December 31 - My 10 Blogging Goals for 2019

Day 31 - Write a post about your 2019 goals. These can be blogging goals, travel goals, life goals...whatever you wish!

On December 1 I wrote a post about My Blogging Goals for the month of December. 

I focused on 4 specific blogging goals

. quality over quantity 

Before December my blog was more about photography than writing. All the month of December I kept on writing daily posts and I feel rather content and triumphant that I accomplished this goal.

. reciprocate more

I found some amazing bloggers and it was so delightful to connect with them. A big part of blogging is about giving back the love and the support you receive. I did my best to not go past any blog post that I read till the end without liking or commenting or sharing. 

. Facebook groups

As I started thinking about my blog promotion, I asked to join many Facebook Blogging Groups. Many of them were very supportive and helpful, some of them too demanding and insistent but there is one Group that I especially loved: For the Love of Blogging. Here you really feel the genuine backup and the collaboration of a thriving community.
I guess it's thanks to its admin Linda Jean.

. 31-Day Blog Challenge

I did it!

Just the idea of blogging daily was too crazy for someone posting on and off for a couple of years.

But the 31-Day Blog Challenge hosted by Linda Jean herself was too appealing to resist. The Daily challenges helped me stretch my imagination and broaden my writing skills. I accomplished all the challenges with the exception of a Vlog Challenge (it needed more time and preparation so I had to skip it)


So here I start 2019 with new 10 Blogging Goals

1-  Create a YouTube Channel for this blog and upload my first Vlog on it


2-  Create Instagram and Twitter accounts for this blog


3- Start learning more about Wordpress and self-hosting


4-  Guest post or have someone guest post (if you are interested, don't hesitate to contact me)

5- Connect and collaborate with more bloggers (coz together everyone achieves more)

6- Take a Photography Course and use more of my quality photos on my blog


7- Purchase a professional camera with the money I earn on this blog

8- Try to be more consistent in blogging and schedule some of my posts

9- Take some serious monetization steps besides Adsense.

10- Take the January Mind, Body and Writing Challenge

Thank you, dear Linda, for this challenge. It has helped me tremendously. Heading to January Mind, Body and Writing Challenge with more confidence and determination.

December 30 - Year in Review

Day 30 - Write a year in review post

We are already in 2019. The last few days in 2018  were so hectic that I fell behind again. So I will link this post to my Wordless Wednesday series with my Top 9 Instagram Photo Collage.

If you also want to find out your Top 9 Photos of Instagram, there is an application you just need to download first. You insert your Instagram Username and voila, it digs out your Top 9 Most Liked Instagram Photos in a few seconds.

My 2017 photo grid looked like this.

This is what 2018 grid looks like.

2018 in photo review

 No surprise, the most liked photo is the one with coffee:)

Are you gonna try this application and find out your top 9 of 2018 too? Let me know by using the hashtag #top92018

I am linking up with 

Natasha Musing

Claire Justine

Comedy Plus

December 29 - A New Year Appetizer - Meat Crepes Recipe

Day 29 - Create a recipe post for your favorite appetizer for New Year's Eve

It is a tradition in any Armenian Family to make Meat Crepes for the New Year.

 It is originally a Russian dish "Blinchik" and is made with different fillings but it is widely used in Armenia, especially the one with ground meat filling.

 There are various recipes for the dough and you may need to keep trying it a few times to find the ideal consistency to get thin and soft crepes. But it's worth the try.

This appetizer is usually made once a year that's why the smell of it always revives my New Year memories and takes me back to my childhood.

Meat Crepes  (Mom's Recipe)

Dough

3 eggs

1 litre of full fat milk

2 cups of sifted flour

3 tablespoons of oil

1/4 teaspoon of baking soda

half a teaspoon of salt

half a teaspoon of sugar

Filling

500 grams of ground beef

1 medium onion

spices (red pepper, black pepper, salt)

butter or vegetable oil

chopped parsley (optional)

For a detailed preparation, I want to share a famous Armenian Blogger Heghineh's Video below. 
She has hundreds of Armenian Dishes recipes and gives you all the tips and secrets of making tasty dishes.



This post was inspired by 31-Day Blog Challenge hosted by Linda Jean from Witte's World Blog.

December 28 - 3 Things To Do When You Can't Travel

Day 28 - Recount your favorite trip from 2018. You can do this by reviving an old post or by creating a new post. If you didn't go anywhere in 2018, write a post on where you would have gone.


What to do if you're strongly feeling the need for a vacation but you realize that you can't afford to travel.


Traveling helps us relax, refocus and reboot. But unfortunately, sometimes you can't make it happen, no matter what the reasons are - budget, lack of vacation days, personal commitments and responsibilities.


Traveling is addictive especially when you see that everyone on your social feed is away somewhere amazing while you are stuck at home or at the office.


However, you can always find alternative ways to enjoy your vacations without traveling anywhere.


Here are 3 tips on what to do when you can't travel.

1. Plan for your next trip

Set a savings plan for the nearest trip and start preparing for it thoroughly. You can save lots of money and time by booking your flights and hotels beforehand.

 Research the restaurants, transportation services and fees, currency exchange rates, sightseeing places and tour packages.

 After all, part of the fun of travel is the planning itself. This will keep you busy and excited at the same time.

Make a Pinterest board, read articles and travel blogs, follow your destination Instagram hashtags, bookmark websites, start learning the language of the country you are going to visit.

The more organized and prepared you are, the more exciting and the less stressing your trip will be.

2- Explore your country like a tourist

Stop thinking that you are "stuck" in your country with your dull day-to-day routine. There's almost always something new to explore and find in the place you live. 


Visit some far and small villages or even neighborhoods where you haven't been before. 


Get to know the locals, try their food, check out some museums and festivals you haven't visited before. 


Grab your camera and take a City Tour with a guide to find out many new interesting facts.


Get to know the tourists visiting your country and maybe take them on another tour yourself.

3 - Take a Weekend Staycation

Instead of staying in your city during the weekends, try to take a trip to other cities, mountains, lakes or beaches. 


Book a hotel, take a bubble bath, cuddle up in the bed and stay up late watching a TV show or just reading a book. 

And what are YOUR tips to resist the wanderlust of exploring the world? I would love to read them in the comments box below.

This post was inspired by the 31-Day Blog Challenge hosted by Linda Jean from Witte's World Blog.

December 27 - My Favorite 10 Blogs for 2018

Day 27 - Create a list of your favorite 10 bloggers of 2018 and why you love their blogs, include links to their blogs.

The right blog is like the right book, it makes your mind sharper and your stress level lower, your spirits higher and your life more exciting.

After I was back after a long break, I was in search for some motivational bloggers that inspire and uplift, but at the same time are natural and down to earth. 

My favorite blogs are the ones that are on the constant stay on my browser, the ones I check on at least once a day for some new content, the ones that I learn from and share the same interests.

So here are my 10 Favorite Blogs for 2018

1 - Why Girls Are Weird

Krysten writes about anything that has to do with her life. Book reviews, happy lists (Happy Friday), a peek into her personal life, a little fashion and more about "why girls are weird".

2 - Finding Inspiration in the Chaos

Lana is a 32-year-old mom of 2 little boys struggling to find inspiration after motherhood and trying to inspire others. She is one of the participants of the 31-Day Blog Challenge . whose daily posts I have been enjoying reading.

3 - Witte's World Blog

Linda writes about her travel adventures, good eats and life stories with her family and friends. She is the creator of the December 31-Day Blog Challenge that inspired me to keep posting daily during the whole month of December. She does more than blogging. She is extremely supportive and stands behind the amazing community of the Facebook Group: For The Love of Blogging. 

4 - Cresting the Hill

Leanne writes about Midlife focusing on freedom, re-discovery and becoming the very best version of ourselves.

She has a mission to replace Midlife crisis with Midlife connection and contentment. And whether you are 50+ or not you will definitely enjoy and be inspired by her posts.

Check her 30 Day Gratitude Challenge post.

5 - My Cup of Cocoa

Leah writes about gratitude, happiness and favorite things. She is dedicated to sharing positive messages to make our increasingly negative world and life happier, easier and more fun. She has you covered on an array of topis including self-care, mindfulness, recipes and lots of books and reading.

6 - What a Weatherful World

Heather writes about motherhood, love and marriage, family fun, favorite recipes and all things kids. A Mom to 3  children, she shares with their daily laughs and weekly struggles. Her blog is a great place to find inspiration and great tips and to be reminded that you are not alone.

7 - Failure to Thrive No More

Jenny is a military spouse and a mom of 2 boys, one of whom, Jaxson, was recently diagnosed with a rare DYRK1A Syndrome. She writes about parenting a special needs child and does a great job on raising awareness about this rare disease and celebrating the inchstones in his journey.

8 - The Pomegranate Mom

Tamara writes about parenting amidst everyday responsibilities - work, family, friends and after all health. 

She shares science and research-based parenting tips on how to raise a (happy, healthy, supported) whole child.

9 - Busy Living My Best Life

Season shares her mom life, recipes, DIY crafts, travels and motivational posts. If you want to find encouragement and humor, hang with her while she is "busy living her best life".

10 - From the Pond

Mel is an educator designing creative, easy to prep printables and clipart to make teaching and learning fun. Whether you are an educator or just a mom, you will be appealed by her colorful and engaging designs and printables. We especially love her Instagram stories where she makes live drawings and then turns them into printables. 

December 26 - Wordless Wednesday "Christmas 2018"

Day 26 - Write a post to recount your holidays

At Christmas, all roads lead home. - Marjorie Holmes-

It's been a while since I did my weekly Wordless Wednesday Series.
It's high time I recounted my holidays through the photos I have taken so far.

Christmas Trees

Christmas at Home

Kids at Christmas

I am linking up with 

Natasha Musing

Claire Justine 

Comedy Plus

December 24 - If I could spend Christmas with Someone who has passed...

Day 24 - Write a post. If you could celebrate this holiday with someone who has passed, who would it be and what would you do?

Christmas can be a hard time for those who have lost a family member. And it doesn't matter if the loss is recent or no. Christmas is the time that revives childhood memories and lets us miss those dear ones who are physically no longer with us. 

If I could celebrate this holiday with someone who has passed it would be my Grandma Anna. 

What would I do?

I would visit her (the house where my mother grew up).

She would ask me to clean the house before the New Year.
She would especially insist on polishing the windows checking scrupulously that every inch was shiny.

Then she would make all her delicious traditional dishes and make me eat until full.

Then I would make the coffee and we would enjoy it with some sweets while she would tell me some interesting stories from her life.

I am 100% sure what her gift would be, a precious old book from my Grandpa's big library with his signature on it.

Dear Grandma,

I want to tell you that back in those days I thought you were too upright and righteous and sometimes impatient with your kids and even your grandchildren. You were a perfectionist in everything, after all, you used to be a teacher. You noticed every detail: in the house, in our clothing, in everything. Sometimes your remarks might sound harsh and critical. But only now when I am a mother myself, I realize what lay behind that criticism and perfectionism. Not a day passes that I recall your words and deeds and think how many character traits we have in common. Not a day passes without uttering your name as my daughter carries your name too. 

I just want to thank you for your care and mindfulness and for inheriting your upbringing and ethics.

December 23 - My Favorite Holiday Traditions (part 2)

December 23 - Write a post about your favorite holiday traditions. If you don't have a favorite holiday tradition, create a new one this year.

Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you have and the things you never want to lose. 

I love family traditions, especially Christmas ones.  

They create such a special bond among family members and leave precious memories. 

My Favorite Holiday Traditions

. The Advent Calendar

I introduced this tradition to my kids in the form of a chocolate bar only. But I am planning to also include a small toy in the coming year too. Besides, kids will get used to the fact that they will eat only 1 chocolate per day and that's a great idea.

. Christmas Carols

After the Christmas dinner we turn on the speaker, fetch our microphones and start singing Christmas Carols. We have a great time till the sleeping time arrives.

. Christmas Cookies

I have a special recipe of Christmas cookies that turn out really tasty. Once per year we grab our favorite cookie cutters and make Christmas cookies with holes in them. We then hang them up on the Christmas tree for a few days until they keep disappearing from our sight.

. Christmas Sweet Bread

This is a tradition I started last year. I made a round sweet bread and hid a coin inside. Then I cut the bread into as many pieces as there are family members. The one who gets the coin is throned as the luckiest family member for the whole year:)

Happiness Jar

This is a tradition I am gonna try for the coming year. I will start with an empty jar on January 1st. Each week I will write down a good thing/things that happened during that week (goals accomplished, surprise gifts, acts of kindness and gratitude, funny moments, memories worth saving)

On New Year's Eve I will open the jar and read about all the amazing things that happened in the previous year.

I just realized that I wrote another post about Favorite Holiday Memories and Traditions on December 4.

You can read it by clicking on My Favorite Holiday Traditions (part 1)

Do you have any favorite Holiday Traditions?

Would love to read about them in the comments box below.

December 22 - My Bucket List for 2019

Day 22 - Share your current bucket list for 2019

As the New Year approaches, we start thinking about the changes we want to make and the steps we want to take in order to make our life better.

What's the difference between a New Year resolution and a New Year Bucket List?

A resolution is a firm decision to start doing or to stop doing something. It may sometimes be unrealistic and may lead to frustration and failure if not achieved.

A bucket list is a number of experiences that you want to accomplish in a certain period of time. And even if you succeed in accomplishing only a few from the list, you don't have to feel a failure, plus by making a Bucket List we give ourselves an opportunity to learn and experience and create something new.

So here it is, my Bucket List for 2019

1- Read 12 books + 1 audiobook

2- Take a professional Photography Course

3- Learn Videography skills (partly done)

4- Read about SEO and Google Analytics

5- Drive a car  (partly done)

6 - Bake bread 

7 - Buy a canvas and make a painting

8 - Make a Happiness Jar (partly done)

9 - Take an Advanced Course in Spanish at Instituto de Cervantes

10 - Plant a tree

11 - Visit a new country: Georgia

12 - Go hiking

13 - Run a marathon

14 -  Make a creative Halloween costume

15 - Save money for traveling

16 - Learn to play chess

17 - Watch 12 classic movies

18 - Make a Time Capsule to open in 2020 

19 - Make a sushi

20 - Go vegan for a week

21 - Knit something

22 - Make a new friend (maybe a blogger:)

23 - Read a Daily Bible

24 - Taste something new

25 - Buy a painting from my favorite artist, Leonid Afremov

26 - Pay a surprise visit to my parents

27 - Recreate a favourite Pinterest project

28 - Save coins for a rainy day

29 - Hide a book at a random place: Book Fairy

30 - Revive my dull hair

31 - Make a surprise gift for someone dear for no occasion

32 - Send a handwritten letter by snail mail

33 - Post a Photo a Day in the Facebook Group FMS Photo a Day

35 - Spend my 35th birthday the way I have always dreamt about:)


This post was inspired by 31-Day Blog Challenge hosted by Linda Jean from Witte's World Blog.