My blog is going through a change.
(No, not that change!)
I started this blog for fun. As the number of readers climbed, it made me a little nervous. I became much more cautious about privacy; I stopped posting friends’ photos and shared much less of my own personal life as well. But I’m afraid this might’ve made my blog rather boring. Recipes are fun and all, but everyone and her brother has recipes to share. I want to put the personality back in my blog.
Hence the change. Obviously, this doesn’t mean I’m going to start listing all my personal info in posts like a naive idiot. Hello blogworld, here is my credit card number. Here is my social security number. But you won’t use them, right, because I trust you.
There’s another reason I’ve shied away from getting too personal: I’m overly worried about hurting others. I know full well that a large number of people who read my blog are girls (and boys) recovering from eating disorders. So I worry, hating to think that they might find something in my posts upsetting. They struggle enough as it is; I would feel awful if one of my photos or posts added to their suffering. But the fact is that no matter how careful I am, someone is going to be offended/upset at something I write at some point. I can’t always worry about posting certain words or photos because it might upset someone. That’s not fair to anyone.
I am healthy. So why should I feel like I have to hide my body? Yes, I have a responsibility, since I’ve chosen to publish information publicly (as I wrote in my first Hello from CCK post). But you, as a reader, also have a responsibility to take good care of yourself. Only you know what type of blog content upsets you or isn’t healthy for you to read. If you don’t take good care of yourself, who will?
What does all this mean? It means, from now on, my blog is going to be less fluff and more real. The recipes will still be there, but I’m also going to share much more of my day-to-day real life.
“Being real” means showing not-so-perfect photos: I’m talking “no-make-up” pics, monochromatic meals, foods on mismatched plates, and sweaty post-run photos. It means allowing you to see the true me: I’m not perfect and do not have all the answers. If you’re thinking, “Ugh, Katie, I have enough real-life issues of my own. I don’t want to hear about yours. I’m only here for the recipes,” then please feel free to skip my posts on the days I write more personal posts. As I said above, I promise to still share many more recipes. But I’m also excited to share more than just recipes.
Are you CCK or CCV???? (I mean, I know you’re both…) I was thinking you were phasing out the CCV. love your blog!
Anonymous,
*Sigh* I don’t know what to do! I think CCV sounds more catchy, but now that my blog is called “chocolate-covered katie” I’m afraid people won’t know what “CCV” means. I explain it in my faq, but most people probably don’t read that page… Identity crisis! 😕
What do you think?
Maybe I am making too big a deal out of it LOL :).
Hi Katie,
I just started reading your blog and I love it. But, I’m also going to be honest, I couldn’t help thinking that you just seemed too *perfect.* From your extravagant daily meals to your perfectly photo-shopped photos of yourself, I was starting to think, geez does this chick ever have a bad hair day? But after reading this post, I definitely understand why you portrayed yourself in that way. You are so brave to let the real you shine through. Props to yoU!!!
Mariah,
Haha yes, I definitely have bad hair days! My friends get annoyed with me; I am very bad about de-tagging myself from photos :(. I’m trying (and succeeding, little by little) to learn that one doesn’t need to be perfect all the time! No one wants to be friends with someone who’s afraid to let her hair down and live a little! 🙂
You can do it Katie! I would be super excited to learn more about you because I love reading your posts every single day!
I am also the guarded type, EXTREMELY careful about showing too much of myself and what not. I don’t think my readers even know what region of the country I’m from! I should probably start sharing a little more. I know I would feel better doing it because there are some things in my posts I leave out because I’m scared…and then the post isn’t as good!
Anyway, Good luck overcoming your fear! Can’t wait to read more!
Hi, my lovely! Just wanted to say Hi and Happy Summer! Sorry I haven’t commented in forever. Lots of cr*p going down here, but I’ll be sure to check in now. I’m so proud of you!
I don’t mind sharing personal stuff but I am pretty quiet and don’t volunteer a lot of info. I guess I’m more transparent about my struggles on my blog than I am anywhere else.
You sprinkle some chocolate back into that blog of personality!
Aw, way to be brave, Katie! Y’know, I don’t always comment on your “regular” posts; I think I more commonly comment on your confession/personal-type posts, and I always end up saying things like, “Don’t feel bad about commenting less/what other people think/etc!” But really, I’m like you – very sensitive and worried about hurting others’ feelings, and sort of unwilling to be really personal and open at first. So I suppose I shouldn’t give advice and then not take it myself. 🙂
That said… I’m excited about your new blog directions! I think you have lots of wonderful stories and insights to share, and I’m looking forward to hearing them.
Katie, you’re seriously one of the most compassionate and caring people I “know” lol. Your blog is nowhere NEAR boring, but I’m still looking forward to these new posts… particularly, the ones dealing with peer comments and eating healthfully at parties. I’m going off to college this fall, so these posts will REALLY come in handy.
That being said, take a chance to pat yourself on the back… you have created such an AMAZMING blog. Don’t let the other comments and critiques undermine your outstanding efforts. Keep up the incredible work… I can’t wait to read your new posts!
Katie, this is so wonderful! I’m very, very exciting for the new changes and I think they’ll be great.
I completely understand your concerns about what people think. I find I worry about that too much, and it’s something I’ve been trying to work on. I think it’s wonderful that you’re letting your guard down.
It takes me a little bit longer to warm up to strangers, as well. I don’t care if my closest friends see me looking nasty, but my blog readers? No, thank you. Maybe one of these days I won’t care so much. 🙂
It would be wonderful to have you post more “real” stuff! There are many blogs I visit just for recipes and beautiful pictures of food but yours is one that I always enjoy reading because of your fantastic outlook on life. You could probably post about doing laundry and make it entertaining and enjoyable. (Maybe you might not want to run with that idea…). As for the not posting pictures of yourself because you are afraid of offending someone, I think it is important to see that healthy people do not always look the same. I live probably 90% a really healthy life. I exercise, I eat tons of veggies, don’t eat fast food, don’t drink soda and cook most of my food myself but I have 23 years of unhealthy lifestyle to rid my body of. When I make a comment about eating chocolate or bake sweets of any kind I get comments from people in my life asking whether or not I should really eat them. As though my not having a perfectly toned body means that I have to be on a constant diet and that I will never be able to eat a cinnamon roll ever again. I wish more people had a realistic view of what healthy people looked like. Rant over!
My point is: You Rock!
Way to go Katie!! I’m looking forward to these changes and am inspired by your willingness to be open and be yourself no matter what.
I can be way too self conscious, especially when it comes to body image. I feel like I’m judged all the time! I really want to learn to accept myself and accept that I’m the only one that needs to be ok with myself. I also have a hard time sticking up for my healthy habits, choices and beliefs. I try to be really open to everyone else’s ideas and not judge or say anything that may go against someone else’s beliefs, but they definitely do not have that courtesy with me! I get attacked a lot by those closest to me, and it’s time I stick up for myself!
Hopefully now I can pick up on some of your bravery 🙂
Girl you know we will keep reading no matter what 😉 We love your blog and you! I think what you do with your blog will be great.
i am proud of you! i went through the same thing with my blog, beginning it as my ‘green’ blog and realizing that if i didn’t start opening up about Me, i was doing myself a disservice by not showing a little of myself. through the process, it’s helped me learn more about myself and be less afraid of being vulnerable. something about the process has allowed me to be less afraid of saying what i really feel and take more risks – not in an exhibitionist way but rather trusting those around you, readers, friends, etc., to listen and be open to what you have to say. you don’t have to disclose any confidences, it’s about opening the chocolate covered heart and soul 🙂 you have much to offer and it’s been great to read your writing thus far, and i know we are all happy to see that you continue to share. happy solstice!
BRING IT ON, KATIE! I love sharing my real self and learning about other people too. I’m looking forward to hearing what you’ve got to say.
That’s awesome Katie! I look forward to seeing what you add to your blog!
Casey xo