Well today, August 9th, marks one year of blogging and this is my 300th blog post. I’m not exactly sure how I did that, but I did. My first post was titled Where Can I Eat on Vacation? I started this blog as a way to keep track of all the resources I was finding for living gluten free and dairy free. I also wanted to share with people how easy and fun it can be to have good things in your life like whole foods, organic products and at the same time these would be eco-friendly.
Also, there was information I had found out through integrated medicine that I wanted to share, so more people could have the opportunity to take advantage of it. But most of all I knew that every day there were people, just like me, finding out for the first time that they could no longer eat gluten and I know how scary that can be. I wanted information they could find, read, and feel like they could breathe and everything really was going to be alright. They would get to eat.
The gluten free community is a very giving group of people and readily share what they learn. There are so many great blogs out there and my goal was not to replace them, just supplement. I started with only 3 blog posts for the month of August. I would post information and recipes as I could and with no schedule or greater agenda.
I remember the first day someone left a comment on my blog. I was so excited. Then one day Karina, the Gluten Free Goddess left a comment. She is the queen of gluten free and vegan blogging. She knows so much and creates such amazing food and then shares it with us. I think I went running around the house like a nut trying to find Scott to tell him. By the time I did I was totally out of breath and he couldn’t understand a word I was saying. I of course got frustrated after having to explain it a few times since that’s how long it took to actually speak in complete sentences in a coherent order. He was really excited for me as he gets the whole world of blogging. He has a successful blog on Leadership called Next Level Blog.
Over this past year I have built up a few readers and some leave comments. I love to hear what people have to share and the questions they ask. I’ve also formed virtual relationships with some really great bloggers. Some I will get to meet this September at the BlogHer Food Conference. I’m really excited to go and learn more about what a good food blogger should do.
I’m happy that people who are living gluten free and dairy free read this blog and get ideas for meals, products, cookbooks, and ways to save money. I’m also really excited that many people who just love food join in and keep up with the blog. My philosophy is “Good Food, No Matter What!” That means that no matter what ingredients you cannot eat for whatever reason, your food should still taste good. Everyone is watching something in what they eat. If you have Celiac Disease and can never eat gluten again, why should your fried fish be mushy and tasteless? It shouldn’t and it doesn’t have to be. “Good Food, No Matter What!”
So as I look forward to this coming year, I have hopes and dreams that these things will happen:
My Tastebook Cookbook will be finished, available for sale and people will actually purchase it.
More people will leave comments and questions.
My number of subscribers will have doubled.
Friday Foodie Fix weekly blog carnival will have a minimum of 20 entries a week.
I will have well attended classes where I’ll be teaching grocery shopping, menu planning and cooking classes.
You will find videos of me cooking and podcasts with interesting foodies.
My blog will be listed on alltop.
I get to meet many fellow food bloggers in person.
That’s a tall order, but even if a few of those happen it will be as successful a year for me as this year has been. Thank you for being a part of it and I hope you will stick with me and see what happens next.
Congratulations on quite an accomplishment-300 posts in a year! I bow to you.
Nancy- Thank you so much. It sounds like such a big number but it was really just one at a time. It's a good thing I'm busy running our Executive Leadership Coaching Company with my husband or there could have been twice as many. I think I'm ready for a nap now. 🙂
Congratulations on quite an accomplishment-300 posts in a year! I bow to you.
Nancy- Thank you so much. It sounds like such a big number but it was really just one at a time. It’s a good thing I’m busy running our Executive Leadership Coaching Company with my husband or there could have been twice as many. I think I’m ready for a nap now. 🙂
Congratulations! I enjoy reading every day. I might not leave a comment or question on every one of those days but I'm always here. Keep up the good work, I appreciate it.
Michele- Thank you so much. I hope you are having fun in the kitchen too!
Congratulations! I enjoy reading every day. I might not leave a comment or question on every one of those days but I’m always here. Keep up the good work, I appreciate it.
Michele- Thank you so much. I hope you are having fun in the kitchen too!
Congratulations! You've created a wonderful blog and a good network of other foodies (gluten-free, vegan, or otherwise) in only a year. Happy Anniversary.
Heather- Thank you. It's been so much fun. I've learned so much more by writing a blog and sharing what I find out. If you watch Top Chef Masters, I think the big guys and gals could learn a lot by visiting all of our blogs. Really.
Congratulations! You’ve created a wonderful blog and a good network of other foodies (gluten-free, vegan, or otherwise) in only a year. Happy Anniversary.
Heather- Thank you. It’s been so much fun. I’ve learned so much more by writing a blog and sharing what I find out. If you watch Top Chef Masters, I think the big guys and gals could learn a lot by visiting all of our blogs. Really.
Congrats, Diane!! Wow. I am so impressed. May all your dreams come true!!!
Amy- Thank you. From your lips to reality!
Congrats, Diane!! Wow. I am so impressed. May all your dreams come true!!!
Amy- Thank you. From your lips to reality!
Congrats, Diane! That's quite the accomplishment, especially with that many posts in one year. I've told you before you amaze me … in the best possible way. 🙂 Your blog is a wonderful resource for so many of us and truly makes a difference! Rock on with your new goals!
Shirley
Shirley- Thank you. I really appreciate how often you take the time to read and comment here. I only wish I could be that diligent. Once school starts back up I'm back on to reading the many blogs I enjoy like yours. I do have fun here and I hope people are realizing the phrase I will keep repeating until I'm blue, "Good Food No Matter What!" I was asked why I put my goals out there and I have to say it was scary. But I believe that once you write something down it's more likely to happen. Now I just need to get busy working on them. See you soon!
Congrats, Diane! That’s quite the accomplishment, especially with that many posts in one year. I’ve told you before you amaze me … in the best possible way. 🙂 Your blog is a wonderful resource for so many of us and truly makes a difference! Rock on with your new goals!
Shirley
Shirley- Thank you. I really appreciate how often you take the time to read and comment here. I only wish I could be that diligent. Once school starts back up I’m back on to reading the many blogs I enjoy like yours. I do have fun here and I hope people are realizing the phrase I will keep repeating until I’m blue, “Good Food No Matter What!” I was asked why I put my goals out there and I have to say it was scary. But I believe that once you write something down it’s more likely to happen. Now I just need to get busy working on them. See you soon!
I am proud, your photography is great and you have made me understand about gluten free living
Hugs, your mother-in-law
Judy- Thank you so much. You are one hip mother-in-law to be reading blogs. I'm glad you're enjoying learning about our kitchen fun.
I am proud, your photography is great and you have made me understand about gluten free living
Hugs, your mother-in-law
Judy- Thank you so much. You are one hip mother-in-law to be reading blogs. I’m glad you’re enjoying learning about our kitchen fun.