Hello again, friends! Are you loving two posts a day? I am! =] I’m probably just going to do it this week, though–to get through all the ‘about me’ stuff! So far we’ve covered starting this blog; me growing up overweight; and I shared our wedding photos. Now I wanna tell you how I get started blogging!
Here’s the story: I started back in 2008 (wow- almost 5 years ago!) under the name Olive Weddings. I was planning (duh!), loved to write, and as soon as I found wedding blogs, I was hooked and, I wanted one! The main color of our wedding was green (or olive), hence, the name. (I still can’t believe I went with Olive Weddings! It’s kinda corny! Lol.)
In 2009, I applied to blog for Weddingbee and was ecstatic when I found out I’d been accepted! Woohoo! Weddingbee opened me up to a much larger audience and I loved the support I felt from reader’s comments and the fellow bees. Being a part of that community- it really is a community– was by far one of THE best parts of getting married! This is from a wedding show we attended in New York back in 2010, shortly after Aaron proposed (I think that’s the first time I’ve mentioned my hubby, Aaron. HE IS THE ABSOLUTE BEST. I love this man! I’ll need to write an entire post about him. Coming soon.)
So during all the fun planning, the crafting, and my time blogging as Ms. Brooch, I changed my personal URL a few times- going from Olive Weddings to The Butterfly Cottage (named after the place we got engaged) and eventually, after I wed, I started Sincerely Sara. I learned pretty quickly the drawbacks of switching URLs (especially switching to URLs that don’t have wedding-related search words, like WEDDING, BRIDE, etc). My readership went down significantly, but I had the ‘bee and I was more focused on getting married (and getting in shape!) than becoming a big-time blogger anyway!
You’re probably wondering where Fit for a Bride comes in, huh? Well, like I mentioned, after I got married, I wasn’t ready to stop blogging, or stop hanging out among wedding bloggers! Having always known I was a writer, I decided to start yet another blog- this one!
I think it was inevitable that I’d continue blogging after Weddingbee. I have a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications from Virginia Commonwealth University with an emphasis on print journalism (that’s a mouthful!) and I’ve always known I wanted to be a writer. A blog is GREAT for writers because there are no prerequisites! You just dive in and do what you do: write. Like I’m doing now! (Then you feel nervous, hit publish, and cross your fingers someone gets it. And that there aren’t any grammatical or spelling errors!)
As far as the health and fitness side of things, I’m not an expert and I want the discussions on this blog to be exactly that- discussions! It’s a two-way street and I hope you’ll chime in with your own knowledge of the topics that come up! Any advice I have, I’ll try to back up with sources and news will be linked back to the scientific study or news outlet (or other blogs– something reliable, I promise!).
I’ve toyed with the idea of going back to school to become a registered dietitian, but I’ve also thought about going for a science program- I haven’t decided. In the meantime, I’m working on getting a personal training certificate through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (yay!), and I hope to get a Zumba basic certification. As soon as I’m certified, you guys will know!! My big-big dream is to have a local Fit for a Bride boot camp!
2013 is going to be a big year!
So, back to blogging … here I am, three blogs later, launching what feels like the pentacle of all my previous blogs and all my career goals- to become a personal trainer, a science writer, and hopefully, ultimately, encourage and motivate women like you!
This is pretty fitting, ay?
Source: Miette Shoppe Tumblr via Pinterest
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Of course, I have a life outside of blogging!
I thought I’d share:
I love to run.
After the Army 10 Miler in 2010!
I have THE best friends in the world.
Yes, they’re twins!
I love my husband, and all the wonderful family traditions we’re beginning.
Third year in a row at the National Storytelling Festival 2011
Did I mention I have THE best friends?
Making Things Happen New York City / Photo by Gina Iolanda Zeidler
I talk more about my Making Things Happen experience in a different post, but if you just can’t wait, you can read this that I wrote right afterward!
There’s a lot more about me you’ll learn following this blog, but I think I’ve yapped enough for now!
So, now tell me, when did you start blogging?
Do you have any blogging-related ambitions?
I started blogging on a whim back in 2009 before I even knew what a blog was :). How cool would it be to have a famous blog! although maybe a lot of pressure too. And I want to change my url so bad, something more to what my blog name is, but I don’t know how to make one flow to the other so I just stick with it for now :).
I’ve wanted to change my blog name a dozen times, and I have changed it twice! I agree that sticking with it is a good plan!
I am so excited you launched your blog!! I’m sorry I wasn’t able to be a part of it, but I love your idea and I just wanted to wish you success and many blogging-years =]
I stated blogging right along with you!
XO
Joy, your comment made my morning! You know how long I’ve had this Fit for a Bride idea in my head- a long time- and while it’s been hard to do this without you, I have learned a lot along the way! I also have a whole new appreciation for how talented you are, and what a JOY it is to work with you, always. Thank you for the well wishes =]