Read all the way to the bottom for the giveaway 🙂
Ten years ago I opened up shop here at Stacy’s Books with no other goal than just to write. I didn’t have high hopes for followers or fame and I certainly had no understanding of how people who I met here could become real friends. I didn’t read blogs and I didn’t do any research on how to start one. I just did it. I really had no idea what I was doing.
I love this blog even though it has gone through periods of neglect. I’ve documented travels, Gage’s birth and first years, and talked about the books I’ve read and movies I’ve watched. I’ve dipped in and out of memes, participated in 24 hour read-a-thons (who knew there was such a glorious thing before blogging?!), interviewed dozens of authors and even quizzed you guys for years (always tempted to start this again, we’ll see what 2018 brings).
I’ve met a few bloggers in real life with Bonnie being the most memorable since she brought be into her wonderful book club over a year ago. I’ve also met a few others briefly and always wish it was longer and happened more frequently. Facebook has let me into the everyday lives of bloggers friends which is especially great for keeping in touch with those friends who have shut down their blogs.
This morning I spent some time looking over the stats wordpress lets me see and will share the top pic, post and book review of each year. I was surprised at how many of these were tops in the years after I posted them. Thanks to Google I guess. Plus I think I changed some of the photo settings because why else would me eating fries in Rome in 2008 be a top pic in 2017? I’ll have to look into it. Unless anyone can clue me in?
*Edit – because a few of the pics were way too big I just provided a link 🙂
2008
Top post- Florence pics Top book review- WITSEC: Inside the Federal Witness Protection Program by Earley and Shur
2009
Top post- Rome pics Top book review- The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom
2010
5,000 piece puzzle of Florence
Top post- Baby-to-Be Update Top book review- The Second Son by Charles Sailor
2011
Top post- My Book Problem Top book review- The Devil and Tom Walker and other Stories by Washington Irving
2012
Top post-Monday Movie Meme- Bring on the Heat Top book review-The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
2013
Top post- Book vs. Movie-Under the Tuscan Sun Top book review- Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
2014
Top post- 101,102,103…Mini-challenge Top book review- The Vessel by Taylor Stevens
2015
Sundays with Gage-A weekend of Firsts
Top post- Book vs. Movie-The Secret Life of Bees Top book review- The Precious one by Marisa de los Santos
2016
Top post- Baby Movie Quiz Top book review- J is for Jane Eyre, the graphic novel
2017
Rome, McDonald’s and the Pantheon
Top post-Book vs. Movie – The Hound of the Baskervilles Top book review- Yesterday I Saw the Sun by Ally Sheedy
Thanks for stopping by over the years and chatting with me. Every comment and connection is meaningful and I’m so happy to have met you. I hope that the next ten years brings continued friendship.
Now for the giveaway- Leave a comment and I’ll enter your name for a box of bookish goodies! I’ll have Gage draw a winner next Sunday!
Stacy's Books 
Ack! Trying to fix the photos!
Congrats on ten years! I think this is my tenth year also. Amazing isn’t it?!!! It’s been so much fun to follow the adventures of you and your family. Very funny about the pic of you eating fries in Rome! I have found that sometimes old posts suddenly get lots of hits for who knows what reason but I think it is because the post somehow gets featured on some generic wordpress or blogger site. At least, that’s my theory.
I think sometimes obscure searches keep old posts in the mix too. That 5,000 piece puzzles of Florence is always in the top for post and pic. Here’s to another 10 for both of us!
Wow… 10 years congratulations. It is a great post. I went to Rome last year I may have been one of those who looked at that photo. I read a lot of blogs and reviews of peoples time in Rome before I went. I know I have not been following you for the whole 10 years but I look forward to hopefully seeing your next 10 years on this blog xx Keep up the good work xx
Thanks Lu! It’s amazing the people you meet in the book blogging world. Did you post some Rome pics?
Not many I’m afraid. I need to get better at posting holiday photos on here. I always bottle out of the posts. I love reading and I love reading peoples views on what they have read.
Loved going down memory lane with you! Happy 10 year Anniversary!
Thanks Nise! I’ve loved seeing your family grow in the past few years!
10 years! Woo! I actually think this is my 10 year anniversary year as well. Seems impossible sometimes. I’ve definitely slacked off but I’m hoping to come back strong this year! I’ve always loved your Sundays with Gage posts, they’ve always been my favorites. And I miss the quizzes lol. But I can’t imagine how time consuming they would be. Anyway, happy anniversary and here’s to 10 more 😁
Sundays with Gage have definitely been some of my best posts and my personal favorites. I will probably bring back the quizzes at some point because they are so much fun! Happy to have been around together this long 🙂
I saw this post on my FB feed and had to visit! Congratulations to 10 years of blogging!! That’s a major accomplishment and I’m so glad that we met through the blogging world. It was a bonus that we lived near each other, have become friends and book club buddies! Also, we went to two author events together and met and became friends with Beth Hoffman , double bonus! You’ve got me thinking of recharging my blog again.
I hope you do! We could do some stuff together 🙂
Congrats on your bloggiversary!! 🎉💐🍾🥂
Thank you, my dear 🙂
Ah, Stacy, the memories! I think I’ve read your blog almost since the beginning. I remember all the pics, from when they were originally posted. So, congratulations on 10 years! I can never see a train or a train book without thinking of Gage. Every time we see a train shop, my husband says, we need to go in and see if there is something good for your friend’s little boy. LOL
Much love to you and your family! I’m so happy that we got to know each other through books and blogs and good and bad times. Hugs!
Love you Kay! Whenever I clean up the train books that you’ve sent I always think of you, lol 🙂 I am always so happy when you start blogging again.
Happy blogiversary! Yours was one of the first book blogs I found and I’ve enjoyed getting to know you all these years. Isn’t it funny how our bookish posts are never the top ones?
Oh, I forgot to add my #1 commenter over the years 🙂 I still remember that first year for both of us. Love how far we’ve come together!
Congrats on 10 years!
Thanks Carol! I consider myself fortunate that you are one of the bloggers I’ve had the opportunity to meet 🙂
Congratulations on ten years, Stacy! I am so glad to know you–even if only online. Who would have thought we’d still be at it after all this time and have formed actual friendships with people we’ve never met? Do you think we’ll make it to twenty?
I don’t know. When I started I never would have thought I’d make it to 10, lol. One of these days we’re going to make it to So Ca and meet up!
You’ve got me by 3 or 4 years, which is fine – makes me feel young. Congrats!
Congrats on 10 years!
Congratulations on ten years, Stacy! I’m approaching that milestone now, too 🙂
congratulations on ten years blogging and a lot of reading