Honeys, I’m home!!! Been out of the net for over a week. Nice to wake up in my very own bed this morning. Nice to get back to my regular routine. Yeah, right…like I have one! Facing loads of laundry, spring cleaning and restocking my decidedly bare pantry this week. But before I jump into all of that I want to catch up on my blog reading and writing and today’s the day!
The gals at TBB have released their April link-up series.
Today they are reintroducing themselves to their readers and explaining the thoughts behind the name of their blogs. I read a number of reintroduction posts at the first of the new year. Thought it was such a good idea but didn’t take time to do it myself. So here I am this morning, to share the meaning behind my blog name and to reintroduce myself to you.
Behind My Blog Name
When I started blogging waaaay back in August 2014, I was newly retired from a career I had loved. And struggling to figure out what was next in my life. That spring, I had stumbled upon Alison Lumbatis’s very first style challenge quite by accident. Her daily outfit suggestions provided me a reason to get up and get dressed on mornings when I might otherwise have wallowed in my king-sized bed of self-pity.
Until that time I had never really heard of blogs or blogging, but through my first Get Your Pretty On challenge, I met gals who were blogging and actually joined a collective group of GYPO bloggers that morphed into The Blended Blog, a few years later. While I am no longer an official member of that group, I do enjoy linking-up with them for TBB Asks (latest post, here) and some of their other series.
Nowadays, I am a more of a freelancer! Doing my own thing but joining up with other bloggers for ideas, challenges and series that fit the direction my blog is moving. Which has no real destination in mind, just bouncing along on a uncharted trajectory.
Past
There are multiple reasons why I named my blog what I did.
- As a librarian, I loved a good fairy tale and originally thought I would review fairy tales regularly on my blog.
- I was transitioning from the once upon a time in my life to what I hoped would be my happily ever after, and I wanted to reflect that in my name.
- And, despite all warnings that a blog name should be short and sweet, my name was a phrase with which most women were familiar.
In preparing this post, I went back to reread that very first one. You can read it, here. Never again have I been so concise! I have a learned a lot about myself since that day in August. And a little bit about blogging, too. While the vision or mission of my blog hasn’t changed all that much, there are days when I wonder if I will ever really figure out what I should be doing in this chapter of life.
Present
Here are a couple of lessons I have learned on this journey between once upon a time and happily ever after.
- Life is a series of transitions and sometimes even the best laid plans of mice and (wo)men, often go awry.
- It’s okay if what I once loved doing, doesn’t work in my life forever. I am not the same person I was 30, 20, even 10 years ago.
- Only you can (prevent forest fires) create your happy and build the life you want.
I just turned 60 last week. Seemed like a good time to reevaluate myself and my life. In doing so, I have come to accept and embrace a few recent revelations:
- I am no longer the same mom I was even 10 years ago. Because my daughters don’t really need a daily mom anymore. They are launched and wonderful moms, themselves.
- My career as a librarian is behind me. Maybe I will continue to write lesson plans for our Teachers Pay Teachers store, but thinking maybe the time for that is gone, too. Not really even wanting to work as a sub librarian – at least for now.
- It is time to do some of those things I thought, until recently, I had a lifetime left to do.
Future
These are some steps I will be taking in going forward.
- Take the best care of myself as possible, in all areas of my life. This broken foot slowed me down for a bit but served to help me realize how precious good health is. How blessed I am to have overall good health.
- It’s time to try anything I have wanted to try but have put off doing until I had more time, more money, more energy.
- Life is too short to spend hours doing things I don’t want or like to do.
Have always maintained that I write this blog for myself, because I like to write. And posts like “Sentence a Day” help me see where I have been. Seasonal ‘Bucket List’ posts help me plan the direction of my life for the short-term. My new series, ‘Stepping Outside My Comfort Zone’ will encourage me to try those things I’ve waited til now to sample because I’ve been too uneasy about giving them a go.
Reintroducing Myself and My About Page
A year or so ago, I read a piece on the importance of having an “About Page” that lets readers know who you are and what you’re about. In preparing this post, I realized that my About Page was not very current so I updated it. And need to remember to do so more routinely. You can read it here.
Your Turn
If you are a blogger, how bout linking-up with us to share the background on how you named your blog. Or leave a comment with your background below. If you don’t blog, is there an interesting story to go with why your parents gave you your name? Or maybe an interesting meaning behind your name? My friend Sue recently shared the meaning behind her name on her blog at Sizzling Towards 60 and Beyond. Fun read, especially since my middle name is Susan!
Thank you for allowing me to share a bit of your day with you. Lots of posts scheduled for this week so hope you return. “Glossies Made Me Do It”, later today, “10 on the 10th” scheduled for Tuesday, “Wellness Wednesday” (guess when?) and “Little Letters” on Friday. Not sure when I am going to get this house clean!
Hugs and kisses,
Laura
My about me page is STILL a work in progress! And has been for several years, I am embarrassed to say. I love your “freelancing”, Leslie, and encourage you to continue writing for yourself, as I do. I write for an audience of one, which is myself and I enjoy it so much.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Can I just hug you!? I appreciate your support and sweet comments today (and always). I think shared attitude about blogging for ourselves is a healthy way to go about this stuff. I don’t expect for it to ever really lead anywhere except to make me happy!! And, in the grand scheme of things, that’s pretty darn good.
Em
My blog name came from two of the three time vampires in my life (the third would be laundry)…
When I finish taking care of those things, it’s on to the funstuff 🙂
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Ha!! Love your blog name and explanation for it. I can’t seem to stay ahead of the ironing over here. Darn it! Almost prefer wearing sweat pants everywhere to avoid wrinkling something that will need to be washed and ironed.
amy
How interesting. I never understood how or what “the blended blog” was about or how it came to be. Now I know!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
There you have it! The TBB was a Style Sisters group before it evolved into TBB. I just didn’t feel a good fit with some of the group and decided it was bringing me sadness and pain rather than pleasure.
Daenel T.
Happy Birthday!!!! I hope you had a wonderful day!
I love the name of your blog and had a suspicion your previous life as a librarian had something to do with the title. I’m smart like that — LOL
It’s fun to kind of bounce around with topics. We change and our interests change, our blogs should reflect that.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
You are one smart cookie!! You are a librarian, for heaven sake! I did have a wonderful birthday. Funny how it isn’t about gifts or even cake anymore. It is about survival and even better, thriving for another year. And being with those who fill your life with happiness.
Carrie
I really enjoy your writing style, Leslie. This was a great post to reintroduce yourself while looking backward and into the future.
Lauren
Sorry to hear about your broken foot! I hope you are feeling better that it’s on the mend!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Foot is so much better! Ready for the disco dance floor. Thanks!
Amber
Life IS too short to be doing things you don’t want or like to do! Thank you for such a great reminder (and the reminder that only I can prevent forest fires lol). I have been feeling so pulled to make some changes in my life lately, and this was yet another nudge in that direction, so thank you!
I enjoyed reading about your blog’s history and why you chose its name. I’m afraid my story isn’t that interesting seeing as how my blog is AmberIAm and well, that’s my name. 😉 I’m looking forward to seeing what your future holds now that you are taking time to focus on you!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you for this thoughtful comment. I love the name of your blog and it’s reference to Dr. Seuss. At least that’s the vibe I get. I am a librarian – oops, former librarian.
Jennie
Loved everything about this post, Leslie. I always thought your name had a basis in the fact you were a librarian, and I truly enjoyed reading all the thoughts behind your blog name. Had to laugh when you mentioned blog names should be short because mine is in the same boat, but it works for me. 🙂 Hope you have a great week getting settled back in!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
High five, girl! We, with the long blog names, are in this thing together. So glad you enjoyed the post and appreciate your sweet comment. You brightened my day…still moving slow over here but the gym is calling my name. XO
Patricia
As I recent follower, this was great! My favorite phase – ””life is a series of transitions”. My blog was started at a similar point as yours, but being an engineer and not as creative as you, it’s called Retirement Transition. See why I gravitated to that phrase? I’ve been struggling with where to take my blog going forward. Your blended blog is quite intriguing…hence I started following recently. I’ve joined in on the Seasonal Bucket Lists and might on the Comfort Zones topic as well. Thanks for inspiring me to keep writing…life in retirement is a series of transitions!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Oh, PAT!!! Tucking this darling comment away in my heart! So touched by your kind words of support. Jump in here with us, dear friend. Next bucket list post is 4.21 and next comfort zone is 4.30. Plenty of time to plan between now and then. I can add you to our email reminders if you like, just let me know.
Retirement is such a transition and can be a disappointment and tough gig. I am just now, after close to four years, beginning to feel comfortable about not going to work. Would love to do something with you where we write a bit more about our journey. Let me know if you’d be interested.
Please forgive any misspellings of words with the letter R, today and for a bit into the future. My R key is sticking and not being at all agreeable.
Welcome to my world! XO
Whitney @ Whitney à la mode
I love the name of your blog even more now that I understand where it came and your transitions in life. I’m so happy that you are living your happily ever after to the fullest!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Whitney! I am a sucker for a fairy tale, that’s for sure. And so blessed to have finally found my Prince Charming and my happily-ever-after.
Laura
I love hearing the stories behind blog names, especially when they have real meaning behind them like yours! I appreciated reading your lessons too. We all need to remind ourselves every now and then that it’s ok if what once worked or what you once loved changes. Life changes and so we have to change with it!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Sweet Laura, I hardly recognize my own life these days. So much has changed in my day to day. But I am beginning to feel comfortable in what has become my new norm. I imagine you can relate to that because having a new baby certainly turns things upside for awhile. At least it did for me! I have a very ill daughter…we are just learning how sick she is, and I now realize the reason why maybe I am not working anymore. It seems that by not doing so, I will have the ability and time available to try to be there for her. Everything happens for a reason.
Sheila DelCharco
So good to get caught up with you a bit! Being out of blogging has also gotten me out of blog reading as often…
Leslie Roberts Clingan
You are always welcome around these parts. Glad to hear from you. Do you miss not blogging? Your baby girl sure looked lovely for prom. XO