Yesterday marked the one year anniversary of my blog, Unbound Roots. I received a nice little message from WordPress, the content management system I use to run my blog. It read:
Happy Anniversary with WordPress.com!You registered on WordPress.com one year ago.Thanks for flying with us. Keep up the good blogging.
Looking back, I published 53 posts over the past year, which is roughly one post per week, and I’ve enjoyed each and every one of them. Not only because I love research, writing, editing my photos, adding the photos to my stories, and everything else that goes along with publishing a blog post, but because I have found that interacting with my readers and others who write brings me just as much joy as writing does.
Thank YOU for the time you’ve devoted to reading and commenting on my posts, thank YOU for your support, thank YOU for your friendship, thank YOU for your advice, and thank YOU for making this past year one of my favorite years yet. I am truly grateful for you.
I have to give a special shout-out to my husband for being my editing partner. He has read and re-read every single one of my posts, whether he wanted to or not. He has been a constant support, and he has allowed me the time to write, edit, and interact with others. Thank you, hubby – I love you!
I also wanted to give a special shout-out to Angela, writer at You Are Awesome. My husband worked with Angela, and connected us just months after I started Unbound Roots. Angela introduced me to a wonderful blogging group, Big Up Your Blog, where I have met some wonderful writers and friends. Talk about people who inspire you to write! The people in this group faithfully support, critique, and share each other’s writing multiple times each week. I have learned more from this group in one short year than I ever could have imagined. Thank you, friends, for all you do!
Angela was also the one who urged me to submit my cross-country ski post to WordPress Discover – the gold standard of blog publishers. The morning that I got the email from a Discover editor that my post would be featured on Discover, I texted Angela to notify her and thank her. In all my excitement, she was nothing but supportive again. Thank you, Angela, for being a guiding light throughout my first year of blogging.
To top off my year of writing excitement, I also received another notification on my first writing anniversary – my blog, Unbound Roots, had been nominated for an award through the Annual Bloggers Bash Awards (held in London every year). Eek! The nomination is for “Hidden Gem” which is described as:
Have you stumbled upon a blog by chance and discovered useful information or thought-provoking content? Is there a blog that doesn’t get the notoriety they deserve? Maybe they have such an original style you can’t help but read their posts. A blogger who you believe should get the limelight for a change is who deserves the Hidden Gem award.
The nomination in itself was a gift on my one-year anniversary. If you have enjoyed my writing, I would love your vote. You can vote HERE. Voting closes on April 30th. Be sure to check out some of the other writers in all nine categories – there are some wonderful bloggers in the list of nominees.
I want to leave you all with one last THANK YOU! Each and every one of you have positively influenced not only my writing, but my entire journey into the wonderful world of writing. Thanks for helping to make my first year great!
You have had a brilliant first year! I am soooo glad I found your blog through the BUYB group as your posts are some of the ones that I look forward too most! 🙂
I hope you win the award, and have another amazing year of blog posts!!
Thank you so very much, Josy! And, the feeling is mutual. 🙂 You are one of my favorite people, and you know I love your blog. xx
congratulations^^ kepp the good work^^
Thank you so very much, Antsafanou! I appreciate your sentiment.
Erin, you deserve all the recognition! I so enjoy your blog and look forward to your posts. I know we are up for the same nomination but you got my vote! 🙂
Shannon, first of all, thank you very much. You have such a big heart. I definitely do not deserve all the recognition as there are so many great writers in our category (well, all the categories). Must Hike Must Eat is definitely one of the best. Your blog is one of the first that I actually connected with when I joined BUYB. I still remember your post on “Courage” and how I could relate. If I remember correctly, I left you an extra long comment. 😉 I remember loving the strong connection you have with your mother and what a great role model she has been. I feel the same about my mother. Anyway, I love your passion for health, the health of our planet, and your faith. I’m honored to be right beside you in the “Hidden Gem” category. Thanks again for your support and your kind words.
Ah, shucks. You are so sweet! Yes, I think it was the Definition of Courage post and I do remember your comment. I have to say, you leave the best comments, always so thoughtful, just like your blog. I agree, too, there are some many good blogs to vote for, it was really hard to choose between writers I consider friends! So much talent… Just being in the same category with you and the others I know makes me feel like I must be doing something right!
Congratulations!!! Well deserved!!
Thank you, Katie! Same to you. 🙂
Well done Erin, your blog deserves all this attention. Quite a first year!
Thank you so very much, Bear – your comment means the world to me. I’m so happy we’ve crossed paths. Yes, this paste year has been wonderful. I’m hoping it’s a sign of things to come. Thanks again!
Good things in threes Erin🌼🌼🌼 all well deserved! Delighted for you and your gorgeous blog xx
Ooh! Great observation, Orla. I didn’t think of that. Thank you, my dear. xx
Happy anniversary and HUGE congratulations on your nomination! Well deserved x
Thanks so very much, Shelley! It has been a year I will never forget. 🙂 xx
Wow! What a year and your excitement just SHINES through this post. Congratulations on everything, you deserve it all x
I’m so happy you sense that from reading my post because that’s truly how I feel! Thanks so much for your kind comment, Em! xx
Sounds like you have had a wonderful year!! Congrats on it all!! I really enjoy reading your posts, keep it up!!
Thanks so much, Cherie – the feeling is mutual. So happy to have crossed paths with you. xx
I will be an echo to all those above me, congratulations Erin well done and all the best regarding the nomination x
Thank you Suzanne! I’m so lucky to have met you. Your blog is one of my favorite – full of beautiful places and lots of pets. Thank you for your kind words. x
Thanks Erin, the feeling is mutual. You are indeed a clever writer and I have much to learn from you!! x
xx
Erin, you deserve all the accolades coming your way and the support of all of us BUYBers!! C xxx
You are so sweet, Claire! Thank you so very much. I love our BUYB group – I feel lucky to be a part of it as I get to meet wonderful people like you. xx
Congratulations! 🎉 You have my vote! ✅
Thank you, Annika! You’ve also been a support this year. I appreciate you. 🙂 Can’t wait to see you this summer!
Congratulations on both your year anniversary AND your wonderful, well deserved nomination. Keep up the good work Erin. I’m also very jealous that you Angela in real life! What an excellent first year in blogging you’ve had x
Hayley, I think you should plan a trip to Minnesota. 🙂 Also, thank you so very much for your sweet comment. I feel so lucky to have met you this year. x
You too Erin. And yes a trip to Minnesota would be amazing! X
Congrats on your anniversary and your nomination! You’ve had a tremendous first year!
Thanks so very much, Lisa! The past year has been amazing. I look forward to what this year holds.
Oh my lovely friend–WE are all lucky to have you, and I am the luckiest. I love what you do. It’s unique, fresh, well-thought out, and interesting. You care about people and want the best for others. If that’s not a gem I don’t know what is. You have had an awesome and amazing year, and it’s all due to you being you. Congratulations!
I couldn’t have done it without you. And, everything you just wrote – I feel the same about you. Thank you so very much, for everything. xx
I am probably one of the only non-bloggers that I know. I am a follower by nature, I am content and happy to do so. I wander in and out of blogs, sometimes I just visit and sometimes I stay. I meander through one blog and am led into another, often because of a comment that was made by another blogger. I am constantly amazed by this community of bloggers. Each of you have something to offer, sometimes it is different and sometimes it is similar yet from a different perspective. I can travel around the corner or across the world, learn new things or relearn the old, share a laugh or empathize with a sorrow. In this world of unlimited possibilities each of you have found your voice and offer your gifts through blogging. Though not all will receive one, each of you are worthy of awards. YOU, Erin, are one of the treasures that I was fortunate to discover amidst my wanderings and I have stayed. Good Luck and Thank-you! P.S. I love this name “Hidden Gem” Award. My one and only Grandchild, Benjamin, named me Gem.
See, Ellen, you are the reason my writing journey has become so fulfilling. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am so lucky to have you on my team here, and I look forward to your comments as they are always so thoughtful and full of stories. You are a great writer, by the way. 🙂
I love that you are a wandering blog reader. Before I started my blog, I had no idea this community was out there, but I completely agree with you – the trips we can go on just through reading are amazing. And, each blogger definitely does have his or her gift.
Ellen, you are a gift, and every blogger that you come across is luck, including me. I believe Benjamin was correct when he named you Gem. Thank YOU!
I was coming back to add Happy First Blog-aversary! I have a propensity for loquacity that tends to ramble on and on. At times I forget to add the very thing I meant to say. My Son often says to me : “just the edited version please.” He would tell you that most of the time even that can be more than one needs to hear. I have been an avid reader since first learning to read. I do not believe that I have ever not finished a book. Each has it’s gift, though some are harder to find. Thus, blogs provide another source to feed my passion…and yours does so beautifully! Thank-you for your kind comments. P.S. I may have just proved my Son’s point!
Ha! Well, I enjoy your comments, so ramble away. 🙂 I am like you in that I have to finish every book I start. Have a wonderful rest of your day, Ellen!
My Hidden Gem vote is yours! Talk with you soon!
Good job! Well deserved!
Thanks so much, Sheila! And, thank you for always reading and commenting – your support means a lot. ❤️
Well done and congratulations Erin, you have accomplished so much in such a short time. Onwards and upwards into the next year of blogging!
Thank you for your kind words, Denzil! I do look forward to this next year of writing and blogging and what it may bring. Thanks for taking the time to comment!
Congratulations on a wonderful year. I love your writing. Here’s to year two.
Thank you so very much, Lorna! You are so sweet. Congratulations on your nomination – very well deserved. 🙂
Congratulations Erin. I thoroughly enjoy reading your posts. You got my vote for sure! I placed all my votes yesterday. Best of luck!
Gloria, you are the sweetest! Thank you so very much. 💕
Congratulations! One year anniversary and a Bloggers Bash nomination? April is a good month and you deserve the nomination.
Jennifer, you are the sweetest – THANK YOU! Yes, April has been pretty dang exciting. Thanks so much for taking the time read and comment!