How Blogging Has Changed My Life

Exactly one year ago today I bought a domain and wrote my very first post. If I am totally honest I didn’t have a clue how blogging worked, what was involved and how much I would fall in love with everything about it. A friend had told me I should start a blog and so I did, without much thought at all!

I have always known what my blog was going to be, it was going to be a place to help other people- whether that be in life, though motherhood or something else. I knew I wanted to be someone people could turn to for support and advice, I just didn’t know exactly how to go about getting to that point.

I started off with a very basic header, a cartoon version of myself and a basic text overlay. I was actually pretty chuffed with myself at the time- the first stamp of personality, something belonging only to me. 

I am not sure how long it took to fall in love but it was pretty much instantaneous. Having my own space to tweak headers, make badges and write my own coding soon became an addiction which took up every spare minute of my day. I hadn’t thought about taking it further but definitely wished brands would send me some free stuff!

By September of 2014 I had realised that one of the best ways to get noticed is to be self hosted- brands like it when you aren’t accountable to anyone else but yourself. To do this and keep my domain I had to move over to WordPress, possibly the best decision I have ever made!

My second header was a bit more adventurous but now I look at it and cringe! 

The turning point for me was Christmas 2014, brands sent my family the most amazing products in return for reviews. I know people don’t like to think of these things as ‘free’ as you do have to work very hard but for me, a couple of hours work to see the joy on my daughters’ faces when they open the best presents ever, makes it all worth while- not like working at all.

I wrote my goals for 2015 and decided that through hard work and positive thinking this year would be my year. My attitude to blogging has most definitely shifted, I no longer think of it as a hobby- this is my business, my job and I work very hard at it. The moment I started believing in myself the more other people believed in me- including brands.

My header as you see it now, I am so pleased with it and must thank Aby, You Baby Me Mummy for helping me with the finishing touches.

I don’t want to write a list of all the things I have achieved as it may come across as bragging. I don’t work that way at all but I want you to know that with hard work and determination you can turn those dreams into a reality.

I am so grateful for every opportunity I have been given and want to share 5 ways that blogging has changed my life:

1. PURPOSE Now I am not saying I didn’t have a purpose before, of course I did- I am a mother, a wife, a daughter and a friend. However, I had lost my way in life and felt as though I was doing nothing every day. I had a newborn baby and felt as though my life was nothing more than dirty nappies and never ending washing! Blogging has given me direction and a new zest for life!

2. CONFIDENCE I have always been shy, never wanting to put myself out there for fear of criticism. Blogging has made me believe in myself, knowing that I have touched people’s lives with my words and in some cases made a real difference- that is just an amazing feeling! I have attended various blogging events and faked confidence until I have finally believed it!

2. FRIENDS That makes it sound like I didn’t have any before doesn’t it? The blogging community has welcomed me with open arms and I have met the most wonderful inspirational people who make me want to be a better person every day. I cannot mention them all but you know who you are, you are all wonderful. I know I can rely on them for support no matter what my mood and I am forever grateful.

4. OPPORTUNITIES Blogging has given my family opportunities that we would otherwise never have been able to have. This summer we will be taking our girls on their very first holiday abroad, something we didn’t think we would be able to do for years. One of my proudest moments was becoming a Britax Mumbassador and as a result have the most gorgeous pushchair, something we could never have afforded ourselves. The other was seeing my work published on The Huffington Post, a dream for so many writers out there and something I can say I have achieved.

5. INSPIRATION Until a year ago I had never read a single blog post before!! I know- where have I been all this time?? I have now read thousands and thousands of posts and each one has made me want to be a better person. I cannot possibly mention them all but one that invoked the biggest change in me was this fabulous bedroom makeover by Caro at The Twinkle Diaries. Seeing her beautiful home posts make me want to better my home, make it a space to love and be proud of.

This year has been more fantastic than I could have ever imagined and I know that the next one is going to be incredible! I am starting a new linky on Wednesday which I am so so excited about and I have another project in the pipeline that is going to be amazing! I cannot wait to tell you all about it!

I want to thank every single person who has supported me this year; Mr F for putting up with my long working hours, my girls for being my inspiration every day and to all of you- without readers my blog would be nothing. Every comment I receive means so much and everyone had always been so kind. I write for myself but I mostly write for you, my aims have never faltered- I still want to be someone people can turn to for support and advice and I now know how to make that possible- i just need to believe.

In celebration of my anniversary I am running an amazing competition to win membership to Love.Home.Swap. Just think Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet in The Holiday, that could be you! Pop over here to find out more!