Why I blog?

Getting back to basics!

Whilst setting some goals for 2017 for my blog I had a few days to reflect. I wanted to get back to basics as I had gotten caught up in the statistics and spending more time scrolling through Instagram and Snapchating than actually writing and creating. 

I was feeling a little lost to the end of 2016 with where my blog was going and I had gotten too caught up in trying to make my side business an actual business that I got a little lost.

With a few days off over Christmas I started to think of the things I enjoy the most from blogging. 

I blog to inspire people! Not to go to fancy events or be on PR lists for the next cool product drop. 

It is very easy to get caught up in it all and forget why you started. 

“Why didn’t I get invited to that press day? I have more followers than that person”?, I found myself saying, I then had to challenge my thoughts as that is not the person I am or want to be. 

I then asked myself ” why do you blog”?

I blog because it keeps me sane. 

It is my outlet to express my creativity, everything from taking photos to creating a post I love and enjoy. Taking photos has to be my favourite thing about it. I am not one for sitting around and having a Netflix binge, I love creating things and doing things and through my blog I get to do this. 

Inspire over Influence. 

I don’t want to be an influencer. The term influencer lately seems like a bad word being thrown around.  Nothing makes me happier when I get a message from someone to say that Inspired them to do something. Wether it was painting their kitchen, working on their happiness or feeling good in tea dress. Those messages are the reasons why I blog. To inspire people and to get inspiration from others too.

The community and making friends.

A lot of the people and friends in my life today are ones who I have met through my blog, as you get older it is so hard to meet like minded people who share them same interests as you. Through my blog I have gotten to meet some amazing inspirational people. 

On a daily basis I interact and engage with this amazing community, some that I have never even met but we all seem to have each others backs. Wanting to see each other succeed and grow. 

I am so grateful for the people I have chatted to through my blog. 

What’s next?

I have to be realistic. I am planning to do some great things in 2017 but I am not at the point where people think I am. A few people have asked me lately ” so when will you be giving up the job to blog / make your crafts full time?”

My blog and crafts are hard work and the income in inconsistent for now. Yes I am going to keep working hard in 2107 so I can get it more steady but I am not there yet. I would love to have more time to do what I love so I am hoping in 2017 to re look at my day job and the time I am there. At the end of the day I have a mortgage and bills to pay so I have to be realistic. 

Getting more organised with my time and how I spend it is helping me create better posts for the blog. Less scrolling through Instagram and more typing on the laptop for me this year. 

Will there be a “brand Dainty”? If I work hard enough there will be but I have a long road ahead of me that I am excited to see where it leads. I follow some of the big bloggers and I see how hard they work and question wether I could do that. 

Grow with me.

When I look back at my oldest posts I absolutely cringe, but I won’t delete them because it shows how much I have grown as a person and with the blog. Gone are the days of taking outfit pictures with my Iphone 5 thinking I was the next So Sue Me lol! But we all have to start somewhere. 

I am facing my fears through my blog, it opens doors. Doors that are scary but if you keep going through them magic things happen and life becomes exciting and fulfilling. 

I would be lost without my little blog. I might get a little side tracked and lost along the way but that is how I learn. I am excited to see where this year takes me.

Thank you for reading and I hope you stick around for the journey. 

Chat soon,

Catherine. 

My dress is from Miss Selfridge and I picked it up on Asos, you can find it by clicking here. 

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17 Comments

  1. Milseog (Debbie)
    January 2, 2017 / 8:51 pm

    Fab and honest post Catherine, I loved reading it…☺

  2. Catherine Carton
    January 2, 2017 / 9:04 pm

    Thank you so much for reading Debbie x glad you enjoyed it xxxxThank you for all your support.

  3. Anonymous
    January 2, 2017 / 10:27 pm

    Adore all your dresses. Hi my names Marie & Im a dress & tea-aholic.��Love the blog Dainty.��

  4. Catherine Carton
    January 2, 2017 / 10:57 pm

    Thanks so much for visit Marie! A dress and tea-aholic! My kind of lady!

  5. Evija Roberts
    January 3, 2017 / 10:41 am

    I know exactly how you feel and totally can relate to this post.. One thing I learnt – stop comparing yourself to others and stop worrying about stats/followers/numbers! I love blogging and it also keeps me sane!! 🙂 I look back and see how much I (and my blog) have grown. keep going & have fun! xx

  6. jesterdesign
    January 3, 2017 / 6:37 pm

    Great post as always Catherine, very relatable to me too ☺️ And you did inspire me to take the paint brushes out of my craft room and use them more around the house!! I'm now re-loving my home �� I really hope you can cut back on the day job, I went from 7 days to 5 to 3 to none! Took a few years but I now Mondays now x

  7. jesterdesign
    January 3, 2017 / 6:38 pm

    *love Mondays!!

  8. Catherine Carton
    January 3, 2017 / 7:58 pm

    Comparison is the thief of joy! that is my new phrase I am living by when I feel myself scrolling through Instagram. Keep up the fab work on the blog Evija, I love seeing your projects pop up on my feed. x

  9. Catherine Carton
    January 3, 2017 / 7:59 pm

    I am so glad you got the brushes out and you are creating the home you love! thank you so much for stopping by and commenting, I cannot wait for the day where I love Mondays and I am doing what I love. Have a fab 2017. x

  10. Elena from Loovelle
    January 3, 2017 / 8:10 pm

    i started blogging when life was crap and i didn't know what to do with my life and i can't see myself not doing it anymore. it just gets me so inspired and happy. i feel like i can truly be me and do what i want to do which is what i remind myself of when i feel like the blogging world gets too much.❥loovelle.blogspot.com

  11. Catherine Carton
    January 3, 2017 / 8:14 pm

    Thanks so much for stopping by Elena x Definitely it is a huge source of inspiration and creativity x Hope you have an amazing 2017. x

  12. Siobhan Lloyd
    January 5, 2017 / 10:54 pm

    Love this! Love the dress, love your instagram, love everything! I need to read your blog more often and not just stalk your insta 😉 xx

  13. Catherine Carton
    January 6, 2017 / 9:43 am

    Aw thank you Siobhan x I'm trying to get better at writing decent blog posts x Happy new year.

  14. sew french
    January 9, 2017 / 1:01 am

    I went through the same process with my blog. I was getting good press for my crafts and recipes. I started designing patterns that I thought others wanted to stitch. I spent too much time on social media. Then I just stopped. I took a break. I walked. I prayed. I unplugged. I deleted my Facebook account. Now I'm inspired to create cross stitch patterns from my heart. I'm not focused on my stats. I'm not obsessing over whether my crafts and recipes will make to the press or be accepted by craftgawker or foodgawker. I'm not very concerned with who follows me on social media. It's liberating because I was becoming addicted all of the above. The joy of creating was gone. Now it has returned. I haven't quit my day job either. I'm happy for my customers and my petite side business. That's good enough for me. Thank you for sharing and inspiring us. Your dress is beautiful too! ��

  15. Catherine Carton
    January 9, 2017 / 9:01 am

    Thank you so much for reading, you hit the nail on the head! Its great sometimes to stop and reflect. I want to write and blog about things for me and if people love to read it then great but I'm not gonna focus on stats and followings anymore and already I feel enlightened. Your stuff is amazing and you are so talented and that shines through. Keep up the fab work! Happy new year.

  16. Catherine Carton
    January 29, 2017 / 2:05 pm

    Thank you so much Hannah x I am so glad you enjoyed the post

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