11 Years of Zoey Olivia

Hello September, I’ve missed you!

If you’ve been a long time reader, you will know that Autumn makes me super happy! The crunchy leaves, cosy knits, hot chocs, sticky toffee puds, bake off back on telly and pumpkin-spiced everything.

AND, It’s my blog’s birthday on the 9th September!

11 years ago Zoey Olivia was born. A place to document my travels, my beauty and fashion purchases and the occasional personal ramble.

I originally started my blog alongside Youtube, but I haven’t posted on that channel in years and years.

In some ways I miss vlogging my travels as they are so lovely to look back on.

2014 was a special time where I was so excited preparing for my Canadian travels and I wanted to remember my trip by vlogging. I watch my Canadian adventures every now and again as they are such happy memories.

Before ‘Zoey Olivia’ was born, I had been writing on the internet since I was around fourteen or fifteen. The ‘piczo’, ‘live-journal’ and ‘tumblr’ era.

Any who, I wanted to try and keep this post short and sweet. Instead, I’ve gotten all the nostalgic feels and ended up on a loop-hole looking back down memory lane. I’m not complaining though, I love looking back on the old times! Gosh, I do sound a bit ancient and perhaps I am to some. I am approaching thirty six next month, yikes!

I also wanted to outpour my appreciation to all of you who still read my blog.

A huge HUGE thank-you for all your support over the years. The comments I receive daily are so lovely. I read every single comment and I do try to respond to them all.

I’ve also made some amazing blogging friends over the years too – you all know who you are!

I hope my fellow blogging community thrives over the next ten, twenty or thirty years! I know we all have other commitments and interests, and a lot of old school bloggers have moved over to the gram and TikTok (which I never really got the hang of!). But those fair few that have remained to write on their blogs because of their preference of writing and not being sucked into how much money you can make on social media!

For me, I’ve never been one to write or use my Instagram for money. I do it for pure enjoyment. A hobby. An escapism.

There have been times where I have wanted to pursue my blog into a full-time career over the years, but a part of me feels that earning money for my writing and photography would somehow and in some ways lose my authentic writing capabilities a little bit.

That being said, I have been gifted many wonderful products over the years and I’ve done some incredible collaborations with brands.

Perhaps my mindset will change in a few years time.
That’s something I will need to think about while I’m on maternity leave as I do need to pay for my mortgage, bills and what-not like everybody else. I was earning in my Marketing profession obviously.

However, for now I’m going to keep enjoying writing, sharing free beauty advice and help with my health experiences. As well as some life lately chats, joyful rambles, mum life and travels thrown in the mix.

Catch up with you all soon and stay cosy!