When I thought about writing this post I actually felt overwhelmed and tearful. Not in a negative way. I think that says a lot about the power of blogging. I also had no idea of where to start, as so much has happened in one year and I feel exceptionally grateful. The changes in my blog in one year have been incredible and blogging has done so much for me in return.
What blogging gave me
In one year blogging has gone from a hobby, something I did a few times a week to my job; to something that is such a part of me that I couldn’t bear to stop. In concrete terms my blog has climbed from being ranked 1300+ to 68 in the Tots100. My Twitter following has soared from 300 to almost 7k. My cobbled together header has changed into a beautiful custom design. My blog is entirely different now to then, a mere 12 months ago. This isn’t a bragging post, that’s not my style, I just wanted to add some context to this post. To show that with hard work, anyone with the passion for it, can let blogging change their life.
This year, blogging has given us so many great opportunities. We have been to fun events, got stuck into exciting projects and had some lovely things to review. I have enjoyed the challenge of entering competitions and even won a computer for my Wonderblogs post. This year, we have been offered two family breaks for 2015 (Bluestone Wales and Camp Bestival), which is something we couldn’t afford as a family without this blog.
However, the thing I feel overwhelmed and emotional about, is the most important thing that blogging has given me this year, the most amazing friends. Before I started, I would never have believed that you can be friends with people that you have never met or only briefly in some cases. I now know better. I have such genuine wonderful friendships with so many incredible women, who I have found through writing this blog. Some of these ladies I consider be be among my best friends. These wonderful faces, that laugh, love, support, care, inspire, motivate. I feel so lucky that I found this world of blogging. To have found these bright, amazing women.
Blogging
Hannah P, Em, Em again!, Mrs H, Katy, Donna, Michelle, Sian, Em, Hannah, Nat, Elfa, Jaime
These are women that, in some cases, I speak to every day via social media, phone or text message. They are women that have come to mean so much to me. Sadly, there are lots of these lovely friends that are not in these photos, as I don’t have pictures of them. So next year will be the year of the selfie with all the wonderful friends I meet.
Katie, me and Steph. This fabulous photo was taken by one of my blogging besties, the uber talented Em.
So thank you to blogging and to all the wonderful ladies (and gents!) that have made 2014 an incredible ride.
Comments 85
What a lovely post – I’m sure 2015 will bring you continued blog success!
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Thank you, fingers crossed! Happy New Year x
Mwah
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xxxxx
This is lovely. Am tearing up a little. Was lovely to meet you, in person and online, this year. You’re wonderful xxx
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Thank you huni. Can’t wait to see you again next year xxx
Love you and we’ll have to rectify the selfie situation in Wales!xxx
Author
Yes! We will be selfie crazy! Love you too xxx
Well that’s me crying isn’t it? You are so lovely I am so glad blogging brought me to your lovely blog and to you x
Author
Aww thanks huni, what a lovely comment, thank you and I am so glad to have met you xx
Aww what a wonderful post! Sounds like 2014 was a wonderful year and 2015 will be even better 🙂 🙂 🙂 Mim
Author
Thank you so much and for all your support x
I’m so glad I found your blog this year; I love it! You’re one of the friendliest bloggers around & what a year you’ve had! Long may it reign x
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Ah thank you huni, what a lovely comment. I hope to meet up with you next year! x
Great post and what a year! I know how hard you work and your success is well-deserved. It’s lovely to have met you, and hope to see you around at some point next year, too x
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Thank you huni, I hope we will see each other soon x
What a lovely post.
Here’s to a fabulous 2015
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Thank you huni. Have a wonderful 2015 x
Lovely. 🙂 my goal for 2015 is to get ranked higher and get more followers and readers. Fingers crossedit works. Your blog is amazing. I pop by a few times a day.
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Good luck with your goals! Thanks for your support x
Aby darling. This is a wonderful post. It made me teary to read it. You are completely right. I never imagined I could be such amazing friends with people I met through blogging. I love you honey and I love your blog. Let’s raise a glass to 2015 and blog world domination. Hugs Mrs H xxxx PS Thanks for including me. That is definitely one of my fav pics of the year. xxxx
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Oh hun, thank you for this lovely comment. I can’t wait to see you again and I am all for world domination xxxx
I hope New Year 2015 will bring you more cheerful moments!
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Thank you, you too hun x
What a lovely post! I began blogging this summer and I’ve been amazed by how much pleasure it is giving me. I just wish I had more time for it. You’re Blog is fantastic! Best of luck continuing with it into 2015.
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Thank you for your lovely comment. I hope you can find more time next year to blog x
Lush post Aby 🙂 I can’t wait to meet you in person, give you a big hug and get a selfie with you! I have so enjoyed reading your blog, you are very talented and an inspiration and it is amazing how far you and your blog have come. Xxx
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Aww thank you huni. Your comment made me quite emotional, what a lovely thing to say. I can’t wait to meet you xxx
Lovely 2014 round up Aby. What a difference a year makes! Have a great time at Camp Bestival & Blue Stone, they’re both on my must do list, you put so much into your blog, you deserve a break! Happy New Year & all the best for 2015 x
Author
Thank you huni that is very kind. Happy New Year x
So glad that 2014 has been such a good year for you on the blogging front and so encouraging to know that success can come with hard work. I have loved reading your blog this year and getting to know you through it and look forward to reading more next year. Love that photo of you with Paddington – we were there yesterday having a similar photo taken! Hope 2015 will be all you wish for x
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Thank you huni. I am glad you like my blog. Here’s to lots of success for all of us this year x
Ah blogging tis a wonderful thing indeed! Happy new Year 🙂
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Happy New Year to you too huni x
It sounds like an eventful year for you, well done on growing your Twitter followers massively too. Wishing you continued success in 2015
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Thanks, you too huni x
What a great blogging year!
I love reading your blog it is definitely one of my favourite and you always post so many helpful posts for new to blogging people like me.
I hope 2015 is just as successful for you!
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Thank you, I am so glad you like my posts. Here’s to a great year for all of us x
Blogging is so amazing isn’t it. Glad you’ve had such a great year and it was lovely to share it with you. Happy New Year x
Author
It has been a great year, thanks x
Lovely post!! Your success is totally deserved. I enjoy coming back to your blog time and time again for your tips and advice for blogging – thank you so much! All the best for 2015 x
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Thank you so much for your kind comment. I am glad you like my blog x
Oh this is such a lovely post and I am so pleased to be in there too! Wishing you so much success for 2015 x
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Thank you huni, I can’t wait to see you again this year x
What a lovely post Aby- I have loved getting to know you through your blog this year and thank you for always being so supportive of mine, I hope you know that I will always do the same for you. Here’s to a fabulous blogging year in 2015 for you- I predict fab things! 🙂 xx
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Oh huni thank you so much for this comment. I adore you blog (I think it was the 2nd I ever read) so I am always so flattered when you stop by to read mine. I am so happy to call you a friend and I hope we can meet up this year xx
heres to blogging!! and here’s to 2015 being even more amazing!!
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Thanks huni and I hope you have a wonderful year x
LOVE IT!! I’m so glad that you have such a fabulous relationship with blogging and it brings such joy to your life 🙂 That’s infectious and YOU make me want to do better! Thank you for including me in your photo montage – big love xxxx
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Aww thank you huni. Of course I included you! Blogging allowed me to become your friend and for that I will always be grateful xxxx
I thought I commented the other day…obvs not! Great look back, well done Aby you had a great 2014. I hope 2015 brings you more of the same and much much more!
Was lovely to meet you at blogcamp, here’s to a proper chat at britmums.
Lastly thank you so much for all the help and support you have given me, always their to answer my DMs with my millions of Q’s!
X
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Thank you huni. It is my pleasure and I am happy that you feel happy to message me, you know I will always help if I can x
Well done lovely, having done Bluestone and Camp Bestival you will have a ball. Will see you at Camp B xxx
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Thanks so much huni xxx
Wow … quite a gratitude ‘list’. Blogging can be one surprising journey, can’t it? I’m glad that it’s brought many pleasant and lasting surprises your way. May it bring bigger and better into your life this year. So pleased for you that your hardwork has paid off and that you’ve made brilliant friends along the way. #TheList
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Thanks so much, blogging is more than I ever dreamed it could be x
Love this, you are such a wonderful lovely lady and I’m so glad to have met you and become friends. Your support has been so grateful. You re my blog guru but friend first. Happy New year gorgeous lady and may 2015 Rock even more for you. Mwah xxxx
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Aww bless you huni, you really are too kind. I love you lots and am so glad we are friends. I can’t wait to see you again xxxx
Ah, what a lovely and inspirational post 🙂 Congratulations on an amazing blogging year!
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Thanks so much, I am glad you enjoyed it x
Such a lovely post. Blogging really is incredible, and the friendships I’ve made are one of my favourite parts of it. You’ve achieved so much with your blog, something to feel so proud of, especially as I know it’s the result of an awful lot of hard work from you. Best wishes for your blog to flourish still further! It was lovely to meet you at BlogFest xxx
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Thank you so much huni for your wonderful comment. I am so grateful everyday to my blog for all the wonderful things it gives me. I hope to see you really soon at a blog event xxx
Wow your blog is amazing, well done on such a fantastic year. I can’t believe the friends I have met since February I feel so lucky too x
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Thank you I really appreciate it. The friends is the best thing to come from blogging x
Amazing what a difference a year makes! You deserve al the wonderful things that have come your way, you blog is lovely and posts like these really help all bloggers on their blogging journeys. Here’s to another fabulous year! x
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Thanks so much. I really appreciate your lovely comment, thanks huni x
Love this post 🙂 hope 2015 is just as good for you x
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Thanks huni, I hope 2015 is fab for all of us! x
Sounds like you’ve had an amazing year – lets hope 2015 is just as good #MBPW
Author
Thanks so much. It has been great so far x
Aw such a lovely post, the blogging community is the best isn’t it? Bring on 2015! 🙂
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I would never have imagined it could be so wonderful x
What a beautiful post. I am sure and hope that 2015 brings you all of that again and more. Blogging really has changed my life and it’s amazing bloggers like yourself that motivate me, encourage me, and keep me going too! Happy New Year darling. Thank you so much for linking up to Share With Me. #sharewithme
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Thank you so much for such a lovely comment. I hope 2015 gives you everything you want and I hope to see you soon x
Great achievement in only a year. I wish I’d started mine earlier when N was just a tiny baby so I’d had more time when on mat leave to really get to grasp with it instead of waiting til I was back at work.
It’s great for newbies to see what bloggers can achieve if they really work at it.
All the best for 2015.
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Thank you, that is such a kind comment. I am a little obsessed and work every single night and every spare baby free second. I hope you have a wonderful 2015 too x
What a really lovely post. I think one of the things that has surprised me (in a very good way) the most about blogging is the lovely people that I have met and how supportive and nice they all are. I really didn’t expect to make friends through it, but am so, so happy that I have. xx
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Thank you. It is a fabulous world that I knew nothing about 2 years ago xx
Wishing you a successful 2015 too #sharewithme
Ah what a lovely post! I don’t know where you get your energy from but it certainly is wonderful! Hope 2015 is just as successful for you x x x
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Thank you huni. I am not sure either! xx
What a wonderful year darling full of fabulous friends, opportunities and joy, Here’s to another cracker. Hope to meet up again in 2015. Thanks for linking up to #brilliantblogposts x
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Thank you huni, yes it would be lovely to meet up x
I feel exactly the same – our blogs have followed a similar path over the last year with custom designs, Tots rankings and increasing Twitter followings.
It was lovely to meet you at the end of the year and I’m looking forward to seeing you again soon!
#BrilliantBlogPosts
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Yes it would be fab to see you again huni x