Why Do I Blog?

(pic of self - taken by self - so I could have a pic for this post)

A friend of mine recently asked me why I blogged.  It got me to thinking about why I actually do.  I mean, who REALLY wants to know about what I have to say?!?!  Surprisingly, people do!  :)  I am so thankful for every amazing person that follows my blog - I never would've thought I would have almost 70 followers!  After thinking back to when I first started blogging, I remembered finding this blog while searching for living room decorations one day on the internet - Kevin and Amanda.  Have you ever seen this blog....aMaZiNg!  I totally want to be her for a day! 

Moving on ... I remember thinking to myself "What is a blog and how can I get one?"  I love to scrapbook and be crafty and I also love layout and design - it would be a PERFECT mix of everything!  Plus, my dream in college was to graduate, move to NYC, and be a graphic designer for the magazine Cosmo.  BIG dreams, I tell ya...big dreams!  So then when I graduated, reality set in.  I didn't want to move away from my family plus I loved doing what I was doing back then to get me through college (the last 2 years - not the first 3 years which was waiting tables and partying) - I worked on the business side of the medical field.  Who knew I would make a career out of that!

I minored in Journalism in college (btw - I don't use my degree...yea!) because I absolutely love to write and take pictures.  I've always loved it.  I've never been a great verbal communicator but I've always been, I think, better at putting my thoughts on paper...or a computer screen in this case :)  Those of you who know me in person, know that I am very quiet most of the time and let's be honest - I suck at small talk...I do!  I've also been referred to as shy, stuck up, and my favorite....snobby - yea, all of you quiet people out there surely know what I'm talking about...high five for quiet people!  But when I write, I can go on and on....and on.  :)

My first blog was about David and I because we both live away from family so I thought it was a more personal way to keep up with them than Facebook.  David is good at html coding and I am "ok" at it.  I remember one night, he stayed up with me until 4 in the morning on a work night to help me add something to my page.  I'm sure he just LOVED me that night!  That blog lasted about 6 months then it pretty much fell off the face of the Earth when we got engaged because I was so busy planning the wedding.  Then, this past summer, I got back into the blogging world.  I seriously couldn't believe how much blogging had changed in just this small amount of time.  Or maybe I just wasn't that involved my last go around.  Now, there are affiliate programs, blog swaps, giveaways, and people actually get PAID to blog!!  Paid to blog??  Yes, please!

I completely made over my blog and started following other bloggers....I actually USE my reading list this time!!  Before, I had no idea what it was :)  I have done swaps, signed up for giveaways, and became an affiliate for companies like Birchbox, BarkBox, and Sigma Makeup (love their brushes!).  Plus, I have "met" some really great bloggers!  I can't wait to attend my first local bloggers meetup....yep, they actually have those!  I find it very comforting that there are other women out there going through some of the same things I have...not that I enjoy reading about other peoples rough times, but it's just nice knowing I'm not the only one!!  Now, I don't just write about David and me, I also write about food, friends, beauty products, and so much more.  Oh and did I mention, I can now say that I am a paid blogger?!?!  It's not much, but hey, I'll take it!

I'm so glad that my friend asked me this question, because it really made me think and brought back some good memories of my first blogging experience!!

Linking up with Julie @ This Gal Cooks for Marvelous Monday

And Brooke @ Covered in Grace for Monday Meet Up :)