9 years ago today I started my blog. Hard to believe I am about to go into my 10th year and have been blogging nearly a decade in this space. So many things have changed in that time. When I started blogging blogs were pretty plain and simple. Social media consisted of Twitter and that’s about it. The blog world is a totally different space and most of the friends I made early in blogging don’t blog anymore. But I wanted to share 9 things for 9 years, just random memories/fun facts/ etc. At the very bottom of this post is an amazing giveaway so check it out!
9 Things For 9 Years
The font/color situation. When I was first blogging it was really popular to change the font and color of font in your post all the way through. It was also popular to align the post down the middle. Face palm.
Blissdom was the first blog conference I went to back in 2011. The last time Blissdom was held was 2013 and it’s coming back next year. You bet your booty I’ll be there. Blissdom completely changed my life!
I used to not be private about any part of my life. I feel like I naively shared TOO much on my blog early on. Once I got married I really pulled in and kept personal life personal. We don’t share Liam or much about our families because we really want to respect their privacy.
Friendships. I have a really hard time trusting people and always have. Some of my greatest friendships however, are ones I made in this space. Some of them still blog. Some do not. Some I talk to daily some I do not. But these are girls I trust with my life.
My husband. Did you know that not for blogging I would not have met Andrew? True story. One of my friends I made in this space made Andrew and I happen! Thanks, Sar!
Travel. Some of the best travel opportunities I have had have been because of blogging. Traveling to Tampa, Chicago, New York, BVI, Bahamas, St. Marteen. So many cool places I have gotten to visit thanks to this amazing space.
Support. The support I have been giving through so many hard life circumstances amazes me. People I have never met in person reaching out and being so loving, caring, and supportive. It really makes me see the good in people.
Relationships with brands. Because of this space I have gotten to work with so many of my favorite brands and build amazing relationships and friendships because of it. I have gotten to see the backend of how so many brands work and develop products. For this I am forever grateful.
Staying home with my boy. Because of this job that I love so much I have been able to stay home with Liam. I have gotten to see every first and not miss a moment! I am forever grateful to YOU guys reading this blog because without you all of this would not be possible.
To say a BIG thank you I am giving away two great things. I truly could not do this without you guys so this is just a very small token of my appreciation!
I am giving away a $100 gift card to ANYWHERE you want! You decide! I am also giving away THIS Chappywrap blanket! It’s worth $129 and the coziest thing ever! One of my favorite things in the world. Just use the Rafflecopter below to enter! I will announce the winner on the widget within 24 hours of the giveaway ending and email them. They will have 24 hours to claim before I pick another winner!
Thank you for the giveaway, Neely! I remember back when blogging used to be all about customising the fonts and making flashy graphics and changing the cursor. I kinda miss it sometimes! 😉
Oh my gosh, your first point reminds me of the early 2000s websites. I’ve been doing web design since I was just starting high school and it’s amazing how much the style has changed since then. I also have found that I am working on keeping my private life more private through my blog.
Wow, that is wonderful that you have been blogging for 9 years! I loved learning all this about you, especially that you met your husband through your blog!!
Oh my gosh, happy nine years! I remember when I began my first blog back in 2009 and I cannot believe how much it has changed. If I got a gift card, I would love if it went to Target!
An Amazon Gift Card. I will get the books I have so wanted to buy but were not within my budget. Congratulations on your 9th year anniversary. That is fantastic!
I can imagine that blogging has changed drastically in the last 10 years. Congratulations on starting your 10th year. I just started my blog this year.
Blogging is great, isn’t it? It opens so many opportunities. I remember the first blogging conference I have been to and how it changed my life as well!
I would want it to WalMart or Target or even a pet store. I shelter elderly rescues and I would use it to buy Friskie’s canned cat food. Most of the cats are so old, they don’t have teeth. I have 12 at the moment. I did lose 4 this year.
I love the blanket and your pics make them look even more comfy 😁 I would like a gift card to Walmart. We live in the country and only have 2 small grocery stores here so they can charge what they want but, we have a super Walmart about 50 minutes away and I’d love to go there and just splurge. I would love to be able to get some extra foods we normally cant get and have them this year around the holidays
Congrats on 9 years, that’s dedication! If I had to pick a place, I’d pick Target or Amazon as there’s lots to choose from and I’m an indecisive shopper.
It is great that blogging has brought you many great things and people over the past 9 years. Who knows what the next years are going to bring you. Hopefully, they are as great as the past 9.
Congratulations on 9 years! That is such an amazing accomplishment. It shows incredible determination and creativity to continue to put out such high quality content.
Wow, 9 years! Congratulations!!! That is an amazing milestone. And you’re right, so many things HAVE changed over that timespan! 9 years ago at this moment I was still 4 years away from starting my blog, and pregnant with my firstborn lol…
Happy Blogversary and cheers to many more! That’s definitely a long time in the world of blogging. I’m hoping to finally launch in the new year! If I’m the lucky winner, I’ll take a gift card to Target.
Oh wow, 9 years was a milestone. I just love your travel experience. Those were really a great place to visit. Congratulations to you! love the Chappywrap blanket! giveaway.
Congratulations, Neely! Happy 9th Blogiversary! What a milestone! We look forward to many, many more with you! I would say Target. Practical in every way for me.
Congratulations on your 9 years. That is amazing. And you continually have great content. I do not know where I would choose the gift card from. Probably Amazon or Paypal if that is an option. Thank you so much.
Firstly, congratulations on reaching a milestone. 9 years of blogging is a great achievement, and it sounds like your life is better and richer for it, especially when it comes to forming friendship in the blogger-sphere and of course meeting your husband! It’s great to know that blogging gives you the opportunity to travel too (umm, Bahamas…hello!). I’m yet to get to that stage, but it is something I aspire to achieve.
Happy Anniversary! It’s amazing how much the online world has changed in the past decade. I’ve had a lot of those “what were we thinking” moments myself. It will be interesting to see what the next 10 years brings.
Congrats on 9 years. It’s crazy how much blogging changes…I celebrated 11 years in August, but I love it, so I’m not quitting anytime soon. I didn’t know you met your husband because you blogged…that’s so cool! Fun giveaway! If I was lucky to win, I might go with something like Target or Old Navy.
Thank you for the giveaway, Neely! I remember back when blogging used to be all about customising the fonts and making flashy graphics and changing the cursor. I kinda miss it sometimes! 😉
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
I would like a gift card to Walmart. It’s practical!
Thank you for the giveaway! I love a good snuggly blanket and gift cards are fabulous too (make mine Target) 🙂
Congratulations on 9 years!
A gift card to target would be wonderful – so many options
Happy 9 years! I would probably choose Target or Whole Foods!
Congratulations on 9 years! That’s so impressive! I would like Target.
Congrats girl!! And you know I’m going to Target if I win 😂
congratulations! i would love a nordstrom gift card. thanks!
b
I would love it for Walmart.
Congrats on 9 years, thats awesome!
I love Amazon so that would be great
I would like a Amazon gift card 🙂
Thnaks for this giveaway!
Wow! Congratulations on the 9 years of blogging! A huge milestone!
Target, J, Crew Factory, Boden or Winco
This was so fun to read especially for a somewhat newbie blogger , I remember when everyone was changing their fonts all the time haha
I’d get the gift card from Amazon! Saving for a new running watch / Garmin.
Such a generous giveaway! I’d choose Amazon because there’s always something to be found there!
Definitely Target – it’s the best! 🙂
I would love it for Target. What a help it would be in purchasing vitamins and other necessaries.
I would probably choose an amazon gift card.
Target!
Happy 9 years!
Wow, congratulations! It’s nice to hear a success story like yours. Here’s to 9 more years and more!
I’ve been enjoying reading this blog for the past two years.
I would choose a gift card from Amazon. I have a lot of clothes and stuff on my wish list!
I would like an Amazon gift card. Congrats on 9 years!
Oh my gosh, your first point reminds me of the early 2000s websites. I’ve been doing web design since I was just starting high school and it’s amazing how much the style has changed since then. I also have found that I am working on keeping my private life more private through my blog.
Wow, congratulations! I have just start my blogging adventure, so your tips are really precious for me 😊
I would choose a Disney gift card for my birthday trip in February!
Amazon card
Amaaaazing!!! It is great how grateful you are about the small and big stuff!
Chad
Happy Blogiversary! I’d love a gc to Sephora or Target! Happy Holidays!
Wow, that is wonderful that you have been blogging for 9 years! I loved learning all this about you, especially that you met your husband through your blog!!
Oh my gosh, happy nine years! I remember when I began my first blog back in 2009 and I cannot believe how much it has changed. If I got a gift card, I would love if it went to Target!
I’d love a gift card to Amazon.
Congrats on 9 years!! I can imagine things have changed a ton since then.
I’d love it for Indigo/Chapters!!
An Amazon Gift Card. I will get the books I have so wanted to buy but were not within my budget. Congratulations on your 9th year anniversary. That is fantastic!
Would love to have an amazon gift card.. grats.
Congratulations on 9 years! So impressive. It’s so cool that you met your husband through blogging.
I would want a gift card to Amazon. I can find almost everything there!
I think I would do Nordstroms 🙂 Thank you happy anniversary 🙂
I can imagine that blogging has changed drastically in the last 10 years. Congratulations on starting your 10th year. I just started my blog this year.
Wow, that was such a long time. You are very consistent.. Seems like you are really passionate on being a blogger. Good job. 😘
Im sure that blogging has changed dynamically in the past 9 years. way to go for sticking with it.
maybe Target
Happy Anniversary on blogging! It’s a huge milestone for you and inspiration for us. Thanks for sharing some important facts during those years.
Wow! Congrats to your 9 year in blogging. How I wish I met my future husband in blogging Lol! This is really nice <3
It is nice to hear a success story like yours.
Congratulations, that’s a very long time. It’s nice that you really love blogging. So generous of you. Thank you for the giveaway.
Blogging is great, isn’t it? It opens so many opportunities. I remember the first blogging conference I have been to and how it changed my life as well!
Congratulations! 9 years is such an accomplishment!
Congratulations! What an amazing accomplishment. I just celebrated my blog’s third birthday so I understand how huge this is!
Congratulations on your blogging anniversary! 9 years is like a lifetime in the blogging world to me! You are definitely blogging goals!
Walmart would be nice
Target. Always Target. Congratulations, friend!
Congrats on your anniversary! I would love a Target gift card.
Congratulations on nine years! Things sure have changed in that period of time!
Congrats on your success! Gift card to Walmart. Or Amazon. Thanks!
Congrats on 9 years! I would pick a Wal-Mart card.
I would totally love Target!!!!
Congratulations and smart of you to celebrate this landmark. My blog turned 10 two weeks ago and I completely forgot. Great giveaway too.
Happy 9th Blogiversary!!! Congrats on being one of the OG’s in the blogging world!
If I won, I’d love a Nordstrom gift card to treat myself!
I would want it to WalMart or Target or even a pet store. I shelter elderly rescues and I would use it to buy Friskie’s canned cat food. Most of the cats are so old, they don’t have teeth. I have 12 at the moment. I did lose 4 this year.
Congratulations. That’s really amazing!
I love the blanket and your pics make them look even more comfy 😁 I would like a gift card to Walmart. We live in the country and only have 2 small grocery stores here so they can charge what they want but, we have a super Walmart about 50 minutes away and I’d love to go there and just splurge. I would love to be able to get some extra foods we normally cant get and have them this year around the holidays
Congrats on 9 years! I am just finishing up year 1 and I will have to say that it can be a full time job in itself.
Congrats on 9 years, that’s dedication! If I had to pick a place, I’d pick Target or Amazon as there’s lots to choose from and I’m an indecisive shopper.
I’d like an Amazon gift card. It’s useful for so many things.
9 Years! That’s great. Congratulations. If I won, an Amazon or Nordstrom gift card would be fantastic.
Congratulations on your milestone. That is awesome!I would love Target or Amazon.
It is great that blogging has brought you many great things and people over the past 9 years. Who knows what the next years are going to bring you. Hopefully, they are as great as the past 9.
Congratulations on 9 years! That is such an amazing accomplishment. It shows incredible determination and creativity to continue to put out such high quality content.
Good for you that you had that 9 things within that 9 years. It was such long time of blogging. No wonder you had it all there.
I would love the gift card tp Walmart.
Wow, 9 years! Congratulations!!! That is an amazing milestone. And you’re right, so many things HAVE changed over that timespan! 9 years ago at this moment I was still 4 years away from starting my blog, and pregnant with my firstborn lol…
(oh, and I guess I’d take a gift card to Amazon – or could it be in PayPal payout lol?)
Congrats on 9 years!!! I think I would pick amazon
This is amazing! Congratulations on 9 years, what an accomplishment. 🙂
I think it would be fun to have a gift card to Etsy. I buy a lot of handmade products and love supporting small businesses.
Hats off for keeping up with a blog for 9 whole years… I find it sooo consuming… but just holding on to it… Congratulations on the big milestone…
I would love a gift card to Target! SO many things all in one place!
Happy Blogversary and cheers to many more! That’s definitely a long time in the world of blogging. I’m hoping to finally launch in the new year! If I’m the lucky winner, I’ll take a gift card to Target.
Congrats! Target would be awesome…or maybe Trader Joe’s! Does Trader Joe’s have gift cards?! Lol.
happy 9 years! I’m close to reaching my 9th year too 😀 a lovely list of 9 things and a lot of great experiences too
Oh wow, 9 years was a milestone. I just love your travel experience. Those were really a great place to visit. Congratulations to you! love the Chappywrap blanket! giveaway.
Thanks for sharing those 9 facts. Very interesting. That is funny how blogging lead you to your hubby. s
I would love a card to Whole Foods!
I’d like a $100 gift card for Amazon! I’m pretty busy with med school, and I buy half of the things in my household there
I would want my gift card to be for Sephora!
I would want a Amazon gift card Congrats on 9 yeras
I would spent it at walmart on my kids for christmas. Thanks!
Congratulations!!😉😊I would choose if I win a Amazon GC
I would probably ask for Amazon GC because I shop there a lot.
Congrats on 9 years, btw! That is a big accomplishment!
I think I would choose an amazon gift card.
love a card to Amazon
Congrats Neely! Nordstrom/Amazon are my go to’s but I’m thinking Southwest might be a better option to go somewhere new!
Amanda @ Cupcake N Dreams
I would choose Amazon.
I’d like a gift card to paypal or amazon
I’d love to have it for Chapters/Indigo.
I would love a gift card to Target!
A gift card to Dillards would be awesome! I love shopping there. 🙂
Congratulations on 9 years! That’s amazing! I would love a gift card to Amazon.
I would love for it to be to Walmart!
I would love a gift card to Walmart so I can use it to buy groceries.
I think that is absolutley amazing you met your hubby through blogging!
Congratulations, Neely! Happy 9th Blogiversary! What a milestone! We look forward to many, many more with you! I would say Target. Practical in every way for me.
I would want a Target gift card!! Thank you!!
I would love the gift card be for Amazon if I were to win please.
Id love to get a gift card for Target, shopping spree!
Congratulations on your 9 years. That is amazing. And you continually have great content. I do not know where I would choose the gift card from. Probably Amazon or Paypal if that is an option. Thank you so much.
I would love to win one for Walmart. Thanks!
I would choose Amazon since that’s where I spend most of my money. Merry Christmas!!
I would like the gift card to the superstore to use on groceries! 🙂
I would like a gift card for Walmart.
I would like Amazon.
Thanks for the chance to win….Walmart for me!
I would love a gift card to target!
I would love a $100 Amazon giftcard:)
Firstly, congratulations on reaching a milestone. 9 years of blogging is a great achievement, and it sounds like your life is better and richer for it, especially when it comes to forming friendship in the blogger-sphere and of course meeting your husband! It’s great to know that blogging gives you the opportunity to travel too (umm, Bahamas…hello!). I’m yet to get to that stage, but it is something I aspire to achieve.
Congrats on your 9th blogiversary! I’d love a gift card to Amazon – happy holidays!
Congrats on 9 long years! That’s amazing! I’d love amazon! This is so cool!
I would pick Walmart.
Congrats on 9 years. I would want it from Walmart.Thank you.
I would like a gift card to Amazon.
starbucks for sure!
I would love an Amazon Gift Card 🙂
Happy Anniversary! It’s amazing how much the online world has changed in the past decade. I’ve had a lot of those “what were we thinking” moments myself. It will be interesting to see what the next 10 years brings.
I’d choose Walmart. It has everything!
Congrats on 9 years! I’d love an Amazon gift card:)
I would like the card for Walmart.
I would choose Amazon. Always useful! Thanks for the opportunity — very generous of you.
I’d love to get a Target gift card!
I would want the gift card to Walmart since that is where my parents shop the most often and I’d love to give it as a gift to them!
Congrats on 9 years. It’s crazy how much blogging changes…I celebrated 11 years in August, but I love it, so I’m not quitting anytime soon. I didn’t know you met your husband because you blogged…that’s so cool! Fun giveaway! If I was lucky to win, I might go with something like Target or Old Navy.
-Lauren
I think I would prefer an Amazon gift card.
Trader Joe’s, for some chocolate
I would love a Target gift card! Thanks for the giveaway 🙂
I would love it for amazon. There is so much selection of products to chose from!
A gift card to Target would be nice!
Amazon
Save On Foods or any grocery store as I would like to donate this to my local food bank. Thanks for the chance!
Congratulations on 9’years! I would love to get an Amazon gift card if I was lucky enough to win. Thank you for the great giveaway.
I would like to a $100 gift card to Amazon!
I would choose Amazon since I am pretty much home bound with my health right now. Right to my door!! Thank you!
Please excuse if I already posted, but would love to have Amazon. My computer is acting up today.
Congratulations!
I would love a gift card to Target! Thanks for the chance!
I would probably choose Walmart or Amazon
I would love an Amazon gift card.
I would like a WalMart gift card.
I would like a WalMart gift card. I love shopping there.
Amazon is always good! Walmart also!
I like shopping online at Amazon, and I would like to try out the prime pantry! I’d stock up on treats and gifts from my wishlist!
I would probably pick Publix or Walmart.
Congrats, girl! What an amazing milestone! You know I will be running to Target if I win!~ xo
I would like the gift card to Target. I shop there alot.
Congrats on 9 years. A gift card to Walmart would be great.
I would like a gift card to Target! Thanks for the chance!
Happy 9th Blog anniversary ! There is lots of work involved to make a blog fly.! would prefer an amazon.ca card or Walmart. thank you
congratulations, sephora or target would be wonderful! happy anniversary!
I would want a gift card to Amazon.
I’d love $100 to Amazon. SO many options there
I would love to have a gift card to Amazon
It’s a tough choice it would either be Amazon or Starbucks.
Kroger lol.
I would love a 100$ Amazon gift card
I would love it to be for AMAZON there is so many thing’s I need on my wishlist LOL!
I would love an Amazon gift card. Not only could I use it to buy some essentials, I could also rent a movie to watch on Christmas.
Amazon gift card would be great
I would like the gift card to Walmart because I always end up shopping there.
I get most things on Amazon so I would choose Amazon!
9 Years congrats! I would like a Starbucks or Walmart GC.
I would like Whole Foods or Target.
I want my gift card to Walmart.
I would choose Amazon absolutey love amazon and prime.
Happy Blogoversary! Either Target or Walmart.
I suppose Target would be nice. They do have EVERYTHING.
I would love a gift card to Amazon! I am unfortunately highly addicted LOL I bet my mail carrier wishes I had a different Hobby!!
Happy 9 years. I would like the gc forAmazon.
I have three that comes to mind. Walmart amazon and or a visa card but that last one only if i is possible.