This week it was my little blogs birthday. During the summer holidays of 2013, I began to look into starting my own blog. My hours in work were dropping to 10 hours a week, and I needed a distraction to keep me away from the ironing and housework. Blogging seemed the answer, and I knew I wanted to focus on our travels and adventures as a family. I spent the summer holidays researching ‘starting a blog’. Which platform would be the best…. WordPress or Blogger ? Looking at endless themes and thinking of a domain name. And on 7th September 2013, I published my first post, all about our adventures during the summer holidays.
So what I have learnt over the past 2 years ?
That yes, blogging does indeed act as a distraction from the ironing and housework (sorry husband).
Whilst I am no tech wizard, at the weekend I finally moved over to self hosted. This is something that had been on my to do list for months. It certainly wasn’t as scary as I thought, and the lovely guys at TSO Host did the majority of the migration. So whilst techy things can be scary, with the help of YouTube and the Northwest Bloggers Facebook group, I managed it.
Which brings me nicely onto the blogging community. I love being part of this crazy community. Bloggers are helpful, friendly, and bloody proud of the hard work each and everyone puts into their blog. Some of the blogs I read on a regular basis and I completely love are
mummydaddyme – Filled with stunning photography of her beautiful girls and family
extraordinarychaos – I discovered Sarah through our mutual love of Walt Disney World
letstalkmommy – I love following Jenny on her adventures both in the UK and the USA
theheartylife – Mary blogs from the heart and I had the pleasure of meeting her in May
uncheshirewife – Lorraine has me in giggles with her poems and life with a teenager
lifeasourlittlefamily – Kerri-Ann has the most adorable and stylish little boy
minitravellers – Karen has a wonderful website full of travel and days out. Completely up my street
mummyofboygirltwins – Jess has a wonderful writing style and I love reading about her family and new home
mumofthreeworld – Sarah has children which are very similar in age to mine, and I love reading about her family life
Going to a blogging conference is not as scary as you may think. I waited 18 months until I went to my first one, and I really wish I had taken the plunge the previous year. Conferences are a great way of meeting people, learning new things and connecting with brands. Plus you get amazing goody bags. I shall forever be grateful to Lorraine from uncheshirewife for holding my hand (and for giving me a lift home lol).
That blogging can give you some pretty amazing opportunities. Ever sat in a cinema whilst being served food and drink linked to the film ? The Dare to Dine event at the Trafford Centre gave us this pretty cool opportunity. The kids have had some great days out, and recently I worked with Forest Holidays.
Who knows what the next 2 years will bring ? Blogging is a little like parenting. You never know what the next day will bring, and its a huge learning curve. I still have so much to learn. I am still a pretty rubbish blogger, in that I don’t blog everyday, I don’t have a huge camera (most of my pictures are on my iPhone) and I keep forgetting about joining linkies. But most importantly I have had fun along the way. And that’s all that matters really.
This is a fab post Tracey, and I agree the blogger world is friendly & helpful. Here’s to the blogging future x
Aw thanks Lorraine. You are the best ‘hand holder at a blogging conference’ ever lol x
Thank you!! I love reading your blog too, such lovely posts about you and your lovely family. Thanks very much for including me in this list – I feel so honoured. And I am so glad that we have ‘met’ online through blogging. One day hopefully face to face! Jess xx
Aw thanks Jess for your lovely comment. I am sure we will meet soon at a blogging conference x
Ah Tracey thank you so much for including me I feel very honoured, I love reading your blog and how much we have bonded over Disney, and congrats on going self hosted, I broke my blog when I did it, I love the look of it too x x
Aww thank you for including me & happy blog birthday! X
Thanks Kerri-Ann. Pleasure to include you x
Oh god Sarah good job I didn’t know that before I took the plunge with self hosted lol. Thanks for your comments lovely lady. Still need to do a few tweaks here and there with it x
That certainly is all that matters! Congratulations on going self-hosted and on reaching your two year milestone. Thanks very much for the mention. I feel honoured to be in such esteemed company!
I love that you researched setting up a blog and thought about it. I just got up one morning and did it completely on a whim! If I hadn’t done it that day, I don’t know if I ever would! I’ve never looked back, though!
Aw I love that you did it on a whim Sarah. I have to research everything and sometimes I wish I was a little bit more spontaneous. Pleasure to mention you as I love reading all about your family life (which sometimes mirrors mine with the ages of our children lol) x
Lovely post Tracey and Happy blog birthday – well done on pursuing something and getting so much from it. I really love it too and it was scary yet wonderful to go to my 1st event in May..thank goodness for you guys for helping me feel so welcome!!
I need to go self hosted too – your blog looks great xx
Mary it was such a pleasure to meet you and hear all about your beautiful blog. Going self hosted has been on my to do list for months but glad I took the plunge. Thanks for your lovely comment x
And you’ve worked so hard on it Tracey, well done! You clearly love blogging and your kids and I think that comes across in your writing. Here’s to the next two years!
Aw Suzanne that is such a lovely thing to say. Thank you xx