How Blogging Has Changed Over the Years… + Never Easy

(Tank, shorts, socks, bra, shoes)

This trail (Deer Creek) never feels easy.  It is one of the absolute prettiest runs out there because you run next to the reservoir the entire time and get the best views of the sunrise… but it is rough.

You feel like you are either going up or down the entire run.  My original plan was to do a tempo pace for the last few miles, but I didn’t because it turned into survival mode.  I was hurting at mile ten from all of the climbing, so I just focused on making it back to my car.  I did my best to distract myself with my friend’s conversation, counting steps, and making mini-goals along the way (JUST MAKE IT TO THE NEXT TREE).

The trails love to humble us (well, all of running humbles me often).

I went into this run thinking I would just frolic over the dirt while I smiled for 14 miles, but that was not the case!

The endorphins were at an all-time high once I finished because I was so proud of myself for not stopping.

We had an awesome group!  The girl with the Wildcats top on was in the Olympic Trials FINAL for the steeplechase this summer… incredible.

The views help to distract you from your legs feeling like death ha.

I was very happy about the fact that I hit over 60 miles last week.

This niece of mine has made a lot of running possible this year.  My kids love her so so much.

Beck thinks he is a big deal these days, just getting into the toys all by himself.

Andrew and Knox were gone the last few days!  Andrew’s grandpa took a lot of the boys in the family out to Wisconsin for a baseball/football trip.

They were in HEAVEN.

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It’s almost been 11 years since I started blogging, and I thought it would be fun to sit down and write about a few of the different ways I have found that it has changed since the beginning!

*I used to write three posts a day… Twenty-one posts a WEEK.  I now do six (sometimes seven if I have a baby post or friend to friend post), and I have no idea how I used to post three times throughout the day!

*I don’t share Driver’s Ed stories anymore ha.  I made them drive me to McDonald’s for ice cream often.

I had way too many close calls with that job.  Before we know it, I’ll be talking about taking Brooke and Knox out to teach them how to drive.

*I used to talk more with other bloggers!  I used to send burned CDs of my favorite workout songs to different bloggers or email them obsessively or make them talk on the phone with me.  Everyone just got a lot busier, and we don’t talk as much as we did back then (and I don’t send weird packages… I’m surprised they gave me their addresses;)!  These days, I often text with Kim, Anne and I still get in some facetime chats now and then, and I get to catch up with Ali on podcast episodes or through texting.   I have loved every friendship I have made through blogging/comments much.  It’s one of my biggest blessings so thank you.

*EVERYONE IS GROWING UP.  I used to hang out with my sister’s kids all of the time, and now they are adults/almost adults.

*AND MY BABIES ARE GROWING UP TOO… Brooke was so tiny!

*I no longer work with Mediakix after 8ish years together…  They did all of the behind-the-scenes work to get the sponsored posts that I used to do on my blog.  I loved working with them and had a great experience because they knew exactly what companies I loved and who I wanted to work with.  They were then bought out, and things went sour fast…. If you saw the article on BuzzFeed, it’s so sad how things ended for many of us bloggers. As far as blogging goes now, I currently make income from Adthrive (I LOVE them… I work with them for the ads on my blog) and affiliate earnings.  I have been doing sponsored posts on Instagram with brands I love, and I am very happy with the balance now, and I hope you are too (and if you aren’t, then tell me because your opinion is beyond important to me).

*I don’t try to get artistic food pictures anymore ha;). Not sure why I found the need to take out my PB and banana to the leaves with my fancy camera to get a picture, but I did…  I feel like I don’t blog about food nearly as much as I used to either!

*I used to post playlists (for running or spin) at least once a week… Now I am usually running with people, and if I’m not, I am listening to podcasts.  If by chance, I am listening to music, it is a playlist from years ago.  I am SO behind on music these days, and my nieces make fun of me for it and they make playlists on my Spotify like this one…

*Blogging used to be so simple!  There weren’t all of these other social media channels to try to keep up with (I think Twitter had just started in the beginning) and grow your following with.  I gave up trying to keep up with everything and focus on blogging and IG and feel great about that.

*One thing I miss a lot is blogging trips!  Travel stopped for everyone during covid, but I sure missed going on trips with different bloggers.

Those are some of the most significant changes I’ve noticed over the years, and I’d love to hear any that you have seen in the social media world too!

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Tell me the ways that social media has changed in your life over the years?!  What do you enjoy about social media?

Do you stay up to date with music, or do you stick with your old favorites?

Any questions about blogging that you’d want me to write a post about?

Favorite sports game to go to?!