Over the holidays, Chris and I sat down on many occasions and talked about our goals for this blog in 2014. It's a little funny, because we have never really had goals for our blog. If you ever dive into the archives, you'll see this used to be a simple blog about our lives to keep family in the loop and then it started to focus more on DIY and home stuff shortly before we bought our first house and it grew just as our passion for renovation grew. This past year, we felt like we were scrambling at times to keep up. Half way through the year I had to close my Etsy shop because the amount of emails and opportunities and partnerships and projects (all great things!) just became too much for me to manage on top of the art and my priorities as a mother. But, the thing is, I love painting. I want that part back. I feel like I need that back.
We also decided we want to incorporate more of "us" back into the blog. Feeling especially inspired by our friends Kim and Scott's The Week's End posts, sometimes sharing a tidbit of our life outside of projects and this house of ours that we pour so much time into will not only be healthy and encourage us to get out (!!), but we think it will allow us to open up and be more personal with all of you as well. A few other changes coming: a new look, we're in the process of making the switch over to WordPress, a couple tweaks in our posting all in an effort to responsibly grow our blog in a way I can actually manage with Greta and our new little girl at home with me (that thought has my head spinning non-stop right now), and bringing back more art as soon as I can find a place to set up a studio. We're excited! 2014 is going to be wonderful.
And speaking of incorporating more "us" into the blog this year, I wanted to share with you a little video my sister, Andi, captured of our Christmas with my side of the family. We were all able to get together a few days before Christmas to play in the snow, eat, laugh, and open gifts. You'll see all of my sisters in this video, their spouses, my parents and their 6 grandchildren.
Some of our other goals this year include unplugging on Fridays after work to spend some quality time together, putting together some sort of job chart for Greta, and going to bed and waking up earlier. During the holiday, we also put together our house project goals for 2014! You can look for that post tomorrow.
Any goal-setting on your end? Or snowball fights for that matter. ;)
Leave a Reply
WE'RE CHRIS + JULIA
Portfolio
Projects
This is a very good tip particularly to those fresh to the blogosphere.
Short but very precise info… Thank you for sharing this one.
A must read post!
Loved this video! Aw, such a good looking family ;)
But, I LOVE YOUR BLOG'S LOOK! ha, It's ok, change is fun. :) I look up to you for making the tough choices about how to spend your time. But, I'm glad you're getting back into painting! I am trying to do more art too (I was also an art major at BYU-I!)...once I had a baby (and had no space to paint in) it took a back burner. But it brings me so much joy to create! And, ps....I LOVE the new floating walls in your library. :) Well done.
Love these goals and the video was AMAZING! We felt like we were right there with you. It reminded me of a Christmas commercial!
Love the video! Andi is one talented videographer, I have really liked other works of hers that you or your mom have posted. I only read 2 or 3 blogs, don't have much time but yours is a daily must read. Love the design ideas (we are definitely not DIY'ers but the ideas are fabulous. I pass them along to my contractor LOL), Love the kitchen and cooking tips and love that you are expanding it in 2014 to include more personal stuff - seeing family pics brings back many fond memories of my 3 years in the 'Burg and 2nd ward.
2013 was a BIG year for you guys. I think you really found your DIY/decor groove. You became more confident in your design choices and just went for it! Which is so inspiring just in and of itself. You've helped me be more confident and just get things mainly because I just LIKE it. Things don't need to matchy match all the time. Which is tooootally me. This video was amazing and it made me realize we barely took ANY videos this Christmas. It also means that we soaked in just being together too, but man!--we need to take more videos! Thanks for being so inspiring! and I'm with ya...MORE ART!!!! only because you're a creative genius.
You're the sweetest. We FEEL more confident in our choices, so it's nice to hear that is coming across. And you know, I'm with ya--more videos of your cute fam would be amazing!
Your family holiday video is so wonderful! I do love photographs, but there is just a whole 'nother quality that comes across in video - thanks for sharing that!
Agreed! So glad my sister is always thinking. ;)
That video was so sweet! I wish we similar for my family.
I love the idea of unplugging one night a week. I'm going to have to talk to my husband about that. My goal this year is to focus less on the stuff.
Love reading that you're bringing in more painting.
I drove to the beach for some quiet (alone-me) time last night. As I sat there, away from our year-old daughter, I realized I missed and needed three things: my sketch book, a pencil, and pure silence.
I'm not quite sure what all this year will bring. We're hoping to grow our family, we're working on a huge organic garden in our greenhouse (we found the perfect stools and table on the beach- love driftwood!), and my hub's writing is going all sorts of wow-some directions.
On that note, thank you-thank you-thank you for sharing the slow cooked ham recipe in December. I made it for the hub's birthday just a few days ago. He was in love. We're going to make it for Christmas Eve 2014 dinner.
Ohh, best to you in 2014 Wendy. I wish I had a close beach to drive to for some quiet time, but I am with you--a few moments of peace and quiet a day are on my list. Thank you for sharing and we're so glad the ham was a hit!