Blissful nineteenth KERFDay!
August thirty first marks 19 years of steady running a blog! I began this weblog in my twenties, out of an odd mixture of curiosity and creativity.
Nineteen years is a very long time to maintain exhibiting up in a single place, and someplace alongside the way in which it become a working report of my complete grownup life. That’s truly kinda cool once I give it some thought! After I learn older posts, I don’t even acknowledge the girl (woman?) within the images. After all I bear in mind moments from these days, however all of them really feel like a dream. I feel a few of you’ve higher recollections of my life than I do! This house has held each model of me, and I thanks for cheering me on from afar.
By The Numbers
At 10 years in, I had 6,844 posts. As we speak that quantity is hovering round 8,177! A number of extra numbers that stopped me in my tracks:
- Someplace north of 383,000 feedback left on this weblog since day one
- 6 homes, and many Dwelling Neat Dwelling posts!
- 2 beginning tales, which have been a few of my most seen posts
- 431 journey posts, that are my favorites to put in writing!
- 3 Wholesome Dwelling Summits, born out of wanting to fulfill you all in individual. Plus many extra weblog occasions!
Friendship (noun, pronounced /?frend???p/)
The state of being associates primarily based on mutual affection, esteem, belief, and assist.
Although I haven’t met lots of you in actual life, I really feel your power day by day once I learn feedback and DMs. And once I do get the prospect to say hello in actual life, I do know we’re already associates. I want there have been a neater method to collect as a bunch (which is precisely how the Wholesome Dwelling Summit was born!) You’ve got grown up with me, and boy have we gone by many phases collectively.
There are feedback I nonetheless take into consideration, like when a few of you’ve written that sharing one in every of my tales (beginning, separation, well being) immediately influenced your life. That’s my why.
This was my precise license plate in 2013!
KERF = Kath Embraces Actual Friendships
I really recognize your loyalty, enthusiasm, and kindness over the 19 (!) years that so lots of you’ve been constantly studying.
The OG KERF Brand!
I now hold hair provides on this bowl!
My grandfather cherished his KERF sweatshirt!
Reader Questions
I put a query field on Instagram for an “Ask Me Something.” Right here have been among the questions I obtained:
What do you miss concerning the peak HLB (wholesome dwelling weblog) days?
All the things! I cherished that my solely focus was publishing posts and the standard didn’t matter – photos, captions, accomplished! I cherished that everybody appeared to have a weblog so there was a lot connectedness. Again when folks truly left feedback on blogs, that they had hyperlinks to their blogs and you may go see who was behind the remark (normally). I cherished the Wholesome Dwelling Summits and getting collectively in actual life and the opposite weblog conferences from the time (BlogHer, Foodbuzz). It was only a actually enjoyable time! And nobody took it too significantly.
Why do you suppose you’re nonetheless impressed to weblog all these years later?
To be fully trustworthy, the revenue. At the very least on the stage, depth, and tempo I’ve been going for 19 years. As I share beneath, I don’t suppose I’ll ever chilly turkey cease. But when or once I’m doing it only for enjoyable, I’d in all probability simply do journey and the occasional life recap and name it a day 🙂
What do you miss about having a Nice Harvest?
Clearly all of the free bread! And the Savannah bars. We used to make such good sandwiches. I hardly ever make sandwiches at dwelling now. I can nonetheless go purchase bread, however it’s not the identical.
What would you inform your self 19 years in the past, realizing what you recognize now?
Work smarter, not more durable. I attempt to be strategic, however I’m solely trying a month forward. I want I had spent extra time learning the trade and attempting to be forward of the curve as an alternative of following it.
Do you’ve a favourite submit of all time?
Ahhh such an ideal query! The primary one which popped into my thoughts was this submit the place I completed my dietetic internship. I simply bear in mind the RELIEF I felt of being accomplished!! I additionally love that each of my beginning tales are preserved in such element. I do return and browse them from time to time. There are numerous extra – a lot of my journey posts!
How is your new regular going? Any hobbies or journey within the works?
New regular is nice. I’m obsessive about my new home and so glad I made a decision to go for it! I like the vibe, pure gentle, and neighborhood. I’ve been truly studying piano through the Merely Piano app, which has been actually enjoyable. And journey – sure – I’m going to Paris in 2 weeks with a few associates!!!
What’s one of the best factor that’s occurred out of your weblog? And the worst?
One other nice query! The very best factor is that it has allowed me to have a versatile, work-from-home-on-my-own-terms life-style for nearly all the 19 years. I all the time needed to have the ability to be dwelling as wanted for my youngsters, and suppleness is one in every of my high life values basically. I’m so grateful. The worst is simple: all of the judgment that comes from sharing your life on-line. That has ebbed and flowed, however it’s been the most important supply of stress / frustration from running a blog.
Assume you’ll nonetheless be running a blog one other 19 years?
See beneath! However the quick reply is: in all probability, however as a section out.
What’s Subsequent?
When folks ask me about my weblog, I describe it as a bell curve. I feel it peaked across the time when Mazen was born when it comes to public curiosity. However it’s nonetheless chugging together with respectable site visitors, good revenue through advertisements and partnerships, and many function for my life. I’ve no intention of writing a farewell submit, and plan to put in writing by 12 months 20! I do suppose I’m going to downshift some within the coming years, maybe publishing posts much less typically and solely writing about matters that basically deliver me pleasure, even when which means fewer posts monthly. I waffle backwards and forwards between eager to develop and begin new ventures and doubling down on what has labored properly for the final 5-10 years and striving for simplicity above all else. I alter my thoughts each week in that sense.
I wish to say thanks to all of you, as a result of with out you there can be no KERF! I’m humbled that you’re all nonetheless right here, and likewise so very, very grateful.
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