#backthatazzup into a real blog

Heyyyyyyy ladies and gents, 

This little baby blog of mine. I'm gonna let it shine. oh wait...

Guess what, I am a really bad blogger and also really bad with dates.  I definitely missed my 1 year blogger anniversary.  Who does that?!  Me! I do that.  I don't even know if Brad and I have an anniversary, and if we do I couldn't tell you what day it is. Whatever. Even with me being a big dummy, I have noticed that I am starting to have a real blog over here and have taken some big girl steps in the world of 'real blogging' to help it grow. Starting with figuring out Google Analytics.  Yes, I had my blog almost a year, before I actually started using it. So sue me.

I also broke down and bought a domain name. Say hello to babblingbrookelyn.com. seeya never blogspot.com. Danica Patrick even called and left me a voicemail from GoDaddy to welcome me to the team. Totally went fan girl!!! oh wait... it was a recording.

I also made a new blog button that you can find on the right sidebar.... and I set up a passion fruit account for advertising. (For all you non-bloggers out there, you probably don't care about that last part). For anyone else that would like to sponsor my blog, I wouldn't hate it :)  I only have one sponsor option up right now and it is just the sidebar button placement, but am looking to add a few more options soon!

<div align="center"> <a href="http://www.babblingbrookelyn.blogspot.com" title="babbling brookelyn "><img src="http://i1321.photobucket.com/albums/u559/blsmith6/250x250_zps0e49e6c3.jpg" alt="babbling brookelyn " style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Also, everyone knows that Google Reader is going away right?! I am not crushing your dreams by telling you that news now?  Make sure to follow me over at BlogLovin' or Feedly.  I have always used Bloglovin' to follow all of my favorite blogs, so I am not totally sure why everyone is losing their shit over it, but the more I investigate Feedly, the more I think I like it.

Lastly, people are actually starting to leave comments about the things I write! It's like they actually enjoy my blog or something. It's weird, I know. Luckily, for me they have all been positive so far and I love interacting with more and more people!  When I fist took the plunge and started commenting on blogs and responding to people that commented on mine, I was doing it all wrong. I was a big struggle like Nadine was.....but then Kailyn changed my blogging life for the better with this tutorial. So now I can reply to comments right from my email and it's a beautiful, beautiful thing. Moral of the story, DON'T BE A NO-REPLY BLOGGER. So go now, double check to make sure you're all set up right!

Ok enough about me, I am sure you're tired of me whoring myself and my blog out. Let's get ready for the weekend and #backthatazzup with Whitney.

  Back when Mariah was innocent and young. I miss this Mariah!  Hurry up Friday! I want to spend the first hot weekend in Portland by the pool!!!!    <3 BB 

The Happy 10,000 Giveaway!!!

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Guys,

Today (well technically yesterday afternoon) is kind of a cool day when it comes to this baby blog of mine.  I have finally hit 10,000 views! Now, in the big wide world of blogging, it's not a ton of 'hits' and I still don't have many followers, but when I started this blog that was not the goal I was trying to accomplish.  More or less, I just wanted a space where I could babble get it, Babbling Brookelyn about whatever I wanted, whether it be fitness, food, music, and occasionally WTF fashion. The majority of my views have probably come from my family and I'm okay with that - they're pretty awesome...But I just wanted to say thanks for stopping by. Without sounding all sappy, it really means a lot that you come check out my blog and hopefully it's because you enjoy what you're reading and not to mock me....Okay, there can be a little mocking as long as it's in good nature, I mock myself most days :)

It is encouraging to know that people are coming back to read my blog, whether it be once every few weeks or daily.  I am hoping this little blog light of mine will keep shining growing and hopefully my writing and my life will grow with it along the way.

Honestly, this blog is helping me.  It has helped forced me be active and do affordable, but fun things with my free time. Brad makes fun of me when I get excited about doing something so I can 'blog' about it later.  It has also helped me get more comfortable with my fancy camera and I am super thankful for that too.  I still have a long way to go when it comes to photography, but it's fun to play with my camera for the blog.  Most importantly, this blog makes me want to get more creative with my meals and workouts and keeps me accountable with my healthy habits, as well the occasionally not so healthy habits love me some fro-yo with chocolate, too! So again, I say thanks!

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To show my gratitude I wanted to host my first little give away.  Nothing too cray, I am still ballin' on a budget here people, buttttt I am going to give away a $10.00 gift card to this fine establishment:

 Who doesn't love Starbucks?!

I'll be picking the winner at random. Just leave me a comment by Friday: let me know what you've been enjoying and/or what you'd like to see more of! (If you want to also follow along by joining google reader or bloglovin' up on the right, I wouldn't hate it.)

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Cheers !!!

<3 BB