This past month I celebrated my SIXTH year blogging anniversary. I can’t believe that I’ve been talking about organizing for that many years. Who knew I’d still have stuff to say on the topic? Not me that is for sure! That has got to be a true sign of an organizing junkie because I’m still as crazy about it now as I was way back then. My youngest son was six months old when I started this blog and now he is 6 and just finishing grade one. Crazy!
Throughout the years my blog has slowly grown in numbers and then other times it didn’t grow at all for months on end. That’s been okay with me because I still do this thing mainly on my own. I don’t have a team of assistants or family helping me out. Oh sure I’ve hired people here and there to do odd jobs on the site for me especially the technical stuff because after 6 years I know my limits. Cathy from Desperately Seeking WordPress keeps my WordPress updated and humming along on a monthly basis which I’m very appreciate of. I don’t even want to learn how to do all that because quite honestly it scares the heck out of me.
I’ve also worked with some amazing blog designers over the years. I’ve loved all my designs and have tried to keep it fresh and fun. The most recent designer I worked with, Tracey of Tracey French Designs, came up with my newest logo and header that I’m wearing now. I was really ready to have a bit more color on my site and she did a fabulous job. She was super patient to work with too which is always a plus in my book because I’m so indecisive.
Does anyone remember one of my first blog headers? This was and still is my favorite! Sorry I can’t make it any bigger.
I also loved my boxes:
Then I went more plain jane:
And now back to some color:
Tracey also added new social media icons to my header. Those are the colorful flowers you see on the top right hand side. There you’ll find links to the different places you can connect with me. The one I wanted to point out is the subscribe button (the blue one). I’ve gotten a number of emails asking me how to get my blog via email. All you have to do is click on that blue button (or here) and two options will be available to you. The first option is to enter your email address and once a day you’ll receive an email from me with my most recent post. The other option is to follow my site in a feed reader. I use Google Reader and highly recommend it. A feed reader allows you to read all the blogs you follow from one location and it highlights for you when that blog has a new post so you never miss one. Hope that helps!
I know many bloggers who have their husbands on board assisting them on their sites helping them with everything from managing advertisers to handling html stuff. Honestly though, I don’t think my husband has ever read my blog. In fact he’s never even read my book! I’m not complaining though, he works hard in his own job and this blog is something I really do when everyone else in the house is busy doing other things. I absolutely love what I do here but my family will always come first. My email gets so backed up on me but one thing I’ve learned over the years is not to let it stress me out. I just keep plugging along day after day and do what I can and hope you all understand.
Oh and many of you asked who my new hosting company is. I switched to Liquidweb and and so far things are running along smoothly. Yay! You have no idea how happy that makes me.
As is normal with any site after blogging for this many years, you may notice as you are going through old posts that there are a some broken links. You’ll know it’s a broken link because the link will have a line through it like that. If that happens for you on a link you really want to check out, please let me know and I’ll see if I can fix it for you right away.
Thanks everyone for being such loyal readers, for sticking it out with me here and for allowing me to share in your organizing stresses and successes. I do hope and pray that the information you find here is helpful to you in some small way and we can continue to organize our spaces together for years to come.
If you have more questions about me or my blog, I would love to put a post or video together answering them. Please leave any questions (from serious to silly, I’m game!) you have in the comments and I’ll see what I can do.
I just noticed I’m almost at 20,000 Facebook followers and really can’t believe it even for one second. Will you help me reach this milestone by “liking” my page over there (or below) if you haven’t already? You rock, thank you!!
se7en says
Congrats on six years of it!!! How can it be six years!!! I love your blog and have found it such an encouragement!!! Now if you would just pop over and build a bike rack… Just kidding. Thank you so much for all your challenges that have got me going and most of our house in order!!!
Laura says
Thank you so much for being a faithful reader!!
Elizabeth ... Polka Dot Skies says
Congratulations! I enjoy your blog so much!
Laura says
Thanks Elizabeth!
Kim @ Homesteader's Heart says
I’ve enjoyed your blog for many years now. You are SO inspiring. And my favorite was the first header you put on there. It’s so funky and fun. But I like the newest one too.
Okay a question for you. How many plastic shoe boxes, stacked one on top of the other, would it take to reach the top of the Empire State Building? What? You didn’t think I was going to ask you a serious question did you?
Have a lovely day Laura!
Kim
Laura says
Gosh that would keep me busy for awhile wouldn’t it lol
Mrs. H. says
Congratulations! 🙂
Laura says
Thank you!
Kim | At Home With Kim says
Congratulations on your blogging anniversary!!! You share so many great tips and ideas that we can all apply in our homes. Looking forward to what you have in store for us in the next six years! Happy Anniversary!!!
Laura says
Thanks Kim, that means a lot to me!
ter@waaoms says
congratulations!
Laura says
Thank you!!
Terri says
Congratulations on your SIX years! I love reading your blogs. I have been struggling to become organized for many, many years. Thanks for all of your inspiration and motivation!
Happy Anniversary!
Laura says
Thank you Terri!
Lynn says
Congratulations on six years!! I found your site well over 4 years ago, I think through MPM, and have loved all your organizing tips and ideas over the years. And yes that is the blog header I remember from when I first started reading you. 🙂 And I am so glad that your new host is working out.
Laura says
Thanks Lynn, I’ve enjoyed getting to know you!
Susanne says
Congratulations Laura! I’ve immensly enjoyed your blog and encouragement and you’ve really helped me along. But I’ve appreciated your friendship the most!
Laura says
Right back at ya girl! xo
Vickie says
Congratulations! I enjoy your blog each day. It gives me motivation. Thank you.
Laura says
Thanks Vickie!
Sandra says
Laura, I’m SO glad to have found you again 🙂
I just recently decided to go back to my OLD self, and that includes blogging the way I used to, long long time ago.
You were one of my blog readers back in the day, I remember your first header, I remember when you first started the Menu Plan Monday 🙂 Those were the good old days 🙂
Anyway, just wanted to come by and say hi, glad that I found your blog again and am adding you to my list to come visit more often.
Laura says
Thank you so much for dropping in! I’ve enjoyed catching up again on your blog as well. Sorry to hear your hubby is away again though. Thinking of you xo
Hilda says
Congratulations Laura! I have 2 questions for you:
1. What advice or tips do you have for those of us just starting to blog?
2. How have you seen the blog-world change over the last 6 years (positive or negative)?
Thanks and congratulations again!
Laura says
Thanks for the questions Hilda, I’ll see what I can do 🙂
Fiddledeedee says
Laura, I remember that you started blogging a couple of months before I began. I’ve been haunting your site ever since. LOVE YOU and congratulations on 6 years! Here’s to another 6!!! 🙂
Laura says
Hello! I got so excited to see your comment, thank you! Six years is a long time isn’t it? How have we done it? I really have no idea LOL
Katie says
Congrats on 6 years! What an exciting and wonderful accomplishment. I’m relatively new to your blog and have so enjoyed reading through your old posts. You inspire me daily! My question to you is as someone who is toying with the idea of starting her own blog (if I ever find the time and energy, ha!): what are some dos and don’ts you’ve figured out along the way about blogging? I’d love your input! Thanks so much and keep on organizing! Cheers 🙂
Tammy @ Skinny Mom's Kitchen says
Congrats!!! I think I have been reading your blog for a long time..maybe like 2 years or so may be more…yours was actually one of the first blogs I subscribed to. I remember the boxes logo but not the first one.
Your blog is awesome! Keep up the great work!
Laura says
Thanks Tammy! It’s been great getting to know you!
Amber Johnson says
Congrats on your six year anniversary and hope that you will continue blogging for another 6 years
Laura says
Thanks Amber!
SnoWhite @ Finding Joy in My Kitchen says
Exciting!! Happy 6th birthday 🙂 I do remember that original header 🙂
Laura says
It was a loud one that is for sure. I miss it! 🙂
Cammy@TippyToeDiet says
Congratulations on all your successes!
Laura says
Thanks Cammy!
Gina says
Congrats on 6 wonderful years! I haven’t been with you that long but have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know you virtually, seeing your success (love your book!!), and enjoying your posts each week. Keep up the great work 🙂
Laura says
Thanks Gina!
Maria Welke says
I love love love your blog!!!! However. I am dealing with a disability that leaves me with chronic pain. Needless to say I haven’t good focus or memory and the bank book is always short. Would you mind terribly coming to stay with me for several days in the near future and helping me straighten out my office and my craft room? Pretty please??? I need you ????(and I’m only half kidding!)
Laura says
Oh the fun we could have!!
Maria Welke says
Lol!!! If only you could bottle and sell that enthusiasm!…
Amy says
I am SO proud of you, Laura! You deserve every moment of your success and I know you work very hard at it. I love you, sweet friend!!!
Laura says
Ahh you are so nice Amy, thank YOU! I do hope one day we can meet in person 🙂
Brooke @ Inside-Out Design says
Happy 6 year blog birthday!! I love love love your site and have gotten lots of great tips over the last couple years since I discovered your site. Thanks for helping to keep the world a little more organized! 🙂
Laura says
That’s so awesome to hear, thank you!!!
Mary Bryant says
I just clicked on a pin on pinterest that led to your blog and then recognized the url! I used to blog years ago (Fireflies and Frogs) and I think I won a contest on your blog once!
Great that you have kept at it and I really like the look of your blog now!
Happy Birthday!
Mary