Happy 1 year anniversary, Bloggies! Can you believe it? It's been exactly 1 year since I started blogging here on Starr Struck (!!). I can't believe it's been this long. I've had so much fun sharing my thoughts (and the ups-and-downs of my daily life) with you over the past year, and I can't express how thankful I am that YOU, my readers, have joined me on this journey. When I first set out to start my blog last year, I had no idea what I was in for. I thought, "well, I'm super-passionate about yoga, painting, and creativity in general, so I'll just write about what I know and what I love, and the rest will come..." And guess what? After a while, it did! Sure, not every post has been a complete winner (especially some of those first few months--yikes!?!), but I know that I wouldn't have kept writing during this past year if you hadn't given me as much encouragement as you have. All of your comments (in-person, via facebook, on twitter, and on the blog) have reminded me why I write and why I share, and it has been so much fun to start a dialogue with you (and to know that *someone* out there is reading!). Not only have I enjoyed sharing and connecting with you, but I've also learned a LOT about blogging over the past year. For those who might be thinking of starting up your first blog, in the process, or even toying with the idea in the back of your mind, here are a few things that I've learned about blogging during my first year as an "over-sharer" (hehe!):
See what I mean? I've learned a lot in this past year, so thank you for sticking with me as I've grown as a bloggie :) And now for the really fun part... My very first SJOTW GIVEAWAY (yay!)!!!! As a BIG thank you to all of my readers, I'm giving away a small gift basket of some of my Simple Joys of the Week from the past year. You can take a quick look at the included items below: As you can see, it's filled with sample incense from Triloka, my FAVE Burt's Bees Foot Creme, a handmade watercolor birthday card (made by yours truly!), some lavender spray from Tranquil Space, two of my favorite chocolate treats (TJ's Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups and Green & Black Dark 70%!), Aura Cacia Sweet Almond Skin Care Oil, and a sampling of my favorite teas. Simple, yet fun, right? All you have to do to "enter" in the drawing is share at least one thing that you've learned or enjoyed on Starr Struck over the past 365 days (post to the comments section of today's post). At the end of week I'll print out all of the comments, put them in a hat, and select the winner! Also, be sure to leave an email address so that I can contact you to get your addy if you win :) And lastly, to close today, I figured it would only be appropriate to re-post the very first picture that I ever posted to the blog...a picture of THE HAPPIEST SEAL IN THE WORLD (I am beyond obsessed with this picture). Check it out below: And if that doesn't make you smile, I don't know what will. Have a gorgeous day! Namaste and LOTS of love and appreciation, Mary Catherine 3/4/2012 10:04:44 pm
Best thing I have learned is about Jade Yoga mats. They rock!
Megan
3/4/2012 10:45:57 pm
I love your blog; it's applicable to my life and you are a great writer. The post about feet really sticks out to me! It's really pushed me to reevaluate my shoe choices. Thanks for that!... and Congratulations!
Ben Vaneria
3/5/2012 12:27:46 am
My favorite post was the one explaining your experiences at your first CrossFit competition. It was neat to hear about how you missed competing and how you think most people, even though they don't know it, probably miss competing, too.
Ursula
3/5/2012 12:30:47 am
I loved your post about doing headstand for 50 days (at least I think it was 50!). While my commitment to do the same has waned, I still think that I'll be inspired to do it at some point!
Laura Whitaker
3/5/2012 12:37:03 am
forearm stand tips (ahhh, why is it still so scary for me away from the wall??) + reminiscing on how wonderful ben folds (particularly "the luckiest") is! i still have my ben folds staff shirt and remember sitting behind pres. roush! xo and CONGRATS on a year!! i <3 starr struck!
Leigh Taylor
3/5/2012 12:43:54 am
Congratulations! One year! That's amazing!!
Sarah Cable
3/5/2012 02:20:59 am
Congrats on one year! Although technically my favorite post is more than a single post, I love your "simple joys of the week." They remind me to stop and appreciate the little things in life, and I love discovering new music to listen to at the office.
Thrower Starr
3/5/2012 03:38:37 am
Congratulations on a year! I remember last year when you told us you were gonna start one. I didn't know what to expect, and I love your commitment and courage for jumping right in. I love reading it to find out what's going on in your life; I wish all my loved ones had a blog. I've read all your posts, but the one that stays with me right now is the one about feet, and in fact, it inspired me to take my shoes off yesterday when I was walking in the park. I felt so sorry for my feet in their "coffins." Sinking into the new chlorophyll-green grass resurrected them. I also loved your phrase about Ben's "cramped corporate feet."
Laura Whitaker
3/8/2012 12:03:21 am
Haha! I do carrot Starr Struck. And i love it, too! 3/5/2012 01:06:45 pm
Congrats on a year of blogging! I love reading your blog and really must comment more often! Thank you for sharing your talents with all of us!
Laura
3/6/2012 10:41:27 pm
I really enjoyed hearing about your headstand adventures!! And the wedding posts are fun too. :)
Kimba
3/7/2012 03:54:16 am
Congrats on your first year! Hard to believe you haven't been at it longer, given your confidence and assured writing voice. What I've enjoyed most is your overwhelming enthusiasm .... oh, and your music picks (especially the Aussie artists!).
Jen H
3/7/2012 04:42:05 am
Congrats MC!!! Your blog has been so fun to keep up with since day 1! The posts are always so refreshing- tough to pick one favorite! I LOVE the art posts (Wayne Thibeaud has always been one of may favorites too!) and as someone who spends WAYYY too much time on i-tunes searching for new tunes for my playlists, I always appreciate learning about new music!!!
Mary Catherine
3/8/2012 09:08:43 pm
Thank you all SO much for all of the comments! They're super-helpful and I love reading about what you all actually enjoy reading :) Congrats to Kelly Loss for winning the drawing! Yay! Comments are closed.
|
HELLO!I'm Mary Catherine, a Cape Cod-based yoga teacher, painter, designer, writer, mom, and list-maker extraordinaire. My goal is to inspire you to start living a more creative, simple, joyful, + purposeful life.
{Learn more + read my story}
|