Those of you are who faithful followers of 1 cup Awesome have probably noticed that our posting has been kind of non-existent lately. Today we wanted to share with you all why we haven’t been posting lately, along with our plans for the future.
So first off, why haven’t we been posting very many recipes during the last two months?
1. We have been super busy
Blogging is hard and it takes a lot of time. Those of you who keep a blog already know this. It takes a significant amount of time to take pictures, edit and upload pictures, and write out a post. The last two months have been packed with family gatherings, work, and events with our church. All of those things have priority over our blog, so that is where we have been investing our time.
2. We had “blogger burnout”
After a long days work and taking care of three kids, all we wanted to do was get dinner on the table, eat together, and then relax. The thought of taking pictures as we cooked seemed so overwhelming. This was partially due to the fact that we had been trying to do too much. We simply cannot write 5 new recipes per week, make them and post them – but that’s what we were trying to do since we first started 1 cup Awesome last March.
3. We felt like we had nothing to share
The popularity of Pinterest has made us realize there are tons of amazing food bloggers out there who are putting out some amazing stuff. Why would anyone want to read what we had to say? We aren’t great at photography, we aren’t fantastic writers, and we have only been serious about cooking good food for the last two years or so. Also, we honestly had no recipes to post over the last month. Our schedule has been so crazy that we have hardly even had time to make a home cooked meal and sit down together to eat it.
So with all that going on, we seriously considered “shutting down” 1 cup Awesome. If we could be honest with you all, this website just seemed so unimportant compared to the other great things we have going on in our lives. But then we heard from so many people over the holidays who told us they loved reading our recipes. We also referenced our own website numerous times when we needed to find a recipe for a family gathering. We realized that we do have something to share, and for whatever reason a few of you out there want to hear it. So, we are not quitting. 
Going into 2012, we have a few new goals for our food blog.
1. Simplify
Like we said before, we can’t post 5 new recipes every week. Our goal will be to post at least two recipes per week, along with one or two other “simple posts”. We have a few ideas for these new, simple posts and are excited to see where it goes.
2. Healthify
We both feel disgusting after all the crap we have put into our bodies the last two months. We are ready to start eating fresh, healthy food again. If you are looking for some new healthy recipes that actually taste good, stick with us over the next few months and we’ll be sure to share them with ya’ll, as they say in the South.
3. Planify
That’s a word, right? Remember that old saying, “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail”? Well, it really is true. If we do not plan out our meals in advance, we have no idea what we will be blogging about from day-to-day. That is a recipe for failure…no pun intended. Our goal is to plan out all of our meals for the week in advance, and to also plan out our blog posts in advance. Our friend and fellow blogger, Eric Williams, shared an article on Twitter a couple of weeks ago about a “blogging assembly line.” It had some great advice on putting out good content consistently and we are going to try to adopt some of the principles laid out in the article.
We are really excited to see what happens with 1 cup Awesome in 2012. We cannot thank you all enough for taking the time to read what we have to say and for all your encouragement and kind words. Happy New Year!
Love People. Cook them tasty food.
Well – I, for one, would be sad if you stopped blogging. Being a native Iowa girl myself (now a transplant Minnesotan), I really look forward to your trips around middle Iowa, your restaurant excursions, and fun recipe ideas! Not to mention hearing all about your trials and tribulations as parents…
I hope you continue to find it fun and rewarding – and Happy New Year!
-Michele A. (Edina, MN – but, originally from Keystone, IA)
So glad to hear that you’re back! I’ve missed your regular posts and I have used your recipes as inspiration countless times when I’m scrambling to get my dinner to the table. I like the way you guys tend to keep it simple, some other blogs tend to complicate things. Thanks
I would be really sad if your blog stopped. Your blog is my favorite for food stuff. Very well written and interesting. It is one of the few blogs I follow consistently. Glad you are back.
So glad you guys are sticking around! I think its important to step back and analyze what you have been doing and see if its working for you or not. I’m glad you are giving yourselves some grace in your super busy lives
Yay! I also have referenced you food blog lots this past few weeks
Don’t feel badly, I know exactly what you’re talking about. I’ve decided to stop apologizing for infrequent blogging and just do it when I can
It’s funny because you feel you are letting many people down by not writing when in truth they just love it whenever you DO- they don’t need it to be every day. Please keep this blog (though write when you can- your family & church are WAY more important)- I really do love it.
-Ab
Glad you guys are still going to post. I enjoy it! I’ve wanted to blog for awhile now and haven’t because the time commitment is intimidating. But one of my goals for the new year is to put myself out there and attempt it twice a week.
So glad you guys didn’t give up and I can vouche for the blog taking a lot of time. I’m wondering how different our world will be when our baby arrives in March. You had a great 2011 in the blogging world with 3 kids. I think your writing is wonderful by the way…
I am really happy you are going to keep it going!!
Wonderful post and I am so glad that you decided to keep going. I can imagine how time consuming blogging can be and because of that I am so happy that you decided to stick with it anyway. I’ve learned a lot about food because of you and I am still making your version of oatmeal every morning for breakfast. So thank you for your recipes and your inspiration to post what you eat
So glad you are not quitting!!
I found your blog when it was mentioned in Iowa Girl Eat’s blog a while back. I agree, there are a ton of great blogs out there, but yours is one that I follow fairly consistently. I find I can relate to your family and way of cooking. Just wanted you to know that I am happy you are not quitting. I look forward to your posts how ever frequent they may be.
As much as I love Pinterest, it annoys me too. It makes me feel inadequate sometimes. Glad you guys are going to continue blogging. We all have something to say even it isn’t magazine glossy!
1 Cup Awesome is… Awesome! Love you guys! Excited for what’s next
So So So glad to see that you are sticking with it! Understandable that you would need to stop and take stock of what is most important, I really don’t know how all of you bloggers do it. But just know that there are many of us out here who are REALLY glad that you do!!! Here’s to a happy, healthy, balanced, 2012!
I’ve been feeling the same way about blogging and also have a goal to simplify in 2012. Thanks for sharing and looking forward to more recipes!
I’m glad you decided to keep blogging. My family introduced me to your website, and some of my favorites are on 1 cup awesome. Thanks for all the hard work/time that you put into it! Many of your recipes are on my “Pinterest boards”!!!!
Oh, I know blogger burnout too well. I can’t imagine how it all works with kids, either! Good luck in the new year! I’ll definitely be sticking around to read
So happy you guys decided to keep on blogging!
Dave & Sarah, don’t beat yourselves up over thinking about who is reading what you’re writing! Despite all of the food blogs out there, People read 1 Cup Awesome because they want to hear what YOU guys have to say about it. Don’t just continue cranking out new material because you think that you need to “feed the machine”…write because you want to write, and fill your posts with love and meaning, no matter what the size of your readership is.
If it’s two posts a week or two posts a month, Missy and I will continue you read for as long as you keep this site running; we love your recommendations and recepies! And we will never be able to repay you for your sharing your iced coffee secret…just sayin.
Sorry for trying to be all philosophical, but I just wanted to share my thoughts with you
Tommy – you are a man amongst men. Thanks for your words.
I’m so glad 1CA is sticking around! I think everyone except maybe, like, 5 people in the entire blogging community feel like they could disappear and no one would notice, but you guys have something special and I LOVE reading what you have to say – no matter how often you get a chance to say it!
Thanks for the encouragement, IGE
I’m so glad you decided not to quit the blog! I love reading it and have printed off several of your recipes. I look forward to seeing how you change things up in 2012.