Does anyone else feel like this week is the actual start of the New Year? I was thrown off by the fact that New Year’s Day was on a Wednesday this year!
2019 was an exciting year blog-wise. I had to take a few breaks here and there, and I slightly shifted my focus after my reader survey, but overall it was a good year! Surprisingly, most of the posts that received the most traffic last year were older posts that were published in 2018 and earlier. However, here were the most popular blog posts that received the highest amount of traffic in 2019. Just in case you missed them!
2019 Popular Blog Posts
One: A Foodie’s Guide to Winston-Salem
I’m not surprised that this post received a lot of traffic because pretty much all of my North Carolina travel guides have performed exceptionally well in the past. The great thing about NC is that it’s only a short drive away from D.C., you’ve got everything from the mountains to the beach, and the culinary scene in the state is blowing up right now!
I was shocked at how cosmopolitan Winston-Salem was, and I’d go back in a heartbeat. Make sure to read more about why I think Winston-Salem is one of the most charming towns in the state!
Two: The Ultimate Mendoza Travel Guide
Mendoza, Argentina, was hands down one of the most gorgeous places I visited last year and was one of my Top 3 favorite trips of 2019. I went down to Argentina wine country to celebrate my 29th birthday, and enjoyed every minute of it!
If you’re a wine lover who’s planning a spring break trip, Mendoza should 100% be on your radar. March is one of the best times of year to visit! Read more about our experience here.
Three: Top Five Wineries in Texas Hill Country You Need to Visit
I visited the Texas Hill Country in the fall of 2018 but waited until January of 2019 to create my post (from November-December, I usually get too swamped with holiday projects!)
Texas Hill Country is only an hour outside of Austin, TX, and is a fantastic region to visit. Any wine enthusiast will be incredibly impressed with the quality of wine this AVA is producing: Italian varietals thrive and grow incredibly well in Texas Hill Country! Learn more about the experience here.
Four: Braids Are More Than Just A Hairstyle
I had box braids for a few months last year and honestly? I was shocked at some of the comments that non-POC made about my hair. I know these people meant well, but it was clear that they didn’t understand the cultural significance of braids.
I know that I have a lot of different types of people following me from all kinds of backgrounds, so I broke down the deeper meaning and function behind braids for my audience â and I received an overwhelming response!
Five: The Influencers of Color You Need to Follow
If you’ve followed along for a while, you know that I had a pretty viral tweet last year, calling out the lack of diversity in the blogging industry.
Since then, I’ve been brainstorming all sorts of ways to help other POC out in the industry. In this post, I shared some of the best influencers of color to follow. I plan on updating this in a couple of months to keep it fresh and top of mind!
Six: My Breast Augmentation Experience
Last year, I partnered with my friends at Bruno and Brown Plastic Surgery, and I got a breast augmentation surgery. I always like being candid with you guys, and I was blown away at the amount of support and interest this post received!
I recapped my entire experience in detail in the blog post. Also, note: I want to note that I always want to encourage you to love yourself and to feel confident in your own skin at the end of the day. There’s no pressure for you to change anything about your appearance because I think you are perfect the way you are, friend!
Seven: I’ve Gained 25 Lbs in the Past Year (And It’s Not the End of the World)
Speaking of self-love: one of the reasons why I got a breast augmentation is because I gained 25 lbs in a year, and as a result, my breasts became considerably uneven, and they ended up being two different cup sizes!
I’m not going to lie: gaining 25 pounds was hard for me at first. However, I’ve come to love my new body, finally ditched the jeans that didn’t fit, and moved on with my life. I still try to lead a healthy lifestyle, but I’m not going to starve myself either!
Eight: Five Types of Sponsorships I’d Never Do
I’m not going to lie: I’ve taken some off-brand partnerships in the past. Realistically, everyone has made mistakes with blogging: it’s such a new industry, and sometimes you need to learn the hard way!
Now that I’ve been blogging for 8+ years now, I’ve figured out what my brand is and what types of partnerships are a fit. In this post, I broke down the five types of partnerships that I wouldn’t take on!
Nine: Why I Don’t Have a “Squad”
Have you ever felt bummed out that you don’t have a large group of friends? You’re not alone!
To be honest: I’ve rarely ever thrived in group situations. I’m the type of person who has a good friend here and there, but I’ve never been one to be a part of a clique or a squad!
Ten: The Best Apps for Instagram Stories
Want to step up your IG Story game?
In this post, I broke down every single app I use to edit IG Stories. And spoiler alert: most of them are free. Learn how to elevate your social media game here!
Which of these popular blog posts is your favorite and what type of posts would you like to see in 2020? Let me know in a comment below!
Photos by Tom McGovern
