Bloggiversary

August 7th marked one year since the first post on this here little blog, A La Mode. To celebrate, I got myself a new header. Kate & Heather over at Smitten Blog Designs hooked me up. I got one of their free blog templates some time ago {they have a GREAT selection by the way} but wanted to customize it bit more. The header photo is one of my very own, a yummy vignette from my Paris trip several years ago with Lily. I smile and sigh every time I see it.

{I apologize in advance for any resulting weight-gain that comes from reading my blog...as you will likely crave profiteroles every time you view that header.}

I've been a blogger for a couple of years now but my original blog was just family, a way to keep far-away loved ones updated with our goings-on. I wanted something more though. Like a lot of women these days, I had thoughts to share and figured a blog of my own would be the best place to park them.

I had no bloggy aspirations. Honestly, it seemed like an efficient way to communicate with real-life friends. Recipes, frugal tips, funny stories, before & after's, great philosophical revelations...they could all find a home on my blog.

And that's just the sort of randomness you've been privy to at A La Mode for the past year. It's proven to be a delightful and much-needed creative outlet for this stay-at-home mom of three.

I didn't plan to be a writer here. I just wanted whatever I wrote about to be presented well. And I certainly didn't plan to bare my soul. Yet I have. Posts like Voices and To Thine Own Self be True surprised me as much as anyone. So I've been thinkin'...and lately I've wondered if I found my blog or if my blog found me. Clearly, I have evolved in this space. Part of me that had lain dormant for years has come alive. And that is both scary and exciting.

So you may see some subtle changes around here, changes that reflect some of that refining and defining I mentioned in my last post. Feeling free to be me is no small thing for a people pleaser like myself. But I didn't start this blog to appeal to the masses. I started it for one person. Moi. I didn't know or care about things like followers or site-meters or subscribers. Even now, the last thing I need is external pressure on a very unrequired part of my life. Because for me, when something is required it ceases to be fun.

A La Mode has been a blessing. I've "met" some amazing women who I never would have known existed otherwise. The joy of cyber-friends came as quite a surprise, seeing as how I'd never darkened the door of a chat-room and thought meeting people on-line was just plain weird, even dangerous. So you can imagine how meeting the Nester and Emily {and so many others} at the Nester's swap-meet last Saturday was simply the icing on my anniversary cake. And every single one of these ladies is even sweeter in real life. Seriously.

While I started this blog with my own intentions, I'm beginning to realize that even little endeavors, like blogs, are subject to Someone Else's plans. And that means I don't exactly know where things are headed...but I'm certainly up for the adventure.

So to all of you who read my blog--family, real-life friends, bloggy friends, and lurkers--thank you. If you've never said hello, please do! We bloggers heart comments almost as much as we love blogging.