1 Year Blog-iversary + What I’ve Learned From Blogging

Shoes | Dress

Happy 1 Year Blog-iversary to meeeeeee!!!!

One year ago, I wrote my very first blog post and today I’m celebrating a whole 365 days of blogging. <Insert all the cliché sayings about how time flies when you’re having fun here.> But the truth is, time really does fly.

I started this blog without much direction or idea on what it might become and what it would eventually mean to me. And now, what started as a hobby, I now consider my job. Crazy, right? And the best part is that I love it so much! Along the way, I’ve learned some valuable lessons about not just blogging, but life as well. These are those lessons:

What I’ve Learned From Blogging

• Being genuine matters. This isn’t exactly a revelation for me, but blogging has certainly solidified this as a life truth. If people sense (and they always do) that you’re not being real and honest and genuine then you’ve already lost at whatever game you’re playing. You’ll meet so many people in blogging (and life) and if you’re not genuine and kind then you’ll never make it. Which brings me to…
• The importance of friendships. Real life friendships are super important and so are blogging friendships. Building a [blogging] tribe is the key to your [blogging] sanity. It sounds crazy, but I have made actual friendships in the blogging and social media world. Without those friendships, this whole journey would be pretty lonely.
• Staying true to yourself. Throughout this past year, I’ve been presented with various blogging opportunities that would have paid a good sum of money or given me more exposure, but I turned them down because staying true to my brand and what I believe this blog stands for is far more important. The second that I stray from being who I really am is when I’ll lose my readers’ trust and that’s not something I’m willing to risk.
• Blogging is time consuming. Like any other endeavor that you want to be successful, blogging is utterly and completely time consuming. It truly is a full time job. ***Cue all the people that work “real jobs” rolling their eyes at me.*** But it’s totally true. I spend countless hours each week planning, brainstorming ideas, executing those ideas, taking photos, editing photos, writing, promoting, etc. Like any other job, it’s not always sunshine and rainbows.
• Comparison is the thief of joy. Oh how I wish I were immune to the comparing game, but sadly I am not. It’s so easy in the blogging world, and life in general, to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to other moms, other bloggers, other women. You compare homes and clothes, and blogs and children and it’s endless! I have to continuously remind myself that I am on my own unique path and instead of letting someone else’s success dampen my mood, I try to use it as motivation to also find success.

This past year has been one of the best of my life for a variety of reasons, but blogging is certainly one of them. I had no idea that blogging would open doors and windows and ceilings and trap doors and gates for me, but it has and I am so grateful. And I am especially thankful to YOU. The person that’s scrolling through this post on their iPhone or tablet on their way to work. To the busy mom that takes 5 minutes out of her day to read something that I have to say. To the random person that stumbles across this little piece of the internet and decides to stay awhile. To the friends and family that continuously read and support this blog. Seriously, thank you all.

And so I’ll leave you with my top 5 most viewed posts of the last year. Cheers to this last year and to [hopefully] another great one.

11 Weird Things That Are Totally Normal When You’re a Mom

Why I’m Scared to Have a Second Child

Mom Etiquette: Please Stop Doing This Shit

DIY Movie Night Popcorn Bar

To the Lady that Told Me to Keep My Kids at Home

Thanks for reading and for more baby, mama, food, style, and fun stuff, subscribe to the blog or just follow along on Insta @myplotofsunshine 🙂

XO,

L