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16 November 2017

So this is an update on life and blogging...


While safely tucked away on Instagram, which has become my comfy spot for life in general over the past few years, I have watched the book blogging world become quite a different space than when I lived in it. Sometimes it seems fun and supportive and happy, while other times it appears divisive, fragmented, different, an influx of new bloggers that I don't know, but I really miss this space. I'll pop up a quick micro review on Instagram once in a very great while, and that's about it, but I miss this corner. I want to see if I can return, to poke my head out onto the blacktop and see if there's anyone else who wants to play hopscotch again?

http://www.instagram.com/coffeebookchick
I want to defy all differences of negativity for the very sake of nostalgia and missing my fellow book bloggers. And while I realize life also happened for me over the past few years, I still feel downtrodden when I click on a friend's blog site and I see they may not have posted in as many years or as many times throughout our respective absences. It's weird, this once so crucial part of my existence, something that I would feel more likely to lead off with in conversation when introducing myself (Hi, I'm Natalie, I am a book blogger.) I say nothing about my real day job because I never felt that defined me. It pays my bills but is not quite at all a dream.

Book blogging, on the other hand, very much so was something I felt that defined me to an extent. It was something I was proud of, a hobby that seemed more than that, something that I loved talking about. And now that all that cancer junk is behind me, I want the book blogging fellowship feeling back again.

I don't know what this new landscape of reading and reviewing looks like, but I want to peek a little into the universe of it all again to see if I feel like my feet feel secure.

I want to talk about my life after Stage 3 breast cancer, how I went through chemo and radiation and had no hair for six months, and how while I know it's firmly in my rear view mirror, I'm still always terrified. I want to talk about my son who was only 7 months old when I was diagnosed and how I have so many pictures where he had more hair than me, and the times when he only recognized me for my bald head and never knew who "she" was when I showed him pictures from BEFORE.

I want to share that I firmly believe my son saved my life. I want to open up the conversation on fear and anxiety, about my stronger faith in God and how much more studious I am with the Bible and how I came to follow that road that I am so glad I took, even though I know many who knew me years ago would be stunned today. And I also want to talk about my ever-developing addiction over the past year to traveler's notebooks and Bullet Journals, and journaling in general! Planning and putting my events on iPhone only?? Pfftt. That's so 2011. People are starting to remember that the old school pad of paper with a nice pen (fountain pen, anyone?) works even better and makes it easier to remember something, so now there are systems out there to help refine and tweak. Let's talk about that, yes! And don't forget those traveler's notebooks... want to fall down a rabbit hole? Go onto Instagram or search on YouTube for "traveler's notebook setups" or "planner setups." Welcome to your paycheck flying out the window, book reviewers...

There's so much LIFE out there. So much to see and do. I want to find that new routine, not just in the world of Instagram, but back in this corner, with all of you, celebrating life. I hope many of you still remain. I hope I can be consistent. Part of me wants to talk about everything here, and part of me thinks staying on Instagram is the best place for me. I'm not sure yet. But I wanted to throw my hat in the ring to declare that it wasn't quite over for the Coffee and a Book Chick and her little ole book blog. Not just yet.

23 comments:

  1. Please come back to blogging. I also love Instagram but I am a die hard blog fan. I would love to see more blogging about our lovely notebooks too -just saying ��

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    1. Thank you, Juliann! I do love the blog life and miss it, and yes, notebooks are the way to go, I think!!

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  2. I say blog away about whatever you want - we will read it (and maybe even relate to it). I've felt the same way about blogging lately, but realize that I miss it so much. I've been wanting to post about traveler's notebooks and journals and planners, too - so, I say go for it ;)

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    1. Something about it has been gnawing at me to blog again. I have missed everyone and want to put my toe back in the water. And I am so thinking that the TNs and the journals and planners are definitely going to be a consistent topic!

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  3. I have always enjoyed your writing and hope you will continue blogging. Blessings to you for sharing your humanity. We need to be reading a strong woman’s words!

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    1. Oh, you are much too kind! Thank you for your sweet words, and I do really think I need to return here more frequently. I have missed it! I have missed all of you!

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  4. So much the quote below... as you know! :) I love that while you and I were once connected through book blogging we found each other again through the planner community. Kindred spirits have a way of doing that. So glad you're posting again. Look forward to hearing your thoughts on reading, faith, and of course... planning!

    And I also want to talk about my ever-developing addiction over the past year to traveler's notebooks and Bullet Journals, and journaling in general! Planning and putting my events on iPhone only?? Pfftt. That's so 2011. People are starting to remember that the old school pad of paper with a nice pen (fountain pen, anyone?) works even better and makes it easier to remember something, so now there are systems out there to help refine and tweak. Let's talk about that, yes! And don't forget those traveler's notebooks... want to fall down a rabbit hole? Go onto Instagram or search on YouTube for "traveler's notebook setups" or "planner setups." Welcome to your paycheck flying out the window, book reviewers...

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    1. Right?! Welcome to paychecks flying out the windows!! :) You know that enjoyment just as well, and I also LOVE that we met through this space and the reconnected through planners - how amazing is social media when it is done right?

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  5. The disappointment of checking on a fellow blogger to find they haven’t posted in years definitely resonates, as does the distaste for the divisive book blogging. So, I am glad to see you back, even though I don’t recall any discussions we may have had, but something about your blog piqued my attention once, because it seems I am following you. Congrats on your cancer victory. Looking forward to a thoughtful book review soon.

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    1. Thank you so much! I am fairly certain I have lurked on your blog many a time as I recognized your profile picture instantly! Thank you for your kind words and I hope to be more consistent here soon!

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  6. Welcome back!! I am so glad you are deciding to try out blogging again. I love IG, but there is something about visiting each other's blogs and checking out what everyone else is doing and reading that makes it more meaningful (to me at least).

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    1. I agree - visiting blogs seems so personal and fun, and there was such a rich closeness to it so many years ago! I hope I can be consistent here, fingers crossed!

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  7. Congrats on kicking cancer's butt!!! As for blogging, I figure to each his own. I do hope you will be back regularly though.

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    1. Thank you, my friend! I do hope to be a regular here as well, so I promise to not get distracted by the purple squirrel and I will put my book thoughts down on "paper." :)

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  8. Blogging is meant to be an outlet and one that's on your own terms. Post what you want, when you want. The bloggers who do that are the ones still around ;)

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    1. Yes, you are 100% right! I want to post on a variety of thoughts and things and notebooks and life... just to pick which one on which day, LOL!

      And by the way, I have been listening to the audiobook for Sleeping Beauties (about a couple of hours in) so I hope it continues with the same energy as it is starting out with!

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  9. Oh man, the first part of this is SO ME. I miss my little corner of the Internet. I miss the communion with friends. And yes, IG is my comfort zone as well.

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    1. I have missed it dearly and immensely. I have missed writing. Just typing away. I hope I can be consistent. And you know, I should write a post all about YOU, my dear friend. YOU were the one who motivated me to start a blog after I read your post on Elizabeth Kostova's Swan Song and YOU were the one who introduced me to the planner world! :)

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    1. Thank you! I am quite excited to return and hope I can be consistent, fingers crossed!

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  11. I'm happy to see you here again!

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    1. Oh, it's so good to see your name pop up here, too! I have missed it all!

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  12. Always a joy to see you book blogging Natalie. It's good for bookish people to hang out together!

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