2.2.13

CHANGE

With each new month comes a feeling of change, of refreshment and of clarity. Especially at this time of year, when spring is just around the corner. The first two days of February have bought with them the most beautiful weather. Crisp cold days with the brightest blue skies and a warm low sun shining through our windows. There is sign of new life in the garden and the excitement of new adventures to look forward to in spring and summer. I have to admit, whilst in the lead up to Christmas I adore the cold weather, the need to wrap up warm and the desire for snugly days and nights on the sofa, when the new year arrives I crave a change in seasons. For being in the garden and at the park all day and late into the evening; for bare legs under flowing skirts; for trips to the shop without the inevitable layering of jumpers and scarves, coats and blankets; for fresh fruit and vegetables straight from the garden and for colourful blooms on the table. 

With the little teasers over the last few days of what spring has in store I've felt a burst of energy and have been ticking off jobs round the house that have littered my to-do list for months. We've made some changes in Josephine's room (more of which to come next week) and I've made some changes to this space too. 

I've decluttered, simplified and, you may have noticed, decided to remove the adverts that have sat here for the last three months. And I'd like to tell you why. When I was approached by a number of companies asking about advertising here on the blog, I have to admit - the temptation of a little extra money and a few freebies was one that was hard to ignore. But very soon after I'd launched advertising on my blog, I felt uncomfortable about what this now meant. About how I now felt obligated to blog to ensure I was keeping up to the number of posts I'd commtited to in my media pack; about what seemed like, at one point, sponsored post after sponsored post. This space was always meant to be a diary for Ben and I about our first years as a married couple, as parents, and all the adventures we'd have. Suddenly having adverts here changed that. So I've decided to take them down. 

Don't get me wrong - I loved supporting small businesses with products we love, so from time to time you'll still see the odd shout out to such companies. Because, as the owner of a small company myself, I know how invaluable such support can be. But these will be without obligation and purely for the love of a product, person or business. 

Sometimes I think I can forget about the real reasons I blog. I can get caught up in stats and the number of comments under each post. But right now I'm reminded that this space is our space. To record the small and mundane and the big and beautiful. And while I adore being part of this awesome online community, it doesn't matter if one or one hundred people comment. These words and pictures mean something to us and that's all that's important. That said, we truly love to hear from you and I still feel a pang of excitement with every comment that pops into my inbox, so thank you all so much for visiting and for taking the time to say hello :)

Pictures by Tori. Oh, and Ben would want me to point you in the direction of the little footnote I've added to this post...

9 comments:

  1. I understand your reasons to simplify' your space, completely. But also appreciate why you wanted to try making room for sponsorship in the first place...I love the optimism in this post x

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  2. Change is good...I like change more than I realise I think xxx

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  3. I feel the same. Bored of stats and the competitiveness of blogging. Infact I ambecoming
    Bored of blogging at the moment. I think I need a blog holiday. ;) x

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  4. I can imagine it can become stressful when you feel obliged. Change is a good thing :) xxx

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  5. Your blog is looking lovely. I am obsessed with trying to simplify every aspect of my life at the moment, but it's such hard work! Feels like pushing a rock up a hill...

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  6. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! I have been approached a lot by companies asking if I'd like this free or to go on a trip here or to go to this restaurant etc all for free in return for a sponsored post or a side bar advert. Each and every time I reply politely telling them that my blog is my space and while I appreciate the thought, it's just not what I'm about. I always use that phrase and they never quite get it. No one ever 'gets me' when I say I turn down free stuff! They say 'all you have to do is one blog post - it's nothing'. But to me, it's everything. It's my integrity - and while I realise I'm getting a bit serious here (sorry!) if people visit my blog I want them to know that everything I post about is because I truly love it and that they can trust I'm not just feeding them any old rubbish because I've had a free trip out of it! Thing is, this sounds terrible because I sound very judgmental here, but honestly if it works for someone else on their blog that's totally fine, I NEVER think badly of someone else for doing it, but for me & what my blog is about, it's not right. And sometimes I feel in the real minority, but I don't mind that, at least I know I'm being true to what I want to do... ok, so this is the longest comment ever, sorry! Oh one last thing, I took ages away from blogging as I lost the love for it, but since I realised I do it for my enjoyment without obligation, it's a lot more fun... just saying! I think you're going to love having your space back for you and your gorgeous family! :)

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  7. I've been having similar thoughts - and you've given me a prod to actually get my thoughts written down. So thank you! Simplicity and sincerity x

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  8. Lots to think about and thanks for posting. I love your blog and would always respect what the blog owner decided.we just do what we all do, the best we can I think, Jo xx

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  9. it's so refreshing to see a blog turn away from consumerism. and it's so nice to have the freedom to write about whatever you want, whenever you want. i only blogged once last week, but i know if i had sponsors to worry about i wouldn't be able to do that. i guess what i'm trying to say is, good on you! x

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