My 10 Most Popular Blog Posts of 2017

Gosh, I can’t believe it’s almost Christmas which means it’s almost 2018! Is it just me or has this year flown by? Before I start planning next year’s content, I thought it would be a fun idea to look back at some of the top posts from 2017 {thanks Jess for the inspiration for this post!}. These are the posts that you all loved the absolute most. They got the most views, the most comments, and the most shares on social media. 

Enjoy!

1. How to Work with Brands as a Blogger: Everything You’ve Ever Wanted to Know!

In April, I sat on a panel at The Blog Connect Conference in Philly and chatted all about brand partnerships. We chatted about sponsored campaigns, brand outreach, blogger networks and more. Afterward, there were so many great questions asked that I knew I wanted to write a full post about the topic. Apparently you guys really liked it, because it was my most popular post of the year! If you’re a blogger yourself and are looking to increase brand collabs next year, or maybe you’re not a blogger and you’re just curious about the business of blogging, I highly recommend you read this post. I talk all about the basics of partnerships, blogger networks, how to pitch brands yourself, what to do if a brand reaches out to you, and why you shouldn’t work for free. I’ve even thrown in some email templates! 

2. The Ultimate Blogging Resource List

I personally love these types of posts from other bloggers, because it gives an in depth look at what people use to run their businesses. I knew I wanted to create my own list and let you guys in on the platforms and tools I use to make this blog run – including hosting, domain registration, photo editors and more. I originally wrote this post a few years ago, but it needed a big refresher this year. 

3. Falling Into the Instagram Comparison Trap

Boy oh boy, Instagram. Some days I hate it, and some days I love it. But one thing is for certain – I’ve definitely fallen into the “Instagram Comparison Trap” at times. Clearly you guys feel the same way because it was one of my most engaging posts of the year. So many of you reached out to me on social media letting me know that you too feel not up to par after seeing the picture perfect lives of your favorite influencers, and that you’ve also not posted something because it wasn’t “good” enough. One of my goals for 2018 is to post much more frequently on Instagram, which means that some of the photos won’t be up to my high standards and that’s OK. Life isn’t always perfect!

4. How to Raise Your Children Vegetarian, an Interview with “InstaFather” Andy Shaw

I met Andy in April at The Blog Connect conference, and I’m so glad we connected! After learning that he and his wife are vegan and that they raise their three little ones vegetarian, I knew I had to interview him for the blog. We chatted about the benefits and struggles of raising children on a vegetarian diet, backlash his family has gotten, tips for families who might want to consider raising their children vegetarian, and so much more. 

5. Four Important Things Blogging Has Taught Me About Myself

I’ve definitely learned a lot of lessons over the years through having this platform. The good, the bad and the ugly! In this post from April, I reflected on four different things I’ve learned about myself specifically. Many of you who are bloggers reached out to me saying that you too have learned similar lessons and that it was refreshing to see someone talk so candidly about them. 

6. Everything You Need to Know About Micro-Needing

I love trying new beauty tools and trends. There’s something exciting about it. Do you agree?! When micro-needling hit the scene earlier this year, I had to hop on board and give it a shot. I was a bit nervous at first because the tool looks like a little torture device, but I was pleasantly surprised with the results. If you’ve never heard about micro-needling and curious to learn more, head over and check out the post! 

7. I’ve Been Keeping a Little Secret … {Our Pregnancy Announcement}

It’s not a shocker that my pregnancy announcement post was a popular piece of content this year. In fact, many of you are loving my pregnancy updates in general, so I plan to continue those in the new year and of course share motherhood content once the little one arrives. If these types of posts aren’t your thing, don’t worry! I plan to continue posting loads of healthy recipes, lifestyle tips, beauty hacks, and simple workouts next year as well. 

8. Six Eco-Friendly Wellness Essentials That I’m Loving

Just like I love trying out new beauty products, I’m obsessed with new wellness trends. I haven’t had the time to try out a bunch recently since being pregnant, but earlier this year I shared some of my favorites. All of the ones I mentioned in the post, I still use and love! 

9. Five Simple Tips for Balancing it All

We’re all busy. There’s no denying that. When Campbell’s Soups asked me to share my tips for how I balance all the craziness in my life, I knew it would be a popular topic! I shared some of my favorite tricks for making sure I don’t drown in my to-do list. Spoiler alert: one of my favorite tips is to stop checking work emails from 6-8pm. If you’ve never tried it, you’ve got to! It’s a game changer and will make you feel so much less stressed out. I promise.

10. My Fall Reading List

I’ll be honest that I haven’t finished many of the books I set out to read this fall. I’m blaming it on being pregnant and trying to get my never ending baby list completed. However, I was surprised to see that many of you loved this post, which gives me the push to do more book-related content in 2018. I generally love mysteries and non-fiction, but I’m thinking about branching out a bit more and adding more variety to my reading list. If you guys have good book recommendations, let me know! 

// That’s all I’ve got for today. Happy holidays everyone!