Dawn-Marie18 Comments on 🎁 It’s my 1st blogday 🎈

🎁 It’s my 1st blogday 🎈

Today, 19 November 2016, is exactly one year since I wrote my first ever blog post and was brave enough to click on the publish button.

I was so nervous with thoughts like:

“It’s probably rubbish, no one will be interested. My grammar needs improved, oh no what have I done.”

I’m quite a private person usually, so this was a personal challenge for me. I never ever thought I could create a blog, never mind write or take decent photos.

Thank you all

Special thanks to a work colleague who convinced me it was really easy to set up a blog in WordPress and I should just go for it.

Also a special mention to a friendly and kind blogger Susanne from Adventures Around Scotland. From the beginning Susanne took the time to read my amateur posts and with her encouraging comments it helped me to keep going.

I started thinking more positively and thought over time I could improve. Gotta start somewhere, right?

Thank you so much to everyone who has taken the time to have a wee peek at my stories and all the lovely comments. It really means a lot to me if someone likes what I’ve written. It’s the best compliment one can hope for.

What I have learned

Creating a blog

Thanks to WordPress templates, setting this up was easier than I thought it would be. I would like to try different templates and learn how to add CSS code to customise my design.

Photos of Scotland

I really love taking photos and sharing them with you. I’m no expert photographer but sometimes point and click can still capture really beautiful photos. Especially when there’s a whole Scotland out there waiting to be captured.

I do take too many photos though and it takes me forever to pick out the best ones. I eventually created an Instagram account for Love Exploring Scotland and share my photos there as well.

Writing about Scotland

The writing part has been more of a challenge for me. I’ve never trained to write so I think sometimes my grammar might be wrong. I’m a slow reader and it takes me so long to think of the words to use and research the history of places I’ve visited. I thought with time I would become faster at this.

Exploring Scotland

Whilst I have been exploring Scotland for many years, creating my exploration list and my peak challenge pages has really encouraged me to challenge myself. Ticking off that list is such a great feeling of accomplishment, especially the difficult ones!

What I’ve created

So here I am one year on and I’ve written 25 posts and 3 pages. Who would have thought it? I know that 28 posts in one year is not a lot in the blogging world but I’m happy that I managed to write anything at all.

I may not have many followers on WordPress as such, but over the last year I’ve reached just over 9,452 visitors with 16,713 views from all over the world.

My top post is The Devil’s Pulpit ~ Finnich Glen with currently 7,893 views! This has really surprised me.

Pages

  1. Halo from Scotland
  2. Future explorations
  3. My Peak Challenge 2016

Posts

  1. Scotland in miniature
  2. Walking on Arran: King’s Cave and Machrie Standing Stones
  3. Walking on Arran: Goat Fell
  4. Walking on Arran: Giants’ Graves and Glenashdale Falls
  5. Walking on Arran: Lochranza
  6. Journey to Ardnamurchan
  7. Outlander birthday with Storm Frank
  8. Loch Lomond and the Trossachs
  9. Liebster award
  10. Arisaig, Glenfinnan, Mallaig and more!
  11. Picnic at Loudoun Hill
  12. Arthur’s seat with peakers
  13. Walking on Arran: Urie Loch
  14. Rosslyn Chapel and Castle
  15. Walking on Arran: Glen Sannox
  16. The Devil’s Pulpit ~ Finnich Glen
  17. Fairy hill of the Caledonians
  18. Inchcailloch ~ Isle of the old woman
  19. Summer solstice mountain sleepover
  20. Linlithgow palace and spectacular jousting
  21. Walking on Arran: Coire Fhionn Lochan
  22. Isle of Cumbrae
  23. Edinburgh and celebrating all things Scottish
  24. Step back in time – Kingdom of Fife
  25. Smugglers’ Trail to Dundonald Castle
  26. Royal Dundonald Castle
  27. Old Auchans House
  28. Dundonald’s Ancient Woodlands

What’s next for me

  • Learn how to take better photos and edit them. I use my phone mostly and the battery life isn’t great so a decent camera would be better.
  • Improve my writing, study will help with this.
  • Improve my blog’s design. I need to teach myself how to do this.
  • Start creating videos. My other half is thinking of buying a drone. He loves his gadgets, so this would compliment my blog too.
  • Spend more time reading other blogs and interacting. I find this difficult because of time limits and my slow reading.
  • Keep challenging myself and exploring!

I look at my blog as place to chill and reflect on days out and short breaks. I might not tell you everything that has happened on that day, we all know that some days are better than others. So I like to talk about the fun parts, we need more positivity in this world.

Dare I mention it … Christmas and New Year will be upon us soon and I’m sure we all have new year challenges ahead of us. I’ll certainly be starting my new challenge list for next year.

Thanks again everyone who has visited and read posts on my wee blog. It means more that you realise.

Love, Dawn-Marie 😘

18 thoughts on “🎁 It’s my 1st blogday 🎈”

  1. Samantha Grant 23 November 2016 — 7:30 pm

    Happy belated blogday 🎉 I’m a month behind you. What a quick year.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. (Post author)
      ~ Dawn-Marie ~ 23 November 2016 — 8:49 pm

      Thanks Sam! I didn’t realise we started around the same time! Happy belated blogday to you too :). I still can’t quite believe I’m still here. It has been great, keeping me on my toes and challenging myself more than I ever have. Here’s to another year of adventures for us all 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Samantha Grant 23 November 2016 — 8:58 pm

        I’m end December. I’ve loved blogging. Great fun and really therapeutic. Here’s to a wonderful 2017 and beyond. 🎉

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Cláudia Roque 20 November 2016 — 12:20 pm

    I only “discovered” you a few months ago … but I’m already a follower. Always waiting for new posts 🙂
    Congratulations!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. (Post author)
      ~ Dawn-Marie ~ 20 November 2016 — 12:58 pm

      Thank you so much Claudia for following me and reading my wee stories :). I need to post more often, something I will work on for next year I hope! I really appreciate your lovely comment 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  4. Kate @ Love From Scotland 20 November 2016 — 11:13 am

    Congratulations! My first year is in January. Isn’t it enjoyable? I’ve really enjoyed reading your stories for the last year – and look forward to what you get up to next!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. (Post author)
      ~ Dawn-Marie ~ 20 November 2016 — 12:55 pm

      Thanks so much Kate, it means a lot. I have loved writing about my days out and it’s great to look back. I also feel it is a wee legacy for my children … when they are interested in reading it! lol

      I love your blog and stories, still to read more of them … it is the slow reading thing … I look foward to more stories from you and not long now until your blogday! x

      Like

      Reply
  5. chattykerry 19 November 2016 — 6:00 pm

    Many congratulations!! I bet you are fair chuffed!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. (Post author)
      ~ Dawn-Marie ~ 19 November 2016 — 6:15 pm

      Thank you Queen Kerry! I can’t believe I’m still here. I really thought I’d have given up by now as it can be time consuming. But I’m addicted and I’m learning lots of new skills. Thanks for all your comments and support. Have a lovely weekend 🙂 x

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  6. melchaddphotos 19 November 2016 — 2:24 pm

    Woop Woop! Congrats. It’s just over twelve months since my first post on Full Stop Next Chapter.
    Like you, I am slow at reading and rather petrified about publishing my first post. One year later and it has brought new experiences, challenges and many online friends.

    Here’s to many more xx

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. (Post author)
      ~ Dawn-Marie ~ 19 November 2016 — 3:02 pm

      Thanks Mel and for your lovely comments over the past year :). I thought we might have started about the same time and here we are now.

      You’re so right, I’ve met lots of nice folks, including yourself, online. We all have the same passion for the outdoors and photography. I just wish I could spend more time reading … It’s reassuring to know I’m not the only one who struggles with this. We get there in the end though.

      Cheers to another year of great adventures and blogging! xxx

      Like

      Reply
    1. (Post author)
      ~ Dawn-Marie ~ 19 November 2016 — 1:44 pm

      Thank you so much! I’ve loved being here 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Yinglan 19 November 2016 — 1:45 pm

        You’re welcome. I’m glad to hear that. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

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