11 lessons from 11 years of blogging

Inside - celebrating the lessons from 11 years of blogging.

In the world of blogging, we're old, my blog and I.

And while we wax and wane each week, we come back together, to share our words and our wisdom, and hopefully inspire and delight (and educate and remember.)

How to stick with blogging for 10 years

The computer monitor precariously balanced on phone books was covered in dust again, but with an unexpectedly long nap from the not-quite 6 month old non-sleeping baby girl, the internet had become an escape from the juggle of life. Facebook was still a month away from introducing itself to me, so hours lost in chat forums was the norm. On this particular day, the discussion was about blogs.

"Is it easy to set up?" said one participant.

"Sure," I said "I've done it before"

"So what do you use it for?" asked another member.

"I'm going to share my scrapbook layouts" responds a third person.

"Wow," said I, "that's a great way to use it!"

And the rest, they say, is out there for the world to see for forever.

Dear blog, today you are 9

Who would have thought all those years ago that I would still be here, tapping away at the keyboard, pouring my stories out?! Given my track history of not finishing things, I certainly didn't!

Over the last 9 years, I've written 1554 published posts (and 45 remain in draft for one day) 5281 people have left comments, and so many friendships have been made around the world.

I've used 6 different cameras, had 2 desktop computers, and sometimes blogged from the iPad or laptop. I've had 3 different craft spaces, 2 sewing machines, and been on 3 craft retreats. 

I've had 2 babies, driven 4 different cars, and had 1 car crash. Steve has had 4 different jobs, driven thousands of kilometres, and still makes me laugh.

I've been to Melbourne three times, been a bridesmaid once, and learned to love camping.

I've learned to code, been on Facebook almost as long as I've been blogging, and embraced Pinterest like it's google. 

I've started a business that failed, failed to start several ideas, and decided that keeping to myself is better than losing friendships.

I've defined my creativity, and explored creative practise, and cried more times than I ever thought possible.

I've taken over 80,000 photos, and shared over 2000 of them on instagram.

I've shared my heart and soul, and sometimes sold myself for not enough.

And I keep coming back, and showing up, and growing every single day.

Happy Birthday, blog.

linking with My Home Truths and One Mother Hen and All Mum Said

Dear Sophie today you are 3

Dear Sophie

You have grown so much over the last year.

You love dancing at daycare, and jumping like a frog.

You sing loudly and proudly, 

and had the biggest smile on your face this morning when you told me you were 3 now

You love eggs and corn and watermelon and bananas and yoghurt 

(and sometimes refuse to eat anything else)

You love Daisy and Douglas, and always have hugs for dad when he gets home from work.

Last week you loved Peppa Pig, but then you discovered Dora, now you're torn between the two.

You stubbornly refuse to wear pants if you can avoid it, 

and hate having your hair brushed (but accept that it's a requirement of going to daycare)

You love it when Riley reads you a book, "The Very Cranky Bear" is your current favourite.

You're not much of a fan of the TV still, although The Octonauts and Dora have caught your eye.

The swing is your favourite place, you and Daisy often head out on your own.

You love to snuggle down in Natalie's bed with her, and watch Barbie movies 

(although you're really just pretending, and having hugs instead)

You are so very loved.

Happy Birthday Sophie

Hello Monday

hello 42 It's my birthday today. It doesn't feel like much of a celebration this year, we're so stressed from money problems, and teenage problems, and life that it feels easier to just let it slide past. But I'll bake a cake, and blow out candles with the kids, and cook my favourite dinner (potato bake and crumbed steak, still) and try to let the worry go until tomorrow.

hello cake baking Steve came to me yesterday as I was baking biscuits and said "do you think I could make your birthday cake?" An interesting discussion ensued about baking being easy if you follow the instructions, with the end result being that he's going to attempt (with his little helper) to make chocolate cake. And I'll supervise, from the couch, apparently. [It's more likely I'll be standing in the kitchen, armed with my camera]

hello craft room sorting One of the upsides of being broke is that we're slowly getting rid of crap (selling on eBay being one of the ways to bolster the meager bank account) This week, we're tackling the craft room, pulling out the stuff that has been "waiting to be sorted" and finally sorting it.

hello car parts About seven years ago, we bought a car for Steve that was old. There was a two-part plan to buying an old vehicle - firstly, we knew that the car aged well; secondly, we knew parts were easy to replace, and a lot of the work we could do ourselves. But we've had nothing but problems with the car every time we want to use it for anything other than running to the shops. So we let the registration lapse, while we tried to decide if it was worth saving or trashing. In the process of sorting through rooms we've found a random assortment of car parts that we purchased, but never replaced on the actual vehicle. Now we have to decide if we sell those parts, or we stash them away for a time when we can fix the car.

hello Monday, a new start every week

linking with Kelly, Kirsty and Alicia

Dear Natalie, today you are nine

Dear Natalie

today, you are nine.

Your big cheeky smile morphs into tears or yelling at the drop of a hat these days, as hormones start to turn you into a tweenager. Good lord, how will survive two of you?

You are such a great little helper, to Sophie and Riley, and play well with both of them. You have your moments with Douglas, because he's older, sometimes you play well, sometimes you don't.

Dad is still your hero, as he should be. You always worry about him coming home from work late, and tell him what's happening in Home and Away the second he walks through the door.

Your best friend is still Kaete, even though you're in different classrooms again. And you can't wait to try out her new swimming pool next weekend.

You and I looked for the International Space Station last weekend as it crossed over our skies. You were fascinated at the idea of stars having names, and you're counting down to tomorrow night when we can try looking for Jupiter. I think you've got a new interest.

You love craft, and reading books, and playing minecraft, and watching youtube videos of no-idea-what.

You love riding your bike, and camping, and walking along the beach (and you've been known to sing "The Pina Colada Song" with Riley in random moments.)

You have grown so much in the last year, with so much learning and growth in front of you.

Enjoy nine.

Happy birthday, Natalie.

Today, you are 8

Dear blog

today you are 8.

That's old in the blog world

But we've been through so many ups and downs together

I can't imagine you not being here

I love that in twenty years time, the kids will be able to look back on our stories

We've shared birthdays together

We've celebrated pregnancies

And shared stories of growth

Along the way I've shared tips on how to do technical blog stuff

and shared creative journeys.

Over the years, I've been caught up in the numbers game

but I'm always reminded when I dive into the archives 

that our story isn't in the numbers, but the words.

Thanks for 8 fun years, here's to many more.

linking up with the Ultimate Rabbit Hole

Dear Sophie | today you are two

Dear Sophie

two years ago, our world changed.

Definitely for the better.

You are noisy, bright, funny, loving and joyous.

You love playing with water, your newest word is "tap"

You run screaming to the stairs when dad gets home

and wait patiently for Riley to finish school.

You wake Douglas every morning for school, and help him pack his bag for the day

You love baking cakes and pouring ingredients into bowls

and drink tea with dad when he's home

You run screaming when you see Amy or Molly

and always wave bye to Caitlin.

You drink 'beer' with dad on Saturday afternoons

and supervise gardening jobs

You love jumping in the water at the beach

and slipping down the slide.

Today you are two, Sophie

and you are so very loved.

Dear Chloe | Today you are Seventeen

Today's prompt write a letter to someone. It's Chloe's birthday today, so I'm going to write my annual letter to her. Is there someone in your life you need to write to?

Dear Chloe

What an amazing young woman you have grown into.

(but I can still see pieces of the little girl you were)

You know what I realised yesterday as I wrapped your present up (late) to send?

Soon you'll be gone.

And not the same way you're gone now,

But, you'll be living your own life, wherever that path leads you.

You're on the path to adulthood, making your own decisions, living your own way.

And I know that we've all made mistakes with you

But I also know that you've overcome those mistakes to become the person you are today.

Loving. Respectful. Friendly. Thoughtful.

All the things that any parent hopes for their children.

You have become an amazing almost-adult

Your journey to awesome adult is almost complete.

Happy Birthday, Chloe.

Tomorrow's prompt wordless wednesday share a photo from yesterday 

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An InLinkz Link-up

7 things I've learned in 7 years of blogging

Seven years is a long time in the blogging world. Seven years is a long time in life. I love my blog, and the opportunities it has brought me, and the memories it has captured, and the people I've met. I started learning the ropes of blogging (rather than just making it up as I went along) way back in 2009, with Shimelle Laine's Blogging for Scrapbookers class. And I haven't stopped learning since. {or pinning, you can follow my pinterest board about blogging here} Here are my top 7 tips

1. write in your voice. It sounds cliche, because everyone says it, but they say it because it is the truth. Once I started writing as I spoke, without the LOLs, my words flowed, I wasn't trying to be something on paper that I wasn't. That doesn't mean that if you use the occassional LOL that I'll stop reading, or swithc off if you use emoticons, but if it doesn't come naturally from you, don't try to force it, people will notice.
2. make your photos big. I read on my iPad a lot, and regularly use the multi-gesture to make images bigger. My eyes are getting old, and I want to see your beautiful photos, don't make them so small that I have to enlarge them just to see the detail.
3. don't explain absences. People read blogs via email or facebook or RSS reader. Unless they're a long-time reader that you've become friends with, they won't really notice if it's been five minutes or five months since your last post.
4. it's ok to change paths. Just because you started blogging about your babies, doesn't mean you have to keep blogging about your babies. They grow up, after all, and eventually tell you to stop sharing their photos on facebook/instagram/blog. And passions change, too.
5. never stop learning. The internet and social media are ever-changing beasts. You don't need to keep up with everyone else, but keep learning from them, and apply that knowledge when you feel you can.
6. photos + words matter. Even when the days feel long, and babies are grown up, and you think you're talking to yourself, your stories matter.
7. I know more than I thought I did. I've mentioned this before, and I'm sure I'll mention it again. I'm often so surprised when someone asks a question about blogging, and I know the answer. Being able to share my knowledge with others makes me so happy.

What has blogging taught you? How long have you been blogging for?

dear sophie today you are one

and what a year it's been!

 you have started walking, you're up to about 4 steps at a time

{but it's quicker to crawl at times}

you've been unwell this week, a runny nose and small cough

{so we've had lots of snuggles on the couch}

 you love music, bopping along when you hear it from toys or tv

{and loved the noisy toys we gave you today}

last week I had to accept that size 00 clothes don't fit any more

{but size 0 swims on you}

you don't have any new teeth this month

and weigh a tiny 9kgs

{but that's still heavy enough that mum finally needed to buy an ergo}

you smile at the kids when they get home from school

and wake up and smile when you hear dad's voice

you are such a happy girl

and you are so very loved

cate | today, you are 40

you did it, you made it to F-O-R-T-Y

they say it's all downhill from here, but I don't know if it's true

it's certainly not the ride you thought it would be getting here

but you made it in one piece

now what? what does this year hold for you?

and what would you tell 20-year-old you about making it this far?

that it's ok, it all works out

that it may not be the path you though you'd take at 20, but it's the path that gets you there

that 40 feels like any other day, nicer than 30, closer than 20

this year can be one of following the dreams (once you've figured out whta they are)

of finding your voice in the see of voices

of exploring your creativity, and hugging your children

finding space to fit it all in

and growing through the process

F-O-R-T-Y

it's not scary

it's an adventure

where will the adventure take you?

happy birthday Natalie

Dear Natalie

Today you are seven

You are in grade two at school, and love your teacher and friends

you love reading books

and playing with your barbie dolls

just as much as you love jumping on the trampoline

and kicking a ball with the boys

you turn the radio up every time you hear P!nk or Katy Perry

and watch cake decorating videos on YouTube

you like watching My Kitchen Rules with mum

and boxing and robot movies with dad and Riley

you have a sweet tooth like mum

but discovered you like cabbage last weekend, and ate two serves!

you love the swings at the park

and picking Sophie up.all.the.time.

and you miss Chloe

You are growing up so quickly

and you are so very loved

Happy Birthday