My story… why I started to Blog?

This post marks my 817th post published in the last 4 years or you can look at it as 204 a year. Since that was writing part-time while juggling four kids, between home and school, I am very impressed with my accomplishments. You see, my dream was always to be a stay-at-home mom and I have to say, I have been completely blessed with that opportunity (thank you Babe!) I have loved every minute about it (okay sometimes it is stressful, I must admit).

Why I started to blog? It all started when I answered a call out in Today’s Parent magazine for toy testers. I wrote my letter to the editors stating why I should be picked. That was 6 years ago and we’ve been testing toys for Today’s Parent Top Toy November issue since.

I loved doing those toy reviews so much I started to Google around searching for more testing gigs. That is when I found PTPA and my relationship with them blossomed. I started testing with PTPA, driving into Vaughan and picking up a stack of items to review. I started reading the PTPA blog and searching Google for more testing gigs. Shortly after in 2011, I hit publish and inRdream.com was born.

After hitting publish I was nervous and didn’t have a clue about what I was doing or where this all was going to take me and my family. I actually kept inRdream.com quiet for a few months. Without even numbers to back me, I became a PTPA blogaholic that fall and I will be forever thankful to PTPA for taking me on so early and really helping me grow.

With 4 little ones at home I look back and think how did I ever have the time? At that time, I was craving something for “me” a creative outlet to evolve at, a hobby to fall in love with. I felt a pull towards starting my own blog back then and today I am so glad I worked hard and stuck with it.

Today, it makes me happy to sit down and click away at my keyboard. I found my creative outlet and my hobby. Besides my teenage days of writing poems, I never knew until hitting publish that writing would come so naturally to me and I definitely crave it when it’s been a few days.

Our recent trip to Horseshoe Resort is a direction I hope to take inRdream.com towards. Travel is something we have always dream of for our family and I cannot wait for the future of inRdream.com to evolve more towards the travel space throughout the years.

This September our last of four children will head off to school full-time, leaving me and my blog. I look forward to seeing where my new found time will take me. In the meantime, I will continue to build relationships with incredible brands that I believe in, dream hard and share stories with you my readers on our life as a family of six.

Over the years I have brought forth opportunities that feel like pinch me moments to me and my family of six. I have also made some online connections with people I know call friends. I have grouped together with 5 other “friends” bloggers to bring you a #BloggerFete celebration to celebrate our August Blogoversaries. Please follow and join in the fun….

Bonnie The Koala Bear Writer

Ashley Tales of Mommyhood

Lisa Marie  The Canadian Homeschooler

Suzanne MapleMouseMama

No party is complete without gifts (AKA giveaways) and no blog can be successful without loyal readers like you! Since you have been a loyal reader I invite you to enter one, two, three or all of my giveaways. Thank you for your loyalty and your engagement throughout my years.

Enter to win, Ripley’s Aquarium Canada 2 adult Express Anytime tickets. 

Enter to win, Go! Go! Smart Wheels®Ultimate RC Speedway.

Enter to win, 3 month subscription to Little Life Box

Enter to win, Women’s gift basket – approx. $125

Enter to win, Orange Naturals $100 prize pack

Be sure to search #BloggerFete for more giveaways!

More #BloggerFete giveaways coming soon!

Enter to win, $100 GC to JoTotes Camera Bags

Thank you for reading In R Dream!