Wednesday, May 13, 2020

This is the End

Tomorrow marks my 12th year of blogging, and with that, I've decided that it's time to close shop.  I think I've said pretty much everything I had to say over this decade-plus of blogging, and while I'm sad to lose the connection with you guys, it's time to let this blog go.

I started this blog when I started my weight loss journey, and it evolved into something much more than a diet blog.  It ran the gamut of family life, running, fashion (remember Fashion Friday?), knitting, decorating - you name it, I've probably blogged about it.  Of course the most important subject matter has been Paco the Wonder Dog, and it always made me laugh when someone would mention that they hadn't seen him on the blog lately.  So here you go, one last picture of Paco:
I will miss you guys bery much.

While I'm glad to have this online record of my last twelve years, I'm equally glad to have made so many blog friends.  The support you've given me has been amazing and I will miss you all.  And while my blog will be dormant, I'll still be around reading and commenting on your blogs.  If you want to keep in touch, I'm only an email away; please don't hesitate to write me - 40somethingsjourney@gmail.com.

Thanks for reading, my friends.

75 comments:

  1. I will miss coming to your blog, and reading about your life that you have so generously shared with us for these many years.
    I hope in the future you may change your mind, and pop in an update us.
    Thanks for all you shared with us. Take care of yourself, Jeff and Paco, and Henry, and your kids.
    Be well my friend! I may email you one day soon.

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    1. Thank you, Susan. I do hope to hear from you soon!

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  2. Hi Shelley

    I will miss reading about your life and adventures. I have enjoyed reading your blog for years now and it has been great to see how life CAN be on the other side of small kids (mine are 8, 5 and 1). Good luck with your life in the future. Best wishes from Anne in Denmark

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    1. Hi Anne, it does get calmer once the kids grow up...but at the same time, I really miss how innocent and cute they were back in the day. Thank you for reading - I didn't know I had a reader from Denmark here!

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  3. This makes me so sad, but I understand. Also I've killed my blog several times and it never really dies... so maybe we'll see you again someday :)

    I'm so happy to have connected with you when I started blogging! I always look forward to your posts and enjoy when you comment on mine. And I'm so so happy we even got to meet once!

    Best wishes to you all! (and please feel free to share more Paco pictures on FB/IG)

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    1. Anne, it was great to meet you in person and even better, run with you! Thank you for reading all these years. I know we'll stay in touch.

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  4. I'm so sad!!!!! But I get it. I've considered retiring multiple times but since opportunities keep coming my way, I guess I'm not done yet.

    I hope you stay in touch via my blog and instagram. I'll be interested in what is happening with you. Stay safe. Stay healthy. Best of luck.

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    1. I'll definitely keep commenting on your blog/instagram Wendy, no worries there! Thanks for reading.

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  5. Thank you for sharing your life, while I am very sad and will miss reading you, I understand. Best wishes to you and your family!

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  6. Now I'm going to have a hard time keeping track of the days of the week!! But I get it. My blog is mostly defunct too.

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    1. I know you understand. Maybe I'll email you each M/W/F so you know what day of the week it is, LOL.

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  7. Thanks for the entertainment and infotainment. Good luck with your health, fitness, and other creative endeavors.

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  8. I giving you a big socially distant hug. Fashion Fridays, Gingerbread House Throwdowns, Annual Races, Knitting - I will miss it all. Thank you for all the wonderful writing, sharing of your life and Paco. I'm so glad I found you all those years ago!!

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    1. I gladly accept your socially distant hug! Glad we met through blogging and very glad we've become such good friends. :)

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  9. Wow! Sure going to miss you. I guess you'll have to up your Facebook game. Stay healthy my friend.

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    1. I guess I could be more active on FB - I always felt like I was repeating myself there with what I published on the blog. I'll see you around FB, Laurie. :)

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  10. Oh Shelley, my Covid days are so confused I was hoping it was April 1. Thank you for sharing yourself with us. I definitely feel a connection to you and your family. Wishing you all the best.

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    1. I've always enjoyed your comments, Kim - thank you so much for reading!

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  11. I will miss the dickens out of reading your blog, Shelley! I will think of you often and wonder how Paco and the kidults and the Renegade babies are doing. Take care, be healthy, be happy!

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    1. I'll miss your word puns, Emmaclaire! Thanks for always giving me a smile with your comments. :)

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  12. We will miss you Shelley! But we will definitely stay in touch! Thanks for sharing so much with us over the years! <3

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    1. Thanks, Kim - it's been great to meet you through blogging and become friends as a result!

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  13. Your blog will be missed. I've enjoyed reading your blog weekly. Good luck in all you do and with your health.

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  14. Aww. I will miss reading your blog and seeing sweet Paco. Prayers and best wishes, hope we hear from you again some day!

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  15. It's the end of an era! I don't normally post on blogs but I love reading them and yours, has been one of my favorites. I will miss seeing how you, your family and friends, and especially your pets (I'm looking at you Paco) are doing. I wish you good health and a fantastic future. Take care!

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    1. Thanks for the comment! Paco says tank you as well. :)

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  16. Thanks for the adventures. And also, Thanks for telling us you are wrapping it up. (It's so disconcerting when the posts just stop.) It was nice to learn more about living in Texas!

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    1. I have always felt the same way when a blogger just disappears; it was important to me to let you all know about ending my blog. Thanks for reading along!

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  17. I've been following since I found you via Cranky Fitness, so it wasn't yesterday. Thanks so much for sharing your life and family, including Paco! Will miss you, but when it's time, it's time. Best of everything to you and yours!

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    1. OMG, Cranky Fitness!! That goes waaaaay back! Thanks for reading for so long!!

      P.S. I love your user photo. :)

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  18. I will miss reading your blog....I remember Fashion Friday, the Gingerbread Hose Throwdowns, the fun stories with your Kadults....and of course Paco! Best wishes for whatever your next adventure is....I hope a trip to Hawaii is in your future once it is safe to travel!

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    1. Thanks, Stacey - you remember so much! Glad you were reading all these years - and yes, I hope we get to go to Hawaii again when things return to (mostly) normal. :)

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  19. I'm going to miss your blog so much. It's one of the few that I've kept up with over the years. Best wishes to you and your family. And don't be afraid to change your mind and come back!

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  20. Oh no! This makes me so sad but I completely understand. As you know we've really slowed down with our blogging and I am to the point where I only read a select few and yours has always been one that I make the effort to read. I will sincerely miss seeing Paco, your home decorating, and hearing stories about running and the Blue Baker. I want you to know that because of you, I bought FIVE pre-made Gingerbread houses in January when they were on clearance ( I don't care if they go stale cus we won't be eating them anyway) , So I hope you check back in at Christmas time to see how they turned out!
    Since you are no longer blogging, do you think you will become more active on posting on Instagram? I would love to keep in touch with you on there.
    Stay well my friend and it was so nice meeting you! -M

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    1. Laughing at the gingerbread house purchase, but hey, that's the way to do it! We don't eat ours, either, although Paco did a few times, LOL. I'll definitely keep up with your blog; who knows about Instagram...I may feel like I have more energy to use other platforms now. Thanks for reading. :)

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  21. It's been a good run. Your discipline on doing this for 12 years is to be admired. You are a great writer (and always have been); I hope you keep up your writing on some other medium.

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    1. Well thank you brother dear. Appreciate the kind words. :)

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  22. Shelley--I will miss reading your blog. You are an engaging and consistent writer, and I loved that about your blog posts. I am seeing more of my favorite bloggers end their blogs, and I understand. Twelve years is an amazing run. Best of luck and keep writing.

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    1. Thank you, Pat - I'm so glad to hear that you enjoyed my writing! That means a lot to me.

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  23. Ahhh,no! So sad to see this. But I understand:( My own blog has been (unintentionally) dormant and i get that it is just something else that is time-consuming.
    I've read your blog a long time...will miss you:( Wishing you all the best!

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    1. Thank you - and I have your blog in my reader so I hope to see your sweet children sometime in the future. :)

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  24. I will miss your posts! You have always been such an inspiration! Thank you for sharing your life with us all of these years!!!

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  25. Oh gosh, this makes me sad (and like an above comment said, I thought maybe it was April 1st?) but after 12 years, I can certainly understand needing an ending point.

    Wishing you and your lovely family all the best. Thanks for being an important part of my week for all these years!

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  26. My comments haven't been posting for some reason, but I’ll give it a try. I have been reading tho, for sure! I found you the year you started, and I feel I’ve read almost every post. We’re the same age and our kids are same, so I had that connection. (And I think Paco and I have a connection.) I’m feeling so selfish right now—how am I supposed to know how you, your parents, Jeff, and kids are doing? And your succulents? Ha. I always liked hearing about your trips, and seeing your pics of such fabulous hand knit hats, socks, & sweaters. I suppose I can google “ Scary Statue Park” to see what’s happening there. ? Treat the Duchess and the animals well, and thank you for hanging out all these years. Of course I'm sad it's ending, & I wish you all the best with your health, running and everything! xo
    ps-I assume the blog will stay up? I would probably refer to your blepharoplasty post if/when I had one in the future.
    Love, Chrissy

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    1. Ah Chrissy, I know you've been here practically since day one and I will miss you! I've always enjoyed your emails and comments and will hate losing that connection.

      Yes, I'm leaving the blog up for posterity - HAHAHAHAHA. But I do hope it can help when people are looking for info, especially on things like blepharoplasty and herniated discs and whatnot.

      Thanks again, friend.

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  27. It's sad that it all has to end, isn't it? I remember how active everyone was about 10 years ago when blogging was in it's prime - it was so fun and I loved the community aspect of it all. Having that community really got me through some rough times back then. But like you, I realized at the end of last year that I just didn't really have anything to say anymore. So I understand, but I will miss reading you!! You have been such an inspiration to me and I appreciate what a good writer you are. Take care!!

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    1. You go way back too, Jill. And yes, the active community of blogland in its heyday was pretty awesome. At least we were there for it, right? Thanks for reading all these years. :)

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  28. Have consistently read you since I found the blogdom some years back. My very best wishes for your continued health, happiness, and wonderful human connections, Shelley!

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    1. Thanks, Leslie - I remember reading your blog way back when! Hope you are doing well. 😊

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  29. Shelley, I will miss reading your posts at work while I am on my 9am break. I always read yours first before reading the Daily Mail. I discovered your blog years ago too. I remember going back & reading your post about Optifast, your new bicycle, your new outfits and your journey into exercising and running. But Paco always brighten my day. I wish you & your family all the best. Karen Roles

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    1. Wow Karen, you go way back! Thanks for reading all these years. ☺️

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  30. I'll miss your blog Shelley, but get it, too. The blogging community got me through some tough spots over the last 10+ years and I am grateful for that. Hope at some time we actually get to meet in person! Post Paco pics on Facebook so we can still get our fix :)

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    1. Same here for the meet up one day! I’ll have to put the wonder dog on FB every once in a while for sure.

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  31. Oh no! I'll miss your blog. I'm thinking of quitting too though.

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    1. Thanks, Lynn. I enjoy reading your blog, for what it’s worth. But I do understand you’re being done with it, believe me.

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  32. Such a late response but I hardly am on the internet besides work anymore. I found your blog when I was looking for weight loss inspiration and over the years I have read your posts with great pleasure. It's a huge accomplishment to blog for 12 years. Thank you for all those hours of fun reading and we follow each other on FB and IG so we will be seeing each other there.

    xoxo

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    1. I'm so glad we met through blogging, Fran - and am equally glad to still be in touch with other social media. :)

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  33. I've been reading your blog for years! I found you when I was starting my weight loss journey. I am so sad to see you go but I do understand. I will miss seeing Paco and all your home design ideas. Do you have an Instagram? I would love to follow you there.

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  34. It's the end of an era, but I do understand. I wish you all the best, and if you have an instagram account, please let me know - I'd love to follow you there.

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  35. Sorry to hear your are ending the blog. I followed pretty much from the beginning. I don't think I ever commented before though. I will miss reading about your life adventures. I wish you and your family well! I came for the weight loss blog, but stayed through it all. We are about the same age and I have two sons, both of whom are gay. Thanks for being there! Ann

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    1. Thanks for reading for so long, Ann! Glad you rolled with it as things evolved. Best wishes to you and your family as well. :)

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  36. I'm sorry to see you go. I will miss you.

    Wishing you all the best!!!

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  37. While I can definitely say I'm sad to see you go, I also completely understand. It's getting harder and harder here lately to find time to keep up with everything (blogging especially) for me! I hope you are doing well and Paco, too! You will be missed! <3

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  38. I am sad to see you go. I have been a regular and frequent visitor. I will miss Paco. I wish both of years of togetherness and happiness. I can understand why you wish to end this. But it has been a great journey and wish you all the very best for the future.

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