It was very nice and pretty cool to be nominated for this
award from a fellow blogger, Leanne at CrestingThe Hill. We have some common
reasons for our blog beginnings. We both
started a new venture in our midlife years and have found inspiration and knowledge
from others in this same blogosphere.
It’s my understanding, to graciously accept this Blogger Award; I need to follow a few simple guidelines.
1. The first being to thank the person who nominated you - Thank you Leanne for noticing my little blog corner of the world. Truly appreciate it and glad we share a common journey.
2. Give a
brief story of how your blog started – Let me first say, I’ve never
received or have been recognized for any kind of an award before. However, I’ve never been one to put myself out
there to really earn any kind of recognition.
Which, is probably what made me start blogging in the first place; it
was because I finally realized that I had lacked doing something for me and if I wanted to accomplish something that mattered to me, then I needed to get a move on it. It was about becoming a better
writer. It was about putting my creative
thoughts down on a page. It was about expressing
my quirky humor and hoping others would share in on the joy and laughter. It was about sharing positivity, which our
society seems to be short of these days.
It was about keeping it real.
My blog name was inspired, oddly enough, from
a wrapper of a square of chocolate. If you don’t know this already, Dove
chocolate squares comes with a fun little quote or saying inside their wrapper. I was struggling with many changes at
the time and as I unwrapped this one particular Dove Chocolate, its saying
inside presented at a perfect time. It
said, “You're Right Where You’re Supposed To Be.” Of course, its meaning meant much more to me
and had a deeper connection than anyone else would understand, but it is the
reason I settled on A Square Of Chocolate for my blog name. Not to mention, I'm a Chocolate LOVER. Yes, Chocolate and I go way back and we have a good bonding relationship.
3. Give a
piece of advice or two to new bloggers – The biggest thing I have learned –
DON’T GIVE UP! There were many times I
thought about pulling the plug and discontinuing writing on my little lonesome
blog. In the beginning, no one read it, except my mom, and
for the most part no one cared about it.
Truthfully, I had to go back to that chocolate wrapper moment and
remember the reasons I started writing in the first place. Stop comparing and just do what comes natural
for YOU and keep it real. It’s about self-fulfillment
and learning about you.
I learned that building a blog and its
audience is a very slow process. Especially
if you’re starting from scratch and know NOTHING about it. Be kind to yourself and learn at your own
pace. Join blogging groups that fit your
genre and niche. Be a part of these
communities and learn from the ones that have blazed that trail before you. This is where I’ve learned the most valuable
information.
If you have found your place in the
blogging world and decided this is where you want to be, then research and
Google like crazy. Making a better blog
is an ongoing process. If you’re not
tech savvy, then hopefully you can have someone help you. This has been the most challenging part. Again, Google your questions and you’ll get
answers that are very helpful.
I'd like to share my admiration for some bloggers that I have learned from and like their "keeping it real" style. Therefore, I would like to nominate these bloggers for this recognition award:
Mara – Be Nice or Leave, Thanks
Laura – Coast of Illinois
Haralee – Haralee.com
Michelle – Rubber Shoes in Hell
Carolann – Sassy Townhouse Living
Laura Ann – Yellow House Days
*Don’t feel like you have to participate in this, I wanted
to recognize the people that I have enjoyed reading and who want to spread inspiration and laughter, as well. If you’d like to join in Here are the simple guidelines:
- · Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
- Write a post to show your award and attach the award to the post.
- Give a brief story of how your blog started.
- Give a piece of advice or two to new bloggers.
- Select some other blogs you want to give the award to.
- Comment on each blog and let them know you have mentioned them provide a link to the award post you created.
Thank you for including me!! (Michelle)
ReplyDeleteThanks Lauire. I am honored! October is breast cancer awareness month and it is the month where my blogs may be too real, but I hope informative.
ReplyDeleteYour so welcome Haralee! Good to know it's breast cancer awareness month coming up and looking forward to the information you provide :)
DeleteLaurie, congratulations on your award and for sticking with your blog. I love your layout and your photo of the worker jackhammering chocolate. So creative and mouthwatering! I am looking forward to sampling some of your writing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your feedback and hope we stay connected too.
DeleteGreat post Laurie and really good to learn some more about you - most of it sounded exactly the same as my journey! I have really enjoyed meeting people along the way and learning some new stuff too (keeps the brain cells firing!)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Laurie! I don't seem to find myself fitting into any particular blog category so it is wonderful to hear from someone who appreciates my 'quirks'! Earlier this year a fellow blogger nominated me for a similar award, talk about warm fuzzies! So while I think I will pass on regaling (or tormenting - tomato/tomatoe) everyone with my story - I am adding A Square of Chocolate to my 'you have to read these' list on my site.
ReplyDeleteThank you again! And so happy to meet you!
That's perfect Laura and I have added yours to my list, as well. Thanks for supporting and see you around the blogging world. ;)
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