i don’t know if it’s the fact that i live amongst nordic designers, if i am influenced by my wife, or if i just like it, but clearly there is a minimalistic theme in my life right now.
i crave it. i seek it. i love it.
my hunch is that it’s a combination of all of those things, coupled with a much much deeper reason. and that reason is simplicity. calmness. balance.
i crave that zen-like feeling of nordic-inspired minimalism because i crave balance. which, in many ways i already feel. but, in keeping that balance inside me, i need that energy swirling around me as well. it’s something that (and i am speaking for her now) my love and i both seek in life these days.
life is not bad right now, but it is honestly a little tops-turvy, even as it is also calm and quiet. battling the eating disorder is fight that is so tough for my love, and i cannot understand it at all. it is an emotional, physical, mental battle at all times. and, while i cannot walk in my love’s shoes or fight her fight for her, i am, nevertheless, part of of the fight. being a family member/home caregiver is a tough role in its own way. so, to bring us some peace and calm and zen-like energy, my love and i are drawn toward simplicity of form, function, and style in the things with which we surround ourselves.
for me, it really is a chance to outwardly express my effort to bring balance into my life, my love’s life, and the life of anyone that i meet.
my blog is a huge part of my life, and i have felt the need to update it to reflect that simplicity that i am seeking to create + share in life.
so, i’ve been looking at blog designs for i don’t know how long. not satisfied with what i have had for some months now. but, nothing nothing nothing felt right. and i didn’t want to pay any money at all to download something.
i have been inspired by other blogs that i read, and i knew what i wanted. airy, bright, light, simple, clean, minimalistic, bigger post photos, and a grid homepage. yes, i was very specific in my wants and needs, but it’s my blog and it is becoming my business, so it is important that i have my brand, my feel, my style represented.
saturday, as we sat in our living room with candles lit all around us, i found myself once again perusing the free wordpress themes. i had downloaded some free ones, all of which never felt quite right. but, as i played around with them this past weekend, one of them just worked. i committed to it and then began tweaking it even more.
and now my blog/website looks completely new. updated. fresh. and absolutely exactly what i had imagined all along (for like the past year!). good things come to those who wait, huh?
anyway, i really hope that you like it. i’ll be changing content (mostly the menu things at the top of the page) over the course of the next 6 months as i get my life coaching business running. so, be on the lookout for that. in the meantime, it is my wish that you continue enjoying my blog, and hopefully inspiring you in one way to another.
and, as a little extra, i thought i’d share with you five bloggers/creatives who have inspired me greatly. not only with their blog designs, but also with their content, photos, words, ideas, tips, ways of living. please, do yourself a favor and check them out. you won’t regret it.
observant nomad: “Brianna Burton is the traveler, author, and designer behind Observant Nomad. Observant Nomad is a lifestyle blog that aspires to encourage others to lead an enriched and adventurous life.”
the private life of a girl: “Hello, my name is Sophie. I make things and I have a blog. I am a jewellery designer originally from Kent, now living in Birmingham. I create minimal handmade jewellery for Oh My Clumsy Heart from a little studio in the Jewellery Quarter. The Private Life of a Girl is a creative lifestyle and travel blog.”
reading my tea leaves: “Erin Boyle is the writer and photographer behind Reading My Tea Leaves. She’s a minimalist with a penchant for a good story and a soft spot for an aged patina. Her approach to living simply is one that acknowledges that life isn’t always simple, but the curtains can be.”
me and orla : “I’m Sara – 25% stylist, 40% photographer, 30% writer and 10% cake. I’m also terrible at maths. I live in rural Yorkshire, England with my daughter Orla, fiancee Rory, & an ever-changing array of pets. We relocated to this little village in the hills from the city last year, and are working hard to slow down, simplify and stop worrying about stupid stuff. This is my online journal; a record of thoughts, ideas, recipes, shopping lists & things I ate in cafes. I heard the internet needed more of these things ?”
lina eriksson (my wife!): “I’m Lina, a 31 year old Swede who lives in Uppsala with my beloved wife, Liz, and our amazing cat, Zola. I work as a graphic designer and besides my job, I love strawberries, endless summer nights, the Swedish archipelago, city life, music, hanging out with friends, and beer.”
who inspires you? how do you feel about your blog, if you have one? what kind of feeling are you going for in life right now?
happy tuesday, loves. wishing you a bit of calm + peace.
Love the new minimalist design! Having something outwardly reflect the calm state can be so important. The design looks incredibly similar to the photos on the Nordic Christmas blog post so it looks like this theme really fits you!
Fabulous!! I’ll take that to mean that I achieved the feeling I am going for! Thanks, Meghan. Oh, and I am loving that you’re sharing some photos in IG lately. It’s so much fun to see your amazing photography there. Love to you. xoxo
Honestly, I don’t remember the differences from before and now. I think it was pretty minimal before too 🙂 Either way I like it.
I sometimes wish I could change a few things of my theme; I don’t have full design control because I use wordpress.com and I haven’t been able to get myself to pay extra to just be able to change the fonts and a few other things.
Very good point! It was quite minimalist (white background and same widgets, same colors, etc) before. And I am kinda glad that it isn’t that big of a different/shock for readers. The main difference, for me, is the home page. The fact that it is in a grid. That is something that I was really, really wanting. I am glad you like it – either way! I believe that even in wordpress.com there are some themes that allow you to do some little changes to it, so if you are interested and have time, explore it! Hope you are well! 🙂
Love the new design! Very easy to browse through and I like the pictures. Feel like mine could do with a bit of sprucing up as well…. might have to get Lina on the case. Cause let’s face it – I know nooothing about graphic design! Love to you both xx
Thanks, doll! Having the photos was a really big deal to me. That was the heart of what I was looking for, so I am glad that you like them! It’s always fun to revamp the blog, so when you have time, get to it! I’m sure Lina would be more than happy to help. 🙂
Looks gorgeous!!! I enjoy minimalism in other people and strived towards it for a while and then realized I’m more of a cluttered hot mess and totally OK with that ;).
Hehe! I was definitely a funky, crazy, hippie “mess” at one point. And, as I said in the post, I suppose I have been affected by my surroundings and life right now, but this minimalist look feels right, right now. So, I’ll just let my “style” just keep evolving. At least that’s what I’ve promised myself. Glad you like it!! And, who would you be if you weren’t a cluttered Hott mess?! 😉 xx
Ahhh, you have Sophie listed here! I LOVE her blog and designs and outlook to all things really… She’s beautifully minimal in design and words too 🙂 It’s funny, I think I’ve mentioned your blog on her comments before now 😉
Yes! I found Sophie’s blog thanks to you! I absolutely love her blog. And I’m so grateful for you pointing me in her direction. 🙂 Hope you’re doing well, love! xoxo