until we meet again

Okay everyone, time for another dose of tough honesty. For the last six months, my posts have been few and far between, and I have to admit, not always my best quality. When I started blogging, I thought it was perfect for me — it connected my love for writing with the freedom to write about anything and everything I wanted.

But, as life often does, things changed somewhere along the way, and blogging became more of a stressor than a creative outlet. It got to a point where I was choosing between girls night or finishing up a blog post, and cooking dinner with Adam or taking outfit photos. I know there are plenty of bloggers who run a successful business on top of a full-time job, but for me, curating my online life was taking away from my real life, and that's the last thing I want.

The idea of taking a break from blogging has occurred to me a lot in the last few months. I've spent a lot of time weighing the pros and cons, and I realized the decision was even harder than I thought. So a few weeks ago I just stopped everything blog-related — writing, picturing-taking, planning — just to see how it felt. And I have to be completely honest: it felt SO GOOD. Instead of leaving dinner early to finish a post, I spent all night cooking, eating and playing games with friends. I prepped my lunch for the next day, went to bed stress-free, woke up, went to work and did whatever the hell I wanted the next night.

For those of you who have finished school, remember how awesome it was those first few weeks of starting a new job when you would come home from a day of work and realize you were just done for the day? No homework to do, no projects to work on — the whole night was yours. That's how the last month has been for me.

It's not that I don't like blogging anymore — there are certain aspects I already miss about it. But I really don't believe that this is a permanent break. It's just that for the stage I'm at in my life now, it's just not right for me. I found a job that I love, I have a renewed passion for fitness, and I'm genuinely happy with where my life is going at the moment. Blogging is such a great hobby and job, and it can be so fulfilling. But at the point where it's taking away from creating those fulfilling moments and memories in everyday life, there's a problem. So, for the foreseeable future, I won't be posting any new content. You can still find me on Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest — and someday, I think, you'll find me right back here again.

xo,
Eleni

miscelenious turns one!

polka dot skirt / Express top / sandals (sold out, similar here) / (white chain collar) / silver bangle from Versona 

Kate Spade earrings / Baublebar ring / NYX lipstick in "Pure Red"

Happy Tuesday, lovelies! How was your Labor Day? Any fun end-of-summer bashes? I had a pretty low-key weekend, working at Versona and having some much-needed girl time with my sister and friends. I took sort of an unintentional tech break again, which was really nice — but I do have some exciting news to share today! This week (yesterday, technically) marks the one-year anniversary of my blogging journey! It was one year ago that I opened Blogger, picked a name and color scheme, and started miscelenious.

I wish I had taken screenshots of my first blog design, because it has changed so much in the last year. The content has changed a lot since the first post, too, which is definitely a good thing. I knew from the beginning that I wanted to write a lifestyle blog that covered a wide range of content, because I've always got so many different things on my mind that I didn't think I would be happy covering just one topic. In the year that I've been blogging, I've learned an incredible amount about the industry and what blogging is all about — if I had known then all that it entails, in all honesty, I might have chickened out. But I'm so glad I jumped in because writing this blog has been one of the most meaningful, exciting and motivating things I've ever done.

Blogging has given me the opportunity to meet so many great people and do so many amazing things. It's hard work, but the experiences it provides are invaluable. So, in honor of my first big milestone in the blogging world, I wanted to share one of my new favorite outfits (because how great is this polka dot skirt and the back detailing on this top?!) and 7 of my favorite blog posts from the past year (7 because the true anniversary of miscelenious is Sept. 7).

1. Better responses to "how are you?"

2. The choice to have children: public opinion or private decision? 

3. Striped skirt and smart shopping

4. How to make your relationship feel new again

5. That time I went to Comic Con

6. 10 free things to do in Des Moines

7. Lighter than Air: The National Balloon Classic

I hope you've enjoyed this first year of miscelenious as much as I have, and I hope you continue to enjoy it. As always, I love reading all of your comments, so don't hesitate to leave them. And if you have any suggestions for posts you'd like to see on miscelenious in the future, definitely let me know! I always want to provide the content you love most, because this blog is for you just as much as it's for me.

Thank you to all my readers and friends who have helped make miscelenious what it is today. I couldn't do it without you! Here's to another year of blogging! :)