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December 10, 2009

Blogaversary: A Blog Turns One, The Adventure Continues

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Exactly one year ago, on December 10, 2008, I published my very first NYCity Mama adventure. I wrote about Ft. Tryon Park. People ask me a lot of questions about my “blogging career”, and honestly, I don’t have the answer to a lot of them, except for why I started. To tell the truth, when I started blogging, I didn’t read blogs, not personal blogs. I read news blogs, magazine blogs…didn’t really know them to be “blogs”, but rather online media sites. I did visit sites that would offer ideas and listed places to spend my days with my children and I frequented a parents message board, but mostly talked about politics. But as far as visiting personal blogs, no. I never really had an interest in it. I wasn’t really in tune to the fact that there was an entire world out there of bloggers.

I started writing to share my adventures with friends and family far away, and to get them excited about coming to visit us.

A year later, I have shared almost 200 adventures on this site alone, and many more on others. I sent out my first tweet on Jan. 17, 2008 and almost a year after that have met many amazing people through Twitter and developed wonderful friendships.

But in addition to discovering the world of blogging, and making new friends, I have rediscovered some things about myself as well. Like my love for travel, writing, trying new and old things over and over, and how much I enjoy meeting new people and learning new things. I also realized that I really enjoyed giving people information on my favorite tested activities and/or places that are great as they travel, especially with kids. I enjoy this so much, that it has become what I hope to always do.

And as I think about the many other things I have learned this past year, not only about myself, but about this thing called blogging, there are some other random thoughts that come immediately to mind, and I thought I would share them with you anyway. Like for example:

  1. I am nice. I embraced it finally, this “nice” label. I got called nice a lot by a lot of different people when I started blogging. I hated it to tell the truth. And sometimes it was more like a put down than a compliment, but the truth is I am, and can be, so there you go.
  2. I can really not be nice too, especially to mean people. It’s a gift.
  3. One of the things that surprises people the most about me when they meet me is that I swear a lot, and that I’m actually tall and blond. Ok, well, those last two aren’t true, but I thought just “swearing” sounded awful, so I added two others to distract from it.
  4. I hate, beyond all, being called a “Mommy Blogger”. I know. I have ‘Mama’ in my title, I blog about my kids, and I am a mom. It’s clear I had no idea, and didn’t think it through when I started blogging. But I was also the chick that HATED the nurses that called me Mommy at the hospital when my kids were born. In short, I hate when people who aren’t my kids call me Mommy period. Cause, if I had to list WHO I was, “mommy” would not be first, second, or third on my list.
  5. I adore my kids. Most of the time. And when I don’t adore them, it’s ok too.
  6. I truly do love New York City. I am thrilled that we are raising our family here. If I can get just one new person excited about this city, then I would feel like I have communicated my love for the city well. My blog reminds me of the many reasons NYC is great every time I write about it.
  7. I am not afraid of a lot of things: except mice and roaches…so never call me to help get rid of either.
  8. I love reading other people’s blogs, and reading about the things that moves them and inspires them. It’s awesome to get to know people through such personal notations. I am lucky to be a reader of many, but I admit, I don’t do it often, and not nearly as much as I wish I could.
  9. Though this is so much fun to do, I still think the true value is in the life lived and in connecting in real life with others. So, in the end, in my travels, and in my adventures, though I love blogging about them, I enjoy even more the people I meet that compliment the experiences while on our journeys. This can never, and will never be replaced for me.
  10. I live fully aware that life is short. Sounds morbid, but for me it’s not. This is why I think we should all really embrace the moment, live life to the fullest, and be adventurous…with kids, without, it doesn’t matter. Just make it worth it.

I want to thank everyone who reads this site, who follows me on twitter, and who has contributed to making our lives adventurous and fun.

I look forward to another fun, adventure filled year, and hope to see you there with us!

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Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, close to home or farther away. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and CEO of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications management, and brand development agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She splits her time between her homes in New Jersey and Finger Lakes.

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5 Comments
  • E.Payne
    December 10, 2009

    congratulations!Awww congratulations! Just wait until you start walking and and get potty trained! Just kidding, you've been running with wings since you got started. Congratulations…again and again and again.

    Reply
  • Lisa
    December 10, 2009

    Congratulations girl!! You have come a long way. I'm so glad I found your site early this year because this is one of my fave blogs….and you're cool too. 😉

    Reply
  • Liz@thisfullhouse
    December 10, 2009

    Congratulations, my friend. I'm honored to have met you (IRL) and very, very thankful to have seen your "nice" side 🙂

    Reply
  • Otter
    December 10, 2009

    Happy Blogaversary! I have been to NYC twice and I absolutely love the city. If I ever go again I will be coming to you for some good advice on what to do. Keep it up.

    Reply
  • Melisa with one S
    December 11, 2009

    Happy Blogoversary! xoxo

    Many more!

    (P.S. Paaartay in Room L!)

    Reply

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About me

Hi! I'm Carol! I am a communications professional, an award-winning travel blogger, a public speaker, CEO of a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency, a wife, and a mom of 3 sons and 2 puppies. Welcome to my blog where I share stories of my travels and professional public relations insights and advice. Thank you for reading!

Carol Cain

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Some times, more than others, you need to hold on Some times, more than others, you need to hold on to moments of joy tighter than ever.

For me, this week, it has been found during long drives through country roads and wintery scenes in wine country. Or with a good movie or TV show (Sylvie’s Love was my latest, along with Netflix’s special “Pretend It’s A City” with Fran Lebowitz). Or with loving conversations with dear friends.

The point is, as a society, there is much to do, but our heart and mind and soul are sacred. Care for them. Love them. Feed them joy, however and wherever you may find it. We may live to fight another day...but we don’t have to live to fight every day.♥️
Of all the places in all the world, here lives a p Of all the places in all the world, here lives a piece of my heart.
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#fingerlakes #myflx #keukalake #citygirlgonecountry #lakelife #upstateny #flxwinter #countrylife @flxwinecountry
Feeling so in tune with what brings me joy and foc Feeling so in tune with what brings me joy and focusing all my energy on that as much as I can, in all the ways possible. Like spending cold afternoons getting mud on my boots in places like these with people I love.
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@visitithaca #winterhike #waterfalls #snowyviews #pictureperfect #flxwinter #fingerlakes @flxwinecountry
Snuggled up in @theflxcottage, cozy and warm, read Snuggled up in @theflxcottage, cozy and warm, ready to greet this new year.
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#myflx #theflxcottage #fingerlakes #newyear #newyork #keukalake
Looking back at this year in photos and I have to Looking back at this year in photos and I have to laugh at how very little it all says about this year. My health scare definitely impacted me but it by no means defined this year for me. It was a year of centering. 

I am grateful for so much. The health and safety of my family. Our ability to continue to work and have jobs. The honest, safe, strong, and loving relationship with my husband whom I really, really enjoy spending time with. The closeness, support, and love of my closest friends - all the tears, laughter, raw conversations and uplifting we shared with each other. The incredible weight lifted from letting go of the people and things that don’t matter. The clarity in what I want. The incredible peace in having all I need. 

I have no resolutions for this coming year other than to hold on to what I already have and to give more to those who aren’t so lucky, which I have found so gratifying.

This year showed me what a lot of other people value and how they define what’s most important to them and in many ways, I needed to see it. It helped me make better choices in what I call friendships and where I focus my attention and time, of which we all increasingly have so little.

So despite all that 2020 took from us, I feel crazy fortunate to still feel I am walking away with such important lessons and tremendous growth. And after all, isn’t that a sign of a year well lived?

Happy New Year. My heart to all who’ve lost so much, who need help and continue to struggle through, and to the many great souls who continue to give to so many.
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#newyear #bye2020 #bestofnine
Headed to #HobokenNJ to pick up the most special p Headed to #HobokenNJ to pick up the most special package to complete my holiday bliss, our oldest son.

There exists nothing I wanted more than my family, together, happy, and healthy. It’s always been something I have appreciated but this year served as an important reminder of how precious that is.

A reminder too that family is what you make it. And we can make joy anywhere. This holiday season I want to say thank you to all those taking the steps to take care of themselves and others. Thank you to all those who fight for we, the people daily. To the activists who have shaped this year in more ways than one. Thank you for the kindness of strangers and friends, old and new. And expressed gratitude for the reminder that true peace and joy is not in things, likes, clicks, or paid-for content - it is in people and moments, many of which never even make it onto the gram but are everything that makes life worth living. Hold on to those the tightest.

Happy Everything.

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