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Blogging. What comes to your mind when you hear that word? It seems that everyone defines blogging differently, as well they should. Blogging is different for everyone and ten years ago blogging meant something completely different than it does today. However, one thing is certain true in my case: it’s always been a creative outlet. What started out as a hobby has turned into so much more than I ever would have imagined and it’s been an awesome ride.
Today, October 14th, is my 10th anniversary of blogging. Happy Blogaversary to me!
As I looked back and re-read my very first blog post, I was a little embarrassed to be honest. I mean, how did I ever let myself publish something so poorly written? Then I remember that I started Masshole Mommy as a record of my life. Back in 2009, that’s what blogging was: an online diary. I wasn’t writing to impress anyone and truly believed that no one would even care enough to read what I was writing. At the time I was a single mom of two little boys and that’s what I wanted to write about, so I did.
Jared & Nathan in May of 2011.
I seriously wrote about the dumbest stuff back then. Just look at this post I wrote about the show Lost. It’s like a bad Facebook status. Yikes.
Then about 3.5 years into this whole blogging thing, something terrible happened. I wrote a full recap of what happened here, but in short my site crashed in April of 2013 while I was on vacation with my family in San Diego. In total, I lost about a year’s worth of blog posts and approximately 90% of the images on my site. I had someone back home trying to help me to restore my site, but no matter what we did we couldn’t recover it. All that work was just gone. There were posts about my wedding in 2010, vacations and the boys that were just gone forever! It was completely devastating. I remember sitting in our hotel room in California in tears and truthfully, I almost quit blogging that day. I am so thankful I didn’t.
The site crash didn’t stop us from enjoying a day at Disneyland.
It was around that time that blogging really started to change, so I decided to keep working on my site. Brands were starting to notice that bloggers were building captive audiences and the sponsored opportunities started to roll in. At first it was product reviews, but then it turned into sponsored trips and eventually getting paid to write about stuff. I never would have imagined that back when I first started blogging in 2009.
That’s when I changed the focus of my blog. I worked hard at improving my photography skills and started to write about things that I felt more people could relate to (recipes, crafts, etc) versus lame recaps of Lost.
And here I am 3426 blog posts later…..
If you think that number is impressive, check this out. Over the years, those 3426 posts have received 172,705 comments! That blows my mind to think about all those people that took the time to comment on my stuff. It’s humbling really.
Since I started Masshole Mommy, I’ve gotten (re)married, both of my boys have both started and finished elementary school (Jared has completed middle school as well), I’ve lost my mom, bought two cars, Jared got his black belt, I’ve crossed 4 things off of my bucket list and gotten a dog. My writing and photography skills are a million times better than they were a decade ago and I don’t see any end in sight for Masshole Mommy. While it seems that a lot of emphasis is placed on social media, and I take my social media very seriously, Masshole Mommy definitely isn’t going anywhere.
Here we are crossing the Eiffel Tower off of our bucket list in August 2019.
If it weren’t for Masshole Mommy I likely never would have met Donnie Wahlberg (and then gone on to meet Joey, Danny and Jordan), ridden in a helicopter, spent the day touring wineries on Long Island, visited the Domino’s HQ in Ann Arbor for my friend Maria at Tough Cookie Mommy, ridden a float at Universal Studios Mardi Gras parade, flown to LA to meet the Old Spice Guy, stayed in a big house on Anna Maria Island with a bunch of other bloggers Real World Style, or filmed a segment for NECN (a local news station). Blogging has been such a blessing for me and my family and I am so grateful for all the opportunities that have been given to us (especially meeting Donnie Wahlberg).
Swoon.
Since I have your attention, did you happen to notice that my site looks a little different? I figured that a milestone like my 10th blogaversary warranted something special like a new look for my site, so I made some changes to celebrate!
I know there are some of you who have been with me since the beginning and I thank you (if no one reads my posts, I wouldn’t be here). I absolutely love all the emails and messages I get, so keep them coming. I hope you’ve enjoyed following along with our adventures and I hope you are looking forward to what’s in store for us. There are a lot of milestones coming up for us – Jared will be driving in less than a year (OMG!) and graduating in 2022!
For some behind the scenes fun, make sure to follow me on Instagram because I post of a lot of pictures to my stories.
Blogging has been a a truly amazing journey and here’s to another 10 years (and maybe seeing Donnie Wahlberg again)!
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What a great ten years so proud of how much you have accomplished
I’ve read your blog from the beginning and I remember most of those milestones! It’s been fun watching your blog evolve and seeing the boys grow up! Happy 10th anniversary!
Congratulations on such an impressive milestone! I have been blogging since 2007 and I definitely cringe looking back at some of the stuff I used to post. I am slowly going through a lot of old posts. Especially the freebies I used to post. I wish back then I knew the importance of backing up pictures because along the way I lost a few too
Happy Blog Birthday! 10 years of blogging is an amazing milestone! So many blogs come and go, so this is a HUGE accomplishment. Congratulations!
Happy 10th blogoversary!!!!!!!!!!
What a beautiful and powerful milestone for your life! Totally fascinating routs and paths your blogging career has taken you. Keep moving forward and to the next exciting 10, my awesome Blogging Sistah!
Ten years is amazing. Congrats on ten years of blogging. I am going on eight years.
You’ve had quite an adventure over the past 10 years! happy Anniversary! Wishing you continued success!
Happy 10 years! I love the new look. Here’s to many more years of blogging. So cool that you got to meet Donnie. I love him in Blue Bloods.
ahhh happy 10 years friend! i love this new look and so excited for you and this amazing blogging journey you’ve been on!
Happy 10 year blogiversary. I remember my first post were pretty horendus too. My very first site was a small breast pump review site and while out on a pending layoff decision, I started writing blog posts to add content for that site. Then I decided that it was time to go bigger and create a parenting site. I merged the two and it was awesome. BLogging was just taking off about that time and I never imagine doing what I do today. It is a creative outlet, hobby, and something to keep me from going crazy with my own health problems. It has been a crazy ride but I can’t imagine life any other way. I’m able to be here for my kids and earn a small amount doing something I love now. Plus, I’m disabled and can’t work a typical job and blogging helps fill in the gaps. I’m hoping that my newish blog will take off and do so much better than my first ones. 🙂
wow so many things have happened and you are still here with great content, congrats, cheers to many more years
Happy blog birthday! I remember when I first saw your site and was like, that is pretty badass!!! Your kids really did grow up before our eyes!!
How exciting – congrats! I have been blogging for a while as well, and have enjoyed reading your blog over the years.
Congratulations! 10 years is such a huge milestone! I hit 10 years in January of 2019 and didn’t even realize it til it had past. But my life has changed dramatically in those 10 years…and so has my blog!!!
Wow! Congratulations! I am so glad of your achievement! I can’t wait to read more of your works in the future!
Wow, congratulations! That’s a great accomplishment. I’ve been blogging for almost ten years myself. I think this is such a great thing!
10 years of blogging! An entire decade – how phenomenal! I want to wish you the very best. What an adventure it has been for you and I am so happy to be one of your readers!
Congratulations on your journey! More years and experiences for the blog and your readers. 🙂
Happy blog-a-versary! I can’t imagine all the friends you have made from blogging. When you have blogged that long, I am sure there are some people that you met blogging that feel like family!
Wow, happy 10th year! Blogging surely has opened up lots of opportunities. Cheers to more blogging years!
Congratulations! 10 years is a wonderful anniversary! I love your content!
What an amazing journey! Congratulations! You are such an inspiration to all who want to be a blogger!
Happy Blogaversary!! Congratulations on your milestone 🙂
Congrats on your 10 year anniversary! Blogging has been so much fun for me too. Cheers to more years of blogging and having fun while doing so.
I’ve started blogging in 2006 with a different blog than I have now. So great to look back and feel proud of accomplishments! Congrats on 10 years!
Awww happy 10 year Blogaversary! That is awesome! Here’s to another 10+ years!! 🙂
Happy blog birthday! You’ve been going at this a little longer than me. It’s such a whirlwind right?!
Happy blog anniversary! You started the blog earlier than me! I can’t wait to read more posts from you!
Happy 10 to you. Did you ever think where a little thing called a blog might take you to? Lots more adventures ahead.
10 wonderful years and I had the honor to also be one of the witnesses through your journey! I think it’s awesome that you’re able to do so much. You’ve always been one of the bloggers that I look up to! Happy 10 years and here’s to more!
Happy Blogversary!!!! 10 years is a great mark! I know I’m at 8.5 myself!
I Know how disheartening it can be to loose the photos/posts. I transferred servers, and lost a bunch of photos.
Happy blog anniversary to You. I am also going to celebrate 10 year blog anniversary end of this month. Wishing many more happy blogging years.
Congrats on the 10 years! I can relate to you regarding changes in blogging and styles of writing. My blog turned 10 in May. I still write lame posts (TV recaps or whatever else I want) but have changed my technique since the beginning. I enjoy reading your blog and appreciate the hard work you do.