5 years blogging and a look back on 2016

I can’t believe it was this time 5 years ago that I set up Morgan’s Milieu, back then it had a different name and a different purpose. It all started because I wanted to be a writer, I’d started writing a novel and had read that I needed a blog too so that I could get my name out there. My very first post went live on 30th December 2011 and it seems so long ago now.

The early years of blogging were okay, I blogged about once per month, if that, and it wasn’t regular at all. I had no purpose that I could think of and ended up writing rambling posts about nothing most of the time. 

Finding success is all about taking action. You can read all you want, but nothing will happen until you execute.

Pat Flynn

Then I stumbled onto parenting blogs and suddenly I knew where I belonged.

About a year ago I began taking blogging more seriously and in the last year I’ve made money through my blog, I’ve had some wonderful review opportunities and worked with some great brands. 

I’ve learned that I love to write about fashion, and getting the opportunity to review clothes is something I would’ve dreamed of doing years ago! 

Helping other mums is important to me, making their days easier and making sure they know it’s okay to take time for themselves once in a while. When writing posts about parenting I always try to add in a message to other mums. 

I attended two blogging conferences this year, BML16 in June, and Blogfest 16 in November. I loved them both but in different ways. At BML16 I met up with a lot of the people I chat to online and despite having a hiccup on the way into London it helped to build my confidence as a blogger. I learned a lot from the sessions I attended but also learned that I don’t have to think of it as school, it can just be about meeting lovely people. For me Blogfest was slightly different, I LOVED hearing the talks, listening to powerful women talk about having the confidence to put yourself out there. It really resonated with me and I’ve vowed to do more of that next year. I don’t need to be afraid of where blogging might take me.

Working with brands this year has been a highlight, I enjoyed working with Nurture (a healthy children’s drink), many fashion brands including House of Fraser, Stationery subscription boxes, date night boxes and many more. Next year I hope to improve my work with brands and continue to make significant contacts.



The thing that has made the most difference to my productivity this year has been Aby, from You baby Me Mummy. Her free courses this year have helped me to be more productive, they’ve helped me learn what I enjoy most about blogging, what I’m best at, and what I need to work on. I have a plan forming for 2017 and thanks to Aby’s help I’m sure that it will be my best year yet. 

But the very best thing for 2016 has been the friends I’ve made. Steph, my co-host for Post Comment Love has been lovely and looked after me when I was at BML16. I was so scared, and stressed, but she stood with me, chatted, and we had a lovely day. Steph’s support and friendship this year has been great. Vai, from Rambling Through Parenthood, has been a brilliant supportive buddy throughout Aby’s courses and we plan on meeting up at some point in 2017. Then there’s Helena, The Queen of Collage, over the last few months we’ve chatted online almost every day and we’ve helped each other out. She is someone I would consider a true friend and I cannot wait to meet her in person one day. And finally Catie, from Diary of an Imperfect Mum. Catie is a lovely blogger and she understands most of my references when talking about my boys because her boys are of similar age. We chat online, and again, I would consider her a real friend. These wonderful bloggers, and many more that I haven’t mentioned, have made blogging a less lonely venture and I look forward to making more real connections with people during 2017.

  • Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one.'

C. S. Lewis

If 2016 has taught me anything it’s that I can do anything I put my mind to, and you know what? So can you!



Let’s make 2017 our best year yet!