Blogging: Newbie Style

I started my blog in 2009, as a way to keep occupied and share some of my cake decorationing with family and friends.  I then started sharing recipes that I love, along with other life and travel experiences. While I have been blogging for about two and a half years, I still feel like a newbie, as there is so much out there to learn.

These photos were on my very first post.

I also love checking out other blogs, mostly food related.  I always get excited when they host giveaways, but with soooo many people entering, I never win anything. One day, I started to think that other blogs must be hosting giveaways too, so I Googled it.  I was immediately amazed at how many giveaways there were, but was honestly blown away when I discovered the world of blog hops.  I spent hours hopping from blog to blog entering for all sorts of prizes.  Along the way, I discovered some amazing new blogs.  I found recipes I wanted to try, read about new products, and discovered that there is an amazing group of bloggers out there that help each other to reach their goals.

Then I started to win.  I had so much fun entering and was thrilled when I would check my email and discover that I had won something.  And who doesn't love to receive a package in the mail?  I was so excited when a prize would arrive and I could open it up to see what I had won.  I felt like a child again!

One of my first wins...it was delicious!

Somewhere along the way, I started to get interested in promotinging my blog.  It was with this realization, that I began giving my blog a face lift, including a new header and colour scheme.  If you have been following me from the beginning, you have probably noticed a lot of changes over the years.  While it is still very basic, I love the changes that I have made and look forward to what is still to come.

My new theme.

I recently started thinking about hosting my first giveaway, as a way to gain some exposure and to thank my readers.  I spent a lot of time thinking about what I wanted as the prize, how I would promote it, and what I would use as entries. I was super excited when BeadforLife returned my email, saying that they would sponsor my first giveaway! I love BeadforLife and what they represent, and was so excited to share this nonprofit organization with others around the world. I immediately went to work preparing my sponsor post and my raffelcopter form.

While I am looking forward to my giveaway, I must admit that I am also a bit nervous.  I have been spending hours researching what makes a GOOD and a LEGAL giveaway.  There are so many rules to follow that I never realized before, and not all of them are black and white, which makes it even more difficult.  Hopefully I get everything figured out soon, as my first giveaway is coming up soon!


I have been busy developing my giveaway rules and looking into what isn't allowed as an entry requirement.  While I have found lots of information, I would appreciate any advice on how to host a giveaway.  Thank you so much for sharing!

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