I’m so happy to announce my one year blogiversary!!

*insert  the sounds of party horns*

The Southern Pearl turned the big o-n-e in June. I started this amazing journey on June 10, 2015. I honestly didn’t think many people would read my posts when I started. I wasn’t sure what direction to go, what to write about, how often I should post, and whether or not I should lay it all out there.

Well here I am a year later and loving my blog as much as I did when I started. Yes I had periods of time where I didn’t post much, but we all know life gets in the way sometimes.

I am obviously a little behind on posting about my blogiversary but I was in the hospital after giving birth to my daughter the day before when it rolled around. I don’t think anyone could blame me for wanting to soak up the cuteness of my precious 6 lbs 11 oz baby girl.

What have I learned in the past year?

Blogging is tough. Plain and simple. Period, end of story. When I started this journey I had the misconception that I could just write about something I wanted and hit the publish button. Ehhh wrong! Blogging is so much more complex than what I had originally thought! You have to set up your website, think of good topics, write your posts, take pictures/find stock photos, publish on here as well as Facebook/Twitter/Instagram, network…network…network, and many many other things. None of it is terrible it’s just time consuming. You have to publicize your blog as much as possible! You have to be able to get the word out. If people aren’t aware of your blog then they won’t be able to read it.

What was my most shining moment as blogger in my first year?

Oh my ggggggg!  I still to this day get all giddy when I think about how my post, “10 Things To NEVER Say To A Stepmom”  got over 10,000 views in one month! Of course it is my most read post to date.

Why was that post viewed so many times?

That is actually a funny story. I have liked a few stepmom pages on Facebook. They are more like support groups that encourage each other. You can post and get advice or give advice to other stepmoms on certain situations. I was scrolling through my newfeed and I see a picture of the kids and I that Josh took when we went to the Cincinnati Museum Center.  I had used the photo as my feature image for the post titled, “A Night At The Cincinnati Museum Center” ).

One of the stepmom pages I followed had shared my post! I was ecstatic! I had no clue how they had found it but I didn’t care. Shortly after that my stats started sky rocketing. The post was being shared left and right and I was seeing it all over the place.

What is my next step with The Southern Pearl?

After a year I am no where even close to where I would like to be with my blog. I would love to be able to move to the next step. For me that would be becoming a Blog Boss Babe. Helene from Helene in Between has created this amazing blogging community with so many great resources. When will I be able to do this? You know I’m really not sure but I think it will be what takes my blog to the next level.

I honestly could not have gotten to where I am without the support of my husband, family, friends, and readers. My husband, family, and friends have always encouraged me throughout this whole process. When I look at my stats and notice people are in fact reading my posts….that gives me the extra motivation to write the next one.

I truly appreciate every one of you who take the time out your day to sit and  read what I have to say. Sometimes it’s valuable information and sometimes I am just ranting. Either way I try to give you all material I think you will enjoy or find interesting.

So…..I want to thank you all for sticking by me the past year!

This beautiful dark blue druzy geode necklace can be yours!

Want to win this amazing piece of jewelry?

Click here to enter  the giveaway.

Be sure to do all of the options to help increase your chances of winning! However, not all of the options are mandatory.

*Hint Hint* You can do the “Tweet A Message” once a day! That will give you quite a few more entries.

You have until Friday August 12 to enter. The winner will be announced/notified on Saturday August 13.

Again thank you all so much for sticking with me! Here’s to MANY MORE!!!

Be sure to follow me to stay up to date with The Southern Pearl:

Twitter:@southernpearlkt

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Kirstie