On Friday my friend Jenna over at Dearest Love hosted a coffee date. And I intended to join but I was busy loving time with my family after hosting my first Thanksgiving (which if you follow me on Instagram you saw), buying our first Christmas tree, and...
FINALLY buying my camera!! I actually cried in Best Buy when I realized it was happening and all the way through checkout, and then couldn't really speak for at least an hour. And then I spent hours and hours with it all weekend long. Here's a few sample shots from me playing around.
So, without further ado, on to the coffee date, If we were having coffee, it would be at my house, with lattes and cappuccinos I made for us in my dining room with the espresso maker and milk steamer we were able to buy thanks to a very late wedding gift card from distant relatives. I would tell you how I worked in a small town coffee shop through high school, and that ever since my first day on the job there I've dreamed of my own latte station in my home.
I would probably take a hundred pictures because I've dreamed about having this camera for years and have been saving for quite some time.
I would tell you how thankful I am for my life right now and for all the amazing people in it who love me, and who I get the pleasure of loving in return. I would tell you how wonderful it was to have my family in my home for Thanksgiving. How much fun we had cooking and laughing together. How much joy filled my house as we ate and sipped wine and talked late into the night.
Those things were the highs of my November. The best moments, the happiest memories. Decorating for Christmas with my husband. Delighting in small dreams come true. Being with the people who bring out the most of me.
And, as it always does on coffee dates, the conversation would eventually meander towards the lows of the last month. I would have to be honest and say I had to make a decision about this blog.
No I'm not leaving.
Here's the thing: My new job has been such an amazing blessing. And while working from home is exactly right for me, it is significantly more demanding of my brainpower and energy. I don't have the time or drive left over to promote like I did when I was working part time. I know there are plenty of bloggers who work full time and still promote like crazy and do it all well, but I have a "full focus" brain and that just isn't who I am.
When I sat down with all of this information in my head, I came to a decision I knew was right but I didn't want to say, Alas, I must.
As of today, December 1st, I will no longer be accepting new sponsors. All who purchased slots already and have been approved will still be displayed on the sidebar during the time you were scheduled. I will do my best to promote you as often as possible, but it may not be to the same extent I was once able to do for my sponsors.
To those sponsors who have been negatively impacted by my distraction and lack of promotion, I am so sorry. I kept thinking "Next week will be slower and I can schedule some more tweets," and then suddenly next week was over and I had no idea what happened. And then just as suddenly November was over and it was December and I had never gotten those tweets out or promotions set or spotlights up. If you would like a refund, please email me and I will work with Passionfruit to get your money back to you as soon as possible.
What I will do instead is a simple button swap. I won't promise a certain number of promotions or shoutouts but I will share occasionally. I will also be happy to accept or exchange guest posts.
Again, this was not a decision made lightly but I know it's what's right for me, Sew My Soul, and potential sponsors. Your money should go to someone who can promote you well, and I'm not that person right now.
If we were on a coffee date, I'd feel a lot better having that off my chest. In fact, I already do.
And if we were on a coffee date, it would be your turn to tell me about life lately. So go ahead, tell me. What have been your highs and lows?
