Relaunching A Hundred Affections: Back in Business

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A Hundred Affections is finally back!  

And truly, I couldn’t be happier.

For those who are here from ‘the olden days,’ thanks so much for sticking around!  I sure haven’t given you much of a reason to, but I’m so glad you did!

For those who are new here, let me give you the brief story behind A Hundred Affections, but more importantly, what you can expect going forward!

The Back Story

I started this blog back in 2013 after hearing fairly clearly from God that I needed to quit my second job and write.  I wasn’t sure why and I didn’t know what, but after a few months of selective listening, I finally obeyed.  Not long after that A Hundred Affections was born.

I started writing whatever hit my fancy, but at that time in my life, we were a few months out from our first miscarriage.  As I started telling that story retrospectively, the blog turned into a real-time play by play of our infertility journey.

I found that blogging during that brutal time in my life not only therapeutic but also comforting in the sense that I came upon a community of other women who were so empathetic and supportive.  Through the unwanted journey I found myself on, I felt less lonely, like we were all in this together.

Well, after 2 miscarriages and months of treatments, our last option was IVF. We decided to go for it in the summer of 2014 – and found ourselves pregnant with twins! Our rainbow babies – identical twin boys – were born on April 2, 2015. And we’ve been adjusting to our new, wonderful life ever since.

As is typical of blogs of this nature, it kind of leaves you with an unsettling position to be in,  post-infertility.  So, ummm…what do I blog about now?  I never meant for A Hundred Affections to be a blog about infertility, but undeniably, that was the direction it had gone in.

I didn’t blog a whole lot during my pregnancy – I just couldn’t put together any kind of cohesive thought (just a little preoccupied with a few small things). After the twins were born, any spare minutes I found, I indulged in sleep or showers – rarely both on the same day. I wrote a post here or there just to keep it alive, but not much.

Well, the boys are 2 now, and I feel like it’s the right time for me to get back into blogging. I have to remind myself that this is something I really felt like God called me to do.

A Hundred Affections 2.0: Now What?

OK,  to the important stuff. What’s this blog about now?

I’ve done a little research and reading before re-launching, and all the ‘best people’ encourage bloggers to visualize their ideal reader.  Who are you writing to?

Well, my first answer is “Me!”  Real original, right? It’s stuff I’m interested in, stuff I’d want to know more about if I were a reader…so I always felt like I was writing to someone I’d be friends with, someone like me.

Ok, so maybe that needs a little more definition.

So, as I started thinking more about it, this is really who I’m writing to:

The busy _________________ (fill in the blank – wife, mom, Christian, career person, etc.) who has a lot going on in her world – all important stuff – and is trying to balance it all; she wants to do and be her best for God, the people in her life, and herself.

Does that sound like you?  

Great! You’re in the right place, then!

If that’s you, then I want to help.  

(And if that’s not you and you still want to stick around, you are welcome here, too!)

How Is It The Same?

For better or worse, it’s still me.  You’ll still get the real me, being as authentic as I know how to be.  In Round 1 of 100A (this is how I abbreviate A Hundred Affections in my universe), I always tried to end my posts on a high note. Even when I was writing about the struggles I was enveloped in (which, when dealing with infertility, was all the time), I wanted to end with hope and optimism. I’ll still hold true to that.

I’ll still talk about my faith, my family, my life. You’ll still hear my real thoughts or opinions.

I know not everyone will agree or like what I write all at time.  Totally fine. You are still welcome to stick around! And I hope you will.

How Is It Different?

Looking back, 100A was probably more of a personal blog – updates about what was going on in my life with some helpful articles here and there.

Going forward, 100A will be more of a lifestyle blog (Did you know there was a difference??? I didn’t!).  A lifestyle blog is more of writing about a variety of interests in a way that is helpful and practical for the reader rather than an online journal of sorts.

You’ll still get stories about me and my life in there, but the blog will have more spin on how can it be useful to you, focusing specifically on Faith, Family, Home and Health (that’s the top menu, by the way).  There’s that “+100” category up there on the menu, too. Well, that’s my wiggle room to throw in other random goodies.

The goal is 2 posts a week. Over the course of a month, I’m hoping to  publish 2 posts on family, 2 on faith, 2 on health, and 2 on home.  Of course, there’s that “100
+” section where there could be a swap or an extra one thrown in, but that’s the general idea.

I will also be sending out a monthly newsletter.  Yup, just one email a month, and here’s what you’ll get: the links to the previous month’s post in case you missed any and a new freebie.  That’s it, short and sweet.  I know you’re busy, and I promise not to waste your time.  (You can sign up for the first freebie – Kitchen Cheat Sheets – in the box at the bottom of the post).

And full disclosure, I’m no life expert or life coach.  I’m right there with you, trying to figure out, negotiate and manage life. No judgment here.  I truly believe we are all doing the best we can.

If there’s anything else you want to know, you can check out the About section or feel free to ask!

So, if you’re that person I described above?

Great!

You are in the right place!

I hope you’ll find encouragement, support, empathy, practical and useful information – and really, I hope you’ll feel that you’ve found a kindred spirit.

And as for this crazy life you’re trying to negotiate?  Me, too.

Hang in there – we’ll figure this out together. You’ve got this!