IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE

It's time to have a coffee and a chat - I'll tell you all about what's been happening in my world during May

IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE

It's time to celebrate the end of May, so why not share another virtual cup of coffee with me while I update you on what's been going on in my life lately. I love a good 'Taking Stock' blog post, so I hope you'll humour me and sit a while as I share my news.

SOCIAL SATURDAY - A NEW SERIES

I'm starting a Saturday guest post series on www.crestingthehill.com.au - if you're a Midlife who'd like to participate feel free to let me know.

TIME FOR A CHANGE

I've been mulling over the fact that I have lots of blogging friends who've asked me to write a guest post on their blogs, but I've never really made space for people to return the compliment and write something for me. 

5 WAYS TO MAKE YOUR BLOG EASY TO FIND

You've written a fabulous blog post - here are 5 ways to make it easier for people to find it.

WRITE IT AND THEY WILL COME

I think all new bloggers think that if they write something fabulous and post it, people will find their blog and their views will skyrocket and they'll be the next big thing, (we all start out with hopes of being wildly famous). Unfortunately, 99.99% of us are sadly disappointed when we check and find that 3 people have read our first post.

IS THERE AN ALTERNATIVE TO FIERCE 50?

Is there an alternative to the Fierce 50 Campaign for Midlifers who don't want to be "fierce"?

WHAT FIERCE 50 IS ALL ABOUT

The Fierce 50 Campaign is the brainchild of Catherine McCormick and the intention "is to put a new, fresh frame and perspective around midlife and beyond. We feel that midlife is a powerful time in a woman's life and we are more vibrant than ever before."

Let me just say here and now that I totally agree with what is outlined as the intention of the group. I think Midlife women are becoming more visible and Midlife bloggers are getting noticed more these days - which is a wonderful thing. We're not invisible and we're not fading into the background like the generations before us.

WOW! I'VE REACHED HALF A MILLION VIEWS!

I'm celebrating the fact that Cresting the Hill has reached half a million views - far surpassing my expectations!

WHO'D HAVE THOUGHT?

18 months ago I wrote a post celebrating the fact that I had reached 250,000 views. It seemed like an impossible number to me at the time. For someone who thought they'd be lucky if they had 50 views, I was staggered to see that I'd reached quarter of a million! I know that some bloggers get this number of views every month (that blows me away) but I was stunned to have reached that number in total - and I must admit to a little Macarena dance to honour the occasion!

Fast forward to now and I've just hit the half million mark! That is beyond amazing to me because.... "who'd have thought?!" I'm a Midlife woman writing about whatever catches my fancy and people (not just my mother!) have come to read my stuff LOTS of times. I'm not sure who all those people are, but I am gobsmacked and chuffed and delighted all rolled into one little happy parcel.

GUEST POST - TRANSITIONING INTO MOTHERHOOD

Mother and daughter - the transition into motherhood

INTRO

It was Mothers Day in Australia yesterday, and I thought this was a perfect opportunity  to ask my lovely daughter-in-law, Hannah, if she'd like to write a guest post for me. She graciously accepted and is sharing about transitioning into motherhood (she is the mother of our delightful grandbaby Sophia and has another baby on the way). It's a reminder for us all of those early days of being a Mum - and how we learnt to adjust. So, without further ado - let me introduce you to Hannah. (BTW Hannah has also just started her own blog called Woman on the Way - perhaps you could pop over afterwards and say Hi!)

WHAT TO SAY TO A FRIEND WHO BLOGS

Do you have a friend who blogs and you don't know what to say to them about it? Is it all a bit weird? Here's a few helpful hints.

WHEN NOBODY UNDERSTANDS 

Do you notice that when you tell people you know in real life that you blog, they tend to look at you quizzically and not really know how to respond? How many times have you mentioned blogging and all you get back is......*crickets*? All your enthusiasm just dries up on the spot and the conversations gets steered away onto more generic topics.

A TO Z REFLECTIONS AND FAREWELL

A to Z Challenge 2018 - Reflecting and Farewelling

IT'S A WRAP!

Well, it's hard to believe that the A to Z Challenge is now a thing of the past. For four weeks (minus three Sundays) I was immersed in blogs from all over the world - and more themes than I could imagine! I've learned about travel, other countries, sailingfamily history, sewing,  daily lifehobbies, podcastspoetry, spirituality, philosophy, and so much more.

I reconnected with bloggers I've met from previous years and met lots of new friends. I've learned new stuff, commented on blogs until my fingertips went numb, and still managed to get through my normal daily activities - although I think my Fitbit was buzzing me more than normal to tell me to get up and move before my butt was as numb as my fingertips!

THE A TO ZEN OF LIFE - FREE E-BOOK

The A to Zen of Life (via the Dalai Lama) e-book available for free from www.crestingthehill.com.au

THE A TO ZEN OF LIFE (VIA THE DALAI LAMA)

My theme for the 2018 A to Z Challenge was the A to Zen of Life (via the Dalai Lama). I thoroughly enjoyed creating the series and had a very positive response to my posts.

FREE E-BOOK

To wrap it all up, I created a free E-Book of my 26 posts from A right through to Z.

IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE

It's the end of April and if we were having coffee, these are some of the things I'd talk about.

IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE

It's time to celebrate the end of April, so why not share another virtual cup of coffee with me while I update you on what's been going on in my life lately. I love a good 'Taking Stock' blog post, so I hope you'll humour me and sit a while with me in a lovely little cafe I love to visit while I share my news.