Two years, today. Or perhaps I should say yesterday or maybe even the day before to be precise.

My blogging journey has been one hell of a ride so far. This post is not an “Ooooh, look at me and everything I’ve done” perspective, but rather an “Ooooh, look at the REAL potential this blogging gig can bring with tons of dedication and hard work…” perspective. The fabulous Tiffany said it best, “A success for one blogger is a success for ALL of us.” Here’s my story…

I had the idea for Theta Mom in early 2009. For many months straight, I did nothing but write. I wanted to find my voice, develop a clear mission and define myself in this space before I presented it to the world. I always knew who I was but I wanted to be really concrete about the kind of blog I wanted to run. I knew that I always wanted to remain professional but at the same time, stay authentic. I wanted to begin a real dialogue with other women and touch the lives of mothers everywhere; I wanted to connect with women and mothers in a way that hadn’t been done before.

I had a voice and I wanted my voice to be heard.

Once I had the Mission written and refined (in addition to tons upon tons of blog posts) I started to research blogs and the art of blogging itself.

I immersed myself in it.

For many months I ate, slept and drank blogging. I wanted to know every aspect of the ins and outs of blogging. I bought several books to kick start this process and I hung on every word. I documented and took notes. I wrote and wrote some more. I was like a sponge, soaking up every single thing I could possibly learn. At the time, I was doing this in the midst of raising a newborn baby, small toddler and working part-time as an Adjunct Professor. Saying that sleep was not on the agenda is an understatement. Although, I think it saved my sanity from that time in my life. I needed an outlet from the daily grind of motherhood and once I found my niche, I ran with it.

I continued to stay up late many nights to learn and read as much as I could online as well about the field of blogging. Once I had a good handle on the industry, I then immersed myself with the inner workings of WordPress and this book soon became my new bible {still full of blue sticky notes everywhere}:

And, so it began.

I published my very first post at Theta Mom on WordPress on June 28, 2009 using a horrid free WP theme I found online. The background was a dark burgundy and the graphic girl was holding a purse and was walking through the city…a far cry from what it is today. I honestly think only Brittany {who by the way was my very first blog follower and one of my absolute besties to this day} remembers that design (THANK GAWD). All free themes are NOT bad, but I was a total newbie and obviously didn’t know enough about free themes at the time. Oh, how things change. I was so miserable with that WordPress design and not having the time, patience or experience to design an entire site myself, I jumped over to Blogger and set up a cute, easy theme of pink and green…with birds.

Birds? Really?             

Yup. Frackin birds.

Thankfully, I think only Helene and Elizabeth remember that design. I re-published that first post three days later on July 1, 2009. The problem was Theta Mom had nothing to do with birds. So, I immediately contacted a designer that worked on Blogger and that’s when I became face-to-face with my infamous stroller chick {which, for the record, I will say goodbye to very soon as the time has come for me to give up the graphic girl}. I remained on Blogger with my stroller chick for about two months when I once again became miserable. This time, it wasn’t the design that was the problem – it was the platform.

In November of 2009, I left Blogger and jumped ship back to WordPress. It was a super scary time because even seasoned peeps like Mama Kat and Angie were still using Blogger. I felt like I was crossing back over to the land of the unknown leaving so many of my Blogger friends behind, but within months, it’s almost as if the entire blogosphere ditched Blogger in late 2009.

Once I moved back to WordPress, that’s when I really started to “brand” myself. I met Lauren, the most talented designer on the planet and she made the migration for me and gave me a fabulous new design. THAT was the moment I knew I found the right look and feel for Theta Mom.

Four months later, I began TMC, a sought after blogging community that continues to thrive. When I had immediate support at its inception (and still do to this day) from so many fantastic bloggers, I knew I was onto something special. I mean, really special. And on my first blogoversary, I was amazed at how far I had come – how so many women and mothers resonated with Theta Mom and everything that this blog stands for.

Late last summer, I officially began working professionally as a blogger and social media consultant. I even started my own business. I properly re-launched Theta Mom in January to showcase these new changes with another new redesign by Lauren, highlighting the addition of The Marketplace and later launched Theta Mom Media on its own platform and I am currently working with several amazing clients, such as momAgenda. Nina is one of the most inspiring entrepreneurs I have ever met. {And in case you were wondering, she is absolutely gorgeous in real life}. She has created an amazing brand and she is so much more than just a company I partnered with; she is a talented, smart and savvy business woman, a true inspiration and a mentor – someone I truly look up to in so many ways and if it weren’t for my blog, I never would have had the opportunity to work with her, which leads me to this very moment, right now.

Two years later.

My blog has morphed into something bigger than I could have ever imagined. This blog has opened so many doors and brought me the kind of opportunities I never even knew existed. It’s also been a place for my refuge and sanity.

This blog is my third baby and it’s a place I call home.

With tons and tons of continued hard work and dedication, I’m confident that I will continue to see Theta Mom and Theta Mom Media taken to new heights. I hope by sharing my journey thus far serves as a small piece of inspiration for you regardless of your own blogging goals.

As for my readers? I can’t thank you enough for the support you’ve given me, the love you have shown me and the kind words of inspiration you’ve provided for me over these last two years. I hope you know how much I appreciate every single tweet, comment and email and I am so grateful for every single soul that reads my writing. I’m also thankful for those that support the fellow bloggers I feature, the women in business whom I endorse and the brands that I choose to partner with. I hope you will continue to be here for Theta Mom and watch me grow and change as I travel this path.

Because the bottom line is, I just can’t imagine traveling this crazy blogging journey without you, because YOU are the reason I still continue to hit publish.

And THAT my friends, will never change.

xoxoxoxoxo