Welcome back, after a few days offline! Aside from how ‘Inside Out & About’ looks, nothing too drastic has changed – it’s still minimalist and white, which is the way I like it, but I’m hoping that it will be much easier for people to find what they are looking for. The main change for me is that what I write on here is now my own, rather than belonging to WordPress – something incredibly boring, but something that has always niggled at me. I will still be writing 3-5 times a week, quite simply because it doesn’t suit me to write more and it’s an amount I’m very happy with. I’m also not a person who has their phone with them constantly (apart from days when Win is at nursery), because I thoroughly enjoy regular separation from it, and I feel like it can become a nag if it is always in my pocket or bag.
I’ve been through and recategorised every single post so that the categories really are what they should be. With a few posts there is a bit of cross over, but I’ve tried to be strict about what posts go where. It’s a little bugbear I’ve developed whilst reading blogs, as it frustrates me when the same posts come up again and again when I click on a new category…but I realise that might just be me!
I have created a new category called ‘Thoughts On’ and it’s really where you get to know me. It’s all the posts that carry some opinion, my thought processes – a little insight into my world, I suppose. I would say the ‘parenting style’ Jared and I aim for is ‘considered’, as we really try to think about the reasons why we’re doing, or not doing things a certain way, even if it makes our lives more inconvenient. Some days we muddle through, and other days we’re a little more successful. Here is what you can expect to find in ‘Thoughts On’ :
- Being married
- My pregnancy body
- How can we teach children to value what they have?
- Behaviour and a three year old
- Using my children to learn new things
- Being shy and getting over it
- Quiet time
- Screen time
- Preschool
- Having ten siblings
- Pants and potty training
- Breastfeeding, and what I wish I’d known
- How much sugar does a child need?
- Becoming a stay at home mum
- Being a hippie hypno homebirther
The ‘Life’ category is what we get up to, and the ‘Simple Living’ category includes simple outings or activities, as well as any posts on aromatherapy and homeopathy.
I didn’t realise how big my ‘Make & Create’ section had become. I kept wondering why I was being asked to work on craft projects, but since going through every single post, I’ve realised that it is probably my biggest section! I honestly had no idea, and it seems I have made quite a lot over the last couple of years. ‘Health, Food & Fitness’ will still document my never ending journey towards a healthier lifestyle.
‘Style’ is something I would really like to work on. Styling, interiors and maybe even some maternity fashion. I love noting down the ideas that are in my head.
Finally, I would like to say that ‘Inside Out & About’ has never, and never will be a ‘warts and all’ blog. Parenting is incredibly difficult and challenging, but far more rewarding than I could have ever imagined. I prefer to mention the hard parts, rather than think too deeply about them, and it is usually done in jest. The hard parts are what Jared and I work out together, and I’ve never really felt the need to write about them. I’m quite a laid back, practical person and if you are looking for a ‘warts and all’ blog, you won’t find it here. It’s primarily a family journal and an exchange of ideas.
There are a couple of things I haven’t quite decided on aesthetics wise, but overall I am super happy with my new look and I would say it is very ‘me’. A huge, huge thank you to Sian for being so brilliant and migrating everything over so perfectly! She really is so skilled and talented…and basically a genius.
Any feedback would be very welcome indeed, and as always – thank you so much for reading.
E xx
I think its lovely! And I think its great to read blogs that reflect the person for reals…if your not a whiner or tell all type of person in real life why do that on ya blog? You don’t need to apologise for that, you share life honest enough and show the beautiful life you lead and what you love and it reflects that you really know who you are and what you believe about things and its so good.
Since the blogger night with Ange I keep thinking of self hosted and what you said .. Its certainly a near future goal. Xx
loving the new look! Had a look on the laptop earlier and it’s all looking very swish! xxx
Thanks Kerry xx
I think it all looks and sounds lovely. You have a similar outlook to me on what makes your blog. You will find no warts and all on my pages apart from references to how appallingly badly my children speak. Also, I worked on my categories recently and had the same light bulb moment as you re crafts. I couldn’t understand why I kept getting crafty emails, but I do loads of craft stuff. Who knew?! x
Thanks Rachel, and yes I think our outlook is very similar. I love that you had the same realisation and how therapeutic to organise categories? I loved it! xx
Thanks for your lovely words. So happy we made the perfect vision you had in my mind come to life. Well done on having a little tidy up with categories, I probably need to do the same ha ha xx
You are so welcome Sian! 🙂 Ahh…there was SO much sorting out to do! Still need to do all my featured images – it’s taking forever! xx