To Blog or Not to Blog? Major Construction Needed

As the year comes to an end, I'm beginning to contemplate whether or not this blogging thing is really for me.  I know it sounds bad, but that's honestly how I feel.  I can't seem to get this thing right.  Some would say that there's no right or wrong way to blog, but really...there is.  I am always second guessing myself.  I can't seem to find a vision.  I feel like I don't have the drive I had when I first began.  Right about now, I feel like a little lost lamb. 

I'm in need of some serious direction!

The problem I think I'm having is that I have so much other stuff going on in my life that I don't have time to think.  I thought a 2-week vaca from my full-time job would be the perfect time for me to catch up on posting, but all I've done is gone back and forth on what I should write about.  It really shouldn't be this difficult, so I think I need  to take a little hiatus from blogging for awhile.  When I return to work next week, I will be inundated with parent conferences to get our 8th graders registered for high school.  That process takes up the entire month of January.  With 10-11 conferences scheduled each day, and then working after school with other students in need, my brain and body will thoroughly be...umhh...how can I describe it...CRASHED!!  

I'll be too exhausted to do anything other than getting rest for the next day.  Its sad that I'm thinking this way now, but I'm only speaking from  experience.

Maybe sometime during this hiatus, I'll find the inspirational ease to write again.  Hopefully, my mind won't be so clustered and I'll be more relaxed to write.  Most people would probably say I should continue to write to release some stress, but right now this seems to be causing it.  Nothing major of course.  I'm not fully happy with my blog and need the time to put more focus into it. I have a lot to learn about blogging and know that I've made a few mistakes along the way.    I know I shouldn't be so hard on myself since I only began a few months ago.  Ironically, I just sat back and read over this post.  Made corrections and reread.  Let out a long sigh and I'm now feeling a sense of peace. 

So maybe writing can ease my stress; Go figure!

 As you reflect on your year of blogging, I hope each of you feel at peace with your writing and I wish you much success in 2015.  Until sometime in the near future...I'm officially... 

Thank you for your patience!

Have you ever lost your drive towards something you had a passion for?  How did you get your mojo back? What's your source of inspiration?  I would love to hear from you.

My Giveaway Winning Frenzy

I'm always looking for freebies whether its coupons, free samples, and my latest obsession...GIVEAWAYS!!!  The name says it all...someone wanting to GIVE something AWAY. 

Okay, everyone loves a great giveaway, right?  Anything that's free is always a winner.  So, why don't you get out there and give some a try.

 I've entered various types of giveaways recently and I'm starting to find myself becoming addicted to finding them.  I've entered the looping and shop hop frenzy that has been taking place almost daily on Instagram.   Various businesses and/or bloggers get together to offer you a product from each of their individual stores or an all inclusive prize such as a $500 Target gift card, or $250 in PayPal cash.  Some bloggers have gotten together to offer their favorite things, like Mrs. AOK, who is a great lifestyle/foodie/motherhood blogger.    Others have individual giveaways that feature a great prizes as well. As with any contest, there is a deadline to enter and winners are notified within a certain time-frame established by the host.  Here are links to some present and past offers.
http://instagram.com/p/w2XtgRhXFQ/?modal=true
http://brittlebyscorner.com/giveaways-and-blog-hops

Giveaways are a great way of sharing your passion with others as well as building your fan base.  The winners end up with great prizes and the sponsors/host can grow their audience across all social networks.  Its a great way to build your blog's following; a Win -Win for everyone involved!   Some giveaways are easy to enter.  Many use Rafflecopter which allow various task to be completed within a few clicks.  Task such as visiting the host's Facebook page, following them on Pinterest or Instagram, and Tweeting about the giveaway.  All task add up to entries into the giveaway.  Depending on the number of hosts involved, some giveaways have proven to be quite exhausting. This is true for Rafflecopter and other methods like the looping I mentioned earlier on Instagram.  The only thing I don't like about this method is the number of people participating and having to like all of their pages.  Some can have  20 or more shops participating in the loop.  Doesn't seem too bad right?  Well, now you'll be receiving  pictures on a regular basis from sites you may not normally follow.  

Recently, I have been very lucky and have won a few of the giveaways that I've entered.  I've won a couple of favorite things, and a few individual sponsors.  

It feels good to get notifications like this...

It's been great participating and winning the giveaways.  I wonder what I'll win next?  Until then...gotta get back to entering. 

Have you entered any giveaways lately?  What have you won?