Hey Friends!
Sometimes do you feel like you are spinning your wheels like crazy and not going anywhere?
I had the chance to talk to some super awesome bloggers this last weekend and one of the best things about already “knowing” someone from their blog or twitter you can cut right to the good stuff. No superficial fluff.
I wanted to share with you guys what we talked about.
First of all how easy is it to get caught up in comparing ourselves with others? Her blog is bigger, better, badder. She has a perfect life, her husband is gorg and her kids always look what’s the word? Oh ya, CLEAN.
Her projects are ____________________, and ______________________, and ____________________.
If we were all sitting down hanging out at a round table the size of Nebraska what would you share about? What questions do you have?
We talked about kids, friends, mommas, husbands.
We found out what a small world we live in.
We talked about how people are sometimes dishonest, selfish, and mean.
We talked a lot about bloggers that we admire for their individual strengths, and how we want to be like them when we all “grow up”.
We all have stuff that we want to change about ourselves. Stuff that replays in our minds making us feel guilty, upset, or worthless.
Do you want to know what mine is?
I need to work harder at commenting and responding to peoples comments. I LOVE and appreciate every single one of you that take time out of your life to share your thoughts. Good and bad. I will try to work harder to let you guys know how much I love you.
Sometimes I feel disconnected from my fellow bloggers. There are just not enough hours in the day to read and comment on all the blogs I love. Sometimes you have to sacrifice things you want to do for things you have to do…like the dishes.
I need to be more organized with my time. I went to my friend Tam’s house this week. Her kids were dressed, her house was clean, and she looked like she had showered in the last 24 hours. If you come to my house it is the exact opposite of hers and I HATE that about myself.
I feel like with the Giveaway Contest taking so much of my time the last month or so I have lost some credibility in ya’lls eyes. I mean you probably started reading Vintage Revivals because of a project and when I don’t post a project for ages then guess what? I suck, that’s what.
I wish I had a chunk of money so that I could do the projects that are not so patiently waiting inside my head. I know that this is something that 99% of us deal with…but man it blows.
Also this is probably the biggest thing and its strangely hard for me to talk about. I hope you guys know that when I talk about epic projects and about myself and all this awesomeness, I am totally joking. I mean, I do think that I have something special to share, but I don’t think that I am better than anyone else. At all.
So there is my heart on the table today.
I am a huge fan of constructive criticism. If you have something that has been weighing on your mind don’t leave me a comment calling me a sellout, email me and tell me why you feel like that. I want everyone to feel like they are apart of this corner of blogland. All I ask is that if you have constructive criticism that you email me instead of leaving it in the comment section mmmkay?
You can email me at [email protected]
I want Vintage Revivals to be a blog that is lighthearted and funny, with great projects and a lot of love glazed into every nook and cranny.
You guys probably don’t realize how much you mean to me. So I just wanted you to know!
I love ya Mandi! I loved meeting you in real life this past week. I wish I had a bucket full of money to spend on all the ideas in my head too. Oh the things I could do with just a little more cash… And you ARE awesome. So you can totally say it 🙂
i totally needed this today. the first part just really clicked with me today for reasons i won’t mention, but it did. i feel so much better after reading this… i love your blog, but don’t always comment. i think you are one of the funniest out there, and you have a wonderful knack for thinking outside the box i definitely tend to comment a ton on the people who comment and email me… so we could just do better with each other together. 🙂
Mandi- you are a rock star, darling, funny and AWESOME! Life is real, you are real and even though there are all the perceived expectations about what you HAVE to do with/for/because of your blog- I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again- there are no blog police! Be you, live the life you want to live, without apology. Because epic projects require time- and we’ll wait while you are busy living an EPIC life!
love you darling girl!
xoxo,
Amy
Love, LOVE this post! Thank you for writing it, Mandi! I appreciate your open, genuine spirit. 🙂
I, too, feel like I needed this today. I’ve spent the morning crying about all the reasons I’m just not as good as… (not as a blogger… just as a person, you know?). Anyway, thanks for sharing. I really love your blog and find you to be so fun, funny, and real. I appreciate your honesty and your flippin’ awesome ideas! Keep up the fantastic work!
You rock girlfriend! I had an absolute BLAST meeting with you and your sister on Saturday. I can’t wait to hang out some more. And don’t worry…your blog is AWESOME and so are you. You are real and we all know it.
Hi Mandi, It was so exciting to meet you last week. You are genuine and real and that’s what I like about you. Plus you have Epic projects! It was great to talk and be honest and open about our feelings. I know I need to work on a lot of things but having the support from fellow bloggers and great readers is what keeps me going. Oh, and you were awesome on Studio 5. I even made hubby watch.
the more I “grow up” the more I realize that we are all still in the same boat…feeling so UNgrown up. I too have those surface-perfect friends (wow you mean you didn’t have to shove crap into a closet before I walked in the door?!)It makes you feel like the only sorry sap that didn’t win lotto that day. But fret not, you are perfect in your unperfect state as long as you are always striving unto perfection. Make sense? Si? Point is, I’m right there with you, sister!
Love this, As a new Blogger I sometimes find myself comparing myself to other bloggers…But I have come to the conclusion that I didn’t start blogging to get caught up with trying to fit in with yet another group. I now just love the community of other Mom’s and can’t wait to grow with each of you!
Good to know we all feel like that! Guess what? We’re all real! That’s why we liked you in the first place….you’re real too!
What bloggy night did you go to? I would of loved to of met up and gone, I know we both live in S. UTAH.? Also, I would love it if you followed me on twitter, I follow you there and here on V.R. and I am so happy to support and do so as well. Good luck with all the craziness that is our lifes. Winks- jen
Mandi, just keep being who you are. In the wise words of Char, “There is no competition to be you!”
mandi you are just too awesome and i love you to pieces!!! Thank you for this post!
Love this! It’s just proof that you are human, a mother and a wife, and way more ideas than money and time allow! We are all “there” with ya! 🙂
I love that nearly everything on your “list” is things I feel I need to work on, too. I mean, it’s almost 2 in the afternoon here and I’m still in my pj’s, my hair is a mess and I have a mountain of laundry and homework to do. You’re just human and I think it’s great that we all can look at ourselves and find ways to be better. You totally rock, lady-don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise!
I love your blog and your spunky attitude. I wouldn’t change a thing. Thanks for this post…it’s nice to know that you are “real” as the previous poster said. Not one of us is perfect. We understand that life gets busy and maybe you can’t post a project. That’s o.k. We know that when you do post a project, it will be awesome and worth the wait!
this totally makes you human! i luv ya and luv your blog and always check back, eh life happens.
XOXO
I can totally relate. I’m new to blogging but already feel a ton of self imposed pressure. But that’s something I’ve always done to myself. I’ve never been good enough for anything in my mind and that’s something I’m working on. I’m learning that its ok to do things my way and not “their” way. my way is usually not brushing my teeth until I have to leave the house and trying to find the one clean shirt with sleeves to cover up the fact that I haven’t shaved my armpits. Ohhh well. I think you’re great and I’m starting to think I just might be too! Good luck!
NONE of us are perfect!! We all have issues to deal with and no one should expect perfection from you! You’re human- you can’t possibly post awesome projects ALL THE TIME- you have other responsibilities and if one of your followers stops reading your blog because you don’t post enough or they think that you are serious when you talk about how awesome you are then they don’t deserve to read your blog anyway. Just keep doing what you do and start doing what you feel you should be doing and I know that your true “friends” will stick by your side and see you through the ups and downs. WE LOVE YOUR GUTS 😀
You are doing great! But it is kinda nice to hear the true grit from a blog I look up to when Im just a newbie!
Hey, Mandi. I totally appreciate and respect you for laying your heart out there and fessing up. (My house is the same as yours, just so you know, and I hate it too). I just wanted to tell you that I firmly believe that your blog is YOUR blog. There is something to be said about connecting with your readers and all that jazz, but when you blog, you have to do it for YOU first. If you want to do a makeover contest, by gosh do it! And sucks to those who can only criticize. You gotta do what you want to, and those that like you and follow you because of who you are and what you do will be excited for you no matter what your interests. And those that aren’t here for that, those that aren’t supportive, well, they’ll leave. So what? Be true to yourself. Just getting that off my chest for all those lame-o’s who called you a sell-out. Do what you do, Mandi. And let it be good enough. Because it is.
Oh Mandi you are such a sweetheart and way too nice to me!
1. House straightened – not clean (but thanks).
2. I was in sweats and sporting a ponytail with no makeup, remember? For sure hadn’t showered in the last 24 hours.
YOU ARE AMAZING!!!!! Seriously. I’m so lucky to know you and be friends with you. You have mind-blowing projects and your talent is unmatched. LOVE YOU TONS!!!!
Mandi, I thought this post was awesome! 🙂 I think you struggle with many of the same things the rest of us do. I used to be able to return every single comment left on my blog–usually by returning the favor with a visit to that person’s blog. At some point, it just isn’t feasible anymore.
I think (I hope!) readers understand that bloggers are real people with real lives. We don’t have a staff to reply to our emails, come up with project ideas, etc. You eventually have to pick and choose what will get done and what won’t. Sometimes it’s the dishes, sometimes it’s Facebook. 😉
Big hugs!
Anyone who blogs knows how time-consuming it is. I don’t have anywhere near as many followers as you and even I can’t respond to everyone.
And anyone who is a mother knows showers are few and far between. Heck, my kids actually napped today and instead of showering I opted for laying out in the sun with a book instead. Sucks for my bed buddy, but he can get over it. I enjoyed my hour of silence.
It’s nice to see that you are human! Sometimes I wonder if the amazing bloggers that I follow actually are. Thanks for sharing!
Mandi! I have loved your blog since I joined waayy before we met in Walmart. You are my first blog I check when it comes to the blogs I follow that aren’t family!
I really connected with this post and loved reading your follwers comments thus far! We all love you for you! Keep doing what makes you happy and the rest wll fall into place.
It’s your bravery and openess (telling the ‘Real Story’) that draws us all in. I am very jealous of you and your success….and yet I wouldn’t want you to have it any other way. Hope that makes sense.
I started reading your blog a month or so ago, and it’s quickly become one of my favorites. I appreciate your DIY ethic combined with a joy for the creative process. I have a young son, and often fall into the “I could do so much more, be so much more, be more organized, etc. etc. etc.” trap too. It’s hard not to. But I try to remember that I hold myself to a much higher standard than most others hold me to, and that most people are basically good at heart and want others to succeed. There are haters, but they’re not worth our time. You’re great just the way you are.
mandi,
i started reading your blog because of a project like you said but i want you to know that the reason that i continue to read your blog is because you are 100% real. i love that you are able to get on your blog and share your life with the world (like yours and your husband’s trials). you are amazing and i think that you should know that the things that you are struggling with that pertain to your blog are not really a concern for your readers!! i love to read your posts like the one that i am commenting on just as much as a new project. most people don’t have the expectations that you have for yourself. if it makes you feel better, i don’t even have a blog like yours and my house looks like a tornado came through, my kids are a mess, and i haven’t even had a shower today!! i wish i could send you a pic because it would be a good self esteem builder for you. just know that you are loved no matter what you do and that we the readers do not expect any more from you!!
btw, one of my very favorite people in the whole wide world shares the same last name as you. i have no idea if you are related to jerry and linda gubler up north, but if you are, you are one lucky lady!! they are simply amazing!! good luck in your adventures and don’t be so hard on yourself!!
thanks for lighting up my day, amity
I LOVE your blog. It’s totally my fav blog and I probably get a little too excited when I see you’ve done a new project. Keep being you, because even when you have jerks that leave rude comments or whatevs, you have so many, many more people who think you’re awesome!
I love your blog Mandi and think you’re fabulous! I also think you’re very real and I love your honesty and I love that you’re not perfect! Keep it up girl!
-Maegs
I lurve your blog! You are such inspiration to me! I started my blog to record what I do but I feel so exhausted after work sometimes to work on my house but I feel very inspired by your blog and others to do a little to my house at a time. I feel very overwhelmed that it’s not where I want it to be now but I have to remember to have patience and eventually it will be where I want it to be.
I say kudos to all the bloggers out there who do this everyday. The one to two postings I do a month seem to overwhelm me with the photos and editing and proofreading. I feel like it’s a second job that I don’t get paid for but I enjoy sharing what I have done and hopefully will inspire someone else one day.
We love you too!!!!!!!! I feel the same about projects and posting, and I have a teeny tiny blog. I feel like, “Uh oh! I should post something or be forgotten. I am letting my readership down.”
Your story is what drew me into your blog and then I started to follow you and have been happy for your success. Just stay true to who you are and keep balance in your life and you will be fine. Sounds corny but true! And I would add, let go of the negative self talk, it isn’t beneficial to you or your mental health. We all have that inner voice, most of us need to learn to not listen to alot of it. I once heard don’t say anything to yourself that you wouldn’t say to your best friend! Makes sense to me! Continued success and remember what made you happy before anybody was watching! 🙂
You are real and that is what I love! Somedays you are so funny that I cry. Other days, you touch my heart with some “real” story or issue that I cry. And your sarcasm and sayings are so awesome that I cry! I guess I cry over everything!!! I definitely struggle with everything you mentioned. I have stopped caring as much. My traffic is down. But I don’t care as much as I use to. Keep up the good work, but keep your priorities straight. It is only a blog – it shouldn’t be your life! You have beautiful daughters that adore you!
It’s good to know I’m not the only blogger who isn’t always showered with her kids dressed and clean house. Thanks for being human!
Brave and beautiful. Love you that much more. It’s tough to love bloggers who are perfect. Just makes me feel even less perfect than I already am. So, thank you- for making me feel like I am just as cool and non-perfect as the bloggers I want to be like when i ‘grow up’. 😉 You ROCK! Hugely- and awesomely.
Loved this, Mands! And I wish I could have been there for that convo! I bet it was awesome. I heart you, and know that you are brimming with amazing ideas and talent. You are one of a kind. One in a million. And you can do whatever the heck you set your mind to. Because you are amazing that way. And who cares if your house is messy? You have a giant gray wall with white framed excellence all over it!! Mess-shmess….now that’s something to celebrate! Love you!
Mandi,
I love your blog & love your sense of individuality. I am so jealous there are so many crafters near where you live. Could ya’ll bring a video camera next time & blog it? Just kidding…mostly. Anyway. I do think you are amazing and love that you have the guts to claim at least some of it. The thing you can do with spray paint would make Genie whistle. Good luck!
Okay. So now you have stated that you are normal and like everybody else! Do the best you can and don’t beat yourself up. Anything you do is better than doing nothing. Your life is full so don’t apologize. If we didn’t like what you are doing, we wouldn’t be here. Just relax and be YOU. You are great!
I really enjoy your blog. Your personality really shines through. Don’t doubt yourself cause you are great.
I SOOOO HATE YOU!!! WHY?! CAUSE YOU’RE SO DANG AWESOME?! GIRRRLLL….I hear ya. I feel like I’m ALWAYS in this kinda bloggy funk. I loved what Miss Michelle,Someday Crafts had to say. It’s just a blog. Plain and simple! I hope you know just how much you are loved. If we didn’t think you were fabulicious we wouldn’t be here:) Smooches! You weren’t traveling by air this past weekend, were you? I swear I saw you at the airport! If not, you have a twin:)
Mandi,
I love your blog just how it is!! You crack my ass up and your blog feels more like real life then some other blogs. I love that you sometimes don’t shower or clean! I don’t either and it makes me feel like it’s okay not to be perfect..but you can still kick ass! Sometimes I sleep in my paint clothes because I know I am just going to put them back on in the morning to work on a project!
Love your guts 🙂
Kari @ The Sunset Lane
I have never felt anything but awesomeness on your blog! I really enjoy reading, and how did I only find you just a few weeks ago? You’re right, it is silly but easy to compare ourselves to other bloggers. (In fact, you and I started our blogs at the same time! I still only have 53 followers!) And you have thousands! But, that is the awesomeness of your blog. You put so much into it, and it is totally fun to stop in and visit. I enjoy your personality. Keep up all the good work!
ps- I wish I could come meet you at your gno! I was just in St. George for a vacation. (see pics here https://familyeverafter.blogspot.com/2011/05/sights-of-st-george-and-southern-utah.html). Can’t wait to hear about it!
Oh, and don’t worry about responding to everyone’s comments. It is flattering/exciting, but people should understand that you are busy, and thats ok!
you are darling. period. you make my day to see your cute face on the teevee. wish i had the time to check in on your awesomeness more often. xo