i was vegging out on the computer tonight. going through old blog posts, reading old comments. basically, taking a trip down memory lane. and something dawned on me. i'm hitting my blogging anniversary. so i checked it out on my account. i started this blog on july 2nd, 2005. it will be officially four years ago on thursday. this was my first post:
OK ... I decided to start "blogging". Now what do I do!
I'm not quite sure yet what my intentions here are. What I'll talk about ... what I'll share. I just like the idea of having a spot to share what's on my mind ... what's new in my life ... what I'm working on ... pieces of my life. So, that's what is yet to come ... random tidbits from my everyday life ... just me ... just Laura.
yeah, that was a great post. lol! apparently, i used to capitalize things too. not sure when i stopped doing that. with this post tonight, i have written 858 posts. as of this minute, i have had 8,369 comments. and i have had 308,898 views over the four years of blogging. at least, that is the stats that typepad is telling me. lol! most of that has been the past 2 years. the first 2 years, i didn't have that much of an audience. i used to get excited if i had 10 views a day, and more than 1 comment. lol! so seeing more of you here? that's huge to me. means so much that you all come back here, and are interested in whatever i have to say that day.
so i figure this means some sort of giveaway is in order, right?!?! exactly. what would a blog anniversary be, without a party of some sort! i'm not positive what exactly i'll give away. but it'll be good, i promise. i'm thinking some new papers and embellishments, of course. but i'll find something cool to put in there too. if it wasn't 11:30 at night right now, i'd have a better plan. i'm winging it instead. so just leave me a comment, if you want to be entered. and i'll draw a winner on thursday afternoon.
actually, i'm adding two smaller giveaways too. i just decided that, this very minute. just for fun. because i'm in need of something fun right now. and this is going to give you night owls an advantage. since you have time on your side. sorry, you day people ;) i want you to guess what is different about my blogging lately? it's one main thing. i'll take the names of the first 10 people that guess it right, and will draw 2 names from that group to get an envelope of goodies. good luck!
edited to add a hint (for anyone that hasn't guessed yet). so far, no one has guessed it. although i'm loving reading your guesses. i see you all picking up on some changes that i guess have been made, although not meant to be made. i thought my main change would be noticable, but i guess not. lol! so here's a hint for you. the change i'm referring to, has something to do with the actual LOOK of my posts. not the content of the post, but the look. does that help?
comments closed. back in a bit with the winners!
LOL you are too funny. Four years is a long time...in my two years it's neat to see how much things have changed. Congrats on your blogaversary!
Posted by: Kristi | July 01, 2009 at 12:12 AM
Congratulations on your 4 year blogaversary! That's amazing that you've kept at it for this long.
Hmm...as to what's been different lately. One thing I've noticed is a lot less pics of your adorable day care children. Don't know if that's it though. =)
Posted by: Christine | July 01, 2009 at 03:31 AM
HI Laura, is it that you are redoing old layouts, love your blog read it daily
Posted by: kim | July 01, 2009 at 03:31 AM
Hey Laura,
Not a night owl...early morning midwest girl...What's different about your bloggin? Not exactly sure...there haven't been many 365 posts lately? You seem to be trading more pictures with friends? Not sure!
Love your blog!
Posted by: Lynn | July 01, 2009 at 03:41 AM
I love your blog--and I scraplift a lot of your layouts too. Maybe what's different is that you have fewer photos of the daycare group?
Thanks for your giveaway.
Posted by: Leslie Murphy | July 01, 2009 at 03:49 AM
Congratulations! Always love how you put your pages together and you taking the time out to explain the process, especially the collage type of layouts.
Posted by: Maria | July 01, 2009 at 04:36 AM
Your blog has been a great find for me -- love your style and I borrow ideas frequently for my own books. I am not sure what is different, but I have sure enjoyed looking back through your older posts to try to figure it out!! Seems like you are redoing some old things and you have a lot removed for publication -- that is cool. Congrats on the anniversary!
Posted by: HeatherC | July 01, 2009 at 04:40 AM
congrats on your anniversary laura--i've been a faithful follower for some time now and i love your blog---especially the kids posts--i've alwasy wanted to have my own child care center but i guess other things were in God's plan for me--there are 2 things i noticed about your blog recently--one is that some of your posts are talking about the kids {yours and the ones you keep} and that you have a different picture taken from time to time---i may be wrong but its a guess---love your blog!!
Posted by: EssenseVibez | July 01, 2009 at 04:41 AM
WOW! I was trying to remember how I found you and I must like you, cause I check you everyday and comment often. My favorite part is that you are not so big for your britches that you don't comment back, I love that! The fact that you take the time to respond personally to my comments is nice.
So with that said you would think I would know one thing that is different, so I will have to guess and say that you are redoing all your old albums????
Congrats on your 4 years of posting!!
Post ON Girlfriend!
Posted by: wendy myers | July 01, 2009 at 05:00 AM
4 years..long time for a blog and SO glad that you have stuck with it....I have read EVERY entry on your blog- took awhile, but enjoyed every minute.
The mian thing you have changed recently is that you use your blog for just scrappy related projects/ideas, no more pictures/details of your girls and your day care lovelies...and I am sure due to privacy reasons-which is VERY understandable...keep up with the great blog- your BIGGEST fan!
Smiles!
Posted by: Janet | July 01, 2009 at 05:21 AM
I will just have to "settle" for the main giveaway. I would love pretty much anything. pick me. oh please, please, please, pick me!!!
Posted by: Staci Nay | July 01, 2009 at 05:55 AM
Happy Anniversary tomorrow! Your first post and mine are very similar as I am sure everyone's was probably the same. Blogs are the best! I can't pinpoint what has changed, but my first thought (like many above) was that you are "revisiting" old layouts. Wonderful work!
Posted by: Amy W. | July 01, 2009 at 05:56 AM
I am a big fan of your blog too! I really enjoy your style. I'm not sure what you've changed because I've only been reading for a few weeks, but according to the others on here you aren't including your daycare kids anymore? :-) And I also noticed that you are updating your blog every other day, but not sure if that is a new thing or an old thing...Either way, keep up the great work. Congrats on 4 years in blog land and thank you for the inspiration!
Posted by: Erika Hyde | July 01, 2009 at 05:59 AM
Hi Laura.....wow 4 years of blogging is a great effort....you were one of the originals I'm guessing:-) Is the change that you are keeping it more scrap related now and less personal??? Not really sure but that's my guess.
Here's to another 4 years of your blogging inspiration.
Posted by: Linda | July 01, 2009 at 06:00 AM
Hi Laura...Congrats on 4 years!! I love reading your blog. Your pages are beautiful and I especially loved the series about your blogging space. It's so fun to see other peoples "work" space.
Posted by: Valerie | July 01, 2009 at 06:06 AM
Just found your blog this week. Have loved getting a peak into your scrpbooks. Love your simple style.
Posted by: debbie susee | July 01, 2009 at 06:07 AM
Hi Laura, I'm a big fan of your blog and a daily lurker. This is the first time I leave a comment. Congratulations on 4 years and thank you so much for all the inspiration.
Posted by: Liz Butler | July 01, 2009 at 06:07 AM
I am guessing that you have been scrapping your kids and not your daycare kids and you have been redoing stuff. I have been in a blogging fog myself so I have not been stopping by as often as I should. Hanging head...;)Love the new Disney pages BTW.
Posted by: Amy | July 01, 2009 at 06:28 AM
Hey Laura! I can't believe your blog anniversary is tomorrow too! My first anniversary is tomorrow--thinkin' about a giveaway as well, but have nothing planned as of yet. Guess I'd best get thinkin'. I, too, was just looking at my first posts last night! How weird is that? ;)
Congrats on four years! Lovin' what you share!
Posted by: Kerri Bradford | July 01, 2009 at 06:33 AM
Hi Laura. Congrats on blogging for four years. I have been following your blog for a while now and I think the change has been redoing older layouts - but not 100% sure. I love your collage work and get a lot of inspiration from it!
Posted by: Kim Arnold | July 01, 2009 at 06:37 AM
Congrats Laura! Wow, 4 years! Oh and also congrats on your scrap space spread in CK!
Changes? You have definitely been redoing more projects, no 365 updates and you've been blogging more about scrappy stuff than personal stuff.
But I so appreciate the sharing of your Disney album and pages! We went in April and I'm trying to have a plan set before I dive in! So between you and Nichol, I've gotten some great ideas!
Posted by: Carolyn E | July 01, 2009 at 07:26 AM
Okay weird... I left a comment but it's not here! Anyway, I was just saying how much I love your blog and how I really love that you always take the time to reply to everyone. That's so awesome of you. You and Mary are really the only ones I know who always do that. And then I said... speaking of you and Mary, that's my guess for what's different... you two haven't done a challenge in a LOOOOOONG time :) Hehe, just giving you a hard time is all :)
Posted by: Dani | July 01, 2009 at 07:27 AM
I'm a big fan of your blog and your work. I just started a subscription to Cards magazine and I got so excited to some of your work in there. I love your style and mimic it a lot in what I create (which isn't much but when I have time....lol) Keep on blogging...congrats on 4yrs.
Posted by: Stacy | July 01, 2009 at 07:34 AM
hI there!! yOu have been redoing old pages.. using lots of MM products.. hmm what else.. oh well.. pick me anyway;)
Lori
Posted by: lori r | July 01, 2009 at 07:36 AM
Congrats! I LOVE your style. Keep up the great work and thank you!
Posted by: Linda | July 01, 2009 at 07:38 AM