Hooray! You found me! After a few glitches (me having no clue about Wordpress and somehow erasing pages, then updating unnecessarily and totally wiping my header and background!), I’m finally up and running.
So, here’s the deal… During the Chrissy break I was so enjoying not blogging, I debated about not returning. Mostly because I had so much stuff going on in my life, it was beginning to be a burden. Then I realised maybe it was what I was blogging about. A lot of the posts were half-hearted because I felt I had to write something - because I know it can be disappointing when you log onto a fave blog and realise it hasn’t been updated. And when you’re feeling that way as a reader, you wonder if others are feeling that way about your blog too – which is a bit of unecessary invisible pressure to put on a blogger who is usually doing it for fun, as an outlet and is not earning any (or very much) money from it. So I decided my original dream to become the next big design blog (!) was hardly going to happen because I just didn’t have the time, energy and desire to invest in it that way.
Sooo, what to do? The posts I enjoyed the most – and those that got the most responses – were my own things: my house, my kids, my projects. Not that there were many of them, but they seemed to be the most popular. So why not just focus on this? I can leave the Etsy finds and inspirational eye candy and great shops to the design blogs. I certainly love reading and hearing about them, but I’ll leave it to those who do it best. Also, I was tired of seeing recycled images and content on many of the blogs I visit – I was certainly guilty of it too, hence the need for a new direction.
So I decided. I want to record my home life. I want The Happy Home to be about family life: creating stylish and liveable spaces, spending creative time with little ones, prettying up the mundane, laughing through the frustrations and complications, and just enjoying life’s little moments. I’m not a stylist, nor am I uber-creative. I’m just attempting to use all I’ve learnt through my work, inspirations I’ve gathered and ideas I’ve come up with to turn my home into a happy one. Because, ultimately, that’s what every home should be – a place that makes you happy. Not because it’s decorated with designer furniture or boasts the latest trend or is hospital-clean or looks like it jumped from the page of a magazine*. But because it’s filled with the things you love and is an extension of all those who live there. This blog is about a real home with a real family on a real budget! It’s real living! (sorry, how could I resist? For those who don’t get this, I work for a mag called Real Living!)
I realise this new direction might cost me readers and even ad offers I’ve recently received, but I can deal with that! I’m not going to feel guilty if I don’t blog for a few days and I’m going to get back to enjoying it! Otherwise, there is no point, right?
I hope you’ll join me here. I’m leaving both renovate + decorate and mini meez online because I might decide to go back to them one day. But for now, here is where you can find me. Oh and at Twitter. And on Flickr (although all the images you’ll find in the galleries on this blog). And also at Real Living where I work. You’ll probably also find me at Ikea ocassionally too and I just know I’ll run into you all at one of the fabulous links I’ve popped in my blogroll. If you’d linked to my renovate + decorate, I’d love for you to change the link – or add it – if you think this is somewhere you’ll continue to visit. And I love hearing from readers, so please comment away or shoot me an email at bgraham@acpmagazines.com.au.
Much love,
Belinda x
{* note:} There is absolutely nothing wrong with any of these things – they just might be the things that make you happy. But do this because you want to, not because you feel you need to in order to have a stylish home and envious visitors.
{image info} this is on my brand new kitchen benchtop. I’d seen these decorative pegs around and finally got around to making my own. I added my new favourite thing – magnetic paper - to the back and use them on the fridge and this magnetic board I grabbed from Ikea. I have some more magical magnetic paper moments to show you soon!
{Big thanks} To Brooke from ohbrooke. I was lucky enough to win a competition on her blog where the prize was a blog header and background designed by her. Isn’t it great? And big apology to her too for all my annoying “what have I done wrong?” emails!
Your new blog looks fantastic Belinda – best of luck with the new site!
Well congrats! Looks fantastic. A happy blogger makes for a happy blog. Looking forward to reading it.
What a fabulous idea Belinda, I’ll look forward to following you and your happy home. xx
Beautiful new blog Belinda, I cannot wait to hear of your happy home adventures
Your header looks sensational. And I really like your thoughts on enjoying blogging – I’m looking forward to reading your posts at your new blogging site.
Congratulations Belinda, it looks great!
Your first post really speaks to me. I’m certainly guilty of posting images on my blog which I’ve seen many times over. I’ll probably continue to do so though because it is an easy reference for me rather than storing images on my computer with filenames such as IMG98437243289a.jpg.
I think blogging is about documenting your thoughts, ideas, ramblings etc and if you have readers – great! If not, that’s okay too. I’m still new to it all though so who knows what I’ll be thinking in a few years time (if I last that long).
Enjoy your new home here
Viv xx
Belinda one of the reasons I enjoy your blog is your great writing style – so regardless of focus I will continue to check in. every good wish for your new blog Sheila
Me, I’ve been blogging now for 4 years and hold the same blogging principles as I had in the beginning. Be honest, share more, dive deep, blog the seemingly mundane and people will be able to make a connection to you. I’ve made friends, kept friends informed and had a space to vent my emotions, good and bad. I don’t strive to fit into a particular blogging market because I am unique. I write almost daily about the things that effect me daily and I like to read similar blogs about real life. Yours included.
If you’re passionate about what you do, it will be beautiful and never a burden. I can’t wait to continue reading. Your friend, Danielle ox
Belinda, the new blog looks amazing. I’m so happy you have decided to keep blogging. Yours is one of my favourite blogs because it is REAL! I enjoy your personal posts the most. While I love looking a inspirational homes, they don’t look realistic to me. I also like hearing the real stories behind the look. To me most of the fun is getting there which is why I keep changing the look of my own home. It’s also why I enjoy reading your tales, as I can totally relate and also learn from your experiences.
ps. whilst you may not be a ’stylist’, I think your home looks pretty damn stylish!
Wow Belinda, thank you for sharing this with us.
It makes me feel alot better to know that I am not alone in my thoughts on designing happy and not necessarily expensive or “designer”.
Doing what makes you happy is definatly the key to motivation.
Your new blog looks beautiful.
Abbey
The new blog is gorgeous Belinda. I can’t wait to keep reading.
By the number of comments on this first post, seems you’re resonating with readers. I had the same “what is this blog about” moment a few months back – I think it’s a natural thing when you’re writing to “an audience” all the time. I am now sinking into writing for its own sake and babbling about little quirky me things and being creative with the camera in in the small space of time I have to be creative. It’s all good. Can’t wait to see where you go with it.
LOVE it! Updating your new address now…
Hey BG – it’s BEAUTIFUL!
x
all the best, belinda! love the new look. thanks for your honesty, this is going to be the continuation of a great blogging journey, i am sure.
Hey B, Looks great. Love the font on the header. The pic took a while to load but I think my internet connection is slow. And, as we’ve discussed before, I think if you do something for the right reasons then it will be enjoyable. Now I’m off to Vinnies to track down some furniture for my re-decoration project. Just when I had my old place finished (well, as close as I could muster the energy and stretch the wallet) I go and move and have to start all over again! x
LOVE the new look!
I find that my blog is where I get time reflecting on my life, kids, home etc, a bit of me time
Love the crepe myrtle in a cup too – we had to chop ours back this weekend & I have popped vases of it across my windowsill.
I hope that you get to enjoy your blogging again x
So glad to have found you once again! I’m always happy to see your posts.
Yay, you! I love love love this. As I read this I almost heard my own self thinking.. and felt a big sigh of relief…I have been having these same thoughts lately…it can all be a little too much….can’t wait to keep up with your posts! Ps- have you ever visited the “Whatever” blog (its on my blogroll). It is one of my fav’s for this very reason.. it is real life, so full of color and inspiration.
xx Trina
Lovely new blog, I look forward to reading your posts about your happy home.
wow guys, thanks! how warm and fuzzy you all are! here’s to fun blogging and to me getting a good night’s sleep after spending the ENTIRE working in the kitchen. it looks a little like a war zone. seriously. oh, and annoyingly, i just noticed my galleries are not working properly – you can check out the images in the slideshow but not by clicking on individual pics! goodness knows why, too. it’s almost embarassing to say i’m a website editor when i have NO CLUE about computer stuff other than what i need to do! xxx
Hi Belinda, I’ve been off the air for over a week, so I’m chiming in very late with my comment. I love the new blog design and I’m glad you’re continuing to blog for all the ‘right’ reasons for you. Thanks for adding me to your blogroll too!
Beautiful blog. I can very much relate. The more true to yourself you are, the MORE readers you’ll attract I bet! I’ll definitely reading here in the future.
Hi Belinda, great new site! The new look is fantastic and the new direction is great too – really looking forward to more of your diy project ideas too. I’ll update my link list now
Steph
thanks heaps steph! hopefully i’ve still got some project ideas in my mushy brain somewhere!! x