As another year draws to a close, I find myself reflecting with immense gratitude and a touch of awe at the incredible journey we’ve shared. The past twelve months have been a whirlwind of challenges, learning, growth, and ultimately, exhilarating progress. For Unbound Wellness, a venture still in its foundational stages, 2017 marked a pivotal period of exponential development, and I am thrilled to share these exciting milestones with you.
Before diving into the specifics of this transformative year, I want to express my deepest appreciation for your unwavering support. None of these achievements would have been possible without you – my dedicated readers, recipe testers, Instagram community, podcast listeners, and friends. Your engagement fuels my passion, and I am profoundly grateful for the trust and camaraderie you’ve shown. Thank you for being an integral part of the Unbound Wellness family.
Now, let’s explore the highlights of this remarkable year!
Unbound Wellness: A Year of Unprecedented Growth in 2017
Transformative Milestones for Unbound Wellness
2017 was a year defined by ambitious goals and incredible achievements for Unbound Wellness, solidifying its presence as a go-to resource for holistic health and delicious, dietary-friendly recipes.
Website Traffic Soared by 724%
Yes, you read that correctly – a staggering seven hundred and twenty-four percent increase in website traffic from 2016 to 2017. This exponential growth was a direct result of a focused strategy to expand our reach and connect with more individuals seeking guidance on their wellness journeys. My primary objective for Unbound Wellness in 2017 was simple yet profound: to grow. I envisioned more eyes on our content, more lovely readers enjoying our carefully crafted healthy recipes, and a significant increase in interaction and engagement across all platforms. Spreading the message of healing through diet and lifestyle became my mission, and I dedicated immense effort to achieving this expansion.
Unveiling 69 New, Delicious Recipes
If you’re wondering about the driving force behind our substantial traffic surge in 2017, the consistent release of high-quality, delicious recipes is undoubtedly one of the top three factors. I poured countless hours into research, experimentation, and meticulous development to elevate our recipe game this year. Witnessing the positive impact and widespread popularity of these recipes has been incredibly rewarding. From grain-free to dairy-free, AIP-friendly, and Paleo-compliant creations, each recipe is a labor of love. The entire process – from recipe concept and ingredient sourcing to food photography and sharing them online – brings me an immense amount of joy and creative fulfillment. It’s truly gratifying to know these recipes are making a tangible difference in your kitchens and on your plates, proving that healthy eating can be both accessible and incredibly flavorful.
Introducing the Popular 30 Day Gut Healing Diet Plan & Guide
January 1st, 2017, marked the global launch of the 30 Day Gut Healing Diet Plan & Guide. This comprehensive e-book was born from a deep personal understanding of chronic gut issues and the profound desire to create a resource I wished I had when I first embarked on my own healing journey. Having navigated the complexities of dietary changes and lifestyle adjustments myself, I recognized the need for a straightforward, supportive guide. This e-book features 30 days of carefully planned gut-healing meals, complete with vibrant photos for each day to ensure ease of use, alongside exclusive new recipes, practical tips, and much more. Its overwhelming popularity has truly exceeded my expectations, affirming the significant need for clear, actionable guidance in the realm of gut health. You can certainly anticipate more empowering resources like this from Unbound Wellness in the future.
Building Community: Surpassing 10,000 Instagram Followers
With a professional background in social media, I’m well aware that follower counts can often be superficial. The focus is always on authentic connection over mere numbers. However, reaching the 10,000-follower milestone on Instagram carried a special significance, unlocking additional features that enhanced our ability to connect and share. Starting 2017 with approximately 1,000 followers in January and concluding with 10.7k in December speaks volumes about the vibrant, engaged community we’ve cultivated. This growth isn’t just about statistics; it’s about fostering genuine relationships and creating a supportive space for individuals passionate about health and wellness. I genuinely cherish the community we’ve built, and I invite you to follow along here for daily inspiration, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and engaging discussions.
A Dream Realized: Speaking at Paleo f(X)
Speaking at Paleo f(X) was an absolute dream come true and a major item checked off my bucket list! Public speaking is one of my greatest passions, offering a unique opportunity to share knowledge and connect with an audience on a deeper level. The chance to discuss business strategies at such a prestigious event within the Paleo community was an incredible honor. My presentation focused on the critical importance of growing your email list – a strategy that I myself plan to emphasize even more heavily for Unbound Wellness in 2018. It was an inspiring experience to share insights and learn from fellow wellness leaders, reinforcing the collaborative spirit of our community.
Launching the Unbound Healing Podcast with Anne Marie Garland
Having my own podcast had been a long-held aspiration, a platform to delve deeper into complex health topics and share stories of healing. When I met Anne Marie Garland of Grassfed Salsa, it immediately felt like this dream could become a reality. Anne Marie brings a wealth of knowledge and personal experience, having navigated autoimmune issues herself, and is a nutritionist with a strong AIP (Autoimmune Protocol) mindset. Our alignment on so many aspects of health and wellness is remarkable, and she masterfully complements my own expertise, filling in any gaps. She has become an invaluable partner and a dear friend whom I respect immensely. Together, we launched the Unbound Healing Podcast to serve as a beacon of hope and practical guidance for individuals grappling with autoimmune and chronic illness. On each episode, we explore comprehensive strategies for managing these conditions through insightful discussions on diet, lifestyle adjustments, mindful practices, and much more. You can subscribe and listen to our conversations on both iTunes and Stitcher.
The Most Popular Unbound Wellness Posts of 2017
These posts resonated most deeply with our community this year, becoming instant favorites and frequently revisited resources:
1. Sweet Potato Chicken Poppers
The Sweet Potato Chicken Poppers recipe has garnered astonishing popularity, boasting over 230,000 repins on Pinterest! It’s incredibly heartwarming to be tagged on Instagram almost daily by so many of you proudly showcasing your delicious homemade poppers. This recipe’s success lies in its perfect blend of flavor, ease of preparation, and its adherence to Paleo, AIP, and Whole30 dietary guidelines, making it a versatile and beloved staple for healthy eating.
2. Baked Veggie Nuggets
It seems my love for nuggets is shared by many of you! These Baked Veggie Nuggets quickly rose through the ranks to become one of my all-time favorites, and clearly, yours too. Offering a nutrient-dense, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying alternative to traditional nuggets, they are perfect for children and adults alike seeking healthy, gluten-free, dairy-free, and AIP-friendly options. Their versatility and appealing texture make them a consistent hit.
3. How I Reversed Hashimoto’s
This candid and empowering blog post, “How I Reversed Hashimoto’s,” offers a deeply personal and practical account of my journey to bring Hashimoto’s disease under control. It details the comprehensive strategies I employed, focusing on the transformative power of specific dietary changes, targeted lifestyle modifications, addressing gut health imbalances, and other holistic approaches. The vulnerability and actionable insights shared in this post have made it a beacon of hope and guidance for countless individuals navigating their own autoimmune challenges.
Personal Milestones and Adventures in 2017
Beyond the growth of Unbound Wellness, 2017 brought significant personal shifts and exciting developments, shaping my life in profound ways.
Embracing Entrepreneurship: Leaving My Full-Time Job
This was, without a doubt, a monumental decision. In January of last year, I made the bold leap to leave my full-time corporate job, dedicating myself entirely to pursuing entrepreneurial opportunities, freelancing, and growing Unbound Wellness. This transition, while incredibly challenging at times, has been immeasurably rewarding. The freedom to align my work with my passions, to set my own schedule, and to build something truly meaningful has been worth every hurdle. You can delve deeper into the details of my journey and decision-making process here.
Significant Strides in My Personal Health Journey
After discovering I had high mercury toxicity late in 2016, 2017 became a year intensely focused on mercury detoxification. This health journey involved rigorous protocols, dietary adjustments, and working closely with health professionals to safely and effectively reduce my mercury levels. I’m thrilled to report that I made significant progress, bringing down my levels substantially and experiencing notable improvements in my overall well-being. This personal triumph reinforced my commitment to holistic health and validated many of the principles I advocate on Unbound Wellness. For a detailed account of my detoxification process and health updates, you can read more here.
Adventures and Explorations: A Year of Travel
While Daniel and I didn’t embark on any grand international vacations, 2017 was filled with a wonderful array of smaller trips, work-related travel, and rejuvenating weekend getaways. I had the pleasure of visiting Austin three times – twice for inspiring work engagements and once purely for leisure, exploring the city’s vibrant culture (you can read one of my Austin recaps here). Other destinations included Las Vegas for work, a delightful piggyback trip to Key West and Orlando following Daniel’s work, a memorable family gathering in Port Aransas, a cherished friend reunion in Washington D.C., and another wonderful family trip and reunion in New York City (find my NYC recap here). The flexibility afforded by working for myself has truly enriched my life, allowing for more travel and the ability to work from virtually anywhere.
Finding Our Spiritual Home: A New Church Community
Since our marriage, Daniel and I had been searching for a church where we both felt a genuine sense of belonging. We often found ourselves driving long distances to churches we attended in the past, struggling to find a nearby community that truly resonated with us. After purchasing our house in 2016, we spent several months exploring different congregations. Finally, in late winter 2017, we decided to try a church close to our new home. We instantly felt a profound connection, a deep sense of belonging, and spiritual nourishment. I am incredibly grateful to have found this wonderful community, which has brought a renewed sense of grounding and peace into our lives.
My Passions and Inspirations of 2017
Beyond work and personal milestones, 2017 was a year of deepening existing passions and discovering new fascinations.
A Resurgence of Love for Vintage Clothing
My appreciation for vintage clothing began in childhood, evolving from a love for old music into an interest in fashion during my teenage years. I spent countless hours rummaging through thrift stores and scouring online platforms for unique, vintage-inspired pieces. However, truly developing a distinctive personal style can be challenging as a teenager. My fashion choices became more conventional and tailored to fit a corporate office environment as I entered my twenties. It was only after leaving my full-time office job that I rediscovered the joy of indulging my passion for vintage. I’ve come to realize that vintage fashion doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult to find; moreover, it’s a far more sustainable and ethically conscious choice than fast fashion. I’m excited to dedicate an entire blog post to my tips and share more of my collection, but for now, here are a few of my favorite finds from 2017:
This captivating 1970’s maxi dress.
Photography by Karla Janneth, and dress sourced from Vintage Tex.
This charming 1960’s jumper dress – an elegant, single-piece ensemble.
Photography by Karla Janneth, and dress from Ally Hoot Vintage.
This playful 80’s Barbie dream jumper.
Photo by my husband, jumper discovered at The Kissing Tree.
The Art and Science of Recipe Development
As evident from the sheer volume of recipes I released this year, recipe development remains a profound passion. It’s a continuous journey of culinary exploration, involving extensive online research, delving into cookbooks, and constant brainstorming of innovative ideas and unique flavor combinations. This process is the perfect synthesis of all my creative loves: the hands-on joy of cooking, the artistic challenge of food photography and styling, meticulous editing, and the ingenious problem-solving required to craft truly delicious, grain-free, dairy-free, egg-free, and nightshade-free recipes that not only meet strict dietary needs but also delight the palate. It’s a challenging yet immensely rewarding endeavor to create food that is both nourishing and incredibly satisfying.
A Whimsical Escape: My Favorite Murder Podcast
Working independently, while incredibly fulfilling, can sometimes be a solitary experience. Even as a self-proclaimed introvert, I occasionally miss the camaraderie and incidental interactions of a traditional office environment. One of my favorite ways to combat this loneliness is by immersing myself in podcasts. However, a constant diet of health-focused podcasts can be mentally taxing, making it difficult to switch off from “work mode.” I yearned for more entertaining content and a vibrant, engaging community to connect with.
In the spring of 2017, I stumbled upon “My Favorite Murder.” As someone with a lifelong interest in true crime, the concept immediately piqued my curiosity. MFM is not just a podcast; it’s a phenomenon with a flourishing, dedicated fanbase, and I was instantly hooked. It’s a unique blend of true crime narratives and comedic banter (a dynamic you truly have to experience to understand), delivered by hosts who are incredibly relatable and genuinely funny. Listening to them feels like having new coworkers – they bring a much-needed dose of laughter and connection to my workday. I even convinced Daniel to join me at their live show in Dallas, and I would absolutely do it again. Give it a listen – at your own risk, of course, if you’re easily spooked!
Looking Ahead: What’s Coming in 2018 for Unbound Wellness
The upcoming year promises even more exciting developments, both personally and professionally, as we continue to grow and evolve.
Embarking on Baby “Conversations”
This January, Daniel and I will celebrate our fourth wedding anniversary, and we are thoughtfully moving closer to expanding our family. While we understand that true “readiness” for parenthood is an elusive concept, we are committed to being as prepared as possible. This year will be dedicated to meaningful conversations, making crucial decisions as a couple, and laying the groundwork for this wonderful new chapter. We are filled with anticipation and excitement for what this next phase of life holds.
A Deluge of New Recipes
Rest assured, my commitment to developing and sharing innovative, delicious, and healthy recipes is not slowing down! In fact, my recipe calendar is already meticulously planned out through March of 2018. Expect a continuous stream of fresh inspiration, practical meal ideas, and delectable dishes designed to support your wellness goals.
Expanding Content: More on Gut Health, Podcasts, Vintage, and Faith
In 2018, I am excited to delve even deeper into the topics you love. We’ll be sharing more insightful content on gut health, continuing our enriching discussions on the Unbound Healing Podcast, and exploring more about the world of vintage fashion – perhaps even offering practical tips for building your own sustainable wardrobe. Additionally, I aim to thoughtfully integrate more content around faith, offering a holistic perspective on well-being that nurtures the mind, body, and spirit.
A Major Announcement Coming Soon!
Keep your eyes peeled! There’s a significant and exciting announcement on the horizon that you definitely won’t want to miss. I can’t wait to share it with you all very soon!
Thank you once again for your incredible support, encouragement, and friendship throughout the past year. It truly has been an absolute dream to pursue my passion and share this journey with each of you. Wishing you all a Happy New Year, and I eagerly look forward to connecting with you even more in 2018!