3 years of blogging!

Three years ago tomorrow I started this little blog. I loved reading my friends’ blogs and really wanted my own, but I also had the fear that I’d have nothing to write about. And now, here I am, three years and almost 700 posts later, and I still feel like I have nothing to write about!

My first post was seriously lame, but I was just easing my way into it to see what would happen. I’ve absolutely loved being a blogger and sometimes wonder how long I’ll continue. But there’s not a single reason that I want to stop.

So, in no particular order, I wanted to share with you the things I love about blogging and reading blogs.

1. You find the absolute most wonderful and creative ideas. Blogs are better than magazines. I have countless saved images and starred posts in my Google Reader that I’d like to use at a party or in my house somewhere. The inspiration resources are free and innumerable.

2. If you need an opinion, you’re going to get one. Sometimes we ask for advice and get great advice. Sometimes we don’t ask for advice and get advice anyway… which is not always all that fun. But there is bound to be someone that has the right answer to solve the problem I have.

3. The relationships that I’ve found in the blogging community are so special to me and there are about a dozen other girls that I don’t know what I’d do without. In the blogosphere there is someone going through the same thing you’re going through somewhere and it’s so great to be able to connect and relate. And then there are the ones that have entirely different struggles and interests and you click with them anyway just because the friendships are awesome. I probably should have put this at number 1.

4. I’ve had to learn a lot about conflict resolution. I haven’t had conflicts in my life the way that I have through blogging. The negative comments. The mean, hateful comments about your family. The sarcastic anonymous comments from someone at your husband’s old law firm. I can’t say I always handle it well, but I’m protective and I love my family.

5. I’ve had a chance to use my creativity every single day. Blogging has become a hobby and it’s something I work into my daily schedule. Even if I write the post late at night and schedule it for the morning or I do it during nap time. I try to make time for it every day because I love it.

So that’s all I put into words right now.

But I want to thank all of my friends for reading and making these three years so much fun! Have a great weekend!

Don’t forget to enter the Blessed Be The Name giveaway!

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Comments

  1. says

    Congratulations! I look forward to reading your blog everyday and the creativity in your posts never fall short of amazing me. Your blog is also a big inspiration for my own blogs! Heres to many more year of happy blogging for you!

  2. says

    3 years wow, I hope to be reading this blog in another 3 years! You have such a cute family. I am glad the negative comments didn’t get you down! Keep writing your amazing blog and we will always be reading!

  3. jcristg says

    I think when you put so much of your life online, you open yourself up to a fair amount of criticism, whether it is or isn’t warranted. When people have the opportunity to anonymously critique someone’s way of living, they are going to take it. It’s unfortunate, really. Quite frankly, having so much of my life online, for friends and unknowns alike, was what made me quit blogging. Sometimes all the positives you listed above aren’t enough to justify not having any privacy.

    All of that being said, I am glad you blog and I enjoy it!

  4. says

    Erin, I am truly so glad I came across your blog and had the pleasure of meeting you!!!!! You represent the south well and a true southern belle, ha!! We may be in different stages of life, but there’s something I ALWAYs take away from your blog!!!! Thank you for being you!!! Happy bloggy anniversary!! 🙂

  5. says

    That’s so great! It’s really amazing what a blessing blogging can be in everyone’s lives… I’m so glad that you blog and that I found it long ago!

    Congrats on 3 years!

  6. says

    Yes, happy three years! About being protective of your family – I understand! I had my first troll comments this week and they were hard to swallow. BUT, the joy of blogging far outweighs the annoying people who have nothing better to do than hurt others! Keep on keepin’ on 🙂

  7. says

    Hi! Happy 3 years. I love your blog! How STRANGE someone from your hubs’ old firm read your blog and left rude comments. Don’t they have better things to do? Kind of like when someone from my old company creepily read my blog and talked to people about it. STRANGE!!!

  8. carrie says

    I can’t imagine anyone wanting to say anything negative about your family! I think maybe they’re just jealous or unsatisified with their lives to make such ugly comments about yours! I LOVE your blogs!! Keep ’em coming!! 🙂

  9. says

    Happy Anniversary!
    Your blog is fabulous! I enjoy following along!
    I understand the dilemna with unnecessary rudeness. I have found that, on my own blog at least, they usually come from others who are just not happy!
    You can’t please everyone! But that’s not the point of blogging!
    Always be yourself because that is how your blog has been so great all this time!
    Have a wonderful weekend!!!
    Love, Elizabeth

  10. says

    Congratulations on 3 years! I am new to the blogging world, I’ve been a reader of yours for a while but just recently starting blogging about my own life. It’s people like you that have inspired me, so thank you! 🙂

  11. says

    Yay! Good for you & congrats! I love reading your blog everyday. You were the FIRST blog I had ever read! Thanks for all of your inspiration, help, and always responding to my questions. You should celebrate tonight!! 🙂

  12. says

    Keep writing, Erin. I always enjoy reading what you have to say. Whether I always agree or not, doesn’t matter. It’s always interesting to look at things from different points of view. I love seeing all the fun things you do with Hudson too – it gives me ideas for Gavin. Keep it up! Erin

  13. Jan says

    Erin, I enjoy reading your blogs. From time to time as I am reading your thoughts and reactions, I think to myself, “Wow, that sounds just like something I would think, say, or do.” Although I am much, much older than you, we still share similar qualities. You are a beautiful young woman and don’t let anyone pull your down with their criticisms.

    I have known your sweet Todd for many years. My daughters went to school with him and they grew up together. In fact, Todd and my younger daughter both attended Furman. Todd visited at my home several times and you are a very lucky woman. (I can tell he is also lucky to have found you.)

    Remember this:

    “There is so much good in the worst of us,
    And so much bad in the best of us,
    That it really behooves any of us
    To talk about the rest of us.
    -Edward Wallis-

    So tell your critics to take that!

  14. Christy says

    What a great milestone! Your blog is fabulous! After finding it through Kristin’s I’m absolutely hooked! You’ve made me a blog reader for life, and I can’t find any other blog who is as interesting to read about as you – I think it does have to do with the fact that we have son’s the same age range, & our lives are so similar. 🙂

    Thanks for introducing me into the blogging world! Maybe someday I’ll overcome my fear and start one.

    Keep at it! We love Blue Eyed Bride!

  15. Squirmy says

    Congrats on 3 years of blogging! That’s a pretty great milestone especially as you post daily! I love reading your blog and find it as inspirational as you find others.
    I find it odd that people would want to comment negatively, but hey, there’s no pleasing some people! 🙂
    Keep up the fantastic blog! 🙂

  16. Becky says

    Congrats on 3 years! Curious to know what have been the most surprising things for you about blogging? Did you ever imagine you’d be doing it this long or that your blog would be so popular or that you’d make such strong frienships from it?

  17. says

    Congrats! Blogs like yours are what made me decide to start blogging. I hope that I’ll be saying the same thing in three years! Looking forward to the inspiration you’ll give all of your readers in the next year!

  18. says

    Three years.. wow. Amazing what changes in that amount of time!

    I personally am so glad you started blogging. I’m so glad I’ve found you and become friends with you. I love chatting with you about stuff and all the help you’ve given. I wouldn’t have made it through E’s first few months without you and a few others!

    Happy 3 years!!

  19. says

    Erin,
    Congrats on 3 years! I love your blog and read it a couple times a week. I draw inspiration and encouragement from you, so just know you definitely “give back”! I hate the haters and really can’t stand when good bloggers quit because of those nasty meanies. Anyway, thanks for your blog and here’s a big hug to you from me!

  20. says

    I totally agree with everything you said. I have a friend who HATES blogs (like absolutely detests them) and doesn’t understand why I or my other friends do it. We shared almost all the same reasons you did and she didn’t agree. I say she’s missing out!

    Happy 3 year blogoversary – ha!

  21. says

    happy three year:) I am so happy you started blogging and that we were able to become friends:) I love reading your blog and being your friend! u are an amazing friend and person and I am so thankful God brought us together through blogging! So MUCH FUN:) Love you

  22. says

    Congrats on the 3 year mark!!

    I feel so blessed call you my “blog friend!” When I began blogging in January 2008 I had no idea I’d meet such wonderful women through this outlet. It’s amazing! I absolutely love BEB but I love having you as a friend even more!!

  23. says

    How exciting! I didn’t realize you have been blogging for three years now. I have enjoyed being a reader of yours for the last two! I have LOVED all your helpful tips (especially regarding party planning!) and loved seeing your little boy grow up. I am getting married in March and hope my future family turns out half as cute! 🙂

  24. anonymous says

    By no means am I a hater. I read your blog just about every day because it is certainly entertaining. Isn’t that why we read? To be entertained? To learn? Are we different? Definitely. I do scratch my head a good bit after reading your posts and comment (to myself) that we live in different worlds for sure. But, isn’t that what makes life interesting? If my thoughts and beliefs were identical to yours, you would have no need to blog – there would be nothing unique or different about you or any of your readers or fellow bloggers. Was my comment a little sarcastic? Perhaps. BUT, if you read your posts, you have to get where I was coming from. If you do as many projects as you post about – and I am NOT doubting that you do – and you are a mom, a wife, a blogger, etc., how do you have time for anything else (let alone that much TV)? See, when I get home, I am exhausted. Wiped out. So, if you have tips on how you get it all done, why not post about it? I mean, I am certainly interested and I am sure your other readers are interested too. I am always looking for ways to be MORE organized – would I ever organize my DVR – nope. Don’t even own one. Again, we are different and that is what makes this world a wonderful, entertaining place. Although, I have really enjoyed your blog for a good while, if I can’t comment (anonymously or not), this might not be such an entertaining blog for me.

  25. says

    Dear anonymous, I think you should read back your comments. I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt and assuming you don’t realize how you come across. I,too, read your comment as extremely sarcastic. Today’s comment was also full of little digs, in my opinion. My saying Erin’s blog is “certainly entertaining” you imply she is frivolous. I think we all know what you meant and there is no need to come back and clarify yourself. Who cares how Erin gets it done? For that matter, who cares how you get it done? If you had a genuine desire for that knowledge, you should search her archives, because she has blogged before about how she keeps herself organized.

    Maybe Erin’s life is different from yours, but that doesn’t mean yours is somehow better.

    Furthermore, your comment about commenting is ludicrous. You comment behind a veil of anonymity, which is just cowardly. If you are an adult, own your words. Own your identity. Why be anonymous if this is how you really feel?

  26. says

    Dear Anonymous,
    I didn’t call you a hater. I said that you were leaving sarcastic comments on my blog, and you admitted to that. I will never understand anonymous comments- especially if you believe in what you say. You should put your name behind it. But nothing is ever anonymous and can always be traced back to a specific location. I don’t care that our beliefs are different. I know that no two people are alike.

    I do read my posts. I write them and then read them again. I’ve actually devoted an entire post to how I am able to watch TV at the end of the day. Maybe you should go back and read it. It’s amazing that Hudson sleeps 13 hours every night, but you better believe we take full advantage of it.

    You should also know that when you read blogs (my blog or anyone else’s), you’re getting a glimpse into someone’s life. You’re not seeing everything there is to see. We have to keep some things to ourselves– just as you choose to not put your name on this blog. So if you think you’re getting a clear picture of what every single day is like in our household, you’re very wrong.

  27. anonymous says

    I was simply commenting on your post. I don’t know what your life is REALLY like. I only know what you portray on your post. Sorry I hit a nerve! If I had time to search your archives, I would have time to …. watch more TV, I guess. Toodles Poodles!

  28. unkown says

    I don’t know what to say…I’ve gone over this post in my head 100 times. I have followed this blog since the beginning. And I mean since…the…beginning. However, I’ve never posted. I guess I was afraid what I said would be ridiculed. And I didn’t want anything to alter the perfect ideal I held about this blog, it’s author, the content, sponsors, etc. That wasn’t fair. I know that now.

    But I also held back from posting because I’m wary of relaying information on the internet. And all the others who made anonymous posts were dismissed as “hiding” or “having nothing better to do.” Well, maybe not all of them. But a lot. Maybe some of the comments were sarcastic but I have felt and do feel that this blog promotes honesty (one of the reasons I’ve been such a long-time follower). I hate that anonymous was “outed” – did we really need to know it was an employee of your husband’s old firm? If she said something that really hurt, would you have posted his/her email address and personal information? Why did you let fellow readers “attack back?” Why not appreciate everyone’s input and move forward?

    I don’t know. I guess if you portray yourself in a business-like persona (monthly sponsors, offered discounts, and so forth) that you should react in a business-like manner. However, if you choose to stay “real,” then allow others to do the same.

    As you can tell, I’m an “unkown” commenter. Because I don’t want what happened to anonymous to happen to me. I just felt like I should put that out there because I know your readers are important to you and this is how some of them feel.

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