Hello loves!
I know, I know, it’s been FOREVER! And no, I haven’t forgot about you all. *How could I? You are my LIFE!!!* I’ve really really missed you.
So why did I disappear from the blog world?
First of all, it was summer. The weather was beautiful and it would be a shame to stay inside. Also, I embarked on a 30-day EMPOWER yoga challenge. After doing it for a few days I realized that if I kept on blogging, I wouldn’t have any time for my hubby *go to work, get home, eat, walk the dog, workout, you get the point…*.
At around the same time I received a couple of requests from a few of my blogger-friends to participate in ‘Why I Write’ *or something along those lines* challenge. The more I thought about it the more I started to realize that at some point blogging started feeling more like a full-time job instead of a hobby. That’s when I decided to take a break. I want this blog to inspire you and I want to enjoy writing it as well.
Obviously, this break took longer than expected. However, I feel good about it. I was able to focus more on me and my family. I’m full of ideas. AND I AM FINALLY BACK!
Here is a quick overview of what has happened in my life since my ‘disappearance’.
Empower Challenge
Trip to Varadero, Cuba
5K Electrodash Run
Our 1st Anniversary
My birthday
JDRF (Juvenille Diabetes Research Foundation) fundraiser
CIBC Run For the Cure Gala
Weekend at a cottage
I’ll write more on each of these events in the near future. However, there is something else that I’d like to do. I will make some changes to my blogging habits. I’ll be posting twice a week or so instead of 5 days a week. I have yet to decide which days would work the best for me and for you. This way I will be able to provide you with more fun and informative posts without burning myself out. Sounds like a plan, right?!
Now it’s your time to take a pedestal.
How have you been? *I have sooooo much catching up to do, even though I was really trying to keep track of all major events in your lives!!!!*
What are your thoughts on blogging less vs. more? Also do you have any preferences for days to read my blog? What would you like to read more about?
I’m all ears!
xoxo
Olena
candies & crunches 
Yay! Thanks for sharing the great pics – some of them I saw (and loved) on Instagram.
Let me just say that you have made the blogosphere a brighter place today with your cheery smile and sunny outlook. Great to see this post in my inbox this morning!
Awww… Michael! You are so kind! It’s people like you that want me to keep blogging. I’m so grateful to my blog for making me meet and become a part of such a great online community! Happy 1st Anniversary to your blog again! xoxo
I’ve miss ya SO much!! Sounds like you had a fabulous summer!! Completely gorgeous pictures!! I love them all!! YOGA!! What a too cool challenge! 😉 Can’t wait to read your posts!! 🙂 🙂
Kristin, you have no idea how much I missed you and your silly (but I totally LOVE them) jokes! It’s so great to see that you are as strong as I remember. Keep that swimming going! Oh, and by the way, I’m looking for a swimming pool nearby. I was used to swim a bit when I was little. Your blog has definitely made me miss it! xoxo
Welcome back! Looks like you had a great summer! I’m with you on not wanting to burn myself out on blogging. I normally only blog 3 times a week to prevent this. That way, anything I post extra is purely because I want to do it.
HI Stacie!!! You are so right! I am not even sure how and why I let that unneccessary stress come into my life because I do love everything about this online community and wonderful people I’ve met just like you! xoxo
Beautiful pictures! I loved seeing your yoga pics on insta all summer 🙂 I’m a firm believer in only blogging when you want to, after all, we are reading to hear your voice and what your passionate about and it makes no sense to feel pressure!
Emmeline! ❤ My long lost sister! I loved catching up with your recent posts today. Pictures from Austria & Germany were simply breathtaking. I almost got teleported there (oh, I wish I could this for real lol!). I'm so happy to be reunited in a way. I also hope that your injury goes away soon. Until then, I will join you on attempting and achieving negative splits during my runs. JTM! xoxo
Glad you’re back but glad that you have had such an incredible hiatus–you’ve certainly kept busy! I can’t wait to hear more details on everything, but like I told Urs when she was cutting back–this is your blog, you do with it what you want to. Put your effort into your life, let that then shine through on as many quality posts as you can put together. The people that want to read will do so, and those that don’t want to, they won’t. And good riddance to them.
I’ve been running and yoga-ing and marathoning, and now I am figuring out what is next!
SUZ! I am so happy I was able to follow you on my IG. I am so proud of your for completing a marathon. I so wish I could have been there to cheer for ma girl! ❤ I am really no worried about losing some people because I strongly believe that I've already met some amazing people including your beautiful self and that's all that I need. Oh, and doing yoga is great. Check out Yoga with Adriene on Youtube, she is GREAT! xoxo
Welcome back! I’ve seen some of your Insta pics and know that you’ve been having an awesome summer. BTW that photo of you on the beach is great!
Hello my love!!! You are a married woman already, aren’t you?! CONGRATULATIONS and I wish you a lifetime of happiness, health and love & a big big family. I can’t wait to stop by your blog and read all about it!!!!! ❤ xoxox
PS. I WANT TO SEE THE DRESS! and everything else!!!!
I knew you were gone from the blog but because I’m stalking you on Instagram I knew you were alive and enjoying your life.
I totally get the point about blogging becoming a job. I used to keep a different blog, it was overwhelming, it started to stress me so I stopped.
Gotta find the balance.
Glad to see you back here.
Haha! This is sooo true 🙂 I enjoy seeing your pictures around Sevilla too. Every single time I go: oh, I went there 🙂
You are bringing up an excellent point. Finding balance of blogging & living life is uber important. I do miss your blog posts though!
YAY! So glad you’re back! I missed reading your blog. I guess I missed living vicariously because you do stuff and I don’t really. lol
I started blogging to get my name out there so more people would recognize me when I finally get my book published (I’m still staying positive though it’s driving me crazy). Hopefully then more people would be inclined to buy said book. Mostly it’s fun but sometimes it feels like such a chore. It’s like, “Oh no! If I take a break, I’ll lose my followers and no one will ever buy my book!” or something along those lines. So I always feel guilty if I post late or miss a week. Ugh. After awhile I try to make myself sit back and take it easy. But, then, I’m not nearly as busy as most other people because I’m a stay-at-home mom.
As for how I’m doing…Fine I guess. Lazy and productive at the same time. I thought once my son started Kindergarten I’d have a lot of free time to get stuff done. Nope. I started volunteering at his school so I have about as much time as I ever did before (a few hours) but less motivation to do anything. So less gets done now than before. BUT! I am helping my son’s Kindergarten class learn their letters and stuff. 😀 It’s tiring but it makes me feel surprisingly productive.
Hi love! This is soooo awesome that you are helping out at your son’s school! And don’t worry, all of us have those lazy periods when wanting to do something is not enough ahahha 🙂 xoxo
Welcome back girl! So great to see you in my reader. And so glad to hear that you had such a wonderful summer. It looks pretty darn amazing! So great to see your smiling face back around here!
Awwwww thank you soooo much, Sarahhh!!! I’ve got so much catching up to do on your blog. I’m sure I’ll find myself drooling all over reading about all the treats you baked for your runners! ❤ xoxo
Glad you’re doing alright! I was following along on IG. I’m so jealous of Cuba. Unfortunately we ‘mericans aren’t allowed to visit. 😦
As for less is more….I used to blog mon-fri. A while back I decided to be more about quality than quantity. My hits have suffered, but I think there’s more substance…I hope.
HIIII! You are right! But you know what, hits are just hits, who cares about them anyway? Right?! Surprisingly, even as I was away from my blog, I’ve got still quite a bit of people checking it out. But then again, I was mostly flattered because people kept on checking it out and reading my old posts. I am really trying to stay away from stats since it was one of the biggest reasons for making me super duper competitive (with myself) and eventually pushing me away from writing my blog.
As for Cuba, it really sucks for you guys. I really hope that in the near future you’ll be able to visit this wonderful country. The beaches are sooooo beautiful and the people are extremely nice. The review is coming up in the next few weeks 🙂 xoxo
Looks like such a good time and great memories!!! Welcome back xoxo
Thank you! I am super glad to be back! xoxo
LOVE IT! It seems to be a trend that a lot of us took some time off from blogging because of busy schedules so don’t feel bad! I can no longer write every day too 🙂 So glad to see your smiling face again! ❤ Looks like you've been having quality family time, which is wayyyy more important!
Hello, my sister from another mister! I’ve missed you! It just shows that we think sooo much alike ❤ Family time is crucial! You've got to value it while you still have it ❤ xoxo
YAY!! I can’t tell you how happy I am to see you back (even though I have been keeping up with you on IG!! Enjoying the summer and spending time with family is always the right thing to do!! xo
So awesome to see that you’re well!! And those photos look awesome 🙂
Keeping yourself busy is good, you have to take care of you. I blog much less than when I first started, but that’s just what works better for me now. If 5 days a week is stress and not relief, by all means you should definitely cut back!! But if you feel inspired, you can always post more one week, or schedule it for the next.
Either way, very glad to see you’re back!!
Yayy, I’m glad you’re back! I’ve slowed down a bit lately too – in fact, I wasn’t sure if I was going to keep blogging next year… but I decided I’m going to keep doing one post/week… so you know where to find me 🙂