My Blogging Story Part 1

It’s finally here! My 1st Blogiversary Celebration! Part of me feels like I JUST launched DDD and the other part of me feels like I have been blogging for years. I can’t believe how much I have learned in the past 12 months, about blogging, crafting and most importantly myself. I’ve never shared my ‘blogging story’ with all of you, so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity. Just a little insight into why I created my little space in the crafting community and what it has done for me. I tend to get a little wordy so I’m going to try and keep it ‘top overview’ for you but there are no guarantees :)

Before becoming a stay-at-home mom I worked in the marketing/PR industry. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the lifestyle of a PR/Marketing professional it is crazy, crazy hours, high stress, fast paced, never ending and crazy fun. I’ve worked in agencies and I’ve worked in-house and both are equally insane. But I’m the type of person who thrives in environments like that and while there were days I wanted to curl in a ball and cry, I secretly loved it. I love the energy, I love working with well-known brands and small start-ups and I love seeing the results of my work. And most importantly I love working alongside some amazingly talented people.

But deep down, I knew that one day when we decided to have kids I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. I grew up with my mom being home with us and I knew that is what I wanted to do with our kids. It was a personal decision and one that I haven’t regretted. In March 2011 we welcomed Baby E into this world and I made my transition into being a SAHM. I loved it and I still love it.

But around the 3 month mark, once we started to get into the groove of things and Baby E started to get onto a schedule, I started to miss having a career of my own but I knew I didn’t want to go back to work. Coming from a life where I would wake up at 3am to take a conference calls and be available at all hours, to being home 24/7 was a huge change for me. Don’t get me wrong, I loved being a mom to Baby E and being here for her every second, but I started to feel like I needed something to on the side. Something that took my brain off dirty diapers and feeding schedules and gave me a little refresher.

It wasn’t until around this time did I really get into reading blogs and following specific bloggers. I started to fill my Google Reader with fabulous blogs like Centsational Girl, Home Stories A to Z, Just a Girl and Young House Love and while Baby E napped I caught up on my favorite blogs (side note: I had to hold Baby E during all of her nap times and had to be sitting down or else she would wake up. So for the first 4 months the only thing I could do while she napped was either nap with her or browse on my phone or watch TV and TV got old after awhile. So I read blogs.). This is what got me really interested in reading blogs.

I’ve always loved doing DIY projects and Crafting and I thought it would be fun to join this community of bloggers and share my creations. And a few weeks later Design, Dining + Diapers was born. I was nervous, I had no idea what I was doing but I was willing to dive in! And I did. I dove.

At that moment I had no idea what was in store for DDD. I initially thought I would try out this whole blogging thing for a few months and see how I liked it. I had no expectations. More like, I had NO idea what it would become!

My little blog has turned out to be way more than just something to do during nap times, it has renewed my passion for creating, been therapeutic at times, given me the opportunity to work with amazing brands, started friendships with like minded people and turned into a little side business.

What I have realized is that blogging is a perfect combination of what I have learned in my career and a something am so passionate about. It’s a perfect fit for where I am in my life right now.  It’s fun, ever-changing, challenging and it takes up as much time as I want it to, or don’t want it to.  And that is why I blog.

I am so excited to see what year two brings to DDD. If it’s anything like this last year I know it will be a good one :)

And lastly, I have to thank all of YOU for sticking with me over the past year, through the ups and downs, good projects and not so good projects, and everything in between. Thank you for your sweet comments, thoughtful emails and daily encouragement. You are the ones that keep me creating and posting! So this week is a big Thank You to you!

Don’t forget to come back every day for some more insight into my blogging life and some fabulous giveaways! You can view all of the current ones on my side bar ->