What I Hate About Reading Blogs

I’ll admit, I’ve been a bit down lately. Lack of sleep will do that to you. And the thing with being down is that it goes into a spiral. The more you’re down, the more down you get. Everything suddenly looks blacker and it just self-perpetuates from there.



So, since I’ve been on this negative bend lately, everything seems to be getting to me. One of those things, the topic of our day, is the blogs I read. It appears that everyone in the world (in the blogosphere) is having a perfect life (besides me). I had the same problem when David was 3 months about how I just can’t take this perfection anymore. It’s like a disease.



I know that blogs are selective sharing. The weird thing about it is that people tend to share just enough that you feel like you know them. You feel like you get a glimpse into their lives. Personal lives. Yet, you totally don’t. You only know what they choose to share. The way they choose to share it. You think you’re friends with this person. But you are not. You’re really just one of the voyeurs into the person’s life. The part of their life they put up for the world to share.



While I know all this, it’s all too easy to distort this reality. Especially on a day when you’re seeing it all through negativity-tinted glasses. I read these blogs. I read about their perfect lives. Their perfect children. Their perfect jobs. Houses. Husbands. Friends. Weather. You name it. It’s perfect. And I crumble to pieces. I wonder why mine can’t be so perfect. Why doesn’t my kid sleep? What am I doing wrong? And the guilt and loneliness just swallows me up.



Funny thing is, blogs are supposed to be about connection. Or so I think. And I understand the urge not to write the bad stuff. Who needs their laundry aired in public? Especially when it’s cached forever. I get this. I swear I do. Yet I can’t stop myself from the despair I feel when I read the perfect entries. I don’t know that there’s a solution. I just know that maybe it’s time for me to walk away from reading them for a while.



Just in case anyone out there is reading my blog and thinks my life is perfect, I want you to know it’s not. I have a lot of wonderful things and I am truly thankful for so many of them. I appreciate it all. But it’s not perfect. I have days where: I get depressed. I fight with my husband. I get impatient with my kids. I don’t clean up the messes in my house. I fail at my job. I cry. I have all sorts of bad days. They come, they go. Sometimes they stay longer than I want them to. In the end, I am thankful for all that I have and I think most of the time the good days far outweigh the bad ones but I want to make sure you know that there are plenty of bad ones.



That’s just how life is.

Daily Photos – August 26 2009



Just one little one today. I’ve been feeling a little out of it. Not getting much done. I guess it’s going to be one of those days…

Digital Downloads – Love Is Overlay

Today’s download is an overlay. It looks like this:





Here’s an example:







You can download it here: cherish forever overlay download.


You are welcome to play with these as much as you want and use them anywhere you’d like. You are NOT allowed to sell them ever. You don’t have to but I’d appreciate a link back if you do use them.

Daily Photos – August 25 2009



Sorry about posting this a day late. I didn’t even realize that I missed posting yesterday until I was in bed. I love this little angel I have sitting on my desk.


I know this photo is blurry but look at that face. How can I resist it?







And here’s a portrait shot, I don’t take enough of these lately.







Aurelia had his 4-month appointment today. He’s doing great. 30% on weight and height but perfect. Strong. Happy. Lovely. He also had some shots so he’s been feverish. But otherwise all’s calm here and pretty much the same.

Digital Downloads – Numbers Overlay

Today’s download is an overlay.
It looks like this:

You can download it here: numbers overlay download

You are welcome to play with these as much as you want and use them anywhere you’d like. You are NOT allowed to sell them ever. You don’t have to but I’d appreciate a link back if you do use them.

52 Questions and Techniques – Tag 34



This week’s question is: “How do you create your nest?”



I wanted to make this one simple. I create it with love. Lots and lots and lots of love. That’s really the only needed ingredient. And a lot of laughter wouldn’t hurt either.



I cut a heart out of this fabric I love and put some bling on it. I stitched around it and then stitched on a section on the top. I cut a smaller heart out of the same fabric and adhered it on the tag with some bling on it. I also inked the tag. That’s all this time around.



I am combining Emily Falconbridge’s art journal questions with trying a new technique each week. You can see the full list: here.

Daily Photos – August 24 2009



This is a splurge I just made. Emera bag is specially padded to hold my camera.









Nothing like the joy of discovering a new toy. And rediscovering it.







Little brother, you’re awesome. Today you’re 4 months old. You sat up unassisted for 4 minutes. You are getting to be a better sleeper. At least when I swaddle you. You laugh all the time. You can fit your whole fist in your mouth. Your face lights up when you see your brother’s face. You love love love tummy time and will roll on your tummy all on your own. You are the best addition to our family. We love you madly.



Today, I went to Aurelia’s doctor’s appointment only to find out it was actually tomorrow. It’s been like that lately.

Digital Downloads – Moments Stamp

Today’s download is a stamp. It looks like this:





Here’s an example:







You can download it here: moments stamp download.


You are welcome to play with these as much as you want and use them anywhere you’d like. You are NOT allowed to sell them ever. You don’t have to but I’d appreciate a link back if you do use them.

Catalyst 76 – Sisters



Creative therapy’s catalyst seventy-six is up: Take the time to create art around something you have been meaning to but haven’t done so yet.



My words:
I started scrapbooking when my first son was born and while I have scrapped a lot of his life and some of my life since then, I have never scrapped my past. Not one page about my childhood. And nothing about my sister so I decided it was time to start.


Journaling Reads:
there are so many memories
so many moments
waiting to be preserved

some of my best memories are with you
so many of my unforgettable moments
summers in burgaz

years of whispering in bed
laughter
so much laughter
so much love
one day i will sit down and
i will write them down
and that little book
will be one i cherish forever
i want to remember
even the sad moments
forever

cause i shared them with you
i love you with all my heart
my sister
i love you

Daily Photos – August 23 2009



More of Aurelia on his tummy. Feeling unsteady but I adore this boy so much.

Digital Downloads – I Love You Madly Overlay

Today’s download is another overlay. It looks like this:





Here’s an example:







You can download it here: i love you madly overlay download.


You are welcome to play with these as much as you want and use them anywhere you’d like. You are NOT allowed to sell them ever. You don’t have to but I’d appreciate a link back if you do use them.

Fragile

I’ve been feeling kind of off lately. I can’t think of a word for it except maybe fragile. I feel small, like I am folding into myself. Not sure what it all means or where it’s coming from but here it is.



Tomorrow Aurelia turns four months old. Most people say that it’s the first few months that are hard. Not so for me. This is where it gets hard for me. Four to Seven months.



The thing is, when the baby was born I expected to put my life on hold. I knew he was going to consume all my free moments. He was going to need nutrition, love, and being cared for. Especially since I’ve done this before with David, I knew it would be overwhelming and all-encompassing. And when Aurelia came, I dove into it all. I tried to pace myself and keep up a positive attitude. Stuff wasn’t getting done, but that was expected so I wasn’t feeling sad about it. This was the number one priority for now.



But, now, months passed. I feel myself getting anxious and tired and yearning to get my life back on track. Back to the schedule I was on. Back to getting some “me time” and getting some sleep. I am starting work soon and I am worried it might all come crashing down.



This is the time I start getting depressed because it feels like there will never be light at the end of the tunnel. This is when I can’t even remember my life before and I feel like I will never sleep again or do anything for myself again. That overwhelming drowning feeling sweeps in.



I know it will pass. I know he will sleep. I know I will too. But, right now, it just seems so far away.