One Year Blogiversary- Lessons Learned

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Happy Monday everyone and Happy Blogiversary to me! For today’s post, I want to share with you some of the things I’ve learned over the past year, my 5 favorite posts I’ve written so far, and I’m also including a quick reader survey at the end that I’d love to have each of you complete. This has been such a crazy, wonderful year, and I’m excited to see what’s in store for me next!

One Year Blogiversary

I can’t even fathom the fact that it has already been one whole year since I started on this blogging journey, but what an amazing journey it has been. I can still remember both the excitement and nerves I had in my stomach this time last year, as I took a huge leap of faith and started sharing my stories and creativity with the world. It’s taken a lot of hard work, time, dedication, and countless late nights, but I can honestly say blogging for me is one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever did.

I’ve always dreamed of being able to share my passions with the world and blogging has made that possible. Not only does this blog allow me to share my love for makeup, fashion, and baking, but most importantly it allows me to share MY voice and my stories. I think we are all put on this earth for a reason, and I truly want to help others through providing words of encouragement. I want people to know that I’m 100% real just like them and I share similar struggles, and even though we all may travel on different pathways, we’re all in this together. Most importantly, just like the name of my blog, it’s my life goal to spread kindness wherever I go to whomever I meet. A little kindness goes a long way, and showing compassion to one another is what it’s all about.

So whether you’re brand new to my blog or have been following along with me for awhile, from the depths of my heart I want to say thank-you! I appreciate each and every one of you who has ever taken the time out of your busy day to visit my little blog, read a post, like a photo of mine, or leave me a comment. It truly makes my day and I promise you it never goes unnoticed. Being able to meet so many incredible people around the world that I would have never met or connected with otherwise has been such an amazing experience, and I’m so thankful for it.

success

What I’ve Learned from Blogging

You Won’t Succeed Unless You Try

Like everything in life, you must take risks in order to grow. It was a scary feeling to put myself out there when I first started blogging, and I’ll be honest there are days where I still get nervous before I post something. But at the end of the day you won’t succeed unless you try. You’ll never move forward with anything unless you take that first step, and even when it’s scary and you want to give up, do it anyways. Everyone who’s gotten anywhere did it by taking that first leap of faith, and I’ll bet you anything they would tell you it was worth it all in the end.

Happiness is Found When You Stop Comparing Yourself to Other People

It can be so easy to fall into the trap of comparison in the blogging world and question your own abilities, but that does nothing except let negativity consume you. And for what? We’re all different, we are all unique, and you can’t compare apples to oranges. You also can’t compare your beginning to someone else’s 10th chapter. When you can let go of comparison you can find what truly makes you happy, and it’s a beautiful thing. We are all special and worthy and there’s no sense in spending your life wanting to be like someone else. God made you exactly the way you are for a reason.

Success is a Journey Not a Destination

This is honestly the biggest lesson I’ve learned over the past year, but it’s been so valuable. When I look back at some of my very first posts on this blog, I’m almost shocked at the differences compared to now. While I still value each and every post on my blog, I’ve learned so much and continually work on making improvements to both my writing and my photography. But it’s a process and it takes time, and success doesn’t happen overnight. Learning that everything doesn’t have to be perfect and the fact that there’s always going to be something else to learn and improve on has been so important. And also realizing that success isn’t defined as an end of the road destination,but rather it’s a journey and enjoying those small victories along the way is what it’s all about.

My 5 Fave Posts on Kindly Unspoken

  1. Perfectionism is Overrated– This was the first time I really opened myself up and made myself vulnerable in talking about my struggle with perfectionism. And I’ll be the first to admit, it was super scary. But I was so overtaken with the flood of nice comments and the amount of people out there who truly related to this, that it just further confirmed my main goal of wanting to help others through my writings and words of encouragement.
  2. Mom’s Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies– This post was literally intended to be a sweet dedication to my Mom for Mother’s Day and never in my wildest dreams did I think it was going to take off and go viral. But it totally did, and I’m still in awe of the fact it has been Yummed over 16,000 times. What?! But seriously, they are the BEST cookies ever. I promise you.
  3. Before You Know It – I wrote this post back before I started blogging and knew if I ever had the courage to start a blog, I wanted to share it so that other moms and mom-to-be’s could read it.
  4. Valentine’s Day Outfit: Two Ways– Even though the photos are blurry, (don’t take photos on an iPhone in bad lighting!) I love this post because it was one of the first times I started sharing my love for fashion on the blog. I’ve always loved to be creative in coming up with multiple ways to style outfits, and I enjoyed getting to share that passion on here.
  5. Fall Inspired Brown Smoky Eye– Last but not least, I couldn’t leave out my first ever sponsored post. What makes it even more special is the fact that my first post was a Fall Inspired Makeup Look, which I’m pretty sure only a handful of people saw, and less than a year later my dreams came true in landing a sponsorship.

Again, I would like to thank each and every one of you for following along with my blog and I thank you for your continued support! If you could please take this quick and painless survey (It’s only 10 easy questions), I would be eternally grateful. It will be super helpful in planning out my future posts! 🙂

Hope you all enjoyed today’s post, and if you’re a blogger I hope that blogging brings you as much joy as it does me! Have a great Monday!

Thanks for stopping by!- Cara

121 Comments

  2. Happy Blogiversary, Girl!! That is so exciting! I really enjoy reading your blog and cannot wait to see what else you have in store! xoxo

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  3. I can’t believe you have been blogging for a year! It feel slike you’ve been around the blog space for much longer! I love your blog!

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  4. Congratulations on your blogiversary!! Lots you’ve accomplished in just a short time and I look forward to what’s ahead for you and your blog! I love these FB groups that really help you get to know your fellow female bloggers! 🙂

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  5. Congratulations! I just celebrated my two year blogging anniversary and just now sent out a survey 🙂 You are one HUGE step ahead of me girl! Keep up the amazing blogging!

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  6. CONGRATULATIONS on one year. I love following your blog and getting to know you better, you’re a joy to follow! Yay for following your dreams, it’s so great what blogging can do for us. Xo!

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  12. Happy Blogiversary!! Mine came and went without me realize it. Ha ha. Oops.

    Happiness is Found When You Stop Comparing Yourself to Other People. THIS?!?!?! This is something that I’m trying so hard to do.

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  13. Happy One Year Blogiversary! Before you start a blog you have no idea what it’s like, and then you enter this world and everything changes! Great job with your successes and best of luck in the future!

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  15. Happy Blogiversary! I love this post! I’m still fairly new at blogging and I feel the same way about putting myself out there. It’s pretty scary but it’s also exciting!

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  16. Yay Happy Blog Birthday! I’m so glad I found your blog. You do an amazing job and your love for this blog shines through in all your posts!

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  17. Happy bloggy birthday! I’ve loved getting to know you and really enjoy reading your blog. Keep up the good work 🙂 Loved hearing your lessons you’ve learned – try new things, practice to get better, don’t compare and do what you love! I love it!!

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    1. I was able to get some great feedback from it! It’s always nice to hear from your readers about what they like most! 🙂

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  19. Congratulations on your blog anniversary!! You must feel so proud of all of the accomplishments you have made on your journey. I like your tip for not comparing yourself to others and to always try or you won’t succeed. I created my blog about 3 months ago, so this is very inspiring for me!

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    1. Aw thank-you- I’m so glad you enjoyed the post and that it resonated with you. Just keep going and don’t ever give up! 🙂

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  21. Happy blogiversary! Loved this part and it’s so true: You also can’t compare your beginning to someone else’s 10th chapter. I’ve been blogging 4.5 years and my journey doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. What’s important is that my site/writing is what I want it to be. Cheers to many more years! 🙂

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    1. Thank-you! I think being true to yourself is what it’s all about. It’s your blog so you have to make it what you want it to be. 🙂

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  22. Pretty cupcake! And congrats, that is an amazing accomplishment 🙂 I have been blogging for about 3 months and LOVE it. Like you said it is hard work but totally totally worth it!!

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  23. Congrats Cara! Isn’t it a crazy, awesome feeling to have made it to the one year mark? I’ve loved getting to know you through your posts. You are such a sweet and genuine person and it definitely comes through. Here’s to another great year! 🙂

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  24. Happy One Year Blogiversary. I would have never guessed that your blog is only one-year-old!! Your posts are always amazing and I love reading each one of them. Your blog is one of those that I look to for inspiration. Can’t wait to see what you come up with in the years to come

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  26. Happy blogiversary gurlie! Awesome advice, all so true especially the comparison thing. I find myself getting caught up, and have to take a step back. Cheers to a fabulous week and another great year in this space <3
    Green Fashionista

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  27. Happy anniversary! Having your site up, running, and successful for a year is a great accomplishment! Celebrate it! I am proud of you. Great thoughts about blogging as well – I agree with them all. I completed your survey and hope you get a lot of great feedback.

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  28. Happy 1 year!! It’s always so exciting when you hit that 1 year mark. You learn so much in that first year and meet so many amazing people. I hope your second year of blogging is just as fun and and amazing!

    xo, Keating | Why Hello Lovely
    http://www.whyhellolovely.com

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  30. Congratulations my love! You are such a good writer and your heart is so full of love and grace! I wish you so much continued success and love coming to your page every week. You always brighten my day.

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  31. Happy Anniversary! A Daddy and Mommy could not be more prouder of what you have accomplished. I like the blog and you inspire me to reach for my dreams. Love you and Rob and Darragh and Colten so much.
    Keep reaching for the Stars!

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  32. Congrats lady! Here’s to another successful year! With some great make up tutorials, I seriously love all of yours!

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    1. Aw thanks! I hope to invest in a good camera and ring light for Christmas so I’m excited to start featuring more tutorials very soon! 🙂

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  35. I loved this! You learn so much in that first year of blogging, and it only gets better from here. Congrats!

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  37. Happy Blogiversary!!!! I 100% agree that you just have to put yourself out there and try. And that you most certainly cant get caught up in comparing yourself with others!!! I for one am so glad to ” know you” through blogging!

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    1. Aw, thanks girl! One of these days soon I’ll have to venture down to bama and see you and your sweet baby girl! + have you recommend one of those yummy restaurants you’re always eating at lol. 🙂

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  38. You’re doing a great job for just blogging for a year! Comparison is such an ugly thing and never really gets anyone anywhere. Keep up the great work and congratulations on the milestone! Beautifully Candid

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    1. Thanks Sierra! I hope to just keep improving and learning as I go along. It’s a fun journey for sure! 🙂

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  39. Congrats on your anniversary! It takes so much work, dedication, and focus to blog and it’s such an accomplishment to say you’ve been doing it for a year. And OMG those cookies, girl…they look so soft and chewy. I am so excited to try these out!

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  40. Happy One Year!!!! So exciting! Comparing yourself to other bloggers can be so hard at times but it’s so much better when you don’t. Any blogger that takes the leap to share their thoughts, etc to me is success in it’s own. So glad I found your blog!! Keep up the great work!

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  44. Happy anniversary!! Blogging can be tough to stick with at times so great job! Looks like you’re ready for another great year!

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  48. Not comparing yourself to other blogs is so important. We all have our own paths to success and what works fro someone else might not be our path.

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  50. happy blogaversary! The blogging world is so great; it’s why I can never really leave even though my blogging mojo sometimes wanes.

    Keep up the fantastic work with this blog 🙂

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  51. You’ve only been blogging for a year?! I would have thought longer for sure! Happy blogiversary! I too, need to stop the comparison game with my site. You’ve done amazing things Cara!

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  52. Congrats on your one year anniversary.
    I love the line you wrote about not comparing your beginning to someone’s 10th chapter! Perfect!

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    1. Thank-you! I’ve always loved that quote, and it couldn’t be more true. We are all at different points in our lives and journeys and we just need to focus on the here and now and not worry about what someone else is doing. 🙂

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  53. Congrats on reaching one year! I also loved that you listed some of the posts you’ve loved from your blog over the year!

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    1. Thanks Kiara! I figured a lot of my new followers had never read some of the older posts, so I thought I’d share them! 🙂

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  58. Congratulations! What an amazing milestone! Love your lessons learned, they are all so important to keep in mind. “Trying” and going outside your comfort zone is huge! I didn’t have any social media accounts one year ago, and now have a bunch for my blog. Totally intimidating at the time, but now so glad I did it. Again, congrats on your amazing milestone!

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    1. Thank-you Carrie! Social media accounts are a great way to really connect with your readers and allow you the ability to reach them outside of your blog. Glad to hear you’ve found success in using them too! 🙂

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  59. So true about comparison! It’s so easy to feel pressured into doing this or that in the blogging world (like make 5 figures a month!) but as soon as you let go of that it’s definitely more enjoyable. Happy one year!

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    1. Thanks Chantal! I think once you’ve lost the joy in anything it’s time to really reevaluate things. That’s why I want to make sure I’m doing blogging for me and not for any other reason.

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  60. Congrats, lady!! I’m so happy for you and I loved reading what your favorites posts were. Taking the survey now!

    Reply

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