I must confess, I had every intention of returning to the blogging fold yesterday but given the heat factor here in Perth (44.2 degrees) and the fact we lost power for a good part of the day, I chose to see this as a sign and took yet another day off.
If I’m honest, after having so much time off, I’m struggling to get back into the blogging swing of things.
In my downtime I had every intention of making a few resolutions for New Years and setting some yearly goals but in the end went back to my old ways and resolved not to resolve which like I say each and every year, sounds like a bit of a resolution to me.
While I was pleased to see the back end of 2014, I wasn’t entirely unhappy with how things panned out last year. The fact the list of what I turned down was possibly more impressive than what I actually achieved isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It just means I’ve embraced the word ‘NO’, something that I struggled with saying the previous year and there is every chance I’ve done what I usually do and gone from one extreme to the other rather than find a workable balance.
This year, though, I NEED things to be different but at this stage I’m not sure I know what I want different to look like. I’m not convinced setting goals or resolutions is the way forward for me. Instead, I’m spinning around and choosing the theme NO MORE EXCUSES for the year and will once again be looking for a dedicated theme song.
I’ve always been motivated by music and for as long as I can remember I’ve had a theme song (Soundtrack of My Life). If I had to put a theme song on 2014 it would have been “Thnks fr th Mmrs” (pronounced “thanks for the memories”) by Fall Out Boys.
This year I’m NEEDING to focus on the positives to move forward. I’m bound by limitations, mainly to do with a recently diagnosed auto immune disease together with a second mystery condition and I’m NEEDING to find ways to manage or move around them and not be stuck living in limbo.
2015 NO MORE EXCUSES!!
I’m not convinced the health side of things needs to feature so much on AMC but I’m wanting an outlet for this without necessarily wanting to start a second blog. With this in mind I will be looking at a sealed section here on AMC called Pieces of Me – finding peace living with an invisible illness.
Here on the blog the focus will turn to more reviews, giveaways, challenges (both style and blogging) and I’m looking forward to showcasing some of my favourite places through Pieces of Perth.
Confession Wise
My Monday (sometime Tuesday) blogging confessions where we link up with Kirsty from My Home Truths will continue. Although hopefully more on the humorous side (What Doesn’t Kill You – the time I may have tried to kill my sister at her baptism only for her to survive and go on to marry my first boyfriend) and less on the serious side (Social Media Free – the post that had everyone questioning my sanity).
Fitness Wise
I’ll be looking to The Fashionable Mum and her #tfmfit challenge for inspiration. I have a long and hard road to get back to being even slightly fit but I’m determined to at least give it my best.
Due to health issues, I need to take the focus off weight loss (which is near impossible for me at the moment) and focus on just being as fit and healthy as I possibly can be no matter my shape or size. In the interim and while I have the energy levels of an extremely lazy person, I will be ‘casing’ Adelle from Where The Styled Things Are and her Lazy Girls Guide to Fitness.
Wellness Wise
Creating Contentment (Thankful Thursday), Anastasia Amour (Project Positive), Musings of the Misguided and Life With Elizabeth Rose will be my blogging constants when it comes to keeping things positive and aiming for wellness in 2015.
Wardrobe Wise
Nikki from Styling You, continues to be a huge inspiration for me when it comes to making the most of what you’ve got and her book Unlock Your Style will be getting a huge workout this summer. You may even find me playing along, occasionally, on Instagram with Nikki’s #everydaystyle challenge.
Kimba Likes (Wardrobe Wednesday) and Redcliffe Style (30+ Style & Beauty) are just some of the places I like to ‘case’ for style inspiration and I could possibly fill an entire blog with all the fashion and style bloggers I admire.
Challenge Wise
My LBD 52 ways continues from this Friday and we have a number of style and outfit challenges planned for 2015, including a live event. We also have a couple of blogging challenges and collaborations coming up which should keep things interesting.
Worth Casing Wise
Head back tomorrow for our Worth Casing Wednesday link up. Words, wordless and everything else in between, if you have a blog post worth casing this week, this is the place to link up.
But wait…. there’s more…… I may even throw in a set of steak knives at one point.
Our giveaways will continue throughout the year and I’m really excited about our blogging line up for 2015 but like always I prefer to keep some mystery to the blog.
I am trusting you will all keep me in check with my NO MORE EXCUSES mantra this year, where I aim to keep things real and positive at the same time. I may NEED your help choosing a theme song. Any ideas?
Do you have any grand plans for 2015? Did you make any resolutions?
My grand plan is to do my best and enjoy doing it in 2015. I don’t make resolutions per se, but I do like to set some achievable goals for the year, and choose a word as a theme for the next 365 days. Sounds like you have 2015 sussed. Personally, I found blogging about my illness, enormously therapeutic,and to my great surprise, writing about it also helped others, both people who wanted to understand how I was feeling and those who had a similar diagnosis to me. I hope sharing your experience is beneficial for you too. Wishing you a 2015 full of awesome!
Thanks Sammie,
I’ve noticed a few people have adopted a word for the year. I suppose my word would be ‘enough’ but I’m not convinced that is positive enough for the year I want to pull off.
I think blogging about my illness will help. It’s the second condition that at this stage they can only give me a probable (& terminal) diagnosis that I’m needing to keep under lock and key. Mainly for the sake of my girls.
My grand plan for 2015 is to get my blog moving along. I want to take a few risks and get out of my comfort zone. Yesterday was shocking and lucky we had power all day. Hope you got power back on to get some sleep last night. Happy New Year. Thanks for the link ups.
Julie
Keen to hear more about your blogging plans and happy to help you pull off your grand plans if I can.
Invisible illnesses suck, just to state the obvious! Sorry to hear you’re not feeling well. All your blogging plans sound amazing, just remember to look after yourself too. Big virtual hugs.xo
Thanks Vanessa, the heat is not helping things at the moment but I’m slowly learning my limitations and making more effort to put myself and my health first.
Love your plan for the year and I will definitely have to case some of these blogs. Perth did have a hot one yesterday and very glad to have had power yesterday. Good Luck for the year! Beth
Thanks Beth. I’m struggling in this heat and yesterday was the first day of the year where I didn’t end up walking/exercising.
Similar to you, part of my 2015 resolution is “No more excuses!”
I’m determined that 2015 is the year I will be following my dreams! No excuses!
Keen to hear all about your dreams and goals for 2015 Ingrid and would love to help you reach them if I can.
I think your fitness plans are perfect and more people should embrace them: “focus on just being as fit and healthy as I possibly can be no matter my shape or size”
Thanks emilygrace. Do you have any resolutions or goals for 2015?
No more excuses sounds good to me. So long as legitimate ones are allowed.
I have goals sort of; I know what I want to achieve, but I’m also being realistic. So much is still up for grabs, so I’m being flexible.
Legitimate ones allowed to a point but I’m not wanting my health to dictate my life any more. So rather than continue with the excuses (which may be valid) I’m going to look for ways around them. If that makes sense.
Happy New Year Jess. I can’t wait to read your new book. How is it coming along?
Wow! You have an epic year ahead of you and I cannot wait to ride along with you. I hope your 2015 is awesome in every way and that you can stay away from the excuses as much as possible
Thanks Malinda,
I’m really looking forward to sharing the social media love with you in a big way this year.
I’m so darn good at making excuses to let myself off the hook from things – specifically exercise (I’m not a huge fan of getting hot and sweaty!!). The **No more excuses** mantra should serve you well this year!! I’m really looking forward to your sealed section *Pieces of Me*. I’m sorry to hear of your health issues but I can very much relate. I have auto immune issues also – eg Hashimoto’s Disease (underactive thyroid) + Immunoglobulin A deficiency for starters. Yep – I have an assortment of ailments! Looking forward to reading your 2015 posts! Min x
I have Hashimoto as well. According to my specialist it’s the least of my health worries. Can’t wait to get the sealed section up and running and hopefully form a support network.
They sound like perfect goals for 2015 – and embracing being fit and healthy rather than a number on the scales was my 2014 resolution – it worked and this year I am keeping that one and aiming to work on living in the moment and embracing the positive (not ignoring the negatives – just not giving them as much energy as the positives) – I’d say “The only way is UP” is a good theme song!
Considering the Jawbone Up is my fitness band of choice, your song selection for me has even more merit.
It seems destined to be – although since suggesting it I cannot get it out of my head – so it may end up being mine too 🙂
Oh yeah I have plans for 2015! Lol…
I like your little mantra and look forward to seeing what you ‘case’ this year!!
You have grand plans and I’m hoping to help you pull them off.
I had a lovely break over Christmas, and surprised myself by barely even THINKING about my blog!
I was much the same Janet. The more time away, the more I could care less.
Thank you for the mention! I want to focus more on mental health and less on the everything in between this year so hopefully I’ll have something for you!
It’s all about changing my mindset this year and mental health is top of that list. I think it’s important to realise you don’t necessarily need to have a mental health condition or be depressed in order to look after your mental health. If that makes sense.
Thanks for the mention, Raych. I really hope your 2015 brings you everything you work so hard for. It must be difficult and frustrating having an invisible illness.
Completely frustrating when my body doesn’t want to play the game but my mind is still so active.
I’m keen to try Pilates this year and would love it if you could join me for a session. I will also be ‘casing’ a number of different fitness and wellness options if you are keen?
Is love to join you as long as it’s in the evenings or after the kids are back at school 🙁
I’m in the same boat with school holidays. So evenings for the time being and lots planned once school goes back.
I’ve made heaps of plans for the blog for 2015, possibly too many I may get worn out, but time will tell. The parenting side of things is still very spontaneous and we’re doing what we want when we want at the moment. We’re going to see Giggle & Hoot on Thursday woohoo (I’m aware its sad I’m excited by this).
I have absolutely no idea who Giggle & Hoot are. Our movements and plans seem to revolve around our three teens at the moment who have more of a social life than I ever had.
I am just taking 2015 one day at a time! No real plans, but excited to have Izzy starting school and us taking ownership of another house in a couple of days. That will keep me busy enough when we start renting it out as a holiday home. Best wishes for your year healthwise and finding the balance for your blog xx
One day at a time sounds pretty good to me. How exciting with your holiday house. We are hoping to sell our NSW property and build here in Perth this year.
I like your phrase and I’m sorry to hear about the health issues. There are so many things I would like to achieve this year, but I have to be realistic that I am a mum to three little girls that depend on me and I may not have the time that I would like to devote to those goals. So I’m gonna to take one day and one week at a time to do what I can do and just be happy and grateful that I’m a mum. The seasons will change soon and I will have more time to devote to my pursuits. Hoping 2015 is a great year for you. x
Thanks Bec I’m sure it will be a great year. I had three under three and took the same approach as you when they were little. They grow up too quickly and you need to enjoy the time while it lasts.
Sounds like 2015 is going to be big. I hope your health is resolved one way or another this year so you can get on with living and continuing to do all the amazing things that you do x
Thanks Kirsty. I don’t think health will be resolved but I’m resolved to not let it stop me. How is your dad doing?
hi raychael, hoping you had a lovely break with your girls, even if it was only a home vacation! … you are a great writer/blogger and I really enjoy your style of work! … I do hope your health will support your endeavours this year!
OM is one of my words this year! … loving the sunbella thankyou!x
lots of love m:)X
I’m not normally good at sitting around doing nothing and surprised myself. I’m actually struggling now to get back into the swing of things with the girls on holidays and everyone in lazy days mode.
Glad you are loving your Sunbella.
Wow! You seem to have a lot going on here this year!! Good luck with all this, and knowing you, plenty more as well. xS
Yes, well this is the scaled down version but I’m determined not to overdue things this year. I might need you to keep me inline and on track in this regard.
Oh Raych I could have written this post, well apart from the person/health issues, but the NO EXCUSES and losing my blogging mojo after being away. I am FULL of excuses and have to just step up and do it! One of the things I’m going to do more of is say ‘no’ to jobs that I don’t want to do, even if the money is good, as a writer I have earned the right to be picky! Blog wise, I’ll just keep trucking and hope I find something amusing to say soon, otherwise I’ll have to change the name of my blog! And thanks for my great prize, it’s chilling as we speak – MWAH! xxx
So pleased your prize arrived and it’s rather funny it ended up being a bit of a mystery to you. There was supposed to be a note/card attached that read: Have A Drink On Me love Mystery. Enjoy. xx