It has been a bit of a whirlwind year for me. Things that I never saw coming, things I would have never even dared to dream about, began to happen in 2013.
It all started in April, when I had a story published in the National Post.
Then, the Toronto Sun/Sun Media newspaper chain offered me a guest column, which turned into a regular column, with a focus on parenting and education. The ability to write weekly and have such a wide platform to share my ideas and my writing is truly a dream come true and I am so grateful for it.
Then magazines started showing interest- with some of my favourites including a profile on a craft brewery, life lessons from 10 years of marriage, the story of a Canadian beauty queen, and surviving a road trip with young kids.
But then, in what was really a shock to me, radio and TV came calling. I was asked to be a frequent guest on radio, discussing topical issues (usually based on my newspaper column) and I began to make appearances on news-based television (this I was particularly proud of). I also began doing some lifestyle television appearances, discussing the best "new mom" Christmas gifts on Daytime (link to come shortly).
And then there was my blog.
I have always been so thankful for this space and the people that come by faithfully to read it. When I began this blog in 2009, I was an exhausted, frustrated new mother. I was unsure what I was doing but I knew I needed a place to vent.
I started with a total of 10 readers.
And then it expanded beyond anything I could imagine.
In 2010, I hit 1000 readers. I couldn't believe that 1000 people were interested in what I had to say.
But then, in 2011, 2012 and 2013, I expanded to numbers I could not have even wished for. Thank you, thank you for reading!
Some of the most popular posts in 2013 have included:
Facebook: Is it time to quit? - a post where I discuss the benefits but immense drawbacks of Facebook and suggest that maybe it's time I take a break (spoiler alert: I don't)
Letting Them Down- the second most popular post I have every written in this space. I love my kids but working from home and juggling life is sometimes a real struggle…and sometimes I feel like I'm letting everyone down.
Best new mom Christmas gifts- a non-sponsered post of all the best stuff to get new moms at Christmas (or anytime during the year!)
Eating Raw - a collection of posts chronicling my experiences eating raw vegan (includes some video recaps).
Debt Secrets- got debt? so do we…so do lots of people.
BUT the all-time most popular blog post I have ever written is still:
MEAN GIRLS - I sometimes regret I wrote this post…only because there was a small handful of people in my life who decided it was about them (it wasn't). They tried to call me out on it and in the end it likely ruined my relationship with them. It broke my heart for quite a while that these girls would assume I wrote it about them- but it also made me question how "mean girl" had they been to me (and how oblivious had I been)? This post was more of an eye-opener for me than I planned for it to ever be- and it has been both a positive and negative experience.
And 2014?
Well, it will be exciting. I hope I'm still writing. I hope I am still invited to do TV and radio from time to time. I hope you will still be watching this space because I have a lot of fun, exciting, scary, real things to share with you!
Oh ya, and if I didn't get to say it in real life…
Merry Christmas! I hope your Christmas was as full of love and laughter as mine was!
xo
Showing posts with label Merry Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Merry Christmas. Show all posts
A Christmas To Remember...
Z's first Christmas! It was such an amazing time for our little family of three.
Although Z didn't really understand a lot of what was being done and why he suddenly had mounds of toys, clothes, and cardboard (which apparently tastes delicious because I keep having to rip it out of his mouth!!) to play with, he took it all in stride and enjoyed every moment of the day.
On Christmas eve, we met with hubby's family. Our night began with a wonderful candle-lit Church service. Although I had fully expected my little man to sleep, he did the exact opposite (why haven't I learned??) and stayed awake the entire service!! To his credit, he was a great little boy and enjoyed the hour long service. Afterward, we picked up some Chinese food (yum!!), met up with Z's uncles and aunts and enjoyed some gift giving, food eating, and Trailer Park Boys...well, some people enjoyed that last part (ah-hem!). Z went to sleep around 8pm, which is very late for him, but he was a trooper and stayed in good spirits right to end! My good little boy!
Christmas morning we were awoken bright and early by a bouncing little boy standing up in his crib. Hubby brought him downstairs to look at the tree and the presents while I grabbed the camera. Now, as much as I appreciate Z's ability to move (quickly) with his little peg-legged crawl, he made it impossible to get a good picture of his first Christmas. Case in point:
Although Z didn't really understand a lot of what was being done and why he suddenly had mounds of toys, clothes, and cardboard (which apparently tastes delicious because I keep having to rip it out of his mouth!!) to play with, he took it all in stride and enjoyed every moment of the day.
On Christmas eve, we met with hubby's family. Our night began with a wonderful candle-lit Church service. Although I had fully expected my little man to sleep, he did the exact opposite (why haven't I learned??) and stayed awake the entire service!! To his credit, he was a great little boy and enjoyed the hour long service. Afterward, we picked up some Chinese food (yum!!), met up with Z's uncles and aunts and enjoyed some gift giving, food eating, and Trailer Park Boys...well, some people enjoyed that last part (ah-hem!). Z went to sleep around 8pm, which is very late for him, but he was a trooper and stayed in good spirits right to end! My good little boy!
Christmas morning we were awoken bright and early by a bouncing little boy standing up in his crib. Hubby brought him downstairs to look at the tree and the presents while I grabbed the camera. Now, as much as I appreciate Z's ability to move (quickly) with his little peg-legged crawl, he made it impossible to get a good picture of his first Christmas. Case in point:
PLEASE DON'T TAKE MY PICTURE MOMMY!!!
I'm crawling away now. Making your picture blurry. Ha HA!
Give me that camera Daddy!! No pictures today!
LET ME GO!!!!!!!!! This picture taking sucks!
But, after much begging, pleading, feeding, and napping, we were able to get a few good pictures of Z's first Christmas day...
Look at all these gifts!
Heaven!!!
Books, books, books!
He pretty much played with these ducks all morning! Ya, they're bath toys, but he doesn't care!
OK, one cute picture..that's all you get!
We ended our day with a wonderful turkey dinner cooked by our dear friends. Z got the chance to go to another home and crawl all over their floors, climb their stairs, stand wherever possible...you know, the norm. He had a great time and so did we- it was a perfect Christmas with friends and our little family to share it with!
Merry Christmas!!
As we approach my favourite day of the year, you will notice I am blogging slightly less! We've been traveling and entertaining and holidaying...needless to say, Z's schedule is all out of whack, but he's sufficently loved, fed, and played with...that's the best we can do right now!
So if I don't get on here before Christmas day, MERRY CHRISTMAS!! Thank you to those who have taken the time to read my blog over the past few months. I have a ton of post ideas ready to go for the New Year and look forward to sharing them with you.
Until then...
So if I don't get on here before Christmas day, MERRY CHRISTMAS!! Thank you to those who have taken the time to read my blog over the past few months. I have a ton of post ideas ready to go for the New Year and look forward to sharing them with you.
Until then...
MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM SLEEPING IS FOR LOSERS!!
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