Last updated on March 4th, 2024 at 08:26 pm
Time away from blogging was supposed to do me a world of good. It was supposed to be time where I spent quality moments with my family and ignored all the rest. What I didn’t expect to find was it was hard to shut off completely. After sixteen months straight on a daily basis how could I shut the ideas off in my head? How could I not run to the laptop while the kids were napping just to type a few words out? How did I break the routine I have been living for so long. Then it happened…
I turned it all off. The laptop got set aside, as did my big camera, although I regret the latter, but it was only fair that the kids got a break too from the lens in their face. I slowly learned what life was like without my blog. It was Christmas time what better time to take off with all the festivities ahead to enjoy and fill my days. Here is what we got up to during my time off blogging. There may have even been a little birthday celebration for myself, during this time too.
We started our Christmas holidays with carol singing with a brass band at Mr P’s golf club and morning breakfast and bacon sandwiches. It was a lovely way to kick off our time off together. I had my iphone at hand for a few captures but otherwise I was more engrossed with the kids and singing. It was a great feeling to go out for the day knowing I had nothing waiting at home that I had to do, no ‘to do’ lists to accomplish. The brass band was amazing.
My birthday came and went along side the left over vibes of Christmas, as it does every year. A boxing day birthday isn’t the greatest in this country. Last Christmas, it was a bigger event as I turned 30th but this year turning 31 just isn’t a big deal anymore. Birthdays after 30 almost seem silly, either way it wasn’t a bad day, I still got to celebrate it in style.
A birthday selfie is a must! (although extremely grainy)
Birthday playtime with the kids.
Then the kids went to bed and it was time to celebrate with the adults and some drinks. We had friends visiting from London so we took advantage and went out to dinner at my favorite restaurant in Manchester, Gaucho Bar & Grill. It truly has the best steak I have ever tasted and the only place I will ever order it medium rare instead of medium well!
Putting all the chores of Christmas aside, yes, please admit it, Christmas is hard work. The prepping, the cooking, the cleaning, the wrapping, the decorating, it’s all lovely and festive but hard work. Putting my birthday celebrations aside too, my time off blogging was mostly spent like this…
I spent the days with my hair not done, no makeup on, and lots and lots of cuddles on the couch watching movies and playing with the kids new toys from Santa. We may have even had a few late morning starts and pjs all day. Don’t judge me, you know you all have done it too.
It made me realized I need more ‘balance’ in my life. I felt like I missed out on too many things with the kids or missed adventures we could have had because I was trying to literally ‘do it all’. I have always had the ‘do it all’ personality and lately it’s been really bad. What happens when you try to do it all is you actually neglect everything slightly. You don’t do your best in one area because you are so stretches across everything else that things get done rushed, or half assed or in my case without sleep.
So I sat back during my time off and soaked up all the little moments, all the amazing moment, the ordinary moments because that’s what really matters most. I sat listening to their laughter as they tickle each other on the couch. And hearing their feet pitter pattering on the kitchen floor as they chase each other in another silly siblings’ game. Those giggles and those bare feet hitting the tile are my memories of my time off. They are what I hear and see when I close my eyes. 
I sat down to make a list of what I wanted to do with the kids before Buba starts school in September. I want this list to make sure that I am not missing out on this tiny bit of time I have left with them at home together. I want Buba to start school having memories full of family adventures and feel loved. I want him and Missy Moo to feel like Mommy gave them her all while they were home with me as I am truly grateful I have this time with them. My own mother’s words come back to me, “I only wish I could have stayed home with you”. I know its a luxury and whilst I work full-time from home as well, I still want that time with them to be very special.
The photo above is a photo, bad one but nevertheless one that I will never forget. It is a memory of a special afternoon where we sat on the couch observing the world as it went by us, together. Nothing huge happened, there was no amazing words exchanged. I think us sitting in the window all cuddling in one way or another without words made it more magical. Their touches are full of love and their smiles full of innocence and when I stop to see all this it melts my heart. It’s one of the amazing things about being a mother when you can feel the love from your children without words or eye contact. I want more moments like this and I know they will fast become few so I am stopping more in life to soak them in while I can at home. Before I have to wait till the holidays for them to come visiting old Mommy and Daddy.
It has been awhile since Mr P and I could go off on one of our many adventures without the kids but while I took time off ,we had the chance for lunch and a wander around together. We used to hop in the car every Sunday without any destination in mind and just drive to a town to eat lunch and explore the village that surrounds wherever we ended up. It’s our thing and as the kids get older we do it with them now but it was a treat to go back to just being us. We laughed, we talked, we kissed, and we enjoyed quality time as a couple even if it was in a pub eating tuna sandwiches in midday.
Each month I do a little ‘come dine with me’ style dinner with my close friends. We have faltered for a few months but back on track now. There are three of us and each one of us makes a dish and I always get the task of desserts, my favorite dishes to make. If you follow me on instagram you would have seen my creation. I made this yummy, berry brownie parfait which was a hit not only with my friends but it would seem that my instagram followers loved it too. A funny thing tickled me because it’s not even a great photo and it’s not styled at all and yet it’s my most popular photo on my instagram ever. Not sure if that says something about all my other photos but at the moment it stays the favorite.
We ended the new year with our close friends over drinks flowing, games played, and a whole lot of laughter. I love new year’s eve staying in and it was the best way to ring in the new year together relaxed and cozy in our own home.
Time off blogging taught me a lot of what I want and don’t want for the coming year. It also showed me just how much I love blogging and how much it truly has changed my life. I missed it so much but it was good to take a break, refresh and recharge those batteries that were worn out from a busy, busy 2014!
There you have it, what we have been up to while we have been making the most of the holiday season and taking well deserved time off. Life is just as much about the little moments as the big so make sure you are taking time out for yourself, for your kids, for your partners and enjoying it to its fullest. We only get one life!
Linking up to #PoCoLo at Vevivos.
I love how time off blogging is good for perspective and balance. I hope you had a lovely break – it looks like you did x
Thank you Donna. It was great and I now know that i need to do it more often. Lol
It sounds like you had a wonderful break and a good chance to recharge your batteries. I know what you mean about feeling like you’re doing everything a bit below par when you’re trying to do it all – it’s what I love about maternity leave, that I’m only trying to do one thing and I get to give it my all – everything gets stretched a little thinner when I go back to work though I hope it’s the housework that suffers most!
Oh and your instagram picture – it’s because we all want to leap through the screen and eat it – and that overrides styling any day!! 🙂
Haha thank you so much Carie. I love your comments. You are always so sweet. Yes well making people want to eat my photos is what I strive for! lol It was amazing and made totally by accident as I just started throwing things that were sweet in it! lol Best recipes.
Time of is good for the soul, and I think it’s important to have blog time off every now and again. Our online lives tend to creep into everything after a while as stepping back from it is a good thing to reevaluate and rebalance what matters.
I have a busy-busy personality too, but have tried to take the approach that there is time to do it all when the kids are at school. Right now I just want to be as present as I can be for them, and I’ll work on power blogging when I have 9-3 to myself every day in a few years time! 😉 x
Exactly my thoughts too. I got so wrapped up in it I needed to step back and think I have all the time to do this when they start school as you said. I think because it was my first year I just wanted to get my blog out there. Now I can be more choosey of what I write and work on what I love the most of it all. The kids come first as always. It’s great to take time off to see the bigger picture.
It’s lovely to take some time ‘off’ every now and again and just sit back and enjoy the ordinary moments and it sounds like it’s done you the world of good. Loved reading this post and looking through your lovely photos. x
Thanks Alex. Whilst I really wish i had oacked away my big camera I need to really practice more with my phrography. I love all your light airy photos wish I had light like that in my house. Need a conservatory. Lol
I’m a big believer in taking time off blogging, as you know! I’m pleased you did because you must work like a drone to get round Share With Me, let alone writing and styling all your own posts! A well deserved break for you, and some lovely memories and photos to show for it. Happy 2015 honey! xxx
Thank you so much. Yes sometimes I do exhaust even myself thinking about it. This year is about slow and steady! lol Life is too short not to take time off! Happy New Year!
A break is good for the soul. I’m glad you had a good Christmas and Birthday. I hope you have a great 2015 with more balance. x
#PoCoLo
Yes it was very good for the soul. recharged the old batteries. I hope you have a fabulous 2015 too!
Great post. I also had time off from blogging throughout december. It did me the world of good. At first it was hard to switch off but it was just what was needed to give me a new perspective. It sounds like you used your time wisely and had an awesome time. #PoCoLo
Me too, it was so hard to turn it all off but just as hard to turn it all back on and find a new routine with balance of life in mind. Glad you had time off and enjoyed your holidays too.
I love that idea of you can do it all, but you can’t do it all well – it’s so true. For me, I am always looking for the balance between being present and not being omnipresent, because as much as Flea benefits from me being around and engaged with her, she benefits just as much from playing independently, having her own time and space to explore and read.
I couldn’t agree more. Balance between the two is definitely what I am striving for. I agree kids need to play independently and with us too.
I’m glad that your break was just what you needed. I attempted to take time off, and succeeded… mostly! It was good though, to do much less and just enjoy time with family. It’s too easy to get caught up in it all isn’t it, and as you say, not do any of it as well as you’d like to. I too am seeking balance! A very happy new year to you lovely xx #pocolo
Thanks my lovely. Happy New Year! I am glad we are all seeking balance and calm lives maybe we can motivate one another that it’s impossible to do absolutely everything! lol It’s a slow process here but I am still working at it.
Ah, happy belated birthday! Pleased you managed to take a break, and sounds like you’re back and ready to blog on your own terms. Fab! 🙂 #PoCoLo
Thank you so much Steph for the birthday wishes. It was calm and nice with friends just the way I like it. Yes back to blogging on my terms I like the sound of that. Happy New Year.
I had a break too with the blog and social media. I have to admit that I miss twitter most as the reaction there is pretty fast! But I got a month off. Its nice. I miss it and now I have ideas and more energy to tackle blogging again.
Your photos here are awesome. Captured a lot of happy moments and faces. Belated Happy Birthday =)
#pocolo
Thank you for the birthday wishes. It was calm and nice just the way I wanted it. I think time off anything is good for us all. Social media included. I struggled to turn off instagram or twitter but I wasn’t on it as much as I normally am. Thanks I am trying to get better with my photography so much to still learn and practice.
Time off from anything can be really important: blogging, work (the kids!). Sounds like this break did a great job in reminding you what’s good about it in the first place.
Thank you so much Andy. So true. I think too much of anything can be overwhelming. Hope you have some great new year’s resolution too.
You did so much better than me I only managed 1.5 days off! I find it incredibly difficult to stop, think I may be addicted. I am so glad you had a break and now feel refreshed for 2015 #PoCoLo x
Yes I felt that too and it was not easy but I also know my little ones will only be home with me for a little longer and then its off to school when I will have plenty ot time to dive into blogging. i dont want to miss out. I am so addicted too. Lol it was also great to refresh and go through what I wanted my blog to be and not be.
I did what I classed as some slow blogging over Christmas – I just blogged about what I wanted and didn’t really publicise it or expect anyone to read. I just did it for me. Well done you for taking some well earned time off. It sounds like you had a great time. Thank you for linking to #PoCoLo 🙂 x
It’s always a good thing to step back even if its just a little slow blogging. Recharging the batteries. I am glad you had a great Christmas. I had a great time but it was hard to back away from it and let it all go. 🙂
Aww you brought a tear to my eye reading about that photo with your two little ones sitting in the window. Glad you had such a wonderful Christmas.
x
Thank you Laura. I get all sappy myself when I think about them and their bond and how much we have fun together. Wish they didn’t grow up so fast.
Great post Jenny. The break usually does us all good doesn’t it? I took the time to organise myself a little better and actually formulated a blog plan! Looks like you had a fabulous time with your family. Oh and Happy Belated Birthday. xx
Thank you so much for the birthday wishes. Yes we are going to have a great year this year, taking time off to recharge prepared me for all thats to come. lol