Blog-iversary #One!

It's here....my first blogiversary as A Mom with Nails!  How exciting....for me!  I started blogging years ago when my son was born as a way to keep family up to date on his first years.  I was hooked on the process, and really enjoyed it. 

I had the blog name "A Mom with Nails" in my head for months before I took the plunge to start this second blog.  I am "a mom" at home doing the best I can for my family; "with nails" added because of my love for all things involving power tools and DIY, which has always been a part of my life.  I thought the two together was funny, since the only nails in this house that look good usually are near the hammer, and not on my fingers or toes.

So here I am one year later.  I remember wondering what I would possibly write about for the next few weeks, let alone one year.  It really hasn't been an issue.  There are always projects to be done, and I've just shared them as I've gone along. 

So here are my reflections of year one:

What I wanted to share: I was raised in a family of diy'ers. If it needed to be done, it was done by the people in the household.  Clothes were sewn, meals made from scratch (and usually from something in the garden or caught in the river), repairs made, bathrooms improved...well, you get the pictures.  There were no repairmen in our home, and not much shopping done.  We did it ourselves.  I'm grateful for that upbringing.  Not only did I learn to cook and sew from an early age, I also learned to use power tools without fear (and without issue of being a girl). 

A lot of that upbringing instilled in me a sense of just jumping in and trying, whether it be to recover cushions or build a shelf.  Give it a shot.  Try...really, you can do more than you think you can.  And in the day of internet access and videos online, there is so much help out there at your fingertips!  Take advantage!

What I have learned:  I need this blog to keep motivated.  Before blogging, I had projects on my to-do list that just never got done.  With the blog in my mind, I'm always thinking of what comes next, and what I need to do to get a post or two up this week.  It's been a great motivator, and has pushed me to try some new things and see how they work out.  

I've also learned a few things from reading a lot of other blogs I really enjoy.  I am who I am.  I am a mom who can do a lot of things that are worth sharing.  I'm also a blogger how has no talent for certain things.  So the things you will not see here?  Cute vignettes on my mantel or tabletops, a perfectly decorated house or finished room that will grace the pages of any magazine, style or fashion tips....well, you get the idea.  But I will continue to blog about the things I do and do well!  This is more of a projects blog and how-to and motivational blog rather than a "here's how to style a gorgeous perfect room!" type of blog.  That's who I am!

I've also learned that I can do more than I think I can (and you can too!).  I can build a treehouse treehouse. I can install a cork floor. I can build a bench bench from an actual pattern.  If I was younger, I'd maybe insert a "holla" around here but I'm not. 

Goals:  To keep blogging for year two; to keep projects flowing; to share changes that are coming in the next few months to my hand stamped jewelry business; to connect you with other awesome blogs that I enjoy; to share more issues that are near and dear to my heart, which may mean more "mom" posts than "nails" posts.  Who knows, but I'm going to write about what I care about, which is more than what is contained in the walls of this house (besides the live things, of course!).

So happy one year to me!  I'm glad you (all the tens of you!) are here.  I do this mainly for myself, but if anyone else is enjoying it, then that's just the icing on the cake. 

Best news of the day? My sewing machine is home....and fixed! And working better than before!  That's a great start to a new bloggy-year!

For bloggy history:

• I have written 313 posts
• I had 89 comments
• I had 10,354 views
• My readers include those from the US, Canada, Ukraine, China, Belgium, France and Germany! 

So thank you for stopping by, and leave a comment if you get a second.  Tell me where you are! I'd love to hear from you.

And tomorrow: A post I wrote, and then pulled.  It's back.