On May 2, my blog and I celebrated a birthday. I neglected to commemorate the blog portion of this special occasion last week, but better late than never. Besides, if my blog is anything like me, it celebrates each birthday for an entire month – which means I’m not late at all but right on time.
Blogging here for the past year has been a great experience for me. Keeping the content smart and fresh is a commitment requiring a lot of discipline – I vow to improve my frequency and consistency in year two – but I do love it. Blogging publicly has opened me up to visibility, opportunities, learning and connections I could not have gained any other way. Blogging has also made me a better PR person and a more informed and credible social media practitioner as well. And although it sounds trite, I truly couldn’t have done it without the support and engagement of each of you who read and comment on this blog.
Leo Bottary does a phenomenal job thanking all of the commentors on his blog and I’ve always admired that practice. You all are the cupcakes at this blog’s birthday party. Please enjoy a little link love as I celebrate this blogaversary with you – and if you see a blog or person below that you don’t know, I encourage you to pay them a visit. We enjoy all flavors here.
Thank you!
Chris Brogan – Joel Postman – Leo Bottary - Carlson’s Loveable Llamas - Andrea Hill - BlogWorldExpo - PR4Pirates - ITS Insider – Cool Moms Rule - The Cheezits - Best Seller Authors - The 270 - Rocky Van Brimmer - Mike McBride - Jennifer Laycock - Saul Colt - Carlita Pitts - Sameer Vasta - Alaina Sheer - David Mullen - Nathaniel Fuller - Cara Keithley - How Not to Write - Girlfriendology – Wine Me Dine Me – Advergirl - Daniel Johnson, Jr. - Thought Gadgets - Radian 6 - Megan Hofmann - Shane Haggerty – Kensington Victoria – Holly Michael - Ryan Swigert – Sarah Zaenger - PR Buzzsaw - Joseph Hurtado – Brandy J – Dawn Friedman – Ryan Squire – Jody Dzuranin – Cliffieland – Dan Rockwell – Sara Nichols Barton – Christina Christian – Oberers Flowers - Sundays with Stretch Pants – Scott Risner - Angelo Mandato – Mary Wehrle – Katie McCartney - Katawi Cato - Carl McKinney – Walker Evans - Nice Genes - Fabulously in the City – Bike Columbus – Buckeyes Blog – Restaurant Widow – Tell A Friend Promotions – Christina Mack – TechLife Columbus - CMH Gourmand – Richard Brennan – Kelley Bell - Linas Simonis - Country Savvy – Chris Abraham – Tarot by Arwen – Gary Hunt – Jenny McCutcheon – Tim Eby – Gary Moneysmith – James Seay – InnoGage – Andrew Miller - William Hessian – Savvy Auntie - Fernway Manor – Biffy Beans – Sandy Blanquera - Webbed Marketing – Maureen McCabe – Clinton Middleton – Andrew Miller – Awake and Dreaming – Tip Tail – Applesassy - Sean Carpenter - Kim Ratcliff – Sandeep Arora – The Social Path – Sparkplug 9 – Nathan McGee – Amy Johnson - Columbus ImPRessions – George Black – Dan Harris – Krista Holloway – Fahlgren Mortine PR - Patty Seybold – Hoye Mastery Center – Experience Columbus - LJ Jones - Jason Baer – Lee Odden - Fahlgren Advertising – Matt Betts – Alison Bolen – EyeCube – Social Media Showdown – Online Media Boot Camp – Brian Solis – Baskets by Bonnie – Barbara Wayman – Marina Goldshteyn – Ralf Appelt
My gift to you
Now, a gift for those who have read this far. Walking down a street in SoHo, New York recently, I noticed a long line of people queueing up at a small window in the side of a building. One by one, each person handed over cash and walked away with a small white box. I was intrigued, so we crossed the street to take a closer look. There to my delight was a storefront cupcake vendor selling the tiniest miniature cupcakes I’d ever seen.
Please meet my new obsession - tiny, adorable stuffed cupcakes from Baked by Melissa. Launched in 2009, Daily Candy, The New York Times and the world’s best cupcake blog, Cupcakes Take the Cake, have already raved about them, but these little gems are still a pretty well kept secret even among New Yorkers. You have to be in the know or just get lucky to find your way to the corner of Broadway and Spring in SoHo and pick yourself up a couple. If I could, I would send you all a delicious, tiny cupcake from Baked by Melissa – but since I can’t, I’ve at least shared my story about them. So now you know, and I hope you treat yourself next time you’re in the vicinity!
Now… what’s your favorite way to celebrate your blog, birthday, or both?
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18 responses so far ↓
1 Bonnie // May 10, 2009 at 9:41 pm
Happy Blogaversary! When I celebrated my 1st year on my 1st blog, I made a post of all the lessons I learned about blogging that year.
Tiny cupcakes sound like a fun way! A nice bottle of vino would also be nice.
Cheers!
2 Lara Kretler // May 11, 2009 at 7:05 am
Thanks, Bonnie! I definitely feel differently about this blog than I have about all of my past personal/private blogs. This one is harder to do, so it’s far more worthwhile and meaningful. Blogging about what simply I did that day or whatever else I felt like writing was so easy compared to this – but I love it!
3 Julie // May 11, 2009 at 7:35 am
Happy Blogiversary! Those cupcakes look FABULOUS– I will be sure to try them the next time I’m in NY (I love that area, too).
4 Sameer Vasta // May 11, 2009 at 8:41 am
Thanks for the hat tip Lara! Happy blogiversary and keep up the awesome work. =)
5 Amber Naslund // May 11, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Congrats, Lara. Keep the great content rolling along, and we’ll all be here to keep cheering you on.
Best,
Amber Naslund
Radian6
6 Cara Keithley // May 12, 2009 at 11:40 am
Congratulations, Lara, and thank you for always being a source of inspiration and tons of fun
7 Rick Liebling // May 13, 2009 at 6:06 am
Congrats Lara,
You bring up a great point: Blogging can make you a better PR person. I agree. From writing succinctly to understanding how to build a brand. I encourage all PR pros to give it a shot.
8 Jeff Davis // May 13, 2009 at 11:16 am
Happy Blagojevichersary or however it’s spelled! Always enjoy your tweets, and now I’m RSS-subscribed to your blog so I don’t miss a thing.
@contactjeff
9 Barbara Wayman // May 14, 2009 at 10:48 am
Happy Blogaversary, Lara! It’s great that you’re stretching yourself by doing this blog, and that the process has brought you opportunity, fun and career growth.
Congrats and happy birthday too, those cupcakes look sooooo good!
10 David Mullen // May 14, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Congrats, Lara! So glad I found you and your blog-a-docious corner of the online world early on.
Here’s my gift to you. Hope it makes you smile! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21OH0wlkfbc
11 Andrea Hill // May 15, 2009 at 10:17 am
Happy birthday Lara AND Lara’s blog!
It’s been a pleasure to engage with you, virtually as well as when I was in the Columbus scene and our paths passed in real life. It’s hard to believe you’ve only been doing this blog for a year, as you’ve truly established yourself within the CBus community as a great voice for social media.
p.s. have you tried the cupcakes at gingham bakery in German Village? They’re a joy themselves!
12 Roshan // May 17, 2009 at 2:29 am
You r welcome. I’ve enjoyed reading your blog. Been a bit busy so haven’t been here much in the last few weeks but I’m back
Happy Birthday / birthmonth blog
13 Alaina Sheer // May 19, 2009 at 11:17 am
Congratulations!!!! Isn’t a blog anniversary fantastic? When I had mine I took a week off… the first week off since I started writing.
I’m sure I speak for many when I say we are all so glad you started your blog and so happy you’re still blogging away.
14 Jamie Grove - How Not To Write // May 20, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Thanks for the link love!
So… are you gonna bring me one of those cupcakes or what?
15 Maureen McCabe // May 26, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Thanks for the link love and happy Blogaversary.
There is something special about a white bakery box…
16 George Black // Jun 2, 2009 at 6:59 am
I admire your writing and wish you and your blog another year of success. Thanks for the mention.
17 Lara K // Jun 2, 2009 at 10:28 am
Thanks everyone for the birthday greetings. It’s June again now, so unfortunately that means it’s time for me to stop celebrating for another eleven months. Next year’s will be a BIG one!
18 John Lampard // Jun 5, 2009 at 11:33 pm
Congrats on the anniversary
A birthday and blog anniversary celebration that lasts for a month?! You must have a very generous cupcake sponsor! 
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