1000 Followers!

Hey Lovelies!!

I hope you’re all well and having a productive week. I was working away today when I noticed the following notification:

I’m genuinely gobsmacked! I can’t quite believe it nor can I really understand it. However, I am truly grateful. I’ve met some amazing bloggers here. It’s a community I feel privileged to be a small part of.

Some of you fabulous people have been with me since day one when I really had no idea what I was doing. I just posted about random books and places I’d visited, almost like an open memory book. The acceptance and the support is really humbling.

To my first followers and those who are always so active, thank you for being patient when I disappear, for recognising my returns and letting me know that it’s ok when life gets in the way. To my newbie followers, thanks for joining and spending time here. I hope we become wonderful blogging pals. To those I’m yet to meet, I look forward to making your acquaintance.

Without sounding like a broken record, thank you. To celebrate I bought myself this amazing unicorn mug. (Ignore the end-of-work hair and tired eyes!)

Big love xxx

900 Followers!

Hey guys! 

Happy Saturday. Today I realised some really exciting news… I’ve reached 900 followers. I genuinely can’t believe it. When I started my little blog I don’t really think I had any idea what I was doing really. I read a few books, visited a few places and thought I’d just write about it, almost like an online diary. Little did I know what I would learn and who I would stumble across. 

Today I had a day away, I popped to Newcastle to see the amazing Souter Lighthouse. Despite the spirals and the stairs, it was amazing. The views were lovely. I got lucky and saw a rainbow. 

I’ve never been in a lighthouse before but it really is awesome! I highly recommend it actually. On a sunny day you can see for miles. I enjoyed seeing the tide come in. There’s something about hearing the sea against the rocks; the continuous ebb and flow. I even took a smooth pebble home to remember my little trip. 

So, 900 followers and a trip to a lighthouse. Not bad for a quiet September Saturday. 

Big love to you all. Thanks for being a part of my journey. 

Xx

Happy Birthday Blog!

Hey all! 

I hope you’re well. I’ve had a crazy busy week with the two English Literature GCSE exams so I missed the fact that it was my blogs 2nd birthday on the 25th. I’m only 2 days late…

I can’t believe I’ve been on here for two years now. Unbelievable. Everyone has been so friendly and welcoming. I’ve communicated with some fascinating people. Without you, my experience wouldn’t have been as amazing! 

I feel like a bit of a fraud… I don’t read as much as I used to and I definitely don’t bake as much as I used to. But, I blog when I can. I like to think my blog has become more than that anyway.  Thank you for being so accepting of that fact! I’m sorry I miss posts and discussions. I do try and catch up. The love and support from the blogging community is wonderful. With summer approaching, I will try and increase my time with you all. 

To celebrate this little birthday I’m currently reading Into The Water by Paula Hawkins. I’m very excited about this I have to say. LOVED The Girl on the Train so I have high hopes! My plan for this half term is to read as much as I can, preferably in the sunshine (if it stays). 

My (hopeful) reading list:

• Finish Into The Water
• The Keeper of Lost Things – Ruth Hogan
• Thirteen Reasons Why – Jay Asher
• Millions – Frank Cottrell Boyce (a work related read!) 

It’s small and humble, but realistic. I get really saddened because I’m usually too tired to read. I know that my aim of reading 100 books a year is slightly optimstic. I’ve only done it once out of two years. So, I think this list is a good way of not being overwhelmed or frustrated with myself. 

Thanks for sticking around for the past two years. Here’s to the future! 

Big love xx

600 Followers!

Hey guys! 

Happy September!

I can’t believe it but my little space on the net has now got 600 followers. Thank you SO much. I’m really grateful. 

I started this blog as a bit of a memory thing or archive I guess for books and places I’ve been etc for myself. I can’t believe what it’s turned into. However, to know I’ve got some lovely, talented bloggers stopping by really makes my day. I really admire so many of you! 

So, thanks for sticking around and putting up with me! 

To mark the occasion I’ve added a photo of me in Marco Pierre White’s infamous chair from his Stratford upon Avon restaurant. It’s pretty amazing – the food not my photo! (Apologies for the dodgy sun tanand laughing-screwed-up-face look…but at least it’s natural!)

I hope September brings you lots of happiness as ever! 

Big love xx

Blog Birthday & 500 Followers

Hey guys! 

So, I woke up to two amazing notifications this morning….

Firstly, my little blog now has 500 followers!! What?! That’s crazy! Thanks so much everyone for stopping by and just being a huge part of my blogging experience. I can honestly say that this platform is so supportive and welcoming. It’s just a lovely community. I’m so lucky to be a part of it. 

Secondly, yesterday was my little blogs birthday! A whole year on WordPress. I can’t really believe that either! I can’t believe I was asleep when these notifications came through. Nevermind. Happy birthday (and 1 day) to my little space on the internet. I have big hopes for the future and I really hope you will all stick with me to see it happen. 

I started this blog to keep track of what I’ve been reading and doing, a little online diary as it were. But, I never expected to learn so much from different people, from all walks of life. I’ve seen photos of places I’ll probably never get to experience. I’ve heard about books that we are all passionate about, shared our memories and experiences of them, as well as our dislikes. 
Finally, I just need to say… 

Big love x

My 2015 in review!

Hey everyone!

I awoke to find this little email waiting for me and I have to say, I’m very excited.

I started my little blog in May, just as a little hobbie. I didn’t realise how much I would enjoy it and also the amazing other bloggers I would have met.

So, the WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2015 annual report for this blog.

Thank you WordPress!

 

Here’s an excerpt:

A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 4,300 times in 2015. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 4 trips to carry that many people.

 

 

I really can’t thank everyone enough for making my experience of being a ‘blogger’ so amazing. Everyone that’s just popped by and had a mooch around my blog, liked or commented on something, and those of you that even follow me, thank you.

There are some bloggers that are highlighted as being my ‘regulars’. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Click here to read the Booksandbakes1 report! Are you mentioned?

Before this gets too mushy, I’ll disappear, until the next post at least.

Big love xx