If you read yesterday’s post, you know that I’ve been feeling very overwhelmed lately.  Well, this is, in fact, an understatement.

I will be taking a hiatus from all things bloggy, both writing and reading, until I feel like I can do something more than half-ass and feel good about it and myself again.  If you knew me at all, you would know that by even making such a statement that I’m having some problems.  I have always been a very confident, capable and organized person.

Over the last four years of staying at home with my two boys, I have lost something…and it’s finally coming to a head.  Maybe I just need a few days off or maybe I need go go back to work.

What I need, I am not sure.  But, there it is.  I am not sure when or if I will be back to this blog.  I need to get back to what is real for me.   And right now, that means getting offline.

Thanks for reading and making comments.  I will probably see you at some point in the comments section of your blogs, if you have one, soon.

I have about 30 blog posts that I have started and not finished.  I can’t get any focus.  I am super scattered these days.  Not sure why, really.  Can’t focus on anything in order to follow through and haven’t been sleeping very well.

I have a few things going on, but not any more than usual.  I feel I’m getting a handle (slowly, but surely) on the clutter in my house (took another trip to Goodwill over the weekend, woo hoo!).

I’m pretty sure I need to start walking/running.  When I get really overwhelmed in my head, exercise is the only thing that works to clear it.  I used to be a regular exerciser before I had children…I’m sure you’ve heard (or experienced that one before).

Here are some other things I’ve thought about doing…

1.  Cutting down on caffeine (not sure I can do it!)

2.  Cutting down on alcohol (see above comment…ditto)

3.  Going on a long weekend somewhere to get away (this will have to be after my sis-in-law’s visit…she’s coming from Australia on Friday!)

4.  Putting all my ‘to do’ stuff in the basement and dealing with it later so it’s not staring me in the face all the time since I don’t have time to deal with it right now.

5.  Powering through my ‘to do’ stuff so it’s done…but again, not sure when I would do this?  I mean, I do require some sleep.

What kinds of things work to clear the clutter from your head so you can refocus?

My blog is a secret.   One of the reasons that I keep it a secret is that none of my friends really read blogs.  I think they will think that’s it’s weird and a waste of time.

One friend of mine made a comment regarding blogs that I’ve been thinking a lot about lately.  It pops into my mind every now and then and I keep turning it over and over in my mind.

“I’m too busy living my life to then go home and write about it”.

Now, she was not saying this to be condescending at all.  She is an extremely active, single person.  One of the busiest I know, in fact.  Busy in the sense that she works a lot, she has a ton of friends, and she is always involved in some project or festival or event or whatever that is going at the moment.

But, her comment got me to thinking.  Thinking about all the projects I want to tackle and the photography class I want to take and how I want to get back into making jewelry and all sorts of other things that have been on my ‘to do’ list for ages (like sewing…it’s been a new year’s resolution going on so many years that I finally dropped it this year).

So, I’ve been thinking…..am I trading doing for writing about what I want to do?

Maybe I spend too much time reading blogs…and why do I do this?  Is my own life not exciting enough?  Why am I not taking enough time to spend with the friends I have in my own backyard?  What is not fulfilling me in my own life that I seek out living vicariously through others through blogs?

We went to cabin with 3 other families this weekend and had the BEST time.  I can honestly say that I didn’t think once about any type of computer, blog, facebook, email or anything.  The interest wasn’t there as I was too busy having fun.

I think I need more of that and less of this.  I’m just not sure how to get there from here.

I wonder if anyone else out there in blogland ever feels the same?  Then, maybe that’s why there are so many abandoned blogs out there.

In case you haven’t heard of it, Swagbucks is a search engine powered by Google and Ask.com.  But, if you search the web through Swagbucks, you can earn points from searching (among other things) that you trade in for things, like  gift cards, airline miles, books, music, you name it…even CASH!

It’s super easy to sign up and make Swagbucks your primary search engine.  And you get 3 free Swagbucks when you sign up!

Then, all you do it search the internet like you normally would.  Every now and then a page will pop up saying that you earned a Swagbuck!  It’s so fun!

You can also invite your friends and family to join, using your referral link, and earn even more swagbucks!  You can earn up to 100 Swagbucks every time they win!  Score!

If you are looking to earn cash, it takes 80 Swagbucks to get $5 into your Paypal account.   Or, if like me, you buy things off Amazon all of the time, it only takes 45 Swagbucks to get a $5 Amazon gift code.

It doesn’t take that long to rack up 45 or even 80 Swagbucks by simply searching the internet.

And thanks to all those who have used my referral link because I am earning more swagbucks because of you!

So, if you haven’t signed up yet, do it now, and start earning those swagbucks!  You have nothing to lose and all sorts of Swagbucks to gain!

Today I’m going have (hopefully!) a de-lurking day!  I’m looking for some new blogs to read, so I’m hoping you all will share your faves with me in the comments!

I am also really interested in who is reading my blog.  Do you have a blog?  If so, I’d like to check it out.  Are you American?  Australian?  From somewhere else? Do you travel a lot or just hope to?  What do you like reading on my blog?

I LOVE getting comments on my posts.  It seriously just makes my day.  There is a certain loneliness in being a SAHM with young children who can’t carry on meaningful conversations.  So, when I periodically check my blog during the day and find a comment, I get super excited!

Now, I have recently deleted some from my feed that haven’t really interested me in a while, so I’m looking for some new ones.

So,  I thought I would ask you guys.  Not only will I hopefully find some great new blogs to read (maybe you write one!), but I will also get a chance to know who is reading mine!  Win-win!

Hence, my question is…what is your favorite blog and why do you love it/them?