1 Year! Yes 1 year of Blogging  – wowzers

Oh my word, so much has happened in the last 12 months, 1 Year of Blogging!

I am not entirely sure where to start? On July 7th 2015 I launched my official blog Easypeasylemonsqueezy.

I had been sort of blogging for a couple of years before that, just posting recipes on Facebook that kind of thing. But the actual site is officially one year old today!

I guess it’s my Blogiversary!

Over the last 12 months I have learnt more new stuff than I ever thought possible at my ripe old age!

It just goes to show that that old adage – ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’ is a load of bull!

What we have to remember is that EPLS was never a plan, it just sort of grew from some small idea. It has evolved, as they say, organically! (Not yet ready to talk about why too much, but maybe one day.)

I had no idea that I even wanted to blog, until it turned out I was actually doing it.

Maybe that’s why, for me, it’s a living thing and I am more alive than I have been for a long time.

My aim is that  my blog is natural not contrived (and I have been told it is natural – phew) not money grabbing (not about money at all in fact), how nice!

And I hope you have enjoyed the last year too! I truly hope you have been inspired to try a few easy recipes and to realise that making dinner / lunch is not that tough after all and WAY better than the shop bought ready meals.

I hope I have been able to help you out when you don’t know what to make for dinner and I hope I have made you smile occasionally with with my antics and honesty!

My biggest wish is that you cook with your family – after all I STRONGLY believe (I’ve said it before) but I think it is our fundamental responsibility to teach our kids how to cook and feed themselves.

So what exactly is blogging?

Well the definition I guess is a fast moving/changing website, simple. I see it as my little space, a space that I own on the internet. It is mine, I can do with it what I like and that in itself is quite liberating.

I love and have always loved to cook

I now have a platform to share not only recipes (Thanks to the A M A Z I N G Skyblue Design Agency! and my wonderful new sincere friend who is simply amazeballs and goes by the name of Jane Mc!, thanks cherub!), but life and issues and fun things, it just goes on and on.

I am immensely proud of it, in fact I’m still so excited by it and its possibilities. I am proud and amazed at what my blog has done for me.

It has helped me connect with a worldwide audience (yes worldwide), to share the good, the bad, the ugly, the funny, the trivial, the whatever.

It has enabled me to build a community, to laugh, to cry (yes) and to have great fun. To gather together an audience of likeminded (and some not) people is really a joy for me. I see it, and I pray you do too, as almost ‘magazine’ like….

This is what I hope anyway,  and it’s what I aspire to.

Something light, fun, useful, entertaining, interesting  and to share what the world throws at us daily!

(I then start to think, ‘Why does it make me so happy?’ Oh maybe that’s another whole blog post!)

Something major happened to me in my 40’s!

Life throws really rubbish stuff at us from time to time and we lose things and people we adore more than life itself.

I’m not sure what happened  to me inside at this time or how it happened, but I suddenly  found this immense drive and maybe a realisation that life is actually very short,  

I know it’s an old cliché – but it REALLY is.

I have this voice in my head that shouts at me – just do it, do it, make your mark, make a difference, be nice , make someone’s day, don’t worry about the small stuff.

We all have that equal chance and we all need to leave our mark on this world. If mine is a few recipes and a cookery book then great. What mark would you leave?

I am a very busy person with a successful career.  Travelling in the UK and Europe and have always tried my very best and always been fully committed and put in the hard graft.

That’s me really, I never do things by half. It’s always full throttle.

I just can’t help it? I wonder if it’s because I almost daren’t  stop? Hmmmm, I wonder.

Easypeasylemonsqueezy really excites me

A year on, I still don’t know from day to day  what’s coming !

I get emails from PR agencies, invitations to openings, invitations to collaborate, invitations to review products (‘Can I send you a crate of lager to review?’ Eeer yes), giveaways to offer to you guys – it’s full on!

It’s great as I am able to say YES to the stuff I like and NO to the stuff I don’t want to do, magic hey!

This is mainly because it is not a financial entity. Don’t get me wrong maybe it could be, and yes it’s nice to be paid for a few posts now and then.

(Me on the #LoveFoodHateWaste Campaign with Nancy & Adam) 

I could be a full time blogger I guess but I simply wouldn’t leave my day job as UK Business Development Director,  it’s my career and after 24 years I guess I’m quite good at it. I love it (most of the time)!

So I have the best of both worlds. Don’t get me wrong, this has not come easy.

I have worked my butt off for many years. I have missed parts of my life out as I have been so busy building my career and this blog.

That’s my choice

So if I can offer you any advice – just do it, whatever it is! Life is short! Have a go! I

am a living example of self promotion, of drive and ambition, so much so that sometimes I don’t know what to do with it! 🙂 I’m not special at all, just a normal bird trying to do my best!

I have met some amazing people and made some very wonderful new friends and I thank you for that.

We need to remember to cherish those we love and those that we care about, we need to be calm, we need to help and guide if we can. My little EPLS platform somehow helps me to do this 🙂 better!

Thank you 

I have to take this opportunity to thank the lovely and inspirational Tracey Britten. Tracey has shared her Cancer Journey with us on EPLS, it’s tough and tough to read, Tracey THANK YOU you are amazing!

AND I know there are more people than you possibly know wishing you well on your continued journey Cx #highfive

And it goes without saying Jane – Cocktail Queen – you are my bestie – always have been and always will be. Your support is just lovely and endless!

And not only have I got through a whole year blogging. I also managed to pick up some nominations and awards for Easypeasylemonsqueezy.

I’m so thrilled about that! EPLS  also entered the top Foodies 500 Blogs in the UK 🙂 #chuffed

• AWARDS

Essex Digital Awards – Silver

UK National Blog Awards – Finalist

BUT what is the most important for me it that my blog continues with integrity and sincerity. Even after 1 Year of Blogging – I’m happy 

I will not be bought out by brands, I will not do stuff just for money or giveaways. I will only consider what is good and what fits EPLS. -This is my mantra and this is what I’ll continue to do!

So all it leaves me to do is to say THANK YOU ALL (all 4000 of you) for being a part of EPLS. And let’s make the next year bigger and better than before!

Remember you can do what you want to do and be who you want to be if you work hard enough! Here I am after 1 Year of Blogging and it was one of my best decisions 

Love and #LOVELYLEMONS

Scattered around this post are the most favourite and the most hit-on recipes on the blog so far.

Have you had a go at any?

I would love to hear your comments and views below.

Tomorrow I’ll let you know my plans for EPLS Year 2!

Clare X

1 Year of Blogging