2010: The Year That Was.....

As the final hours of 2010 draw to a close, I am sitting down for the first time and really thinking about the year that was 2010.

I kicked off the year by heading to New York City with some local blogging friends to attend the Martha Stewart show about blogging.  We spent a fun night partying in NYC before getting up at the crack of "Oh My God It's Early!" to shiver outside.  Watching Martha in action was so much fun (and we especially had fun with the producer/stage manager who didn't seem to know the difference between a blog and a Tweet)

Just a few weeks later, I was off to Nashville to attend the Blissdom conference. That conference changed my entire outlook on this site and helped me refocus on what I wanted to do here.  It was also at this time that I really got to know some of my favorite Frugal bloggers.  We had so much fun running around and learning from each other.  As an added bonus, we got to head to Dave Ramsey's headquarters, get a personal tour of the building and MEET DAVE!  That trip ended up being an extra day...if you remember, that was the same weekend that the entire East Coast got hit with a blizzard and the airports all shut down!

In March, I learned what I was REALLY made of...and that is steel.  I came under attack by one of the most vicious groups on The Internets (these are the same people who have hacked government websites, Sara Palins site and many many more).  The Frugal Blogging community rallied around me and saved my behind.  I have to tell you, it gave me great joy to know that, in the end, I won!

In April, I was asked to speak on a panel for a Philadelphia-area bloggers event. We had a great morning mingling and talking about how to take your blog to "the next level".  I am still in shock that so many people seem to look to me for advice!

That same month, we had The Great Hamster Escape of 2010. I thought that sucker was gone for good, until 3 days later when I was sitting on my sofa and looked up and saw him looking at me! (FYI - he has since gone to the Great Habitrail In The Sky!)

April 16, 2010: my favorite date of the year....that is the day that Elizabeth said to herself "I think I will try to use the bathroom".  About 10 days and only a few "accidents" later, my days of buying diapers were over.  I had been buying them every.single.week since May of 2001.  I was MORE than ready to be done!

The Friday of Memorial Day Weekend, I woke up literally unable to move.  Three hours later, I was in the hospital crying in pain.  It took an unGodly amount of drugs to manage the pain as well as correct the problem (and I still have no idea what caused it) and I pretty much ignored this site for 3 days...and you guys didn't leave me.  Thanks for that!

The summer went as normal...until I received an email from the people at Subway inviting me AND my boys to Los Angeles.  The entire event was centered around Subway and their support for Little League.  My boys got their first airplane ride and their first chance to see the Pacific Ocean.  To this day, they describe it as their favorite vacation!

Then we got Coupon...my beloved dog and the official Moms Need To Know mascot!

Oh - and who can forget BlogHer and me running around New York City with some of your favorite Frugal Bloggers?

And then there was Chicago.  I was once again invited to be a Savings.com DealPro.  I have been a huge fan of Savings.com and this trip brought out the ultimate geek in me!  I learned so much about the "geek side" of blogging (I am a PROUD geek) and I got to spend time with some of my favorite other bloggers...AND I got to get felt up by Robert Knepper!

And then there was the Cookie Swap That Changed My Life.  I still get misty thinking about the children of the Milton Hershey School.  I have been on many Brand/Blogger Trips, but none of them have affected me as much as this one did.

And here we are....New Years Eve.

As I reflect on the events that changed me this year, no list would be complete without YOU.  That you continue to visit this site each day both amazes and humbles me. Who am I?  Just Mindi Brown who married a great guy and became Mindi Cherry and because I had 3 kids, I needed to save money.  In my wildest dreams, I never thought that my needing to save money could affect so many people.

And your comments and emails inspire me every day.

So thank you...and HAPPY NEW YEAR!