Hi Pixies,
I know…I know… 
I want to start by sincerely apologizing for my absence and inactivity in the Pixie Blogging Community (PBC). The PBC is truly like my second home, and all of you are like my extended family, so being away for this long has made me feel terrible… 😦
I was dealing with a massive amount of stress and, inevitably, hit my breaking point. I was a disastrous mess for weeks, but I eventually found help and took the time to refocus and get myself back on track. Easier said than done, but I’ve been improving day by day…
Anyway, I would like to move forward and start 2017 on a calmer and happier note. I’m calling this the year of renewal and exploration, because there are many things to look forward to and exciting new adventures ahead 🙂
Instead of making a huge list of goals for the year, I’m breaking the goals up into quarters so I can put my focus on just a few items at a time. Way less stressful that way 😉
1st Quarter 2017 Goals (January – March):
- Freshen up my blog
I’ve been going through my main page and other sections of my blog that appear to be cluttered and some contain outdated material. I’ve been testing out new blog themes to freshen things up, but I’m picky about the layout and some other items shown on my main page, so I’ll most likely stick with the theme I have, but I’ll freshen it up with new images, layouts, and content. - Learn to use GIFs
Ever since I saw Raven and Snowpuff start using GIFs in their posts and around their blogs, I’ve wanted to add them to my site as well. For some reason, they never seemed to work right for me, though, so I kind of gave up on using them…until now. I finally committed to figuring it out and have two GIFs located on my blog’s home page (check it out here)! More will be coming soon 😉 - Update Active/Inactive Pixie Pages’ Sidebars
It’s been a while since I’ve updated the sidebars on my home page with active and inactive pixie sites, so I want to get through them and update them accordingly. I’m thinking about creating a new page in my blog that also lists these links so I don’t have to show the inactive pixie pages on my main page anymore. Your thoughts? Please leave me a comment below ↓
I’ll reveal my 2nd Quarter 2017 Goals (April – June), in February or March.
I hope everyone is doing well, and I plan to be back and posting soon ❤
Cheers to an exciting new year 😀
♥ Marigold
Marigold's Musings 
Woah Welcome Back Mari!!!! Lovely to have you back ❤
Hope you're handling your stress just fine,I know how it can be,it's a tough year for me too,but I know we can do it! ^_^ 😉
Much Love and best wishes for this new year ❤
Thanks so much, Crystal ❤
I'm so grateful to have such wonderful friends 🙂
Awhh ,back at you ❤
WELCOME BACK!!! 😀
I totally understand what it’s like to just want to take a step back from everything to get your bearings again. Obviously, whatever situation you were dealing with is probably very different from mine (I mean, everyone’s different afterall). Either way, I’m glad you’re feeling better. No matter what, we’re always here for you, girl! 😛 ❤
P.S. Love the new GIFs. I can't wait to see the changes you're working on! 😉
Thanks so much, Rose ❤
I can always count on my pixie friends 🙂
P.S. Thank you! 😀 Don't worry – there are still a few more tricks up my sleeves 😉
Hi Marigold! I think you’ve set a fantastic theme for your new year – “renewal and exploration” – I love it ❤ Also, I think it's wonderful the way you've broken up your goals for your blog into quarterly categories. I should take my organizational cues from you, they are lacking quite a bit. I can't wait to see your fresh updates here and there as they come along. I see your new front-page banner "Marigold's Hand-picked News Links". It made me smile when I saw it! The garden scene is so refreshing & lovely. Especially as it is dropping below freezing here this week. I don't know if you're aware or not, but the link doesn't go anywhere. But that may be because you're still working on it.
It's so good to hear from you and I hope things continue to get better for you. 😇 💟 🙏
❤️️, Snowpuff
Hi, Snowpuff! Thank you ❤
I'm not sure why I haven't tried quarterly goals before, but they seemed way more manageable broken up rather than a huge list of goals to accomplish for the entire year. I'm hoping the quarterly goals will be less daunting and I'll actually accomplish everything I set out to do this year 😉
Part of the reason I was exploring a new theme was so I could include that lovely garden scene in my header 🙂 Unfortunately, my current theme doesn't allow for any header images, so I figured this was the next best thing. I really wasn't intending on making this banner clickable…It was just supposed to be the header before scrolling down to the news linked banners that are clickable…Is this confusing? Maybe I can add some wording or something to clarify this…Let me know.
Thank you for your kind words and support! It's good to be back ♥ Marigold
Oh!, I understand the intention behind your “hand-picked news links” header now. Now that you’ve explained it it makes perfect sense. I thought it was something clickable, but maybe other fairies understood it perfectly. I don’t think you need to change it, but, if you’re concerned, you could post a quick pixie poll to ask other fairies if it’s confusing or not.
I think making the garden scene banner a header image would be lovely. I don’t know if WordPress still carries your current theme, though. I recently changed my own and it took me ages to decide on one. I didn’t see yours in the mix, however, unless yours is a paid theme. No worries if you don’t choose to change your theme, because your front page looks gorgeous with all of your banners/links. Especially if you’re happy and comfortable with the theme you have.
Great idea! I’ll create a poll and see what everyone thinks 🙂
Hi Mari I’ve been checking this place like c r a z y – literally – and I was hoping like reeeaaally hoping you’d stop by and write something – your blog and Crystal’s are the ones I visit the most and well….I miss you and her both.
I’m glad you’re back and you’re doing all these great things….You know proven fact ( at least on my end ) is that doing things you love reduces stress quite significantly. Just think positive it’s what I always do – even when I know I’ll fail something or not do it very well I’ll still turn to the bright side and say ‘ at least I can’t say I haven’t tried right?’. It’s known to me how it is with stress trust me as a university student it’s not all pink and fluffy. I’m just glad you’re back on track and what’s more important back here and I can’t wait to see what you’ve got planned.
P.s. Now that you mentioned blog redecorating I might as well start working on a pre-spring theme too! It’s always important to keep things fresh and also I’ll get back to doing that story I’ve been talking about so far it has like what – 1 chapter posted I think? o_o I don’t know…..Eh anyways talk to ya soon, love you
Your faithful fairy friend & blog reader & supporter,
Juniper ( Juni ) aka Angie
p.p.s. stop by at FairyABC sometimes, I’ve literally never met your fairy in-game!! 🙂
Thanks so much, Juni! ❤ 😀
I haven't been on FairyABC very much due to some computer issues, but I do hope to fly with you and my other fairy friends soon 🙂
(Love the Tolkien quote by the way 😉 )
I’m so totally in the same boat as you — I was dealing with a huge amount of stress over this past semester as well and I’m really glad to see that you’ve gotten over it and are in a better place now. A huge amount of pressure is placed on people to “achieve” and whatnot, and sometimes it becomes difficult.
That being said, make sure you always continue doing something you love so that some of the stress is taken off your shoulders. 🙂
I’m glad to see you back ❤
Minerva
(Thanks! 😀 Tolkien is always my go-to for wise quotes and inspiration.)
Thank you for your support and kind words, Minerva ❤ I did let the stress and pressure get the better of me…Thankfully, what I learned is that I can't always handle everything on my own. The whole time, help was always right in front of me, but I was too blind by pride and stubbornness to see it. Once I did seek help, the weight of the world was lifted from my shoulders, and I felt tremendous relief. As Tolkien said, "Darkness must pass, a new day will come, and when the sun shines, it will shine out the clearer." 🙂