Often the road to success is a less traveled bumpy one.
On March 8, 2011, I began my journey as a blogger. I wondered if I would like it. (I did.) I wondered if I would have enough material each week to continue blogging. (I did.)
Every few months my friend Caroline would ask, “Do you STILL have enough to blog about?” Yes was the answer I did.
That was 4 years ago this week.
I have stuck with this blogging thing for 4 years because I love it, because it is my passion, because I was born for this, because I also want to encourage you to have your dream life and your dream home.
I don’t really want this post to be about me, it’s not. It’s about having a dream and keeping your eye on your dream. It’s about not giving up. It’s about keeping your focus, even when things go wrong, because they will. I used to think when things went wrong that maybe something wasn’t meant to be. I didn’t realize when was younger how hard successful people have to work, and how they have to believe in themselves even when no one else does. I didn’t realize how many obstacles I would face. I had no idea how much work and energy it would require.
I don’t think anyone expected me to still be blogging now except my friend Peggy. She said that she knew I would be in a magazine one day, and I have been in several, and there are a few more in the works.
The point is that if you have a dream, then I would encourage you to figure out how you can get from where you are to where you want to be. Count the cost too. Are you willing to pay the price? Are you prepared to have a steely focus on your dreams when you get pulled in different directions. What will you do when things fall apart? Will you keep going or give up? What will you do when people shut the door in your face? What will you do when someone steals your idea? What will happen when someone who agreed to pay your business, then doesn’t? You have to decide you will keep going even in the face of adversity.
You may want to be a pastry chef. but you are stuck in an accounting job. Maybe you can’t quit that accounting job because it pays the bills. Is there a way to follow your dream on the weekends? Is there a way to do what you love? Would you be willing to do what you love even if you didn’t get paid to do it?
I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t taken that first step and hit publish. I’m not saying I have hit the summit of success. But I can say because of the blog, I have a fabulous opportunity to reach people and make a difference. That is BIG to me! I’ve already accomplished more than I imagined was possible, with the book deal. curating for Joss and Main, and with the feature in Country French magazine coming up this Fall.
When I first began blogging, my blog had a ugly layout, and the header was meh.
This is what it looked like. I like the photo, but it’s not the best blog header.
Then somewhere along the way I used this one. Oh did I mention I used to call the blog Cedar Hill Ranch?
My photos were sometimes embarrassing, and yet I began any way. I took that first step. I made mistake after mistake, after mistake. And do you know what? I learned from every mistake I made. If you decide to take that first step toward your destiny, don’t worry about it being perfect, just put one foot in front of the other. You won’t make any progress toward your dream if you do nothing.
In the words of Les Brown.
“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.”
For a fun look back here are my anniversary posts from
2014 – 3 years
2013 – 2 years
2012 – 1 year
2011 – Ist post
There is something to be said about having ‘grit.’ I just gave an assignment to my intro reading and writing course in which they have to define and discuss how grit is a quality that can help them succeed. I will have to share this blog post with them in our next discussion-thank you and congratulations on your 4th year!
I love this post!! Thank you so much for sharing your blogging story with us! I can’t ever imagine that you had anything less then thousands of readers lol! I forget everyone starts with none. 🙂 Thanks again for sharing! Congrats on 4 years! 🙂
Misty, it’s true. It just takes a long time to build an overnight success.
Well – to ‘make it’ – there’s gotta be some sorta talent there… and you’ve ‘got it’. Congratulations to you! Keep enjoying what you do. You’re certainly inspiring others.
I love what you said and I love your page. You have blessed me many times! Thanks for sharing your very creative decorating ideas with all of us! 🙂 I heart you too!!
So happy that you made the decision to hit “publish”…. I so enjoy reading each and every post….You have certainly accomplished so much in such a short period of time…great accomplishments and I congratulate you and so very happy for you….
I am so proud of you and all that you have accomplished on your blog (and in your life)! Look at you now – 4 years later. There is nothing you can’t do. You have inspired so many (not just me). Your pics were beautiful in the beginning and only get more beautiful (like you). You have shared your homes (inside and out). Your heart (some posts made me cry). You have shared yourself – and I love that person. I am so proud of you, the hard work you have put into this blog and I am more proud to call you friend – dear, sweet, wonderful friend! May God continue to bless you!
Thank you so much for this encouraging post. I’m in my 9th week as a blogger…and it is everything you said…bumpy. It takes trial and error to find your voice…in this huge blogosphere….but I keep working at improving every post instead of being perfect. Thank you for helping me have the courage to soldier on during these difficult days. XOXO Susie
Love this post Anita and I’m so happy you are still blogging. I have learned many things from you and your style is one I adore.
Anita, the timing of this post couldn’t have been better. You have been an inspiration to me,on so many levels, while I pursue my own dream. Congratulations on the four year anniversary!
Congratulations! Love the post,I’ve only been following you for a year so it was nice to see the previous years. My girls live in Austin , I’m in NY so I like seeing the TX countryside in your blogs. Since we see the finished product, the “bumps” aren’t that obvious and you have a honest ,refreshing way of blogging. Looking forward to many more years……..
Anita dear,
Thank you for your energy and for your perserverence – they enlighten me.
Warm wishes to you, Irene
I so enjoyed reading this post, as well as the anniversary posts you linked to you! Hard to believe I am still only blogging for less than a year, because I feel like I’ve learned so much from you and a few other of my favorite bloggers. No doubt I would enjoy your posts even if I wasn’t blogging, but I’m not sure I would have found them. I am utterly delighted to have embarked on this path, because even if I stop blogging at any point, I now know of the wonderful community of talented design bloggers whom I gain so much from. Happy anniversary to you and Cedar Hill!! It truly has added many smiles to my face over the past several months… 🙂 I look forward to the next step on your journey and hope to be following somewhere behind you, albeit on my own unique course. Thanks for the inspiration… on so many levels!
I’ve always said blog years are like dog years. You are doing very well Lory!
Congratulations on four years of blogging!
So happy for you Anita that you have come so far in such a short time. Love your blog and reading your posts. You were one of the first bloggers that inspired me to start my blog. Congrats.
Kris
Hi Anita
I just loved reading your story, so inspirational. I guess it is easy to forget that even the big successful bloggers like yourself all had to start somewhere and success is not an instant overnight hit. Blogging sure is a bumpy road, one day feeling euphoric and the next wondering why on earth I am doing this! As you say it is very time consuming which people just do not realise and being a newby I have a lot to learn and a very very long way to go. But I do know why I do it, because I do love it and just one fabulous comment from a reader makes it all so worthwhile. Have a great weekend.
Yup readers don’t realize how much work goes into each and every post, and how much time is required to answer all of the questions across all social media, and then we eed to post across social media, and all of the emails.
Four years, that is a wonderful achievement,i love your blog and am glad i found it. You are a fun and warm person with lovely ides. Thank for the years you have given and persevered.
Anita … I just HAD to go back to your first post. The speech I got was “You’ll never make a living drawing pictures, even if I could afford to send you to college. So you better find something you can do because I’m not supporting you the rest of your life!” Well, of course I found something … in fact a couple of things that kept me busy earning for years. BUT NOW I’m back to art and design … and trying to figure out the whole blogging thing.
Don’t know exactly when/how I found your place, but have loved it ever since. I’m so glad you stayed with it. I hope I can too!
Wishes to all for a wonderful weekend.
Happy ding dang blog anniversary Anita. I watched the welcome video for the first time today, look how cute you are!
Congratulations Anita!! I have so enjoyed reading your blog for about a year now.. I feel like I’m evolving in my design taste it keeps changing!
Your blog is one of the blogs that have inspired me to French country design. I love it. So much so I have tried to incorporate it in my home and my mother’s. At first I was loving mid century
glam with a twist of today.
After returning to NY after being away for 12 years and living through terrible
winters I decided to go with a coastal vibe
to remind myself of the beautiful days of
coastal North Carolina. This helped me
deal with these harsh winters. Felt like my
home was my sanctuary. Then I
discovered French country and farmhouse
design along with your blog, stoneGable
my favorite hgtv show Fixer Upper and
other blogs I have incorporated in my
home I believe a good balance of coastal
French farmhouse design. If that makes
sense.
Thinking about blogging myself like you said you have to try and keep working at
it.
I admire your perseverance, strength and
of course your talent. Fingers crossed you
might just make me want to try this thing
called blogging. Haha.
Sorry for maybe one of the longest comments ever!.
Continue with your inspiring entries and we’ll keep reading.
Anita,
French country is your style, and your blog shows how to transform another style into French country. I’ll be watching for the Country French magazine later this year. I know I will be able to recognize your featured photos without reading. Congratulations on your successes and here’s wishing for many more.
Judith
I really needed to read this today! I am designing my blog and running into walls. After a long day of struggling with my blog set up, this post made me realize it won’t be easy, but it will be worth it! Thanks, Anita! Happy Anniversary!
Glad to hear that it encouraged you.
Anita,
I am so truly grateful that you have stuck with it through it all. You are such a lovely inspiration and look forward to all your posts! Recently, I was discussing with a friend that this January was the 5th anniversary of when I put to canvas my first brushstrokes of oil paint and then used a blog to chronicle my ups and downs in that journey of teaching myself to paint. Through it all, I’ve been thankful to connect with wonderful people the world over (artists and those who just LOVE art. I’ve been honored by art collectors from four continents by their purchase of my work, something that would have been all but impossible without the blog/internet. And yes, there have been many ups and downs and days when I am just too tired to paint or to post. Still, I’ve learned and I’ve been able to share what I’ve learned–what more can an art teacher hope for?
Thank you again and wishing you many years of success.
Kindest regards,
Carolina
Wow, bless you Anita! You are such an inspiration and such a positive role model for so many! Blessings for many more years!
A really great post, it is nice to see how others have grown. I find the comment “being pulled in all directions”, one I identify with greatly as a blogger. I have recently had varying different opportunities put in front of me and it is hard to know what direction is the best to move forward to expand your business but still be able to enjoy the moment so to speak. I think for me the biggest thing I get from it is the interaction from readers, the lovely emails from people that take time to actually email and ask your help. It is like you say about encouraging and inspiring others to have the home of their dreams.
Would love to hear more about your book opportunity and how it is coming along.
Lee
THank you for your story. I started a blog last year, then my mother past away and my mother in law with 17 days of each other, i stopped blogging. Everything made me think what do i want to do in this season of my life and the passion i once had for my other career as an novelist has evaporated. I want to nest, to create a home, to fill it with love and laughter and blog. Just these last few days, your story and a few other blogger’s stories of the trials of their first days/years of blogging has reinspired me to start again.
Thank you.
Jane
Anita, you have touched and continue to touch many lives! I love your blog and everything you do for magazines and each of us. My greatest joy comes from the group of women I have met/meet on Facebook because of your selfless efforts. God bless you!
Congratulations on your anniversary. I’m glad you took up blogging and have kept it up. Your French stylebook was very helpful. I love French country but I live in a 1950s house. I have my son’s leather “circular sofa” because it’s too big for his current apartment. It’s totally modern. I want to start converting to French but not sure how so I’ll keep following.
I hope you have many more years of blogging. Thanks.
Thank you for your post today. I really needed to hear someone say…..just do it!!. I’ve tried for weeks to start a blog, but I’ve always made an excuse and stopped myself. Now, I’m taking a leap of faith and going for broke!! Thanks again.
Anita,
As I read this post, it brought to mind the John Wayne Movie, “True Grit”!!!
Your blog is a gorgeous reflection of whom you’ve become, dear friend!!!
I adore how Cedar Hill (Ranch) Farmhouse has evolved through the years!
I’m excited to see what’s ‘in store’ in the near future!!!
Thank you for not “throwing in the towel”!!!
I hope you “carry on” for many years to come!!!
Fondly,
Pat
I love a success story. Congratulations and wishing you many more blog years.
Madonna
Your words came to me at the end of a very frustrating, “Reality-Check” kind of day. I appreciate that you did not sugar-coat the the process. I know it will be hard, but I also know that the reward will be more than worth it . Thank you for the generosity of your spirit, and sharing your wisdom.
I just found your blog and love it already! Congratulations to you and thanks for the inspiring post…I have been wondering about blogging and you have made me feel perhaps I could do it…. All the best girl!
Kim
I love this post and your story. I totally agree. If you do something you love, you’re halfway through to success. I hope you have many more successful years of blogging.
Congrats, Anita. Some dreams take decades to fulfill and this post is just what I needed to hear, today. I’m going to print out a copy and when I get discouraged or side-tracked, I’ll re-read it! Thank you for inspiring me!
Been following you for some time…can’t remember when/how I found you, BUT (!) I’ve just spent the better part of my day going back and forth, back and forth, looking at EVERYTHING I could find on your blog site. WOW – so glad you did a blogaversary so I could catch up so to speak. Thank you, thank you for hanging in there for a few years so many of us can finally find you and pour over everything we can find for as long as we like. I’m now inspired to begin my spring (is it finally here!) cleaning/sprucing gardening/designing. Keep going girl – I’m with you!
Anita, thank you for hanging in there for four years. I so enjoy your blog. I always look forward to reading and seeing what you are up to. Keep up the good work and remember the best is yet to be.
Hello, I just began following your blog and came across Bumpy Road article…wow, you really spoke to me. Thank you for your inspiration and congratulations on your success.
I LOVED this – it was fun seeing the transitions from each year – you definitely have ‘updated’. I love when I even look back at my old decorating books & magazines (I keep them or I tear out the pages I want) but most have the dates, so its similar to that. To see the transitions and also how some things don’t really change, just the was something is used or the decorations around them. You’ve got a great blog and I love your honesty and attitude. Looking forward to your next 3 years and beyond!
Thanks for blogging. Happy anniversary!!!