Did I even Raise my Children this Year with all that Blogging?

It’s time to say goodbye to 2011.  I’m also ending my freshman year as a first-time blogger.  As I go through my 2011 portfolio, I cannot believe that I have written 187 blog posts.  It will be one year in a few days since I wrote my very first blog post after a daunting trip to Food Lion with my two children.

There are a couple of things I need to tell you that have changed since that first post.  I do like to write to reduce stress, but I have found that I enjoy writing for your comments even more.  I love to hear from you, so I guess my writing, “I don’t care if I’m the only reader,” really doesn’t hold true one year later.

Just like a TV show pilot, some of my earlier posts make me cringe.  Just like a fine wine, I think my posts have become better with time.  I’ve become more comfortable in my space, and the posts seem more entertaining and enjoyable. 

Through blogging, I’ve also made some great connections and some great friendships. I know that may sound unusual to people who prefer making friends the old-fashioned way and not through social media.  But it’s a fact.  I feel blessed to have met so many other bloggers, and nonbloggers who read my blog.  To you, I say thank you. You keep me motivated to continue this quest.  And to think, one year ago I didn’t tweet or own a smartphone.  Santa made sure I was mobile in 2012.

I decided to take some time, look back over some old posts, and pick some of my favorites. 

I’ve shared a lot in 2011 on this blog.  I have featured many luxury hotels and terrific restaurants, and shared some scrumptious recipes. I also gave you a glimpse of my life as a parent. 

My 2011 Favorite Posts

Parenting/Humor/Recipes

Pirate Princess in the City, January 2011: This is a very early post about sibling rivalry and sharing.  Truthfully, it’s the biggest issue I deal with as a parent today.

Call Me, Nincompoop!, January 2011:  This post was written on a whim.  I love it because it shows you how easily a mom can get sidetracked in a day’s work.

 Is Everyday Like a Monday? May 2011:: This is a little Southern tale about how two kids can certainly mess up a leisurely Saturday morning.

Packing a Boden Swimsuit and Much More in my Pool Bag,June 2011:  I really hate the summer season.  I really do.

The Dish Ran Away with the Spoon, September 2011: This post is for all those parents who keep losing things.

Grocery FlyerMeal: Maple-Mustard Pork Chops with Caramelized Apples, September2011: This recipe is good, but I think the story is even better.

 

Growing Older, November 2011. This is probably my favorite post of the entire year because I let my guard down and spoke from the heart.

Turn the Never Ending To-Do List Into Done, November2011: This is a feel-good post that I hope inspires us all.

That Goes on the Back of the Tree Plus Cook Our SouthernTree Trimming Meal:  December 2011:  I think this is a funny story, and it shows that one truly grows in a relationship and as she ages.  Also, the recipe I share in this post is an absolute family favorite.

Travel and Leisure Posts

It was Already on My List, April 2011:  In April, I wrote a lot about the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.  I even worked with the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, N.C., to plan a royalwedding here in North Carolina for my blog.  This post on the Goring Hotel is a favorite travel post of mine.  Kate Middleton stayed at the Goring Hotel the night before the wedding, but I tell you the truth when I say the hotel was on my “list” long before that wedding.

Buckle Up: You’re Road Trippin’ with the Hines, May 2011:  I like this post because I love Beaufort, N.C., and as the kids age, I would like to take this blog into more of a travel direction. You may also like One Wedding and A Fort. 

$60 and One Excruciating Car Ride Home Later: Is ItWorth It to Take Children on Day Trips? October 2011: I think the title of this post says it all, but it also shows you what fun we did have on our outing.  Yes, I do think it’s worth it.

A Funny Thing Happened in Durham, August 2011: I like this post because I think the story is funny. Some may call it disappointing, but we find that laughter is the best medicine for disappointment. 

I’m Dreaming of a Filet and a French Chardonnay, December2011: I love to eat, and I had a great time with this post.  

It really is hard to pinpoint some favorites. 

Here’s to many more posts in 2012.  And remember...

 Happy New Year!

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