How This Blog Got Started
In 2014, I was a college graduate who loved to write, but couldn't find many opportunities since graduating. My dad had suggested starting starting a blog, but I hadn't taken it seriously until then. But in December of 2014, I decided to take the plunge. Over the course of 2015, I usually posted at least twice a month about any topic that came to me. Many were memoirs of previously experiences I had not had a chance to write about before. Some where just be sharing my honest opinion. A few were reviews of movies or musicals. But I kept writing.
2016, something shifted in my blogging focus. I started working and found that I had less time to write lengthy posts. But what I found was more convenient for my schedule was to write short reviews of books I'd read. I'd reviewed a few books as part of my involvement in book launches, but I eventually started reviewing books on my own, to the point that it became the majority of what I posted. The more I did it, the more I loved it.
Last in 2016, I got a new job as a seasonal retail cashier, which meant that I didn't have much time for reading. When they kept me pass the holiday season, I just lost much of my motivation to write. Between November 2016 and September 2017, I only wrote 5 posts, one of which was not a book review. When I decided to change jobs, I found motivation to write again. After a slow year, I reviewed 5 books in two months!
But during this time, this blog was under the name "Carpe Aeternatatum", which is not only misspelled, but is a Latin phrase that no one really understood. It has a good meaning behind it (Seize Eternity), but I came to realize that it wasn't a very attractive name and wasn't connected to any of my other social media. So when I decided to recommit to blogging, I decided I needed to rebrand everything. When I decided this, the new name was not a difficult decision.
2016, something shifted in my blogging focus. I started working and found that I had less time to write lengthy posts. But what I found was more convenient for my schedule was to write short reviews of books I'd read. I'd reviewed a few books as part of my involvement in book launches, but I eventually started reviewing books on my own, to the point that it became the majority of what I posted. The more I did it, the more I loved it.
Last in 2016, I got a new job as a seasonal retail cashier, which meant that I didn't have much time for reading. When they kept me pass the holiday season, I just lost much of my motivation to write. Between November 2016 and September 2017, I only wrote 5 posts, one of which was not a book review. When I decided to change jobs, I found motivation to write again. After a slow year, I reviewed 5 books in two months!
But during this time, this blog was under the name "Carpe Aeternatatum", which is not only misspelled, but is a Latin phrase that no one really understood. It has a good meaning behind it (Seize Eternity), but I came to realize that it wasn't a very attractive name and wasn't connected to any of my other social media. So when I decided to recommit to blogging, I decided I needed to rebrand everything. When I decided this, the new name was not a difficult decision.
When it became Princess Worth Dying For
Once upon a time, I was average Christian girl, but I struggled with my self-esteem, as I know many of you do. But over the course of two years of my life, God led me on an incredible journey that taught me that my value doesn't come from my attractiveness or my relationship status; it comes from the price that Jesus paid for my ransom. A key part of this journey was the phrase "A Princess Worth Dying For." It eventually became my mantra in so many ways. And I eventually found that once I internalized this truth, I wanted to share it with as many as I could in hopes that this truth would help them live their life to the fullest.
To read the full story of how I learned what this phrase means, click here.
As the years have passed, I have realized how much I want to make this concept into a ministry, and that I wanted to unite my personal branding. For years, I had gone by the name HPgirl0609 on YouTube (2008-2017) and the name Carpe Aeternatatum on this blog (2014-2017). But I realized I need to change that to further my reach for His glory. So I made the decision at the end of 2017 to buy my own domain and change all of my online branding at the same time to unify my work in hopes that it will help me reach more people.
What I Now Do On This Blog (And on YouTube)
The main parts of this ministry are my work on my YouTube channel and my work on this blog. Most of my work on these sites will fall under the following categories:
1. Christian Reviews: I had no intention of being a reviewer or a book blogger when I started this blog, but that is indeed what I have become. My primary work on this blog over the last few years has been writing reviews of books. Most of the books I review fall under these categories: Christian Living, Women's Issues, Teen Girl Issues, Apologetics, Contemporary Issues, and Christian Biographies. Aside from books, I also write occasionally write reviews of movies, especially Disney movies, and also Broadway musicals. All of this is done with the intention of helping other Christians make God-honoring choices with the entertainment created by our ever-changing culture.
2. Christian Spoken Word: Most of my recent work on YouTube as been Christian Spoken Word. For those that don't know what it is, is basically like speaking freestyle poetry with a rap-like beat. It's a creative way for me to express things that God has laid on my heart. A majority of my spoken words are directly at women, but some many also apply to men too. I may also write blog posts that supports the themes of my spoken words that I upload to YouTube.
3. A Christian's Insights: On both YouTube and here on my blog, I share my thoughts and perspectives on how to live the Christian life in our ever-changing culture. Some of these insights specifically address women and/or teen girls, but many of them could be applied to men as well. Many will be relevant stories from my own life. All of them will be shared with the intention of reaching other Christians live out the two greatest commandments: love God and love others.
This summarizes the majority of my current work online. These are the things that I believe God has empowered to do since I have learned that I am a Princess Worth Dying For. I hope that anyone that comes to either my blog or my YouTube channel will be encouraged and inspired to live their life in light of their value in God's eyes.
1. Christian Reviews: I had no intention of being a reviewer or a book blogger when I started this blog, but that is indeed what I have become. My primary work on this blog over the last few years has been writing reviews of books. Most of the books I review fall under these categories: Christian Living, Women's Issues, Teen Girl Issues, Apologetics, Contemporary Issues, and Christian Biographies. Aside from books, I also write occasionally write reviews of movies, especially Disney movies, and also Broadway musicals. All of this is done with the intention of helping other Christians make God-honoring choices with the entertainment created by our ever-changing culture.
2. Christian Spoken Word: Most of my recent work on YouTube as been Christian Spoken Word. For those that don't know what it is, is basically like speaking freestyle poetry with a rap-like beat. It's a creative way for me to express things that God has laid on my heart. A majority of my spoken words are directly at women, but some many also apply to men too. I may also write blog posts that supports the themes of my spoken words that I upload to YouTube.
3. A Christian's Insights: On both YouTube and here on my blog, I share my thoughts and perspectives on how to live the Christian life in our ever-changing culture. Some of these insights specifically address women and/or teen girls, but many of them could be applied to men as well. Many will be relevant stories from my own life. All of them will be shared with the intention of reaching other Christians live out the two greatest commandments: love God and love others.
This summarizes the majority of my current work online. These are the things that I believe God has empowered to do since I have learned that I am a Princess Worth Dying For. I hope that anyone that comes to either my blog or my YouTube channel will be encouraged and inspired to live their life in light of their value in God's eyes.
My Blogging Programs
As I have ventured into book blogging, I have joined some blogging programs that allow me to receive books in exchange for an honest review. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with all of these publishers:
[Waterbrook Press/Mulnomah]
My Affiliates
The product links listed in my posts are affiliate links for either Amazon or Christian Book Distributors (CBD), which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase on either of these sites, I’ll receive a small commission. This helps support my blog, my YouTube channel, and will help me produce more content like this in the future. Thank you for the support!
