Saturday Morning Sip N’ Share: Fresh Starts
Fresh starts are a great thing, and because of that we’re going to talk about them today. How are you on this Saturday morning? I missed y’all last week, but as promised I took the week/weekend off to spend time with my girls before school started. But now that they’re back in school it is time to get these Saturday morning sip n’ shares back in session!
You can probably guess what I’m about to say….got your coffee/tea/drink of preference? Awesome! Now get in that cozy spot. Let’s chat!
New School Year = Fresh Starts for Everyone
On August 28th, 2023 my girls started their second school year here in North Carolina. Compared to last year’s start, this year was a lot easier and more relaxed. Last year they came in about two weeks late and just jumped straight into a classroom without any kind of prior orientation. This year we got to do back-to-school night, we took our time buying supplies, and going into the building was exciting rather than nerve-wracking. It’s been an overall great first week back.
Now that we have a 1st and 3rd grader, things are shifting in a new direction for us. Our oldest is showing a drive to become a leader in school. She wants to participate in all kinds of activities that will allow her to grow as a young girl and that will present her with all kinds of leadership opportunities. On top of it all, she’s so, so close to testing up for her next belt in Tae Kwon Do. To say that I’m proud of her would be an understatement.
Our youngest is only 6, so she’s holding her place as the youngest pretty well. First grade is a big transition for her. She misses centers in the classroom and the overall feel of being in kindergarten. She’s so smart, though. She’s going to excel academically this year without a doubt. I’ll just be their to help her a little more than normal with the emotional and mental transitions.
A new school year means fresh starts for me, too. I get to reset as a stay-at-home Mom. Summers are draining for parents. Even if you’re not a stay-at-home parent in the summer, it just takes extra energy and patience while they kids are at home. But I also get a fresh start as a blogger and not just as a Mom. I’ll dive more into detail with that next.
Fresh Starts for My Blog and My Brand
I’m going to let you in on a little secret (you may have already figured it out): I’m a bit ambitious and can even be a little bit impulsive. My brain has been on FIRE lately with all kinds of ideas, thoughts and goals for myself. I don’t think I’ve seen and felt this much activity in my brain since I was in college the first time…like 17 years ago!
I’ve had a realization lately, and that’s where this other “fresh start” comes in. I need to slow down. My focus needs to be a bit more narrow. Do you know how hard this can be for someone that is coming up with 30,000 ideas a minute? It’s really hard.
This Saturday I want to be a bit vulnerable with you all. I don’t mind being vulnerable in this aspect anymore, either. People see bloggers and Mom bloggers/influencers and they think, “Man, I should be a blogger! I could stay at home like she is and life will be great.” Ha! Being a blogger is hard, especially when you have a naturally creative brain and you’re a naturally gifted writer. I studied writing for 4+ years…that’s the easy part. But narrowing down to my niche and staying with it? Ouch.
So now that September is here I have to make some tweaks. I have to narrow down or I will be working 24/7, which is the total opposite of what I want to do. You may see a few slight changes to my blog appearance over the next few weeks. It’s time to get back to simple…time to get back to recipes, kid and mom content, to family-friendly things. My Etsy shop is growing; I’m up to 6 sales. The deals and shopping will stay, but in a more toned down way.
I may have been a blogger for over a year now, but I’m learning and growing every day. I’m so excited for this fresh start while my girls are in school. I get to focus on my goals and I get to watch them grow. And I get to have you guys there with me!
Resets Are Needed
School, blogging, the seasons changing soon…fresh starts don’t have to be mind-boggling, huge life-changing events. They can be small things that come with the seasons changing or the small goals that you set for yourself in life. And when you do get that fresh start, even a small one, it feels so dang good.
What fresh starts have you had lately? Do you feel like you need a change somewhere in your life? Sometimes they can be scary, sometimes they can be exciting…but if your gut is telling you that you need something to change then a fresh start might be in order for you.
I hope you all have a great weekend (3 day weekend for the girls and my husband, woo!). Thanks for being here with me. You guys are the best!
Until next time…
-Meg
