and I am so humbled that you are sharing them with us.
Thanks, Krista. This has turned out to be a busier and more difficult time in our lives than we ever imagined, and at times blogging seems like just one more thing on my to-do list. What keeps me going is realizing that other people do get something out of it as well.