So.....why do I blog?

There is a bit of a Blog Hop happening at the moment in blog land where you are nominated and asked a few questions about "the why's" of why we write.  Fellow blogger Carla from My Yellow Heart has nominated me sooooo here I go.

I published my first post in September 2012.......nearly 2 years ago.  I had registered my blogger name in March of that year when we first moved to the country.  But it took a good few months before I struck up the courage (and it really does feel like that) to write something and push the publish button........gulp.

A few months before we moved from the suburbs my very good friend mentioned that she had a blog.  At the time I didn't know what that was, so I started reading her beautiful space, Lover of Vintage, and then slowly came across others that I loved like Ivy Nest and Bungalow Bliss - and became hooked on reading them.  We don't watch TV so it became my night time thing.  Settle down from the busy-ness of the day with a cup of tea and sink into blog land.

Blogging has become my little thing, I love it and for me it has been a really good way of recording the things I love like baking, gardening and collecting retro treasures and our family life.  One of the best things has been the photography.  Up until I started blogging I have never been a photo taker.  We lived in the UK for 5 years and I only have a handful of photos to show for it, shameful!  I take part in the weekly portrait project and although I have stopped including Bell, I have a wonderful collection of weekly photos recording my growing boys.

When I first started blogging, I read lots of other blogs, commented often and had regular giveaways.  There has been a shift in that this year for me.  I have only done one giveaway this year (for a clever friend) and due to the demands of a growing family I don't comment as often as I feel I should.  I read all of the comments on my blog but don't have the time (I set my self "internet usage limits") to reply to everyone unless there is a specific question. I don't know how people feel about this but it is something I know is often discussed elsewhere.

Before I ramble on too much, here are the blog hop questions?

What am I working on?

I'm not writing any great novel or anything amazing like that, my writing is here.  I know some people question whether they would have anything to write about but ideas and topics are everywhere.  Baked a cake....blog it.  Been for a beautiful walk and taken amazing photos.........blog it.  Found a fantastic op shopped treasure..........blog it.  See easy!

How Does My Writing Differ From Others In My Genre?

To be honest I don't think it does.  My writing isn't fancy or fanciful.  I write like I'm talking to a friend.  Simple.

Why Do I Write What I Do?

Recording life and memories.  Up until a couple of weeks ago I was a fulltime Stay at Home Mum - something I have always wanted to do, and something I felt was really important.  On days when I think "am I doing a good job" I just look here at my blog and think yes, I'm doing it my way and it's working for me and my family.  I only work 3 mornings a week while my children are at kindy/school - so I still get to do the drop off/pick up and do the things I love and keep everything running smoothly at home.  My days feel full now, and it feels really good.

I am aware of how I portray my life here.  Like everyone I have my good and bad days.  I don't like to write anything negative about my children as one day they may read it.  And any parent knows that like us, kids have their good and bad days and it's their story to tell not mine.  The same with Bell, I show her anything that she is included in and she can say yes or no to me including her.  She isn't on here as much anymore and that is her choice. I know there is a lot of discussion on children being on "mummy blogs" - I'm careful what I post.  Unfortunately due to the revolting side of the Internet there are sites where the so called "public" can go to view certain material - I don't think they will be getting their fixes on these types of blogs.

How Does My Writing Process Work?

I'm a night owl, so that's when I tend to do most of my writing.  When I think of a post I save the title in a draft format and come back to it later with words and photos.  And because I like things annoyingly organised I keep posts in the order I think I will publish them in.

So, there you go.  That's me in a nutshell.  I am so thankful for falling into blog land.  I have "met" some of the most amazing like minded souls through my blog.  Wonderful ladies who I wished lived just over the fence.  Blogging has encouraged me in all sorts of ways and prompted me further to bake, cook, garden, sew and try new things that I have found via other bogs.  There is just so much (I haven't ventured onto pinterest yet) inspiration out there!

If you have reached the end of this very long post, go and make yourself another hot cuppa as your one is probably cold by now and visit these three lovelies (and yes I do say "lovely" a lot) who I nominate.  No pressure to post anything ladies just happy to nominate you.

Nominees:

My Garden Diaries

Thistlebear

Tales from a Happy House

TGIF - so thankful it is the weekend.  It has been my second week as a "working women" and my brain hurts.  I'm looking forward to digging in my garden this weekend and mucking about in the kitchen.  I have Monday off, so will leave the cleaning of the house till then!

 

Do you blog and why?

 

Curious..........why do you visit here?

 

Elaina xo