May 24, 2011

White Legs & A Bad Attitude . . .

It is almost unfathomable to think that these pasty white legs of mine will be sitting on the beach in only three days.  I am completely and utterly unprepared.  Our annual Memorial Day Beach Trip snuck up and slapped me on the back of the head this week whilst snickering and muttering something about time flying by at warp speed just to confuse me.

I’ll spend the next two and a half days running around like a crazy woman.  My only real goal is to make sure that everybody in my family has a swim suit, a hat and some sunscreen packed.  Whatever else makes it into the van on Friday morning will be left up to chance.

I’m not normally quite this discombobulated in my trip preparations.  It’s just that I have a bit of a bad attitude right now.  I think I caught it from my teenager.

It’s because I looked at my calendar a few days ago and became highly stressed at all that we’ve got going on between now and mid-July. My “relaxed, laid back summer” is actually a packed, over scheduled mess.

The minute the Hubby walked in the door last night I stated with finality and complete seriousness, “I’ve decided to quit blogging!”  He asked why, of course, and then humored me by letting my spill my guts in rapid-fire successive sentences: No one reads it.  Hardly anyone comments {love you Mom & other regulars}. I feel like I’m writing with no purpose.  I am a slave to the computer. Everyone else’s blog is better than mine.  I am the most pitiful wretch of a blogger on the planet Earth. And on and on and on until I was swimming in my pool of sadness and self doubt.

My sweet Hubby threw me a life preserver when he simply said, “Okay. If that’s what you want to do, I support you. But I hope you’ll keep writing for about our family for our kids.” Then five minutes later I got a phone call from my mom about my sweet friend in Spain whom I met through writing this blog. And I marveled at how my little blog could connect me with someone across the ocean who I find fascinating and inspiring and a true delight. And I decided that I would keep writing.

So I plan to take my glow-in-the-dark legs and my bad attitude to the beach for a bit.  And I’m going to get an attitude adjustment while I’m on the shore with the gulls flying overhead and the waves crashing in. And then I’m going to try to make it through the first half of this summer with a smile on my face and this silly little blog about nothing intact.

29 comments:

Apis Melliflora said...

I love your blog.
It's great.
It's how I first met you.
It's O.K. to take a blog break, if you need to.

P.S. My legs are and always will be whiter. And I'm proud of it.

Erin said...

I don't comment often, but your blog is one of the first I read when I get to work in the morning (because who wants to start working right when they walk in)! I love your craftiness and of late your encouragement to build up the women who surround us on a daily basis. Enjoy your time away!

Erin in NY

PS - I have hopes that one day all of my freckles will join together to form a nice tan on my white legs :)

christy said...

I don't always comment but I read faithfully every. single. day. And you're the FIRST blog I read and my favorite to boot. You're messages are always well-written, entertaining and usually uplifting. Keep at it, Sam, or you're in big trouble with me. And you're crusade of uplifting women this year has made a BIG difference. You are doing a lot of good whether you see the immediate rewards of it or not. Take those white legs to the beach and have a great time.

MBR said...

I have a list of blogs I read and I have a mental priority list of the ones I read every single day no matter what that progresses to the ones that I can catch myself up when I have enough time. Yours is on my every single day list. As a mom of 5 I understand needing a break. This time of year I start feeling frazzled and drained. I'm going to the beach for a week too. Hope to see you when I get back :) Have a great time!!

Janelle said...

I read your blog, I should leave comments, I'm using your "Thanks for making learning so sweet" for end-of-the-year teacher gifts, I feel like this every few months with my own blog and I don't even keep it up every day like you do because that's too stressful when I try, my Minnesota legs will still be white at the end of summer -- and with ugly mosquito bites everywhere, unfortunately bad attitudes still get us moms and can drag us down easily, your kids are adorable, your family is real and I can relate to a lot of your posts, you are stylish and talented and thrifty, I hope you keep blogging, and enjoy your beach vacation. :)

Anderson Zoo Keepers said...

I love your white legs and your blog. And my legs are definitely whiter and I'm with Apis - I'm proud. That skin cancer thing, it's a beast.
I don't comment as I probably should, but I love you. I'm lazy and I Facebook. I figure you should only blog if it makes you happy. I quit because it didn't make me happy. But I'm awfully happy to be seeing you soon in real life!!

Anonymous said...

Your blog is the best. I read it every day. I love your blog about half as much as I love you. And half of as much as I love you means I really love your blog.

You are amazing and the perfect wife for me. Love you.

Nikki said...

I read your blog almost everyday, too! Don't quit! I've decided that even though kids get more independent as they get older, they also get busier. Therefore, we get busier. I've also looked at my calendar and started to stress about the amount of "things" we have going on and wishing we could have more "just chillin'" days. But I guess I should be more thankful that I have so many wonderful people in my life that give me a purpose, because these busy days won't last forever. And I'm sure I'll miss them terribly when they go!

Stacey Gerlach Moe said...

Don't give up your blog, Sam. Even though I don't comment often, I read it every day and LOVE IT!!!!!

Christa said...

Well, I love your creativity for this silly little blog about nothing. HA! I hope you have a great invigorating trip. Deep breaths! Take it one day at a time. Remember you have the grace for only today, you don't have tomorrows grace yet. It will be there tomorrow.

May I offer a teeny tip about your legs, since it bothers you so much? We always think people notice the things that bother us, but they really don't. Anyway, someone shared this tip with me. Don't wear black shoes in the summer cause it draws attention to your legs. Try to wear light colors and everything will blend without a start contrast. Plus, since I am on a short side it makes my legs look longer. Always a good thing in my book. :-)

Meaja said...

Remember you ROCK at what you do. And you've got fans! Enjoy the ocean scene and come back renewed. :)

The Queen Vee said...

PMS just throws everything out of perspective :-) keep that in mind when life seems out of control and you're down on yourself.

You should only be blogging because you enjoy it....plus it's a super duper way to journal. Think how much you and your family enjoy looking and reading those blog books that Travis has printed for you each year. I think your blogging helps bring perspective to your busy life and yes, you do have fans and readers....plus you are a gifted writer.

I do understand the overwhelming busy summer stress you are feeling, that's been my life since I left childhood. Just do the best you can and try to enjoy the journey.

AllisonK said...

love you!

Anonymous said...

Maybe you just need to reevaluate WHY you blog. If it is to entertain strangers of the world and to receive reassurances from them, well then, that is a tall order that would stresss anyone. I think you are brilliant in just about every way. Blogging for yourself as a creative outlet or writing release and for the record you are creating for your family, that's the most important and much less stressful. Forget about what everyone else thinks!

Sadie said...

I don't comment very often but I love to read your blog. You are one of my bookmarks that I read everyday. Don't stop. You inspire me.

Aiketa said...

Samantha, I read your blog every day. Each day after lunch I visit your blog because I know it's morning in VA so you probably have posted something new. I read your blog, and try to comment every day, because I really enjoy your writing, you inspire me on so many different ways. Also because since we are so miles apart, it's the only way I have to know about your family to whom I feel an special bound... (hope this doesn't sound creepy), but this is how I feel.
I hope you don't quit writing the blog for what I've said, but as some other people said you should continue just because doing it makes you happy!
You are so talented Samantha, don't have any doubt!

I really liked the chat I had with your mom! She is also and incredible woman.

P.D: Thanks for the sweets words about me.

TracyS. said...

Your legs are just the right shade of white:)

TracieCarter said...

And this is why I love your blog! You're so for real! Take the much needed break and return to us refreshed in your own time. I read four blogs each day and yours is first M-F. You have a gift and you lift us all! I echo Christy and your Spanish friend's words. And thanks for the Search option - it helped us find and make the Boyfriend cookies Sunday night! YAHOO! Have a wonderful VACATION!

brendag said...

I love your blog. You are a very talented writer. Take a break if you need. I will be checking everyday to see when you come back! Thank you for all your blogs about building others up. It has really helped me each day to try to do that. Thank you also for the print outs! I have white legs too and my younger kids what to go to our community pool on Monday. I am not ready for that either. Enjoy your weekend!

Jessie said...

I think you are a talented writer, crafter, designer, mom, etc., etc. You are definitely way ahead of me in your ability to blog! I can easily relate to your feelings of inadequacy. But don't give up! Maybe you just need to adopt the mantra I use everyday when I get discouraged (or just the days when you are overwhelmed): Lower Your Expectations!

Maybe you just need a break from blogging, or blog less often...either way, find a way to take the pressure off yourself so it's enjoyable again! Have a great trip!

Love you, Jessie

The Nerd Mom said...

I read you every day, too, Dragonfly! You are the reason I started my blog (and at least YOUR mom & sis read yours!).

I totally understand the whole "tied to the computer" thing, though. Since spring arrived, I have written less, gardened more. I feel guilty sometimes, but then I remember I'm supposed to be writing the blog for me (& the fam) and not the readers I *might* (LOL) have. They are a nice side benefit, though!

Tobi said...

I've been feeling the same way about my blog. But I enjoy writing about my little family and our extraordinary Army life. =)

I bet the beach will cure your bad attitude. Just thinking about the beach brings me zen.

And I'm totally feeling your pain about your over scheduled summer. Mine is crammed and it's just silly!!

Aiketa said...

Sorry, I re-read my previous comment and there are some obvious mistakes (probably more than the ones I find)... I want to apologize for that.

Have a perfect long weekend at the beach and I hope you win the castle contest... because this year there will be one too, isn't it?

squeezeme said...

Well! I do believe that you just threw a little "blogging tantrum"....and you are entitled! I believe that all of us are due a good tantrum every few months and some of us have them more often than others. (Of course I am referring to myself! :)

Now my dear best friend, you are simply brilliant! Everything you have said or written to me in the past 17 years has either made me smile, think, laugh, or cry (tears of being listened to, loved and understood.)

My biggest concern about the mommy blogging world is that the blogger will come to depend on the comments in the inbox to validate brilliance, creativity or worth. You have ALWAYS loved to express yourself through written word, you have ALWAYS loved to create, and you have ALWAYS loved your family and friends around you.....and so if it brings you true joy, then DO IT, regardless of the feedback you recieve!

I love you.....and your beautiful white legs!

jennifer's little things said...

Like many others, you are on my list of 'daily must reads'. I also have a moody 14-year old boy in my house and a girl that is growing up way too fast. My life is too busy, I find it hard to find the time to be creative, and my house is sometimes a disaster. But then I read your blog and you repurpose furniture and make printables, you love your family, you build women up, and sometimes your kitchen is messy too!

You should blog because you want to. For you and for your family. Not for us. But I would miss you if you didn't. For reals. (See? Another saying that I picked up from you...)

Enjoy your beach vacation and hopefully you'll share the tales with us when you get back.

And I promise to comment more often if you do... :)

jenniferslittlethings.blogspot.com

KitKat said...

Not only do I faithfully read your blog, but also other ones that you've tipped me off to (NieNie and Melancholy Smile). From there I found C Jane and Nat the Fat Rat. I love all you Mormon mommies! Keep blogging to record the family memories. They are priceless!

Kasey said...

Have a great trip! You'll be back with a fresh perspective and have new creativity to continue writing such great posts on your blog! You are awesome!! And I enjoy reading your posts.

The Queen Vee said...

The fans have spoken!

Sue said...

Your blog is my happy place. I read every single day. Miss you like crazy!