Happy birthday blog o’ mine! If you were a child you’d be in third grade by now. Wow. Imagine that.
I wish I could throw a birthday party and invite you guys, but a lot of you are too far away to attend, so, I decided to just have my cake and eat it too, with my roomie. It tasted good, by the way! 😉
I can’t just leave it at that, this is kind of a milestone for me! So I decided to list 9 things that have changed from when I wrote that first blog post.
(1) My blog name was “My Side Comments” and my domain was mysidecomments.blogspot.com.
(2) I was still living in the Philippines, working in Makati City as an auditor. I had never set foot outside the Philippines and had been to very few places within my own country, actually.
(3) I wrote that first blog post on my company laptop, and I didn’t own one myself.
(4) We had no internet connection in our apartment and I had to blog either at work (I would draft my posts at home then publish them when I got to work) or rent a PC in a neighbourhood internet cafe which charged 30-50 pesos an hour.
(5) I was in my twenties.
(6) I didn’t own a digital camera or even a phone with a camera, for that matter. So most of my first posts didn’t have any pictures at all.
(7) Blogger didn’t have a built in function to upload photos, so I had to use external websites like Flickr and Dotphoto. It was a lot harder to blog, in general, as some functionalities were yet to be invented.
(8) I had only two readers, my friends Flisha and Chu. (Thanks guys for still continuing to read after all these years! Wait… you are still reading, right? Guys?)
(9) I believed that “maturity is a boring state of mind,” meaning, that being a working adult was more boring than being a student.
Wow, my blog and I have been through a lot of changes, huh?
Speaking of, I decided to do something new today – my first solo giveaway! I am rewarding one reader with a personalised mystery gift which includes an autographed picture of me. Just kidding about the last part. LOL. This giveaway is open worldwide, so enter below! 🙂
Dee says
For some reason it's not showing up on Bloglovin! Argh. Thanks! xx
Amanda says
Happy blog birthday! 9 years is great! (This just showed up on bloglovin' now for me) x
Amanda says
PS- I like your sense of humour 😉
Grammy Lura says
Happy 9th blog birthday. Wow you have gone through lots of changes. I am glad that I met you through your blog. I have been blogging since 2007 so my blog is going to be 7 years old in May. I may not make it to 9 years. I don't have near as many readers as I used to and only get a few comments. I started blogging as a way to stay in touch with my kids and grandkids who live out of state but
Niki T. says
Happy 9th Blog Birthday! The 3rd grade comment totally cracked me up!! Haha! I love reading your blog because you have such a great personality and sense of humor and I like seeing what life is like there in Singapore!
Mal says
Happy blogiversary!! 9 years is awesome!!! Congratulations 😉
Mari Fernandez says
Happy bloggy birthday! 😀 I recently found your blog and I love it! I´ve been reading all your A to Z challenge posts and I´m obssesed! 🙂 Have a great day!
Kaelene Spence says
Happy blog birthday Dee:)
Sarah Libros says
Happy blog birthday!!! I'm impressed that you've been blogging for so long! <br />I love that you're blog is so personal. It feels like a real peek into your life, and when I comment I know I'm going to get a response.
Anna says
Happy Blog Birthday!! 9 years, wow! You're so close to the double figures! I am so glad I found your blog, it's such an interesting one to read becasue you write in such a friendly and funny way 🙂
Macy Gutermuth says
Happy Blog Birthday!!!
Regina @ Vintage 1973 says
I enjoy reading about how full your life is!
Regina @ Vintage 1973 says
Congrats!
Liene says
Happy blogiversary!!! As for what I love most about A Deecoded Life, I think it's that you are honest in your posts. Thanks for not sugarcoating everything, and I always love seeing what you've been up to!
Sammy Dorn says
Happy blog Birthday! 9 years, wow!
Dee says
Thanks, Elizabeth! xx
Flisha says
Of course! 😛 Happy birthday, blog! 🙂
Elizabeth Than says
Happy blog birthday!
Dee says
Bwahaha whew! Thanks! 😛
Dee says
Wow your blog is old too! The sad thing is that blogging is becoming a dying art, thanks to all the new social media out there.
Dee says
Haha thanks! xx
Dee says
Thanks! xx
Dee says
Thanks, Mal! xx
Dee says
Thanks, Sarah! 🙂
Dee says
Yeah, just one more year! Hope I make it. Thank you so much, Anna! xx
Dee says
Oh wow, I'm so flattered! Are you joining the challenge?
Dee says
Thanks, Macy! xx
Dee says
Aww thank you, Liene! xx
Dee says
Thanks, Regina! xx
Dee says
Thanks, Sammy! xx
Dee says
Thanks, Elizabeth! xx
Dee says
Thank goodness it finally showed up! I was having problems with that when I first posted it. Thanks!<br />P.S. I like your sense of humour too! 🙂
Bailie @ The Hemborg Wife says
I love reading your unique point of view and that you open up so many new ideas and things to me! Happy blogging birthday!
mcaro05 says
Congratulations!!!! Happy blog birthday! Mine will be 5 years old in May. I am sorry I've been away for so long, was taking time off from reading blogs to get used to my new job. Looking forward to reading your a-z posts, yours were my fave 🙂
mcaro05 says
Congratulations!!!! Happy blog birthday! Mine will be 5 years old in May. I am sorry I've been away for so long, was taking time off from reading blogs to get used to my new job. Looking forward to reading your a-z posts, yours were my fave 🙂
Dee says
Ha, I didn't realize I had a unique point of view! Thanks for pointing that out. 🙂
Dee says
Aww thanks! I loved yours too and I was happy to see your blog on the list again this year. Looking forward to your posts!
Mari Fernandez says
I´m not sure, I feel like I won´t be able to make it. I will think about it 🙂
Alex Thornton says
Happy Blog Birthday! I love reading your food and travel posts!
Amy @ ToothbrushTravels says
HAPPY BLOGIVERSARY!!<br />I don't even know when my one year is. I wrote a post in January but then didn't start blogging properly until April and I really want to say it's in April because i totally didn't pay enough attention to January which means i missed out on the opportunity for cake, which simply wouldn't do! But yay! Pleasure having you in the blogopshere darling xx
Dee says
Thank you, Alex! Love your name, by the way! It's my mac's name. 😀
Dee says
Thank you, Alex! Love your name, by the way! It's my mac's name. 😀
Dee says
It's definitely April, then! Go buy that cake! 😀 <br />(You can always go and delete that January post, no one will be the wiser.)
Amy @ ToothbrushTravels says
Love you for saying that and love any excuse for cake.<br />(i debated it but the post was about my mum/sister and i loved reading it when i was away and missing them and couldn't bring myself to do it!)
Afshan Shaik says
Heartiest congrats on your anniversary Dee 🙂 I dont remember the exact date I started but looking at urs I feel like celebrating 🙂 !<br />cool idea of posting that cake pic. entered the give away 😉 ! KEEP BLOGGING
Dee says
You can take a look at your archives. It's a great reason to eat cake! 🙂
Jasmine Patterson says
I love reading about your travels!!
Dee says
Thank you! 🙂
Kaelene Spence says
Happy blog birthday Dee:)
Mal says
Happy blogiversary!! 9 years is awesome!!! Congratulations 😉
Amanda says
Happy blog birthday! 9 years is great! (This just showed up on bloglovin' now for me) x
Amanda says
PS- I like your sense of humour 😉
Dee says
For some reason it's not showing up on Bloglovin! Argh. Thanks! xx
Grammy Lura says
Happy 9th blog birthday. Wow you have gone through lots of changes. I am glad that I met you through your blog. I have been blogging since 2007 so my blog is going to be 7 years old in May. I may not make it to 9 years. I don't have near as many readers as I used to and only get a few comments. I started blogging as a way to stay in touch with my kids and grandkids who live out of state but
Sarah Libros says
Happy blog birthday!!! I'm impressed that you've been blogging for so long! <br />I love that you're blog is so personal. It feels like a real peek into your life, and when I comment I know I'm going to get a response.
Anna says
Happy Blog Birthday!! 9 years, wow! You're so close to the double figures! I am so glad I found your blog, it's such an interesting one to read becasue you write in such a friendly and funny way 🙂
Mari Fernandez says
Happy bloggy birthday! 😀 I recently found your blog and I love it! I´ve been reading all your A to Z challenge posts and I´m obssesed! 🙂 Have a great day!
Regina @ Vintage 1973 says
I enjoy reading about how full your life is!
Niki T. says
Happy 9th Blog Birthday! The 3rd grade comment totally cracked me up!! Haha! I love reading your blog because you have such a great personality and sense of humor and I like seeing what life is like there in Singapore!
Regina @ Vintage 1973 says
Congrats!
Sammy Dorn says
Happy blog Birthday! 9 years, wow!
Macy Gutermuth says
Happy Blog Birthday!!!
Liene says
Happy blogiversary!!! As for what I love most about A Deecoded Life, I think it's that you are honest in your posts. Thanks for not sugarcoating everything, and I always love seeing what you've been up to!
Flisha says
Of course! 😛 Happy birthday, blog! 🙂
Dee says
Bwahaha whew! Thanks! 😛
Elizabeth Than says
Happy blog birthday!
Dee says
Haha thanks! xx
Dee says
Wow your blog is old too! The sad thing is that blogging is becoming a dying art, thanks to all the new social media out there.
Dee says
Yeah, just one more year! Hope I make it. Thank you so much, Anna! xx
Dee says
Thanks, Mal! xx
Dee says
Thanks, Sarah! 🙂
Dee says
Oh wow, I'm so flattered! Are you joining the challenge?
Dee says
Thanks, Macy! xx
Dee says
Thanks! xx
Dee says
Thanks, Sammy! xx
Dee says
Aww thank you, Liene! xx
Dee says
Thanks, Regina! xx
Dee says
Aww thanks! I loved yours too and I was happy to see your blog on the list again this year. Looking forward to your posts!
Bailie @ The Hemborg Wife says
I love reading your unique point of view and that you open up so many new ideas and things to me! Happy blogging birthday!
Dee says
Thank goodness it finally showed up! I was having problems with that when I first posted it. Thanks!<br />P.S. I like your sense of humour too! 🙂
Dee says
Ha, I didn't realize I had a unique point of view! Thanks for pointing that out. 🙂
Dee says
It's definitely April, then! Go buy that cake! 😀 <br />(You can always go and delete that January post, no one will be the wiser.)
Amy @ ToothbrushTravels says
HAPPY BLOGIVERSARY!!<br />I don't even know when my one year is. I wrote a post in January but then didn't start blogging properly until April and I really want to say it's in April because i totally didn't pay enough attention to January which means i missed out on the opportunity for cake, which simply wouldn't do! But yay! Pleasure having you in the blogopshere darling xx
Mari Fernandez says
I´m not sure, I feel like I won´t be able to make it. I will think about it 🙂
Dee says
Thank you! 🙂
Alex Thornton says
Happy Blog Birthday! I love reading your food and travel posts!
Amy @ ToothbrushTravels says
Love you for saying that and love any excuse for cake.<br />(i debated it but the post was about my mum/sister and i loved reading it when i was away and missing them and couldn't bring myself to do it!)
Dee says
You can take a look at your archives. It's a great reason to eat cake! 🙂
Jasmine Patterson says
I love reading about your travels!!
Afshan Shaik says
Heartiest congrats on your anniversary Dee 🙂 I dont remember the exact date I started but looking at urs I feel like celebrating 🙂 !<br />cool idea of posting that cake pic. entered the give away 😉 ! KEEP BLOGGING