I can’t believe it’s been two years since I first pressed “publish” on a blogpost on Columns by Kari. This past blog-year has flown by. It feels like I only just posted my “10 tips for new bloggers” on my first blogiversary. But here we are, another year has passed and a lot has happened. I would love to take you on a little time-tour, talk about what has happened on the blog, what has changed and what lies ahead!

Second Blogiversary | What happend in Year Two

The two biggest changes blog-wise have probably been my cruelty free journey and the transition into Dutch. I did a lot of fun collaborations and have written a couple of blog-series I really enjoyed. I already talked about a few other changes on my blog, back in May, when I revealed my new logo, so I will leave those out!

Cruelty Free Journey

My cruelty free journey began after I wrote my “Behind the ingredient list” blogposts. I realized I knew nothing about the ingredients I was putting on my skin, about the companies and how they worked. I had been eating vegan for almost seven years at that time, so it was a logical next step: making sure that what I was putting on my body was just as cruelty free as what I was putting in my body. After the initial shock of finding out how many brands are testing on animals I started to research brands that didn’t. I got to know so many amazing cruelty free brands and many of them were also using natural ingredients. Slowly but surely my makeup, skincare, haircare and cleaning products became cruelty free and natural.

I have compiled a Cruelty Free from A to Z list of all my favorite products so far (Dutch). By sharing my journey I hope I have inspired others to make greener choices as well. I also wanted to show you that it is a proces. Going cruelty free, living greener and using natural products isn’t something we (have to) do overnight. I didn’t throw any products away, I just slowly transitioned into greener products and learned along the way. And I still have a long way to go, when it comes to living green.

Going Dutch

Columns by Kari started out as a website with exclusively English blogposts. In 2017 I posted my first Dutch article. It was just something I wanted to try. Even though a big chunk of my visitors are from the States and other parts of the world, most of my readers are from the Netherlands. I wanted to make Columns by Kari more accessible for them. I also wanted to create an opportunity for Dutch moms to share their stories on the blog. I started by posting one Dutch blogpost a week. But slowly the scales started to tip: right now I have one English blogpost a week and three to four Dutch articles.

But don’t worry, I will not go completely Dutch. First of all, I’m not. A complete Dutchie, that is. So it wouldn’t make sense. Half my brain thinks in English and that half needs a place to publish every now and then. Also, I have many readers from all over the world, I would never leave them hanging. I cherish my international visitors, Insta-friends and World Mamas.

Collaborations with Dutch Brands

Writing in Dutch has also opened my blog up for more collaborations with Dutch brands. I had the opportunity to work with some amazing companies over the past year. One of the highlights was a collab with Kaartje2Go.nl, where many of my Dutch readers weighed in and picked Alela’s birth announcement card. I also very much enjoyed working with Marley Spoon, Kaatje Katoen, T-Mobile and of course, National Geographic.

I got to know so many amazing natural and cruelty free brands, like Marina Miracle, Faju Skincare, Salt of the Earth, My Magic Mud, Zui, Boho, Mudmasky, Rau Cosmetics, Alphanova, Balm Balm, The Ohm Collection, Eco by Sonya, Simple {as that}, Madara and many more, because companies were kind enough to send their products for review. I am very grateful for their generosity.

And then there are the companies that trusted me over and over again with their products, like Dr. Hauschka, De Groene Drogist, Solobiomooi and Elma van Vliet. Working with the kind people behind these companies, for many months now, has been an honor and such a pleasure! I also loved going to some fun (blogger) events, learning more about brands and products and getting to know other bloggers.

Blog- series

I already had the World Mama series, the Empties posts and my Makeup Routines when blog-year two started. I love these series and have kept them running this past year. But I have also created a couple of new series. First of all, I started sharing easy, weekly vegan recipes in Dutch. I also just created a new Dutch empties- series, in which I share vegan food empties (“De Afvalbak van een Veganist“).

And last, but not least, I am quite proud of the 13 week long “Behind the scenes” (Dutch) series, in which I discus every aspect of blogging. From creating content to editing photo’s, from collaborating with brands to creating your own brand and from making a mediakit to creating an admin system when you start making money blogging.

What will happen in Blog-Year Three?

Officially, I am still on maternity leave. Alela is doing amazing and I am loving life as a mom of two! Unofficially, I have been doing a bit of work here and there, for a few weeks now (I had enough pre-written content for two months after birth). I hope to be fully up & running again in a couple of weeks and I am looking forward to sharing lots a new content about parenting, vegan food, natural makeup and skincare, yoga and fashion. Because yes! I am planning on bringing back style blogs (as soon as I fit in my clothes again, don’t hold your breath).

One of my biggest blog-dreams is to start building a team. A group of bloggers, from all over the world, with different perspectives, experiences and expertise, that will contribute on a regular basis. [Don’t hesitate to send me an email if that’s you!]. But first, blog-year three will start off with two lovely blogger events and an exciting brand ambassadorship. So make sure you follow me on Instagram or subscribe to the blog if you don’t want to miss any of it!

Thank you!

Thank you SO much for reading along this past year (or week ;). I am grateful for every single one of you. I hope you feel inspired when you read my posts. I hope they make you happy. I hope they teach you something you didn’t know yet. I hope they make you feel seen. I hope they bring you comfort. I hope they make you feel included. Because that’s what all of you give me!