This blog turns nine years old today!! I can't even believe it. I've been posts here for the entirety of my college years, early and mid 20s, and now I'm still continuing into my late 20s, which also start today. Yes, my blogiversary and birthday are the same day! Today I also turn 27.
First, a quick note on my outfit! I think this is the first time I've ever worn shorts and gone barefoot for most of my blogiversary photos- ha! Normally I wear some sort of dress and heels (last year was very on-brand with a Lilly Pulitzer dress). I knew that I wanted this year's pictures to be on the beach, in tribute to my recent move to Virginia Beach! I decided to go a bit more casual with my new favorite pair of under $20 denim shorts, paired with one of my favorite tops that I've gotten this year. My top is Free People and it's a bit of a splurge, but I absolutely love it and know that I'll have it for years to come.
I've done all sorts of different posts to celebrate blogiversaries over the past eight years- Q&As, facts about blogging, fun themed lists, etc. I wasn't quite sure at first how to theme this year's post. One thing that I have been thinking about a lot over the past few weeks is how long nine years truly is. While I still feel like the same person that I did at 18 in my core, the fact remains that so much has changed in my life since freshman year of college!
For this year's blogiversary post, I wanted to take a walk down memory lane and link to posts from the past nine years that I think represent the nine biggest life events that this blog has been with me through:
1. Transferring colleges after freshman year
2. Joining my sorority, Alpha Delta Pi
3. Studying abroad for a summer in France
5. Going to broadcasting school after graduating from college
6. Having my heart broken for the first time
7. Moving to Burlington, VT for my first full-time radio job
8. Moving back to the South for my second radio job in Charlottesville, VA
9. Moving to Virginia Beach, VA for my biggest radio career opportunity yet
All of the posts listed above are things in my personal life or career that I documented on the blog. I don't want to forget about all of the special memories that I've had from blogging itself in this time as well. Southern Belle in Training has gone from a college hobby into a full-blown side hustle, and it's been the most fun journey. Some memories that especially stick out include my very first sponsored blog post (*cringe*), the first time I got to meet one of my original blogging role models, getting accepted to join rewardStyle/LIKEtoKNOW.it, attending my first blogging conference, my first blogging press trip, attending NYFW for my blog, and even recently getting to be a bridesmaid in the wedding of my closest friends I've met from blogging!
Something special about the photos that I did for this post is that for the first time in nine years, my mom got to join me for blog photos! 😊 I did these pictures during her recent visit to Virginia Beach a few weeks ago. She's often been on the other end of the camera for my blog photos (especially when I'm home in Maine), but it was special to get to have her hop in a few of these, and especially so since they were taken at the beach.
Cheers to the next nine years of blogging! I'm already excited to celebrate a full decade of Southern Belle in Training next year.
God Bless,
xoxo Annaliese
Great photos.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on NINE years of sharing your life.
Lastly: great shirt! Perfect transition piece late summer to fall.