Oh, hello there! It's been a while, but thank you for checking back. My blogging hiatus was a long one and so much has happened in the past few months that it's hard to know where to start. For now, I'm going to keep it simple and get back to basics. I'll be posting regularly again because I'm bubbling over with stories, projects and ideas I can't wait to share. It's an amazing feeling to have after being without it for so long, and I'm happy that I've made the space in my life so it can happen again.
But enough of talking about blogging, let's get caught up. This is what the holidays looked like in my world:
• Balancing time for holiday manicures with time for website design (Hint: there was lots of design & one manicure, but it was a good one!)
• Hosting the first holiday party for my family in the new house. There was a record player turning & people laughing all night, and it was better than I could have hoped it would be.
• Dozens of dog hours logged on couches while the temperature dipped to a shocking -33 °C / (-27 °F)! Mal discovered a position where he would sit on his haunches and lean so far back that his paws didn't have to touch the ground. On cold days he now assumes this position 35 seconds after leaving the house.
• I made albums to hold all the Christmas cards I saved over the years. I haven't handmade something crafty for myself in almost a year & the process was healing, exciting and energizing. I watched geeky TV, drank tea & spent hours on them. It was the perfect day.
• Over a hundred cheddar & potato perogies were made for my immediate family. Hard work & delicious! (recipe here)
The holidays are always a perfect time to rest, recharge and re-evaluate how the past year went and set the tone for the new year. For me, the break in routine came at the right time. I've changed my habits and immediately seeing a happier, quieter & stronger version of myself. And that version of myself? She misses her blog, and all the opportunity it's brought into her life.
It's good being back and truly, thank you for being here. I can't wait to see what you've been up to
xo
LAST UPDATED ON: January 8th, 2013
CATEGORY: All Posts
Yay! I’ve missed your posts! :) I hope your holiday was lovely…I took a little inadvertant break, too, but just gave my blog a new home/facelift and it feels great – the same way: so excited to get back to it! :) Happy day!
Ooh, Miss Kyla. It’s so good to see you’re back!! I can relate so much to your break from blogging… I’m new to all this, but finding the balance between my real world busy, why-must-we-always-be-so-darn-accessable, + must-we-share-everything self and the other part of me that really loves the bloggy thing… well… it’s tough.
AND I’m dying to know more about your christmas card album! I have loads of cards that are too special to throw away, yet are so not… what’s the word… useful? I’d love to see more about what you did to make yours. I think it’s a smashing good idea.
THanks for adding a link to the perogies recipe. I definitely want to try to make some. Remember the salted chocolate chip cookies recipe you posted, well, I have made them twice and both times i altered it slightly and they were a hit!
p.s. good job on your nail art!
I was JUST thinking about you and I’m so glad to see you’re back! I’m really looking forward to what you have in store.
Yay!! So happy you’re back, I’ve missed your posts. Your nails look so super cool, I am going to try that tonight:)
I thought the first picture was dumplings and I got very excited! (I’m living in China for the year, teaching at a university.) My students have taught me how to make dumplings and they are now one of my favorite foods. Perogies are just as delicious though! I’m looking forward to your upcoming posts!
mmmmm, pierogies! Welcome back, kiddo!
Yay! Welcome Back! The pierogies look amazing! Glad your holidays in your new home went well :)
Thanks for reading, Kristin! It’s lovely to be back :)
The appetizers have my mouth watering right now… can I hop on a plane and we can re-enact the entire party? Your nails look fabulous, too. How in the world do you do that? I’m in awe.
Yes let’s do it, lady! :)
The second colour on each nail was done with tape I cut to a slight curve, but I’ve heard you can also use reinforcements to get the same effect. I’ve tried it but they always seem to pull up the base colour. You lay the tape over the part of the colour you want to keep, and then paint the second colour over the exposed part of the nail. The only trick is making sure the first colour is completely, totally dry first.
Welcome back! I was excited to see that you posted today in my Google Reader. I’m going to use a would/phrase you used to describe my blog redesign (with Mandi) – from what I read, you’re going to cause a stir in the next year with all the projects and goals you have in mind :)
Aw, thank you Maddie! I hope so- I’m ready for this change :)
I’m so glad you’re back blogging! I’ve missed you (even though I follow you on Twitter). I was actually scrolling through my RSS feeds the other day thinking that it’s been such a long time since you wrote. I’m glad you’re back.
Thanks for staying subscribed, Allison! It’s been an incredibly long time, but I’m so happy to be back and feeling re-charged. Hope you had a happy holiday & thanks again for reading :)
All the pierogies! Your holidays sound lovely. I’m so glad to hear that you’re settling into your new home. I’m trying to get back into the habit of writing as well and being back in my online space. I’m looking forward to getting caught up with you and reading what you’ve been up to.
Same for you, Mandy! It’s hard to get back in the swing of things (figuring out how to even start this post was hard!!) but it’s a habit that I love and I’m really happy to have it back- and to have a window into your life again too.
Your holidays sound lovely and relaxing. I seriously can’t even imagine temperatures that low!! Can’t wait to see what you have in store for this year! :)
Thanks Lisa! I was just looking at your adorable outfit post from the other day (here) and remembered that I own a piece of clothing that would terrify the fashion blogging world: it’s a neoprene face mask that I wear when I’m walking the dogs on cold days to keep my face from getting frostbite lol
Let’s just say I’m always happy when April comes around and I can put it to bed ;)
I am so glad you are back!!! I have definitely missed reading your updates.
Aw thank you so much, Laura! I really appreciate you saying so :)
I hope you & sweet Alphonse had a great holiday.
Me too, girl, me too! I feel so inspired to blog lately. Maybe next year we just institute a December-of-leave from blogging?
And your holidays looked lovely! Happy New Year, and looking forward to reading more!
I love that idea, Katie! Instead of the August break we can do the December break and just post instagram photos of our bedhead, books and coffee cups- deal? :)
Thank you for stopping by after my long hiatus, it’s really appreciated xo
I’m so glad you had such a lovely holiday. I can’t believe it gets so cold where you live, I don’t know if I would be able to take it!
I’m not going to lie, Marisa. We stay inside a lot! I usually can’t wear dresses from November to April- but the beautiful thing about our city is that in the spring, summer & fall all our parks are packed with people who are blissfully happy to be outside. And in the winter, everyone talks to strangers and commiserates about the cold because it’s so unbelievable outside lol It actually makes for a really small town feeling :)
Thanks for reading! xo
Looks like a wonderful (and delicious!) hoilday break.
Homemade Perogies have to be one of the greatest foods ever!
Oh my emphasis is always going back to the delicious, and it was even more fun since I haven’t had lots of time to cook lately. Thank you for reading, Alli!
I recently found your blog and was disappointed that you hadn’t really written in a while–I was worried I had missed out on your awesome writing! Hooray!
Oh thank you! It’s always so heartening to hear when people connect with what I’m doing. I’m excited to check out your blog, us Canadians have to stick together :)
You just made me want perogies for lunch. Glad you had a great holiday and happy new year!
Sorry Stephanie! If it’s any consolation, now I’m jealous of them too because I gave them all away :)
Hope you had a lovely holiday too, and thank you for coming by xo
So glad to see you back Kyla! :) Glad you had a wonderful and much needed holiday. Looking forward to seeing what the New Year brings for you and Freckled Nest!
Thank you so much, Sharon! The holiday was much needed, and I hope it’s going to make Freckled Nest even more playful, fun and helpful in the new year. I hope yours were great too xo
I was really confused about the first picture, but once you scroll down you realize oh yum! Potato-y goodness! :)
Ha! Yes, it’s a magic-eye-of-carbs effect in the first picture, isn’t it? :)
Getting settled into a new house while balancing a job and handling the holidays takes a lot of focus! I don’t blame you for taking a break from the blog. It looks like you had a lovely time away and it’s great to see you back in *this* space!
Aw, thanks Nilsa! It was profoundly exhausting, especially because we didn’t plan to buy the house and the move was scheduled so immediately after we closed. I couldn’t adapt my client schedule ahead of time, so I only took two days off work! lol Not a plan for gentle living, but it was certainly what was meant to happen and I’m valuing treating myself gently & making less aggressive plans now :)
Yay! You’re back!
I would love to see your card album. I put together a couple this year too and it was super soothing and satisfying.
Thank you for the sweet welcome back Carolyn! I think I’ll post some pictures of the album next week. I had the exact same experience- there’s something so lovely knowing that you’re doing something with all these memories that’s more fitting than having them (in my case) in a giant ziplock bag. I’m already excited to send out cards next year and to have more cards to put in my albums!
I am excited too, looking forward to more of you! ;)
Thanks Alexis! It’s amazing to have the energy to share again :)
I’m so glad you’re back!!!
So glad to be back! Thanks for checking in, Amy :)
It’s great to see you posting again. I’d love to see more pictures of the album you put together. I’ve kept most of the birthday cards I’ve received since I can remember, I’d love to find a way to display them rather than storing them in a box under the bed.
Thanks Sonal, I have pictures & I’ll be sure to post about them. If you search Pinterest for Card albums in the mean time there should be some great starting points.
Welcome back, Kyla! So glad to see you’ve made time to recharge. :) I’ve missed your posts – but I can’t wait to see what you’ve got in store for the coming weeks, days and months! :D Happy New Year!
Thanks so much Maggie! I’ve missed being around here too, and it’s really nice to know my blog still has a place in your day :)
Welcome back – you were missed! Nathan’s grandma makes perogies every year but I haven’t been brave enough to ask if she can teach me yet – I think I need to master some of the basics when it comes to cooking first, like making eggs or grilled cheese sandwiches :D It was super cold here over the holidays too – Chloe dances when she goes outside so none of her paws hit the ground for too long.
Some of the basics could be helpful for helping you feel confident first- though eggs are tough! I started with scrambled eggs and then stepped up to poaching them, and this year I started making omelets but it took me 7 years since moving out on my own to get up the courage to try. Perogies aren’t complicated, but they are tons of work because of rolling the dough! I bet your strong Mama & horse handling arms would make you a natural :)
ps – I’ve been out of the blog loop for a little while so congratulations on your pregnancy! Petunia is an amazing name & you look gorgeous :)
Oh my gosh, my brain cannot even fathom -33ºC!!!! Today is was 42.5ºC here with hot winds and bushfires, it felt like Tucson. It’s good to see a post from you pop up on my reader, it looks like you had a lovely Christmas.
Happy New Year
x
Thanks so much, Shell! Keep safe with those bushfires around, that sounds absolutely wild.
Mmm, I used to make perogies with my mom every christmas when I was little. They are always so much better homemade.
They are, aren’t they? I recently found a Baba “hook up” who has a small business making them out of her home. In our city, everyone seems to have one of these people on speed dial for the holidays, and the lady I just found makes a version of perogies that’s packed with dill. I’m tempted to just start eating 10-15 lbs of perogies each week! It’s safer when you have to work before you can eat them, I think.
Welcome back! Those perogies look delicious and I am super impressed by your manicure skills! So glad you’re making time for yourself and you’re already seeing a big difference!
Thanks Becky! When we finally (!) meet in person one day I can give you one just like it. If I can stop myself from bouncing around like a kangaroo from the excitement of it, that is.
Welcome back! So fun to see a post from you in my reader! I am glad you had a wonderful holiday. Those appetizers look delicious and I am so happy that you have a space large enough to accommodate your family now! That is so exciting!
Thanks Lisa! I was giddy to get posting again- I have so much to talk about on my blog again lol It’s lovely to feel inspired again. And yes- it’s crazy to be able to have our families over. And even nicer to stuff them with carbs ;)