HAPPY DAY! Yesterday, the Gold & Graphite Blog turned 1. One and a half years ago I had a 2 year old son, a 6 month old daughter, two home renovation projects, zero free time and a heart overflowing with inspiration. I had been blogging for years very sparingly but knew beyond the shadow of a doubt I was supposed to be doing more. I looked at my schedule and told the Lord it didn’t make sense, convinced myself it was true and tried to move on. If only God worked that way, huh?

Ideas started pouring out of me as questions started pouring in. I couldn’t look at a garbage can without finding inspiration for something to share. I had so many things on my heart, a clear vision for my branding and mission but still no free time. God provided a dear friend to make my website, a phenomenal graphic designer to make my vision come to life and I realized this whole brand had fallen into place. I accepted that free time wasn’t going to fall into my lap and it would likely only get busier, but I was committed to showing up to do the work. Three days a week, no matter what, I’d have content I was proud of to share. And here we are!

The funny thing about blogging is that I’ve created a job for myself despite having no spare time as it was. Blogging may look easy, but no one sees the behind the scenes. The hours upon hours in Photoshop creating mood boards and graphics, the typing well into the wee hours of the morning, the conversations with strangers that become friends, the commitment to being a vessel used by Him in whatever form that looks like. Sometimes it’s talking about under eye concealer that makes me feel like less of a zombie and sometimes it’s sharing His grace for me in a current season.

I’ve learned so much in this past year but the most important lesson I’ve taken away is how grateful I am for this community. Your feedback, your support, your questions, your prayers, your help, your advice, I just have been so overwhelmed by you. So whether you’re relaxing with your laptop or rushing around reading this on your phone, know that in this moment I’m hugging you through the screen and saying Thank You.

Without further adieu, here are some of my favorite posts from this past year. If you could stop by the comments to let me know your favorite topics here on the blog or what you’d like to see more of it would mean the world to me. Your feedback shapes this place and turns it into a place for all of us instead of a place for me. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Happy Anniversary, friends!

My ultimate hospital bag checklist here
A big motherhood q & a here
Our favorite marriage resources here
YouTube Video for traveling with littles (scroll to the end!) here
My go-to toddler learning tools here
Get to know my husband here
A video from Christmas in our home here
A super in-depth list of breastfeeding essentials here
Secret weapons for my daily smoothies here
Our family trip to see the Cherry Blossoms here
Sharing about our miscarriage with Baby Noah here
How my morning routine changed my life here
My every-day makeup tutorial video here
A peek into our daily routine here