A Year in Review // My Top Blog Moments from 2017

For the first time EVER, I’m proud to say 2017 has been my best year yet for Confessions of a Northern Belle. In the past years, my blog has grown slowly, but this year big things happened. I feel like my hard work is finally amounting to something (and YOU are all to thank for this). From the addition to fashion posts to the awesome brands I’ve been privileged to work with to the doors that have been opened moving to Connecticut, I’m beyond thrilled with my top blog moments of 2017.

Simple Mom Outfits + Fashion

After I was contacted by an online boutique to review an article of clothing back in the beginning of 2017, I realized I had to find a photographer who could take styled photos for the post. Lauren Humphries saved the day and we worked together on quite a few simple mom outfit shoots for my blog. Fashion suddenly became something more around these parts than just a few selfies on my terrible camera phone. My fashion photos helped me get accepted into Reward Style which allows me to share the items I love with my readers.

Brand Work

This year, I am SO excited with the growth of my brand collaboration list. For the first time, brands began to reach out to me and I hit an all-time personal high on the number of campaigns completed with one of my favorite influencer networks. A great moment – I was featured twice on Polaroid’s website as an author for my work with two of their products.

In April, for the first time I was able to secure a collaboration with a hotel! Confessions of a Northern Belle worked with Kimpton Hotels on a stay for my sister’s bachelorette party at the Mason & Rook in Washington, D.C.. We had a blast on our trip and I loved being able to share our stay with my readers and followers.

I’ve really tried to step up my personal photography game for not only my personal life, but also brand work for my blog and Instagram. After spending quite a bit of time with my friend (who is a local professional photographer), I have gotten the hang of shooting better photos. My work was noticed by a brand in a collaboration and I was actually compensated for my hard work.

Becoming A Connecticut Blogger

Moving to Connecticut this fall has already opened so many doors for me as a blogger. Not only was I able to join an amazing group of talented bloggers – CT Blogger Collective – but I have also connected with friends from high school who’re successful with their own small businesses.

Elizabeth Grant and I have known each other for years since we played field hockey together during high school. While assisting my sister at her maternity shoot, Beth, a well-known local photographer, and I started chatting about my blog. After one fun business meeting, we were planning photo shoots, girls night outs, and double dates. She is super talented and creative and one of my biggest cheerleaders. We have big plans for 2018 and I’m so lucky to know her!

Nicole Charles from The Green Robe and I have known each other since high school since I was in the same grade as her brother. I’ve been following her blog since she started it and we’ve been chatting about everything from fashion to crazy toddlers. Since I moved to CT we decided we had to get together for not only social purposes, but also for a blog collaboration. After she hosted a pajama and pancake party, Nicole invited me to appear with her on a segment on WTNH chatting about one of my most popular blog posts. She is the queen of theme parties and has incredible fashion sense – plus she’s hilarious. I’m so excited to work together on a few more segments and for her to teach me her stylish ways.

Another incredibly talented friend from my past, Kim Bolden, and I reconnected this past fall. She is an APRN at Middlesex Dermatology and completed my first skin cancer screening. We are now working together reviewing products from her practice. A few weeks before Christmas I co-hosted a Botox and Bubbles party that had a great turnout and was so much fun. (I’ll be posting soon about my experience with Dysport!). If you’re local, we are going to have another right before Valentine’s Day.

I’m truly looking forward to the new year and all the promise it has to offer. My goals are set, my planner is ready to be filled with due dates, and I have a network of friends who want to work together growing our businesses.

But… none of this would be possible without YOU. So, I thank you. Thank you for coming back again and again to read my posts, for sharing your favorites, and for commenting. Without you this blog would be nothing but what I thought it was when I started – a little online diary. My heart feels so full because of you! Happy New Year!