Can you believe it? It has been a year! What started out as a thought turned into this. I never imaged it growing this big in a year. It is only because I have the most fantastic readers and followers in the world. Literally.

I still have a hard time telling people what I do. First, I’m a stay-at-home mom. Second, I work as a professional blogger. From home. And that is the best part. I spend over 40 hours a week doing something for this blog- crafting, taking photos, editing photos, writing, creating, sketching ideas, responding to emails, connecting with readers on Facebook or Twitter, social networking, responding to comments and more.

I began blogging because I enjoy writing. I want to use my journalism degree. I love photography and the blog provides a way for me to practice this hobby. I love to craft and create things. I take pleasure in being challenged mentally and creatively. I have met the most wonderful readers, bloggers, friends and people from this. And I wanted to influence and connect with other modern moms. It’s a creative outlet for me. So thanks for supporting me and cheering for me.

Simply Modern Mom Firsts

• My very first post was June 29, 2009.
• First tutorial was the Passion Patrol appliqué onesie I made for a friend.
• First tutorial to make it big was the SLR camera strap cover with pockets.
• My first guest post was on Tangled  & True for my Thanksgiving garland tutorial.
• First appearance on TV was about Project 52: Date Nights on KSL Studio 5 in Utah.
• First time I won something through blogs was The Inspired Room’s makeover contest for our master bedroom.

Simply Modern Mom Events

• Project 52: Date Nights
• Over-used recipes exchange
• Sewing 101 series
• Skirt week full of skirt tutorials
• Mommy moments photo contest
• Time out for moms challenge

Simply Modern Mom Series

• Photo tutorials
• Things made by Simply Modern Mom
• Back to basic tips
• Lists to simplify your life
• Simple recipes
• Friday’s 5 at 5 – including today’s with my top 5 most popular posts thus far.
• Simply said
• Learn from a pro
• Intriguing sites
• Education weeks

Simply Modern Mom Readers

• I went from 5 visitors/day in July 2009 to 1,200+ visitors/day in June 2010.
• 2,500 pageviews a day.
• 1,800+ of you subscribe to SMM through email or RSS reader.
• You live in 167 different countries/territories. See, literally all over the world.
• Majority of you live in the United States. Top 5 countries after the U.S. are Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, Turkey and Germany.
• 19 percent of you live outside of the U.S.
• You spend an average of 2 1/2 minutes on the site.
• All of you put together have made over 6,000 comments in 1 year.
• You have read through 448 posts. OK, maybe not all 448 posts, but that’s how many posts I have written to date.
• You are nothing but fabulous! Thanks for all your support!

Thank you so much for reading Simply Modern Mom. And even more so, thanks for sharing SMM with your friends. The more people reading SMM, the better I am able to make the site for you. Happy first year to SMM and it’s only going to get better from here!

» Tell me… Is there anything I can do to make this site more enjoyable for you?

P.S. Don’t forget about the wonderful sponsors helping to give birthday presents away celebrating SMM’s first birthday! Enter to win a Vizit digital frame, a Jo Totes camera bag and a Shabby Apple Dress! And have a happy 4th of July weekend!