Hey Gals (and guys if any of you are out there)! It’s so strange, there are some days when I have so many ideas for posts that I can’t decide what I want to write next, and then there are others, like today, when I sit down to write a post and just can’t muster up the creativity and energy to get anything down. I actually did have an idea for today, stocking stuffers, but I’m honestly so bored with gift guides, and I feel like if I’m bored writing them, you must be bored reading them. I know a large part of the problem is lack of planning. I wish I had just a teeny bit of OCD in me to plan ahead with a content calendar like pretty much every other blogger does, but I just haven’t gotten there yet. It would make life so much easier than literally sitting down every couple of mornings and coming up with an idea but I find I write best when a topic is fresh in my head and when it’s something that fits in with my current mood. So I guess my mood today is blah. I do have a cold, and I’ve been out at holiday parties the past four out of five nights, so I’m also exhausted.
Also, I feel like I haven’t checked in with you personally in a while, so I think I need to do that before I can move forward with my regular posting so here we go:
It’s been so exciting for me to watch my numbers grow on the blog with my loyal followers sticking around, the ratio is actually around 50/50 which is amazing. I’m glad that I’m keeping you here with my current content and that I’m attracting new visitors as well. Although I just said I was bored with it, I’ve actually been loving curating the gift guides for you and sharing holiday styles that I find attractive, with little bits of my home and holidays projects that I’ve worked on sprinkled in. Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve landed some pretty great partnerships with large companies who are actually compensating me for my influence which is SUPER cool. This, in addition to affiliate linking, is what enables me to blog full-time, well, as full-time as one can be with two little ones running around 🙂 For the most part, these brands have reached out to me, and I’m just starting to think about hiring someone to do outreach for me because I have ZERO time for that…perhaps in the new year. So, lots of good stuff and so much growth which is exciting.
What I’m struggling with lately is finding interesting content that feels authentic to me. I’m not sure why and I don’t know what it is, but I feel like I just can’t keep up with fresh and relevant content these days. A lot of my problem is comparison. I do a quick scan of my favorite other bloggers pretty much every day and honestly awe over their content. How do they come up with so many amazing posts with such beautiful photography every.single.day? Where do they find the time? How are they all such good friends who are always at parties together and going on exotic trips when I’m over here covered in toddler slop in my home office with a poop diaper wrapped up on my desk and a squirmy baby on my lap?? I f*cking hate the comparison game and at my age, I should seriously be over it but I think this business just brings it out in you. And then there is instagram, it’s all about engagement. Brands want at least 2%, and for my own blogger-self-worth, I want more. Lately, my likes have gone down and I think it probably has to do with this creative rut I’m in. I like to put at least one post up per day but even that has been difficult for me. I desperately want to know what my followers want from me and trying to figure that based on my daily engagement and analytics feels like what I imagine hazing in a sorority does, when the older girls circle the fat all over your body. I hope I’m not scaring you, just being real and honest, and that’s the whole point of a blog, right? I think we all through both professional and personal struggles and this happens to be mine right now.
I’d also like to make it very clear that in my personal life, I am SO full and happy, my heart feels like it could burst. My children are amazing, my husband is amazing, and my home is amazing. I love the place we’re in right now, it’s honestly magical. And maybe that’s it, there’s no void that I’m trying to fill in creatively…
The last topic I’m going to touch on is moving forward with my content. I’ve heard over and over again that people are disenchanted with the pretty picture every lifestyle blogger paints, and I want to address that. My life is amazing, but it’s messy as hell and I want people to see that. I do try to let you all in on that from time to time, but I want to make certain that people see the whole picture, the real moments, the beautiful ones and the not so beautiful ones. So more often, I’m going to share that with you. I focus so hard on having a beautiful feed, but I really think people want to see more of what’s real, too. So after Christmas, we’re going on vacation, and I’m going to try and capture the joyful moments we share, ones that will make you smile, but also the hectic ones, like the shit show I know it’s going to be on the plane with my two toddlers.
A large chunk of my content will still feature fashion, beauty, decorating, cooking, all the wonderful topics that make up Pure Joy Home, but you’re going to see a bit more of the real here and there, and more of these personal check-ins because they feel good. And please, PLEASE comment below and let me know if there are other topics you’d like me to cover, I’m here for YOU.
OK that was a lot, I’m off to see Brian’s Preschool Christmas Concert!! (sorry for any typos, had no time to edit this one!!)