17 July 2012

Woah. My blog is one year old?

That is really really really weird. Books to Infinity and Beyond turned one on July 9, 2012. YAAAY. I promise I'll treat all of my followers to a nice (international) giveaway...soon. :) Purpose of this post today then?

A RECAP OF MY ONE YEAR OF BLOGGING! :D *waits for applause*

*silence* ....Well, anywaaaays~

Why did I start Books to Infinity one year ago? Simply, I was bored, I wanted to get back into reading, and I had a LOT of time on my hands. (Go to the bottom if you want to see where I'm at NOW, and if you want to skip ALL of this boring blog recap stuff. XD)

MY LONER DAYS




Back then, my blog was called A Neverending Fantasy. :O *LE GASP*

The first few months of blogging was a bit tough and lonely. I was struggling to find the perfect blog design, attempting to have more readers on my blog, trying to find the right way to format my reviews and make them interesting, etc. I also had barely anyone to talk to in my baby months, which was a little saddening.

I know blogging isn't all about numbers. It's to HAVE FUN! It's hard to have fun when it's a one man party. XD </3

SO, I blogged on and off. I'd have hiatuses for months, and would neglect my blog. :(


AND THEN THINGS STARTED GETTING BETTER


Blog was still A Neverending Fantasy.

After the first few months and hiatuses, I was determined to make my blog better! I did a complete blog makeover, and I had actually reached a small readership of around 200 followers. YAAAY! :D

I think, if I can recall correctly, I was going through another bad time in my life and was just not feeling it. So, I blogged less and less, and then, 2012 came rolling around.


BLOG: REBORN!



On January 26, 2012, I renamed my blog and gave it a totally different feel. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I once again failed at posting for another 3-4 months. :(

Around late March, I started posting again. In early April, I had my first giveaway and I was nearing 250 followers, so I decided why not?

GUYS. That giveaway changed my life. I'm not joking. (Heck, I made a post about it and y'all can read about it.) Without that giveaway, I would have NOT met all of the people on Twitter who I can truly say I'm REALLY glad to be friends and even internet besties with, my blog would NOT be where it is right now, and I would probably be in a depressed state right now from everything that's been screwing with my real life.


Is it weird to be tearing up right now? Gosh, I'm so lame. 



WHERE I AM TODAY


TOTAL PAGE VIEWS (as of 7/16/12, 11:18 PM): 34,780
TOTAL FOLLOWERS (as of 7/16/12, 11:18 PM): 601
TOTAL TWITTER FOLLOWERS (as of 7/16/12, 11:18 PM): 521

There are so many people who have helped me throughout my one year of blogging, I can't begin to name. 

All of my readers and commentators, thank you. THANK YOU. It makes me ridiculously happy to read every single one of your comments and I always try my best to comment back.

Jen from The Dancing Reader, dude. I just love you. Seriiiiously! <3 If you didn't help me back then on Twitter, I don't think I'd be blogging or even reading. I sound SO dramatic, but I really feel that way. :') You always gave me the best support ever.

Cindy from Oodles of Books was my first friend evverrr during blogging. <3

Racquel from The Book Barbies, um, yeah. You're freaking hilarious, my fellow "slut" in crime! (Inside joke, don't worry. Racquel isn't a slut.) Thank you for being there for me and having awesome talks on Twittahh~ :)

AVA FROM TWITTER, DUDE. One of the many new additions to my friends list of the internet world, but I love her already. The most adorable, fun thing EVER. <3

Sophie from Sweet Sweet Pages and Alice from Twitter were also one of my first friends too! Good gosh, they DEFINITELY need to get mentioned in these kinds of sappy posts. :') 

And that, folks, is my one year recap of blogging. Thanks for reading! :D <3



34 lovelies:

Gianne said...

Aww congrats on one year! I actually probably went through a lot of the same things that you were talking about, only I never actually got my own blog-design until a lot later. (And the fact that I epically suck at blog design, as much as I hate to admit it :P) But congrats on one year! Not a lot of bloggers can say that and I'm glad I'm following you! :)

Gianne said...

Congrats on one year!! :D I loved this post and seeing the evolution of your blog. Here's to much more ahead for you!

Gianne said...

I'm a baby blog who has been blogging for two years... I find no bloggers really want to talk to you unless you've got loads of followers and get all the best books for review... Congratulations on one year and I loved seeing the progression of your blog!

Gianne said...

Congratulations! Happy Blogoversary C:

Gianne said...

Congrats on one year, Gianna! I'm so glad I found your blog in time to congratulate you on this milestone <3


All those previous designs were gorgeous too but I ADORE the way your blog looks now - the galaxy theme is definitely a plus :) And trust me, your blog is A-MAZING no matter how many hiatuses you took before! Now that I've discovered the joy that is Twitter, you can expect to see me on there a LOT more so hopefully I can chat with you there too!


Here's to many more years of blogging and I hope that you never stop!!!!

Gianne said...

Awhh I loved this post! Congrats on one year of blogging!

Gianne said...

Congrats, Gianna!! I must say, all your previous banners and designs are actually really cute! It was nice to see what your blog looked like before this current design.


I hope that you continue blogging for many many more years! <3 I love talking to you about books, and hope that we continue doing so in the future. =)


-Aneeqah @ My Not So Real Life

Gianne said...

Aww, thanks :) <3

Gianne said...

Thank you!! ^___^

Gianne said...

Not necessarily. :) I have friends who have smaller readerships, but have tons of people of talking to them. :D And thanks!

Gianne said...

Thaaaanks! :)

Gianne said...

:D Thaaanks, love! :) And eeeep, seriously? XD Those headers took me forever to design. XD Oh the things I do to make my blog look nice. ;_; And aww, thank you so much! That really makes me happy to hear that. :D


And YES! Hopefully! >:D

Gianne said...

:) Thank you, Addie!

Gianne said...

XD Thaannks!! :3 And I hope so too! :) Twitter talks about books are always the best. :3 <3

Gianne said...

Wow, that's amazing! Congratulations! All your previous designs are fabulous, but I just love your current header. I'm glad I just found your blog in time today to congratulate you - I'm a new follower :) x

Gianne said...

congrats on your blogoversary! :D

Gianne said...

Congratulations!! Here's hoping to five years, or more :) I did find you because of that giveaway, but I've been coming back since then, and following you on Twitter. I haven't said anything -- I'm pretty quiet there too, lol, but I'll certainly try to!

Gianne said...

WOOOHOOO GO GIANNA! I'm so glad you stayed strong and kept blogging. YOU DID IT. ONE FREAKING YEAR. I love the blog design transitions. :) *sobs* Aww, Gianna I love you so much. I'll always be here for you! <3 I can't wait to see more of what you have in store for this lovely lovely blog. :)

Gianne said...

good job on one year! I hope to read more of your posts! They're the best, funniest posts, I see sometimes! XD You're awesome!




http://therandomranterer.blogspot.com/

Gianne said...

Congrats! You've come so far in the last year! I'm glad to hear that blogging's been such a positive experience for you! :)

Gianne said...

Congrats on your amazing accomplishments!
your blog is beautiful!
new follower!


http://thecrossbreeds.blogspot.com/

Gianne said...

HI GIANNA! *waves* I'm clearly a year late on meeting you but happy one year anniversary! :D Here's to another fifty years of obsessing over strong leads, beautiful writing and those beautiful, sexy YA boys. (Can you imagine us all in like wheelchairs still going on about how cute that 17-year-old is.... uh, creepy LOL)

So how incredibly awesome is it that you have screenshots of your original blog headers?! I wish I'd had the foresight to do that, although mine would be more of a study in crappy layouts LOL.

And I love all of your previous designs but the one you have now is BEAUTIFUL. Love your header! <333

CONGRATULATIONS! *wheels out the cake*

Sonia (The Story Queen)

Gianne said...

*Ugly-cries* Why must our relationship be long-distance? WHY? WHY WORLD, WHY?


Happy Bloggy Birthday, Gianna! Seriously, you're an awesome panda. *Hugs*


<3!
- Ava

Gianne said...

Happy Blogversary Gianna! Reading your post makes me kind of teary too. >__<

Gianne said...

I need to be studying but.

FHDOSAUFHSDOAFHDSOAUFHSDUHSUFDSFSUFSUHFSD. *melts into a puddle of goo* ;_____________________________________;

YOU MAKE ME FEEL ALL THE THINGS BB. ALL THE THINGSSSS. Seriously, I'm not even lying. You are one of the most amazing people I've met on Twitter and ngl, when you REPLIED to the first tweets I sent you I made a huge happy face. Like this. :DDDDD Except without those extra grins. BUT Y'KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

Seriously though, I adore you. <3 I honestly feel so lucky to have come across your blog and met you. HATING that I'm in Australia and you're over in the US so we can't hang out at book conventions and blogging things together but who knows, maybe one day I'll earn a fuckload of money and come and see ya. >:D

I CAN'T BELIEVE YOUR BLOG IS A WHOLE YEAR OLD! That's just AMAZING. And seriously, your headers are just gorgeous you flawless thing you. So pissed that I hadn't found your blog SOONER because just ARGH. You're such an amazing friend and I honestly consider you one of my close internet buddies. <3 <3 I CAN'T WAIT until I start my own book blog and I have more time on my hands so we can chat even more.

I LOVE YOU SO SO SO SO SO SOOOOOO MUCH. <3

(do pictures work on this thing? o_O It has the option to upload one...WHAT THE HECK let's see what happens. XD)

Gianne said...

Ahhh! Don't get teary :( You'll make me teary too. *is such an emotional train wreck*

Gianne said...

:) Thank you, Zoe! Totally sweet sauce of you :3 <3

Gianne said...

Thank you!! :)

Gianne said...

n___n Thanks, hun!

Gianne said...

ASDHJKS I LOVE YOU TOO. SERIOUSLY. GAAAHHH. <3 <3 <3 :')

Gianne said...

:') AWW. That made me smile! THANK YOUUU!

Gianne said...

Thank you, darling. :') It's been a RIDICULOUSLY incredibly positive experience. I'm really grateful! :)

Gianne said...

Gianna! Congrats on your ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY! I feel so happy for you! <3 *huggss*

I have the best time talking to you, and I enjoy reading your posts so much! You're such a funny and fabulous person. <3 I'm just hoping that we can talk more on Twitter. Oh well, I think I need to start giving life to my Twitter account just so I can catch you there! ;)

Your designs are absolutely amazing! You have such a good taste I adore! Can't wait to see more awesome posts in the future, sweetie! <3

Gianne said...

You shame me by saying I'm not a real slut. You clearly don't know me well enough. Do you not know how many boyfriends I have??!?!?! Like a bajillion. Which is possible because there might be only 7 billion people but there are pleeeenty of sexyyy fictional men. I have one for every hour of the day, every day of the week, every day of the month and every day of the year. I'm like a pro whore, sistaa. Back to the important topic (that's how much you offended me!! how could you?!) HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUR BLOG. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUR BLOG. HAPPY ONE YEAR BIRTHDAY TO YOUR REBORN USED TO BE ONE MAN SHOW BLOG HAAAPPPY BIRTHDAY TO A NEVER ENDING FANTASY. I'm so glad you got over your lazy streak and actually started blogging seriously. BECAUSE HOW ELSE COULD WE HAVE MET? *hugs laptop screen* I love you sooo sooo much my little bestie<3 you make my life better (': you're awesomest greatest most amazingest and every other made up positive -est adjective out there!! I'm so proud of you!!!!

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