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<\/a><\/p>\nToday is a bittersweet day….it is the very last time we will post for the By Invitation Only. You have been reading these for a while on my blog, it is a group of women, who have come together under the direction of wonderful Marsha from Splenderosa<\/em><\/a> and share a post on a given topic, I always anticipated reading others interpretations and thoroughly enjoyed the little respite from every day life that putting these posts together gave me. I felt honored to be part of such a remarkable group of voices.<\/p>\n I included random pictures from past posts just to help us walk down memory lane:)<\/em><\/p>\n But like many great things in life, this did not last forever and this is the final posting for BIO. The topic for this grand finale is a fitting one-<\/p>\n Wow how has blogging not changed is more like it! So below are my thoughts on the blogging world then and now……..<\/p>\n WHEN? I entered world as a “newbie” almost 4 years ago (wow has it really almost been that long) I was excited, overwhelmed and intimidated. Everyone made it look so easy…..how did they get all those people to read their blogs? How would anyone find me? Somehow, someway..people did, one at a time, they came and many stayed, some did not.<\/p>\n IN due time I started connecting with other bloggers, many in the northeast but many others as far away as London and Australia. I was officially hooked. Over time I really felt a strong connection with my loyal readers who stopped by often and were the first to encourage me, support me and offer their own words of wisdom.<\/p>\n IT did not take long to realize that blogging really does bring together a very special unique group of people.<\/p>\n I can only speak for myself when I say that I am a different person than I was when I first started. I came to blogging as a way of sharing our building experience and to “talk” about all the things I love hoping I could gain a small if not captive audience.<\/p>\n IN time, I evolved into many other directions, I loved talking about fashion, food, travel, lifestyle, etc….I eventually opened up my little shop and took a passion (blue and white) and became a distributor and importer, go figure!<\/p>\n Like the seasons, life is an ever evolving changing of cycles. I spend a lot of hours on my computer and always say (and still very much mean it) that it is my happy place. I think there is no doubt that blogging has become a big business, you hear of “brand name” bloggers and instagramers making a tremendous amount of money which speaks to the revenue being generated by the blogging community. It is a phenomenon to me even now.<\/p>\n When I started blogging, Instagram and Pinterest were not what they are today. Some feel they are overshadowing bloggers. I don’t personally feel this way because I do a lot of “talking” on my blog which I think in turn makes my readers feel more connected to me, and I to them. I am grateful more than words can say for that. The blogs I follow I stay connected to not for the pretty pictures but for the “voice” behind the blogs, you get to know these people and soon consider them your friend. That is the true silver lining for me personally…these connections we make to each other.<\/p>\n But the commercialization of blogging is a very real thing, and cannot be ignored. I am all for a blogger or any person behind a social media account to make money, it is in fact a job so why shouldn’t they? I think its about balance, staying true to who you are and having an authentic voice while pursuing the many opportunities that are out there. Even Pinterest has a business model now, it’s not just about pretty pictures anymore! Things are changing fast…..wish we could put the brakes on just for a little while:)<\/p>\n The connections I have made and continue to make are seriously what sustains me and makes me happy to wake up and blog every week. I have heard from people who are seriously? ill who tell me that my blog is the sunshine in their world, I have heard from women going through a divorce or tragedy who say it gives them hope, from others who are newlyweds and can barely afford a sofa, telling me that my blog allows them to dream, of an American who just bought a petite chateau in France who needs validation of what she is doing across the miles, the stories go on…..<\/p>\n Can you imagine how great this makes me feel? And important? Maybe way more than I deserve but it also reminds me that I have a responsibility to not let those people down and to remain the person that I was 4 years ago and what drew them to me in the first place:)<\/p>\n Meeting fellow bloggers- some of whom have become very dear friends!<\/p>\n Gaining insight to so many different perspectives on very relevant topics in our world today aka a virtual classroom<\/p>\n It has allowed me to really become confident with myself, my voice, my choices…it has been a sort of validation.<\/p>\n Getting to share everything from our home building\/decorating, to major events like graduations and parties with my readers all around the globe!<\/p>\n I cannot lie, getting free “loot” (everything from fabulous books to products to try like boxes of amazing skin care and chocolates and flowers and I could go on) is an awfully nice perk:)<\/p>\n The online education….seriously I have learned SO much, mind blowing stuff!<\/p>\n Cannot forget that blogging has allowed Teddy to become an overnight celebrity, lol.<\/p>\n Thankfully for me there are very few. Seeing friends stop blogging makes me sad, I hate change and it’s always tough for me to see someone’s blog just fade away but I understand this is the cycle of life.<\/p>\n On the very rare occasion that someone will email me or write a rude comment. I don’t like that and will always abide by my blog being my happy place where mean comments simply are not welcome. Period.<\/p>\n I think I am lucky to only have two things to consider as “lows”!<\/p>\n What is the future? Good question…I think there will be many who will give it up or defect to other pursuits, but there will many more like myself who love it so much that they will stick around regardless of what is happening around them. So for as long as you want to hear my voice and my musings on every day life…I will be here:)<\/p>\n I think the commercialization and money earning potential will continue to shape blogging and in fact all social media (how can it not) but many and hopefully most will stay true to their core and hopefully strike a balance that works for them (myself included)!<\/p>\n On a personal note, I have been fortunate to have many opportunities, many that I could not take advantage of. Yet. Timing is everything and there are many things that I know I am interested in doing but just not quite yet…in due time. So hopefully lots of amazing things to anticipate!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I am fortunate that I am doing something that I truly love and am passionate about and that has led to me starting my own business. The journey it has put me on has been amazingly fun, incredibly rewarding and the benefits so far outweigh the negatives. The friendships and connections I make on a continuous basis are truly the icing on the cake.<\/p>\n Being a part of BIO has been such a special experience….one I will always treasure and miss. But as the saying goes, I am not crying because it is over- I am smiling that it happened and got to be part of it for a while!<\/p>\n So thank you Marsha<\/strong> and the extraordinary women from all around the globe who made this adventure such a incredible one. I look forward to staying in touch via our blogs. And to my readers, you know you are reason I do what I do!<\/p>\n (If you want to see what others in the group have to say on the matter and I can promise you it’s worth the click, click here to Splenderosa<\/em><\/a> where links to all of the others will be as well)<\/p>\n Thank you, and I really am smiling because it happened:) Until next time…….<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nBlogging, the changes, the highs and the lows.. the future where we see it leading..<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nCHANGES-<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nTHE HIGHS-<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nTHE LOWS-<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nTHE FUTURE-<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nBOTTOM LINE-<\/h3>\n
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