I've been noticing this theme among bloggers these last few months. Everyone seems to be questioning their purpose and the "why" of blogging as a whole. The amount of time it takes, the struggles, difficulties, lack of respect, the "burdens" of blogging. Should we continue, should we post less, post more, "why" are we still doing this!? I'm pretty sure these feelings come up every summer, with that whole "summer slump" situation. I think everyone's just getting antsy to get pack to that established, more certain routine that gets pushed aside during the summer. I'm feeling that antsy feeling too. To get back to a more purposeful routine. You know, dare I say, school? I need to learn something, feel accountable to something other than my work and blog. No, I don't want summer to end, but it will in just a few short weeks. I also know that after classes start, that feeling of routine will set in and the newness will wear off again...and I'll crave summer freedom, haha!
The seasons of the year and the seasons of life. Always interesting to contemplate the emotions that accompany them! Everything ebbs and flows; that's life and we should all just do our best to stick to it, one step at a time. Don't quit, don't give up, just take a breath (or two) and lean into the moments of the seasons. Where ever you are, what ever you're feeling, know that you're doing it right. You're okay. Just breath and remember to live. That's all you have to do.
There's my Friday motivation to you (and myself). I'm leaving you with wishes for a beautiful weekend and a strong heart. Now happy Friday and happy Friday Finisher reading! xoxo
Monday: Golden Kiwi Muffins
Tuesday: "Hello My Name Is..." How To Introduce Yourself As A Celiac
Wednesday: Raspberry Mug Cake
Blog Posts and Links I loved this week:
Life, Mind, Body, Spirit:
+ "Help For Us Busy Gals That Can't Get It Together"
Something to think about.
+ When Anxiety & Stress Kick In - Walk It Out
You know how I feel about walking!
+ Parenthood Is Worse Than Divorce, Unemployment, Even Death Of A Partner
Wow...that's, interesting.
I feel like I could have written this.
Very, very interesting.
The quickest read, but really, think about it.
One thing is it's not always easy.
+ 12 Secrets To Going From Average To Awesome That Don't Take A Ton Of Effort
No one wants to be average!
Fitness:
+ The Repeated Bout Effect: If Nothing Changes, Nothing Is Going To Change
Makes tons of sense!
+ 10 Tips To Get Out Of A Running Slump
I love the last one with the kids!
+ Tabata Training 101 + Full Body Circuit
I forgot how much I loved tabata circuits!
+ Running Tips For Mature Athletes
You can be (or get) fit at any age!
Food:
As a "lunchbox kid" my whole life, I'm telling you...ice packs!
+ 7 Secrets Of TV Cooking Shows
Like we didn't know. But if you didn't, time to crush your dreams.
+ Why I'm Avoiding Carrageenan: A Cardiologist Explains
If I see one more Almond Breeze/Blue Diamond sponsored post...I'm going to pull my hair out!
+ How To Disinfect Reusable Water Bottles
I confess, while I was in school, I did not clean mine enough...
+ 14 Smart Tops For Freezing Summer Produce
But I'm still going to miss my abundance for fresh summer goodness!
+ Eat Hideously Ugly Produce If You Care About The Planet
I do! More ways to stop that terrible food waste! Just like people, produce some in all shapes and sizes! Don't discriminate!
+ 19 Things You Should Never Do In A Kitchen
Haha to the flying knife and please, don't stir the rice! I know it's tempting to peak, but you will regret it!
+ 15 Ways We've Screwed Up In The Kitchen, And How We Fixed It
You're mishaps have solutions! (Some of them! See above link.)
+ Why You Should Ditch "Natural Flavors"
This is one of my favorite topics! "Natural" isn't a thing 😛
Health:
+ I Went On A Radical "Eat Sugar" Diet. Here's What Happened
Who wants to see this with me?!
My mom and I both have Epi-Pens. Life saving device!
+ 6 Oils To Start Using Today For Health & Beauty
Coconut, flax, hemp, so many!
+ The "Why" Of BMI And Other Weight Assesment Tools
All the pros and cons of various methods!
Blogging, Social Media, Tech & Photography:
+ Everything Bloggers Need To Know About Sponsored Posts
Very helpful and comprehensive.
+ 16 Amazing Websites That Will Make Your Life Easier And More Interesting
Some of these are really awesome (and I already use)!
+ The Braggart's Dilemma: How To Promote Yourself Without Being A Jerk
Some people are really bad at doing this wrong 😛
+ Inside The Sad, Expensive Failure Of Google+
Hahaha, I don't know if it's sad, but...
+ Beginner's Guide To Night Sky Photography (Part 1)
That's pure captured beauty!
+ How To Optimize For Pinterest Search
Fill out those alt tags and descriptions please! (Without hashtags!)
Because lists are the best!
+ 5 Nighttime Photo Tips From The Pros
I think I'm just too impatient to work on my photography 😛
+ 10 Affordable Everyday Food Photography Backgrounds
You don't need anything fancy when it comes to food photography!
Other:
+ 'Prison Break' Is Officially Coming Back
Omg! Yay! I'm excited! Great timing that I just finished the whole series!
+ The 14 Smartest Purchases To Make In Your 20s
Hmm, I think I should start investing 😉
+ 10 Ways To Act Like A Grandma And Safe Money
Homemade and no waste!
+ Baby vs. __ Is Our New Favorite Instagram Account
Omg! Hahaha! So teeny, tiny, and cute!
+ The World's Best Travel Destinations For The Solo Traveler
Croatia! O....so beautiful!
+ 19 Things Nobody Tells You About Moving Abroad
Would you or have you ever?
Create! We have no restraints!
+ 9 Skills That Will Soon Be Obsolete
Haha, parallel parking 😛
+ If Famous Movie Characters Had Celiac Disease: Part II
Just some Friday funnies for you 😉
Favorite Pins:
(Follow me on Pinterest – RebeccaGF666)
Sweet Corn Gazpacho. Summer corn is my favorite summer veggie (zucchini is year-round for me so I'm not counting that!)
Pulled Jackfruit Sandwiches with Red Cabbage Slaw. Mouth-watering plant-based goodness!
Vegan Steamed Purple Potato & Chia Buns. My lovely potato, the STOKES!
Purple Cabbage Tacos with Tangy Chipotle Aioli. Now that's an inventive taco 😉
Sriracha Honey Salmon Vegetable Packets. You can't get more perfect than a dinner like that!
Za'atar Baked Salmon. Salmon simplicity at it's best!
Cheeseless Pesto Pan de Yuca. These buns! Yummy puffs of goodness!
Easy Peasy Pumpkin Spice Bread Pudding. Let's just end this Friday with the phrase...BRING ON THE PUMPKIN!
A few things I loved about my week or am grateful for:
+ Finding out about this amazing site! I don't have to waste money on a Kindle right now after all! I just opened a free account with OverDrive which allows you to get audiobook or ebook format of books from you're library just like a Kindle would have! So I have been listening to books right on my laptop now while I work (instead of podcasts...which I still love!), but it's great! It's all free, you just need to check if you're library is set up with them and bam! You can "check out" books whenever and read/listen to them on any device you have! Right now I'm listening to Sarah's Key (WWII, depressing, Holocaust, but really good).
So tell me:
+ Have you had a summer-life-crisis like so many seem to be having?
+ Have you heard of OverDrive? Start an account it if not!!!
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kimmythevegan
"I think everyone’s just getting antsy to get pack to that established, more certain routine that gets pushed aside during the summer."
Huh. I actually haven't noticed anyone talking about wanting to give up blogging, but I definitely notice the antsy feeling. Summer is the magical time where routine goes out the window and spur of the moment fun happens constantly. It's great! But it definitely gets in the way of getting normal things done.
I love summer and I can't believe it's almost over... but I am so ready for the regular routine of fall to settle in =) I bet you're excited to get back to school!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You're really behind if you're commenting on this post 😉
Erin
I think I just pinned at least 3 of these recipes! I'm really excited to try the Corn Gazpacho! Thank you for this post!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
So much good!
Kristen @ The Endless Meal
Thank you so much for including my corn gazpacho! And thank you also for putting together such a great list. I always so enjoy taking some time out of my day to sit back and read some of these posts. They're great!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks dear! The gazpacho looks so good!
Heather@hungryforbalance
I love Overdrive! It is such a cool app. I never buy ebooks any more.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It's great! I'm so glad I found out about it!
Bianca @ ElephantasticVegan
Ohh I've been spending so much time working on the blog lately. It's been way to hot to do anything for the university anyways and I've been enjoying my vacations from work by doing nothing 😀 I loved the secrets from cooking shows. It wasn't constantly on my mind that there is such an enormous amount of food waste! That's just one of these things I can't stand at all. Also I love to walk too. I just gives me this feeling of freedom and it's passive enough to think about anything and everything. 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
The tasks I have for my blog will never end! I slowly chip away at them, but I have other things I'd rather do most of the time, haha!
Walking is such a wonderful activity! Everything about it!
Sarah
So I read the first part of this, and was like, "yes!" I so relate to that - my last post was basically just kind of pondering this whole blogging thing. I'm definitely still invested in blogging, just a bit stuck on the direction I want to continue with. Then I kept reading and getting really into seeing all the linked content because there are so many really interesting ones to look then and then I saw my picture and thought "yes!" one more time. Thanks for including me - I love reading you FF posts, so I feel honored 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
And that's why you should keep blogging no matter what 😉 You're stellar at what you do! xoxo
Courtney Bentley
I did the same thing a few years ago really ponder why I keep blogging and just how the industry of blogging has changed dramatically since instagram etc but at the end of the day I really love sharing my knowledge with the world and if only a few hundred people ever see it that is all that matters! Thanks for sharing!! xo C
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
That's the good that you've got to keep in mind when you go through those inevitable seasons!
Les @ The Balanced Berry
I loved the bits of motivation! I've been trying not to get too down about the summer blogging slump but it's tricky! And thanks so much for including the Tabata post!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Just know that we're all in this together!
xoxoxo
Kristy @ Southern In Law
I feel like I have winter life crisises because I HATE winter haha. I swear I have seasonal depression disorder ;P
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Not an uncommon thing! But you can have seasonal depression in ANY season apparently!
Sina @ the kosher spoon
I totally relate to blogging slumps, I've had a few over the years.
Thanks for including my recipe for the Zaatar Salmon!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
The salmon looks so delish!
Michele @ paleorunningmomma
As you read in my post yesterday I'm feeling that first paragraph! Interesting that it seems to come with summer, I can see why that is. Funny you linked to that post on carrageenan since I was just at the store today super annoyed that it was in everything! Might be time to start making my own almond milk!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You're one of the people I was referring too 😉
Just stick to Silk!!!!
Jessica @ Balance and Thyme
I love the concept of seasons in life. It is a grounding way to look at things, especially in times of trial. Thank you for sharing!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Totally!
Vicky @ heartandmoxie.com
Thanks so much for sharing my post! Love this round up - SO many great resources linked in here that I need to revisit this weekend :).
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I hope you do dear!
Deb- It's me, debcb!
The gazpacho looks amazing. Pinning!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yea!
Meg @ Noming thru Life
Thanks for including me/my gazpacho today Rebecca :-* ! I swear I could take an entire day just to go through all of your great links. I admittedly have never watched Prison Break, but my bf Logan keeps telling me I would like it and should watch it... so might have to add that one to my life 😉 Thanks again friend!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I haven't had soup in over a year...but yours has me craving some!!
I loved the first 2 seasons when they originally aired, but then was unable to watch the last 2 seasons. So I rewatched the whole series in July and, o....so good!
xoxo
Shashi at RunninSrilankan
Haha - nope - I haven't been having a summer-life-crisis, maybe cos I don't blog consistently or because I do it Part-time - but I love it - now my day job...welll...that's where I am having a "summer-fall-winter-spring life crisis"!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Hahahaha 😉
chrysta @ noshed
You know what?! I am totally feeling that slump a little too. I LOVE LOVE LOVE blogging but lately Ive been questioning the "why". Its so fun but sometimes to be honest I hate being so connected to the computer when their is so much outside in the world to do! Granted I get a chance to learn and "meet" amazing people like you...so that is what keeps me going. Love these Friday posts. Keep on rockin' girl! I love reading your posts=)
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
That's exactly it! I love having a place to share my recipes and thoughts, but I HATE being attached to technology...I've always hated social media even before I started blogging, but I really hate it now 😛
And thank you so much sweet Chrysta! xoxo
chrysta @ noshed
OMG...soooo glad Im not alone. I have to really remind myself to be more on top of social media. I just don't post to much to it because I'd rather get out and do things. I dunno....its a tough situation esp. when blogging. but ya know. Im just trying to keep it fun for now and see what happens. xoxoox!
Natalie | Feasting on Fruit
Baby vs. ___ account totally made my day! So cute, and the baby's faces are hilarious too 😀 And those purple buns <3 <3 <3 How have you created this purple sweet potato obsession in me too!?! At first when you said Overdrive account I was like "Whaaaa??" but then I realized what you were talking about and I've totally used that thing! Just forgot what it was called 😀 haha Yeah it's awesome! It's like the library for lazy people...don't have to go anywhere! Yippee!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
She is so little! It really puts it into perspective!
I can't wait to get my hands on some Stokes!! I miss them so much!
I know!!! That's why I love it 😉 Less frequent trips to the library 😛
Morgan @ Morgan Manages Mommyhood
All of that food looks so, so good! I definitely agree on the summer slump. Even before I blogged, the end of summer always made me antsy for reliably boring weekends.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, everyone feels that weirdness no matter what they do!
Harriet Emily
Thank you so much for this motivation Rebecca! I've really been feeling the slump over the last couple of weeks - I've been so exhausted and been wondering why I'm blogging! I think I just need a break lol! Your words have made me feel a lot better though, and I'm so glad I'm not the only one who questions these things! Loving all of your links too, I can't wait to read all of these amazing posts over the weekend - the Mexican pasta bake looks delicious 😀
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
O, I'm so happy my words made sense! Haha! It's good to know that we all DO go through that!
xoxoxoxoxoxo
Annmarie
I think you're so right- we are just in that "summer slump"! Cannot wait for Sept to roll around and for my daughter to go back to school! 😉
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, is she as happy about that 😉
Heather @ Life In Leggings
Hi Rebecca! I can totally relate to the summer slump. There's just so much going on! It's hard to stay focused on a regular schedule and still be motivated to blog at times. Especially when you're traveling and just out of your normal routine. But, you press on, and at the end of the day I absolutely love what I do! I hope you do to. 🙂 Thanks so much for linking up. Happy Weekend!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yes, yes, yes, that's it. You do and should press on because the good moments are worth it I think!
Emily @ My Healthyish Life
Oh yes I understand the blogging slump. Don't know how to "fix" it other than let it run it's course? As much as I don't want class to start soon I'm excited to get into a routine of sorts. When do you go back?!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I'll be starting my classes on the 2nd! I have some time!
Sarah | Well and Full
Ahhh girl thank you so much for including me on this list! I feel honored to be in such great company 🙂 And I'm definitely seeing a lot of bloggers writing about the whole "what are we doing??" thing - I even just wrote about it myself. But I think that it's so universal to wonder what our purpose is in life, and question what we are doing. I love how this discussion has been forwarded by the blogging community. 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
So welcome 🙂
Haha, I just hope no one stops! Don't stop blogging even if you're floundering or lost right now!
Lindsay @ The Lean Green Bean
looooooove prison break!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I'm so pumped!
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home
I do love your FF list! I have also noticed those "should this blog go on" posts. For me, as a runner, I have so many things to post about-training, life, etc. It's the winter where I go into a slump.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, I feel yea! I want to keep posting my Bang-out recipes, but I'm holding off on the good ones until people decide to come back again 😛 But I would post in the summer..I mean..I have time now!
Susie @ SuzLyfe
I'm actually really sad about the parallel parking obsolescence. I have mad skillz.
You know that I've been having ups and downs of late with blogging and life in general, but I agree--I think a lot of us are questioning the system. Which is good, because it means that it is high time for change!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
The only time I needed to even parallel park was for the test...I hate it!
Maybe 2016 will be the year of the blogger revolution? 😉
Jess
I never even know there was a thing as a "summer slump" but I am definitely going through it, great topic! xo
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Every blogger goes through it!