Happy New Year Dear Reader – a look at what’s to come

Is it too late to wish you a Happy New Year? Well I do anyhow. I have several pieces of news I would like to share with you as we begin what I hope to be a healthy and happy year for us all. Firstly, I would like to start with a word. A word I have chosen to reflect what I hope to bring to my mind and life in general. Calm is my word for 2019…

I decided on a word rather than resolutions which I tend to denounce as “rubbish” part way through the first week of a new year. The very lovely Becky, ever prolific these days in my Instagram reel as @hazelandbluecandles (do check her out) had suggested the practice of a word might be a preferred alternative to the rules of a resolution and thus more achievable. Becky has also talked of “putting herself out there” a bit more in a bid to further grow her business and I suspect her own self too. I need to put myself out there a bit more in 2019, so I have been inspired by both Becky and this word idea already this year. This is a good thing.

It is an interesting choice of word for me since calm is not generally my initial reaction to a situation which may indeed call for calm. However, we are mid-way through the month and I have only slipped up once so far and that was definitely the supermarkets fault and not mine. In order to continue to achieve calm (and a few personal and business goals along the way) I am taking part in an online course with @kimklassen where we are encouraged to reflect on the year past and build a strong future. We are to choose a goal to work towards and then I am hopeful the rest of the course will help equip us to achieve our goals. I am a third of the way through the material and enjoying the content very much. Words like positive and negative don’t seem to be in Kim’s vocabulary. Choosing instead to look at what is working and building on that and not letting that nagging fear of failure and self-doubt get in the way, will we are told, help to achieve our goals. I’ll let you know how it goes.

One goal which remains elusive to me is time. I never manage to crack this one. So instead of dwelling on the fact it evades me, I am choosing instead to aim to manage the time I do have more effectively. Four blog posts a month and daily Instagram posting is a lovely way to live your life: Sadly for me, it is not sustainable and leaves me with little time for anything else. And there are still chores to do and friends and family to enjoy. So, I have decided moving forward to post on my Instagram account four times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday) and to post here, on the blog from the beautiful Belle’s three Thursdays a month. Begining in February, the first three Thursdays of each month will be brand new and exciting posts. The fourth week of the month will be used by me, to learn more of the technical side of blogging. A few months have five Thursdays, we’ll see how we get on with those.

Years ago, my GP was huffing and puffing her way through our appointment declaring her PC and printer to be a hinderance to her role as a doctor and certainly not what she spent years at medical school training for. I do sympathise. Whilst I could not do what I do without technology, it seems I learn one technical way with this blog and overnight it changes. Sometimes with my half glass empty head on, I think the entire blogging world is against me. This train of thought simply offers no benefit at all. I must learn and keep abreast of change. So learn is certainly what I shall do to grow this blog, for I love to bring you weekly stories, up-cycles, design tips and crafts.

And seemingly a fair few of you enjoy what you see and read too. You offer positivity and encouragement in abundance. Thank you for that. And to those of you who try the ideas I offer and show me, wow is all I can add to a thank you. It truly makes my day to see what you achieve.

And so, onto this year’s blog posts and what we might create together. I have soooo much to bring you. Only last week I looked inside my craft cupboard and announced to Mr M “this little space makes my tummy flip.” It is full of exciting ideas for gifts for loved ones and pretty décor for the home. I also have several more interesting up-cycles to bring to you as I attempt to turn vintage and neglected into vintage and loved. I have several exciting days out booked which I shall be inviting you to join in with me via Instagram stories and here on the blog. So, if you don’t have an Instagram account yet, I urge you to give it a go. It’s very simple to use and a fabulous place to spend time with like minded and supportive people, whatever your hobby. And you could follow me if you like as I aim to offer a few pretty photos of my own.

So, rather a lot to achieve and I am ready to give it all my best shot. Do join in each week in the comments section below. I know I have said it before; Google (and I) like the idea that you read and hopefully enjoy this blog. Comments on here really do help to achieve my number targets, thank you.

Have you set yourself the challenge of any goals this year? I would love to hear about them if you would love to share. And what about this ‘word for the year’ idea, are you joining in too? As well as aiming to achieve a few goals throughout my year, I will attempt to remain true to my word too. Calm can only be a good thing for us all, right? It will surely afford the opportunity to ‘just be’ from time to time. Something else I would like to achieve occasionally too. Goodness me, I appear to have set myself a high bar. Wish me luck, I may need it!

Next week… a craft which will bring back a little of last years summertime to brighten up darker January days. Do join me and, so you don’t miss a single post, why not sign up using the form below. I don’t share any of your details with anyone else, it’s just you and me. Until next week x