September 1, 2014
Yes, my Tomato blog turns One today! Yippeeyaayy…!! And see how I celebrated. My first cake! 😀 I’m so proud of it!! 🙂
Join me as I relive each milestone of my blog.
I started this blog with the aim of sharing recipes which I tried in the kitchen. And when I first posted the Chicken Sarka recipe, I knew nobody is ever going to read it. And that’s true! Nobody ever did! 😛 As days passed, I got few friends.
By January, I started penning down my musings. And guess what! I began enjoying writing. Slowly and steadily I wrote on many prompts and daily posts from WordPress.
The major turning point or the important decision I had taken for my blog baby was to participate in the A to Z Challenge in April. Oh boy, that changed the course of my baby’s life! Love started pouring in from every nook and corner. I was happy that my blog was being read and my efforts in cooking the traditional Kerala cuisine for the challenge were recognized. Yes, I made them from scratch, some which were never tried before. It was challenging! But, I got many friends and the opportunity to know some fabulous bloggers and their blogs. I’m extremely happy that I am still in touch with many of them. Will I participate in the Challenge next year???? Oh yes, definitely!
Joining the Write Tribe group was another milestone. This amazing group has helped me and my blog grow. I’ve become more disciplined and I try to write daily in at least one of my blogs. Yes, a month ago, I started a new blog, solely for food- Something’s Cooking! I was in a huge dilemma about starting one, but finally my dearest friend had suggested me to go for it. I’m talking about Gauri, the mastermind behind the MindBrew blog – A stranger who grew close to my heart. A true inspiration and an amazing friend who was always there to lend a hand when in crisis. Cheers to you and thanks for always being there!!! I pray that you achieve all that you dream of (you know what I’m talking about! ).
I also got encouragement and motivation from Corinne. A true mentor in every sense, she is there to help you when in need. Through the Write tribe, I have also known Vidya and just like Corinne’s, her blogs simply inspire you. I can’t leave out the following names which makes me wanna write more and more and more…
Carol Graham from BatteredHope, Rajlakshmi from Destiny’s Child, Laurel from Alphabet Salad, Suzy from SomedaySomewhere, Vinay from IRhymeWithoutReason, Shailaja from MomDiary, Shilpa from A Rose Is A Rose Is A Rose!, Sreeja from AlertMind, Dhanya from Skinnychefdecuisine and Dimple from Shivaay Delights. I also love reading other exemplary bloggers, each one unique in their own way. In no particular order- Swathi, Nibha, Naba, Beloo, Sanch, Debbie, Inderpreet, Kajal, Jayanta, Preethy, Roshan, Anita, Bhavya, Cathy, Tulika, Eli and Usha Mam.
Here are my Popular posts till date:
Dad, You’re my Life, My Everything
And there, she falls in love..with her husband!
The 12 Most… in my Life List
Blogadda had chosen few of my posts as WOW posts: 
1. Be a Blessing.. 2. Best of Friends 3. Mom, You’re the Best!! 4. I’m Blossom- the Powerpuff Girl!! 5. I’m Me-A Woman! 6. Paired Forever 7. I Was Tempted..
And my poem, Silent fear was also a Tangy Tuesday pick.
I was showered with Blog Awards.
5 Liebster awards, 2 The Quintet of Radiance Award, 2 Sunshine awards, WordPress Family award, Dragon’s loyalty award, Versatile blogger award, Wonderful Team Member Readership Award, and Very Inspiring Blogger award. That’s so much Love, isn’t?
I had participated in many contests, esp at Blogadda and my first goodies came in for the Malaysia Jao contest. 
followed by the Star Sports Tee for Anything for the Men in Blue.
I was elated when I asked to do a Guest post on one of the fab food bloggers- Skinnychefdecuisine. And she loved my Nutella truffles!!!
It was like a suspense-packed thriller experience when I participated for #WhatTheBlack activity conducted by Blogadda. It gave me heebie-jeebies and I was as enthusiastic as a kid playing treasure hunt or hide and seek. The mischief behind the campaign, captured the bloggers and kept them on pins and needles.
It was a month ago when the Lady Luck started favoring me! My post, The Lion-Hearted! was adjudged Runners Up in the Mardaani activity. I was jumping with joy when I received a signed letter from Rani Mukherjee and special goodies.
My winning spree continued when I was awarded with a gift voucher of 5K for To the Glorious Past. Needless to say that I was on cloud nine!
I also happy to receive three author-signed books from Blogadda for the book review.
So, it is One year, 222 posts, 15K+ footprints, and 400 followers later, I am set to begin another exciting year on Tomatoes.
I am happy that my baby is looking beautiful in her new dress theme, and she has got a lovely “About Me” page.
I’m setting few goals for her second year:
1. Write daily (atleast 5 a week so that I can dedicate time for my food blog too)
2. Do/Ask a guest post every month
3. Host an event
4. Get published
5. Win more teeny tiny contests
6. Read more
7. Make friends
8. Be happy with all her little baby steps.
Did you check out my new tagline? —- Yes,
❤ ツ ✿ ❤ IT’S THE LIL’ THINGS… ❤ ツ ✿ ❤
❤ Happy Birthday, Baby ❤
Thanks all for reading me brag!! I hope you continue to shower your love!
Day 1 of NaBloPoMo September Challenge.
Day 1 of Write tribe Pro Blogger Challenge.
Day 1 of Ultra Blogging Challenge Challenge.
Happy blog-a-versary Tomato (Shalzz) 🙂 222 posts? wow 😀 Amazing yaar. Congratulations on the many awards and accolades you’ve got and happy that you found so many friends (and that I’m in that list too). Hope you have many more.
Thanks a lot, Vinay. Please keep showering your love and support as always! Happy to have found cool bloggers like you! 😀
Happy 1st birthday! Lovely post and what a great first year…makes me determined to keep going with my new baby too! x
Thanks a lot, Suzanne! Glad that you like me journey 🙂
Happy 1st birthday!! And that’s quite an achievement and may you, Tomato, keep growing more beautifully as years pass. 😀
Aww.. thank you so much, Sheethal <3
Hearty congrats Shalini. Blog on! Oh and thanks for the mention 🙂
Thank you so much, Shailaja! 🙂
And please shower your love and support as always. It would mean a lot for a newbie like me <3
Congratulations! This is one of the best blog birthday posts I’ve read. And my God you’ve got so many achievements in just one year. That’s fabulous progress.
Thanks a lot, Tulika!! Means a lot. Please continue your love and support <3
Congrats…even my blog completed a year on 27th Aug…celebration still pending 😉 🙂
Thank you so much for stopping by, Gaurab. I hope you “celebrate” your Blogiversary and I get to read the post! 🙂
You are welcome and I will definitely do it soon. 🙂
Congrats dear…. 🙂
thanks, Jayeeta 🙂
simply brilliant. I mean it. You’ve achieved so much in one year! I took so many years to achieve some of those landmarks alone 🙂 Don’t stop now no matter what!
It means a lot, coming from you! Thanks a lot, Roshan. By God’s grace, I hope I continue writing. 🙂
Nice!! WTG……..
PhenoMenon
http://phenomenal-cuisines.throodalookingglass.com/2014/09/roasting-a-whole-chicken-using-microwave-convection-oven/
Thanks, Pheno! I loved the roasted chicken 🙂
Congrats! Great job on the blog and with the cake. 🙂
Thankyou so much! Please visit again 🙂
🙂 How lovely to read this post, Shalini! Blessings to you and may you shine brighter!
Congratulations and wishing you many more years of happiness, blogging! And may you win more contests!
Thanks a lot, Vidya.. it means a lot, coming from you. Thanks for the encouragement! 🙂
Congratulations on completion of one year Shalini!!! May you achieve all your dreams here and on Something’s Cooking as well!!! And you know I am always ALWAYS there for you 🙂
Awww…. thanks baby! Love you for all that you are!! <3
Congratulations woman! May many more birthdays and cake adorn your blog 😀
Richa
Thanks a lot, Richa!! 🙂 Keep visiting 🙂
I just love the idea of celebrating your blog’s one year birthday – that is such a cool idea. Now why did I think of that? I really love the idea of comparing your blog with the developmental milestones of a baby and celebrating each step! It looks like you’re making ripples and waves in the blog world and yes, it’s a great way to go!
Dorit Sasson
Giving a Voice to Your Story
http://www.GivingaVoicetotheVoicelessBook.com
Thanks a lot for stopping by, Dorit. I’m glad you liked my celebration post! Keep visiting. 🙂
Congrats! Wish you many more years of successful blogging
Thanks a lot, Naba!!! 🙂 Keep showering your love <3
Happy blogoversary! Like you, I blogged unnoticed (for nearly two years, in my case!) until joining a challenge. Now, the challenges are so addictive. Wishing you many more blogaversaries.
Congratulations, Shalini. For a newbie, you’ve really packed in a lot! Keep going, girl!
Congratulations!! Thanks for the mention 🙂 Loved your posts, and the cookery blog is great! All the best.
Congrats!!
CONGRATS! CONGRATS! CONGRATS. You have every reason to be proud. You have a great blog, great posts, even greater recipes:), and a big loving heart. I am proud to be part of your community and I thank you for the mention. You are inspiring – keep it up and you will meet all your goals and MORE!
Wow, Carol!! Thank you so much!! You have no idea, how much these words mean to me. Yay.. I’m on cloud nine 🙂 Needless to say that I love your blog!!! And this community has helped me a lot to grow- personally and at the blog-front. Thanks for stopping by. Please visit back when free.
Congratulations Shalini, all the way! What an amazing line of feat this is..and I loved how you named everyone who’s been your inspiration in your journey. Keep it up and here’s to more accolades 🙂