to make a comeback...

I got overwhelmed, I started drowning from information overload. I thought I had to be something I was pretty sure I could never be and wasn't even sure I wanted to be. I lost sight of why I even started in the first place. 

for ProBlogger...almost

According to my countdown app we have just 19 days (at the time of writing this) until we head to the Gold Coast for ProBlogger...eeekk!!

If you're going then an email from Darren with some updates and asking us to reflect on our blogging dreams would have landed in your inbox on Thursday.

I am getting so excited about heading to the coast for these few days, I applied for 2 days long service leave which was granted without question and Marleisa from This is Who I am and I are heading there Thursday so as not to miss a minute of the action! As the event draws nearer I am reading more and more from other amazing bloggers getting prepared for the trip, some have already started packing, some are booking in hair appointments, some are planning their nautical outfits for the Friday night and the Helm Bar....to be honest I am just thinking of the MOUNTAIN of work that I need to get through before I can even think about anything else.

In a way I am also so nervous. It kind of feels like I am heading off to High School again for the first time, and I am a junior. Even though my blog is about 18 months old I still feel like such a Novice. When I was looking through the program and deciding what sessions to go to there were things mentioned that I have no idea what they even are!! I have been reading tweets, blogposts and facebook statuses by many other bloggers who I love reading that are attending and I am so excited to be in a room with all these other wonderful bloggers, let alone potentially having the opportunity to talk to them. I feel like they are the seniors, the cool crew, and that I will be standing in the corner in awe of their awesomeness and wondering if any of them will want to be my friend (damn I hate the introvert in me sometimes)! I feel like I am going to be way out of my league! hahaha...

I also am not quite sure how to respond to Darren's question about what my dream is for my blog. I guess my main reason for starting the blog was to share my 12wbt journey and just document rantings, ravings, and events of my life. Kind of like the LiveJournal I had years ago. Somewhere to just ramble and rant and rave and maybe someone would find it worth reading. But the more I have blogged and the more I have discovered about blogging the more exciting the prospect that you could actually make money out of blogging is kind of exciting. I don't think I would ever be there but it's exciting nonetheless.

Recently there has been that 'why I write' prompt going around and when no-one mentioned me in it, at first I was kind of cut a bit (yes just like at high school when all the popular girls are invited to something and you miss out) but then I realised I was secretly glad that I wasn't asked because I had no real answer. I loved how people wrote about writing being in their blood and that they wouldn't know what to do if they didn't write, that people say they HAVE to do it, I love how creative some people are and how passionate people are about their writing and their blog themes. I have no real theme to my blog, I'm not a fashion blogger, definitely not a mummy or craft blogger, I put myself in the 'general' category. I'm not really sure why I write, I just do...

I am coming to ProBlogger with no real expectations and just looking forward to being a sponge and soaking up as much information as I possibly can and seeing where it can lead me on this journey. I am also super excited about it being held at QT, Marleisa and I stayed there earlier in the year just on a girls weekend away and L.O.V.E.D it!

Are you going to ProBlogger? What are you hoping to gain from the experience? Will you talk to me if you see me standing in the corner by myself?

Linking up with Essentially Jess for IBOT!

for another challenge!

As if my reading challenge wasn't enough (as well as my fitness bootcamp challenge and working full time), over the weekend I decided to sign up for a blogging challenge!!!


I stumbled across this one whilst catching up on my blog reading over at Over Cups of Coffee.... Psych Babbler is also joining the challenge.

So what is it and are you going to join me???

The Blogging From A-Z Challenge runs for the month of April, where you blog each day from the respective letter in the alphabet. What you blog about is up to you and some people find it easiest to have a theme. With some help from Psych Babbler I am blogging about...

I think it's kind of perfect...given that my blog is a bit of a random mix of ramblings about my life it seems to really fit. There was the suggestion that I also do stories from my teaching career so will weave that in as well.... I know what you are all thinking... "How awesome crazy is this woman?, she's always complaining about not having enough time!".. Well in response to that, I have now learnt how to schedule posts (Thanks Ms Mystery Case!) and I have 2 weeks off in April so SURELY I can get organised!

So...are you up for the challenge? I know Flood Proof Mum is also joining us...anyone else???

Linking up this IBOT with Essentially Jess of course!

for tips!? Pleeeease!

I have been contemplating for a few days now what to write about this IBOT... My posts have been few and far between lately for a variety of different reasons and to be honest I feel like I have hit a bit of a wall, lost my mojo...not that I am sure I ever really had it.

I feel like I love my Monday and Wednesday link up parties - Monday, Kirstie tells me what to blog about and I love that...Wednesday, no words are necessary and I can just find a beautiful pic to post which I also love.

Monday, my first offical day of holidays, I met a friend for coffee and then slothed on the couch for a few hours, Ipad in hand (If you read my confession post you are probably thinking I should have been upstairs cleaning my wardrobe!), scrolling through Pinterest I came across a few articles on 'how to make your blog better'. My blog is almost 12 months old and originally started as a way of sharing my 12wbt journey but in all honesty, I started it on a whim. I really had no idea what blogging was really all about, had never heard of linkys and widgets and really didn't do any research before starting. Truth be known, I didn't even regularly read any blogs before I started my own - so I really had no idea what I was doing or getting myself in for.... almost 12 months down the track and I am not sure that I am that much wiser when it comes to this blogging business!

So as I scrolled through article after article of blogging tips and blogging mistakes people make (yep, I've made them all!) I feel even more confused.

Publishing Platforms/Web Hosting/Analytics/SEO/Host your own URL/Web design v template/Advertisements/Sponsorship......huh????  :-/

A lot of the tips talk about having a theme to your blog - something you blog about regularly not just random ramblings..... well looking back I think I definitely have the random ramblings things covered. Now that I have had time to reflect over all of this as I have slothed on the couch is that a lot of the blogs I follow and enjoy do have a theme, most of them are Mummy bloggers (which don't get me wrong I love) and considering I am not a Mummy that rules that out.... Then there are the Crafty Bloggers...nope not me. The Chef/Cooking Mummy Bloggers...again, not me.... Fashion Bloggers - huh not likely! So that has left me thinking, what do I really have to blog about???

A lot of the tips talk about being yourself, "write as if you are talking to your best friend"...well if that happened I may never have another reader again! Lol... There are also some things best left unsaid, especially when you never know just who might be reading! Another tip suggested knowing your stats, now when I look at them it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me... apparently most of my page views come from something called vampirestat.com?? Anyone explain that to me?

I discovered today that most of the tips I read I actually do do them, so perhaps things aren't all that bad! My follower numbers are slowly increasing so some of you are finding something worth coming back for.

Having said that though, I would still cherish any other advice or suggestions you may have? Obviously I am a "blogger" blogger and I would like to know more about making my blog more appealing, to look at and to read, so any and all advice welcomed? How do I take my blog from 'template' blog to 'MY' blog?? When coming to a childless, craftless, non-chef , single (non-cat) lady blogger's blog what would you like to read about??

I know I have blogged about my blogging mishaps and asked for advice before but I still feel like I am muddling my way through so am hoping some on you IBOT ladies can help a girl out!!!??

to confess some regrets

Am writing off topic this week for Kirsty's I must confess linky as there has been something playing on my mind for a while that I wanted to write about.....

So I must confess I have some blogging regrets.....

My blog is still quite young having only started at the end of January but I already wish I had done a few things differently.

Blogging was something that has interested me for a while and if you do look back to my first post you'll see that starting the Michelle Bridges 12wbt and my friend starting her own blog was the final shove I needed to get it going. So of course, like I have a tendency to do, I jumped feet first in the deep end and didn't really really think about it.

I wanted it to be a place where I could just write and write and write and write and not really have to think about it too much, I wanted it to be a place where perhaps I could share some of my innermost thoughts and just go "blergh" on the page and if someone read it so be it. I quickly got caught up in the whole blogging world and started following, or stalking as some may say ;-) others, linking up and getting a little absorbed by it all. I started sharing my blog posts on facebook and twitter and telling anyone who would listen that I have a blog now! Some of my nearest and dearest tell me often how much they love reading my blog and how they are learning more about me and how it makes them laugh and they look forward to it and so on - all of which makes me feel so warm and fuzzy inside, don't get me wrong!

So what is my problem you may ask...???

My problem is that now I feel like I constantly have to think very carefully about what I write so as to not offend anyone close to me who may take what I write or what I say the wrong way. There are a few things that have happened of late that I have thought - "I'm so going to blog about that and see what other people think!!!!" but then when I sit down to do it I realise that for various reasons I can't. I wish I was one of those people who had the attitude "It's my blog I don't care what other people think!" and write whatever I want but I am not, I am constantly worried about upsetting others and I avoid conflict like the plague, so I just stew and vent on the inside instead.

Sometimes it's a little scary to think that I have put myself 'out there' for everyone and anyone and wonder if I have given too much of myself to my blog...... hmmmmm... I tell people about my blog without really thinking of the repercussions, they now have an insight in to my life forever, it's not like on facebook where you can "unfriend" or "defriend" (never quite sure which one it is) or block someone, once someone starts reading your blog they can have access to that forever, unless of course I decide to cease writing (which is not something I am going to do!)

So perhaps if I could turn back the clock I would make my blog anonymous and not share it with all those in my 'real' world', that way I could write what I like when I like and have no regrets or give it a second thought!

How do you overcome these things on your blog? Did you decide to keep your blog anonymous and why did you decide to do that?

What do you have to confess this week? Head over to My Home Truths to get it off your shoulders!

for an award!

      

A little while ago Marleisa from This is who I am nominated me for the Liebster Award and asked me to answer the following questions.

1. Your dream holiday? Anywhere where I can relax and read a book and sleep and drink nice wine away from the hustle and bustle of the everyday. I'm thinking somewhere with amazing sunsets and beautiful long days!
2. Wine or beer? Wine..hands down no contest here! Preferably a sweet white!
3. Favourite celebrity and why? I would have to say Ellen DeGeneres. I not only think she is funny but I think she does amazing things with her celebrity status while many of them just take it for granted. I love her positive outlook on life and how she stands up for what she believes in!
4. Your most viewed blog post was? It's funny because it's the one I wrote about having a lesson in blogging but yet no-one has commented
5. Favourite pastime (besides blogging) Scrapbooking is a loved hobby of mine although I never seem to have any time for it anymore! :-(
6. Dream occupation? If I knew the answer to this then maybe I'd be doing it!!! Perhaps a photographer of some description, maybe wildlife (African Safari style, not birds! lol)
7. Favourite social media and why? I had always been a big Facebook fan and user but this year have explored Twitter and obviously now blogging so too early to tell which one I like the most. I guess I'd still have to say Facebook though as that's still where most of my friends are.
8. TV show addiction? Far too many to chose from.... Revenge, Greys, Bones, Criminal Minds, Dexter, Homeland, Hart of Dixe, Sons of Anarchy, Smash, Dallas, Downton Abbey...the list really is endless!
9. Early riser or night owl? Sadly at the moment I am both! But given a choice I'd say Night Owl
10. How do you like your eggs cooked? Poached! But I can never get them right
11. Favourite childhood memory? Playing 'houses' down at the creek.. lol..

And now for my nominees, sorry if any of you have been nominated before but I have enjoyed reading your blogs so hope you don't mind!

Six By The Bay
My Journey - Am I there yet?
Colours of Sunset
MINSMASH


And now for my questions
1. Favourite quote/saying?
2. Entree or dessert?
3.Who would you want to play you in a movie about your life and why?
4. Favourite holiday of the year?
5. Childhood hero?
6. What book are you currently reading?
7. Guilty pleasure?
8. Why did you start blogging?
9. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be and why?
10. Diamonds or Pearls?
11. What do you know about blogging now that you wish you new when you first started?

Look forward to reading your responses and thanks again Marleisa for the nomination!

to have a lesson in blogging....

I feel I need to make that disclosure on this post! Lol...

Today I had the wonderful Marleisa from This is Who I am come over for a blogging tutorial. Being such a newbie to this I felt I needed some guidance and after about 3 hours of widgets and gadgets and linking and designing and adding and googling and youtubing and drafting and saving and gosh knows what else I feel slightly more at ease with this whole blogging business. (Don't even ask about the twitter button!)

It has been so great reading and looking at other peoples blogs to gain inspiration and I feel some sort of comfort in knowing that they were all newbies at some stage as well.

I have added more pages so be sure and check them out!

How did you get started? What helped you? What's something you know now that you wish you knew when you first started?

Feel free to offer any advice on blogging below!