My blog just turned four years old!
I get excited by each milestone and like doing these reflection posts each year.
There’s been quite a few changes between last year and this one, but most of them have been personal.
Of course there was the biggest change: getting married. And all the stuff that comes with that: adjusting to having a husband, sharing money, living together, etc.
There was also some big changes in my family life. Previously my siblings were a big part of the blog. We ate out together at least once a week, I deposited my sugary creations to them so that I wouldn’t eat them all and get diabetes, and we lived together. Shortly after I got married, they up and all moved out of San Diego within a span of a few months. My parents have wanted us to all move back to the Bay Area and they successfully convinced two of their kids to do so. They are still working on me. But I really love San Diego.
My youngest brother, often referred to as Baby Brother on the blog, left San Diego for the East Coast. If you haven’t yet heard from my mother or him, he got into Harvard Dental School. Even though we are all pretty proud, having him move so far away has been a big adjustment. My parents had successfully kept us all in one state until now, so it’s been a big change having him all the way on the east coast.
So most of my family has left San Diego and I’ve lost the weekly family dinners, which is a little sad. Though my wallet is much happier since it took quite a dent to take out my siblings and their significant others every week. I also lost them as an outlet to deposit all my baked goods. Luckily I’ve found other sources. I have twin cousins in San Diego and some college-aged friends who don’t need to watch what they eat.
On the blog front, I’m continually surprised and happy to see more and more people finding the blog and sharing it with others. I’ve met and made new friends, reconnected with ones I lost touch with, strengthened existing friendships, gotten some great opportunities to work with various companies, seen a few of my posts go viral on the internet.
I hope to see the blog continue to grow, but at the same time, I want to always stick to what is important. A wise man recently reminded me what was important and it’s a moment I tried very hard to ingrain in my memory forever. We were sitting at a party he had invited me to, surrounded by all his close friends, all of whom I learned that night he had actually met through his blog. And while I’m paraphrasing here, he basically told me: this is what it is all about. He might not blog forever, but he’s made lasting friendships. And of course, I realized he is right.
Sure, there are some cool perks that come with the blog, but the biggest thing I’ve gotten out of it are the friendships. I’ve made dear friends- people I never would have met if I didn’t start my blog. My blog might not last forever, but I hope these friendships do and they are what I take most from this blog experience.
When I look back on my old anniversary posts, I can read and feel the enthusiasm I have for the blog in each one. And I have to say, I feel just as enthusiastic now as I did last year and the year before.
I often get asked, why I blog so much or why I don’t get sick of it. Honestly, for me, the blog is my outlet. I hate my day job. Anyone who meets me knows that. I chose a career path I wouldn’t choose again if I could redo it. But with the blog, I’m doing something. I’m not saving lives or anything significant, but I’m making some sort of difference and reaching people I would never be able to in person. I like knowing when I go to sleep each night that even though my day job is very unfulfilling, I did something else that day that hopefully made a small positive difference in someone’s life. Which is why I get such a thrill when I receive positive comments. Hearing someone made a recipe that pleased their whole family, that they found a new favorite restaurant from my post, etc, really makes my day. So that’s what keeps me going and keeps me wanting to constantly post. It’s why I like to login my blog first thing after I turn on my computer screen in the morning, so I can see what people have said about something I published the night before.
I don’t know what to expect in this next year for my blog. I’ve learned not to have expectations and just let things flow. With each year, I do feel a bit wiser and feel like I’ve learned from some mistakes and learned to make adjustments with the blog, but I know there will be other mistakes to learn from so I hope you will be patient with me. I know it will continue to change, hopefully for the better. I know I can’t please everyone, but I hope most of you will continue on this journey with me. And to those of you who have discovered me these last few years, read my ramblings, silently followed my blog, commented on posts, alerted me to restaurant openings, shared tips and recipes to me, thank you.
My previous anniversary posts:
Great work Kirbie. I am a San Diego resident and really enjoy your blog. You are one of my blog inspirations to start my own blog. I hope I can stick with it long enough to have a 4 year blogaversary! Right now I will feel good if I have a 1 year blogaversary 🙂
Congrats on another year! Very glad to be one of the ones to have met you through your site, and so long as you keep posting, I’ll keep reading. 😀
I really appreciate all the dinners/baked goods and I will be the one to treat you guys someday! I love reading your posts and seeing all the great restaurants you get to experience. Congrats on four years. Here’s to another four!
Congratulations! I just start reading your blog and really enjoy your posts.
Congrats on your 4 year blogaversary Kirbie! So glad that we met up through our blogs. I really enjoy your minimal ingredient cookie and mug cake recipes, as well as your restaurant posts. It’s also been neat seeing your photography evolve over the years as well. Continue to do what makes you happy. 🙂
Congrats! I’m a long time reader who lives in San Diego and your recommendations never disappoint. Best wishes for continued success, Kirbie!
Hi Kirbie, I’ve been following your blog silently for a few years and thought it was finally time to post in response to this. 🙂
Congratulations on your anniversary! Doing anything every day is a accomplishment to be proud of, even if it’s for the purpose of happiness and escapism. Reading your posts, seeing your pretty photography, your fun and easy dessert recipes, your Kit Kat reviews (my husband doesn’t read food blogs but he knows you from these reviews – hah!), your thoughts on local restaurants – these keep me reading. Best wishes for the future. 🙂 I am one of the many your blog has made a little happier.
Aw, thanks for taking the time to comment. =) So glad you enjoy everything. I actually have some more kit kat reviews coming up, haha.
Congrats! If you have too many baked goodies I can help you!
Super Happy Awesome 4th Blogaversary Kirbie! I’ve always enjoyed reading your posts, even if I don’t always have a comment 🙂 Thanks for sharing with us!
Yay!! Happy Blogaversary Kirbie! I’m so glad that we got to meet through our blogs, and here’s to another great year ahead 🙂
Congratulations! My post about your Tangzhong bread has been my most popular post, so thank you! I’m sorry about your day job. We do what we have to do. And San Diego is beautiful.
Congrats Kirbie ! What an accomplishment. I remember reading your blog when it first started I believe. It’s hard to believe it’s been FOUR years?! I know this year will be amazing for you.
Expectations for this next year:
1) Get a full framed camera and give the 7D to baby brother
2) Start mailing food to baby brother
🙂
Happy 4 years, Kirbie! Great post. 🙂 I really admire you as a food blogger for someone that keeps it up constantly, unlike *ahem* someone you know. Still trying to make the adjustment with an almost two year old! I enjoy your posts and food pics and even though I don’t comment as much as I would like to, your blog is a great resource! Happy eating!
Hey Kirbie – Happy Blogga-versary to you! Four years is like forever in “blog time”! THanks again for all the wonderful posts.
Happy blogiversary! Looking forward to many more years of reading it.
Congratulations! I truly enjoy reading your blog. If I still lived in San Diego, I would be happy to share in your dining travels:)