*before we start, the baby pictures are totally gratuitous as I found them all on my old computer today and couldn't find any actually relevant images to use so.. here we are. I make no apologies*

Over the past six months or so I've fallen a little out of love with blogging, I'm sure it shows. I haven't been as eager to post and as dedicated as I previously was and one of my resolutions for 2015 was to stop forcing content both here and on YouTube. I was really pushing myself last year and I think that was in part to blame for my burn out but a lot of it was how I felt within the community. Once upon a time it was a small(er - it was never THAT small) group of people writing for fun. I know you've all heard this before but long story short once money is involved so do LOTS more people and the more bloggers that came along and leapfrogged the milestones I'd taken years to reach the more inadequate I felt about what I was doing here. It's a numbers game, everyone is always talking numbers, followers, viewers, unique monthly visitors.. it quickly became a very competitive thing to do and anyone that knows me will tell you I'm not in to competition.. unless I can win ;)

The 'community' became a little every man for himself and so I retreated from the social side of things without which blogging is a very lonely thing. Over the past week or so I've made steps to reconnect and even make NEW connections (I'm now ACTIVELY using facebook and enjoying it! - link) and that feeling that this might not be for me forever was starting to go away. I was trying to get back that initial excitement when I received an email from Jane (BritishBeautyBlogger) about a new app, Periscope. I'm a creature of habit and struggle to embrace new things but Jane assured me I had to join and in the past two days on that app I have seen more generosity and support than I've seen in years elsewhere. It's new and in order to grow an audience/following there you need help, obviously you can drive your own traffic but people are joining broadcasts, commenting, leaving 'hearts' (which I still don't totally understand) and sending others to come and watch too. Bloggers and readers alike are banding together to make this fun new thing even MORE fun with MORE people and it's almost like watching the rebirth of blogging itself. It's so refreshing to see people helping people in an industry that's become so cut throat and it's reminded me that there's always good to be found, you just have to know where to look for it.

I am very lucky to be able to do this for a living (subsidised by a part time job in 'the real world') but I never want to become so disillusioned with blogging that I stop altogether. Even if the income dries up I'd like to think I'd still share my favourite products and rambling life updates with you.. whether you want to hear about them or not. When you make a hobby your job there's always the danger you will stop loving it in the same way but thanks to Periscope (and Jane) I have a fresh new outlook and a new found faith in our community. Whether you're retweeting a blog post you enjoyed, commenting on a YouTube video or recommending a site to your next door neighbour.. these are random acts of kindness, little pats on the back and more appreciated that you know!

In the spirit of sharing if you'd like to leave your own links or links to your favourite blogs etc in the comments feel free!

Miss BB

*not sponsored by periscope.. but my username is missbudgetbeauty ;)