2 Year Blogiversary: A Year in Review (+ Giveaway)

Posted by Jessi (Geo) on October 23, 2013 | 20 Comments


blogiversary

I can’t believe it’s been 2 years! It hardly seems like I’ve been blogging that long, to tell you the truth. I’m so proud to be a part of this lovely community, and I’m grateful for all the bookish friends I’ve made! I’ve experienced so much in 2 short years and have evolved as a blogger. I feel like this blog has come a long way!

facesofNH

My blog has had MANY design changes. I tend to get bored with the same thing after a while, what can I say?

October 2011

 
 
November 2011
 
 
January 2012
 
 
May 2012
After the discovery of Artisteer
 
 
 
July 2012
My first attempt at vector design
 
 
October 2012

  

 

January 2013

  

March 2013
Switched to WordPress

  

Now!
Changed blog names

 

 

stats

656 posts
224 reviews
4,000+ comments (this includes Blogger & WordPress both)
128,000+ pageviews (Blogger & WordPress combined)
1,489 GFC followers  No longer in use
54 NB followers No longer in use
69 Linky followers No longer in use
330 Bloglovin’ followers
900+ RSS subscribers
1,627 twitter followers
884 facebook likes Had to start over :(
168 Goodreads friends (It was 1,000 this time last year. I went on a massive deleting spree!)
184 Goodreads followers
 
community
This is the best part of blogging for me! I have met SO many incredible and uplifting people in the blogging community, and I never thought it would come to be so important to me. I couldn’t do this if it weren’t for you wonderful people!
 
I want to start with a special shout out to three particular people:
  • Inky @ Book Haven Extraordinaire. NATOR TWINSIES! This girl is a spunky ball of awesomesauce and she constantly brightens my day. I love all of the crazy conversations we’ve had! I can’t wait to meet her in person! (It WILL happen. IT WILL.) She’s such a beautiful and all around fabulous person and I love my Inkinator!!! 
  • Reanna @ Phantasmic Reads. This woman. Oh, lord. Where are the words? *sniffles a bit* This sweet, sweet lady has been such a rock for me lately and I am SO very grateful to her for being a shoulder and an ear when I need it the most. She’s been there to listen to me rant and complain, and maybe even cry a little. I’ve really come to value her friendship and I look forward to her emails. You are amazing, Reanna!! I love you! 
  • Ashley @ Nose Graze. First of all, she’s my book twin! We may have different opinions on books from time to time, but 95% of the time, if she hates something I know I will; if she likes something then chances are I will too. I always check her reviews before buying something! Anyway, I want to send a special thank you her way for always putting up with my questions and issues and whatnot. She’s always there to troubleshoot problems for me, she helped me in my move from Blogger to WordPress, and recently held my hand helped me through my name change. THANK YOU, Ashley, for all the help! You’re awesome! (And some day hopefully I’ll be as kickass as you are at design and coding!)

Then there’s the fabulous Merp Squad! Along with Inky, Ashley, and I, there’s also the charismatic Eileen @ Singing and Reading in the Rain, the spunky Nikki @ Fiction Freak, and the angelic Annabelle @ Sparkles and Lightning! I adore you ladies! I really miss talking to you guys all the time!

There are a few special bloggers I want to mention that I’ve become closer to this year and value their opinion:
Shannon @ Twilight Sleep
 
Awesome bloggy friends I’ve made over the years:
Chrys @ Oh, Chrys!
Nova @ Musings of a Blogder (bloggy niece!)
Angie @ Pinkindle
Evie @ Bookish
Stephanie @ Chasm of Books
 
Non-blogger special mentions:
Julie Kagawa!
A.G. Howard 
Stephanie Huff
 
I hope I didn’t miss anyone important!! And of course there are MANY more that I’ve talked to, too many to mention!
 
moments
 
This year has been an AWESOME year for me! I have had the opportunity to go to many bookish events, which I did not get to do in my first year of blogging.
 
The top three best moments of this year:
  1. The highlight of my entire blogging ‘career’ was meeting Julie Kagawa – who happens to be my favorite YA author – and having her tell me she knew who I was, then giving me a hug! You can read about the whole experience HERE.
  2. I also got the chance to meet another book blogger for the first time! I met Shannon from Twilight Sleep and Amanda from Confessions of a Bookie Monster! I had a GREAT time with Shannon in Memphis, and it was so awesome to see Amanda not only once, but twice! Both of these ladies rock!!
  3. I got my first ARC package! It was from HarperTeen :)

Other memorable moments:

Signings I went to:

  1. YA2U in Cookeville, TN: Beth Revis, Marie Lu, Marissa Meyer, Victoria Schwaab, Megan Shepherd. Went on a road trip with my boyfriend for this one, it was awesome!
  2. #YeahYA in Memphis, TN: Julie Kagawa, Aimee Carter, Karen Ann Hopkins. Another road trip with the boyfriend – this is the one where I met Shannon and had Julie tell me she knew who I was!
  3. YA Beach Blast in Cincinnati, OH: Julie Kagawa, Aprilynn Pike, Mindee Arnett, Liz Coley, Kristina McBride, Saundra Mitchell
  4. Doon signing in Dayton, OH w/ Carey Corp and Lorie Langdon
  5. Epic Journeys Tour in Columbus, OH: CJ Redwine & Rae Carson. This was the best discussion panel I’ve been to! This is the signing I met Amanda, as well as Lori from Writing My Own Fairy Tale :)
  6. Sarah J. Maas in Cincinnati, OH. Sarah was super nice! (Although she totally ruined the new Riddick movie -___-) Got to see Amanda again!
  7. Brandon Sanderson in Dayton, OH

THANK YOU to every single one of you that follow this blog and have stuck with me these past two years! I’m so happy to be part of this community and am looking forward to the coming years!

giveaway

Up for grabs: An ARC of Unhinged by A.G. Howard and an ARC of The Dollhouse Asylum by Mary Gray (1 winner). US only!

1. As this is out of my own pocket, you must be following this blog via Bloglovin’ or email to enter. (Twitter does NOT count, as I don’t tweet posts very often!)
2. Contest open to US participants only.
3. Please read the Rafflecopter directions carefully. Faked entries will be deleted.
4. After the giveaway is over, I will notify the winner by email and they will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Jessi (Geo)

Posted in: Events, Giveaways | Tags:

Subscribe to Novel Heartbeat to get more posts like this!

20 responses to “2 Year Blogiversary: A Year in Review (+ Giveaway)

  1. Sounds like you’ve had a great 2 years of blogging! I loved seeing all your different blog designs over the life of Auntie Spinelli Reads. It’s so neat to see it evolve into what it is today! I definitely like your design now. It’s pretty badass. ;) The vector graphics you did yourself turned out awesome. You’re definitely already a great designer!

    That’s so sweet you mentioned me. :) I’m so glad I’ve had the opportunity to meet you! I was so nervous starting up my own blog, and you have helped me so much I can’t even express how grateful I am. Thanks for being such a great friend and blogging buddy! :) Hope to see you soon!

  2. CONGRATS! I can only hope I make it to two years. And also your list of bloggy friends is a good list. I adore so many of them myself.

    Your frequent design changes make me feel better about mine lol. I’m so indecisive and constantly changing it around. Hopefully I’ll find one and settle in someday but who knows.

    It sounds like you had an awesome book filled year!

  3. Jessica@a GREAT read

    Wow! What changes you’ve gone through in just 2 years! Can’t quite remember a few of those designs! Love your new design though! Hope you have many more happy blogging years to come!

  4. Aw…*snuggle hugs* You are such a sweetheart, and I love you, too <3

    You've had lots of changes on the blog the last two years along with some good times. The new design and new name are both wonderful, and I wish you many more years of awesome bloggy success, Jessi! *glomps*

    PS: When's our next readathon? ;)

  5. Happy Blogoversary, Jessi! My two year is coming up soon, too! You’re totally right that it doesn’t feel that long!

    Aw, I remember when your blog was super pink! That’s when I started following. :D

  6. JESSINATOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *glomps* Happy Blogoversary!! It’s so exciting!!! I feel like I’ve known forever, when really it’s only been under 2 years. I first remember you blog when it was on it’s third design or something. Course, I didn’t know you very well, I just remembered your theme. Lol. It’s been so fun getting be know you!! And Nators Discuss has been so much fun! Even if we’re slackers at it. Merp. =] So excited that you got to change your blog up! It’s always really fun to do that, and now it’s even more YOU. Here’s to a third and a fourth blogoversary! Hope blogging always stays new and awesome for you!

    Also, AAW THANKS! I’ve loved making you laugh, or snort, or whatever it is that makes you happy. It’s been so fun to get to you know!! Yes we will meet. Even if I have to come to “lame Ohio” to do it. Hehe. Also, Someday, I’ll eventually give in to your prodding, but until then, I remain, your not-on-word-press-cray-cray-little-Nator-Twin.

    Inkinator

  7. I absolutely ADORE your new design! I think it fits–but I must say, I’ll miss the last one! You have had such a wonderful experience and I only hope that I can ever have one as fulfilling as yours has been. It’s been quite the journey, I’m sure. Congrats on reaching two years! (:
    Gabbie @ Rampant Readers

  8. So cool to see all the faces of Auntie Spinelli Reads / Novel Heartbeat! I love posts like that.

    And aw, shucks girl, thanks for the mention! You’re so freaking sweet!! <3 I think it's awesome how we agree on books so much. It's SO cool! That's why I adore reading your reviews. They help me decide which books are worth getting.

    I can't wait to see how things progress for you this next year <3

  9. Daww, you’re so sweet Jessi ;) It has been great knowing you too!
    I loved seeing the progress and the different faces Auntie Spinelli Reads has had, and now it’s Novel Heartbeat! Wow! :D
    Happy Blogversary, Jessi! And many more to come!! :D

  10. Stephanie H.

    One of these days you’ll have to make it to Chi-town for an event!

    Have you heard about The Moth in the Mirror? The Splintered short story told from Jeb and Morpheus’ POVs? It released yesterday!

  11. I know I’ve already told you this but I love the new design! Your blog as grown so much; congratulations! And thanks for the mention, I’m flattered you consider me a friend! Haha

  12. Your blog has always looked cool! I’ll admit the first one is on the plain side, but still nice(:
    I really like your new blog look and name. Seriously, it’s really cool. I’m debating whether or not to change my blog design but I don’t know that I could ever change my name. I’ve gotten so used to it now.
    Congrats on the two years of blogging! It sounds like it’s been a pretty fun experience. I’m so jealous of your following and all the book events you’ve been to. I’d love to go to a few of those(:
    Also, I’d like to ask you a question about that ARC package!

  13. Congrats on two years blogging :) That’s so amazing!! I love your new title and design, it’s so pretty! You’ve accomplished so much since you’ve been blogging, 224 reviews… wow that’s unbelievable :) I hope you have an awesome year(s) ahead!!!!!

  14. Jolene A

    Yay!!! Congrats on 2 years! *Throws Confetti* I hope you have more great blogging ahead and love following your blog

  15. Tori Brew

    Happy 2 year blogoversary! It takes someone with a great deal of dedication, patience, and creativity, and drive to be able to commit to something like this for so long and I applaud you for that. Your posts are amazing and I always find myself longing for more! I hope you continue blogging for a very long time because you are great at it! Hope you have a good blogoversary and keep on growing throughout the rest of your blogging career!

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.