UncategorizedJUST BE in 2015 January 8, 2015If you missed yesterday’s post on recapping 2014, you definitely want to check it out before reading this one. All of how I’m viewing and approaching this new year has to do with the wonderful/complicated/stressful/life-changing year that 2014 was. I’m approaching 2015 in life and on the blog with one goal in mind: JUST BE. And here’s what I know that means for myself and for The White Buffalo. This is something I preach in my style and I feel like in many ways, I’ve conquered that style-wise. Recently, our Community Group was meeting at our house and I noticed one guy just looking around (remember, we have a very open floor plan). Eventually, he said, “There are antlers everywhere you look. Seriously, there’s atleast one on every wall.” I just smiled and said, “Yep.” I’m proud of that because I love it! But totally being “me” on the blog is harder. I don’t necessarily mean the way that I write. I try to give you guys me in every single sentence! But as I mentioned yesterday, it’s easy to feel pressure for what your blog should become. As I quit my teaching job and decided to do the blog full-time, I started to feel pressure to be a “legit, full-time blogger”, whatever that meant. I compared myself to other bloggers. I looked at what they were doing. I took advice from others, which can be very helpful, but it can also distract from your personal vision. So-and-so posts five days a week, so Lindsay needs to post five times a week. So-and-so has a strict editorial schedule broken down by day (DIY project every Monday, etc.), so Lindsay needs that. The list went on and on. I started to put pressure on myself for how often I would post, the type of content I would post, all because I thought that’s what full-time bloggers did and if I was going to really give this a go, that’s what I had to do. Well, it just didn’t work for me. Sure, there are weeks I posted five times. But there have also been weeks where I posted once or twice. What I realized by keeping this strict schedule was that I wasn’t genuinely being myself on the blog. I was dreaming up a DIY project just because I needed to post one this week and I ended up really unhappy with the result. Or I needed a fifth post, so I just threw something together. The stress of all of that is a total creativity suck! I’ve heard so many people say blogs need to be professional or personal. If my blog was going to be professional then it was all-design all the time with no personal touches. If it was personal, then I could post whatever I wanted. I battled and battled this pressure and finally realized that this is my blog! I’m the one writing every day! I’m the one pouring the hours in. And so many of you say you’re here for my style, but also for how I share my heart and voice. And when I think about, my absolute favorite blogs to read are not the 100% professional design blogs where you don’t know who’s reading or even if you do, you know very little about them. I want to see and know the family behind the house! A little secret finally broke through in my head and felt so freeing: The White Buffalo can be ANYTHING you want. It can be a design blog that also happens to share faith posts that also happens to focus on parties that also happens to share tablescapes! All of that is okay. I know in many ways, my content already does this, but I’m talking about my internal battles and struggles. My goal and my promise going forward is that I will just be me and The White Buffalo will be just that. I will not stick to a strict posting schedule and will only post quality posts that I feel great about when I have them. Now please don’t take that to mean I’ll only post every other week. I actually made this shift several months ago and find that on average, I post even more! With the pressure of the other mindset, I continually felt unhappy with something so often, I would get in a funk and not post for several days. I was limiting my creativity. I feel more creative with this new mindset and I’m confident that my content will show that! There is such a fine line for a dreamer like myself between having goals for the future and a direction of where you’re headed and living totally in the future! I’m so bad about this. I have such dreams for The White Buffalo. So many have already come true and I am so grateful. But I have all of these ideas and visions of where to take it. The problem with that is that I start to live in that future world of White Buffalo (that may never happen, or atleast not like I might think). And I miss the NOW. I miss the progress. I miss the small victories. There are things I dreamed about that came true this year and they were exciting! But I would catch myself thinking, “Well, that’s great, but it’s not this.” Or “That’s great, now maybe this will happen.” And it made me so sad. Why can’t I just be present and bask in the joy of those moments? And even when big stuff isn’t happening for the blog and I’m living the normal day to day, there is so much joy! Back in November, when I was re-evaluating all of my goals, I remembered that my initial dream for this blog was very simple. I don’t know how many times I told Chris that all I wanted was to be able to do something I loved from home and raise my babies. That dream has come true! What more could I want or ask for? Sure it took a lot of hard work and long days to get here, but it’s happening and truly realizing that makes me totally present and content. As I’m entering this new phase as a Mommy, which has always been my dream job, even beyond the blog, all I want is to BE PRESENT. I want to take in every single day and moment. I want to sit with her and stare at her little fingers without guilt of needing to head to my computer. I want to be a mommy who happens to have a blog that she does love verses a blogger and designer who also has kids. And I’m totally okay with that balance. Looking back over 2014, I missed so much by just not being present. And I refuse to do that going forward! So my goal for this year is to take in the moments. Bask in the NOW. Find joy in the small victories, but also in the normal day to day. And love every single minute. This last one is huge for me. As I said yesterday, I am a people pleaser through and through! But you can’t please everyone and you can’t be everything to everybody. My goal is to do all of the things above UNAPOLOGETICALLY. I will post what I feel great about posting without apology. I will turn things down to have slow days with my family WITHOUT APOLOGY. Because, you guys, life is so short! I’m realizing that more and more every day. I’ve dreamed of being a mommy for so long and now, she will be here in a matter of weeks. Everyone keeps telling me to enjoy every minute with her because before I know it, she’ll be in college! What? I could cry thinking about that! I refuse to keep rushing through life and keep being discontent with where I’m at. I will be me, I will be present, WITHOUT APOLOGY. As a reminder for myself to practice this and a way you guys can share your JUST BE moments, if you choose to, I’ve decided something. Throughout the year, I’ll be posting my JUST BE moments, struggles, and triumphs using this hashtag above on Instagram. I’d love to have you join me! These can be tiny moments where you’re being present, ways you’re focusing on the NOW, or really anything that to you says, JUST BE. I want this to be a source of encouragement and inspiration for all of us! I’ll share my own as they happen (remember, no schedule) and I’ll often share some of yours that inspired me! I invite you to JUST BE with me in 2015. *** So, let’s talk for a minute about some tangible things you can expect for 2015! I’m putting my JUST BE’S into action… We’re currently working on several design projects in the house that I cannot wait to share during the first bit of this year! I know y’all knew this one was coming! I have had the best time working on Rosie’s nursery! I will say that it is currently in shambles. We’re painting one more piece of furniture this weekend and then we’ll be ready to put it together. I have so many amazing details to share and I cannot wait! The direction hasn’t changed since I last shared, but the way I carry it out might have just a bit. You can read about my inspiration here and my first finds and color scheme here. As I’ve gotten busy actually designing and sourcing items, some of that has changed slightly and I’ll be doing an update post in the next week or so before the big reveal! I will go ahead and say that the floral print above is a big clue! We’re currently working on revamping my office. It will not be a whole redesign and you’ll definitely see some items making another appearance, but we decided this room in the house was best for the nursery. It’s on the back of the house verses the front and is slightly bigger. So, we’re moving my office to the other guest room and are changing it up some. My goal for this is to buy nothing! We stick to a major decorating and renovation budget and right now, they’re really being taken up by the nursery and another project I’ll mention in a minute. So, I’m sourcing items we had and making it work! I’ll share this room really soon! And this last one is super exciting! I haven’t shared anything about this room since we moved in and I shared before photos. Isn’t she a beauty? We left this room as a last phase of our renovation and are finally getting around to redoing it! I know. It’s great timing to be redoing a bathroom with a newborn almost here! But we’re flying in and trying to make some progress before she comes. I’m loving the direction we’re headed in for this room. It’s a little different than anything I’ve done before and I’ll share my inspiration soon! Something else that you can expect this year is a new little series. I have gotten so many e-mails asking for advice on full-time blogging. I always feel weird answering them because I am no expert! I am learning every single day. But, what I can do is share my story and my experience. Going with everything above, I don’t think I’m going to stick to a strict schedule for this, but it will have a good many installments and as I learn something new, I’ll add to it! I’m hoping that this can be a forum of sorts. I’ll share my experience, but I know so many of you have great stories of your own and I would love for you to share them in the comments! I know I could learn from all of you too! So those are some of the things I KNOW will be happening in 2015. There are some other partnerships and big things on the horizon, but none are done deals and it doesn’t feel right to share them just yet. But, I can say that I know 2015 will be a year like no other for us and I can’t wait to bring you guys in on the journey!
Corinna - For My Love Of says January 8, 2015 at 11:30 am I wish I had your bathroom tile! There is nothing to be sorry for. I think, for the most part, that those of us that are here are here because we love your style and personaility. It doesn’t matter at what frequency we get a dose. We just love you. And because we love you, we want you to be happy. Reply
Lindsay says January 8, 2015 at 12:03 pm You’re so sweet Corinna! Thanks for the encouragement! And I LOVE the original floor tile – it’s one of the only things we’re keeping! Reply
Sandra T says January 8, 2015 at 11:47 am Good for you!! I would rather read a blog whose owner is happy with her posts. Authenticity trumps number of postings…every time!! Reply
Tania says January 8, 2015 at 11:56 am Great goals and vision for 2015 girl!! So excited to see where this year takes you. Also- love the fabric with the nursery reveal-totally bought 4 yards of it just for fun months ago…still no idea how to use it!!! So excited to see what you’ve done. 🙂 Reply
Lindsay says January 8, 2015 at 12:01 pm Thank you, Tania! I’m so happy that you have that fabric. I absolutely fell in love with it when I saw it! It’s my favorite part of the nursery 🙂 Reply
Amber says January 8, 2015 at 1:53 pm Love all of it. Cannot wait to see all this year holds for you. Reply
Baileywife @ IrishmanAcres says January 8, 2015 at 2:13 pm Lindsay…. Just stick to what makes YOU happy, that is what we love about you! And I really hope you do more of your series of “what’s your style” (if you want to)? I really enjoyed that, made me really think about mine, and now I unapologetically OWN our style! Excited for your year ahead! ~Kim Reply
Elizabeth @ The Little Black Door says January 8, 2015 at 3:49 pm Cheers to you Lindsay! I had the same thoughts over Christmas break and made a similar pledge earlier this week. Stay true to yourself! Reply
Anneke McConnell says January 8, 2015 at 7:58 pm Love you and this post Lindsay! 2015 is sure to be full of blessings!! Reply
Angie says January 8, 2015 at 9:48 pm Not only do I love to look at your pictures and styling, but your story that you weave through adds so much to your blog too. I am a fan!! Reply
Amy says January 9, 2015 at 8:47 am Hi Lindsay, Even though your were struggling to keep your blog “you”, I have always seen that your posts are authentic to who you are, your roots, and your vision for the blog. You never come off as haughty or “just a little bit better” than your readers, and I do sense some of that in the other bloggers I follow who are striving to make those 5 posts a week, or a DIY every week (seriously, at some point, you will quickly run out of projects, then you will end up re-doing stuff that doesn’t need it and wasting money). I also appreciate that you care what “we” (your readers) are doing – when you ask people to link up their home tours or thier projects, it shows me you are genuinely interested to see what we are doing, and it also gives us an opportunity to view other people’s projects we probably wouldn’t normally access. I know you seem sad about some parts of the last year, but as a reader, I am here to tell you that none of it came through in the posts, if that’s any consolation. I read blogs to be inspired to get new ideas for decorating, inspiration for things that are “do-able” and don’t require me to go out and buy a million things just to make a pretty tablescape, etc. I feel like your blog gives me what I am looking for, so however you plan to change, I know it will still meet those goals. And if the changes make you happier as a person and entrepeneur, then its a win-win for both of us. Happy 2015 – don’t worry, we’ll all be here reading and rooting for you!! Amy Reply
kelly says January 9, 2015 at 9:08 am You are inspiring. I am struggling in a similar way…mom, goals, time, work and am working toward starting my own blog. you may not consider yourself an expert but I do. Reply
Suzie says January 9, 2015 at 12:55 pm I love this. I am not a blogger, just a reader of many blogs and to be truthful, I have discontinued many of them because, for one, they all started to look the same, and two, there was this underlying sense of competition, along with way too many sponsored posts that made the blogger sound like a shill for some company. The best blogs are the ones like yours, that are like visiting a friend who shares her heart and home with you. Stay true to yourself. It always comes through. Reply
Colleen Pastoor says January 12, 2015 at 7:49 pm Ahh those could all be my goals for 2015 too! Can’t wait to see that sweet nursery 🙂 Reply
Suzette says March 6, 2015 at 7:24 am I stumbled across your blog doing research for work. And I am so happy that God led me your way! I look forward to postings from you, and have been reading older Ones as well. Your spirit and passion for life really show in your writings! Thanks for sharing with all of us, Suzette Reply
Lindsay says March 6, 2015 at 10:17 am Thank you so much, Suzette! Your sweet words warm my heart and I am so glad you found us! Reply