Hey, everyone! Ashley Abroad is one year old! So many amazing things have happened in the past year because of this blog. Dare I say? Starting a blog was one of the best things I’ve ever done.
I couldn’t think of a relevant picture for this post so I put up a picture of a penguin cake my sister made.
When I started this humble blog one year and 165 posts ago, I gave myself this challenge: “If you don’t like blogging, you’re allowed to quit in three months.” Well, I didn’t quit. I found out that I love writing a travel blog. 365 days later I find myself dreaming of a blog redesign and reminiscing about some of my favorite posts from this year.
Speaking of which, here are some the most special posts that I wanted to highlight. Let me know which one was your favorite in the comments below!
Most useful: How to Become Fluent in a Foreign Language, How to Become an Au Pair, The Real Cost of a European Road Trip
Most beautiful: A Day Trip to Ile de Re, The Loire Valley in the Mist, My Favorite London Moments, The Beauty of Doing Nothing while Traveling, Two Days at a 200-Year Old French Apple Farm
Funniest: 10 Ways that Travel Permanently Changed Me, Taking on the Pink Palace, My 22nd Birthday in Cork, Ireland
Most emotionally poignant (I hope): Remembering My First Love: South America, Life as a Paris Expat, Dear Paris: A Love Letter to the City I Finally Adore
Most adventure-y- A Mini Irish Road Trip, Surfs Up in San Sebastian
Most Paris-esque: The 10 Most Delicious Things to Eat in Paris, 5 Expressions to Help You Survive in Paris, Offbeat Paris: A Guide to Paris’ Canals, An Au Pair Day’s Off in Paris
Most insights about French life: How The French Stay Thin, The Art of French Cheese Eating, The Ultimate French Bread Guide
Most SEO-friendly: Travel and Debit Cards for Backpackers Best Souvenirs from Chile. Seriously, don’t ask.
Best food porn: The Best Meal I Had in Istanbul The Complete Guide to Turkish Food for Foodies The Delicious Truth Behind German Cuisine
Most unpopular (a.k.a. duds or, what was I thinking): Doors from Around the World The Beauty of San Sebastian at Sunset
I started this blog because I wanted to improve my writing and photography and perhaps make a little money to fund my travels. Little did I know how many friends I would make because of it and how many opportunities would come my way. (Like getting a job as a newspaper columnist, yay!)
I also just happily accepted a position with Answers.com as their French Category Expert which will give me a steady income while on the road in Asia and let me rhapsodize about France even more than I do already. It’s a huge opportunity that I know came my way because of Ashley Abroad.
One year later, all I can say to you guys reading out there is thank you. Thank you for reading, thank you for caring, thank you for commenting, thank you for helping make this blog something I love writing.
Most poetically, my blog birthday lands on the same day as the start of my trip- I leave for Los Angeles tonight! And then, a week later… HONG KONG!
xo,
Ashley
The post Happy Birthday To My Blog! You’re 1! appeared first on Ashley Abroad.