It’s party time! Agent Athletica is 3!
This milestone calls for celebration, and celebration means presents! But for this celebration, you’re the one who’s getting the presents. I rounded up giveaways for a few of my most-loved active fashion brands and they’re going to be awesome. This week, I’m doing a new giveaway every day, so check back each day to enter, starting tomorrow (Monday). I’m so excited to share the fun with you, and I hope you are too.
Three years ago, I plopped down at my old, beat-up laptop, registered agentathletica.com, and signed up for a WordPress account. Suffice it to say I had straight-up no idea what I was getting into.
AA started as a pet project to fill my time while I was unemployed. I knew next to nothing about blogging, I just had a keen interest in activewear, a love of writing, a long-neglected fascination with creating websites, and an appetite for challenge. I spent literally thousands of hours hunched over my laptop working on the blog, fumbling my way through every step.
I’ll be honest, 18 months of unemployment was basically hell on earth. I was a miserable half-person, half-goblin, and I was so stressed that it led to an unprecedented barrage of illness and injury. I threw myself into my blog, treating it effectively like my full-time job, just as a way to stay sane.
On the other hand, unemployment taught me a lot of truly valuable lessons about resourcefulness and resiliency. And without that phase, I wouldn’t have this blog. I won’t go so far as to say I’m happy I was unemployed, but I can look back and see the positive ways it’s shaped my life today.
Besides me as a person, AA itself has grown and evolved so much since its inception. I’ve had my fair share of highs and lows, but I’m really proud of how far I’ve come. In the past year in particular, I feel like I’ve really been hitting my stride. My content is getting closer to where I want it to be. I’m managing the business aspects more smoothly and confidently. I’m getting better at photography. I’ve found better ways to balance my time, which means I’m now able to pursue other hobbies with less stress and pressure about working.
I’m optimistic that this next year of AA’s existence is going to be the best, both for you as a reader and me as the writer.
I’m so grateful for all of you for being a part of this whole production. You all are the real reason this blog is here. I’m so honored that you spend a little bit of your time with me.
A new way to follow AA
This blog bday week, I’ve got something new to share with you.
It’s been such a long time coming, but I’m finally starting an AA email subscription! The purpose of the AA emails will be to give you a quick overview of what’s new on the blog. This way, you can open up the email, see if any of the new content is relevant or helpful for you, and either click through or hit delete. Speaking from personal experience, emails are a really useful, low-commitment way of keeping up with blogs/websites without needing to remember to check the actual site.
In addition to a quick post recap, I’ll also use the emails to share extra tidbits: notes about new product releases, bonus tips, behind the scenes, awesome sales, and things like that. Emails will land in your inbox every other Friday.
Sound good? Enter your email below to be one of the first subscribers! The email thing is a brave new world for me, and I’d love for you to be part of it. The very first edition will go out this week!!
See you soon to kick off the AA bday giveaways! :)
You’re the best, AA :) Happy birthday – and wishing you many, many more! Look forward to receiving your emails and keeping up-to-date with what’s going on. Love from Tahoe! xo
Thanks so much Claire! <3 <3
Help! The email subscribe button doesn’t seem to be working. At least there’s is mo confirmation message.
Thanks!
it prompts a pop-up window. maybe check if your browser blocks them? the pop-up window tells you to check your inbox for a confirmation email from AA.
Wendy did you check your spam? I just subscribed and it seems to have worked for me! (I got an email confirmation). On that note, I’m super excited to have subscribed! I’ve been following along for ~2 years and maybe with this new subscription, I’ll finally stop checking every day for a new post ;) Thanks for all that you do AA!
Late to the game here but I hope you were able to get it working! It definitely worked for others so it may have just been a glitch.
Happy happy birthday to your blog! I signed up for updates- great feature.
I love this little community- thanks for all your work.
Thank you Allie!! :) Glad you enjoy hanging out here.
Worked beautifully this time! And happy birthday, AA, my favorite blog.
Wendy
Hooray, glad it worked for you. :) And thank you so much!
Happy 3rd Birthday AA. I have seen your blog evolve through the 2+ years I have been following. I wouldn’t still be following if I didn’t find your content interesting, insightful and helpful. Wishing you the best of luck and looking forward to a treat year for AA
Thanks so much for the encouraging words. I’m so glad you’ve stuck around so long, it’s great to have you here. :)
Happy Birthday AA!!!!!!
Very happy for you!
Also very happy for all of us who get to read you :)
Thank you Carrie!! :) And PS to be clear, it’s not my literal bday (still the same age lol), just my blogging anniversary, but calling it a blog anniversary sounded really boring. :P
Happy Birthday Suzanne! I thought I was already subscribed but I’ll subscribe to this new way :)
So, WordPress had a function where you could sign up and it would automatically send new posts in their entirety to your email. It’s totally automated and I haven’t touched it for years. You might still be signed up for that but it’s different than the new, snazzy list (who’s signed up for which is separate). Hope that makes sense. :)
Congratulations and happy birthday! It has come a long way. I look forward to it every Monday!
Thank you so much!!! Glad you’ve stuck around with me for so long. :)
Happy Birthday, Suzanne!
Your blog keeps getting better and better!
All the best to you:)
Thanks so much for the encourage words Liz! :)
Happy birthday AA! Although this blog came out of tough times, I’m glad it happened.
Here’s to many more years of activewear and active living!
X
I’m glad it happened too. :) It’s been such a rewarding and engaging process. So glad you’ve been here to be a part of it!! xx
Happiest birthday, AA! Suzanne, I just love your blog and look forward to receiving your emails with my new subscription. Love from TN!
xoxo
Shannon
Thank you so much Shannon! I hope the emails don’t disappoint. :)
Happy birthday! I’m so glad I found your blog! Your reviews are always helpful.
Good, I’m so glad you’ve found it helpful, that’s exactly my goal! :) Thanks for being here.