Happy 1st Birthday to Book Coffee Happy!

I have been faithfully reading other people’s blogs every single day since 2007. I absolutely love them and have always wanted one my own…a place to create, share, and have fun. Exactly 1 year ago on September 10, 2018, I decided to take the plunge and officially introduce my blog that I had previously quietly been working on to the world. Its scary to put yourself out there like that and I’m so thankful that I did.

Happy 1st Birthday, Book Coffee Happy!

When I first started blogging, I had a grand total of 6 readers. My husband, my parents, and my 3 best friends. 1 year later and I have 644 blog followers, 1,228 Instagram followers, 663 Facebook followers, and 472 Twitter followers. I also have a YouTube channel with a handful of subscribers 🙂 I’m thankful to each and every person who is following me on all platforms in this blogging journey.

1 year ago today…

It’s the best hobby I’ve ever had. I’ve learned so much…I created a website and actively keep it running for an entire year which is something I never thought I could do! I’m incredibly proud of that and this 1 year anniversary truly feels like a celebration to me.  I’m a big believer in always trying to learn new things and this blog has most definitely been a learning experience for me.

It hasn’t been easy (thank God for Google searches, YouTube how to videos, and WordPress tech supporters) but it’s been so worth it. This space is something I’m so proud of. It’s good for me and has given me such a fun and the creative outlet to share my love of reading alongside bits of my personal life.

One of the hardest parts of blogging is the fact that I’m such a perfectionist and this is all so new to me.  I’m learning while publicly publishing posts which aren’t always 100 percent perfect.  But that’s life, right?  This blog is a reflection of me…and I am most definitely NOT 100 percent perfect 🙂  I’ve given myself the grace to make mistakes over this past year which is definitely NOT something that has been easy for me.  I’ve also learned that presenting something with mistakes is better than not presenting anything at all. And this applies to so much more than just blogging 🙂

Over the past year, this blog has opened up so many doors for me and has given me some truly amazing experiences:

I have been sent a total of 19 Books to read, review, and host giveaways for on my blog:

(Full blog review and giveaway of The Unbreakables By Lisa Barr coming soon!)

I attended Lit Fest 2019

I attended the Midwest Writers Association Meeting

I was offered a job leading storytime at Whimsy Play Cafe in Buffalo Grove twice a week (the cafe owner was a blog reader!) Here’s a (very blurry) link to see what I do there:

I loved the interaction from other bloggers/vloggers on THIS POST  and on THIS POST. I found so many new blogs/vlogs to love!  If you are a blogger or a vlogger, feel free to add your link to each of those posts.

I enjoyed rounding up some favorite books to include on my Spring Break 2019 Book Recommendation List and also on my Pregnancy/New Parents/Baby Shower Gifts Recommendation List.

You can read my very post blog post HERE!  It’s super impersonal, lol.

At this time last year I had no idea how to use Instagram or Twitter. 1 year later and I’m LOVING Instagram! I post a new Instagram story at least once a day (usually multiple times throughout the day) and it’s FUN. It’s a fun place for me to actually talk about day to day life in videos as opposed to written words.  Love it!  As for Twitter, I’m still over here trying to figure it all out, lol…work in progress 🙂

Aaaaaaand along with the amazing experiences this year also came some not so amazing experiences.  My broken elbow, my food poisioning which turned out to be a horrific stomach flu, and my car accident all top that unfortunate list.  Ugh.

For every person who has commented on a blog post, clicked the “like” button, commented, or shared on a Facebook post, mentioned me in an Instagram story, retweeted my tweets on Twitter, or interacted with me in any other way on social media…thank you. All of these things will help my hobby to GROW and I’m incredibly thankful to you.

For every author who has reached out and has so graciously offered to send me a copy of their book to review and share with my readers…thank you!

For every person who has purchased something through my Amazon affiliate links…thank you.

And most importantly, for every person who has recommended my blog to a fellow book lover…thank you.

I have met some lovely people and have made some lovely new friends as a result of this blog!  I’ve even had people come up to me in public and introduce themselves as blog readers!  I LOVE THAT!  Just 3 days ago, a lady came up to me at a local park and introduced herself because she recognized me from my Disney video 🙂

To my very first blog readers: Jon, Mom, Dad, Amy, Barbara, and Beth…I love you all so much!

Jon, you were the very first person I told that I wanted to do this and I said, “Want to hear a crazy idea?  I think I want to start writing a blog!” and you said, “I don’t think that’s crazy at all, I think you should and I think you’d be great!” Thank you for believing in me and for supporting me. Thank you for working so hard and providing for our family which in turn then allows me the opportunity to write this blog.  I love you so much 🙂

And lastly…my children. I have never shown their faces or said their names on here which has been HARD. I am literally obsessed with my kids and I’m a Stay at Home Mom so writing this blog without including them feels like I’m sharing myself but without sharing my heart. Maybe one day I will introduce you to them but for now, thank you for respecting their privacy. Spoiler: They are the 2 most gorgeous kids on Earth.

 

 

 

My favorite posts are hands down the ones about my personal life:

My (Now Ruined) Favorite Library

My Birthday

Walt Disney World Vacation

My 3 Best Friends and My Amazing College Experience

Reading at the Ronald McDonald House

Michigan Getaway with Jon

I’ve blogged about some amazing books over the past year, made some lovely new friends over the past year, and have successfully accomplished something that has always been such a dream for me.

I have so many ideas, plans, and goals for this space moving forward. I can’t wait to make them happen.

Happy 1st Birthday, Book Coffee Happy!

And because…well, life…

I was so excited to eat my perfect looking blog birthday cupcake but was struggling with how to eat it with my son sound asleep on me. I took this selfie and literally 1 second later…

The blog birthday cupcake toppled off the plate and landed frosting side down directly on top of both of us. My husband (who was sitting next to us) immediately jumped up, saved the cupcake, cleaned everything up, got me a fork, and told me that maybe this should tell me to stop taking so many selfies.

Side Note: I’ll never stop taking selfies.

The deconstructed version of the perfect blog birthday cupcake was delicious and my son stayed asleep throughout the whole ordeal.

Next year’s newest blog goal: to eat Book Coffee Happy’s 2nd birthday cupcake whole and without having to use a fork 🙂

Happy 1st Birthday, Book Coffee Happy!

Birthdays include gifts. The gift I would love would be to hear the title of a book you have read and loved which you discovered because of my blog! Please comment here on this blog post, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter…wherever!  I can’t wait to see which books I have introduced you to! My heart will be so happy to know that I’ve done that for you 🙂

Xo,

Jenny

This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support!  Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:

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