I always say September 2015 was when it all started – I had privately written a few posts prior to this but with Meme starting school and turning 5, Harri changing from a baby to a big girl and, in the back of my mind knowing I wanted another child, I knew I wanted to remember it all to cherish all the memories and be able to look back on our adventures.
I always get a little reflective at birthdays and my blogging birthday is no different. Here are few things that I have learnt in my first year of blogging:
– It’s hard work – much harder than you realise. I find the writing and taking pictures easy but the rest I struggle with. Getting your blog out there and read is hard and is still a constant battle a year later. I think a lot of people think (or hope) that their blog will just be found and will be a instant overnight success – maybe this happens for some really lucky bloggers but not many. It takes time and hard work.
– Finding your tribe – I wrote this tongue in cheek post a while back but it is so true. Finding some blogging friends is important but hard, especially if, like me, you are a bit shy and unsure. It has taken a year and I wouldn’t say that I have blogging besties but I do think that if I need a little help or advice there are few lovely bloggers that I feel I could contact.
– It is all about being organised. This makes me laugh because I am so unorganised but there are days when I get my stuff together and these are the days I do well. Scheduling posts, interacting on social media, linking up, commenting – organisation is key.
– It is over consuming. Blogging is so hard to switch off from, especially with social media. The need to write good posts, take good pictures, promote yourself on social media – there is no end to it. It is hard to switch off and it can easily take over your life if you let it.
– All blogs are different – this is a hard one to accept. I see new blogs raving on social media about how amazing their stats are and how many great opportunities they are receiving and, let’s face it, it hurts – I question why isn’t this me? Am I not good enough? BUT, I always try to remember that we are all different. These blogs could be working 12 hours a day on their blogs, up early, getting to bed late – their success is well deserved. I know that I don’t work on my blog these hours. I guess what I am trying to say is that you don’t know what is going on behind closed doors and I suppose you get out what you put in.
– Remember why you started. Don’t let the stats, the followers and the reviews get you down. You want to be a success, that’s natural. I wanted to remember Meme starting school, I wanted to capture my girls Christmas excitement, I wanted to remember Harri’s nursery journey. People ask me when did your girls start to talk or how old were they when they learnt to walk and, although I can roughly answer, I can’t pinpoint the exact time. I am hoping with my new arrival in December this will all be noted, all remembered. Capturing the memories, this is why I started, this is what I need to remember. For me, this is what is important.
So Happy Birthday Memeandharri! I am very proud of you and very proud of myself. It has definitely been a journey of self discovery (I am aware I sound like I belong on the X Factor!) and long may it continue.
Have you been blogging for long? What have you learnt?
A huge thank you to Caketoppers for sending me these amazing personalised cakes to help us with our celebrations! They looked amazing and tasted pretty fab too – I am sure my girls would agree with me!
You are so right they are way more work than anyone realizes and quite addictive too! Happy blogaversary! #twinklytuesday
Happy 1st birthday!!! I find the hardest thing about blogging the amount of time it takes up,
Happy blog anniversary! I’ve only been blogging for 9 months but have learnt so much. I love blogging and only wish I’d started sooner! x #twinklytuesday
Happy Bloggerversary!!! I had no idea you’ve only been blogging a year. Feels like I’ve been reading it for years. May you have many more 🙂 x
A huge Happy Blog Birthday to you… with icing and a cherry on top. Did your year speed past? I agree that so much work goes into creating a whole blog – forget about the writing and photos bit. But it is so incredibly worth it. Thank you for linking up to the #Dreamteam xx
Happy Birthday to a fab blog and a very lovely blogger ???
Great post. Happy Blog Birthday. It’s very true we don’t always know whats going on behind the scenes. All we can ask is that we find happiness in our own blogs and fulfill the reason why we personally blog. #TwinklyTuesday
Congratulations! Those cakes look so cute! It is a lot harder than people think, so much goes into blogging, especially the social media aspect I think. I love your blog and I love what you say about remembering why we started. For me it was my ‘need’ to write and I also love to help others where I can. I have been blogging about 22 months now, and I love it, somedays it can be hard to get all the things done with the blog, family and work, but I wouldn’t give it up. #dreamtaem
You’ve achieved so much in a year. I’ve been blogging nearly 5 years and until Edith was born and my blog took a new direction I little to show for it. Now I’m putting in extra work I’m getting more readers and interacting with some amazing people (you includes ?).
Happy Blog Birthday!
#SharingTheBlogLove
Congratulations for still being at it a whole year later! I think what you say about not comparing yourself to other blogs is so true but also so hard to do. #SharingTheBlogLove
P.S. Your logo looks super sweet on those cupcakes!
Aww love those cupcakes, and happy blogging birthday!
I totally agree with you about blogging besties. I don’t have any either, but I kind of shyly wish I did!
Happy blogging birthday! It sounds like it’s been a rollercoaster year but that you’ve captured some wonderful memories. I know what you mean about getting out there. It’s really hard work and you need to remember what your goal is else you can get carried away. It’s great you’ve found a tribe to support you though. That’s something I would love but haven’t managed yet!
All the best for your second year! #TheList
Happy Blog Birthday! Those cakes look amazing with your logo on them. I find it all a bit consuming at times and I know that I won’t ever be more than a little fish in a big pond. I just haven’t got the hours to put into it and the time with my girls is just too important. I find the whole finding your tribe bit really hard. I feel like I make a small step with a blogger, but how do you take it to the next stage. I have no answers and I feel I will always be on the side watching. Exciting times ahead for you and I love reading your blog. Thank you for joining us at #sharingthebloglove X
I have been blogging since January and I know nothing! I often forget to promote new posts, I’m not very good at chasing opportunities and this month I don’t even have a clue what my stats are. I think it is easy to get caught up in it all and to compare ourselves to others. It is important to remember why we started blogging, which was for me, because I needed to write. I love your blog and photos! Happy Blogging Birthday. 🙂 xxx #MarvMondays
Happy blogging birthday. It’s so true and I’m about to write a post on why I’ll never cut it as a successful blogger! It’s hard to be a mum, wife and find time to blog without neglecting one of them! There’s more to life than stats! #MarvMondays
I love this post, I’ve had my blog for around 3 years but have been a bit intermittent with having two babas during that time. Although I’ve been back at it now for a good 5 months and loving it more than ever!
#Marvmondays
Those cakes are amazing, but mostly as your header is 😉 Happy bloggy birthday, brilliant tips. Also never feel bad about new blogger’s stats as *whispers* often they’re on blogger using blogger stats and accidentally have it set to record their own visits to their site as well as internet bots etc. 😉
Are you in the UK Parent Bloggers group on Facebook? Apologies if you are as my memory and putting names to blogs is horrendous, but if not you should come and join up as its a great place to get chatting to other bloggers and more.
Thanks for linking up to #PicknMix lovely
Stevie x
Those cupcakes are so tasty! We had some a few weeks ago. Happy blog birthday 🙂
#MarvMondays