the other day i met my friend ashley and we took a stroll through this massive sunflower field near my home in west Michigan. it is seriously acres and acres of fresh blooms and the owner allows people to come and enjoy them and sells the sunflower 2/$1. that is what i just love about west Michigan. People do things like this to bring joy to others expecting nothing in return. While we were there a tour bus of people from the retirement popped in and took turns getting their photos taken on the bench in front of the massive field of blooms. It was one of the sweetest things i’ve ever seen.
As i sit here and write I am at a creative crossroads. What is the intention and purpose of this blog? Since starting it as SuperShopGal in 2009 it has evolved from being about shopping and hair product to marriage, to learning to cook, to loving to cook, to farming, to mom, to mom of a child with some extra care requirements and beyond. Things evolve over time and I’m really trying to figure out what the next phase of this site is.
A few topics I have in mind are..
- Motherhood. I love sharing our journey of Otto with all of you. There is such a community here of amazing aunts, friends and mothers that I genuinely appreciate. If I can assist in encouragement or brighting your day by talking about motherhood I am here for it. We need each other and I love sharing my favorite finds, tips and tricks and things I’ve learned along the way with you.
- Gardening. Gardening has become over the last ten years a huge passion for me. I love the constant discussions on my facebook garden club page. I can easily get swept away in the conversations that happen in that group. It’s amazing to see everyone gardening at different skill levels learning and growing together. My goal is to structure my garden content on here a bit more and share specifically how and what I am doing in the garden.
- Farm and Farmhouse projects. We have a lot going on the farm. From bees to mushrooms to sheep being born. I feel like life gets so busy sometimes that I would love to go more in depth about the projects we are working on here and the progress of farm life. Including but not limited to animals and house projects. Someday we will get that other half of the house done.
- Style. It’s what started this entire thing! I originally started my blog back in 2009 and it was only about sales and deals. My first post was about a curly hair product I found and liked. It’s crazy that for years I didn’t even have photos on the blog! As I’ve grown over the past ten years so as my style. I enjoy assembling outfits and sharing sales with you to this day.
- Antiques. I am antiquing at least an hour a week. I have another facebook group dedicated to flea markets and antiquing and it’s always fun to see what people are finding. I have some ideas of content to create based on a lot of the questions I’ve been asked while out picking. I would love to hear your suggestions as well!
- FOOD. When Joe and I first got married that is when I first started to cook. I had two books and a subscription to Food Network Magazine. Now cooking is a shared interest between Joe and I and I LOVE sharing the recipes we try and create with you. They’re not perfect and they’re not fancy but they are what we eat.
all of the blogging guides and “how to be successful in social media” will tell you to choose a lane. But i’m not a good driver (hence why Joe and I take separate cars to the same office). I have too many interests to just focus on one thing. I love to love things! I am curious what you guys think? What brings you to this space? What keeps me creative and writing is the feedback I get from you. I love writing and I love building this community. This blog would just be pictures and words if not for your input and conversation.
Just as this sunflower field was planted for the enjoyment of friends and strangers, this blog was created to cultivate a community of people with passions. I hope that when you read this and create the recipes that you leave here going about your day a little happier. I’m not always perfect and I hate when I am in creative ruts but every sunflower field experiences a winter right? I am on the cusp of taking things to the next level. My head is bursting with ideas and that is always my best time.
From the bottom of my heart thank you so much for being here and joining this journey. I would love to hear any and all of your comments on suggestions for what you would like to see here. My space is your space. ‘
PS This sunflower field is located on A37 just outside of downtown Allegan. They won’t be in bloom much longer so hurry if you would like to see it!
XXOO Abby
I think that your refreshing! I love that you are real. You show the good the bad and the ugly of life. You touch on so many different topics that it keeps everyone interested. So keep doing you!
Thank you so much!
I love following you on Instagram and reading your blog. I would choose “all of the above”! I think that’s what I love about your account and blog. There is always something to see/learn/draw inspiration from!
Thank you Erin! Some times I get overwhelmed because bloggers are always told to pick a topic but I love too many topics to stick to just one!
oh dang lady. that whole “pick a lane” thing for business owners these days. I think if I hear it one more time I might just scream.
I love to follow blogs not for just one thing, but for the person writing it. Hearing about their life, their adventures, and how I can relate to them and their experiences. No person is ever one thing, and I have no interest in following yet another [digital] niche publication that is just only one topic and is thusly trying to sell me ads about it. Humans cover a variety of spectrums, and the most inspiring ones are often multi-layered and multi-faceted, and share those aspects of their life with you along with their true feelings and self.
Some inspiration from a powerful creative in our West Michigan world. Her name is May Erlewine, and the song is called, “Never One Thing.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH0qrHdb8jg
Powerful amazing women? We’re too much for one lane, for one thing. <3 So in essence, keep writing about what brings you joy and what feeds your soul, and the rest will fall into place.
Thank you! Its such a head game sometimes. I write what I love but my internet is bombarded with people selling courses to success and they are all about sticking to one topic. I’m too busy for that! LOL
I love all of your passions! I love that your mixing a great variety of things for us to also learn to love and enjoy! I’ve been to the Found Cottage many times and enjoy all my great finds! I’m new to your Instagram and blog, I only wish I found you sooner!! Also love how the fairgrounds is turned into a magical shopping adventure! Otto is so cute and his vocabulary is so good because his mama talks to him like a little man instead of a baby. I’d say your doing a great job all around!! Keep up the good work!
Thank you so much for all of your support Deb! I greatly appreciate it!
Dear Abby, I hope you keep up with your blog. I look forward every day to your updates on your beautiful boy Otto. I love watching him grow and can’t wait to see his next açcomplishment. I love to hear what your next find is and where are the good places to shop and deals. Your news, and farm life. Your journeys traveling and tips. I really enjoy your recipes, food. I believe in you and your truths. Please don’t stop I would be so humble to see your son go kindergarten. I don’t.blog but you are o e of the top accounts that I feel is worth the time to read. Much hope for future post. God bless you, Abby, Joe and Otto.
Thank you so so much for the kind words. Writing about my passions adds fuel to my fire. Thank you for all of your support.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing everything. It fills me up every day to see what your silly family is up to.. I often think I wish we were neighbors you and my husband loves the garden. I am just an old farm girl that loves antiques. Love fixing up our old farm house. I get great ideas from some of your great cooking. I appreciate everything you share from your garden, cooking, antiques your beautiful hair !! But most of all I really love how you love the Lord and your family. Otto is a true blessing to see every day. Although farmers don’t do man buns ♀️
LOL but what about “modern hipster farmers” lol
I just can’t bring myself to cut his hair and he wants it out of his face LOL.
All of the above! I love the range of things you blog and post about! Love your style posts, gardening and food, junk and old farmhouse stuff, pentwater reno and of course the sweet little man with the little man bun and how you fit it all in with your careers (which I don’t know how you do it)!!! Keep doing what you’re doing! No one has a one track life, why should their blog be only about one thing?!!
I agree! Thank you Lyn. There is way too much good stuff out there!
hey, Abby – I’m definitely here for posts about Otto and your farm. I truly share your photos of Otto with friends and family all the time because he is the sweetest little boy. I love your genuine approach and how you stay true to who you are but are always learning and growing. I love seeing your flea market finds, but I’m really very anti-facebook, so I haven’t joined your Facebook group. I struggle with “mom” accounts, because I didn’t get to have my own children, so I shy away from things that ask questions like “what did you do with your children in this situation?” – the assumption that everyone is a mother just makes me sad sometimes. I like blogs that are inspiring, informative, and visually appealing. you take great photos with your phone and Ashley takes awesome shots of you and Joe and Otto, too. I am interested in most things that you blog about because I’m just interested in you and your family, so most of your content is fun to read even if I’m not into canning or fashion. you do you would be my advice. the variety is fun to experience
Thank you so much friend! I really appreciate the feedback. Before Otto I didn’t even know if I wanted children and I struggled with a lot of the same dislike for Facebook. Especially after our miscarriage it was just extremely difficult to be on. I found that social is only as great as the people you follow. I did a good clean sweet of my account and now Im part of groups and circles that bring me a lot of joy.
I enjoy reading it all!
Thank you!
I’m here for it all, I’m a huge fan of all of your content. But most of all, follow your heart!
Thank you friend
Hi Abby, please continue as is. I love your blog and all the “stuff” that’s goes with it. I enjoy the garden, the recipes, the flowers, the antiques and especially The Otto!! You and Joe always crack me up and I just adore your family. Keep the good stuff coming. From TN. Melissa IG: mell172
Thank you Melissa! Full steam ahead!
No need to pick a lane if you like all those things! It’s easy to read/watch what I like and skip what I don’t. As long as its bringing you joy, then its bringing us joy.
Thank you so much!
Variety is the spice of life! The ladies above articulated well, it’s the variety that keeps your followers coming back. Of course I just adore Otto and learning about his progress and joining in prayer before his appointments, but I also get excited to see where you’re traveling to and what great buys you’re finding! With only one topic you might present as one dimensional and we all know that’s far from who you are! Just be you and share what you feel like sharing!
Thank you stacia!
I’m here for the variety, girl! Love to love things, too! 🙂
I do read the blog posts, though I don’t comment. I love the variety of garden posts, farm posts (I actually miss the sheep posts), canning, and vintage finds. Variety is the spice of life! Thanks for continuing to put stuff in a written space!
Abby, I love the variety that you bring to your blog. Keep doing what you’re doing!
I really enjoy following you as you are so down to earth. I love seeing Otto, he is such a cutie! I also love everything you post, gardening, cooking, antiques and love your beekeeping! You amaze me with all you do, you have incredible energy! Thanks for sharing your life with us.
You are one of my favorites! Always fresh content and unlimited laughs. I look forward to every post (and Otto just sweetens the pot!)
Use all the lanes! Go for it. I love all your topics because you always have a fresh fun take on it.
I love all of the topics but the top two that I’m always looking for when not scrolling are your style/fashion and food posts! Love the Otto posts sprinkled in too. ❤️
I LOVE all the things you chat about! Just keeping doing you and writing about all the things that bring you joy! Thank you for being so fun and inspiring and always, yourself!
I simply wish we lived closer and could be besties in real life!!
I love all the things!! We aren’t one faceted people, we all have many interests and hobbies and full family lives. It’s what make these pages so interesting. Keep doing all of it!!✌️️
I really enjoy all your content- the variety is what makes your blog and posts so refreshing and fun! Hearing about your life on the farm, your animals, garden, is always interesting, especially when you are a suburbs girl like I am. I also love a good flea market story! Thank you for all the time and energy you put into your work that we get to enjoy!!
I do enjoy following you on Instagram and watching Otto grow and prosper, just like the sunflowers. I love that Joe is willing to play along at times and I am wishing I had as much energy as you appear to have. Please include more of The Found Cottage as I so enjoy the Antiques and fun y’all seem to have. My hair is very similar to yours, but I live in Florida near the beach so the humidity is relentless. Please tell me where you get all your energy. Do you ever sleep? ❤️
I love watching your life and how it’s pretty much drama free. I like your sense of humor and it seems like you handle life with that sense of humor so gracefully. I would say that I probably enjoy your antiquing and your decorating the most, and then I really love watching how you dress and your life with your family.
Please don’t ever pick a lane. So boring and not real life. Keep writing about all these passions. I am particularly intrigued by how you manage it all, but also by how curious you both are, and how you are creating a chill and curious little man. You are both very tied to nature and the turn of the seasons on your homestead, but also so culturally and socially connected to the life of cities by all the places you hang out. Three very cool and down to earth characters who love big and live big. As long as you’re here, I’ll be reading.
I love your Instagram and Blog! Otto brings me such joy! He is the sweetest! Keep going the way you are going! Also love your bee posts!
Don’t change! Isn’t that what life is all about… the many different things that make it whole? I think we are constantly evolving and the different paths keep it interesting. There are some topic
areas of your blog that speak to me
more, however, I love the variety that you have. Also, that is what makes you
you and your personality to shine thru. I’ve tried several of your recipes and they have been fantabulous
I love to see what you have been up to. From Antiques to Otto to the farm. I would love to see more of what goes on at your farm! Keep up the good blogging work!
I love it all! I can’t seem to grow anything so I love watching your gardening journey. Same with cooking. I live vicariously through your adventures in both fronts bc I don’t have those skills (I am a great baker but I am not a fan of cooking).
I love the updates on Otto because he’s close to the same age as Ole and because he is on a heart journey like my Kate.
I love the antiquing and decor talk because I LOVE both. I love seeing how you fit different things together and make it work. I love the looks you create and wish I was better at displaying my treasures. I love the posts about how you are decorating and how you use your finds in teh different spaces. My favorite is still the suitcases by the fireplace (I collect train cases and use them in my office on high shelves to store and sort my work stuff). 🙂
I love seeing your career/day job worked in because I am in awe that you and Joe fit so much into every day!
So… don’t stop doing you. It has been fun watching you evolve from 8th street across from the post office to now!