Happy New Year everyone!
It’s crazy to think that the last time we spoke was all the way back in August! I definitely didn’t intend to just drop out of the blogosphere. I so appreciate all the kind comments and messages asking after me but I needed some space and never quite gathered up the momentum to come back and give an explanation for my absence.
But, in all the usual reflection that leads up to a new year, Coconut & Berries definitely came up in my mind. I went back and forth with what I wanted to do with this space - which though very neglected, does mean a lot to me.
Some of my favourites from the few (just 20!) posts I managed this year:
Mini Vegan Pizza Potato Skins; Lemon, Ginger & Green Tea Smoothie
So, the sudden disappearance? In short, I was burnt out. Blogging is a lot more work then you realise before you get started. From the planning to the recipe writing & testing, to the shooting & editing photos….the uploading photos & writing posts, not forgetting the clean-up after the regular turning your kitchen upside down. All that before any social media or publicising, or participating in the blogging community. Don’t get me wrong, for a long while I really enjoyed all of it - well perhaps never the kitchen clean-up part! But with all the craziness of this year: starting my first job, hating it, a lot more job-searching and soul-searching, starting another (much better!) job, establishing a new life here in London, time was much harder to come by than it used to be in my master’s days and subsequently blogging became more of a chore and a pressure than a pleasure.
There was no way I could give 100% to my job and 100% to the blog, and of course my job had to come first. But this year’s been all about finding that work/life balance and I’m learning that I can and need to make time for myself, my friends and my hobbies.
Roasted Celeriac & Sweet Potato with Saffron Quinoa & Herby Drizzle;
Vegan Hazelnut-Coffee Mousse (& Banana Crunch Parfaits)
I realised that I should count myself fortunate that Coconut & Berries isn’t my job and so I don’t have to treat it like one. I’m guilty of thinking that if I can’t give something my very all and do it “perfectly” than I don’t want to do it at all. Talk about cutting off one’s nose to spite one’s face! I do enjoy recipe writing & testing, shooting, editing & all the rest of it, but having them slot into my life rather than my life revolving around them, is how things need to be going forwards.
So, all that to say that Coconut & Berries will be back this year! I will definitely not be back to the 3 x a week posting schedule or even posting weekly but expect to see me here a little more regularly than in 2015…
Wishing you all a happy & healthy new year!
If you’re new to Coconut and Berries, please sign up for email updates and join me elsewhere! I’m on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram(@coconutandberries), Google + and Twitter! You can also follow Coconut and Berries with Bloglovin or Feedly.